The Dream

James walked up to Lily in the common room.

'Hey Lil.' He said sitting next to her.

'Hey James.' She said glancing up.

'You know this Ball that Dumbledore has decided to put on?'

'Yes.'

'Do you want to go with me?'

'You serious?'

'Why not?'

'Well, I thought we were just mates.'

'Yeah, but we can still go together.'

'I suppose so.'

'Cool.' He grinned at her. 'But Sirius won't be pleased.'

'Why?' she asked confused.

'Me, taking his little sister.' He said making quotation marks with his hands.

She laughed, 'Oh I'm sure he'll get over it.'

He grinned back.

*******************

'Sirius, I've got something to tell you.' Said James.

'Uh huh.' Said Sirius not looking up.

'I've asked Lily to the Ball.'

'You've what?' asked Sirius amazed.

'I've asked Lily to the ball.' Replied James, wincing slightly.

'Why?' asked Sirius bluntly.

'Cos I like her. Why else?'

Sirius narrowed his eyes at James. And suddenly he leapt of his bed and pinned James to the wall.

'Just don't you DARE hurt her!'

'I won't. I promise!'

Sirius laughed. 'You thought I was going to hurt you didn't you?' he asked.

James nodded. 'You are a BIT protective of her.'

'Yeah well put it this way. I WILL hurt you, best friend or not, if you upset her.'

************************

Lily came floating down the stairs wearing a long blue dress tied behind her neck. Her red hair floated behind her.

'Lily!' he gasped. 'You look. gorgeous!'

'You don't look so bad yourself James.' She laughed.

Just then Sirius came past. 'Wow Lil. You look brilliant. Did Mum send you that?'

'Yeah. You must tell her not too. She does too much for me anyway, with looking after me in the holidays.'

'She always wanted a daughter. She loves you as much, if not more, than me.' Said Sirius laughing.

Lily grinned back, then felt James take her arm.

'Come on then, let's go.' He said grinning at her.

James claimed Lily back from all the others for the final dance of the evening.

'You know what Lily.' He said to her as they danced.

'What?' she asked.

'You are lovely.'

'James!' she said blushing.

'No, seriously. You are lovely, and. and, you have stolen my heart.'

'James!' she repeated.

'And can I have it back please?' He joked.

Lily stopped dancing and flung her arms around his neck.

When she pulled back, James cupped her face in his hands, and kissed her gently on the lips. He pulled back once, before leaning on and deepening the kiss.

As the music stopped, they broke apart.

'So what was going on there then?' came Sirius' voice.

'Sirius.' Gasped Lily then quickly composed herself. 'Did you enjoy yourself?'

'You obviously did!' he said laughing.

'Your not going to cause a fuss?' asked Lily.

'Me?' he asked.

'You.' Said Lily and James together. They glanced at each other and laughed.

'Who was the person threatening me not to hurt her?' James asked.

'Can't imagine.' Said Sirius calmly. 'Must have been Remus.'

****************

Lily awoke with a start. She sat up, and looked at the curtains round her bed. She felt the tears pricking her eyes, so she slipped out of bed, and padded to the door, and down to the common room.

She settled herself in the armchair and starred into the fire.

'Lily.' She heard her name and turned round.

'James!' she gasped.

'I'll go.' He muttered.

'You don't have to.' She stuttered.

'I need you to understand.' He pleaded.

'Why you up so late?' she asked ignoring what he said

'I had a dream.'

'What about?'

James lowered his eyes to the ground. 'You.' He muttered. 'Lily, I'm so sorry. We just cannot be together.'

'Why not?' she asked, as she felt the tears begin to fall down her face.

'I still care about you.'

'Then why do this then?' she asked angrily.

James looked at her and closed his eyes,

'Can't we be friends?'

'Friends?' asked Lily outraged. 'The ball was in fourth year, that was three years ago. I loved you. I gave you my heart, and you have thrown it on the floor and jumped on it. And you want to be friends? I can never forgive you for this. Never!'

And with tears streaming down her face, she ran up the stairs to her dormitory. Why did he have to do this to her? They had been fine together. And now this. Why?

James collapsed into one of the chairs. If he could just tell her. He missed her so much, her company, her smiles, her laugh, the way she raised her eyebrows.

And Sirius. This had split up their friendship, and he couldn't blame Sirius. He would have done the same. But he couldn't tell him why. It'd hurt him too much.

Suddenly an owl flew through the window and dropped a letter onto James' head. James opened it.

James. I have heard from Dumbledore. I know it is hard for you, but you cannot change the future, it'll happen, whatever you do. Please.

Dad.

Scrunching up the letter, he through it into the fire, and buried his head into his hands.

'James?'

'Please Sirius, just leave me.'

'What's wrong?'

'I thought you weren't talking to me?'

'Um, I'm not.'

'Please hit me?'

'You what?'

'You said that you'd hurt me, if I upset Lily.'

'Please just do it.'

'Why did you do it James?'

'I can't tell you.'

'Why not? I'm. I was your best friend.'

James glanced up at him, and Sirius saw the sorrow in his eyes.

Finally James answered. 'If she stays with me, she'll be murdered.'

'You what?'

'Lily and I, we are going to be murdered by.'

'James? What are you talking about?'

'There's a prophecy, it's going to happen.' James burst into tears. 'Why me? Why her? Sirius, I love her so much, but can't you see why I hurt her?'

Sirius just stood there not knowing what to do. He'd never, never seen James cry before. Even when his mother died, he just accepted it calmly.

Suddenly he put his arm around James. 'It'll be OK. I promise. You'll be fine.'

'No I won't, neither will. will.'

'Lily.' Sirius whispered.

James then collapsed in tears.