AS PROMISED…

This is chapter eighteen.

First, I'd like to say that I've done some revisions on chapter seventeen. It's only in the last part when Lily and James were arguing. I just felt like adding them. Don't worry, it's nothing much significant if you're feeling quite lazy to check it out. Basically, it's about James saying he saw Lucius with Narcssa; Lily believing that Narcissa was just a friend of Lucius; and that James saying that Slytherins don't have friends but allies.

And some overdue replies on your questions. I believe someone asked me who do I imagine when I write James' character. Actually, no one in particular. He's a combination of everyone I met or know. But I can tell definitely that in chapter two when he kneeled down before Lily, in front of all her friends – and all the people, that was inspired by this dream I had. Actually, it was the dream I had, the only difference is that in my dream, the guy sang to me—okay, enough of that! I'm sure my friends are already laughing by now. ;)

And another thing, about the Yule Ball. Don't worry, it'll happen. I have a time frame for this story and the events happen like almost everyday so it might seem that it has been too long. There may be chapters that happen in only a day or two but—anyway, it's getting lose.

So, here's chapter eighteen where none of the things you recognize belong to me but to JK Rowling. And the things you don't recognize… that's, well, proudly mine. :)

Thanks to the following for their reviews:

AineRose

me

Lamina Court

Lil-Brat888

Andufeniel

Reader4Life

SpiritedPhoenix

Hermione101888

Slinkysly

mutsumi

moozy

Anarane

morgan

angkat14

Enjoy reading and don't forget to review!

do you mind for i think i still love you... do you mind always have evermore... -- five for fighting, "do you mind"

if there was just one wish i could be granted here tonight... it would be to have you right back by my side... -- blaque, "when the last teardrop falls"

~*~*~*~

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: He's Falling For You…

Finally, the weekends. Even better, it was Hogsmeade weekend. So, basically, the castle was almost empty except for the first and second years and some other upperclassmen who didn't feel like going.

For one, Toni chose to stay in the dormitory. Her friends tried to drag her out of the room but she decided that sulking in her bed all day long would be so much better – of course, to her friends' disagreement. But she didn't really have the energy to go frolic in the streets of Hogsmeade that day. Who would anyway, being in her situation? Besides, she thought that she might chance upon bumping into Sirius.

Now, what was wrong with that?

The look on his face when he walked out the common room the day before was still fresh in her mind. And for surely, having to look at that expression again when they meet each other… it would be complete torture.

But what she didn't know was that Sirius was feeling the same. He wasn't in the mood shopping at Zonko's or planning some practical joke. His mind was all preoccupied in trying hard to un-preoccupy it with thoughts of having to search for answers. Besides, he had Remus for company.

Remus was too tired to go to Hogsmeade that day. There was going to be a full moon that night. And somehow, full moons weren't exactly friendly to him.

However, James and Peter decided to go visit the wizarding village. No pranks and Zonko's shopping that day, though. They went there with different agendas. Peter was strolling around the village, with Cherie Walker, one of the Ravenclaw Beaters in Quidditch – and the one he was dating for that matter. While James…

James was busy.

Busy following Lily.

It was the weekend when Lily and Lucius planned to look for the souvenirs for the Yule Ball. And they had been walking side by side each other all morning – and all morning, James was just lurking nearby.

There was once that morning that Lily caught him gazing at them. They were in a novelty shop when she suddenly looked out the window, having this strong uneasy feeling that she was being watched. And when she did, she saw James from a distance, quickly looking away from the window and pretended to just be heedlessly walking by. She tried to ignore it. Maybe she was just really being paranoid and that he was indeed only passing through.

However, the next time, it was Malfoy who caught sight of him. He had been ignoring James whenever he saw him casually walking past them. But, although Hogsmeade wasn't that much big of a place, it seemed to be a bit peculiar seeing someone who wasn't there with them to be around wherever they went.

Finally, he grew impatient when he saw James standing from a distance, looking through the glass wall of the store they were in. "Why is that Potter following you?" he asked Lily in explicit aversion.

Lily looked out the window. Right then, she knew that James was definitely following them. But she had no time for that. "He's not following me," she said instead, and pulled Lucius away from the window.

* * * * *

Well, as everyone else was having conflicting opinions about certain things, at least Kiara and Vince were trying to enjoy themselves – as friends. They were in the Three Broomsticks and this time they decided to seat themselves inside the building rather than endure the freezing cold outside. They chose seats right beside the glass windows and enjoyed the snowy view – without the freezing cold – of the streets of Hogsmeade.

"So," Kiara started after having a good sip of her butterbeer. "Madam Prenny did a really good job with your bruises." She smiled as Vince, sitting across the table, gave a slight grin. "Now you can ask any girl to the ball," she teased.

Vince pursed his lips and nodded reluctantly. Yeah, he could ask any girl to the ball. But, he didn't really want to go with any girl to the ball. "I – I don't think I'm going anymore," he said instead.

Kiara's face suddenly fell. That was pretty depressing. "Why?" she asked, the concern in her voice apparent.

"I dunno," Vince replied with a shrug. An utterly awful lie, he knew. But that was a lie that he had never been more comfortable speaking. "I just lost interest."

"Oh," was all that Kiara could say for that, as she nodded quite glumly.

At that moment, Lily and Lucius entered Three Broomsticks together. Lily spotted her friends quickly and walked to them with Lucius following beside her.

"Hi," Lily greeted Kiara and Vince with a smile. She took a seat near Vince and Lucius took the seat next to her and Kiara.

Kiara smiled at the sight of them. She took a notice, though, on Lucius' ever so expressionless face and decided to engage him into a conversation. Maybe she could get a genuine smile out of that guy beside her. She leaned toward him to suggest attentiveness and started performing her skill – talking. "So, Lucius, have you found anything good to give away for the Yule Ball?"

"Yes, actually," Lucius replied. But his tone of indifference didn't once shift.

"Really?" Kiara uttered with much cheerfulness, trying to ignore that Lucius sounded more like 'yes, now I prefer you don't talk to me' rather than 'yes, they're actually quite interesting.' "What'd you find?"

Lucius took a deep breath, trying to make it sound out of exhaustion rather than exasperation; and straightened up in his seat. "Maybe Lily can discuss with you about that," he replied, bobbing his head toward Lily.

"O – kay…" Kiara muttered. She felt that her conversation skills couldn't penetrate Lucius. When he didn't want to talk, it sure meant that he didn't want to talk. Then, suddenly, she backed away from him – literally – when the door opened and a gentle wind, which brushed through both of them, entered the room. And just as sudden, she looked like she had seen a ghost – that would be if she had been a Muggle. But, bottomline, her cheerful expression quickly turned into quite a frightened look.

"What is it?" Vince asked with much concern, noticing the look on her face.

"Uh…" Kiara tried to answer but she wasn't about to speak about it then. She looked around to find something… anything… on what she could change the subject to. Then, maybe with sheer luck – or not – she turned to look out the window beside her and found James leaning by the wall of the store across the street. With curious eyes, she looked at Lily and asked, "Is that… James?"

Her friends looked up and out the window where she pointed.

Yes, there was James – again. And when he realized that she saw him looking at her, he stood straight and walked away like nothing happened.

That was it. She was fed up. He had been following her and Lucius the whole day like some sick stalker and she wasn't about to let it pass anymore. She stood up; decided that she would confront him once and for all.

"Where are you going?" Kiara asked, standing beside her friend.

"I'm talking to him," Lily replied angrily.

With that Vince stood and held up his hand to block her. "Wait."

"I'm going with you," Lucius cut in, ready to go out the door.

"No," Lily interrupted, as she held him back. "No. I'll – I'll just meet you back in school." She looked at Lucius' eyes of resentment and she believed that she understood why he was feeling it. But still she insisted, "Please. I want to do this alone."

Lucius' grim face became even more dismal with that. He wanted to deal with James himself but then, fine… if that was what she wanted… "Suit yourself," he muttered through gritted teeth. And with that, he pulled his coat closer to him and walked out of the place.

As Lucius passed in front of Kiara, she casually leaned forward toward him for a split of a second without him noticing.

But Vince certainly did so. "Did you—?" he stopped, not really finding the right word to describe what Kiara just did.

"Okay," Kiara's voice rose, discontinuing whatever Vince was about to say next. "Bye," she said, waving to Lily. Then, she stormed out of the room in a hurry.

Vince and his confused expression followed Kiara out of the place. "Did you just smell Lucius?" he asked when they had reached a safe distance away from the Three Broomsticks, quite sickened with the thought. Kiara never walked faster in her life, and he was having a hard time trying to keep up with her. "Why are you in such a hurry?" he demanded starting to be driven crazy with questions.

"I have to talk to Sirius," Kiara finally replied, without taking her eyes away from the direction she was going.

Vince snorted. What was that again? "You're kidding, right?" he said, still trying to walk the same speed as her.

"No, Vince," Kiara replied, shaking her head. "I am bloody serious."

* * * * *

Lily walked fast – almost ran in order to catch up with the shadow that was following her all day. James was much taller than her and a couple of his long strides equaled to twice as much for her; so it was quite difficult to keep up. "James," she called after him.

James turned his head slightly to imply that he heard her; but he wasn't stopping. And just kept on walking.

"James what's going on?" Lily questioned. She was literally getting tired of their chase. And it was especially that she seemed to be talking to his back. And most especially because of the fact that James seemed to keep ignoring her. With that, she ran up to him and grabbed his hand to stop him.

She stood before him so that she could see his face. "Why were you watching me?" she demanded, trying to catch his eyes.

But James looked away from her like he was guilty of a crime. "I wasn't," he denied.

"Oh yeah? Well, then maybe it's just my imagination that you've been following me all day, right?" Lily blurted out, the impatience in her tone very much apparent.

James looked around to see if someone was listening. He wasn't actually comfortable arguing with her amidst all those people in broad daylight. "I wasn't following you," he insisted, almost whispering the words.

A short silence fell over them. Lily shook her head ever so disappointedly as she realized what James was talking about. There they were in the middle of the street, arguing about… a guy. "It's Lucius," she muttered. She swallowed hard, trying to control her rising temper. "James, why? Why him?"

"Maybe I'm just doing a favor for a friend who I'm sure doesn't want to see you get hurt, alright?" James replied as soon as he heard the word 'why.' That damned word 'why.'

Lily gazed at him again. When he started talking in riddles, it always got difficult. "Remus sent you." It was nothing close to a question. She actually thought that it was the reason why James was everywhere she looked that day. And even though it was hard to believe that Remus would do anything like that, she satisfied herself with the conclusion and turned to leave.

"Lily." It was now James' turn to call after her. No, no, no, no. He knew that she was completely misled. "Lily, where are you going?" he said when he caught up with her.

"I hope somewhere you can't find me."

"Look, it wasn't Remus."

Lily stopped walking and turned to him. She was already clearly aggravated. What the heck is the truth? She thought to herself. "Stop! Just stop it!" she exclaimed, putting up her hands that were shaking with anger.

"It's me, alright? It's all me," James finally confessed, putting a hand on his chest. "Are you happy? I am the only one who thinks Malfoy did it. I am the only one who believes he will never be good enough for you. I am the one who doesn't want to see you get hurt." He paused thinking more than twice if he was about to say what he would want to say next. Maybe if he did, she would understand. Maybe if he did, she would see why he did all those things and said all those words. "Is it so bad to care?"

There it was. Out in the open. One of the many things he thought he would never admit even to himself. He cared about her. But that was it. Nothing more and nothing less. But still, he admitted that the fact was he was trying to protect her. But now the question was, protecting her as what? A friend? More than a friend?

The expression on Lily's face was priceless. Although she appeared to be shocked and taken aback, something made her appear all too suddenly calm. She didn't say any more. She just looked away.

And left.

* * * * *

Kiara boisterously knocked on the door of Sirius' dormitory. And the longer there was no answer at the door, the harder she knocked. If she knocked even harder, the door would eventually fall down. Well, no one actually dared to stop her. Vince was with her but he wasn't getting anywhere trying to calm her down. At that point, no one could stop her from her purpose.

Then, by what seemed to be the right timing, Peter arrived quite surprised with what closely appeared to be a raid – a one-person-raid for that matter – by Kiara. "Hey, what's going on…?" he asked with the most caution in his voice.

"I know Sirius is in there," Kiara replied, turning to him.

Peter approached the door with chariness like Kiara would just jump on him and kill him. She was scary when she wasn't calm. Then, with a couple of knocks, he called for Sirius to open the door.

Alright, so Sirius opened the door after like four times calling his name. Apparently, he fell into a nap and wasn't the one to be easily woken up with the constant banging on the door. What changed?

Of course, he wasn't surprised when Peter walked into the room. Well, that was because Peter stayed there. But, he completely backed away – and now fully wide-awake – when Kiara, followed by Vince, barged into the room uninvited. Yes, Kiara was scary when she wasn't calm. "What are you doing here?" he had to ask. He smelled trouble. Well, actually, he feared that there might be some kind of trouble.

"You kissed me," Kiara said out of nowhere. It sure didn't sound like an accusation. It sounded more of a fact.

Sirius suddenly panicked. He took a glance of Vince trying to see his expression because he wasn't about to get into another fistfight. "Are we on this again? Because I have somewhere important to go to."

Kiara walked closer to him. "You kissed me back," she said, not really answering the question.

Sirius' eyes widened. What the… "Am I not in enough trouble?"

Kiara chuckled. It just confused everyone in the room even more. Yes, even Vince, as he still wasn't informed on what his friend was doing there.

"No. Just listen," Kiara interrupted. "When I was dared to kiss you. Remember that? You kissed me back."

For some time, Sirius opened his mouth to say something without managing to let out a single word. Then, "Uh, yeah. But that wa – it's a – that's a long time ago."

"I know… but you kissed me back," Kiara insisted.

Sirius shook his head. "I don't get it," he said as he grabbed his coat, implying that he was indeed going somewhere important. "What's the point in this?"

What was the point in it?

What?

Was?

The point?

In it?

"Three words," Kiara replied. It would have sent everyone in the room in a full swing of crazy confusion if she didn't say what those three words were right after.

"You kiss different."

* * * * *

After about half an hour, James entered the common room searching for the most minor sign that Lily was in the room. But he couldn't find her. All he found was Toni surprisingly waiting for him.

"James, we need you," Toni declared, walking to him.

James' expression turned from searching eyes to surprise and confusion. Toni was talking to him? No, that wasn't it. Toni needed him? "What's going on?"

Who wouldn't ask that?

But instead of answering the question, Toni grabbed him by the arms and well, dragged him up to the boys' dormitories in a hurry.

* * * * *

Lily badly needed reason. And the only person she could think who would be able to provide her with that was Remus. She remembered how he enjoyed watching the stars at night. So she decided to go to the lake where he brought her once.

The sun was still up. But in about half an hour, it would already set so she thought of just waiting there. She wasn't actually sure if he would be there. The only thing she had was hope that he was.

And her hope didn't fail her. She was right. Remus was sitting near the frozen lake, where he sat when they were there together.

Then suddenly, she remembered that it was full moon. She knew that he and his friends would probably go off some place somewhere soon. But she felt that she just needed to talk.

Remus was about to get up from where he was sitting when Lily suddenly sat beside him. "Lily," he said, sitting back down.

"Hi."

"You shouldn't be here."

"Wait. I just want to talk to you," Lily began. She paused and bowed her head, looking a bit embarrassed. "Actually, James… he's been telling me…" she trailed, deciding that she would take the alternative – the forthright way to say it. "Remus…" she looked at him and then, "Lucius and I—"

"This is about Malfoy," Remus interrupted, saying the bottomline of Lily's statement. He never really wanted anything to do with Malfoy. He was aware that James had been fully involved when it came to that and he had no proper reason to squeeze himself in the situation.

For a minute, there was silence. Then, he broke it with, "Lily I like you…"

"Remus, I—"

"I know."

>She looked at him. Her eyes were sorry. She was sorry that she couldn't feel the same way as he did about her. She was sorry because she had to say, "Remus, you're like a brother to me."

"I know," Remus repeated. He knew. And it seemed like he had known it for the longest time. He didn't even change the tone of his voice like it wasn't any surprise to him. "I realized that the first time I saw you with him." He looked at her and smiled weakly. "Don't worry about me. I've accepted that and I've moved on." He paused and gazed into her eyes.

He knew about Malfoy.

He knew about where he stood.

And he knew…

Something else.

"And I'm guessing," he slowly began. "It's James' turn to feel like I did."

Lily opened her mouth to speak. But she couldn't form the decent of words to verbalize the clutter that was forming in her mind right then. "Wha – uh – What do you mean?"

"I've seen him look at you lately, Lily," Remus replied. He smiled comfortingly… reassuringly… Because he was sure of it. He was sure that…

"He's falling for you."

~*~*~*~

even god himself and the faith i knew... shouldn't keep me back, shouldn't keep me from you... -- the calling, "stigmatized"

My friend, angkat14, and I were talking this morning about how we actually end the chapters with cliffhangers without realizing it sometimes.

And I'm not sure if this one is but I'm taking a pretty good guess that it is. Heehee… :)

Please review. Thanks!