Chapter 8- Forgiveness

James hurried up the stairs, trying desperately to catch up with Lily. Finally he reached the trap door that led to the divination classroom. He paused for a second before grabbing the handle and swinging it down towards him. He pulled himself through the space and immediately spotted Lily, off to the side, alone, her face in her hands. He crept closer and ruffled his unruly hair.

"Lily?" he asked softly.

Lily looked up, and her eyes widened. "JAMES POTTER! I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE ME ALONE! YOU'VE CAUSED ME ENOUGH PAIN ALREADY!" she stopped, staring at James blank expression.

"What don't tell me you were drunk? Well, in case you were, I saw you. I saw you with Diana in the library, and don't you think that I didn't after what you said to me!" Now James was completely confused. Diana? In the library?

"You know what you called me, James Potter, and don't think you can come back to me begging for forgiveness, because you're not getting it. What you called me, that was the rottenest thing anyone has ever said to me, and I thought the only person who'd ever call me a – a" she lowered her voice. "mudblood would be Edmund, not you! Never you! I trusted you James, and now I don't think I'll ever be able to trust anyone again!"

Her ranting had only made James more confused. He'd never called her a mudblood! He never would either.

"Lily, I'm sorry to say this, but I have no idea what you're talking about."

She looked up at him. "You really were drunk! Weren't you? I cannot believe this! Its only gotten worse! Worse, not better!" with that she stormed out of the classroom, leaving a completely bewildered James behind.

* * *

James thought on it all through divination, and he'd come up with only two possible explanations. The first, was that he really had been drunk, though he fully doubted this. He couldn't remember drinking any alcohol at lunch, just pumpkin juice. The second, seemed much more believable. It was that Edmund had brewed polyjuice potion and turned into James, just so he could hurt Lily. James had not trouble imagining Edmund doing this. In fact, now that he thought about it, Edmund had tried to pluck a hair off his head once, a few months ago. The problem was getting Edmund to confess- in front of Lily. Suddenly it came to him. Truth Potion. Veritseum. He'd have to steal it from the potion master's office, but he would do anything to get Lily to love him again. Once he'd stolen it, it'd be simple to slip it into Edmund's pumpkin juice at dinner tonight.

Luckily, the students now had a break before dinner giving James enough time to sneak to the potions office and get the potion. He stumbled out of the classroom, ignoring Sirius' comment on how boring the class had been. He dashed down the stairs, and soon found himself in the dungeons. If he was caught, he'd face detention, and knowing the potion's master, possibly expulsion. But he could think on that later. He turned the corner, and found the door. It was a simple procedure to open it, it was locked only with a locking charm.

"Alohamora." The door creaked open. James snuck inside, and looked around. There, on the shelves behind his desk, a small innocent looking blue bottle. He grabbed it and ran out of the office and didn't stop till he'd reached the great hall.

* * *

Lily came down for dinner, and sat down, her head was pounding.

"Hey, Lily. Someone is here to see you."

Lily raised an eyebrow, but turned around in her seat. Edmund was standing in front of her, a dazed, far off expression on his face.

"I have a confession to make." Edmund said, his voice sounded flat and dead sounding.

"I have been plotting against James for months. For two months, I brewed polyjuice potion in secret. I stole one of James Potter's hairs. Everything was ready. You saw me with Diana Quigley in the library. I said evil things to you. You broke down just the way I knew you would." Lily gasped.

"You believed it was James Potter. My plan worked." Edmund was now grinning manically.

"Edmund! How c-could you?"

But Edmund had collapsed to the ground in a heap.

Lily stood up in a rush. "Where's James?!"

"I'm right here." Said a soft voice beside her.

She spun around. "James?" she gasped. "I didn't know! I'm sorry. Do you forgive me?"

"Of course. How could you have known? You had every right to be angry."

"Oh, but James, I should've listened to you! I'll never doubt you again, I promise."

"You promise?" he winked.

"James!" she said indignantly, but she smiled all the same.

"Hey, I just had a great idea!"

"What?" asked Lily, one eyebrow raised.

"I think we should set Diana up with Edmund."

Lily laughed and James was reminded of the first night they'd ever spent together.

"Well, I think that would work. But how would you go about doing that?"

"Easy. Just tell Diana that Edmund likes her. Trust me, she'll believe you."

Lily giggled again, and she squeezed James' hand.

"Thank you for forgiving me."

"Your welcome."

They smiled at each other and Lily had a feeling that from now on everything would be all right, as long as James was at her side.

A/N: So everything's happy right now! But anyway, for the people that said my story was corny, its ok, cause I agree with you! Especially chapter six! Anyway ill post chapter 9, (which should be really sweet) once I get 10 reviews! Thank you for reading! Please review! Also, if you review my story, I usually review your stories (if you have them) Thanks!