Lily practically skipped into the common room, glancing around, then heading for her dormitory. As she went to start up the steps, a voice stopped her.

"Hello Lily. Could I talk to you for a minute?"Lily jumped and turned around. James was sitting in one of the chairs by the fire, the flames glinting off of his eyes.

"Umm, sure."She fidgeted a bit, but he didn't seem to notice. He motioned to a chair.

"Come now, have a seat."Lily sank into the chair, watching his face for emotion. "I see your with Severus."James said, his voice a forced calm.

"Yes I am."Was Lily's terse reply. James simply nodded.

"Have the boys been giving you a hard time? I hope they're not. We're all a bit upset, but I think I speak for everyone when I wish you two the best." Lily raised an eyebrow at him and stopped wringing her hands in her lap.

"No you don't."She folded her arms."I saw the looks you were giving us, I'm not blind."

"I know. I've just had time to think about it, thats all. Besides I have other women falling over me. No big loss." Lily stood up.

"Then what did you want?"She asked bitterly.

"Just to make sure nobody is picking on you."

"Of ~course~ they're bothering me, ~everyone~ is bothering me!"She took a small step towards him. "And you know it. You know they will. Now what do you REALLY want?"

"They were just pestering you because they thought I cared." James shrugged. "Consider it done with."

"Good."Snatching up her bag, she headed for the door.

"Oh, Lily, one more thing."She stopped, but didn't turn to him.

"They will throw you in Azkaban. Thats another reason people are bothering you. You're a bit of a friend."Lily whipped around to face him.

"If I was 'a bit of a friend' you would be able to realise that I don't care about Azkaban. I'll take Azkaban for life if it means I can be happy for if only a few days."

"Then tell me this, why can't someone else make you happy? Any of us in this house would gladly do it, Lily."James sighed, looking pitiful.

"In this house."Lily repeated, an irritated air to her voice. "So if he were in Gryffindor you'd approve?"She snapped. She shook her head at him. 'Not that I need your approval anyways'Almost escaped from her lips, but she managed to contain it.

"If he were here, perhaps he wouldn't be involved with ceartain not-so- legal activities. He's a slime, Lily. Why are you choosing a street rat when you can have kings?"

"What good is a title? The king is no more a man than the street rat."She smirked as she leaned towards him. "And at least the 'street rat' isn't an arrogant prat."With a smile that was sarcastically sweet, she turned on her heel and walked out into the hallway.

James growled low. "I'm not a prat."

"Prove to me your not. Get over the fact that I'm with Severus and not you."She gave a mock curtsey, then shut the portrait behind her.

~~~

'I just told James Potter off...'She beamed, laughing inwardly. "He set himself up for that one though." She was too happy to realise that right outside the door wasn't a very smart place to stand.

James came toppling out of the door,obviously in a hurry. "Lily, wait!"Lily jumped out of the way and her eyes narrowed.

"How many bloody times do I have to tell you off?"

"Lots?"James grinned as he straightened his glasses."Look, we all care."

"I know. I've heard this from Sirius and Drake already. Keaini is thinking it but won't say it because she knows I've heard it enough."She folded her arms and leaned back against the wall. Just then, Drake walked out of the common room.

"Yes, and all the times weve said it weve meant it. But I've decided that if this is what you want, I'll leave you at peace. Even if I wish you would think about the consicences a bit more. James is right, there is many more a man than sni- Severus."

"How many times do I have to tell you guys. I. DO. NOT. CARE. ABOUT. THE. CONSEQUENCES!"Lily clentched her hands into fists until her knuckles were white.

"Alright! I give up then. But I stick with the fact that Snape isn't the only 'nice' guy around here. And don't think I'm sticking up for James, Im not talking about him in particular"

"I think you and I have different ideas of what a nice guy is." She hadn't moved from her spot against the wall, and looked like she had no meaning to until they left.James sighed heavily.

"Alright, tell me what he does different." He struggled with the words.

"He...I don't know, I just find it easier to love him."She looked distractedly out a window.

"Is it true love, or just rebellion, Lily?"

"I knew it!"She gave a loud false laugh. "You all think I'm doing this to spite you! Well, let me break it down for you. IM NOT!"She then pushed past him, starting down the steps towards the Entrance Hall.James sighed again.

"Wait, Lily. It's just... you're such a sweet, caring, beautiful, kind person and Snape.... is not."

"He is to me."She stopped and turned to face him, halfway down the stairs. "You don't understand him, just like you don't understand me. I love him because he does."

"Lily... I'm beyond confused. You know as well as anyone that I'm not exactly Ravenclaw material. Help me out here. What does he understand that I don't? Put it in English too." James put a hand to his forehead out of frustration.

"He knows what its like to need somewhere to go to be alone."She started wringing her hands again.James blinked.

"Alright. I'll let you be alone. I just... I just wish this didn't bother us all so bad."

Trust me, so do I."She said pointedly, then turned and continued down the stairs. As she left, he gave her a look of utter loss. He missed the old Lily. His Lily. He turned and headed back to the Gryffindor common room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sorry these are taking so long. *bows down AGAIN*

Olao