CHAPTER 10: A Message & a Kiss The sun burned hot and yellow against the blue sky as I entered the train station with my friends the next morning. "Prefects have to go the front for a bit." Remus said pointing at his badge.

"Yeah, yeah." Sirius rolled his eyes and helped Lo carry my trunk as Remus and I made our way down to the prefects compartment,

"Welcome, welcome!" The food cart lady greeted us as we sat down next to each other. Bellatrix Black and Rodophlus Lestrange were eyeing us coldly.

"Good morning Bellatrix. Morning Rododphlus!" Remus said pleseantly as though he were greeting an old friend. Bellatrix smirked, her heavy lidded eyes gazing out the window, as Lestrange put his arm around her shoulders. The other prefects entered the compartment and the lady went on naming and welcoming the 8 new prefects. Finally, after re-stating our prefect duties, she said we were free to wander about the train.

"Where do you think they are?" Remus asked, staring at the train. We had been in too much of a rush to meet the other prefects; we hadn't payed attention to where our friends had taken a seat.

"Damnit," he said, annoyed, as we walked by the compartments, looking in the glass.

"Remus! Evans! Over here!" James called and we walked over to meet him. The compartment was quite cramped with everyone packed in together.

"Lily, sit on James' lap. The compartment is too full," Sirius joked. Remus sat down next to James and Lo immediately moved to his lap.

"Now Lily has a seat," she said, grinning at Remus.

"Good idea," Remus agreed, blushing.

"It's a kodak moment...It's so beautiful...," James said sarcastically.

"Watch the PDA's! I have virgin eyes!" Sirius warned.

"That's all that's still virgin...," James muttered while everyone laughed and Sirius cursed James' nose into the shape of a hook.

"He has Snape's nose now!" Lo chuckled as James returned his nose to normal, laughing with the rest of us.

"Hey Evans, am I any cuter with Snivellus's nose?" James asked.

"Cuter than Snape is with his nose," I admitted grinning.

"Well that isn't saying much," Bernadette reminded me.

"Speak of the devil...," Lark whispered as the Slytherins slid open our door.

"Feeling brave this morning?" Bellatrix asked, smirking suspiciously.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Sirius shot defensivly.

"Only that things are changing," Bellatrix laughed.

"There are things going on that maybe you can't handle. Especially you, Potter, since you seem incapable of accomplishing anything that doesn't involve a broom...," Snape remarked in his usually oily voice.

"At least I can mount a broom, Snivellus," James retorted.

"Yeah and at least he can handle washing his pants...," Sirius sneered, making the Gryffindors laugh. Even Bellatrix snorted.

"He has a point Snape," she said, looking at him with distaste. Then she turned back to us, hatred etched in her eyes. "Your not worth anymore of our time." Bellatrix snapped her fingers and lead her minions back into the corrider. Sirius gave a loud, false cough that soudly oddly like "Git!" The rest of the journey passed by quickly playing exploding snap, eating sweets, and discussing the best hexes they learned that summer. It was a cloudless night with the stars flung about the velvet sky. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Cold Evans?" James asked as we walked out of the train together. A wind brushed past me.

"A bit," I admitted, pulled my cloak tighter. James wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

"Warmer?" He asked hopefully. The truth was it really didn't make a differnce in warmth, but I didn't mind.

"Yes," I lied, leaning my head on his shoulder.

"I KNEW YOU WERE GOING OUT!" Haven screamed as we got into a car pulled by Thestrals.

"Shut up Haven, they aren't going out. They are touchy-feely-friendly- friends," Lo explained, winking at me. It was a good thing it was dark because I could feel color rush up in my face.

"Thanks Lo, couldn't have said it better myself," James smirked. "But we could go out!" he added excitedly.

"Or we couldn't," I replied, shutting my eyes and becoming very sleepy all cuddled up to James. Sleepy, safe...I could get used to it...if he wasn't such an arrogent toerag.

"Lily!" A voice whispered gently in my ear about five minutes later. My eyes popped open. The carts had stopped and James was trying to wake me up. I stood up immediately.

"Sorry!" I said, embarrassed.

"Its okay," he said with a smirk, helping me down and into the castle. The great hall was beautiful as always. I was staring at the ceiling that was bewitched to reflect the starry sky and a familiar rhyme echoed in my head. I started at the first star I saw. 'Star light, star bight, first star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish, I wish tonight...I wish to fall in love,' I thought, focusing on the star.

"What are you doing?" Bernadette asked, sitting on a seat beside me that wasn't occupied by James.

"Wishing," I said, grinning.

"Be careful what you wish, for. It might come true," she said with a sad smile.

"Welcome!" Dumbledore said, directing the attention of the great hall towards himself. Professor McGonagall led a line of first years up to the stool where the old sorting hat stood, looking quite weathered and beaten, but as always it sang:

"Once there were four friends

Then founders, they became

They built this school united and the same

Through stiff and hardships they survived

And through all of this, their friendships thrived

Gryffindor was brave and just

Hufflepuffs, you could always trust

Ravenclaw, so clever and quick with wit

Slytherin, was ever so ambitious they never quit

Together they created the school you now can see

But fighting tore them apart and, the four was now only three

And so because of stubborness and differences

The friendships had come to an end

And while they NOW are known as founders

They were ONCE known as friends.

So Gryffindors use bravery

To find a smart Ravenclaw to see

Slytherins use determination

To befriend a Hufflepuff, forgetting discrimination

And in these times of trouble, united we shall be

We can't let our four houses

Be torn apart to three"

Applause was scattered and quickly stopped. Students stared confused at the hat.

"It never warned us before," I whispered to Bernadette, who looked just as dumbfounded.

"Adams, Nicole!" Professor McGonagall read from her scroll. A short boy with blonde hair walked up to the hat. "SLYTHERIN!" it shouted.

"Think anyone is going to listen to the sorting hats message?" James asked, rolling his eyes.

"Nope, not a soul," Sirius said causally.

"When is the food coming? I'm starving!" Peter grumbled. McGonagall was now starting on the C's.

"Casey, Laurena" was called up next. She had long, sweeping brown hair and became a Ravenclaw.

"Corwyn, Henri" and the first new Gryffindor walked over the the table.

"We have too many first years! Let's eat already," Siruis said, sending the long line of new students a dirty look.

"You will get your food soon, Sirius. My Gods, calm down," I snapped as "Donall, Johann" joined the Hufflepuff table.

"You know, maybe we should think about the message..," Bernadette said, looking around at her friends for support.

"Why?" asked James and Sirius in unison. Both looked at her incredously.

"Because we are stonger united then we are divided," she persisted.

"If you're implying that we should make friends with Snivelly, Lestrange, Avery, Nott or Bellatrix, you're outta your mind," James said flatly.

"Maybe if we just declared a truce..." She looked around for support again.

"You're a nutter," Sirius said sadly, patting her on the head.

"Hinks, Misty!" McGonagall called and our conversation stopped.

"RAVENCLAW!" yelled the hat.

"Hunter, Sorcha!" There was a slight pause as the hat contemplated. "SLYTHERIN!"

"Jaley, Ivona" became a Ravenclaw.

"Listen, why not try and be pleasant and helpful to a first year Slytherin? Make friends with a younger student," Bernadette suggested

"Forget it Shadow," James said impatiently, ruffling his hair.

"Lockhart, Gilderoy!" A short, cute first year was sorted into Hufflepuff.

"Moon, Jared!" A boy with almost light blonde hair walked up to the hat. "SLYTHERIN!" it announced to the hall.

"Moon, James!" A boy with the same hair and face, likely Jared's twin, now picked up the hat. "The little brat stole my name!" James said indignatly.

"GRYFFINDOR!" roared the hat.

"And he stole my house!" James glared at the boy.

"Stop it! You'll scare the little kids," I warned, glaring at him.

"Yeah, yeah." He rubbed his tummy, mumbling about food.

"Nordsey, Karl" was a Slytherin, and "Nyrome, Aja" was a Ravenclaw.

"You know it really is important to make ties with other houses! We need all the allies we can get! Enemies could prove to be fatal!" Bernadette exclaimed, frustrated that no one was taking her idea of befriending new people seriously.

"You know...I reckon Bernadette might be right," Remus said to James and Sirius.

"If she might be right then she might be wrong too," Sirius muttered.

"I think its a good idea," I said firmly.

"You can't be serious Evans! Think about what slime comes from Slytherin!" James protested.

"Not all Slytherins are slime," Bernadette said earnestly.

"But everyone who is slime was or is a Slytherin," Sirius shot back.

"Roboin, Corey" was now putting on the hat. "GRYFFINDOR!" it called.

"Talon, Maxamillion" also joined the Gryffindor table. There were only a few first years left. Hanson Troy(Ravenclaw), Gretchen Umbria(Slytherin), Nicholas Vince(Gryffindor) and Kyler Yoli(Hufflepuff) were sorted and the feast began. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The first week was busy, very busy with NEWT level courses. No one ever really explains how hard NEWT classes are. I guess it's something you have to discover for youself. I thought a lot about this "Not all Slytherins are slime, but all slime is a Slytherin". Therefore meaning that if a wizard is on the dark side, he comes from the Slytherin house, but if a person is in the Slytherin house it doesn't mean they will join the dark side. It makes sense I suppose but couldn't a dark wizard come from any house? Maybe not Hufflepuff, but perhaps Ravenclaw or Gryffindor could produce a dark wizard. I tried to tell everyone this in the common room but they all gave my a funny look and went to dinner. I was just re-adjusting my prefect badge when I noticed James hadn't left with the others.

"Evans, Gryffindor and Ravenclaw can't give out bad wizards," James said as though explaining something very simple to a toddler.

"Why not?" I asked. I didn't see why it couldn't happen. "Because Gryffindors are noble! And Ravenclaws are too smart," James said slowly and carefully.

"Your stereotyping," I lectured.

"Are you ever going to just agree with me?" he begged.

"No," I answered, smiling.

"Never?" he pleaded, smiling too.

"Nope." I was just about to leave for dinner when James called my name. My heart pounded. It sounded just like in my dream.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"Nothing..." He looked as though he were teetering on the verge of something,

"Potter?" I called.

"Yeah?" he asked.

"Nothing." I smirked and his lips closed around mine in front of half the people in the common room. I heard first years giggling and other people cheering. James had to pull away because we were both laughing and trying to french kiss at the same time. Blushing and giggling I climbed out of the entry hall with him right behind me.

"That was your first kiss?" he asked as we walked side by side.

"Yes." I was still grinning like an idiot.

"Wanna go out with me now?" he asked, hoping for a new answer.

"No, not yet." I gave him a sorry smile and still blushed.

"Why not?" he demanded.

"Because your still too immature," I said, my smile fading slightly.

"Thanks," he said coldly.

"I didn't mean it in a bad way...not really," I said, desperately trying not to make him mad.

"Oh really?" he asked, his voice still cold.

"Don't be mad!" I implored helplessly.

"Then how should I feel?" he asked. Underneath all the coldness he looked truly hurt...this wasn't how the dreams went....

"I don't know!" I exclaimed sadly.

"Neither do I." He brushed past me as we entered the great hall. The sky was cloudy and rainy.

"Um, Lily? What just happened?" Lo asked as James sat on the other side of the table. Sirius, Remus, and Peter jumped up to follow him.

"I don't wanna talk about it," I said and left the great hall again, Lo, Bernadette, Haven, and Lark all following.

"What is going on?" Lo shouted as I quickened my pace.

"I don't know what your talking about," I lied. As I have said, I am quite possibly the worst liar on the planet.

"You and James! What's happened?" Lo finally caught up with me and grabbed my arm.

"We kissed, he asked me out. I said no." I tried to pull away but Lo wouldn't let go of me.

"Jeez...," Sirius called out to us, breaking the awkward silence.

"I need to talk to Evans," James said to our friends.

"Yeah, you guys definately need to talk," Bernadette said, dragging Lo, Lark and Haven away,

"Um, Sirius do you mind?" James asked, nudging his unmoving friend.

"Do I have to leave?" he asked, pouting.

"Yes!" James and I called, exasperated, at the same time. Frowning, he walked away.

"Lily, do you even like me?" he asked.

"Of course I do James!" I said, surprised. It was the first time we were ever on first name terms. It felt nice.

"Then why can't we date?" he asked. His voice cracked.

"Because lets not ruin....ruin our friendship...lets not mess things up right now," I said, not tearing my eyes away from his.

"Okay..." He looked disappointed but at least he wasn't shouting at me anymore.

"James?" I asked softly

"Yeah?"

"I-" I stopped. I couldn't explain how I felt right now; I would never be able to put it in words. He seemed to understand because he nodded and we walked off to dinner together, resisiting the urge to throw ourselves into each others arms and stay there forever. Have you ever wanted something so badly and not let yourself have it because of fear of losing it?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AN: I am SOOOOO sorry for the late update and SOOOOO sorry this chapter wasn't longer. You guys hate me don't you? Oh and sry if my sorting hat song is bad, Im not JK :-/ I threw in in romance for inluvwithjames but I refuse to hook them til 7th year, JK knows best but there will be plenty more kissing & sweet stuff if thats what u want. Oh and If you want a romantic fic check out my new Bellatrix story....romance is in that...its a really dark fic tho, but it needs reviews to go read & review it after u review this one, Positive reviews(Or constructive ideas)The next chapter will be posted probabley Tuesday, if Im late then I give you a million apologies but pls remembere school is starting soon and I need to spend time with my frends and do my summer book reprt and go school shopping ect, but I need your guys support your the reason I write so often! I love all my reviews thanks soooo much especially too:InluvwithJames (U put up with my story even tho u want more love, hehe ur awesome)Dana-Rose(I kno u dont review here but ur advice and assistance has been great.) Sara-Anne (I luv u sweetie, keep reviewing) Manny (Ur reviews are always so positive! Your one of my fav. readers!) my two new beta-readers (Dunnygal & Feiry pheonix I thank you guys a million for your support and help, gods I hate grammer, but I luv u two!) Spunkygabi (Thanks for your reviews throughout the chappies! Your reviews are postitive too!! another of my fav. readers!) Luthien Vardamir(U were my first reviewer, I am forever greatful!) and to all my other awesome readers:Masha, sailorsunandchildofthesun, *:)*, Katie, Slim, Stargazer, Skylar (I loved ur review, so insightful!), Jen, sgt. peper, silver raven, Keyblade mistress, reader, reviwer, Sam, faithfulreader, & Metaya! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so READ & REVIEW SO I POST THE NEXT CHAPTER.-April