Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or the characters which you recognise in this story.

A/N: THANX U GUYS EVA SO MUCH 4 REVIEWING!! Im trying to upd8 asap, but ive had sooo much stuff to do, so sorry!! Anyway, on with the story ¡K

Never Love Again

Chapter Three: Bonding

The marauders sauntered into the Great Hall to attend the yearly feast, followed by a shy, but confident witch.

Whispers flew around the hall, as people murmured about the girl which accompanied the marauders. Of course it wasn't unusual to have girls trailing the gorgeous boys, but this girl neither looked lovesick (quite the opposite, in fact) nor was she walking behind them; she was walking next to them.

They all approached the Gryffindor table and the guys greeted their friends enthusiastically, since they hadn't seen each other for a whole month.

Lily, on the other hand, had no friends, and had nobody to greet. The disheartening feeling conjured up in her stomach again. She had been in the school for six years, yet she hadn't seized to make any proper friends. She had no impact on anyone and no one had an impact on her.

It was mainly due to the fact that she never found time for any; she was too engaged in her school work. The feeling of emptiness crawled inside her; it's nothing new, she thought silently as an invisible tear trickled down her cheek. I am who I am. I don't need anybody.

Liar. A voice at the back of her head indicted.

When the feast had ended, the marauders were chatting ardently about their past pranks to their friends. Lily, who was feeling very tired, got up from the table and treaded away without a sound to the common room.

James looked up and frowned seeing Lily leave. He too got up and made an excuse to abscond. Remus and Sirius noted this and exchanged smirks, then they continued with their conversation, a small grin forming on their faces, a wide smile forming inside.

Lily reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, and paused to recall the password.

Just then, a tall shadow approached her, and an unfamiliar eerie feeling occupied the atmosphere.

"Evans." pronounced a tall boy with long blond hair. Her name slithered around his tongue and his voice sounded like a hiss from a snake.

Lily struck around and saw none other than Lucius Malfoy.

To be honest, she didn't really like him; he was a prejudice bastard to her. He insulted her whenever he saw her and made vicious remarks about her heritage.

"So, I heard about your mudblood family, so now they're resenting you as well. Just as well, like any muggles could accept a snobbish freak like you." He leered.

Lily grew a knot in her stomach. She didn't know how he found out about it, but his words cut through her like a blade. For once, she didn't retaliate with a witty comeback. She was deflated and defeated.

"Shut your face, you bastard!" A voice echoed from behind the two.

James was striding towards Lily and gave evils to Malfoy.

"Oooh, has Potter found a new girlfriend." Malfoy sneered. "But surely you have better taste! What made you spring for a foul mudblood!"

Just as he finished his lips rested firmly against one another, James, who was fuming threw a punch at Malfoy, he hit him in the eye with such impact that it caused Malfoy to stumble.

"Don't-" Lily began than second thoughts invoked in her mind. Why should I be nice to him, when all he does he treat me like dirt, she thought.

She stepped up, and thrusted a thwack on Malfoy's nose, when he wasn't concentrating. She thumped him with all the energy that had been buried inside her, and surprisingly, she was very strong for her height. (5 ft 3)

Malfoy cried out in pain, then glared at the pair of them and scampered off, holding his nose with hatred planted on his face.

"Wow, that was some punch!" James said admiringly.

"Thanks," Lily gushed, smiling, truly happy for getting revenge. "But it came with a price!" She waved her arm in his face, and said, "Ow! You have no idea how much this hurts!"

James laughed. Lily laughed. Their sweet chuckles sounded perfect against each other, like a beautiful lovesong.

He's really nice, Lily thought.

Then The Voice spoke, you don't need anyone remember? Don't you recall what happened last time you trusted and cherished someone?

A wave of anger flashed across her face and she remembered her family. Yeh, you're right, nothing's worth that pain, she thought, though somewhat sadly.

James studied the girl before her carefully. Her face showed laughter, but he knew inside she was dying. He looked at her eyes, pain could be seen burrowing inside them and her aura was very mysterious, very hidden.

"You okay, Lily?"

"Yeh." She said quietly, then raised her voice. "Yes I'm fine." She stated firmly and confidently, though with a cold touch.

James noticing this, disregarded it and continued.

"Good, 'cause we have one hell of a prank to get to!"

Lily smiled, her coldness slowly melting as she saw him smile and laugh.

***

"You ready?" Sirius whispered under the invisibility cloak.

"Yep."

"Okay then, on the count of three." James confirmed. "One-two-THREE"

There was a deafening boom, louder than they expected. A satisfied grin spread on their faces as they heard the confused Slytherins waking up in surprise, to find that they were floating in mid air and had grown the specific features of a wart hog! Two of them though, specially chosen were in for a bigger 'treat'!

Footsteps could be heard approaching. Angry, thundering ones.

"RUN!" Remus exclaimed.

As they did so, Peter, being the most frightened, ran especially fast, dragging Sirius and Remus with him. Within seconds, the invisibility cloak slid off, revealing the two remaining people.

"POTTER! EVANS!" Professor Mcgonagol yelled, furiously.

James and Lily stopped, the others were already too far to be seen, but James saw a fleck of sandy hair peeking out from the corner of a door at the end of the passageway.

"WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING WANDERING AROUND AT ONE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING?"

James gulped. This sure is gonna get ugly, he thought.

"YOU WILL BOTH BE RECEIVING DETENTIONS AND I WILL BE WRITING - "

"Please professor," Lily interrupted. Then paused to think. "I had just had a nightmare, and James here was kind enough to accompany me to get a glass of water."

Professor Mcgonagol studied Lily's face. It was innocent and innocuous.

"It was-it was that-I had a dream about my parents." Lily continued, shivering.

A look of concern flashed across Mcgonagol's face. All the staff had been informed about Lily's incident with her parents.

Lily glanced at the teacher's face. She could tell that pity was strewn on it.

Pity, she spat in her thoughts. I do not need anybody's pity.

However, Mcgonagol seemed to believe Lily, and let them go without even a word.

Remus, Sirius and Peter revealed themselves from their hiding place. Obvious pleasure was planted on their faces, seeing that none of them were going to be punished.

"WOW! That was amazing Lily!" Sirius exclaimed. "You are definitely coming to our future prank sessions!"

Remus patted Lily's back, and said "Way to go Lily!"

Peter mumbled a quiet thank you, and looked away.

James, however was examining Lily's face. He was burning inside; he really wanted to ask her about what happened with her parents. Every time she spoke of them, a cold aura seemed to fill her presence. James did not like this; he did not like that Lily was all alone in a world of pain.

I won't let that continue, he thought somewhat boldly as if he was certain he could remedy it.

***

They were in the common room, discussing their prank and howled with laughter as they thought abut the events that would certainly enlighten their day the very next morning in the Great Hall.

It was almost 2am, and Remus grew sleepy. He rubbed his eyes like a little child and yawned cutely.

"I'm sleepy!" he whined jokingly.

Lily laughed at this. He was funny to think that even the legendary marauders still acted normally and was so gregarious. They were surprisingly easy to hang out with!

Sirius patted Remus' back, and muttered something like he was kinda sleepy too. A minute later, they both laid motionless on the comfy couch in the middle of the common room, deep asleep, venturing in their own, individual dreams.

Peter had already returned to the dormitory and his soft snores could be heard.

It was only James and Lily left that were fully awake.

"Look at them two! They're snoring away like pigs!" James laughed, pointing at the sleepy pair on the couch.

Lily smiled. She could tell James valued his friends deeply, even though sometimes he didn't show it quite as evidently. His eyes always melted when talking to them, and laughter always erupted from his system. A true laughter that was only understood by the people who he understood and who understood him the most.

"Um Lily . . . I've been meaning to ask you, but what's been going on with you and your parents?"

Lily's face strickened. There was an uneasy silence.

James seeing this, hastily continued, "Never mind, it's really none of my business."

"No, it's okay" Lily said softly.

She began her story.

"Well, my parents have never approved of me being a witch in the first place," she started.

Minutes flew by like seconds, and James who had been listening intently was captivated in her life story. His hands were on his chin and his attention was fully concentrated on Lily.

~~~~

"I understand," James said kindly as soon as Lily had finished. "Well, you can always hang out with us if you like!" he offered.

"Really?" Lily asked, doubtful. She wasn't in league with the marauders, she'll probably just be an outcast, she thought miserably.

"Are you kidding?! Everyone loves you, I'm sure they won't mind, and I'll be especially glad!" James blushed, just realizing what he'd said. "What I meant was-"

"Thanks!" Lily cut in seeing the famous James Potter turn beetroot. "I really appreciate it!" Lily beamed at James, which only made him blush deeper. "Oh and by the way, I never really got a chance to thank you for looking after me after . . . that night."

"You're as welcome as ever!" James said jokingly.

He looked at the girl before him; she was so full of life, yet her family had stripped her of her soul. He despised them after hearing her story.

He thought back at the past years where she had always just seem to blend in with the background, thus, he hadn't noticed her existence at all. He felt a guilty tinge inside him, as he now grew intricate feelings for this girl.

"Um Lily, I'm sorry for never talking to you since we've been in Hogwarts, I guess I never noticed you." James stated uncomfortably.

Lily smiled. "That's fine, I was too involved in my studies then, I think I was invisible to even myself!" she laughed. "However, I did notice you!"

James' eyes lit up, "Really?" he asked amused.

"Sure, of course, how could I not, you- well 'the marauders' were and of course still are legendary!"

James laughed. She had such a nice personality, she didn't get angry and was just so comfortable to be around.

"Well, from now on, things will change!" He announced as if it was a royal declaration.

And things did change indeed.

Lily laughed at him, she had done that a lot while she'd been around this boy, laughing was a new experience for her, a wondrous one that she loved.

"Well James, it's three in the morning now, so I think I'd best be off to bed!" Lily said.

"Yeh, me too," James said, suddenly realising the time. "And lucky me, I have to drag these two," he said pointing to the two snoring figures, "back to the dorm!"

Lily giggled.

"Well, have fun!" she said teasingly.

Before they left, James gave Lily an awkward hug. Lily, who was surprised, hugged him back.

A rush of warmth entered the two bodies, as if their souls connected. Their auras intertwined with each other, feeling feelings that had never been felt before.

Sure, it was awkward as Lily had never hugged, or been hugged by anybody, but in the awkwardness, she found the aptness in it.

A/N: So how dya like it? Give me some feedback, and please review!! Luv u guys!

S2 blue moon~