CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

"- I'm not really going out with Lily," I say.

"What?" Remus looks very confused.

"This is all a set up so that Martin ends up with Lily."

Remus continues to look baffled.

"I didn't realize that Bertha would dump you for that."

"No, it's ok. We weren't really close or anything," Remus seems to have gotten over the shock.

"Ok. C'mon, let's get back to the common room."

~*~*~*~*~*

            Dear Lily, Do you want to go to Hogsmeade with me tomorrow? I've already checked – Martin will be there. Reply soon. James

            James, Sure. Let's meet in the common room at 9:30am. Lily

James and I arrive in Hogsmeade at 10. We head straight for Zonko's. Martin is there too. We queue up in front of him to make sure he sees us. James slides his arm around my waist. I can feel Martin's eyes on my back. He coughs, and we turn around to see him leaving.

"Looks like we got him," James says, grinning.

"Yeah."

We stand in silence for a while.

"Um, James."

"Oh, sorry," he blushes and withdraws his arm from around my waist.  

We spend the whole day 'accidentally' running into Martin. Most of the time he remains expressionless and walks away. When Martin isn't around, we go round the shops, pulling pranks on unsuspecting customers and shopkeepers. Eventually we are kicked out of most of the shops.

"There's something I want to show you," James grabs my hand and leads me away from the shops. "Close your eyes."

"Where are we going?" I ask.

"You'll find out."

He leads me a little further. I can feel we are going uphill. We stop where the wind blows in my face.  

"Now open your eyes," he whispers in my ear.

I open my eyes to the most beautiful view. We're standing on top of a hill facing west where the sun is setting. At the foot of the hill there is a pond where the sunlight reflects off it.

"Do you like it?" James asks.

"It's beautiful," I reply.

We sit down on the grass.

"You cold?"

"A bit," I reply.

I notice Martin at the bottom of the hill. He's pretending to watch the ducks on the water but I know he can see us. James wraps his arms around me and we sit in silence watching the sunset.

~*~*~*~*~*

Lily and I sit on the hill, watching the sun. Well, she's watching the sun, but I'm not. I stare at Lily. Her hair is streaked with gold and red like the sunset and her eyes are green as the grass. I have my arms wrapped around her and she leans comfortably into me. I pluck a white flower and slide it into Lily's hair. This has got to be the most romantic moment I have ever had. Except for the fact that Martin is at the pond watching us. I try to ignore him.

"Wow, this is so beautiful," Lily murmurs.

"You're so beautiful," I whisper in her ear.

She turns around and looks into my eyes.

~*~*~*~*~*

"You're so beautiful," James whispers.

I turn around and look in his eyes. They glow amber from the sun. I smile.

"Thank you."

"Don't have to thank me," James pulls me closer, his eyes melting my mind.

~*~*~*~*~*

I pull Lily closer. I can't let her go. She doesn't want me to let her go. I shouldn't be doing this, I tell myself. I shouldn't, but I can't help it. Pushing guilty thoughts out of the way, and Lily's hair from her face, I let our lips meet.

~*~*~*~*~*

Spur of the moment. I've never known what that meant until now. I don't think, I don't hesitate - I just let it happen. Before I know it, I let him hold me, I let him roll over onto me and run his hand down my spine, and I let myself kiss him.

"Lily…" his voice echoes in my head as he runs his hand down to my hips, sending shock waves up my body. I can feel his body against mine, his lips on mine, and his tongue sliding gently into my mouth. James moves his hand from my hip and the shock waves die down, and my thoughts clear up again.

Martin is at the bottom of the hill.  

Martin is still watching us.

I open my eyes to see Martin turning to walk away and the moment is gone. James stops and loosens his hold on me. Neither of us moves. Neither of us looks at the other. Until I feel water on my face. James is crying.

"James?"

~*~*~*~*~*

I feel like she wants me, I feel like she doesn't want me to let her go - until she remembers Martin and stops. Who am I kidding? She's only doing this for Martin. She doesn't want me. And I'm taking advantage of her. Guilt overcomes me and I can't help the tears that slide down my face onto her cheeks.

"James?"

"Lily, oh god, I am so sorry," I say, noticing I am still on top of her and pulling away instantly.

Her eyes search mine.

"It's ok James. We… we shouldn't be doing this," she wipes my tears with the back of her hand.

"We should go," she says, standing up and pulling me to my feet.

~*~*~*~*~*

AN: 200+ reviews!!! Yay! Sweet chapter? Ah… they are falling for each other. Are we all happy now? It's not over yet. Martin is not bye-byes yet… hehe. I enjoy torturing you… replies:

Crazyswimmer22 being a bit lazy – so what do you want to happen with Remus? Tell me and I'll try to include it. Foxy Wolf thinks he should like Lily again. What do you think?

Shadowfox991 – not exactly the quickest update here but I'm trying. Hope you like this chapter.

Angelbud2233 – Sirius does some eavesdropping next.

Dee Ann – no cliff. Aw… I didn't want to torture you too much…

Phredtheflyingmonkey – everything?? I'm flattered.

Tori-black – why are you confused? Btw, I'm changing the plot slightly. Hope you don't mind.

Kittiy – ok, now that sounds like you're joking.

Mika-mitch – Lily's starting to realize stuff now.

You know you're right – it wasn't that much of a cliff. I bet you could've guessed what James was going to say.

Windowseat wonderer – nice long review you gave me (electra gives ww a sarcastic look)

Lanette – martin is just some poor love struck guy like James. Only that James is hotter.

Cyd – how did we like this chappie? Lily finally does some interesting stuff with James.

Hollow headed Hamster – a jealous drunken mouse? He, that's funny. Bertha makes me think of a pumpkin.

Miss Fred – the email reply was much appreciated and so was this review. Miss SARS has sent a reply to the agenda and is now searching for some citrus fruit repellent.

Simmy – yeah, I was in Sydney so I couldn't update. Keep reading!

Foxy Wolf – good, idea. I'll try to include it.

Lady-anna-bee – leave Martin? We couldn't just abandon him like that, now could we? That would be cruel.