Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, only the plot… which actually exists now! *applauds herself*

A/N: THIS CHAPTER IS DEDICATED TO MTOERH CAT FOR BEING THE FIRST TO REVIEW THE LAST CHAPTER!!!

A/N: Because I am lazy and want to progress to the next part of the story, I am skipping February and March. And there's nothing you can do about it!

Chapter 7- More than one Birthday Surprise

Saturday 2nd April

MY BIRTHDAY IS NEXT FRIDAY!!! Hey, I deserve to be excited! So don't look at me that way.

As much as I love to celebrate my birthday, I don't appreciate talking about presents. I never have the slightest idea about what to ask for. So I was greatly annoyed when Remus mentioned the subject during our rounds last night.

"So, miss Evans. Turning 16, are we?" He dropped into the conversation ever so subtly.

"No, 15 actually." I saw a grin spread across his face. "But that doesn't make me any less mature," I said in as stern a voice as I could manage.

"I never said you were. It's just that James and Sirius might find it a tad…um."

I sighed wearily. "And of course you'll insist on informing then, I'm sure."

Remus tried unsuccessfully to look serious. "I'm afraid it's my obligation to the Marauders."

"What, to exploit my every weakness?" It was my turn to grin.

"Sorry Lils. If I had the choice, I wouldn't." Remus feigned remorse.

"Let me guess, you're under oath? And don't call me Lils."

"Alright, but let me repay you for the inconvenience of the future taunts that are no doubt in store."

I raised a curious eyebrow at him.

"How about a special Marauders birthday present?" Remus, seeing my suspicious look added, "But nothing that explodes or changes your hair colour, I promise."

"Perhaps it would be more of a blessing to not receive a 'special Marauders birthday present'. Besides, there's not much you could get me in a week."

Remus put his arm around shoulder and gave me a sympathetic smile. "Lily, Lily, Lily, have you not herd of Madame Mirkwood's Express Gift Service, guaranteed to fill your order within five days?"

Wednesday 6th April

Just two sleeps! I'm so excited! Thankfully, the Marauders haven't started on the 'we're older than our Prefect' taunt yet. I suspect they'll save that until after my birthday.

The one thing I don't like about having your birthday at Hogwarts is that I don't get a cake. My mum use to make me the most delicious mud cake when I was little. In my second year I tried to get her to send one by owl, but she was afraid it would eat some of the cake on the way over. Instead she sends me clothes or make-up, little hints that she's hoping I'll bring a boyfriend home the following Christmas.

Friday 8th April- My birthday

I was woken up early this morning by the sound of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team leaving for a practice. I always sleep lightly on the eve of my birthday or Christmas. Even after they had gone down to the pitch, I couldn't get back to sleep. After I tossed and turned for a good twenty minutes, I gave up I went to have a shower. When I returned to my dorm, fully dressed, I found that Emmeline was still sound asleep. So I decided to go and watch the end of the Quidditch practice, having nothing better to do.

The spring air bit the skin on my face as I walked to the Quidditch pitch. The ground crunched under my feet from last night's frost and the hem of my robes was soon soaked. I took a seat at the top of one of the stands and watched James soar around the pitch. The practice soon finished and I made my way down the stands to meet James.

"Hi," he said, obviously surprised to see me. He quickly recovered and grinned at me. "Want a special birthday ride?" He held out his broom.

"Wha-?" this wasn't exactly what I was expecting. Hang on, what was I expecting? "I-I don't know… I mean I don't like…"

James chuckled. "You don't mean to tell me that the fearsome lioness of Gryffindor is afraid of heights?"

"Well… it's just that…" I could feel my face turning a brilliant shade of red as I squirmed under James amused smile.

"Come on, let's get another broom." James grabbed my hand and began to pull me towards the broom shed.

It occurred to me that I should be protesting in some way, but James had a firm grip on my hand and I was too shocked by his actions to do much more than gape pathetically.

James opened the shed with a small gold key he had on a fine chain around his neck. He selected a broom expertly before dragging me back to the pitch. He then held out his broom once more.

"But that's your broom." James was really starting to confuse me.

"Yeh, but it's much easier to handle than this." He held up the other broom. He handed me his and mounted the spare. "Come on, what are you waiting for?" He motioned for me to mount.

"James, I don't like heights." I wondered briefly if I could give him a detention for forcing me.

"Then we won't go high," he replied simply.

With sweaty hands I clambered awkwardly on the broom. I felt like such an idiot.

"Right. Now push off from the ground hard and keep your hands steady." He pushed off and hovered a couple of feet above the ground.

I nervously copied him and was relived to find that I wasn't that far from the ground.

James was smiling at me and there was no hint of mockery in his eyes for once. "Want to go a bit higher?"

I shook my head violently. This caused my world to spin, so needless to say I quickly stopped.

"Alright, we'll go forward then." James showed me how to ease my broom into a gently forward motion. I hesitantly moved forward.

"You're doing great," James said from beside me as we cruised along leisurely.

"Yeh right," I mumbled, concentrating on my hands and not the hard ground bellow me.

"Let's leave it there for today. We'll take these brooms back to the shed then get some breakfast, ok?" And to my great horror, he sped off towards the shed. At the other end of the pitch.

Not wanting to be left by myself on a broomstick, I tried to speed my broom up gently. Unfortunately my shaky hands made this impossible, sending me flying forward at a dizzying speed.

"James Potter, come back and help me now!" I had found my anger again.

I heard him laughing from the other end of the pitch. "Come on Lily, nearly there." He was now standing in front of the rapidly approaching broom shed.

"James, how do I stop?" I screamed.

He didn't have time to reply as I slammed into him at that moment. The force of the blow forced me to tumble off the broom and land on the soft, but still very damp grass.

For a moment I lay stunned.

"Wow," I heard James mutter from somewhere to my left.

I rolled over to see him sprawled on the grass with the broom lying on top of him.

"Oh my gosh, James I'm so sorry!" I scrambled up somewhat painfully and offered him a hand.

I drew in a breath and grabbed my hand. Instead of me pulling him up, he pulled me down next to him.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to do that." He sounded breathless.

"Are you ok?" I asked, wondering if I should fetch a teacher.

"Yeh, fine. Just a bit winded, I think. How about you?"

"Well, apart form feeling like my head has gone through a blender, also fine." I grin at him.

"Should I kiss it better?" he asked.

I punched him playfully, feeling extremely happy, despite my throbbing head.

"Sorry, instinct." He stood up and offered me a hand. I managed to stand up, though I wobbled a bit.

"Maybe you have a concussion." His face creased with concern.

"No, if I had a concussion I'd be acting weird, and I'm not." I rubbed the back of my head.

"Well, that's a matter of opinion. You didn't give me a detention for asking to kiss you and you're grinning like a bloody idiot." He grinned once more and I notice how pink his cheeks are… and how bright his brown eyes are. I shook my head to clear my stupid thoughts and my head spins again. I stumble and he grabs my arm to prevent me form falling.

"And your acting like a drunk," he adds as he helped me walk to the shed door. James put the two brooms back and began leading me back to the castle.

"One word, Potter…" I warn.

"And you'll give me detention, I know. And what happened to calling me James?"

I blush as I realise for the first time that I've been addressing him so casually. "Only when you're good," I tease.

We stopped by the hospital wing for something to clear my head. Thankful to be able to see straight, I walk back to the Common Room without having to lean on James. I was especially glad as I found the other Marauders and Emmeline waiting for us.

"What took you so long?" Sirius demanded. "Breakfast finishes in half an hour and Lily still has to open her presents."

"We had to stop off at the hospital wing. We had a little… accident." James explained elusively.

I glared at him, warning him to say no more.

"Well, I'm glad to see you two taking precautions. After all, teenage pregnancy is …oomph." James had whacked Sirius in the stomach.

"You know, you guys don't have to see me open my presents. You could always go straight to breakfast," I said through gritted teeth, directing my glare at Sirius.

"We don't mind," Sirius answered quickly.

I sighed and turned to my presents. The first was a wizard wireless from Emmeline. I had been borrowing hers for the past few years, and was glad to have my own.

The second was a present 'from my dad'. It was really a card mum had written dad's name in with some muggle money. James and Sirius were fascinated by it. The money, that is.

I was glad that their attention was diverted as the next and last present was from my mum. I had a feeling it would be something embarrassing. I opened the box nervously, praying that it would just be shoes. Inside was something wrapped in white tissue paper with a note on top.

Dear Lily,

I saw this last week whilst Petunia and I were shopping. I think you will find that it suits you perfectly. Happy Birthday, dear!

Love, Mum.

Inside the tissue paper was…

A/N: should I stop it here? Nah, I'm not that mean.

…a silk nightdress. It was in a creamy colour with tiny pink rosebuds painted on it. I judged that it would reach to about two inches above my knees. It seemed that my mother didn't know me at all.

"Wow!" I looked up to see Sirius and James gaping at the rather revealing nightwear. Thankfully Remus and Peter were polite enough to keep their mouths closed.

I quickly stuffed the dress back in its box as I felt a blush creep into my cheeks. "So… who wants breakfast?"

I avoided James' gaze as I ate my breakfast. I could tell he was studying me, and I was feeling rather uncomfortable. Luckily the post soon came to distract me.

A large barn owl dropped my second white box of the day into my lap. I picked up the card.

Happy Birthday, little sis.

From The Marauders.

"Little sis?" I glared at Sirius next to me, who I was sure was responsible for that nickname.

"Hardly seems appropriate after your last present. Maybe 'beautiful temptress' works better?" he nudged me and grinned.

I took a swipe at his head, but I missed. Damn.

I turned my attention back to the box. Inside was a very delicious-looking chocolate cake with raspberries on top. I pinched off a corner of the icing and popped it in my mouth. It tasted even better than it looked.

"Oh my, where did you get this?" I closed my eyes to savour the taste. I tasted so rich and… "Black, this wouldn't happen to have alcohol in it, by any chance?"

He immediately looked guilty and glanced at James for help. "Well, just a smidgen of coffee liqueur."

"Great, so it'll keep my awake and make me drunk." I put down the cake, not feeling so eager to eat it anymore.

"Only if you ate the whole thing in one night." James reasoned.

"You weren't meant to tell her that," Sirius mumbled into his bowl of porridge.   

As we were walking off to our first class (Transfiguration), I bumped into someone and felt a dull throb in my left arm. Pulling up the sleeve of my robe, I saw that there was a huge bruise from where I had landed on the grass.

James was looking at me in a concerned way, so I smiled to reassure him.

He smiled back at me and before we knew it we had burst into laughter, remembering my failed attempt at flying.

"Hey, what's so funny?" asked Sirius, looking between me and James. Then he caught sight of the bruise.

"Gee James, never figured you for the rough ty-ouch!" James had stepped on Sirius' foot.

"I fell off James' broom, you idiot!" I snapped at Sirius.

"Wh-what?" Sirius was glaring at James now. "You let her fly around on your broom?"

"So?" James mumbled.

We were quiet for the rest of the walk to class, but Sirius glared at James to whole way.

After classes had ended for the day, I wondered up to the Common Room to get some work done before dinner.

As I walked past a large portrait a knight and his horse, It swung open and James stepped out. He was panting slightly from the stairs he had just climbed that I remember were concealed behind the portrait.

"Hey, Lily. May I escort you back to the Common Room?"

"Where did you come from? And how do you know I'm going to the Common Room?"

"I guessed." He didn't answer my first question, and I didn't think I wanted the answer.

"Sure, why not." We lapsed into silence.

"So, how's your birthday been so far?" James enquired.

"Pretty good, despite the bumpy start." we both chuckled.

James stepped closer to me and I didn't move away. "Well, how about a birthday kiss for the birthday girl."

"No way." I quickly stepped away.

"Come on, Lily. Just a peck on the lips?" James pleaded.

"No."

"Well on your cheek then? Come on, it's your birthday!" he persisted.

I sighed, finally caving in. "Alright. But just on the cheek. No funny business."

He grinned and lent in slowly. I could feel his breath on my cheek right before he kissed me. James pulled away slowly.

I opened my eyes to look at him. Hang on, when did I shut my eyes?

James was now staring at my lips, wondering whether to try for a kiss there as well.

"Don't even think about it." I growled.

"Too late." He grinned and stepped away from me, much to my relief.

We continued walking.

"Lily, would you go out with me."

"Absolutely not."

"Damn."

"Sorry to disappoint."

"Never mind." He sighed. "I'll just have to try harder. And there's always the cake cutting ceremony."

I made a mental note to make sure there wasn't I cake cutting ceremony.

A/N: You guys have to review this one because it's longer and better. Is it better than the others? Well, why don't you review and let me know! RIGHT NOW! Please?