(Wow, just realized how many reviews I have! I haven't been putting in enough effort for you guys…sorry…But now my computer is working again (knock on wood) and I can update. If only I could find my plot outline!)

Humbly, Lily and James returned to the Gryffindor table. And Lily did notice how humble James was being lately.

"Punishment enough?" She whispered, so only James could hear. "I think this is punishment too much."

James bit his lip in an effort to keep from grinning as the students around them whispered and giggled to each other. At the Gryffindor table, Sirius was doubled over in raucous laughter and Elle was shaking her head disapprovingly. Slowly a sly smile stole over James's face, despite his efforts for a bland expression. Lily walked resolutely next to him, face bowed in shame. He elbowed her lightly.

"Lighten up, Lils," he urged with a small laugh. "Every guy in here is dying to be me right now. But I'm enjoying myself too much to pass this up…" With a quick movement he slid his arm around Lily's waist. Several of his friends yelled triumphantly, and the girls giggled and gasped even louder.

"James," Sirius begged, clutching his sides, "James, stop! It's--" He silently quaked with laughter. "--It's too much!"

As Lily resumed her place next to Elle, she couldn't quite hide the small smile playing across her lips. James turned towards the other tables and bowed extravagantly. The noise of cheering went up to the point where Dumbledore had to stand up. Immediately a silence fell over the premises.

"Thank you, James," the headmaster said in a bemused voice. "But that is quite enough. Students, you forget that your supper gets cold."

His statement proved true as the noise of clattering forks and knives, until then laying forgotten on the tables, were picked up.

"I bet you liked that, didn't you, James?" Remus teased.

"Yea yea! I bet that was the highlight of your week!" Peter chimed in.

"Shut it, Wormtail," Sirius growled, running his fingers through his dark hair. "And you, Moony, shouldn't talk either. We don't berate you and Elle for being together, so you should nose out of James's business!"

Immediately Peter reddened and took an unnatural interest in his potatoes as Remus pushed peas around his plate with a fork.

"Geez, Padfoot, I didn't meaning anything by it…" Remus amended softly. Sirius nodded and returned to contemplating his next prank on the Slytherins. No one noticed that James and Lily had stayed silent during the whole exchange.

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The dinner had just disappeared from the golden platters as everyone rose and stretched.

"Hey Evans!" A Ravenclaw 7th year yelled. Lily turned to face him. "Evans! If I hurt my hand, will you sleep with me, too?"

Lily turned bright red and looked down, her hands quickly starting to shake in anger. Elle opened her mouth to make a sharp retort, but James had already stepped forward.

"Maytag!" He shouted furiously, injured arm forgotten. "You take that back!"

Ralph simply smirked and made obscene gestures at Lily. Suddenly he was falling backwards, having been bowled over by James. In quick succession the Gryffindor boy had punched the blond youth in the stomach. Ralph groaned and rolled to the side. His leg thrashed out and caught James in the groin.

"Foul!" Sirius roared. "That was so below the belt!"

"Literally," Remus supplied.

Ignoring the burning pain in his…well, you know…James surged forward and connected his fist solidly with the side of Ralph's perfectly manicured head.

"Enough!"

The cold voice of Professor Gros, head of Slytherin house, echoed down the corridor. Quickly the scuffle halted.

"Well, well Potter," Gros drawled. "You're seem to be getting into a lot of trouble lately. Maytag?"

Ralph lay on the ground, whimpering and covering his head. Gros called him again, more forcefully. The boy raised his head, revealing a bloody temple and swollen lip.

"Sets, accompany Maytag to the Hospital Wing," the potions master ordered. Presently Ralph's year mate helped him to stand. The crowd dispersed. "You Gryffindors, return to your common room. No, Potter, you stay with me."

Everyone obeyed, rebellious looks on their faces. James licked the blood off his lip as the hall emptied of his friends. Gros's shadowy face turned toward him.

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When James returned to the common room at a very late time, he found it packed with his friends.

"What're you in for?" Sirius asked hastily. James heaved a deep sigh.

"Just…the usual," he responded mock-casually. They hissed in sympathy and Katrina, a 5th year, lifted the back of James's bloody shirt.

Raw welts criss-crossed his back. There were more than five.

"That's not right," Elle stated. "Ralph isn't even in that sour pickle of a potion teacher's house."

James gaped at her. Knowing Elle, he would have thought that she would tut at him and tell him he had it coming.

"Well, here's the good news mate." Sirius cracked his knuckles. "Maytag is going to be sitting out for the next quidditch match. You gave him a concussion. Hah!"

"Serves the little snipe right!" Remus agreed, smiling in spite of himself

The others nodded heartily.

"Well, that is indeed good news, but I'm afraid you've all forgotten that I won't be playing, either." He motioned to his damaged shoulder. "But, could I please be alone with Lily for a while? We need to talk."

When they were finally alone, Lily and James dropped onto a couch contentedly. Still, there was a feeling of unease in the room.

"Lily," James said after much hesitation, "I'm sorry about what happened back there. I can't believe that Ralph would have the nerve to--to…"

Gently Lily stopped him and smiled. "No harm done, James, except maybe to you. How are the jewels?"

It took James several seconds to understand what she meant, but he accepted the joke with a smile.

"They'll be fine, thanks. Now, the other thing….I noticed at dinner that you didn't say anything when Remus was teasing. If you don't want…to be a couple, I mean. just say the word. Or, words." He finished somewhat lamely, visibly apprehensive.

Lily's brow went up. "You didn't say anything either, Mr. Potter. I simply felt guilty because you had taken the blame for me in front of everyone. I thought you would rethink liking me. And then, once again, back there. You seem to get into a lot of trouble on my behalf."

James smiled gratefully. "Anything for you, my dear Lily. So…we're a…a couple now?" he couldn't keep the hopeful tone out of his low voice.

"We are a couple, James. You can count on that."