This story is based on The Notebook, by Nicholas Sparks. I don't intend on following it word for word. It is similar though. Don't spazz if it's different.

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or the plot or anything for that matter, so don't sue me. Props to JK Rowling and Nicholas Sparks.

Chapter 2

After the Halloween Ball, Lily and James' relationship went like a tornado wind. She grew to love him deeply. He, on the other hand, had always been crazy about her. They spent almost everyday with each other, which wasn't difficult, considering they spent a considerable amount of time doing their Head Student duties together. As their romance blossomed, so did a newfound friendship between Lily's friends and James's. James taught Lily how to play Quidditch, and they, Sirius, Peter, Remus, Em, and Bella spent hours at a time enjoying time in the Quidditch pitch.

James also helped Lily with transfiguration, her weakest subject. He excelled brilliantly in it – something Lily always wondered about. She, on the other hand, helped him with Charms, her best and favorite subject. It was James who encouraged her to apply for an Internship at the Ministry of Magic in Paris – a place she always wanted to work. And even though she had to fill out a lengthy, boring application, he helped her with it. Well… he kept her company.

But most of all, they just liked to be together. Which was exactly what they were doing on one chilly, spring morning.

"James," Lily protested, balancing her stack of five books in her arms as they walked down the halls together after lunch. "I really need to study for Transfiguration-"

"Oh God Lily," James said, teasingly. "You'd think you're life revolves around studying!"

Lily sniffed indignantly and shook her head. "Just because YOU don't have to study for it –"

James shrugged and took the books from her arms. "If you go around carrying these many books, you'll be too tired to take your midterm anyway."

Lily giggled, and felt her anxiety melt away. That's what she loved about James… he always knew how to lighten her mood. "And what makes you think that those are too heavy for me?"

"Well," James said, his eyes twinkling. "Just playing Quidditch tires you out." Lily groaned.

"Oh come off it, James. Quidditch is a ton more tiring than carrying five bloody books."

"Not when you only play for 10 minutes."

"James!" Lily stopped, narrowing her eyes at him. "I can play for longer than that!" James shrugged, but said nothing and continued walking. Lily hurried after him, grabbing onto his arm, spinning him around.

"Listen here James Potter!" she said, placing her hands on her books. "I can carry my own books!"

"No," James shook his head. "I'll carry them."

Lily tugged harder at them. "No, James, I said I'd-!" She yanked hard at the books, and all at once she felt herself falling backwards, her papers and books flying into the air. One of her books fell atop her head with a crash.

"Oh my God Lily," James gasped, kneeling down to her. He pulled one of her books off the top of her head. "Are you all right?"

Lily glanced up at James and burst out laughing. James looked positively appalled at her, sitting on the floor sitting in a mess of books and papers and laughing. Then he grinned and sat down next to her on the ground.

"You're really something, you know?" he said, helping her gather her papers.

"Yeah," she said, wiping her eyes. She turned to him and smiled. "But I can carry my own books!"

James rolled his eyes. "Whatever-"

"Excuse me, Mister Potter? Miss Evans?"

A voice behind them made them both jump. Professor McGonagall stood behind them, her features tired and worn. Lily looked skeptically at her – she had never seen her Professor look so weary.

"Yes?" James answered, noticing the same thing as Lily. Professor McGonagall cleared her throat.

"The Headmaster wishes to see you, Miss Evans," she said simply. Lily turned to James, uncertainty in her eyes. James smiled back at her, helping her up.

"I'll take care of this," he said. Professor McGonagall nodded curtly, and Lily followed her down the hallway.

"Lemon sherbet," Professor McGonagall said, as they approached Professor Dumbledore's Office. The statue immediately spun around and revealed a large marble staircase. As soon as she was ushered inside, she took a seat in front of Dumbledore.

Dumbledore shared the same tired look that McGonagall did. Lily felt fear building up in the pit of her stomach.

"Miss Evans," he greeted. Lily wanted to scream at him to just tell her and get it over with, and she prayed that there was nothing wrong, that he had good news to tell her…

"As headmaster of this school, I am given some of the most unpleasant duties that one could receive. This particular one, however, is one of the most painful." Lily felt her stomach churn and suddenly she wished, more than anything that James was there with her.

"There was a Death-Eater attack, last night," Dumbledore continued softly. "In Surrey." Lily felt her world freeze. "Lily, I'm terribly sorry, but your parents…"

She stopped listening to him. Everything around her stopped. She vaguely remembered McGonagall reentering, bringing Bella and Em to her, and having an envelope placed in her hand. She had pocketed it without thought, and felt tears beginning to run down her face. She heard someone suggest she go see Madam Pomfrey, but she insisted she go to her own room, to her own bed.

And she lay in her bed now, the covers bunched up around her, as she still lay in her uniform. Em and Bella sat on her bed, speaking soft words of comfort to her, but Lily didn't hear them. She just wanted to sleep and never wake up.

Then she remembered James. She remembered fleeting images of her walk back to Gryffindor Tower, of the look on James' face when he saw her, on everyone's face…

She drifted in and out of fitful, nightmarish sleep, and saw that Bella and Em had returned to their own beds. Lily sat up and wiped her eyes, trying to get her tears to stop. Her parents… It felt like a bad dream. A very bad dream, and she wanted to wake up from it.

She got out of bed and pulled her dressing robe over her wrinkled uniform. She slipped out of her dormitory and made her way down the stairs to the common room. She needed to be out of bed, to think and to be alone. She didn't even know what time it was… but everything sounded quiet, so she figured it was safe.

The common room was deserted, so Lily curled up on the couch in front of the fire. The flames were still alive, though Lily felt no warmth from it. She felt cold and dead inside, knowing that she would never see her mother and father again. Tears burned down her cheeks and she angrily brushed them away. Why did it have to be in Surrey? Why did these bloody attacks have to happen at all?

Lily reached into her pockets for a handkerchief when her felt paper. She pulled it out and saw that it was an envelope. What…?

Suddenly, the portrait hole swung open. Lily froze and turned around. Of all people, James, Sirius, Peter and Remus were walking through the door, whispering to each other. They stopped, however, when they saw her. In her state, Lily didn't even care that they were out past curfew, that James was being an irresponsible Head Boy. Sirius nodded to Peter and Remus and they made their way upstairs. Remus, she noticed, looked rather disheveled. James stood slightly behind her, acting almost afraid to come near her.

"James," Lily whispered weakly, turning to him, her eyes glassy with tears. She burst into a new wave of tears, which caused him to spring from his position to her and wrap his arms around her.

She cried for what seemed forever, while James held her and gently stroked her hair.

"Lily," he whispered, when her sobs seem to decline. "It'll be all right. I promise… everything'll be all right." He caressed the side of her face with his fingers, then took her hands in his, intertwining their fingers.

Lily felt a faint warmth spread through her body. He offered her so much comfort. She smiled weakly at him, before glancing away. Her eyes caught sight of the envelope on the ground and she broke apart from him for a moment to pick it up. James glanced at her skeptically, as she opened it.

"Merlin…" she muttered, as she read it. It was a letter from the Ministry of Magic in Paris. She had been accepted for the internship and they were awaiting her arrival in the fall of this year. She didn't feel joy though, like she thought she would. She felt dejected and empty, because she couldn't share this news with her parents.

"Lily," James breathed, when she handed the letter to him. "You did it, Lils." He pulled her a little closer, offering her a smile, but Lily shook her head.

"I… I don't know what to do," she whispered. James' smile didn't falter.

"You will," he said. The Lily Evans he knew would always come through and make the right decision. He knew she would.

They didn't speak after that. James continued to cradle her, and she finally drifted off to sleep in his arms. She felt his lips brush against her forehead as she closed her eyes, which brought a smile to her face. She was safe.

Lily seemed better as time went by… she still didn't eat much, but her sleep was better. Em and Bella were ecstatic by Lily's progress, and were forever grateful to James for that. Although her marks faltered a bit, Lily still remained at the top of the class, and by the time graduation came, she had made her decision.

"I'm going to Paris," she said, one day, when she and James were out by the lake. It was one of their last days at Hogwarts, and the day was bright and sunny. James nodded faintly.

"Good," he replied softly. He sighed then turned to her. "Then what's going to happen?"

"Happen?" Lily asked, puzzled.

"To us."

Realization dawned on her, and she suddenly felt very weak. She didn't know. "I… I don't know James." She bit her lip nervously. "You could… you could come to Paris…?"

"I can't," James whispered. Lily felt his words hit her like knives.

"Then I won't go," she said. She couldn't go without him… she needed him. James took her by the shoulders and shook her slightly.

"No, Lily! You have to take this internship! I'm not going to get in the way of your future," he said firmly. Lily felt tears build up in her eyes.

"You were always in my future James," she whispered, the tears spilling over. James sighed and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.

"Lily," he said softly, his heart aching. "I wish I could go with you, but I really can't…"

"I know," she replied, her voice muffled. She looked up at him and smiled sadly. "I guess I'm not going to be the girlfriend of a Professional Quidditch player after all."

James frowned at her comment, and pulled away slightly. Lily suddenly felt worried – had that offended him in some way…?

"What's wrong James?" she asked, reaching out to him. James cleared his throat.

"I'm not going to play Quidditch, Lily."

Lily was shocked. James had been offered the chance to play with some of the top Quidditch teams in England - Wimbourne, Appleby, Puddlemere and another team she couldn't remember - it was the chance of a lifetime. What was he saying?

"What do you mean…?" she whispered. He sighed, and glanced up at the blue sky.

"I'm going to become an Auror."

His statement silenced her, and Lily stood frozen for a moment. He turned to her then, and smiled weakly. "It's not fair, Lily, that people have to suffer… that innocent people are dying ever day." His smile wavered. "Like your… your parents, Lily. I want to be able to help, to protect people. Protect you."

Lily felt overwhelmed as he spoke, and she felt a sense of pride and adoration building up in her. Quidditch was so important to James, and he had the chance of a lifetime, but he was making one of the most selfless decisions of anyone she knew. She didn't know what to say.

He continued nervously. "That's why I can't go, Lily. I already have training in London… it starts soon, my parents had something to do with it, you see, so… I'm sorry Lily."

Lily shook her head. "Don't be," she said, with a smile. "You're doing one of the most noble things of anyone." She bit her lip, not knowing what else to say. So she engulfed him in an embrace, holding him tight.

James smiled affectionately at her. "You're cute, you know that?" he said teasingly, his eyes taking on their familiar twinkle. Lily grinned.

"I know."

Graduation came too soon, and soon Lily found herself at the Ministry of Magic in London, with Bella, Em and James with her. Her bags in her hand, she stood in front of the one of the Floo Networks that would send her directly to her flat in Paris.

"Lils," Em said, her voice cracking with surpressed tears. "Bella and I are going to come see you as soon as we can. You were my… my best friend, and I'll miss you so much." She embraced Lily tightly, then burst into tears. Bella did likewise, and they left James and Lily alone for their goodbye.

"So," James said nervously, looking at the ground. "This is it."

"Yeah," Lily said softly. "It is." She took a deep breath. "I'll miss you," she continued, meeting his eyes. "More than you'll know."

James smiled slightly and looked down. "I think I'll know. I'll miss you too, Lils." He took a deep breath, before meeting her eyes again. "Lily. I… I need you to promise me something." Lily nodded.

"What is it?"

"I want to be with you more than anything in the entire world," he said, taking her hand in his. "But I think that it'll be too painful for me to not be able to be with you."

Lily felt like the wind was knocked out of her. It was a few moments before she found her voice again. "Do you mean… that you want to… break up?" she whispered hoarsely, breaking away from him. James shook his head fervently.

"Lily, listen to me," James said, taking her chin in his hand, tilting it up to look at her. He kissed her lightly before continuing. "I love you more than anyone else in the entire world. There will never be anyone else for me, Lily." Her green eyes were brimming with tears and she sniffed, and James felt as though his heart was being torn apart... "And we will find each other again. I promise you Lily."

"I love you James," she burst into tears, as he pulled her into one final kiss. The clock on the mantle began to chime, signaling that it was time for her to go.

Lily broke away, tears still streaming down her face. She hurried into the portal and grabbed a handful of the green powder. Their eyes met one final time, and she saw James mouth 'I love you' before she disappeared in a cloud of green smoke.