So many thank-you's but so little time...
1st: thanks to Stoiven who was my co-writer for this chapter, great work, but you'll hate me for what I've turned what you wrote into.
2nd: Kim for her wonderful dedication to helping me with this fic and ideas. I don't know what I'd to without you.
3rd: Sarah L, thanks for being a great Beta, you're a legend. I went to Baskin Robins without you tonight, sorry.
Last but not least: A huge thanks to all of my wondeful reviewers. I don't know if this story would be where it is if I didn't have your motivation and support. Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you. I love you all.
Anyway, on with the story. This and the next chapter have become my new favourite chapters, moving chapter 17 back to 3rd favourite.
Here it goes, hope you all love it...
Chapter 27
Merlin's Day
The day seemed to creep by slowly. The group had thought that the week had been slow, but Friday set new records for slow days.
Lily, Sirius and Ebony sat in the Muggle Studies classroom. It was the last period of the day and they were all getting anxious. The teachers had slackened off as they were excited about an important seminar they would be attending that night.
When class was finally over, Lily waited for Remus in front of the Ancient Runes classroom. Professor Dippit had asked all the prefects to report to his class after lessons. Remus had Ancient Runes with Josie Duderanch and Billy Martin, so the four of them made their way to the Headmaster's office together.
After about an hour of instructions from Professor Dippit and Professor Dumbledore, Lily, Remus, Frank and Kirstin went to the room of requirement to find that the others had already set up the room and everything was organised.
At dinner that night, James lay on the bench looking up at the enchanted ceiling. Lily sat next to his head and would put a forkful of food into his mouth every few minutes. Snape sat at the Slytherin table and watched them with a sour look on his face.
"See, the stars are dead, they don't look real." James sighed.
"They aren't real, they're enchanted." Lily said calmly as she took another bite of food and turned the page of the book she had borrowed from the library that day.
The students were all trying to act as normal as possible. Inside, they were ready to burst, but they could not let the teachers know that.
After dinner, Lily went to the owlery to visit her new owl, Bowdyn (meaning messenger) and watched as the teachers made their way down the path and out the gates. She found herself grinning as she waited for James and Sirius. When they arrived, they were laughing hysterically.
"Lily!" James yelled happily as he wrapped his arms around her and spun her around. "Let's party."
Sirius had made his way to the far side of the owlery and was tapping the wall with his wand and whispering quietly. When the wall opened up and an opening appeared, he removed a large heavy looking box and carried it to the door.
"Come on, lovers. We have work to do."
James gave Lily a kiss and then watched Sirius leave.
"Do you remember when we were in the forest and we talked about…sharing."
"Yes, sharing. If you're talking about what I think you are." Lily blushed.
"Well, I said that I was waiting for the right time and I was just making sure it is still the right time for you."
"James Potter, you astound me." Lily grinned.
"Is that a yes?" James asked hopefully.
"It's not a no."
"So it's a yes."
"I suppose it would be." Lily hinted as she left after Sirius. James grinned and followed.
At one minute to nine, half of Hogwarts had left their common rooms and were making their way towards the seventh floor corridor to the door that had appeared opposite the tapestry of Barnaby the Barmy.
Kim and Sirius stood at the door and welcomed the guests with a cup of Butterbeer. James had somehow managed to bewitch the Butterbeer keg to remain full for the duration of the night.
Inside the party was getting wild. Kirstin and Frank were easily the best dancers, but Ebony and Remus were close. Lily had charmed a muggle jukebox to work, which took a lot of work since most technology went haywire at Hogwarts. She had found a loophole in the room of requirement and was now singing along to all her favourite muggle songs.
Kim and Sirius were about to go inside to join the party when a familiarly greasy face appeared.
"Snape, ya slimy bastard. You weren't invited." Sirius laughed. His face then turned deadly serious. "So fuck off."
"Everyone's invited." Snape snarled. "I'm meeting a girl in there."
Sirius started laughing again. Kim remained calm.
"Well, I suppose you can come in. It is Merlin's day after all." She said sweetly.
"What?" Sirius exclaimed. Kim ignored him.
"I'll even let you in for half price, just because I feel sorry for you."
"Half price?" Snape looked excited.
"Yeah, I'm feeling pretty generous today." Sirius said, catching on.
"Well I guess I had the wrong idea about all of you. I thought you all hated me." Snape attempted to smile.
"Well we do, but we aren't mean." Sirius grinned back.
"Ten galleons and you're in." Kim joined in with the smiling.
"Ten galleons? That's pretty expensive." Snape looked slightly nervous.
"You do have the money?" Kim asked.
"Yes, of course." Snape pulled some coins out of his pocket and gave them to Kim. He made his way inside, bopping goofily.
Kim and Sirius laughed and followed him in, splitting the money between them.
"You're brilliant." Sirius said, kissing Kim on the forehead. After grabbing a butterbeer, they spotted their friends on the other side of the room: James and Lily dancing, Ebony and Remus kissing on a couch and Peter sitting nervously next to them. They made their way over.
"Have you seen Snape?" Sirius asked.
"Snape? He's here? Why?" Remus asked pulling away from Ebony.
"Yeah, who let him in?" James slowed his dancing down to join the conversation.
"We did." Kim laughed. "Why? Don't you want him here?"
"Not really." James said. "Lets go tell him to fuck off."
"James, is he really doing any harm being here?" Lily asked.
"Yeah, it's our party." James argued.
"Well, don't go looking for him. If you see him, then ask him to leave, but just forget about him and keep dancing with me." Lily said sweetly.
"Okay." James turned back to Lily. "I just don't want anything to ruin tonight."
They started dancing again.
The party was still raging when James and Lily left. They walked through the hall with hands held tight, each step causing their knees to grow weak in anticipation. James led Lily to the room in which he would prove his love to Lily.
"Oh, James! It's beautiful!" Lily whispered as they entered the room. She looked around at the neat room; the only source of light was the moonlight, which was glowing gently through the large open window, which overlooked the lake. James flicked his wand and the room was lit further by the glow of hundreds of candles, the soft breeze from outside causing the light to flicker across the white walls.
"I wanted to make it special. I've been thinking about this night ever since I realised my feelings for you." He responded as he closed the door and led her to the silk covered bed. "So, how do we get started?"
Lily's head dropped momentarily and then rose again as she gathered her thoughts. "James, before we go any further, there's something you need to know. I'm a virgin."
"What?" James jumped up.
"I made that up, about Nathan and the party. The truth is, I've never done anything with any guy. You were my first kiss." She grinned slightly.
"Why did you lie?" He shouted.
Lily looked shocked. "Because when you asked me, I didn't know you were a virgin." She stood up and faced him. "I've always thought you were the most experienced guy here, except maybe Sirius. I thought you wouldn't want me."
"You were ashamed. You were happier telling me that you were a slut than a virgin, that's low." James yelled.
"No, I…It's your fault." Lily yelled back. "You have…a saving people thing. You always have to act like a hero. I didn't want you to think I needed saving." She stopped yelling, but still remained angry. "Then you told me you were a virgin and I felt like an idiot, but I couldn't tell you then."
"You shouldn't have lied in the first place. I though I could trust you."
"And I thought I could tell you this without you acting like you are now." Tears were forming in Lily's eyes.
"Well you were wrong. You obviously don't know me like I thought you did."
"Is it really important?"
"It is to me. My virginity is important to me. I was saving it for you, but now I know the truth, I can't bear to look at you. In fact, I never even want to see you again. You've ruined this relationship. Are you happy?"
"Happy? Fuck off James." Lily screamed back.
"I will, but never with you."
James stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Lily collapsed on the bed in a fit of sobs.
Had she really lost James forever?
Who was going to save her now?
