A/N: Palani here...so, i'm not the best at keeping things updated, and since this is my first fanfic attempt, bear with me. Chapt 3 is actually already half done, and should be posted soon, but if no one reviews I just might forget (empty threat, the chapters will keep coming:) ) anyway, feedback of any sort is more than welcome, i do have ideas, but it's nice to hear what other people think...who knows where this is going either it kinda just comes out of the fingers...so watch out!! also, i realize that the first chapter (and this one as well) have alot of sexual content, but i'm trying to get away from that and into the plot of the story...don't worry, the relationship stuff won't go away, it'll just come and go intermitently :)

Moo: thank you so much for reviewing, it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside...i hope i keep you interested enough to read as i post.

Pheonixash137: yay, love ya lots, have you posted new stuff yet? of course, how could i forget, mione and draco sittin in a tree...i am rather rough on his dad though aren't i? and it just gets better from here!

Disclaimer: ok, so i forgot to put a disclaimer on the last chapter, but i do not own any of the characters or plot lines suggested by JK Rowlings writings, however, i do own my own plot lines and any characters that you don't recognize :)

Chapter 2

When Sirius had left, James sat at a desk opposite Lily, his mind seething with anger. The injustice, the horror, of what he had just stopped still rang clear in his mind. He knew that Lily was a strong girl, young woman really, and if Malfoy had gotten any farther he would probably not have come away completely unscathed. He had made a mental note of how Malfoy had taken magic out of the picture by pinning Lily's hands away from her wand. This had given him a small satisfaction, Malfoy knew that if Lily had had use of her wand he would have been the one in trouble. Lily was sitting still in her chair, gazing blankly ahead, her arms wrapped around her knees. Long, thick, auburn hair fell down her back, and the torchlight from the hallway was glinting off of it like a sheet of copper. Flickers from the flame caught also the green light of her eyes, accenting their brightness, and clarity. James mused at how unscathed she seemed. She was not crying, or trembling, or showing discomfort of any kind. She was simply sitting, apparently lost in thought, or out of thought, perhaps in meditation even, James could not tell. He watched as the light on her hair revealed her back rising and falling in steady breaths, and realized just how beautiful she was to him.

He had known her since their first year at Hogwarts. She had come alone, from a muggle family. He noticed her first in the train station, at Kings Cross with his parents. He had seen her family approaching the platform, her mother holding her hand as if to comfort her. James remembered thinking that this girl looked more poised and relaxed than her mother, and felt that the hand was really just a mother's way of holding on for a little bit longer. He listened as Mr. Evans asked the porter politely if there was a platform

9 ¾ at the station. The porter rather haughtily asked the man to not bother him with silly questions. James's father had then beckoned to the Evans', "I see you have a young wizard among you?" he said kindly, gazing down at Lily.

"Yes," Mrs. Evans beamed at her red-haired daughter, "our youngest, Lilith, got her letter this summer." It was only then that James noticed the other girl, standing reluctantly behind her parents. This girl was obviously older, perhaps 13, perhaps 14, and she was pale and blonde, a striking contrast to her vibrant sister. But it was the expression on her face that struck James the most. It was look of utmost loathing and horror. She gazed guardedly at James and his parents as if they were dangerous and unknown. Her beaming parents did not seem to notice, but she kept away from Lily as if she were infected with a highly contagious disease.

"Well," said James' mother, "that's ever so wonderful. It's always nice to meet new parents. If you would like to follow us onto the platform then...?" she asked openly.

"Actually, we're in a bit of a hurry ourselves," Mrs. Evans replied. "I don't' suppose you could take Lily from here? It's just that Petunia has a train to catch as well. She's starting at St. Mary's preparatory this year." She waved a hand at her blonde daughter.

"Of course we can help her from here!" Mr. Potter exclaimed. "By the way, we didn't introduce ourselves," he held out a hand, "Harold Potter, and this is my wife, Jaima, our son James, he's starting this year as well."

"And we're the Evans, Martin," Mr. Evans indicated at himself and his wife, "and Roslyn, Petunia, and Lilith, here." James looked across at the girl in front of him. She looked back, smiling, and all the sudden he had felt very excited to be going to Hogwarts this year. The Evans said a slightly tearful goodbye to their daughter, but Petunia stood in the shadow and didn't as much as wave at her sister before they departed in the other direction.

"Now Lily, I think it would be best if you went first. All you have to do is walk towards that barrier, and next thing you know, you'll be right through." Mr. Potter was saying. Lily broke her gaze with James and thanked his father, and grabbing her trolley she shook her hair and strolled casually through the barrier. "That young girl is a natural, she is." James's father said as they walked forward themselves. "You might end up learning a thing or two from her at school this year!" he said with a mischievous smile, cuffing his son playfully about the head.

They came out on the other side, as many nervous first years said goodbye to their families and apprehensively boarded the crimson Hogwarts Express. The platform was noisy and crowded, and James looked about for a gleam of red hair that would point him to Lily. He found it already boarding the train. Hurriedly he had turned to his parents to say goodbye, but of course they took forever; his mother fussing about robes and making sure he had his wand safely pocketed, and that he hadn't forgotten his owl. Finally escaping as the whistle sounded, James had run to the first open compartment door and scrambled on. He waved goodbye to his parents, then darted inside, intent on finding Lily Evans.

He found her to his dismay, in a compartment full of girls. It seemed that a few second or third years had sisters that would be starting in his year, and they were now inducting the new girls into Hogwarts life.

"First thing that will happen when we get there," a rather bossy looking brunette was saying, "is the sorting, where you'll be put into your houses, you know." She said this matter of factly, and James watched as Lily's eyes grew wide with excitement, and perhaps he saw the slightest glint of fear as well.

There was no fear in them now he observed, just confusion, and perhaps a bit of sadness. James shook his head slightly, to clear his mind. If he had known the meaning of the word love on that day in the train station, he knew it would have been love at first sight.

Lily sat in the desk across from James and stared ahead blankly. Her mind though it should have been reeling, felt as though it had turned to molasses, and didn't want to think about anything. Besides, at the moment, she didn't know what to think. She wasn't afraid, though she felt she should be; she wasn't angry, but she knew that would come; she didn't feel violated, and couldn't figure out why. Most of all she was confused. Recalling the whole attack, she was appalled to find that at times, she had wanted Malfoy to succeed. It was as if some deep dark fantasy she had was being fulfilled, even though everything in her mind screamed at her it was wrong. It was not like it had been a perfect stranger; she had known Lucius Malfoy when he was at school, two years ahead of her.

Like most girls at the time, she had admired Malfoy. He was one of those good looking boys that you just couldn't help but notice. He was tall, with alabaster skin, lustrous white blonde hair, and piercing blue eyes. He was the opposite of James, in appearance and everything he stood for. It was well known at school that the Malfoys were from long line of Slytherins, a family with an uncanny affinity for the Dark Arts. In many ways he was like Snape, well versed in every curse and hex ever imagined, and horrible to those he felt were his inferiors. He had the same pure blood complex, and loathed muggle born wizards publicly. Yet there was a very marked difference between Snape and Malfoy. Lucius made himself revered. All of his bad traits were masked by perfect composure, grace, and a haughtiness that made students look up to him, rather than despise him. Lily had always seen him for what he was though, and knew who he was associated with; she knew her admiration of him had been strictly physical. He was now working in the Ministry, in the department of Civil Magical Progress. It was a new department that had almost been created by him. This in itself was shocking, since he had only been a Hogwarts graduate for a year before it was developed. There was no denying his intelligence, but also no denying his dubious allegiances and opinions. Lily had sat many evenings in the Parker household with Alice, listening to her parents discuss the state of the Ministry, and why the creation of such a department had even been thought of. To all reasonable wizards, the department seemed to be an engine of control, and in the Parkers opinion, no one in the Ministry should be given more control than they already had.

The door opened and Lily's thoughts were scattered. She looked up as Alice rushed to her side and began petting her and fussing, looking extremely worried.

"Alice, I'm fine," Lily said with a slight smile. "Really, I'm ok, just stop fawning, alright?" Alice looked at her reproachfully, then conceded and sat in the desk next to her, concern still clouding her features. Frank and Sirius had followed Alice in and were now seated between her and James.

"So now what?" Sirius sad after a moment of silence. "I don't mean to be uncompassionate or anything, but if we stay here we'll definitely be caught. I saw Mrs. Norris on our way here, and I know she can't' see through the cloak, but still, it makes me nervous."

"Yeah, we do need to move," James replied. "Lil? You and Alice want to go somewhere?"

"Yeah, we can go on up to the tower, you can stay there tonight if you want?" Alice looked at her friend questioningly.

"Ok," Lily said, looking up at Alice, then glancing at James, she seemed to want to say something else. Taking the cue, James stood up, "Well, I think I should walk you there just in case, and Frank and Sirius can report back to the common rooms, I know news travels fast here, maybe they can stop any rumors that might be wanting to spread." He looked at Sirius.

"Sure, Prongs, whatever you need." Sirius stood up, glanced at Frank, who muttered something to Alice, then stood up and joined Sirius at the door. Lily watched as he threw the cloak around them and they disappeared.

"Ok, we don't' have a cloak, but we can't very well wander the halls like this. Disillusionment Charms?" he inquired at Lily. She nodded and Alice groaned.

"It's just like the two of you, pick a spell that they don't even teach you in school." Lily laughed and cuffed her friend playfully.

"Oh Alice, don't be bitter. Here, I've got you covered." And with that she took out her wand, tapped Alice once on the head and slowly she seemed to dissolve into the background.

"Cool," Alice muttered, as Lily and James tapped each other on the head and faded into the background with her.

"Alright," said James, glancing at the Marauder's Map that Sirius had left with him, "coast's clear."

They arrived at the bathroom door ten minutes later without incident.

"Here we are," said Alice from her disillusioned mouth. "I think that I will leave you here," she continued. Lily began to protest but Alice cut her off. "No Lil, it's ok, I think you need James more right now than me anyway. If you want company later, give me a ring." She smiled and hugged her friend, then turned to James. "You ok staying with her for a while?" James nodded, and then leaned in and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "Oh go on! Get in there quick, and I hope Frank knows how to de-disillusion me, or I'm coming after you in the morning!" and with that, she turned and was gone.

"So," James said after a moment, "this is the entrance to your secret lair?" Lily smiled at him, and lead the way in.

"Yes, this is our little sanctuary of femininity; it's the only safe haven in the school." She said this teasingly at him as she walked to the stall. "After you," she said, opening the stall door. James glanced at her, then walked past her and into the stall. Lily followed, and was soon enclosed in the small space with him. Slightly astonished, she realized that the stall was rather small, and she was standing very close to James. She felt a warmth rise in her body, and butterflies materialize in her stomach, and for a moment became disoriented. Then James said her name softly and touched her arm. The touch sent a shock through her body and she snapped her face up to look at him.

"Lil, how do we get in?" he asked her gently.

"Oh, right..." she took out her wand and tapping the wall muttered "Alohamora". The doors opened and revealed the familiar staircase. She brushed by James, feeling their bodies connected for a moment, and then stepped onto the bottom step. She felt James climb on the stairway just behind her. Very close behind her actually; she could feel the warmth of his body, the closeness of his breath. Her mind had now found its way out of its molasses state, and was reeling so fast she felt she might be dizzy. But then, maybe that was just from the butterflies in her stomach, or the electrical shock of the touch of James' hand. The door at the top of the stairs approached, and she felt James place his hand in the small of her back, pushing gently, guiding her into the room. They stepped over the threshold as the door closed silently behind them.

James led her all the way across the room and sat her down in one of the chairs. He pulled up a chair for himself and then twirled his wand, conjuring tea cups and steaming tea pot. At this Lily seemed to relax and come out of a reverie; she laughed lightly at the sight of the table setting.

"Why James," she smiled, "so domestic." Looking down at the tea pot, James began to chuckle too, for some reason it did seem absurdly funny.

"I, well, it's just that—well, I mean, my mother always makes me tea when I..." he trailed off as Lily's soft laughter grew into giggles, "would you mind not laughing at me? I mean, I am only trying to help." He tried to sound cross, but the smile on his face ruined the half hearted bluff.

"I'm sorry," Lily said as she regained her composure "it's just that, I'm a little tense and it was the last thing I was expecting." She seemed to sober up as she said this, a small worry line beginning to crease her brow. James thought he knew what was coming next, and knew that it would have to be addressed sooner or later. "It was just that, when we came up here, and Alice left...and it was just you and me...and you were so close...I just...I" and for the first time in recent memory, words failed Lily Evans. She looked helplessly up into James' face, and he locked her eyes in his soft hazel gaze.

"I know what you thought Lil, and it doesn't have to be that way." Her hand was resting on the table in front of them; it looked as though it had stopped lost on its half hearted journey towards the tea pot. He wondered if perhaps he should touch her; if he should hold her hand, comfort her. "I know what Lucius Malfoy was trying to do tonight. I know it's not something you want to talk about right now, but it would be better if you did." he said in a low voice, averting his eyes because for some reason he felt that what he was saying was indecent.

"But James," Lily said, "that's just it, I do want to talk about it. And I don't' know why, and it's confusing and I just feel like I need to talk about it." James looked up at this, looked straight into her deep, wonderful green eyes, and saw the need for a simple friendship. How could he have been so silly? Of course that's what she needed, a friend to talk to. She was talking again, "that's why when Alice left I was confused. I was confused about what I had felt with Malfoy, and what I felt when you found me, and what I felt when I thought you wanted to be alone with me. I just assumed you—well, I assumed a lot and nothing all at the same time. So if you don't mind, can we talk a little?" she said this all in one long breath and when she was done, James imagined she looked happier.

"Yeah," his face broke into a grin, "yeah, we can talk about anything you want." He leaned back in his chair and looked at her expectantly.

"Oh," the green eyes looked momentarily taken aback, "ok." She said in a small voice. After a short pause she got up and started pacing the room. James was reminded strongly of a cat prowling in front of a mouse whole that had it stumped, or an empty bowl of food it can't figure out how to fill. Her movements were graceful and controlled, and her green eyes glinted in the torchlight. "Well, I guess first I want to say thank you...so, thank you," she said turning her eyes on him.

"Of course," James replied, "it's wasn't even a question as to what I should do when I saw you."

"I know, but here's the thing...I—for the slightest split second, as I heard steps approaching, before I yelled...I mean, for the smallest fraction of a second...I didn't want it to stop." The last words came out in a rush and she stopped with her back to him.

"Oh, God Lil," James stood up and walked over to her, "I...well; I think you might have to explain that one to me. But it's ok; no one's judging you for anything." He reached a hand out and smoothed her hair down her back.

"Yeah, I know, it was a shock to me as well." She turned to face him, her gaze catching the hand that was trailing in the air from where her back had left it. Absently she reached out her own hand, letting her fingers touch his, tracing a line up his fore finger and to his wrist. She watched her movements with unseeing eyes, obviously unaware of what she was doing; but James was very aware of it. "I mean, this afternoon when I saw him again; I mean, it's been two years since he's been here. And all the things that Mr. and Mrs. Parker talk about, say about his new job; about him...it was like an electric surge of hatred when he spoke to me. I couldn't believe, after all the things he's said publicly about...well, about first generation wizards like me...I couldn't believe he would insult me by actually saying my name. But at the same time, I was drawn to him; I had forgotten how...how attractive he was...is," she seemed to say this as an apology, and looked tentatively up into James eyes.

"It's Ok Lil, like I said, no judging. You don't have to apologize for being attracted to an attractive person. I mean, hell, if I was girl I'd probably think he was an angel too." He laughed lightly, to try and make her smile. It worked, and looking down at her hand, which was still entwined with his he said "maybe we should sit down?"

"Yeah, Ok," she said, and instead of heading for the table she dragged him across the room to the bed. She plopped down on the bed and sighed. "Why is life so complicated James?"

"Well," he said, sitting down next to her, "I mean, what if it were easy? Would it be any fun? I mean, if everything was spelled out in black and white, why would we be here anyway?"

"Yeah, I guess..." she trailed off and left them in a contemplative silence. After a moment she sat up and faced James, cross legged at the head of the bed. "Anyway, so I was all confused already this afternoon, hating his guts and still being drawn to him. And then you...well you didn't make the situation any better." She glanced at him ruefully; he acknowledged the fact and nodded for her to go on. "I mean, when you saw him talking to me, and came up and insulted him to his face...I know you were just trying to show your feelings about him, and God knows Sirius has no self control when it comes to...well, wizards of dubious ideals...but it just reaffirmed how I have felt about you in the past. It reminded me of your Snape baiting, which I thought you had left behind you, even if Sirius won't give it up. And I know that Snape and Malfoy are in two different categories, and what you said to Malfoy was justifiable...but it just flashed me back to the day when you told me you disliked Snape simply because he existed, which reminded me of what Malfoy believes about—non-pureblood wizards..."she finished.

This had all come out in one long, drawn out thought; it was like she had put the needle on a record and James knew he just needed to let her play it all out, or she would never get to say it. He looked at her thoughtfully, and realized just how much had been on her mind. He opened his mouth to say this but she cut him off.

"No, let me get just a bit more out...this is the awkward part anyway, so you might as well just listen. I'm sorry that Alice sent you in for what should have been girl talk, especially when a lot of it has to do with you..." she paused for a moment, thinking about something; James saw her slip into that far away look that she often got when deep in thought. After a moment though she shook her head and was ready to talk again.

"So then tonight, when Malfoy stopped me, I was terrified. But there was a big part of me that wasn't, and it wanted him to go on, and was mad at you when you stopped it...he wanted me James. I know he despises me, but he despises me for something that you can't see on the outside. And he wanted what he could see on the outside...he wanted my body, and that...that felt really good...to be wanted like that..."she trailed off again and lowered her eyes, embarrassed.

"But Lil," James said quietly, "do you think other people don't want you?" he cautiously put his hand out and rested it on her knee; she didn't move away.

"Well, no, not...not really...but sometimes it feels like it." She looked up at him with a sad smile. "I mean, I've kissed boys before, even been asked out a few times, I just...well, I've never wanted to take any of them up on it, you know?" she thought about this for a moment, then "James, does that make me a hypocrite?" she looked up at him and her eyes were so sincere he couldn't help but laugh. "It does doesn't it?! Here I am complaining that I don't feel wanted and it's just because I don't feel wanted by the people I want to want me?" James' laughter faltered a little as he tried to work out what on earth she had just said.

"Well, I guess a little Lil," he said lamely, after he thought he had the gist of it figured out.

"Damn. Alice says it's because guys are afraid of me...which I keep telling her is a load of—"

"But don't you see Lil? It's true; we men are scared of you! You're a very intimidating girl." He said all of this with an endearing smile, and she couldn't help but crack one herself.

"If I'm so dangerous, why on earth haven't' I come up in any of our Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, hmm?" she teased.

"Well I should have thought that was obvious. It's because you're not a Dark Art. You're far from it. Actually the fear is mostly of perfection."

"Hey!" James dodged the playful swat Lily had aimed at his head.

"What?" he said, perplexed, "What on earth is wrong with being perfect?"

"Oh, it's exasperating, that's all." She said annoyed. "I mean all my life that's all I've ever heard. 'Oh she's so smart!', 'She's so talented!', 'She can do anything!'...which is all fine and great until you realize that your whole life is just living up to expectations people have of you, and then you kind of forget what you expected of yourself, or if you ever really expected anything of yourself in the first place."

"Oh," said James, slightly taken aback, "I guess I'd never thought of it that way."

"Yeah well people rarely do." She replied. "Sorry, I wasn't meaning to yell at you, it just sort of came out that way." She smiled apologetically at him.

"It's ok, I asked for it. So," he said quietly, "so Malfoy was just a guy who was man enough to force himself on you, and he didn't exalt you in the process."

"Yeah, that was about it..." she said. "He degraded me and wanted me all in the same breath, and I guess for some reason that did it for me...Don't look at me like that James Potter, I didn't say it was rational. I'm seventeen and even though my mind was trying to be sane the rest of me was rebelling. Is rebelling..." she looked tentatively into James' eyes. She wasn't sure if he had taken her meaning or not. "Before, I mean, earlier today, Alice and I talked about you..." It took James a moment to register her change of subject, and when he did he started slightly, looking at her quickly.

"You talked about what?"

"Well, I was confused about you...about how I feel about you..." she said shyly. Her hair was hanging down, covering half of her face. Suddenly, James' head felt very light, and his stomach seemed to be full of something very wriggly.

"And?" he said, subconsciously leaning towards her. It was like watching a cliff hanger movie, and he had no idea where the plot would turn next.

"And, well...I guess I decided I kind of...like you." Her eyes met his and for what seemed like an eternity they were locked together; his hazel eyes bound to her green ones; even the air felt still. James felt as if he had been holding his breath for the last six years, and he would finally be able to breathe, if only she would let him.

"I mean, I realized that the really annoying thing about you was that all those things I thought I hated were actually things I love. I love that you are amazing at Quidditch, and that you mess up your hair so that you look like you just got off a broom, and that you steal snitches just to show off for me; I love the fact that you are so smart, and amazing at magic, and that the whole school knows it; I love that you are so close to your friends and so dedicated to them that you learned how to become an animagus just to be with Remus in his toughest times; I love that while you can't possibly stand how Peter imitates your every move you still care enough to help him and protect him; and now that I've realized all this I feel like everything has changed, and I was just hoping that you maybe, could forgive me all the times I've—" but what exactly she wanted to be forgiven for she never managed to get out because at that moment her words were stopped by James's mouth suddenly on hers. The kiss had taken her unexpectedly, but when she realized what was happening she melted into his arms. Her lips parted and the kiss grew deeper, their tongues mingling together, searching each other. She could feel his hands on her neck, and in her hair, gently caressing, yet holding on so tightly. She felt an amazing wave of relief flood through her body. It was as if the warm tingling sensation that was erupting in her stomach and spreading throughout her body was pushing out all the bad memories of the day, all the tension and uncertainty. This was right, and for once her body and mind were agreeing on it.

Holding her gently, and not once letting their lips part, James slowly lowered her head to the pillow and laid himself out on top of her. She moaned as she felt the pressure of their bodies stretched together. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him closer to her, feeling his hardness pressed against her stomach. This time though, instead of being disgusted by it, she was excited by it. It was a wonderful feeling, and she wanted it deeper, she wanted to hold him so close to her that they became one person; she wanted their bodies to mesh and never be separated.

James pulled gently out of the kiss, his hands caressing her face, brushing strands of hair from it, gazing into his eyes. "You're beautiful Lilith," he said softly, "did you know that? Did anyone ever tell you that?" he leaned down and kissed her lightly, "You are a fire headed goddess, body, mind and spirit." He leaned in to kiss her again, deeper this time, and as he pulled away she bit his bottom lip, ever so slightly. His eyes grew wide.

"Don't look at me like that James Potter," she said playfully, "I said I'd kissed boys before. I'm not a complete dunce." With that she pulled his head down and back into a kiss filled with promise. As he kissed her he looked into her eyes and what he saw there unnerved him. He was not sure he was ready to do what he knew she was asking him to do. It would not be his first time, but he knew it would be hers, and there was a voice inside him saying this was not the night to do it. But he pushed that thought aside, thinking that if it came to that, then they could discuss it, and plunged wholeheartedly into what was promising to be an intense snog session.

"Well you are certainly not a dunce," he said, barely pulling away from her lips. "But I wonder, were the other boys you've kissed dunces?" She giggled and he leaned forward and kissed her on the neck, right beneath her ear. He felt her gasp and her body tighten and smiled to himself. He continued to place soft wet kisses on her neck, inching slowly downwards, reaching her collar bone and her shirt. With one hand he pulled back the shirt, so as to have access to her whole collar bone, while the other snaked from her hip and up her side. She moaned as his hand moved across her ribs and found her breast. It was then that he realized, with a slight pang of guilt, that her shirt was still completely unbuttoned from where Malfoy had ripped it. He wasted only a moment's hesitation before he sat up and brushed the shirt apart.

Lily watched as he sat straddled across her hips, gazing down at her. He looked at her as if he was looking at a priceless painting in a museum, and was for a moment mesmerized, lost in her innocence. She appreciated the respect, but this was not what she wanted right now. She reached out and gently took hold of his hand, guiding it down to her breast. She pressed his hand into her, and covered it with her own for a moment, eyes closed, savoring the feeling. But then he slid off of her, and came to rest next to her on the bed.

"Hey, Lil," he said, and she looked over at him, "not tonight." He said it simply, and she knew what he meant, and as soon as he said it she appreciated it.

"I know," she lowered her eyes for a moment, thoughtful. Then, looking right at him, "but it was the first time I thought it would be right." And looking in her eyes he knew it was true.

"Me too, but not tonight. It wouldn't be," James struggled with the word 'prudent' for awhile, then decided that it was completely wrong, "it wouldn't be right."

"Mmm," she snuggled into his shoulder, curling up beside him, "thank you for being a better person than I have ever given you credit for," she said.

"No problem," James replied with a laugh. "So what now?" he asked after a moment.

"Sleep." Lily answered decidedly. "It is way past my bed time, and besides, you have a Quidditch game to play tomorrow. And I have to figure out what I'm going to do about Malfoy and the Ministry." She said this last with a straight face, and James glanced at her with raised eyebrows.

"What you are going to do about the Ministry?"

"Of course," she said, propping herself up on her elbow to look at him, "you don't' see anyone else jumping at the responsibility do you?" her eyebrows met his and she stared him down unblinkingly.

"Ok, Ok," James finally broke down, chuckling appreciatively, "I guess not. And for the record, I really couldn't think of a better candidate. Just please, anything you are planning to do run by me, or at least Alice, before you do anything rash?"

"I'll think about it," she said through narrowed eyes, as if appraising him, and checking to see if he was worthy of her cause.

"But you know, I'm sure you're parents aren't too happy about any of it either. Don't they talk about it at all?"

"Of course they do," James replied. "But as my mum works at the Ministry, they aren't dumb enough to do something about it just yet."

"So what, are they just going to wait until it gets blown out of proportion? And then pick up and say they think what has happened is wrong, as soon as nothing can be done about it?" Lily had sat up by now, and there was fire in her eyes. Uh oh James thought, he had seen that light in her before, and knew that if he was not prepared to get into a full blown debate, he had to end it now. Unfortunately, he was finding it rather hard to concentrate: Lily made quite an extraordinary picture at the moment. She was sitting on her knees now, bare feet tucked under her, with no shirt on and her hands on her hips, and an expression of complete disgust on her face as her hair flew in every direction about her head. It was too much for him, and before he could answer he let out a choking laugh.

"What?!" Lily demanded.

"Nothing, it's just, you...I'm sorry Lil, I'm not trying to laugh at you, it's just that you are sitting there half naked yelling at me about politics, and...well, it's an amusing picture." He finished with a broad grin on his face, and she could see his chest shaking with repressed laughter.

"Oh you are such a boy!" but she was smiling now, and had thrown a pillow at him. "Leave it to you to notice that I'm not wearing a shirt! As if a girl can only talk politics when she's fully clothed...where do you think half of the historical political decisions that affect us today were made? In the bedroom!!" James knew better than to make any comments about women talking politics around Lily, but he knew Sirius would have had a good laugh could he have heard that speech.

"Alright Lil, it's fine, you can talk politics at me naked all night if you want, but I'm gonna need to sleep soon, like you said, I am a Quidditch star. I need my beauty rest."

"Bloody hell you do," Lily said, making a disgusted face, "I'm not sure I should sleep in the same room with you, you may suck away all my beauty!" she teased back. At that they both started laughing and called a truce.

"Hmmm, now to the more pressing question, I don't have anything to sleep in..." Lily trailed off thoughtfully. "Oh wait!" she finally said jumping up, "I forgot, Alice and Frank stay here sometimes, I bet there are clothes in that bureau." And she hopped off the bed to check.

"Wow, she's like, moved in here or something," she said, as she began pulling out sleepwear. "Yikes!!" she yelped, holding up a very red, lacy...something. "Oh ho! Oh Alice has some serious explaining to do!" she said gleefully, holding it up in front of her, as if modeling it for James, who let out a low whistle.

"Yes she does! And so does Frank, damn, I'm going to have to start asking for details from now on!"

"Well, at least there are some normal clothes in here," she said, pulling out a pair of cotton PJ's. "And look, here's some of Franks too. Sorry, you don't get to sleep naked." She threw him a sly look and the pajamas. She then proceeded to change, without even asking James to turn around.

This was a talent that had always fascinated him about girls: the ability to completely change an outfit without ever showing anything indecent. He had seen it done a million times, with as many different pieces of clothing, and was still baffled by it every time. The girls on the Quidditch team never bothered to go to their changing room, except to take showers. They said it was pointless to waste the time in another room, when their captain could be giving them instructions.

When she was done she folded her discarded clothes, though not too neatly, and set them on one of the chairs, then walked over to a mirror that James had not noticed before and began braiding her long auburn tresses over her shoulder.

"You can go ahead and change, I'm not looking," she said, and he could hear a hint of laughter in her voice.

"Thank you, I'm sorry that I do not have your clothes swapping talents, I am only a mere man," he mocked her right back. He instinctively turned his back to her, and quickly stripped off his jeans and threw on the PJ's. When he turned around she was finishing off the end of the plait. Yet another thing that had always fascinated him about girls: how they were able to handle all that hair. He watched her fingers with fascination, they seemed to be moving expertly in a pre-choreographed dance, knowing exactly where each piece of hair was supposed to go. As she secured it with a tie, she noticed him gazing at her fingers.

"Something interesting?" she asked.

"Oh, well, yeah actually," he replied, looking away from her hands, "I've always found the way girls handle all that hair fascinating. I mean, I don't even have a fraction of your hair, and I can't even get it to lay flat, let alone twist it and contort it into intricate patterns that for some unforeseen reason stay in place." As she saw the sincere bafflement in his face, Lily had to laugh, not unkindly.

"I guess it is kind of interesting, I've never really thought about it because it's just something I always have to do." She turned back to the mirror thoughtfully, then said, "But you know, I have been thinking of cutting it. It really is a lot to manage, not to mention wash."

"What?! Cut it? No, no, no, not a good plan!" the force of James's exclamation startled her.

"Why?" she asked.

"Oh, well," all of a sudden he looked sheepish and a little embarrassed, "well, I think it's beautiful, to tell you the truth."

"Thank you." She said, and when she looked at him something in his stomach flipped. "So," Lily said, "um, bed?" raising her eyebrows expectantly.

"Yeah, I guess," James said, and walked over to the bed. Pulling down the covers he said, "You get the bed."

"How is that fair?" Lily replied, though she smiled at him and climbed into the bed.

"Well I'm not sure that fair is an issue here. It's the gentlemanly thing to do, besides, you were the one attacked tonight, not me; I just did the rescuing." While he said this James had waved his wand and a low cot with blankets, pillow, and a fluffy pink bunny appeared in the middle of the floor. He frowned slightly, and glanced at Lily, who looked slightly surprised, but seemed to think better of asking. "Ok, just to clear things up before we go to sleep with you thinking I normally sleep with a fluffy pink rabbit: I conjured the cot from a supply of things that my mom has put in charmed storage for me. It's a whole bunch of stuff that she thought I might possibly need while I'm here at Hogwarts. She obviously didn't think too hard about who I'd be with if I ever needed a cot because the first time I used it was when we slept in the shrieking shack the first time. There I was with Sirius, Remus and Peter and this cot appears with this—thing—on it...well I'm sure you get the picture." He finished ruefully. Lily laughed at the look on his face.

"It's not so bad, its kind of cute." She said, curling up under the covers and looking at the bunny.

"Yeah, I guess..." James slipped under the covers of the cot with a slight frown on his face, "But you know, I very distinctly remember telling her to take that bunny out of storage this summer." But he was talking to himself, because Lily, exhausted had fallen almost immediately asleep. James looked at her again, and smiled. It hadn't been the most pleasant night, and he ferverently wished that he and Lily had started their relationship under better circumstances, but he felt strangely relaxed and comfortable, glad that he was here with Lily Evans.