Sorry for the long time it took to get this up! My life has become insanely busy, what with homework and school and all kinds of activity things. So, make me feel loved, and read this chapter! Thennn... review! Let me know what you guys think. Or just complain about the long time. And if you want something else to do, you can check out my new story... It's about Sirius, because we all know we love him. 

What You Don't Know

Chapter 16

Lily couldn't tell what happened. One moment they were talking, and the next he was so close, and suddenly they were kissing, and.... She had never, ever felt anything like this, nor had she ever expected that it could be this brilliantly, wonderfully, amazingly...

Wait.

She was kissing James Potter.

She had to stop and think about this. Didn't she? Didn't she?

Lily couldn't tell what happened next, either. Did she pull away first, or did James? Or was it mutual?

She started to take a step backwards, visions of running to Alice or Hestia to tell them what had happened flashed through her mind. And at the same moment, James took a step away from her.

She grabbed his hand, stopping him. Suddenly she knew that if James ran away, that was it. He was staying.

'Um. Sorry,' she said. 'I just hate it when people leave and everything is all unsorted and, you know- things like that...'

'Sorry. I didn't mean to...'

'Are you sorry you did it?' Lily asked.

There was a long, long silence. Slowly James looked up, and his hazel eyes met her own, and they stayed that way. He looked rather pale.

'No,' he whispered finally.

Lily felt a smile break across her face.

He looked horrified. 'What, are you?'

'Sorry that you kissed me?' she teased.

He turned a bit red around the neck, and Lily hadn't ever seen a lovelier sight. 'Yeah, that,' he said, narrowing his eyes, and poking her waist.

'Aahh.. No, don't do that. But no, I'm not sorry either,'

He grinned at her, and she grinned back, and even though she registered that they looked pathetic... Standing there, grinning like fools at each other, she couldn't bring herself to break it.

'What's your favorite color?' she asked him finally. James stared at her.

'Um. Blue?'

'Really?'

'Is that all you can say?' James asked her finally.

'I don't know. What else is there to say?' Lily eyed him.

--

When Lily walked into the Common Room that afternoon, she was alone. James had disappeared, to do something 'important'. She wondered what, and was now intent on asking his friends.

They were still sitting around in the armchairs as she had left them. The only difference was the addition of Hestia, Alice, and Frank. They all looked up when she entered.

'Where's James?' Hestia asked.

'He had to go do something 'important,'... Any idea what?'

The three Marauders exchanged glances. 'No,' Remus answered finally.

'What did you do to him, Lily?' Sirius asked.

Lily glared at him. 'Kissed him. What did you expect?'

It took a moment for the full impact of these words to sink in, and then everyone spoke at once.

'You're joking!' Sirius exclaimed loudly, half-jumping to his feet.

'Wait, what?' Peter asked.

'You kissed him, or he kissed you?' Hestia queried.

'Or both,' Alice added.

'Wow,' Frank nodded.

'I don't believe it,' Remus said with a self-satisfied smile.

Lily shrugged. 'Don't then. Suit yourself.'

'You're really not kidding?' Sirius asked, still staring at her incredulously.

'Nope.'

They all watched her for a moment, but she gave no sign of continuing.

'.... And?' Alice asked finally.

Lily looked up. 'And what?'

Remus let out a short sigh of exasperation. 'Are you 'together'?'

' "Together"?' Lily repeated.

'Did he ask you out?'

Lily merely smiled. 'Are you really going to pry into my private life, Remus?'

'Yes,' Sirius replied without hesitation for his friend.

'Interrogate James, then, not me.'

'Sooo... James is part of your private life, then?' Sirius said shrewdly.

'Where would we be without your razor sharp intelligence?' Lily asked, and a bright grin flew across her face.

'You are going out!' Alice squealed, jumping up to hug her friend. For the first time, Lily turned slightly red.

'What is this, a big deal?' she asked.

'Yes!' Hestia and Alice laughed together.

'We're just going on a date... It's not like we're getting married,'

'You'd better get married,' Sirius said. 'If you mess around with my best friend, there will be hell to pay,'

'Define mess around,' Lily smirked, and retired to her dormitory.

--

When he had received a yes in return to his question of a date, James had lost no time in running to the owlery, where he scribbled a quick note to his brother, telling him about what had just come to pass.

As he walked back to the dormitory, he wondered if he should have waited a bit. Would Lily mind that he had rushed off, as soon as he had extracted the promise of a date that very evening? He didn't think so.

But he had left Lily to the mercy of Sirius.

James began to walk a little faster.

Sirius was a great chap, but he could be tactless and inconsiderate, without even meaning to, or indeed realizing it.

James broke into a run.

He reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, which guarded the entrance to the Gryffindor House, and panted the password, out of breath.

When he burst through, ready to jump on Sirius to shut him up, if need be, he was met with five expectant stares. He glanced at the faces quickly. No Lily.

'Hi, James,' Sirius smirked.

'Where did you go?' Remus frowned.

'Where's Lily?' he asked, ignoring them.

He couldn't tell from their faces if they had heard, but when he looked at the identical grins that sprouted on Hestia and Alice's faces, he was suddenly sure that Lily had told them. Stupid girls that tell each other everything...

'Yes, you would be rather interested in where Lily was, now, wouldn't you?'

'And what do you mean, running off after snogging her?'

'So, wait, why did you kiss her?' Peter asked, a puzzled frown in the crease of his eyebrows.

'You better have meant it, Potter,'

'Maybe you scared her. She ran up to her dormitory,'

That got his attention. James decided to pointedly ignore the other various remarks from the group, and turned to Sirius. 'What did you do to her?'

Sirius put on a wounded look. 'Why is it always me? You think I would do something to Lily?'

'Yes,' James threw over his shoulder, dashing for the girls dormitory stairs.

'James-' Remus began in what sounded like a warning tone, but he never got to finish his sentence. He was cut off by a long, wailing, siren.

The stairs molded together, turning into a long, slippery slide. James whirled his arms violently, attempting to keep his balance, before falling over and sliding down.

Lily appeared at the top of the stairs. She slid neatly down the slide, and crashed into James, who had not yet regained his balance.

'James tried to get up the stairs?' she asked, sounding mildly interesting.

Sirius was howling with laughter, and Remus looked rather amused. 'I tried to warn him,'

'Why did you want to go up there?' Lily asked, turning to James.

He blushed slightly. 'I wanted to talk to you,'

'Why?'

'Well, why did you run off to your dormitory?'

She grinned at him, and James felt his stomach flop. It was much more pleasant when he knew that Lily wouldn't bite his head off if she knew what her smile did to him. 'You would have, to. Not a very nice guy, leaving me to the mercy of our horrible friends,'

There were several indignant cries at that, but James did his best to ignore them.

'I didn't think of that. Sorry.'

She crossed her arms. 'I'm not sure I can really forgive you that easily,' she said, tapping her foot.

James knelt at her feet. 'See, I had to go owl my older brother, because I was really excited-' he and Lily both blushed at that, and he hurried on, '- and I wasn't really thinking, but I am sorry to just sort of desert you,'

'You're forgiven,' she rolled her eyes, and offered him a hand.

'Hey, look!' Sirius cried. 'James is proposing!'

Well, what else could one expect from Sirius?

--

Okay!!!!! The Format has been screwed up for the past few chapters, so hopefully this one is better. I'm VERY VERY VERY VERY sorry if it isn't. And I'm sorry that this took forever to get up. School is horrible! Assigning that much homework should be against the law. In any case, this is up.... I know it's a bit short, but I really wanted to give you guys something. PLEASE review, and if you want, please check out my new story... It's called The Dog Star, and I'd be really appreciative if you'd let me know what you thought of it.

Thanks!

Please review!

-- Arod