Lily and James walked to the now empty transfiguration classroom, talking about nothing in particular. Lily stopped James, "James. I really am sorry. It was completely wrong to involve the whole school in what was just our problem. I-"

James cut her off, "You apologize way too much. I'm sorry, too. I should not have bragged so much, then blamed you for what you did for us."

"You. I did it for you James." Her voice was very soft.

"Well, that makes me feel like crap." James' self-recriminations ruined the mood.

"I'm sorry, James. Me and my big mouth again!" Lily joined him in self-bashing. James put his hand over her mouth.

"Don't you dare start that "sorry" business again! And you definitely don't have a big mouth. Sirius, now, that is a big mouth, but you, Lily? Not a chance." He took his hand away and gave her a hug.

Lily was closer to heaven than she had ever been before. "Oh, James!" She kissed him on the cheek. They stood silently, looking at each other for a minute or two. Eye contact was made, green to blue. Lily felt as if she were falling forward, prompted to reveal her secret by the magnetism of those eyes, which she had been trying to avoid during the past few weeks. With a start she realized that she was actually falling forward. She quickly lowered her glance, with reluctance.

"James," she cleared her throat, since her voice sounded like one of those breathy old-time movie stars. "James, I'm so sorry, I guess I just ..lost control.. of my temper. I ..needed you.. that is, to make you see how much you hurt me. And I ..want you.. um, to work together so we can maybe have a good year. I'm sorry, James. I really am, I can't tell you how-"

James' cool hand landed softly on her mouth again, and she stopped in surprise and well-concealed delight. "I thought I told you, no more apologies." She could not conceal a tremble from his closeness. He looked hurt, and stepped back, "Do I frighten you? I'm sorry, I'll just-" He turned to walk further to the transfiguration class.

Lily knew she couldn't let him leave, but she was scared. She made a decision and grabbed hold of his sleeve. He jerked to a stop, and actually got pulled off balance, falling at Lily's feet. He looked up to see Lily holding onto the corner of his cloak, eyes squeezed tightly shut, as if she could not bear to look at what she caused. "Lily? You can look, you know. I'm fine."

She sneaked a peek, which he saw. He laughed, and Lily wished the ground would open up for her. Or maybe she could turn into a suit of armor and sing Christmas Carols out of tune.

He clambered up, still laughing at her expression, "Whoa! Lily! You do know that all you had to do was say 'Hey James, wait up!' or 'Shut up, James, you twit!' You need to learn how to verbalize these things. And if I scare you, just give me a good smack and I'll be meek as you please!"

Lily continued to look grief-stricken. "I'm s-s-sorry-" She slapped a hand over her mouth a second before James lifted his hand to do the same, and stepped back, as if awaiting a blow.

James' arm halted in the air, then dropped. He looked at her curiously, a bit hurt. "Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you. In fact, I'll walk you back to your dorm, missy. We can work on the Head stuff tomorrow." He held out his arm for her and she took it with a tentative hand.

They strolled aimlessly, James unconsciously leading her to the Gryffindor Common Room. They were in a kind of blissful haze until they reached it. Sirius Black awaited his best friend in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady, and he cackled on seeing who was clinging to James' arm.

"So, James, you rascal! That's what that whole tiff was about! It was a ruse to hide the fact that you two are going out! Ha ha tee hee hee!" James tried shut Sirius up, but he was practically shouting, and his voice brought a crowd of people from behind the thin painting.