Disclaimer-The wonderful and talented J. K. Rowling created, and therefore owns, Harry Potter and his world, not I.

Chapter 5-Sweet Heart?

"You're here," Lily told James as they stopped in front of the gargoyle that led to Dumbledore's office. "I'm going to go to Charms now."

"Thanks," James mumbled back.

"You're going to be alright."

"I guess so."

"Well, I'll see you in class or after classes or whenever." Lily smiled and squeezed his hand. "Bye." She turned and was about to walk down the hall towards charms when James' hand shot out and grabbed her arm.

"Please don't go," James pleaded.

Lily turned around. "I have to get to class, and you have to go see Dumbledore."

"Fine," James let go of her arm.

Lily darted off as fast as she could. "Why I am I being so nice to him? Is it because his parents died? No, because I'd be a wretched person if that was the case. I think I just understand the pain he's going through. I think we're friends now."

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"Ah, Mister Potter. How are you feeling?" Dumbledore asked in a worried tone.

James had regained himself during the long walk up the stairs to the headmaster's office. He wasn't shocked anymore, just angry. "I guess as good as I can feel right now."

"That's good to hear. You're excused from classes for the remainder of the week and that detention you have earned yourself. Do you need anything?"

"No."

"You're free to go," Dumbledore motioned for James to stand up, which he did. "And if you do need anything at all, you know where to find me."

"Thanks," James replied and walked out of Dumbledore's office. On the way to the Head's tower, he thought about Lily. "How is it that she knows exactly what to say and do to make someone feel better? I suppose it's because she's perfect in every single way..."

XXXXXX

"Lil," Monica stopped walking once they were out of Charms and in the hallway, "why were you so nice to James earlier?"

Lily reddened at the question because she wasn't sure why she had been nice. "I guess because he needed someone. It's not like any of his friends were trying to help."

"Yeah, well it's not like they got a chance to," Jennifer retorted.

Lily looked at her coldly. "And what's that supposed to mean?"

"You were all over him before anyone even had a chance to look at the paper." Jennifer grinned. "And besides, I've always known how much you like James, and what happened earlier proves it!"

Now Lily was glaring at Jennifer. "I wouldn't jump to conclusions if I were you," she snapped back. "James needed a friend today. Just because I realized that and acted on it, doesn't mean that I like him!"

Caroline jumped into the conversation at this point. "And since when do you call James by his first name?"

"Oh my god!" Lily screamed. "You guys are taking this way to seriously. I can call James Potter by whatever name I want to call him! I could call him sweet heart if I wanted and it wouldn't make a difference! All we'd ever be is friends."

"Then why don't you call him sweet heart for now on? We'll just see what happens." Caroline grinned wickedly. "And I mean sweet heart is the only thing you can call him."

Lily frowned. "Fine, but-"

Caroline cut her Lily off before she could finish. "No buts about it. The only thing you can call James is sweet heart, no matter what!"

"So I have to call James sweet heart for the rest of the year to prove that we're just friends?" Lily looked a little confused.

"Yes," Caroline replied.

"And what happens if I don't?"

"We'll tell James that you like him!" Jennifer exclaimed.

Lily bit her lip and thought about it for a moment. "I don't like James but if I don't call him sweet heart, they'll tell him I do like him. Well, I'll know it isn't true, but that would make living with him worse. He'd bug me about it every day and I'd hate think of what else he would do!"

"So?" Caroline asked. She was getting annoyed because they were already late for Potions and would surely get points taken away from Gryffindor.

"Fine, I'll do it. Now can we get to Potions? We're late already and you guys know Professor Parker will give us a mouthful about it." Lily said and started walking towards the dungeons.

Jennifer, Caroline, and Monica looked at each other and then ran down the hall to catch up with Lily.

XXXXXX

James looked at his watch. Lily would be here any minute and she'd probably give him all the assignments they'd done that day. And he'd do them just so he could spend more time with her. Even though his parents died, James was still as in love with Lily as he ever was.

The portrait suddenly swung open and James stood up from his comfy place on the couch.

He heard a girl say, "I don't care what you say. We're coming with you to make sure you don't accidentally forget what you're supposed to do." The voice's owner then stuck her head through the portrait hole and James saw that it was Lily's friend Caroline. "James, we'll only take a minute, okay?"

James gave Caroline a confused look. "Um...okay."

"Great." Caroline's head shot back into the hall where it had come from and the portrait swung shut."

James could still hear muffled shouting out in the hall. "Wonder what's bugging them."

Once again, the portrait swung open and in came Lily, closely followed by her friends.

"Hey," James waved.

Lily came and sat on the couch beside him. "Are you okay?"

Jennifer, Monica, and Caroline took seats in various places around the room and watched intently.

"Yeah," James answered. He was glad that Lily was back and wouldn't be lonely. Earlier, he had decided that he was going to classes tomorrow. It was to boring to be stuck around here all day with nothing to do.

The room got quiet after that. Lily was thinking of different ways to call James sweet heart with out sounding like she was in love with him, James was uncomfortable with the fact that Lily's friends wouldn't stop staring like that, and Monica, Jennifer, and Caroline were too busy waiting for Lily to slip up and say James.

Lily decided to break the silence. "I'm going to fill," she pointed at James, "him in on what happened in our classes. So I guess I'll see you guys later." She was trying to get them out of there so she could explain to James what was going on.

"Why don't we help you?" Jennifer glared at Lily.

Lily realized they wouldn't leave until she called James sweet heart. She looked at her friends and said, "Don't worry about it. I'm sure there are things you guys would rather be doing right now." Then she turned to James. "Don't you think they should go enjoy themselves, sweet heart?"

James looked at Lily dumbfounded and started nodding his agreement. "Did Lily just call me 'sweet hear'? I've waited so long to hear her say something like that to me!"

Lily's friend shared an excited look before Monica rose and motioned them to do the same. "Now that you mention it, I'm sure there's something for us to do. Bye," Monica said and walked towards the portrait hole.

Caroline and Jennifer giggled before following Monica out the portrait hole.

When they were gone, Lily looked at James. She was surprised to see the grin she found on his face. "We need to talk," she finally said.

"I think we do," James grinned even harder, causing Lily's face to become as red as her hair.

XXXXXX

A/N- Yes, I know it seems like James got over his parents deaths kinda fast, but he hasn't. He's just decided that he might as well act as normal as possible because crying over them isn't going to bring them back. I know I didn't make him say that in the chapter, so I'm clarifying it now. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Now go ahead and review so your name can join the ones I'm about to list.

MissMrprk-Thanks for reading it. Hope you enjoy the rest of the story.

Hyper-Shaman-Girl- I'll take your advice and not comfort any guys. I don't want any obsessive stalkers-lol. Glad you liked it.

-ilovecaptainjacks