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

Chapter 10- Aftermath

Dumbledore looked around the room at the five students. His eyes landed on James. "Ah, Mr. Potter. Would you care to explain to me what happened earlier?"

James' eyes darted around the room nervously. He didn't want to get Sirius in trouble, but he didn't want to lie either. Thankfully Sirius saved him from having to make either choice.

"Sir, it was all my fault. I told Snape how to get into the Shrieking Shack," Sirius muttered guiltily.

"Mr. Potter, Mr. Pettigrew, and Ms. Evans, you are all free to go," he said and motioned them towards the door. "Mr. Black, we shall discuss your punishment further in a moment," he motioned Sirius towards the door also. "Just wait outside the door. Oh, if any of you need wounds tended to, go visit Madam Pomfrey," he added as an afterthought.

The four students filed out of Dumbledore's office and Sirius closed the door behind them.

"Nice knowing you," Peter clapped Sirius on the back and rand down the stairs.

"Nice knowing you," Sirius mocked him. "What's up with him anyhow? He's been acting awfully strange lately."

James shook his head back and forth. "No clue. But we," he pointed to Lily and himself, "must be leaving. I don't wanna be here when Snivelly gets out of there. See you man."

"Bye," Lily muttered to Sirius.

"C'mon," James said and grabbed Lily's hand. "Let's get back to our common room."

"No," Lily replied forcefully. "We're going to the Hospital Wing and then we can go... somewhere else," she looked at James suggestively. Sirius chuckled, which earned him a cold stare from Lily.

James grinned. "Sounds good to me." He gave his consent to Lily's plan and dragged her down the stairs towards the Hospital Wing.

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"Mr. Black, I know you already have two months worth of detention from Professor McGonagall. Your punishment will be another month's worth of detention and no Hogsmeade tomorrow or for the duration of the three months you have detention. What you did today was dangerous and could've cost somebody their life. I will also be deducting 50 points for your actions today."

"I understand, sir," Sirius replied sorrowfully. "Three months detention and no Hogsmeade. Man, I've really blown it this time!"

"I also expect that you will explain to Mr. Lupin about tonight's incident?" Dumbledore asked, but the way he phrased it made Sirius feel like he didn't have a choice.

Sirius nodded in reply.

"Good," the twinkle that was normally seen in Dumbledore's eyes returned. "Now that we've got this matter settled you're free to go."

Sirius nodded once again and got up to leave.

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Madam Pomfrey had fixed James and Lily up, and now they were going back to their common room.

James kept on glancing nervously over at Lily. He wanted to ask her about earlier in the tunnel, but was afraid she'd say it was some horrible mistake.

The silence was making Lily nervous, so she decided to break it. "So this is why you couldn't go to Hogsmeade tomorrow?"

"Yeah, but I suppose I'm able to go now. Seeming as I'm not going to be staying up all night. Unless you want to, that is."

Lily smiled, "I think I'd rather go to Hogsmeade with you tomorrow."

"Good," James grinned, "I was hoping you'd say that."

Lily grabbed James' hand, "C'mon. We need to get to bed!"

James looked at his watch. "But Lily, it's only 9! We have an hour or two!"

"And what do you suggest we do for two hours?" Lily demanded.

James grinned, "Extracurricular activities?"

"God James," Lily smiled and lightly hit him on the chest with her free hand.

"Lily dear, that hurt. You shouldn't hit so hard," James joked and rubbed his chest in the spot she had hit.

"Stop being such a baby, James," she smiled.

"Me, a baby?" James laughed. "What gave you that idea?"

"Let's think about what would've given me that notion. Could it be the fact that you whine about everything?" Lily smiled at the face James made.

"Why did you kiss me if I'm such a baby?" James asked seriously. He didn't realize that she had been joking with him.

"James," Lily paused, "I was joking! You would think that a king prankster, like yourself, would recognize a joke when he saw one!"

James grinned again. "Wow, you really had me going there. I thought you were serious!"

"No, I could never be him!" Lily exclaimed and they both laughed at the overused joke.

They walked a little further, still hand in hand, in silence before they made it to their common room.

"Polyjuice Potion," Lily told the unicorn painting. It neighed its hello at her and swung open, revealing the common room.

"I swear that painting likes you better than it likes me!" James said.

Lily laughed. "That's not a very hard thing to do."

James stuck his tongue out at Lily.

"Can you be anymore of a three-year-old?" Lily asked as she collapsed on the loveseat.

James sat down beside her and replied, "I can't help it. You bring the child in me out." He started chuckling at the face she made at him. "And I obviously bring the child in you out!"

"Since we're children, that means I was supposed to be in bed an hour ago. G'night James," she said and stood up.

"I was only kidding," James reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her back down beside him.

"But James," Lily whined. "I really am tired."

"Fine," James paused calmly, "guess I won't be able to kiss you again."

"Did I say I was tired? I was just joking," Lily replied hastily.

"Good," James grinned, "because then I wouldn't be able to do this."

James leaned in towards Lily and his lips met hers. The fireworks started again as their kiss deepened.

James pulled away from Lily, breaking the kiss off, and stood up. "Good night Lily. I'll meet you here tomorrow morning at 9," he said, leaving her dumbfounded on the couch. "That should give Lily something to look forward to for tomorrow."

Lily didn't understand what had just happened. James had told her that he wanted to kiss her, and then broke it off almost as suddenly as it had started. She longed for the touch of his lips against hers again.

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A/N- This chapter was gonna be longer because I was gonna put the Hogsmeade trip in it, but decided it deserved to have its own chapter! You guys must be going crazy. I mean I've put out 3 chapters in literally 3 days. Don't get used to it, though! lol.

Pranks Are So Seriously Padfoot- Yes I am Miss Problematic. I guess I fulfilled your request by putting this chapter out pretty fast! I put it out so fast that I only got 2 reviews for it!

MissMrprk- If you were talking about the Sirius telling Snape thing, I agree. James wouldn't do that to Remus. He also wouldn't send someone to their death. :)

-ilovecaptainjacks