Title: One-Month-Marriage

Author: the-girl-who-lived

Disclaimer: Methinks as thou art scrolling, It will be obvious to thee, That 'Harry Potter' ect. belongs to J.K Rowling, And most definitely not me (Disclaimer was made by Mrs. James Potter thanks for the wonderful disclaimer!))

A/n: Sorry for the wait and thanks for the patience. I'm sure all of you read my earlier announcements about all my computer problems. Don't worry my computer is finally all fixed up. I had gotten that new virus that has been going around. Well anyway here is the next chapter. The next chapter should be up on Christmas. Thanks for all the wonderful reviews.

HARRY POTTER 6 A/n: Let's face it everyone (even people who have no Harry Potter knowledge at all) know that the book will be arriving July 16th 2004. When I got the notification email that the date would be announced within twenty four hours it was one of the happiest in my life. I stayed up all night refreshing all the publisher websites for the books and numerous others. So it's safe for me to assume that I was one of the first to find out about it in America as most of you were sleeping, I couldn't at all. The wait is long but at least it isn't supposed to come out in 2006 or something like that!

Summary: All seventh year Hogwarts students have to participate in a One Month Marriage project at school in order to learn how to take care of themselves once they enter the real world. And Lily Evans is paired with her worst nightmare... James Potter.Chapter 4: Dinner at The Potters

Bionca, Carrie and Chloe were all seated on her couch, all of them holding their very large bellies, and when she entered they immediately stopped speaking. It was very obvious that they had just been talking about her since they all looked up at her in shock. She had a feeling what it was about Derek. As the awkward silence ensued she thought of him. Could we by the end of the day be a couple again? The idea seemed foreign to her after being apart from him for such a long time but it felt so right at the same time. A smile crossed her lips as she thought this. For the first time in months she could feel her happiness just in front of her just waiting for her to grasp it. Finally her friends broke the silence.

"Hey Lily," Chloe said while studying her with her head tilted to the side.

Chloe could tell by the dreamy look in her best friend's eyes that something had just happened to her and when her friend showed a genuine smile she knew something was up. She feared it had to do with Derek.

"Hey Lily," Carrie and Bionca greeted in unison.

Lily nodded and replied," Hey. What are all of you doing here?"

Chloe looked at Bionca and Carrie for a moment exchanging quick glances as if to see if it was alright if what she said next was alright with them. Both nodded for her to respond to Lily's question.

Chloe looked up at Lily and said," All of us wanted to talk to you about Derek."

Lily knew that was coming but still she was shocked about her question. Here own best friend had betrayed her trust even though it was to two of their close friends. But still she felt suddenely as if she really didn't have any true friends. She trusted Bionca and Carrie but she had always been closer to Chloe, while Bionca and Carrie were closer. Well, they were going to have to find out especially if she started going out with Derek. "What about him," Lily asked as if she had no idea what they were talking about?

Her friends exchanged quick glances and then Chloe said," I'm sorry I told them without talking to you first but I'm worried about you... we all are."

Bionca agreed," Lily it just isn't healthy for you. He's all into that girl from Hufflepuff and he's a lying bastard."

Carrie quipped," I know it has to be hard but..."

"But what," Lily fired her eyes ablaze," there is no use even trying anymore to stop loving him, all of you know how hard I tried and he isn't into that Hufflepuff girl he can't be," Lily nodded but not nearly as positive as she would have wanted to be.

For the first time she allowed herself to think he could want to talk to her for another reason. What if he only wants to apologize for it and want to stop the awkwardness between the two of us. She shifted from one foot to the other in thought, adjusting her very inconvenient stomach. Oh, I hope I didn't turn this whole thing around to my advantage. Did I only manage to only give myself false hope when nothing was to become of it at all?

"You saw him flirting with Gisselle, I saw you looking over there," Chloe said gently not wanting to say these things to harshly.

Lily nodded finally coming to her senses about that little detail. But she couldn't help but hope that tonight they could once again be a couple. She sighed at the thought a small smile coming to her lips despite her previous rational thoughts. It was as if her mind and heart were battling to choose their side in this argument with herself. Forgetting her sensible thoughts, she listened to her heart.

Lily said smiling slightly with her eyes filled with happiness despite what her mind kept telling her," He came up to me just now and we talked."

All three of them immediately gasped and were not able to speak for a short while.

Finally Carrie got a hold of herself and questioned," What did he want to say?"

All three stared at her with batted breath as they wait for her response and Lily still slightly angry with them even though deep down she knew they only said these things because they cared for them, loved watching them look at her earnestly for the answer.

Lily spoke finally after toying with her friends," He invited me to go for a walk later at seven. He only told me it was important to him that we talked."

"Lily you can't," Chloe said.

"He's just going to hurt you again," Bionca agreed.

Lily studied them for a moment then spoke," I understand all of you care about me but it's my decision. We feel so right together, so perfect. He loved me I can feel it," her eyes became dreamy as she continued," think of how wonderful it would that we would make up on the anniversary of the day I realized I loved him. It's like deja vu again, and if he hadn't been for finding that photo we wouldn't be having this conversation. Fate stepped in today and I can't turn my back on it again. We are meant for each other."

"Sorry to be harsh Lily," Chloe said sympathetically and continued," but fate stepped in that day at the mixer."

Lily was shocked and she glared at her friend then snapped," how could you say such a thing?"

Chloe responded," Once a cheater always a cheater, Lily. You can't fool yourself with these imaginations and hopes he has changed because people hardly ever change, especially people like him."

Lily looked at her and said," well I am going to see him tonight and if he apologizes and asks me out I will go out with him. How can you stand to see me so unhappy?"

"We don't want to Lily," Bionca said," that is why we are talking to you."

Lily scoffed; her heart was overpowering her yet again.

Carrie said so that there wasn't a fight between all of them," Come on let's get started with dinner since all those guys are clueless as to even how to make soup hot."

Lily nodded trying to stop herself from saying anything to harsh that she would regret. Which proved to be very tiring for her. She intended to see him that night and there was nothing they could do to stop her.

Dinner That Night

That night once the guys arrived for the Black house planning pranks and joking around they all sat down as Chloe lay the big bowl of macaroni and cheese on the table. All of the guys sat on one side of the table while the girls sat on the other.

Lily asked when she looked around and noticed someone was missing," Where's Peter?"

Sirius wrinkled his nose in disgust and spoke," He claimed Bellatrix wanted to talk to him about something. He told me he was afraid she would hex him,"

Chloe asked," What about?"

Sirius glared furiously at his hands as he spoke," He claimed he didn't know. Hanging out with their lot and everybody knows they have their hands in deep with the dark arts."

Remus patted his friend on the back and spoke," Peter won't do anything that stupid, you know how he is, doesn't want anyone mad at him. He does have to live with her awhile, he just needs to start off on a good foot."

Sirius nodded and began to put some macaroni and cheese in his bowl since it had just been passed to him. There was an awkward silence, as they all didn't want to bring up Peter especially with Sirius at the table.

James asked trying to break the silence," Do you all want to hang out here after dinner?"

They all agreed except for Lily.

Lily said," I have plans for tonight already."

Chloe and Bionca shook their heads in response.

Remus noticing their heads at their response asked," What are you going to be doing?"

James smiled and teased," She probably has a date with some book in the library."

Lily smiled and said," I'm going to be hanging out with Derek."

James's jaw dropped and Lily looked over at him shocked at his immediate reaction to her revelation. She looked at his eyes and they seemed to be filled with an overwhelming amount of pain. In that very moment she could only see pain in his eyes. Her intuition told her he loved her but she fought back. He couldn't, the only reason he ever asked me out in the past was to prank me. Just another one of James Potter's infamous pranks but, for the first time in years she let herself think this could be true. Unfortunately at the same moment she began to wonder and let her intuition take control of her, her thoughts were abrupted.

Remus spoke noticing James's indomitable pain," Isn't Derek the one who cheated on you?"

Lily winced and nodded as she slowly lifted some macaroni and cheese to her parted lips. She was in a daze; she didn't think she could speak. Could James really care about me?

Sirius asked." Do you like him?"

Lily looked over at Sirius and just to spite him said," yes."

Later she thought that she did this just to get a reaction but in the deepest corners of her heart she needed to know if James really cared for her.

"Have you gone mad," Sirius asked incredulously?

Lily glared at him her eyes burning into his as she spoke," What's it to you?"

Chloe looked over at Sirius and said," don't worry you aren't the only one who said it."

Lily glared ferociously at her best friend and directed her question to everyone," Why should any of this matter if I like him?"

Bionca answered," because we care about you Lily. We don't want you to get hurt again."

Lily softened slightly towards her friends and instead directed her anger towards the two guys," I can understand your intentions," she snapped at the two guys," but I don't understand why either of them should care about what I do with my life."

James said softly as if he was to emotionally strained to say it to loudly," make that us three," he looked pleadingly towards her," Lily you need to get a grip on yourself that guy is only going to hurt you."

Lily pounded her fist on the table and everything shook on it, fortunately nothing fell over. She pushed her chair out careful not to do any harm to her protruding stomach and rose.

Lily fired at him," Since when have my feelings ever mattered to you Potter? You of all people, Potter! When you have been the cause of most of them yourself with all of your pranking and constantly picking on me since the most you set your eyes on me. Constantly badgering me to go out with you for some sick prank. And to top it all off now you have suddenly decided that my feelings matter to you!"

Lily spun on her heel and stomped out of the apartment. How dare he! He's acted like an immature prat to me since he met me and now… Grr!! It's all been a huge prank for him. His acting like he wants to be friends and all the while he has been devising this scheme to get me to trust him when it's so blatantly obvious what he has been planning! She was so infuriated that she didn't realize she had just walked into that very person the entire fight had been about… Derek.

James P.O.V

James stared blankly at her retreating figure and whispered," since the moment I saw you."

Everyone was out of earshot of his pronouncement, everyone that is except for Sirius Black. While everyone else was contemplating Lily's actions, Sirius became convinced his best friend couldn't go on without a certain fiery red head.

Sirius patted his friend on the back and spoke," Go tell her how you feel mate, even if she doesn't feel the same way maybe it'll give just enough time to think straight about this Derek thing. And if neither happens I can always prank Derek into oblivion"

"Thanks Padfoot," James said appreciatively.

Sirius grinned and said as he pushed his friend slightly forward," Well what are you waiting for lover boy go after her."

Lily P.O.V

Derek was holding onto her elbows as he grinned down at her and spoke," Hey Lily."

Her heart melted at the sight of him and she apologized quickly," Sorry I wasn't paying attention."

He grinned down at her and seductively said," I don't mind."

Lily blushed crimson.

Derek released her elbows and looked down at her protruding fake stomach and said," I suppose I am going to have to get used to that."

She frowned and rubbed her stomach as she said," It's such a nuisance. Anyway what did you want to talk to me about?"

"Come let's go outside and take a walk," Derek responded offering his arm to her hoping she would oblige.

She did and they walked down the stairs to the entrance of the school.

It was a warm spring night, proving summer was just around the corner. There was a slight breeze, which kept everyone cool, perfect for a practicing Quidditch. Lily smiled to herself as she thought that this could finally be the end of the unhappiness that had engulfed her life ever since Derek cheated on her and they broke up. Perhaps he would apologize and ask to start over with her. She realized she had to know why he had kissed his ex girlfriend, Hannah Longchamp that day so she mustered up the courage and asked the question that had been on her mind ever since that devastating summer night nearly a year ago.

James P.O.V

James raced through the halls and each new direction proved to be wrong. Where is she? I have to stop her from going out with him. I don't think I will be able to stand seeing her with another man. What will I tell her? How should I say it? When I find her should I just go right out and say it, scream it for the whole world to hear?

Think Potter where could she be? He slowed his to a stride as he searched his mind for a possible location. Oh right, it's nice outside they probably went out there for a walk.

Lily P.O.V

"Derek," he stopped and turned towards her expectantly," Why did you have to kiss her that night, we had such a perfect relationship?"

His deep blue eyes stared into her green ones that were sparkling with an unique anticipation for his reply.

When he spoke he turned his head towards the lake and looked at it as if it weren't really there," I suppose I did it because I thought you were to perfect Lily. I have to admit I envied you. You are so beautiful and don't even realize it and you just seem so sure of yourself. Ever since I've met you you've known exactly what you wanted to do with your life and just how you plan to get there. I always felt as if you were to good for me. Sometimes I thought I was going to end up pulling you back from your dreams, that I would marry you and pull you away from your dreams. Or that I would get you pregnant and you would end up compromising until you ended up just like everyone else, miserable because you never fulfilled them. Yes, I always thought we were perfect for one another. I suppose that night I just wanted to take some of that perfection you had and I've regretted it ever since. I have never forgiven myself for it and I couldn't bring myself to talk to you all this year because I was so ashamed with myself."

Lily stared at him in disbelief as he spoke. Yes, she had hoped he would say it, but now the very thought that they would finally become a couple seemed so farfetched, since they had been broken up for such a long time. For such a long time she had busied herself so as to forget him entirely. How ironic that all this could happen in a single day? Staring into his eyes she wondered if she should forgive him. Now unsure of what her answer would be she followed Derek's gaze to the lake hoping to find the answer there.

A/n: I have changed this chapter around so much it is unbelievable. Now it looks like what I planned for chapter 4 will take place in both chapters 4 and 5. I know all of you appreciate the wonderful cliffhanger. I decided to add some James P.O.V in this chapter and the next because I thought it added a little bit more of suspense and so that you can really begin to understand his feelings which will be on full blast in the next chapter! Okay I'll stop teasing but I hope this chapter was worth the wait.