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!))

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 5: Unrequited Love

Back at the Potter Residence

Chloe asked curiously," What was all of that about with James?"

Sirius shared a quick glance with Remus and shrugged saying," I suppose you will find out from Lily later but James loves her and he's going to go to try and stop her from going out with Derek."

Both Chloe's and Bionca's eyes widened in shock.

Chloe grinned slightly and said," I knew it, I told Lily and she said I was mad for thinking it."

Bionca said," Well I'm shocked I thought he only asked her out for some prank he had planned."

Nodding Sirius asked," What do you think she'll say?"

"I don't think she will go out with him she is to engulfed with her thoughts of Derek. Even if she doesn't end up going out with Derek she will most likely tell James that he is a liar," Chloe said showing sympathy for James.

Remus said," I figured she would."

Sirius agreed and asked the girls," So you two aren't going for this whole Derek thing are you?"

Bionca smiled and said," Well that's the understatement of the year."

Chloe nodded and said," She is only going to get herself hurt like last time, she is going to become so blinded by his lies that she wouldn't see the real him even if it danced in front of her face."

Sirius brightened, they had said just what he had hoped for, and offered," Would you two help us get James and Lily together?"

Chloe looked quickly at Bionca and said," I don't think I could do something like that behind her back, she hasn't even given any sort of signs that she like the guy."

Quizzically Remus asked," What about when she kissed James in class today?"

Chloe sighed and said," She said that she was so sickened by the thought of kissing James that she pictured it was Derek. Until he bit her lip she didn't even realize where she was."

Bionca shook her head and said," He's going to only end up causing a world of pain for her."

Remus looking shocked by the answer said," I don't even want to imagine what James would go through if he ever heard about that."

Becoming defensive Sirius said," That whore, she can't put false hope in him."

Bionca retorted," You selfish pig, don't call her that."

Looking around Sirius nodded," Oh…. Well she have done that though."

Remus patted his friend on the back and said," He's sorry but will the two of you at least think about helping us get the two together or at least to split up Derek and Lily if they do get together?"

Bionca nodded and said," Sure, let's go on over to our place and talk this all over a little later. Chloe and me need to talk at her place for a little while.

Lily's P.O.V

She spoke softly with her eyes cast on the moonlit lake," You hurt me so much Derek and even though I still care for you I still can't help but think you will do it again."

Derek looked over at her and cupped her chin in his hand as he spoke gazing into her eyes," I love you Lily and I am sorry I kissed her that night. If I could take it back I would," staring at his feet as he rocked back and forth," When I saw you kissing James I was jealous and I knew then that I couldn't go on acting as if you didn't exist. Can't we just put the past behind us and start off new?"

Lily laughed at the irony of it but Derek's expression was one of pain. As if admitting defeat he turned on his foot and began to walk back up to the castle, his shoulders slumped.

"Derek hold on I wasn't laughing at you it is just that when I kissed James I had imagined it was you," Lily said trying to keep a straight face.

He turned back around and spun her around in his arms and set her back down on the ground then put his lips to hers. He set one hand on the middle of her back to pull her closer to him and one behind her neck. Slowly he began kissing her as if it would be their last one. When his tongue attempted to spread her lips open begging for entry she had no problem obliging to his request, for this was what she wanted, to be in his arms.

James P.O.V

James raced down the staircase to the entrance of the school. He stormed out of the school in a mad haste to find Lily before she did the one thing that would break him… go out with Derek. Shaking his head at the very thought he searched harder looking down some of the paths and he decided to then look over at the lake.

And there his worst nightmare took place right before his eyes. At the very spot he had dreamed endlessly of confessing his love to her and her jumping into his arms and instead this was the place where he would catch her in a heated kiss with someone else who had just confessed their love to her. For the second time that day he felt his heart sink to his stomach. It wasn't a pleasant feeling because he knew he would not be able to stop it from making him relive this moment everyday for the rest of his life.

He fought the urge to go right on over there and pull them apart. If I go anywhere near them right now she will hate me and my chances for finally being able to hold her in my arms will become officially diminished. Gritting his teeth and clenching his fists he turned back to the castle to go back up to his apartment. As he made his journey up the stair he made many feeble attempts to push that picture from his mind. Each proved to be more feeble then the next.

When he entered the apartment he found the table cleaned and that his friends had left. That was just fine with him, he needed to calm himself before Lily came back to the apartment. Dragging his feet on the ground he walked over to the couch and leaned back pondering what he would say to her when she came back to the apartment.

Lily's P.O.VAfter she bade farewell to Derek, Lily walked back to her apartment in a trance. I am finally going out with Derek! Oh, this is so wonderful and just today I started thinking about him again and began to drift into my thoughts of him. How ironic life can be? Lily brought her hand to her lips and savored the memory of his lips on hers. Oh, how wonderful it had been even if it had lasted only a few moments. She hadn't felt as happy, thrilled and excited in months. Not since she caught him with his ex girlfriend. But, no she promised him and herself that she wouldn't keep thinking about that night. What's done is done and all that mattered now was that they were together now. Like they were meant to be. He was right when he said that they should forget the past and live for now and act on how they felt. All she wanted to do was to lie down in her bed and think of him endlessly but once she entered her apartment with James she knew that would not happen. James sat before her on the couch with his arms folded across his chest. When she had entered the room he smiled slightly at her but it appeared to her it was plastered to cover up something. But she had no idea what it could be. His smile evaporated quickly and he began to frown at his thoughts or perhaps her. He simply stared at her not saying a thing as if he was lost in his thoughts and was unable to focus on her. Mesmerized and very curious as to what he was thinking about she stared back at him. Now that she was looking at him more closely she noticed that his eyes were red as if he had been crying just moment before she entered the apartment. But James Potter never cried, he always appeared so strong and now he looked confused and as if he was at a loss for words. The James Potter she knew had never not known what to say even when caught doing a prank. Even when she absolutely despised him she admired this trait of his, wishing she was just as quick and witty as he was. Did she really no longer hate him? When had this happened, just this morning she hated him and now she found herself capable of thinking about him without cursing him out. How could she change so much in one day? Perhaps it was that he seemed to have matured.Starting to feel uncomfortable by his penetrating gaze that seemed to see into her innermost thoughts, she looked away then began to speak," Hey James.""Hey," he mumbled and she could barely make out his voice. James P.O.VAfter he spoke to her he looked back down at his hands having just realized he had been staring at her. His thoughts drifted back to her as a very awkward silence, for what must have been a very awkward silence for Lily, but he didn't care he needed to sort out his thoughts. Do I love her? Could I, James Potter, have finally fallen in love? He had never felt this before, an emptiness at the pit of his stomach that ached constantly. Not like a stomachache, mind you, but he didn't know how to describe it. He didn't feel sick or as if he was in any physical pain. It was just there, gnawing at his heart whenever it pleased. The feelings that swept over him with this new indescribable feeling hurt more than anything else he had ever felt. Deep down he knew it would always be there making his heart bleed as it was tortured by the scene he had just witnessed. How could she love that prat? He was the one who cheated on her and didn't even have the courage to even apologize for it afterwards. He was well aware of what Derek had done to her and now she was kissing him for the world to see. His body was filled with anger, sadness, betrayal, heartache, and an emptiness that could never be filled. All he wanted to do was shake Lily back to her senses and confess his undying love for her but he couldn't. He was lucky enough to get her to talk to him without sending hexes at him with her wand and cursing him endlessly. The scene replayed over and over in his mind like a never ending nightmare. I can't stand this! He yelled to himself, I have to tell her to stay away from the no good lying so of a bitch. I won't be able to look at the two of them together in each other arms again. It would break him and he would have to relive that nightmare he had just witnessed but with in person over and over again until he was mad. He had to say something, at least get her away from him, long enough so that he could tell her how he really felt in time.He looked up and saw her standing there studying him and he spoke more forcefully than he had intended," Have you completely forgotten what he did to you? He is a lying, cheating son of a bitch and you are willing to forgive him for it! Are you mad? Your relationship with him is a ticking bomb just waiting to go off!"Lily snapped back," How dare you tell me what to do with my life? It's my decision not yours," she thought for a moment," wait, were you spying on me?""It's not considered spying when you make out with the guy for the whole school to see. And when you make stupid decisions I am obligated to step in and make you realize your mistake," James responded his body shaking in anger."Like you should be one to talk Potter," Lily screamed back at him," I'm sure there has not been one person in this castle who has not seen you with some girl. And when have you become the master at relationships, you have not gone out with a single girl for more than a week without dumping them!""That might be true, but I am not the one stupid enough to go out with someone who has already cheated on me before," James fired back.Lily's body shook angrily even more so because this one had hit her deep despite her promises to Derek and herself that time and her voice proved to shake as well as she spoke in a hauntingly eerie voice," Since when have you cared about me?"You have no idea how long I have Lily. You have no idea. To him asking this question was like asking why the sun rose and set each day and night. It was just there, and it always would be. Instead when he spoke he tried to appear not to know himself," I don't know Lily. I just can't understand how you could continue to like him after all that he did to you."Lily's eyes seemed to loose their fury realizing he was only saying these things because he didn't want to see her hurt and when she spoke she did so with a kinder voice," It's hard to explain James. While my mind is screaming at myself to stop thinking about him to stop loving him," James winced," I just can't no matter how hard I try. Even though he hurt me so much I can't bring myself to tear away from him. My heart can't seem to push our memories together away and they just overtake me to the point I have to forgive him and push the past behind me and just start over," Lily looked at him and asked," Do you understand?"James seethed at the thought of her feeling that way about someone other than himself he shouted at her no longer able to control what he said," I can't understand how you can be stupid enough to go out with a man who cheated on you and who is obviously lying to you now just to win you back," he stood up angrily," he only said any of those things just to get in your pants."

Lily threw her head back and laughed," Oh and you don't constantly tell me you love me to get me in your bed. You're the selfish arrogant bastard you have always been and I was wrong to think even for a moment that you could change."

Lily strided to the door, threw it open and slammed it once she left the room. James stared disbelievingly at the door. How could he have said that? He let his jealousy get the best of him and now he had probably ruined any chances he might have had of ever being with her.
He covered his face with his hands and spoke softly into them," I know how you feel about him because I feel the same way about you."

Lily's P.O.V

Saying that Lily was fuming with anger was an understatement. Her fists were clenched so tightly that she could feel her skin tearing beneath her powerful grasping nails. She had to get away from him, she was afraid she would punch him and that was the last thing she needed to do seeing as they would have to work together for the next month. She was walking faster than any other point in her life, he blood was coursing quickly throughout her body. For some reason unbeknownst to her James's words had cut her deep.

What a hypocrite! How could he tell me Derek said all those things just to get in my pants! When he constantly does the exact same thing to any girl who is foolish enough to believe his lies! She grit her teeth at the thought, her heart was racing now, the speed at which she was walking combined with the added weight from her stomach made her brisk walk nearly unbearable. Looking at her surroundings she realized she was outside of the castle, feeling faint she sat down carefully so as not to strain her back.

James Potter is the most mendacious man on the planet! How could he say those things about Derek when he does them as a hobby! He even does all those things to me and there he is acting like he cares about my feelings. Her common sense fought with her thoughts, he would know when a guy was lying to get a girl in bed because he does it as well. No, she fought back at the thought, Derek has changed. Derek loves me and he wants to change to make me happy.

James P.O.V

Groaning at what he had just done and eager to put a stop to all of this he decided to go to the one person he believed could help him get Lily, Sirius. He knew his best friend would help him get Lily to believe that he truly loved her and if he couldn't he'd at least get Derek and Lily to break up. Now eager to tell his best friend everything he rose and quickly walked over to his apartment. When he opened the door to his friend's apartment he found that he wasn't the only one visiting with his friend. Strangely he found Bionca and Chloe there as well as Remus, the latter wasn't all to shocking. All four of them looked up at him when he came in, there was an air of silence amongst them that they had just been talking about him moments before.

Remus looked at James and spoke knowingly," It didn't go well did it?"

James looked the group over and wasn't to keen to admit his feelings for Lily right in front of her two friends.

Noticing James's apprehension Sirius said," Don't worry I told them all about it."

James winced and said," I didn't tell Lily anything."

Sirius's mouth formed an o and said," Sorry mate I thought you were."

James nodded.

Chloe asked," Well why didn't you?"

James answered staring at his feet which he was rocking back and forth on them nervously," I didn't get a chance to."

Sympathetically Remus gazed at his friend and asked," Why not?"

James sighed deeply and relived the nightmare he had just witnessed again, and he was sure it wouldn't be the last time," I went looking for her and I thought she might have gone outside with him," he gritted his teeth angrily," and I spotted them at the lake together and let's just say they weren't exactly talking."

James adverted his attention from his feet to the wall which he glared hatefully at.

"No," Bionca said," she can't do this to herself."

Sirius rose front the couch and walked over to his friend and patted him sympathetically on the back and said," It's okay Prongs we can prank Derek into oblivion tomorrow night."

Remus coughed and said," Perhaps you can do that during the day tomorrow."

Sirius looked over at his friend who had raised his eyebrows to him hinting him as to their plans tomorrow.

"Oh right," Sirius said.

Catching the exchange between the two friends Bionca asked," What exactly do you have planned tomorrow?"

"We err… have to study," Sirius feebly answered.

Quick to change the subject Remus asked James," So did you just come straight here after all this?"

James shook his head and said," No I went back to out apartment."

Chloe widened her eyes," So you two talked?"

James laughed at the thought and said," more like fought."

" What did you say to her Prongs," Sirius questioned?

James groaned and said," It was horrible, at first I could control myself but then she went on about how much she loved the guy," he stared blankly at the wall," and I got so jealous I couldn't control myself. I ruined any chance I'll ever have of being with her, she hates me now."

Both Chloe and Bionca took in everything he had just said and they were both positive James really did care for her.

Bionca looked over at Remus and Sirius and said," We'll help you break them up."

Chloe got up and walked over to James and sympathetically put her hand under his chin and turned his head to face hers and said," I'll try to get her to at least trust you but I can't promise anything."

James nodded blankly; his mind was replaying his worst nightmare over and over again.

Sirius sighed and said," Prongs you have got it bad for that girl."

Remus agreed and asked," What did you say to her that would get her so angry?"

James sighed and said," I told her he was lying to her and that," he gulped," he was only trying to get in her pants."

Remus sighed deeply and nodded.

Chloe smiled slightly and said," I wish I had the nerve to tell her the part about him only wanting sex from her."

Bionca nodded and said," We should head over to your apartment Chloe, I'm sure Lily will come looking for us and will want to talk about everything that happened between her and Derek."

Chloe agreed and said," We need to get her to start questioning her feelings for Derek and begin to get her to trust James."

Lily P.O.V

Cradling her stomach Lily continued to think about all the events of the day. The entire day had been like a ride on a roller coaster, it had been so fast paced she felt as if she had been swept off her feet. She decided she needed to go talk to her friends about what had happened between her and Derek today. Dreading the scolding her friends would give her for forgiving Derek she forcefully dragged herself back to the apartment area. Not wanting to face James just yet, seeing as she had just barely cooled down, but she was still very angry, she checked Chloe's apartment.

When she opened the door to her friend's apartment she found both Chloe and Bionca there as if they had been anticipating her arrival. Lily stepped into the apartment and walked over to them.

Chloe said," Hey Lily."

"Hey," Lily greeted.

Bionca said," Hey."

Chloe asked," So what happened on your date with Derek?"

Lily's eyes widened and said," I thought you wouldn't want to hear about any of that."

Chloe shrugged and said," Well you are my best friend and I need to know these things even if I think you are making a huge mistake."

Lily smiled and said," Thank you. We are going out, he told me he was sorry and that we should put the past behind us."

Both Chloe and Bionca faked surprised faces.

Bionca said," That's great I hope everything works out better for you two this time around."

Lily smiled and said," Thanks. Oh," her smile faded," and I talked to James and we had a huge fight. He told me I was making a huge mistake and that Derek only wanted to get in my pants. Like he is any better," Lily puffed frowning.

Chloe grinned and her eyes twinkled and said," Really."

"Yeah," Lily frowned," he is such a prat."

"Well," Bionca said," maybe he is just looking out for you."

"Yeah," Chloe agreed," maybe he had changed."

Lily shrugged and said," the day Potter changes is the day Slytherin allows a muggle born in it's house."

Chloe smiled and said," Well you did say Derek changed so why is it so hard to believe that Potter is capable of the same thing."

Lily grinned and said," Well it's Potter."

Chloe sighed and said," Well, all I am saying is to give him a chance, after tonight I think he really changed."

"What happened tonight," Lily asked eager for an answer?

Bionca quickly covered up for Chloe and said," Well we talked to him for a few minutes after dinner and he seemed to have really matured."

Lily shrugged and said while grasping her stomach," I really want to get this thing off so I am off to bed. Goodnight."

"Goodnight Lily," Bionca and Chloe said in unison.

Lily retreated to her apartment and was glad about the fact that James hadn't arrived yet. So she grabbed her pajamas and went into the bathroom to change and was so relieved about the fact that she could finally remove her fake stomach. She walked on over to her room and was about to settle into bed when she saw something move around on the walls. Her mind reeled to find out what it was and all the while fear coursed through her body at the thought that someone was in her room.

Her voice quivered as she spoke," Who's there?"

"Ah, fear not my fair lady it is I Sir Cadogan," Sir Cadogan said.

Lily breathed a sigh of relief and said," Oh it's only you."

Sir Cadogan said," Just here to watch out for any evil doers my fair lady."

"Thank you," Lily said," goodnight."

"Goodnight," Sir Cadogan said," fair maiden."

A/n: Whew! Finally I am done with their first day. Can you believe it took me nearly twenty thousand words for just their first day! Finally I can get into the major plot line and stop with all this introduction stuff. Thanks for all of the reviews and I anticipate having the next chapter up on Christmas day it all depends on how busy I am that day. If not I'll have it up on the twenty sixth. And please review it inspires me to write quicker!