Heaven

"Um, hi Remus, do you mind if I sit here?" Remus was in the library working on some homework for his Defense against the Dark Arts class. Professor Siddons had assigned a ridiculous amount of homework. He looked up and saw Lily. He just sat there staring at her until Lily blushed and cleared her throat. "So it's okay then." She sat down next to him.

"So, what brings you to the library?" Remus asked stupidly. She just giggled.

"Oh, the same as you, I guess. I need to do my Defense against the Dark Arts homework. The common room was just getting too loud." Her face darkened. "That James Potter is the most insufferable boy I've ever met. He's in the common room right now, complaining at the top of his lungs about not being able to go to Hogsmeade and doing ridiculous impressions of Professor McGonagall. I just don't understand how you can be friends with him. You two are opposites."

"Well," Remus said carefully. "I think being opposites is what makes us such good friends. We balance each other out." She looked over at Remus and something told her that she should just let the subject drop.

"So, where do you want to meet? For Hogsmeade tomorrow?"

"Oh," said Remus, uncomfortably. "I was wondering if we could just meet at Honeydukes or something."

"Why?" Lily asked, confused.

"Well," Remus started and then sighed. "You know James likes you right?"

"No, of course I don't," Lily said sarcastically. She rolled her eyes.

"Well, then you can understand why he can't know about this, about us. I can't risk him finding out that I'm your..." He trailed off.

"Date," Lily prompted. He gave her a smile.

"Yeah, date. He's one of my best friends and I don't want to hurt him." Lily looked at him, really looked. She looked right past his wispy light brown and hazel eyes, right into his heart. She gave him a little smile.

"I understand, Remus. I'll meet you at Honeydukes, then." She gave his arm a squeeze and then hurried out of the library leaving Remus alone with his thoughts.

On Saturday morning, Remus got up before dawn. He was too excited to sleep. He hurriedly pulled on some clothes and as he was doing so he thought about Lily.

"You're making too much goddamn noise, Remus."

"Just go back to sleep," Remus muttered distractedly, he was having problems putting on his shirt.

"Uh, Moony, you're trying to put your pants over your head. I'm not sure that's going to impress her much." Remus blushed and turned to see a groggy-looking Sirius.

"Shut it, don't wake James." Remus pointed to the closed hangings of James' four poster bed.

"You know James sleeps like the dead." Sirius reminded.

"I don't want to take chances," Remus whispered quietly putting on shirt instead of his pants.

"Don't worry about it." Sirius began to pull on his clothes as well. "So what about some breakfast? I'm hungry." Sirius' stomach growled loudly as if to prove his point. They both chuckled.

"You're always hungry, Padfoot."

"A growing boy needs his nutrients."

"You're almost six foot two!"

"So? I can still grow some more." Remus just shook his head as they headed out of the dormitory. Remus paused and could hear the snoring James and his insides twisted into a knot of guilt. "Moony! Let's go!"

"Yeah I'm coming."

"Where's Lily? I need to see who she's going with!" James moaned. His eyes darted around wildly before he spotted Lily with Leigh Watson and Tracy Werth the other two girls in Gryffindor. "Where is the damn idiot she's going with? Who is it?"

"What? So you can rip him to shreds?" Remus asked as nonchalantly as possible.

"Yeah, I guess." James chewed on his toast angrily.

"Come on, Prongs. Our fair lady McGonagall awaits us." Sirius motioned to the professor who was taping her foot impatiently at the bottom of the staircase.

"Oh, right. See you two later. Bring us some stuff from Zonko's." James looked back at Lily, his face clouding with anger. "And if you see who Lily is with, let me know."

"Sure, Prongs," said Peter nervously. His slightly round self quivering. Remus just ignored James, trying to contain his anger. Did James really think he owned Lily?

"Remus!" Remus was quickly brought back to reality. Peter was shaking his shoulder. "Let's go."

"Okay, and listen Peter. Sorry about leaving you alone today. But..."

"Who says I'm alone? I have a date."

"You?" Remus stifled a laugh. Peter just glared.

"Don't sound so surprised, Moony. And yes, I do have a date and she happens to be quite pretty."

"Who is she?" Remus asked curiously.

"Amy Parsons, you know her, she's in Hufflepuff." Remus tried to contain his laughter.

"She's a third year isn't she?" Remus glanced over at his friend who was blushing furiously.

"Age doesn't make a difference," Peter said defensively.

"Of course it doesn't Peter, of course it doesn't." Remus glanced around and saw Lily laughing and talking animatedly with her friends. He caught her eye, and she gave him knowing smile then returned to her conversation.

"He's going to find out sooner or later, Moony," Peter said, following Remus' gaze. Remus didn't reply. "Is she worth your friendship with James, Moony?"

"Ha, that's funny. Sirius asked the same question." Remus pretended to lose interest in the conversation and was suddenly really interested with the stone castle floor.

"So what's the answer then?" Remus just ignored him. They got into the horseless moldy carriage to Hogsmeade without another word.

"Hey, Remus, "she said happily. Remus turned around and saw her shocking green eyes and thick auburn hair.

"You're beautiful," Remus said breathlessly. She blushed crimson.

"I appreciate the compliment. You're pretty handsome yourself, you know." Now it was Remus' turn to blush and he muttered words of thanks.

"So, shall we go?" Remus offered his arm. She took it, giggling.

"Yes, I think we shall. It's off to Honeydukes!" They entered the small shop that seemed to be bursting at the seams with people. Remus' eyes were shinning with happiness. He headed straight for the chocolate, and grabbed an enormous slab of Honeydukes' best.

"I must admit, I have a bit of a sweet tooth," he told her as they were standing in line to pay. She laughed.

"Aw, and here I was thinking that you had that big smile on your face because I was here with you," Lily joked and put on a mock expression of hurt.

"I'm sorry, m'dear. I can't live without chocolate. You on the other hand..." he trailed off.

"Remus!"

"I was just kidding, Lily. I couldn't live without you either."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Is this all dears?" The plump lady behind the counter asked. Remus nodded yes. "It

comes to a total of six sickles and twelve knuts." They paid and left the crowded shop for some fresh air.

"Where would you like to go now, Lily?"

"What about the Three Broomsticks? I'm getting a little thirsty." Remus was a bit hesitant. What if someone told James? He pushed the thought away. He wasn't going to let James ruin his day with Lily.

"Sure, let's go."

They entered the bustling pub and found a table in the corner. When Madam Rosemerta saw Remus without the company of his three best friends, she did a slight double take.

"Hello, Remus. It's strange to see you here without the other members of your little gang," she laughed and her eyes landed on Lily. "Lily! Are you here with Remus?" Lily gave Remus a side glance and blushed but didn't say anything.

"James and Sirius had detention, and Peter had a date, so Lily offered to accompany so I wouldn't be alone," Remus said quickly.

"Of course dear," she said. Although mentally she was wondering if what he said was true. Besides, wasn't Lily James' girl? She ignored the thought and asked, "So then, what would you two like to have?"

"Two butterbeers, please, Rosemerta." Remus gave Lily a questioning look and she nodded.

"Of course, I'll bring them right out." She gave the pair another glance, before walking over to another customer.

"So what do you want to do, after Hogwarts?" Lily asked.

"Oh, well, I haven't really thought about it yet. It seems so far away. But if I had to choose, I think I'd be an Auror." Remus answered. "What about you? What do you want to do?"

"I want to be a Healer," she said simply.

"You'd be a great, Healer, Lily."

"You're just saying that."

"No, I'm being serious. You're fantastic at Charms and Potions. You actually care about other people. You'll be wonderful." Lily blushed.

"That's sweet, Remus."

"Well, it's the truth. You'd be great at anything you want to do, Lily. You're just an amazing person."

"You are too, you know. You aren't like the rest of your friends. You care about people too." Lily squeezed his arm as Madam Rosemerta brought the drinks over. She raised her eyebrow as she saw Lily with her hand on Remus' arm.

"Here you are, dears. If there's anything else you need I'm just over there." She pointed to the bar.

"Thanks, Rosemerta." She gave them a smile and a wink, then left.

"It seems kind of strange, doesn't it? We're going to be leaving Hogwarts after this year."

"Yeah, it terrifies me."

"Why?" Remus asked curiously.

"Well," Lily said slowly. "I don't know, it's just I don't want to leave. I guess I just don't want to grow up." She smiled sheepishly.

"I don't either." Remus raised his bottle of butterbeer. "Here's to never growing up."
"Hear, hear," Lily said, raising her bottle and grinning.

By the time they had finished their drinks it was only a little past noon.

"Would you mind accompanying me on a walk?" Remus asked.

"Not at all, Remus, not at all." They got up out of their seats, thanked Madam Rosmerta and walked back out. She took his hand gave it a squeeze as they followed the cobblestone street to the outskirts of the village.

"Where are we going, Remus?" Lily asked.

"Oh, I know this place just outside of Hogsmeade, it's a little bit of a surprise." Lily gave him a bit of a smile and Remus could feel the familiar wobble of his legs.

"I like surprises," she said happily. They walked a little longer in silence.

"Okay," Remus finally said. "Close your eyes." She hesitated. "Its okay, Lily, you can trust me." She grinned and obeyed.

Remus led her up a grassy slope and into a tranquil wood. After a couple minutes, Remus stopped. "Open your eyes, Lily."

Lily opened her eyes and gasped. They were in a small clearing in the middle of the woods. The trees looked like they were on fire, their leaves fiery oranges and bright reds and yellows. The sun shone through the trees and it looked like there was a golden aura surrounding them all.

"It's beautiful," Lily breathed.

"I thought you'd like it. I sort of found it back in fourth year when I got lost." Remus took Lily by the hand and led her over to some shade under the biggest oak tree.

"I feel like I'm in heaven," she whispered and rest her head on Remus' shoulder. Lily closed her eyes again and let the beauty of the wood sink in. When Remus looked down again, he saw that Lily was asleep. He chuckled softly.

"Oh, Lily. You're beautiful, you know that?" He gently kissed the top of her head, inhaling the sweet smell of honeysuckle in her hair. They both sat under that oak tree for a while, and by the time Lily opened her eyes again the sun was setting. Remus was stroking her hair lightly.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep," Lily said embarrassedly, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "You should have woke me up."

"It's okay, you were great company anyway." Remus glanced at the setting sun. "We should get back to the castle." Reluctantly they both got up and slowly began walking out of the wood hand in hand.

"You'll bring me back here, won't you Remus?" Lily asked before they left the clearing.

"Of course I will, Lily."

"Good, I'd hate never to come back to the place where we first kissed."

"Kissed?" Remus asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Yes, kissed," Lily said seriously.

"Okay, I can take a hint, I'm not thick." Remus chuckled as he stopped and wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her close. She leaned into him and he brushed his lips gently against hers then pulled back.

She smiled, "Now I'm really in heaven." She rested her head on his shoulder as they continued their walk back to the castle.

A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed, hope you liked this chapter. I'll try to update once a week. Keep reading:)