Lily woke up the next morning with the worst hangover that she had ever had in her life.

"James…" she mumbled, groping at the empty air in front of her, in hopes that by some chance she would grab his neck.

"He's not here," Lulu said, coming over and sitting on the end of Lily's bed. "Would you like something for your hangover?" Lily muttered something that Lucy thought was probably something very sarcastic or else something very insulting. She handed Lily the mug of burning hot liquid she had brought up. Lily took a sip and nearly spit it back out again.

"What are you trying to do, poison me?" she shrieked.

"I liked you much better when you couldn't talk."

"What is this stuff?" Lily asked, wiping her mouth.

"It's a potion I brewed this morning. It's supposed to get rid of the headache and help you feel better. Do you?"

"Yes," Lily said with a nod.

"Good. You have to drink all of it though." Lily groaned. "I'll be downstairs if you need me." Lucy left her friend alone to deal with her headache.

"Why can't they make potions that taste like chocolate?" Lily asked as she stared down at the liquid.

"Because then everybody would want to drink potions and there would be no potions left for when people need them," answered James as he entered the dorm. He sat down next to her on her bed and smiled.

"How are you feeling, love?"

"I HATE YOU!" she screamed, throwing her pillow at him. James ducked.

"Okay, not the reaction I was expecting. Do you remember anything of what happened last night?"

"I remember that you FORCED me to a drinking contest!"

"Er…I was hoping we could skip past that part and get to the part where you kissed me."

"James, you're so cute when you're stupid. I was drunk darling."

"You think I'm cute?" he asked with a sweet smile.

"No! I-I-I hate you! You are the most inconsiderate, most conceited, most-' James kissed her.

"POTTER!"

"Yes?" he asked with a crooked grin.

"You can't just kiss me and think I'll just forgive you!"

"Why not?"

Lily screamed.

"You're just upset because you might actually like me.

Admit it, you love me."

"I DO NOT!" James kissed her again.

"YOU ARE THE MOST CONCEITED PERSON I HAVE EVER MET!"

"Yes, I'm conceited. We've established that. Now, what do you say I take you to Hogsmeade this weekend?" He kissed her once more and ran before she could answer.

That weekend found Lily trying on many outfits in front of her mirror.

"That looks lovely on you dear," the mirror said to her. Lily chucked her shoe at it.

"Lil? Why are you throwing your shoes at the mirror?" Ari asked as she came into the dormitory.

"What? Oh, I don't have anything to wear."

"Want to wear something of mine?" Ari asked, already shuffling through her closet. "Where are you going anyway?"

"Erm…out."

"Right, out. Okay whatever. Want to wear this?" Ari held up a pair of jeans with an emerald green v-neck cashmere sweater.

"Ooh Ari! That's lovely," Lily said, taking it from her friend. She quickly put it on and looked in front of the mirror.

"Gorgeous, darling!" it said to her.

"Thanks Ari. Did I ever tell you you're the best?" Lily asked before leaving. She climbed slowly down the stairs and met James at the bottom.

"Lily dearest you look truly smashing!" he said, bowing to her. He went to hold her hand but she smacked it away.

"Don't touch me."

"As my lady wishes."

"I'm not you're lady."

"Of course you're not."

"Good."

"Good."

The two of them left Gryffindor tower together and headed down to the great hall.

"Come with me," James said, leading her by the arm off to a room on the side. He pulled her in and shut the door behind them.

"James?"

"Yes?"

"What are we doing in a closet?"

"It's not a closet. Well it is. It just takes a moment, hold on." And then, as if they were in an elevator, the floor started lowering itself. They stopped a few moments later.

"James? What's going on?"

"Shh…I spent ages setting this up for you." Lily felt quite flattered.

"Really?" James didn't answer. Instead he knocked on a door three times and then turned around in a circle.

Lily giggled.

"Okay, close your eyes." Lily did so and James took her hand in his and led her down a hallway.

"Okay, open them!" Lily opened her eyes to find a narrow hallway decorated with fairy lights. A little round table sat a few feet away from them with piles of food on top.

"James…This is lovely!" Lily cried. "You did this?"

James nodded. He pulled a chair out for Lily and she sat in it. The two of them dined in silence.

"James, what's your middle name?" Lily asked as she sipped her water.

"Why?" Lily shrugged.

"Just wondering."

"What's yours?"

"Claire. It was my grandmother's name," Lily said. "You're turn."

"Er-I'd rather not say."

"Oh come on. It can't be that bad. What is it?"

"Um, it's...Leslie."

"James Leslie Potter…How lovely," Lily said with a smile.

"Do you know what Sirius's middle name is?" James asked with his famous crooked grin. Lily shook her head.

"No, what is it?"

"Lee."

"Lee? So that makes his full name-"

"Sirius Lee Black."

"How ironic. He's so white." James smiled.

"That he is my dear, that he is." They finished their meal shortly after their somewhat brief conversation.

"James, what time is it?" Lily asked.

"It's um…oh we're late."

"Late? Late for what?" Lily asked as James pulled her up out of her seat by her elbow and led her down the rest of the hallway.

"James, where are we going? And why are we late?"

"We're not late technically, just a bit behind schedule. And we're going to go shop in Hogsmeade," James answered as he turned around a left corner.

"WAIT." James skidded to a halt and Lily pulled her arm out of his grasp.

"Yes?" he asked, panting a little.

"Before we go, we have to lay down some ground rules."

"Excuse me?"

"Ground rules. Rule one: No touching. Rule two: Keep in your head, Potter, that this is not an actual date. Therefore you do not get actual date liberties. Rule three-'

"Wait, this isn't a date?" James asked, confused.

"Well…no."

"Then what is it?"

"Well I thought that it could be your way for apologizing to me for forcing me to drink and then kissing me." James's eyes widened.

"Excuse me Miss Lily Claire Evans, but if I remember correctly you kissed me."

Lily snorted.

"Ha! In your dreams!" James frowned. "Anyways. Rule three: No one can know this is a…a…an Apology Meeting. We are NOT on a date. You will not TELL people that we are on a date. If anyone should ask we'll say you-"

"Lost a bet?" Lily slapped James upside the head and started off down the hallway. James ran to catch up with her and slung his arm around her shoulders.

"Lily Billy?"

"Don't call me that…Sirius calls me that."

"Oh. Sorry. Anyways. Lily?"

"Yes?"

"Are you mad at me?"

"What?"

"Are you mad at me?" Lily looked at him. He was giving her puppy dog eyes and pouting.

"No," she said, turning her head.

"Good!" James kissed her cheek and ran off down the hallway.

"POTTER!"

They chased each other all the way down the hallway.

Neither of them stopped until they reached a set of stairs. There they stopped.

"James," Lily said, panting.

"Yes?" James asked with a bright smile.

"Don't kiss me again." James saluted her. Lily rolled her eyes. The two of them walked up the stairs together. When they reached the top James pulled open a door and they found themselves outside the Three Broomsticks.

"Oooh…Cool. How'd you do that?" Lily asked. James smiled.

"Secret." Lily smiled, despite her efforts not to, and the two entered the crowded restaurant.

"I'LL GET US DRINKS. YOU FIND A TABLE!" James yelled over the noise. Lily nodded to show she had heard and went off in the other direction as James.

Lily fought her way through the crowd, receiving many elbows to various body parts. She squinted her eyes, looking around for an empty table. There weren't any.

Lily sighed and was about to go find James to tell him this when she heard someone calling her name.

"Lily! Hey Lily!" Lily turned and saw two people waving her over. She fought her way over to the table and sat down in an empty chair with the couple.

"Hello Lily. Good to see you again."

"Good to see you again too, Mrs. Potter," Lily said with a somewhat forced smile.

"You're not here alone, are you? A pretty girl like you shouldn't go wandering Hogsmeade alone, it's dangerous," said Mr. Potter with a wink. Mrs. Potter slapped her husband's arm and Lily smiled. So this was where James got it from.

"Er, no. I'm actually here with James."

"James? James Potter? Our son James?" Mrs. Potter asked, looking shocked. Lily nodded.

"How is James? Keeping himself out of trouble?" asked Mr. Potter before taking a swig of butterbeer.

"Actually yes. They haven't done a prank so far this year." Mr. Potter raised his eyebrows.

"So Lily," said Mrs. Potter with what Lily recognized as James's famous mischievous grin. "Would you like to hear a story?"

"Yes please, Mrs. Potter."

"Call me Annie."

"Yes please Annie."

"Okay, let me think of a good one. Well you see, James, bless his little heart, wasn't exactly the 'quickest' little boy." Lily smiled. "And you see sometimes he would forget things. Nothing too serious. But you see one day when James was eight, I told James that he would have to walk to school today because I had to go to work early. And Les, Mr. Potter, call him Les, was away in America for work. So James was home alone that morning. He had to get himself ready. Well I went into work and was doing my working thing when I got an owl from James's school saying that he had…forgotten to put pants on that morning." Lily laughed. "Poor little James, he was so embarrassed. I never left him home alone again.'

"Um, he was wearing underwear, right?" Lily asked.

Annie nodded her head.

"Oh yes. He had underwear on. And a shirt, socks, shoes. His hair was combed and his teeth were brushed. And somehow my little boy had forgotten to put on his pants." Annie shook her head.

"That boy," said Les shaking his head. "He never got over that. He embarrassed himself in front of his crush at the time. What was her name?"

"Kira," Annie said. "Mean little thing. Pretty though. I suppose that's why James liked her so much." Les chuckled.

"Always had a thing for the pretty girls, he did. No matter what their personality, that is if they had a personality, long as they had a nice face they would do."

"Not that James is a bad guy," said Annie to Lily. "Just a bit immature I suppose. He does take after his father."

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that," Les said.

"Pretend all you want."

"There you are Lily, I've been looking all over for you," said James, coming over with a butterbeer.

"And I see you've found my parents. You guys haven't been, talking have you?" he asked nervously.

"No James, we just completely ignored Lily while you were-what were you doing?"

"Getting drinks. Anyway, Lily, we really had better get going."

"Nice seeing you Annie, Les," said Lily as she got up from the table. James waved goodbye to his parents as he and Lily exited the Three Broomsticks.

"Not to sound rude or anything, but what were you doing talking to my parents?" James asked. "Oh by the way, this is for you." James handed her the butterbeer.

"I was just talking to the James. And you know what? I think the better question is, do you only like me because of my face?"

"Lily, what did my parents tell you?" James asked, looking stern.

"Nothing. It's just that, sometimes I do have to wonder," Lily said, looking embarrassed. "I mean, are you only attracted to me because you think I'm cute?"

"Well of course I'm attracted to you 'cause I think you're cute," James said. Lily turned red.

"James Potter, do me a favor and NEVER TALK TO ME AGAIN." Lily stomped her foot and stormed away into the nearest shop.

"Lily, wait!" James called after her. He put his head in his hands and sighed. He looked up at the store's sign.

Madame Erica's Palace of Lingerie

Kudos, Lily. You were able to pick the one store I would want to go in least in the whole world!

James took a deep breath and swung open the door.

"Excuse me Miss," he said, going up to the cashier. "Have you seen a girl about this high-" James indicated how high- "with really bright red hair and green eyes?"

"Yes, Sir. She just went into the fitting rooms-"

"Thanks!" James made his way towards the fitting rooms.

"Sir, Sir! You're really not allowed to go in there!" the cashier called to James, although he paid no attention.

"Lily?" he asked knocking on a door. No answer. "Lily?" He knocked again. He opened the door a crack and-

"WHAT THE- GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT!"

"Right then, not Lily. LILY? Where art thou oh something or other Lily?"

"GO AWAY!" James followed the sound of her voice to the very last door.

"Lily?" James asked, knocking softly.

"I said go away."

"Yes, I know. I heard. Lily, please come out."

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I am very mad at you."

"Lily please. Just let me in for one minute so we can talk. Please? Just one minute." James heard a click and opened the door. He found Lily sitting on a little bench in the dressing room. James sat down next to her and took her hand in his.

"Lily, you didn't let me finish. You see, I don't just like you because you're cute. I like you because you're smart, and funny, and sweet as hell. I like you because I love the way you smile whenever I make a joke, however dumb it may be, I like you because the way you treat people. And I like you because-well damn. I mean, who could resist you?"

Lily smiled.

"I'm sorry James, I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions," she said with a blush.

"That's okay," James said, slinging his arm around her shoulders. He leaned in to kiss her and-

"There he is! Guards, grab that man!" And before he knew it James was being lifted high above the heads of two very large men.

"James!" Lily cried. "Where are they taking him?"

"Oh, they're taking him to a detention center. Teach him not to barge in on ladies who are changing."

Lily shook her head.

"And where is this detention center?" The cashier told her the address and Lily left.

"James?" Lily asked when she got to his "cell".

"Lily! Did you come here to save me?"

"Er, I'm actually just here for a visit. They won't release you for another two hours."

"Two hours?! Two hours here is like…a lifetime!" James cried out in disgust.

"I know but you know what, it'll be okay. Come find me when you do get let out. I've got to go." Lily blew James a kiss and then left.

Two hours later, James entered the Gryffindor Common Room with a smile.

"Where's Lily?" he asked Sirius, who was sitting on a chair near the fire with Gia. Gia was sleeping while Sirius copied down her Charms homework.

"What? Prongs! Where the hell have you been? Never mind, tell me later. Lily's upstairs." James ran up the stairs as fast as he possibly could.

"Hiya Lily!" he said, jumping on her bed. "I'm a free man! So I was thinking for our next date- I mean, 'apology whatsit' we should -what's wrong?" he asked, seeing the look on her face.

"James, I can't do this."

"Do what?"

"It's just, I don't think we should be dating."

"What? Why not."

"Well because, didn't everything today just feel wrong to you?" she asked nervously.

"Wrong how so?"

"I don't know, like, life was trying to keep us apart. What with your parents and the security guards and whatnot."

"Lily, the security guards thing only happened because I'm sometimes a little stupid."

"I know but, I don't know. It just feels wrong. And you know, I'm not entirely sure on my feelings for you. I'm really confused right now James."

"So you don't want to date me?" James said, looking downcast.

"No. I mean, atleast not right now. I just don't think we're right for each other."

"I'm not asking you to marry me."

"I know that, but James, you just have to give me space right now." James nodded.

"I understand."

"You do?" Lily asked, looking up at him. James nodded again.

"Yeah, I do." Lily kissed his cheek.

"Thanks James."

"Well, goodnight," James said, leaving.

"Goodnight."

When James entered the common room he was greeted by Sirius.

"Howdy James!" Sirius called as he fought Gia for her Charms homework.

"Come on Gia, just this once?" he asked pouting.

"No Sirius," said Gia, wrestling her homework away from him.

"Anyway. So James, how was your day with Lily?"

"You had a day with Lily?" Gia asked, her eyebrows raised. "Are you two dating?"

"No, we're not dating. And you know what? I'm tired. I think I'm going to go to bed. 'Night."

"Wow. I wonder what happened today?" Gia asked as James walked away.

"I don't know," Sirius said. "But I'm going to find out."

TADA! Dude, you have no idea how much time I spent tweaking this chapter. That's why it's FIFTEEN FREAKING PAGES!!!!! This chapter is super important to me and I needed it to be as close to perfect as anything I could ever write could be. So review! Tell me, did I do a good job? LET ME KNOW.

Next chappie will be shorter, by a lot. But that's only because I'm super anxious for the chapter AFTER that. Oh if only I could tell you…The only way you'll find out is if you REVIEW. Haha, gotcha there! I think. Anyway. I'll give you a clue about the anxious chapter: it involves secrets being revealed, couples (yes that's right, coupleS, as in PLURAL) hooking up, and well, a little bit of singing…(although it should be better than 'Hogwarts Idol'…and a lot more dramatic…Tehehehe….

Review my loves.

Love always,

Molly

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