That night was a hard one for Lily. When she got back to her dorm, Alli was waiting up for her with a big cheesy grin on her face.
"So, I look up from my History Of Magic essay to see our very own Miss Evans walking out with a very anxious looking Mr. Potter. And then, you don't come back until 9:00.. Spill, Girlfriend." Alli's gray eyes were lit up, and her shoulder-length blond hair seemed to bob in excitement. Lily knew she couldn't tell her what they had talked about. James had made it very clear that this was a big secret; his life could even depend on it.
Lily blinked. "Did you say History of Magic? Hey, Alli, do you have your notes? Can I see them?"
Alli waved her fingers in Lily's face. "Hello? You there? Details! You disappear for four hours with Mr. Quidditch-body and you want to talk about my History of Magic notes?" She suddenly looked stern. "He didn't put a spell on you, did he? Look into my eyes, are you ok?"
Lily laughed. "I'm fine. No, Mr. Quidditch-body did not put a spell on me. I'm just a little tired and overwhelmed."
"Are you going to tell me what happened?"
"He snuck us into Hogsmeade, and we just had a few butterbeers. And we talked. A lot."
"...yeah?" Alli said.
"About... his family. And now we're officially going out," Lily said with a smile to distract her friend.
"AWESOME! It only took you seven years. Hey, are you okay?" Alli frowned as Lily walked over to her bed and sat down, her head in her hands.
"Yeah, I'm just tired or something."
Alli walked over and sat down next to her, wrapping her arms around her friend as Lily started to cry. Maybe Alli didn't know what was exactly wrong; she hadn't heard the tragic story James had told Lily tonight. She didn't understand the prophecy and what it might mean. However, she did understand her best friend. Alli Landry listened and with her heart, a heart that had understood Lily since the day Lily was born. And she knew that her friend just needed to cry. So, pulling Lily all the way into her bed and covering her, she laid next to her with her arms around her and allowed Lily to cry on her until they both fell asleep.
Lily woke up before the sun had even risen. She smiled at Alli sleeping soundly and gently got out of bed. She had fallen asleep in her clothes and now felt rumpled and uncomfortable. She quickly shed her jeans and sweatshirt from her body and climbed into some fuzzy sweat pants and a T-shirt. She went over and looked out the window.
'I just can't stop thinking about what James told me,' she thought. 'How tragic to be in love and getting ready for your marriage, and then to have you life ripped suddenly away from you. The voice in my dreams is so sad." The moonlight made her feel restless, and she decided to go for a walk. Pulling on her big wooly sweater with a hood and pom-pom drawstrings, she walked out the door and through the Common Room, where the fires were burning low, and out of the portrait hole.
The castle looked so strange at night. No lights were on, but the gray light of early morning shone through the windows enough to light her way. The portraits were all sleeping except for one of a kitten, who mewed at her as she went passed. Without thinking about it, she subconsciously knew her destination. She walked straight passed the Great Hall into the Entrance Hall, and then she pushed open the Entrance doors and went right outside.
The sun was visible now, a pink shimmer just visible over the horizon of the great lake. She started to go faster.
When she got to the colored glass jetty James had shown her, she wrapped her coat around her tighter and walked out onto it. This is why she had woken up, she realized. She just had to see the sunrise here, had to see how beautiful it was. As she sat there, a stag came out of the forest. A big stag with big brown eyes and a shining coat. Lily gasped.
"Hello," she whispered as the stag came closer to where she sat. She crawled back to the end of the jetty and stuck out her hand. "Aren't you beautiful?" She didn't even realize tears were bouncing onto the smooth glass rocks; The stag bowed it's head and allowed her to touch its antlers. Then she moved her touch to it's head, where it's coat was surprisingly soft and warm. Then, without warning, it turned and ran back into the forest. Lily smiled serenely and looked back to where a bit more of the sun was visible. Now the sky was like a painter's pallet: Cotton candy pink at the bottom, turning to an angry red, which became a royal purple before turning back into the navy blue night sky at the top.
As more pink shone through, Lily felt a hand on her shoulder. She didn't turn around or even jump. Somehow, she'd known he'd be here.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" she asked, looking at the sky.
But James was staring at her, taking in how the light reflected in her dark, long, wavy red hair. "It sure is," he murmured.
She leaned back on him as they took in the sunrise.
"I keep thinking about what you told me. I hardly got any sleep. It's so sad..." she trailed off as she yawned and fell asleep, right there in James's arms. He smiled and leaned down to kiss the top of her head.
"Beautiful," he whispered. Then he easily lifted her and carried her back to the castle before anybody could wake and ask questions.
When Lily woke up, she was on a couch in the Common Room. She was laying on something that made her feel so safe and happy. Turning her head, she saw that her pillow was James.
"And Sleeping Beauty awakens. Good Morning, Aurora. The three fairies are here, and since Prince James made sure your life isn't in danger, they want to know what you want your third gift to be. Merry-weather suggested coffee." Alli's sarcastic comment was sealed with a grin. She knew Sleeping Beauty was Lily's favorite movie.
"Merry what?" Sirius asked. "Did you just call me, Remus, and Peter fairies?"
Alli laughed. "That sounds like a great idea!" she pulled out her wand, and suddenly the boys were in odd little dresses with pointed hats: Sirius in blue, Remus in green, and Peter in red.
James laughed; Lily jumped. A moment ago he had been asleep!
"Good Morning," she whispered, smiling at him.
"It sure is," he said gleefully, pulling her closer. "I haven't seen Sirius in a dress since his brother showed me the picture of when he went as Marilyn Monroe for Halloween."
Everybody broke up laughing.
"Her dress floated up when she twirled. I was jealous," Sirius grumbled, pulling out a wand and changing the boys back into their normal clothes. "Besides, I was really, really little."
"You were ten!" James laughed. Then he grabbed Lily and leaned down to kiss her, whispering in her ear "Dumbledore called a Heads meeting tonight, in that room off the cafeteria at 7."
"Great," She said. "I've been thinking about having a dance, what do you think?"
His kiss gave her his answer.
A/N: WOOT, pointless chapter, but I love the way they all interact. And I love Alli and Sirius. Maybe they'll get together. makes a note lol. I'm not sure if I'm going to have them throw a ball yet, it just seems so cliche in the L/J stories. If I do, there's going to be something different about it. Bah. And I added the Sleeping Beauty bit in there because it's one of my favorite movies.. Weee! Tehe
-Ria-