Trashcan: thanks for reviewing.

I didn't realize that it might be a little hard to follow what year they were in. I skipped from first year to fifth year cuz it was just too difficult to write continuously from their first year to the end. Plus, ya gotta figure that the most interesting things happened in their fifth year. If anyone has any ideas for pranks or anything like that, or maybe you have an idea for a song to be used in the next chapter, e-mail me bout it ; make sure you put "in regards to your fic Thorns" as the subject so I don't accidentally delete it.) and I think that's about it for this.

Oh yeah! A fairly big section of this is from a story that one of my best friends wrote. It was a really great story (in my opinion) and I decided that I could work it into here. I just wanted to have it known that it wasn't mine. Original names were replaced with the characters from this fic.

Disclaimer: You know the drill, having seen it in many other fanfics... nothing belongs to me, except for a few characters and the plot; the rest belongs to JKR, one of the people who reviewed, or a singer/band that I decided to 'borrow' the music from. (Though the music factor will be decided on how brain dead I manage to get while writing this chapter.)

Thorns by Faerielights

Chapter 11: Prefect Dreams

Last chapter:

"She wanted to know what happened, so I told her," I stated. Noticing James's look, I wickedly wondered if I should egg him on and tell him he got detention, or if I should tell them the truth. The truth won, this time. I was too hungry to make up a bunch of lies anyway. "Yea, Malfoy now has three detentions, one from me, one from Potty, and one from Minnie. He also got 20 points taken off Slytherin's point total cuz he called me... that word twice."

Although they said I would never forget, there I sat, trying to remember. The room almost closed in on me as I watched him walk towards the glass door. All it took was one question and I could remember it perfectly.

The night was incredibly clear. You could see every star in the sky; the Milky Way shone visibly gathered across it. The moon was nearly full when there was a knock at my door. I got up, slowly approached the door, and wondered.

Reaching the door, I saw James. He looked unbelievable in the moonlight. His dark hair picked up the prisms of white light, his dark eyes held an even greater sparkle, and his naked torso shone. All of a sudden, a fog rolled in. the clear sky just wasn't as clear anymore. I couldn't think straight; everything was surrounded in one enormous haze.

Another knock. I opened the door.

"Hello James, what are you doing here?" I questioned in my low, silky voice,

"Well. I uhh, was in the neighborhood and I saw your lights on."

I smiled sweetly as I always have, "Would you like to come in?"

"I'd love to," he answered in a smooth voice barely above a whisper, "and here. This is for you." he handed me a single long stemmed rose. "And this too," this time he handed me a bottle of my favorite red wine.

"Thank you. Are you sure you just saw my lights on and decided to stop by?"

"Well, I had to pick up something. I couldn't just show up here empty handed, now could I?" he remarked as we laughed, both knowing he planned to come up to my door.

As we walked through my living room and into my kitchen, where we always sat no matter what occasion, he looked at me in a way he has never before. This was my best friend, we talked about everything together, but this time it was different, I could feel it. Not knowing what to do, I attempted to make small talk, which didn't work out so well.

"You look extremely nice tonight. You have a date you didn't tell me about?" in all honesty he did look really good. He wasn't really dressed up or anything, he was like, glowing.

"You think so? I just put on the first thing I picked up and said the hell with it! You on the other hand look especially hot this evening. You have a date and not tell me about it?" he laughed. "There isn't anyone else in here its there?" he asked suspiciously.

"Where exactly do you mean? I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

"I'll take that as a no, but you do look good."

"You're nuts."

"What?"

"How can I look good if I'm in my pajamas cooking myself some dinner?"

An incredible silence passed between us. Just as the clouds started lifting they came flying back like an arrow escaping from the bow.

"What are you making?" he whispered, his mouth smooth.

"I haven't decided," I whispered back, barely hearing myself. The air was getting thicker. It was harder to breath. I thought. "Would you like anything?" I asked James. Our conversation was still barely audible. I'm still not sure how we could hear or understand each other.

"I'd like to create a melt in your mouth meal you could die for," after a moment he added, "with me."

The clouds grew thicker, the air heavier. Billie Holiday was on the radio. You could barely hear her through the beating of our hearts. The enchanting evening grew even more so as the sifting of flour and melding of sugar and butter continued. The beating of our hearts was drowning all sound. Our body heat grew and the slightest touch of a hand or brush of an arm sent us back a few moments until our breath was caught. All we saw was each other. Measurements in the recipe meant nothing, and as for the measuring cups, who needs them? We used our hands to achieve the needed amount, we guessed at everything and met our mark.

Our masterpiece of a meal was almost complete, when he knocked into me. I was caught in between him and the counter. I looked up into his eyes. He looked down into mine. I could feel a heaviness in my heart; I needed him. Not just for tonight, but for always. I knew then I couldn't bare it if he left. What would I do without him? I loved him more deeply then I had ever loved anyone before. He was all I could think of.

Just when he leaned down to kiss me, that one earth-shattering kiss that you will only ever have with one person.

Sirius had to interrupt my thoughts with the repeating of his question that brought my thoughts back to this instant that felt so long ago, "Lily? Earth to Lily? Are you even listening to me anymore? What do you do for a girl you know you can't live without?"

"Sorry, what was the question?" I asked, coming out of my daydream.

"What do you do for a girl you know you can't live without?"

"You cook with her," I said with my silky voice fading into my thoughts.

"What do you mean?" he said pulling me out of my memories before I could even go back.

"What?"

"Are you okay? You seem a little. I don't know. You've been spacing our a lot."

"I'm fine. I was just thinking about something. What was the question?"

"What? Oh, what do you mean cook with her?"

"You cook with her. You make the most incredible dessert you can find. One that melts in your mouth, preferably with chocolate."

"What.?"

". Something so sensual you can't bear it. Something so sultry you get hot just thinking about it."

"What are you talking about?"

"Food. What did you think I was talking about?"

"Who cares, just keep going, I was getting into it. You are gonna help me tell her right?"

"Tell her what?"

"How much I love her"

"Oh come on. If this doesn't let her know the nothing will."

"Okay, now what do I do?"

"You can use my place. It will be perfect. My kitchen lights have the dimmer on them, and with the riverbed floor and the color of the cabinets it's the most incredibly perfect place you will find to cook in. we can light all the candles and scones in the living room, it'll give the perfect ambiance."

The setting was perfect. It was exactly how I remembered it from that night. before. well. before. Let's just leave it at that. Fresh cut red roses and white orchids were overflowing the vases I had scattered throughout my house. The radio was playing some of my favorite smooth jazz melodies. The candles and scones were lit. Every sense was used in the area's ambiance. The glorious aroma, the music, and the site of the romantic setting were all there. I could remember the feeling of having sugar run through my fingers and the taste of James's mouth. The only word to describe the scene was simply. perfect.

A knock on the door.

I walked to the door half expecting, half hoping to see James, knowing it would never, could never happen again.

Another knock. I could have sworn I saw James there for a moment, but no. It was Sirius. I opened the door.

"Hey Sirius," I said with false cheerfulness.

"Hi, I can't tell you how thankful I am. You helped me so much." We walked out of the entranceway and into the kitchen.

"You brought the wine with you right?"

"Yeah, is this the right kind? It had to be red right?"

"Yeah, this is perfect. And you know how to make your dessert, right?"

"Yes, I'd got it down to a 'T'."

"Good. Well I should be going now. I'll see you tomorrow," I said with my head down walking toward the door.

"Lily! Wait!" Sirius called as I reached the door. I stopped and slowly turned around. He ran up to me, gave me one of his rough hugs and kissed my cheek.

"Lily, I know how hard this must be, you two were together and in love for so long, but I really can't thank you enough for all you've done. Thank you."

"It's alright and you know I'd do anything for my friends," I said ready to cry. I had to get out. He couldn't see me cry. He had to be happy. I once knew happiness. That was a long time ago though, a very long time ago.

"Are you okay?"

"Of course I am. Enjoy yourself and behave!" I said trying to make him believe me. I doubt it worked, but I opened the door and walked out before he could say another word.

Walking down the street I could recall all the time James and I spent together. We had always had a good time no matter what we did. He could always make me smile. All he had to do was look at me and smile In that one was that just. I don't know it just always brightened my day. He was like that, even when he was upset about something, he'd make me feel better before he even gave himself a second thought.

He had to be the first thing I saw when I woke up in the morning or my day wouldn't start. His smile could stop the rain.

With this last thought, it started raining.

This was just my luck. As if things couldn't get any worse, I was stuck standing out in the rain.

Now I was angry, and that was putting it nicely. "What? No thunder! NO Lightening! Just a little rain!" I screamed as loud as I could towards the sky. Boy were the gods appeasing me tonight, the thunder and lightening started.

It might as well rain and I might as well continue to walk in it. It fit my mood. I started to cry. Silent tears dripping down my face. They came more and more easily with each step. Two blocks form my home, where Sirius was expressing his love of Destie; I was soaked through with rain and tears. Three blocks, I was wondering where I was going. Four blocks away, I couldn't care less.

Eventually I reached a park. Under normal conditions I might have been afraid to be out in the middle of the night in a park all alone, but I wasn't. What I was afraid of was everything else. I was afraid of spending the rest of my life as I had spent most of the earlier part of it, alone. I was afraid of rejection in every aspect of my life. And most f all, I was afraid of never feeling the way I felt when James was around, again.

Sitting on the wet bench in the park, I finally remembered the whole scene vividly.

He came up behind me, put his strong arms around me, and kissed my neck gently, "Morning doll, what's for breakfast?"

"Whatever you want," I answered, leaning into his arms. He hugged me tighter and turned me around in his arms. I put my arms around his neck and kissed him. Kissing him was like a mouthful of melted chocolate every time.

An old love song came on the radio, and he whispered in my ear. "Dance with me."

He took my hand and we slow danced in the kitchen while the early sun frolicked on the bare portions of our skin. I rested my head on the spot just below his shoulder that my head was made for. We fit together so perfectly.

There was always a low rolling fog when he was around, and it always knew the right moment to come in thicker. The light played on the cut glass in the windows; the rainbow of colors it created was glorious. Birds sang and the beating of his heart under my head sounded like the ocean.

"I love you Lily," he whispered to me.

"I love you too," I whispered back.

We continued to dance slowly around the kitchen. I felt so secure in his arms. Nothing could go wrong. Everything was so cloudy, yet so clear at the same time. At that moment I knew we would be together forever. The music ended and there was nothing but silence. We continued to dance. James was the first to break the silence.

"I don't know how to say this, but my department wants to promote me."

"That's wonderful," I said, sincerely enthused.

"How is it wonderful? If I accept, I have to transfer to the office in the Yakima Valley."

"What? When?"

"A month at the latest. The problem is if I go I can't stay here with you."

I didn't know what to say. I was so confused. One minute we were dancing the next this.

"What should I do Lily?"

"You should go."

"Why?"

"This could be an opportunity of a lifetime, you should take it."

"I guess I should go then. I have to pack." With that he grabbed his clothes out of my bedroom and walked out the door. I just stood there.

Now, sitting out in the rain, I realize I should have told him to stay in Surrey with me. I should have run out after him. I should have told him to take me with him. I should have done something, but I stood there. I just stood there. I guess I was waiting for him to tell me to go with him to the stupid Yakima Valley in Scotland. To tell me he loved me and wouldn't go if I wouldn't go with him, but he didn't. He didn't come running back through the door to do any of this. He just left. That was the last time I saw him.

It was getting colder. The wind was picking up. Why didn't I do anything? If I did something, I would be with James now. I definitely wouldn't be sitting in the rain by myself in the middle of the night.

I thought as I spun around. It sounded like someone was coming up behind me. Nothing was there.

"I had a feeling you'd be here," a smooth voice stated as I spun back around to face the masculine voice. It sounded vaguely familiar. "Why are you out here by yourself? You're gonna catch cold." His voice was definitely familiar, but the accent was different. Was it? It couldn't be, could it?

"James?" the hope in my voice showing.

"Yes."

"What are you doing here?"

"I went to your house and saw Sirius's bike. I went up and looked through the window, but you weren't the one with him, Destiny was."

"Yeah, so, what are you doing here?" My voice was rising with anger. I hated him so much for leaving me, but I needed him so much more.

"Well, as I was saying, I know how much you liked to walk when you didn't know what to do, so I came here."

"You don't know anything."

"I know that I love you." With that it seemed as if the wind hushed. The rain quieted itself. The thunder and lightening held their breaths for an instance. We were surrounded in silence.

"Then why did you just collect your things and leave?" I whispered. My anger vanished.

"Because I didn't know if you would come with me."

"Why didn't you ask? I would have gone with you in a heartbeat."

"Then come with me now."

We stood there in silence. The wind and rain raged on. The thunder and lightening burned in the background.

Finally I asked, "Is that a request, an offer?"

"No. Come with me, back to Scotland. I need you. This is me begging," he said as he got on his knees.

"Get up out of the mud."

He pulled a little box out of his pocket.

"Not until you say you'll marry me," he said as he opened it.

(A/N: compliments of my BBF Amanda that was her story I only changed the names of the characters and the locations. I don't know it there is a Yakima Valley in Scotland, but we'll pretend that there is.)

I woke up and jumped out of bed as though there were fifty or so poisonous snakes in the bed all ready to bite me. I ran into the bathroom feeling like I would be sick, but instead of running to the loo, I turned on the bathwater in my bathtub. I filled it with hot water and some sweet smelling bubbles then got in. As I sat there neurotically scrubbing at my skin trying to get the horrible feeling of liking Pothead and willingly letting him touch me, I tried convincing myself that it had just been a dream.

"Relax, Lily, there's no need to panic. It was just a dream. Not even a dream. It was a nightmare. As if you would ever like that pompous asshole in any way other than someone to torture. Someone probably sent you those dreams as a prank. Yeah, that's it. It was a prank! Just a stupid little prank. Just don't think about it. If you worry about it too much, whoever sent those prank dreams to you will know that they got to you. You can't let anyone know they got to you. You must not display any thoughts or emotions towards Pothead except for hate and thoughts about pranks. I wonder how they managed to send those dream-pranks to me."

I decided not to think about it anymore, and let my mind wander. My thoughts drifted to the prefect meeting we'd had today.

Earlier that Day

"Good morning everyone. This is our first official prefect meeting. I would like to take this time to greet all the new prefects, and welcome back those of you from last year." Dumbledore continued on in his greetings. He then introduced all the prefects from each house. We already knew each other, so it was a little pointless, in my eyes anyway. I then tuned back into what he was saying. "... An inaugural ball for everyone this year. A friend of mine's daughter had spent a year among muggles and informed me of the tradition. It would be a good way to kick of the school year so to speak. It will be for fourth year and above, but to keep the younger pupils from getting upset about not being allowed to attend unless invited by an older student, I believe each house can have it's own mini party in their common rooms."

I felt a light breeze, but couldn't figure out how, as there were no windows in the room, and the door was closed tightly. Wondering if anyone else felt something. I looked across the table, and saw Potter smirking. I took a compact mirror out of my pocket (always handy to have with you if Potter is one of your enemies) and looked at my reflection. I carefully pointed my wand at him under the table and whispered a charm. No one really noticed as my now hot pink hair fell into my face. Bingo! The idiot was now supporting Slytherin with his silver hair and green skin.

He shot a spell back at me. My skin was now bright purple. This meant war. I shot another back at him. He now had green feathers all over his body. We went back and forth for about 10 minutes before I realized that everyone in the room was looking at us. I stopped and looked over at Dumbledore. The lackwit across from me, however, didn't seem to notice and he kept shooting spells under the table at me.

"Ahem" Dumbledore cleared his throat. Idiot-boy finally took notice and stopped with the hexes. (A/N: has nothing to do w/ the story, but as of now, this is my third longest chapter. If I have 1000 more words, it'll make this my longest. It's entirely possible too, cuz I've only just begun to work on this chapter. Alright, back to the story)

"As I was saying before Mr. Potter and Miss Po-Evans, terribly sorry, hex war I guess it would be deserved to be called." I slumped down in my chair blushing a little. Wait a minute; what had Dumbledore almost called me? Must have been doing a mental detention slip for Jamsie-boy. The stupid twit sat up straight and beamed at everyone like he had been told he had won athlete of the year. I tried to murder him with my eyes, but that wasn't working. Too bad. The world would be way better off without him.

"This year we will hold our first Inaugural ball, if all goes smoothly, it will be something that will be continued and hopefully become and remain a Hogwarts tradition. We will be needing several committees. Food, music, decorating, et cetera. Since Mr. Potter and Miss Evans seem so fond of turning each other colors, I think we will put them in charge of decorations. They may need some help with that so why don't we have. Mr. Snape and Miss Norsean help as well."

You know, sometimes I wonder if Dumbledore is as smart as everyone says he is. I mean, who in their right mind would put four sworn enemies into one committee together? This definitely would be a ball to remember.

I was unable to concentrate on the rest of the meeting, so it was a good thing that schedules were handed out for when we had to patrol the school's hallways to catch any late night stragglers. Figured that I would have to do that tomorrow, and with Potter. Talk about ruining someone's day. Oh well.

Present Time

I snickered as I remembered what Potty looked like at the end of the meeting. Puke green duck feathers with silver curly hair. Orange eyes and a duck's bill. On top of that he had a neon blue tongue, his feet were like a dogs, and he had to waddle like a duck. Of course Minnie had to go and ruin my fun by taking all his newly enhanced features away. Though on the other hand, I no longer looked the way I did because of Potty's hexes.

To top it off, when I finally got back to the common room, the 6th year prefects had told everyone what had gone on, and I now have to deal with Sirius, Jay, Remus, Des, Sal, Anna and Lana all teasing me about how I was going to ::shudder:: be spending all those hours alone with Potter. I guess Michelle and Dan had forgotten to mention that Snape and Norsean would be there as well. Stupid twits.

I decided I was ready to go back to bed, and to try to sleep. Hopefully there would be no more nightmares so that I could actually get some sleep and possibly be able to patrol the hallways without acting like a total zombie.

A/N: done for now, that was the 15th chapter. I dunno when the next chapter will be up, hopefully by tomorrow, but I'm not making any promises. I'll just get the chapters up as soon as I write them, and that's one thing I can promise you.

I thought I'd like to add in that this is my longest chapter so far. Go me, go me. Lol done now.

Remember to review cuz Andrimedio uses it to make the next chapter as good as he can. Thanks again!