Author's Note: Uh, I don't know if you reader(s) know, but I made a small mistake in the last chapter. I tried to edit it but something's wrong and it won't let me. The mistake was that I said Peter Pettigrew wasn't in Hogwarts, but no, what I meant was that Peter Pettigrew wasn't in Slytherin, and that he was in Gryffindor. That's all. Thanks.

Previously: Last Chapter, James was spying on Tom Riddle's meeting with his followers. What is James going to do now?

James was stunned. He had trouble believing that Tom Riddle was just in front of him, holding a meeting with his followers, his evil followers. James had to do something about it as fast as he could, but noone would believe him. People would say that he was crazy, or that he had just imagined the whole thing. The person he had to warn the most was Lily, yet she was the person who would believe him the least. He was so convinced that Tom was responsible for all the petrifications of muggleborns the year before, but he was so discouraged about it that he had completely forgotten that Tom was the culprit. He now remembered, and realized that Tom was evil, just plain evil. But if Lily was in danger, then why was she still safe? Why was she not yet hurt or harmed? Tom Riddle had all the chances to pin her, yet he did not do it. Perhaps he really truly did love this girl. James looked down in sorrow. He remembered his last words to Lily.

"I'm sorry, Lily. I don't think I can ever bother you again. I will NEVER bother you again."

Ugh! Why did he have to be so shallow? So foolish? She wanted it. She asked for it. It wasn't his fault, it wasn't his fault at all! She wanted him to leave her alone, to never bother her again. But he remembered those few moments he had seen her look at him in such an uncomfortable way, a look that pleaded him to say something to her, anything.

He decided to wait until Tom and his evil group would go back inside before coming out of the bush. Tom was absolutely dangerous. If James would be caught, he would be killed in a second! Yet he decided to go back the next night, since Tom had planned to.

The next day, which was a Sunday, Lily recovered a bit, but not completely. She was still pretty shaken, but she was strong enough to at least get out of bed and her room. When she slowly walked out for breakfast, she seemed a little more cautious then usual. She saw Tom, whom she had not even seen the day before. He brought her to a dark secluded corner.

"Lily, have you told anyone?"

"About what?"

"About what happened Friday night. About Harold."

"No, Tom. I haven't."

"Good." He looked at his girlfriend concernedly, seeing that she was still disturbed.

"There is word that you stayed in bed the whole of yesterday. Is it true?"

"Yes."

"And why is that?"

"Is it not obvious, Tom? That body..." Her gaze turned hollow, as if she were looking at the body in her mind right at this moment. "Who would've done such a thing, Tom? Who could be so cold to do such a horrible thing like murdering?"

He put his arm around her and gave her a small squeeze. It pained him to see her so terrified, especially when it was his fault.

"They think he ran away," she continued, "and left behind a note saying that he was depressed and couldn't stand Hogwarts anymore. But he didn't take any of his belongings with him. I seriously think we should tell them, Tom. I think it's important."

"No," Tom insisted. "We cannot do that. Do you want them to find out the truth? That poor Harold Berrington was killed when he was trying to run away? I don't want them to know that he's actually dead. It would sadden many people. I think it would be best if they just thought he ran away."

"I guess you're right. But what if they find his body?"

"I assure you, they won't. But if they ever do, then they have no choice but to mourn only then."

There was a small silence.

"Tom, I don't think he was the only one. You know Henrietta Jackson and her boyfriend Marcus from Ravenclaw? They're missing too apparently."

"Oh really? Are they still alive?"

"Noone knows. The staff thinks they wandered off too far into the Forbidden Forest on Halloween night. Oh, I'm so afraid." She put her head to Tom's chest. "I think there's a murderer loose out there and he can get any one of us."

He stroked her hair comfortingly. "I will protect you, Lily. You've never been hurt before. What makes you think you're going to hurt now?"

"There's a first time for everything."

"Trust me. You will not get hurt. I promise you."

"Oh you are my guardian angel, Tom."

He was able to protect her every time, but that was only because he was always the murderer, the bad guy. It was a good thing that she has not yet realized that.

He gave a soft chuckle and led her out of the corner to go to the Great Hall.

"Are you feeling better today?"

His girlfriend nodded silently. "I want to eat with you."

"But you can't. You sit with the Gryffindors and I sit with the Slytherins."

"But I want to sit with you. I don't care what anyone else says."

"Lily, I've always wanted to sit with you, but you know that's not going to happen."

"Please Tom," she begged as she grabbed his arm.

"Why is today different? Is it because you need me to protect you?"

"It's because we haven't talked in so long."

"What are you talking about? We talked just Friday. In fact, we did more than that. I said a poem and kissed you. That beats any talking."

"I know," she sighed. "But it was fake. It was all fake."

She broke into sobs as he led her into another dark corner.

"What are you talking about?"

"Do you love me? Do you really love me?"

"Why of course," he laughed at her silliness.

The expression on her face turned serious. "No, you must answer. Do you love me?"

Tom looked at her. He was unsure. He knew that for certain he used to love her, but why couldn't he know about now? Did he really love her? No, the question was more like, did she love him? It didn't seem so. He showered her with poems, romantic sayings, gifts, etc.

But she never seemed to enjoy any of it. Every time he did so, she looked so uncomfortable. He tried so hard. He would do anything to make her stay. Anything.

"Tom, are you not going to answer me?"

"No, I'm not going to answer you, Lily. Instead, I'm going to ask you. Do you love me?"

She looked at him with those sad green eyes. When she was happy or passionate, they were wild and vivid, but at the moment they were dull and depressing. He was afraid the answer would be a no. She then looked away, tears slipping away from her eyes once again. She too was afraid the answer would be a no. Why could she not love him? Why could it not be as easy for her to love him than it would be as easy for him to love her?

"Is that a no, Lily?"

"I refuse to answer," she said.

Tom realized the sad truth. He held on as tight as he could to her. At first he tried to find poems and recite them to her because he thought she'd thoroughly enjoy it. But by late September, he only did so to hold on to her, to make sure that she would hold on as well.

"Is this it then?" Tom asked, his voice turning cold.

"I don't want it to be."

"But if we carry on...we'll our relationship be different?"

"I just hope it will be better."

"So do I. Lily, I don't understand. Why has our relationship changed?"

"Perhaps it's because of the summer?"

"The summer? How can that be? I was so happy during the summer. I was so prepared. I couldn't wait for you to come back. Never did I once stop thinking about you. Never did I once thought I was losing this bond with you. Never," he whispered. "But that isn't important is it? It's not because of me. It's because of you. Tell me, Lily Evans, what has happened over the summer?"

She looked down shamefully and winced. She could not believe that he has just used her full name like that, in such a cold manner.

"Nothing, Tom. Nothing. I dreamed of you every night."

"Then why have we become so distant?"

"I don't know," she lied. "I don't understand either."

It was obviously because of that kiss she shared with James. But if she told Tom, he would be given a motive to kill James.

"So what do we do?" she asked, hoping that his answer would not be a negative one.

"Let me show you something," he said.

Instead of taking her hand, as he would have done so, he didn't even touch her. He motioned her to follow him as he led her to the fresh windy outdoors. He stopped at the tree, where they did many things together. As she followed him, she could still feel the emotional distance and the cold between them.

"What are we doing here, Tom? You want to revive our memories?"

"Perhaps." He turned to face her and took her hands into his. "Do you remember that we stood here? Right in these positions?"

"Yes."

"Do you remember what you said to me?"

"I said many things to you."

"Say something you remember from the time we first kissed."

"I...I told you I dreamt of you everyday."

"Continue."

"Uh...I expected you to love me back."

"That's right. And you got angry at me because I asked you to complete a task for me. Do you remember what happened next?"

"I...I cried. And you held me tight in your arms...you were trying to calm me down. Then...I kissed you."

Tom nodded in agreement. It was the first time they have ever actually talked about the time they first kissed. Surprisingly, they've never talked about it before.

"I remember," she continued, "I wanted to kiss you. I wanted to show you that we really did have feelings for each other. And I was hoping that that kiss would convince you."

"And it did. It showed me a lot, a lot of things I didn't even know of."

"And you were so convinced that you couldn't love...for many reasons. You wouldn't believe it."

"And you said that we were fools to not have realized our love before, to not have realized that it was much more than lust."

Lily took her hands away and looked down at the ground painfully. She felt like crying again, except she didn't know why. Tom tried to look into her eyes but she kept looking away.

"When we kissed...what did you feel, Lily? Tell me."

She shook her head, trying to think of it and to forget it at the same time.

"I...I felt something. Something strong. Something beautiful. Something powerful."

"Do you understand why I've brought you here, Lily?"

"No, Tom. I don't."

He took her right hand as she refused to look at him. He held her hand tight.

"You had quite an effect on me, Lily. You taught me to love. You taught me to feel. When I kissed you, I felt something as well. I felt something so sensational. That moment we kissed...it was the happiest moment in my entire life, and I've experienced a great deal of things, but none matched the kiss we shared. You taught me to care. You taught me the most extraordinary things. It was all because of you. You're the reason I live. And here comes the answer you've been wanting, Lily. I love you. I love you with all my heart." He looked at her but she said nothing. "Will you not say something?"

She looked up at him, sad and afraid. "Do you really?"

"I dare not lie. Look at me in the eyes and tell me that I'm lying. Just say it!"

She stared into his eyes. His eyes were the deep colour of the moussy foams of the sea that formed when hit against large boulders. His eyes were stern yet filled with all sorts of wonderful complications. There was only truth in there.

"You really do love me," she managed to say weakly.

"Yes, I do. "

She did not answer back. She heaved a sigh.

"I cannot deny the fact that we've had many awkward situations together this school year," Tom said. "But I tried. I really have. I held on tight and I've decided to not let go."

"You really do care about me, don't you?" Lily chuckled as she wiped her tears away.

"Of course." And he helped her wipe her tears away.

Author's Note: I know. It's cheesy. It's lame. I just wanted to get this situation over with. Please forgive me!