After the dance, James would constantly be seen with Lily and Remus. They would almost always be discussing how to get Sirius to tell Lily that he liked her. The mornings, though, remained Lily and Remus's time alone to talk. Sometimes James would wake up early and join them, but that rarely ever happened. It was a quiet morning close to Thanksgiving and Lily's head was on Remus's knee, as usual, with Remus stroking her hair. Lily was enjoying the quiet, but Remus's head was still spinning with what James had said on the night of the dance. 'You and Lily started this. Ever think Sirius and I weren't the only ones it was meant for?' was what he had said. But Lily and he hadn't started it. Lily had. "Lily, I need to ask you something."

Lily looked up with concern in her eyes. "What is it, Remus?"

"Are you trying to teach me a lesson as well as James and Sirius?"

Lily looked taken back. "What?!"

"Are you trying to teach me a lesson as well as James and Sirius?"

Lily got to her feet and started backing away. Her face was filled with horror. "I don't know who told you that, but what would I be trying to teach you?"

"Then why did you choose me to be your fake boyfriend?"

"Remus, I've already explained it to you. I chose you because you were honest with me and told me what you thought of me. You didn't hide anything from me nor did I from you." Lily's eyes were glistening with unshed tears as she bumped into the wall of the tower. "What did I do or say to deserve these accusations?" she asked in a whisper before the silent tears slid from her eyes and down her cheeks.

Remus felt awful. 'Why did I just do that?' he asked himself. "Lily, I'm sorry. It's just that, well, after the Halloween dance last month, James said something that got me thinking."

"Really. What did he say that could make you think so hard?"

"He asked if I ever thought he and Sirius were the only ones your and my little game were meant for. But it wasn't your and my game. It was yours."

"You agreed to do this with me. You could have said that you didn't want to do it, but you didn't! It was your choice to help me! I didn't make you!" Lily ran out of the Common Room.

James can down to see Lily run out the door. "What happened with you two?"

Remus looked at James with a worriedly. "You know how last month you asked me what if there was a lesson for me as well as you and Sirius with this little game?"

James knew what had happened. "Yeah."

"Well, I asked Lily about it."

James sighed and shook his head. "You bloody idiot! I said that to make you angry, you fool, and suspicious."

"I should have known. I should have trusted her!"

"Do you know where she might have gone?"

"No!"

James went to the door and left. "Was it you that made her leave in such a huff?" the Fat Lady asked him.

"No. It was someone else," James called back to her as he ran down the hall. He had no idea where to start looking. The only place he could think of was maybe down to Hagrid's or near the lake.

Upon reaching Hagrid's, James started banging on the door. "Hagrid! Hagrid, are you there?"

Hagrid opened the door and looked down at James. "What's all the noise 'bout, James?'

"Hagrid, Remus said something real stupid to Lily and it's my fault that he said it. Have you seen her yet this morning?"

"Sorry, James. Can' say I have. Hope she's okay," Hagrid said with a worried tone in his voice. "What did Remus say to her to make 'er so upset?"

"Well, Lily was trying to teach Sirius and me a lesson, and Remus was helping her. Then I got it into his head that maybe Lily was trying to teach him a lesson as well."

"Not to smart, James. As I said, haven't seen 'er. Try down by the lake. That's where I always see 'er."

"Thanks Hagrid!" James was gone before Hagrid could reply.

James ran down to the lake. As he walked around the edge, he saw one of the squid's tentacles above water. James quickened his pace, but tried to be as quiet as he could. He was just about to give up hope of finding Lily near the lake when he heard a tremendous sob. James continued to listen and followed the sobbing. They led behind a tree where he found Lily sobbing. He quietly knelt down beside her and said quietly, "Lily?"

Lily must have jumped three feet in the air. She looked around and upon seeing James, started hitting him saying, "Don't you ever do that again, ya hear!"

James started laughing and managed to say, "Okay, okay! I won't do that ever again!" Lily stopped hitting him. "Are you okay, Lily?"

"What do you think! Would I be out here crying if I was okay?"

James gathered Lily into a hug and said, "No, you wouldn't. I'm sorry I made Remus even think you were trying to teach him a lesson as well as Sirius and me. I didn't think it would bother him this much."

"Why did you say it, James? Why did you tell him I was trying to teach him something as well?"

James looked into Lily's eyes and said, "I didn't mean to. He was just going on how you had kissed him on the cheek once when I said I was happy I got to kiss you on the cheek. I guess I couldn't stand the way he made it sound as if he were superior because of it. If it makes you feel better, when Remus said that Sirius got real jealous."

Lily giggled. "I guess I can forgive you and Remus. After all, with this game, it's hard to know who's supposed to learn something and who's not."

"That's a good girl. Now, shall we go back to the castle for breakfast?"

James and Lily stood up. "Yes, I believe we shall. I'm starved." Lily hugged James and said, "Thank you."

James looked at her. "For what?"

"For being such a good friend to Remus and me." Lily then kissed him on the cheek and said, "There! Now Remus has nothing to brag about," and headed for the castle doors. James ran to catch up to her.

When they reached the Great Hall, Lily went directly to Remus and apologized. Remus also apologized for not trusting her. Everything was back to normal. Lily and Remus kept trying to get Sirius to admit he liked Lily all through breakfast. Even James helped.

They had Potions first lesson of the day. Lily was still avoiding Professor Cauldro's eyes. She also had a feeling Professor Cauldro knew she was avoiding her eyes. After their lesson, she was proven right.

"Miss Evans," Professor Cauldro called. "May I have a word with you please?"

Lily looked at Rini and said, "Tell McGonnagal I'll be late, Okay?" Rini nodded and Lily walked up to Professor Cauldro's desk.

"Lily, it may be my imagination, but I feel as if you have been avoiding eye contact with me since the first day of classes. Why is that?"

Lily looked at her feet and said, "I'm afraid you're not imagining it, Professor. The reason why is that on the first day, when you asked me to read the board, I was able to see your eyes better then I should have. I could see the icy blue of them so clearly that it..." Lily trailed off. She looked into her professor's eyes. She was once again frightened by the icy blue of them and looked away quickly.

"That it what, Lily?"

"It frightened me," Lily said quietly.

Professor Cauldro looked a bit surprised. "People tell me my eyes surprise them, but I've never been told they frighten someone before."

"You aren't mad at me, are you Professor?"

"Why, no, Lily. I'm a bit shocked is all. I just can't—"

Professor Sprout interrupted them. "Synthia I—"Professor Sprout then noticed Lily. "Oh! I didn't mean to intrude, but we need that potion now, Synthia."

Professor Cauldro nodded and said, "Right. I'll see you later, Miss Evans." Lily walked out of the room and headed towards Transfiguration.

When she entered the room, Lily was immediately asked, "Miss Evans, I have been told Professor Cauldro held you back for a word. Is this true?"

Lily nodded and said, "Yes, Professor McGonnagal." Then she took her seat.

A month passed. Sirius still refused to tell Lily how he felt about her. Now it was Christmas time. Remus, Lily, Rini, Sirius, Teresa, and Damien were staying for Christmas holidays. James, the twins, and Arthur were all going home to be with their families. When it was time for them to leave, there were hugs all around, a kiss for James from Lily, and a kiss for Arthur from Teresa.

After they had left, the six remaining first years decided what they were going to do. Two prefects in their fifth year were also staying and made their plans with them. They were Arthur Weasley and Molly Carta. Since snow had started falling in the night, they decided to have a snowball fight.

When they were cold and wet, they went in to have some hot chocolate. Lily had finished her first cup of cocoa when she excused herself and went up to the North Tower. Sirius followed her shortly. When he reached the tower, he saw Lily sitting in the window. She looked like a spirit too beautiful for this worlds-realm. She was also singing.

"Come little children, I'll take thee away. Into a land of enchantment
Come little children, the time's come to play. Here in my garden of magic."

Sirius had heard it before. It was believed that three witch sisters used their magic to lure children. Then the sisters would make the children drink a potion. Then they would suck the living essence from the children to make them young. The one sister would use that song to lure the children. Lily sang the song over and over to herself before Sirius said anything. "Lily?"

Sirius could swear Lily jumped a mile, or at least three feet. "Damn you, Sirius! Why must you always do that?"

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to."

"Did you want to ask me something? Does the gang want to go back out? What?"

"Well, about that song you were singing."

"Yes."

"Where did you hear it?"

Lily smiled. "Oh, that? My mother taught it to me in a story that she used to tell. It was about these three sisters that were witches. The one would use that song to lure children so they could suck the lives from them." Lily was filled with excitement as she told the tale. "Mum said that it had been passed from mother to daughter for generations. Since Petunia didn't like it, she told it to me. I loved it! Ever since, I haven't been able to forget the song and singing it when I'm alone and need to have a feeling of home."

"Oh. I've heard the same tale. We as children of magical descent were told never to grow fond of that tale. True or not."

Sirius went and sat on the other side of the window, looking at Lily. They stayed like that for quite some time. Lily looked out the window while Sirius looked at Lily. Sirius broke the silence. "Lily?"

"Hmm?"

"Kiss me."

Lily looked directly at Sirius. "What!"

"You've kissed Remus and James. Kiss me."

"Sirius, they both said something to me that you haven't. Otherwise, I would never have kissed them. And I kissed James partially as a thank you and so Remus didn't have something to brag about."

"What have they said that I haven't?"

"Figure it out. Remus and James were right. You are a tough shell to crack and say your mind and heart." Lily giggled.

"Spoke their minds and hearts?" Sirius said to himself. He thought for a while. Then it hit him. What had James been trying to get him to do. "Lily, I like you."

"And James and Remus thought you'd never figure it out!" Lily laughed.

"They knew you knew?"

"Yes. Now, what do you think about me?"

"Well, ever since I first laid eyes on you, I saw a vision of loveliness. Did it hurt when you fell out of Heaven? And your voice is that of an angel. And your eyes, your eyes are the pathway to your soul. They speak when you don't."

"Sirius, thank you."

Sirius looked puzzled. "For what?"

Lily shook her head and said, "For finally being honest about your feelings with me. It's what I've been trying to get you to do ever since the first day of classes!"

"What?"

"I heard the argument that you, James, and Remus had. Remus had already told me what he thought and felt about me. I had him act like my boyfriend to make you and James jealous. Then James told me how he felt at the Halloween Ball and I told him all about it. He's probably been telling you to tell me about your feelings ever since!"

"That's why? I thought he was trying to make an ass out of me."

Lily walked over to Sirius and kissed his cheek. "Happy?" she said and left the tower. Sirius raised a hand to his cheek and just sat on the ledge in surprise.

For Christmas that year, Lily received various candies from everyone except James and Rini. James sent her a gold heart locket with a picture of Remus and Sirius on the one side and James on the other. Both pictures in the locket had waving people. With it was a note.

Dearest Lily,
I know you told me I'd have to wait for you, so I sent a locket with a picture of all us guys.
Waiting an Eternity for You,
James

Rini gave her a diary. Her parents sent her a stationary set with Emrys. Petunia sent her a pair of old socks. Lily sent the socks back to Petunia. She was very pleased with her gifts, with the exception of Petunia's.

The day before Christmas break ended, Lily and Professor Dumbledore were able to have a small talk.

They were walking down the hall when Lily suddenly said, "Professor, why does my sister, Petunia, hate anything magical so much?"

Dumbledore chuckled and Lily saw a twinkle in his eyes. 'They're a lot better than Professor Cauldro's eyes,' Lily thought to herself. "Lily, my dear, some muggles don't want anything to do with us. It would be a lot better sometime if they had lived in the time when witches and wizards were burned at the stake. You sister, for example, is one such person. Am I correct in saying that you and Petunia never really got along well?"

"Yes, Professor. But..." Lily hesitated. "How is it that I am a witch if neither my parents or any of my ancestors as far as I know were magical?"

Professor Dumbledore looked down at Lily and said, "Lily, everyone of us has magic in them. Just in varying amounts. Some people have a slight girt for seeing the far past or the future. They are not always accepted into magic schools though. Your sister has a very minimal amount of magic in her while you have a great amount of magic. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Professor." And Lily did understand.

When all the students returned from vacation, Lily told James that the game was no longer in action and that Sirius had submitted. James was glad of that. He no longer had to see Lily and Remus all lovey-dovey anymore.

It had already gone around the castle that Lily and Remus were no longer an item. It was May. School was nearly over and every day, boys kept coming up to Lily and talking and asking her to write to them over the summer. Neither James, Sirius, nor Remus was happy about this. Lily constantly told them not to worry, that she was still their girl. Rini just laughed whenever this happened. Boys were also coming up to Rini and asking to write to her. Damien did mot approve of this.

The final exams were little more than a month away and Lily brushed off anyone who tried to talk to her. She was constantly studying. Lily even had the boys and Rini studying almost non-stop. The boys still pulled their pranks. A firework in Snape's cauldron, a fake wand for a professor; whatever they could pull, they did. Lily did not approve.

Rini thought the pranks were funny but enjoyed scolding the boys with Lily even more. "Traitor!" they called when she scolded them the first time. Rini just smiled.

Lily felt the exams were coming to fast. She didn't feel as if she was studying enough and was angry and disappointed with the boys for not studying what she thought was enough. If anyone wanted to talk to Lily, they'd have to go to the library. The professors thought that Lily was right to study so early, if not so much.

The boys thought that they should give Lily a well-deserved break. So, they surprised Lily with a bunch junk food. Lily was grateful for the thought, but a little annoyed with the interruption. As she ate in silence, Lily thought about all the other times the boys had surprised her with food. "Where do you guys get all this stuff?" she asked without thinking. "I'm sorry! That was so stupid of me to ask. Here, you've brought me a surprise of food, and I'm being rude asking where you always get it."

James laughed. "I'm actually surprised you haven't asked about it before, considering how many times we've brought food. For you, when we have our parties after winning in Quidditch, every time we've brought food and you're only now asking." James pulled out something silvery.

"What's that?" Lily asked with interest.

"This," James said proudly, "is my invisibility cloak. It's the family heirloom Sirius mentioned at the opening feast. That's how we are able to sneak around the castle without getting caught." James quickly put the cloak away. "Don't tell anyone, you hear?"

Lily moved her hand over her mouth as if zipping up a zipper. "My lips are sealed," she said with a smile.

They then talked about what they planned on doing for the summer and what they wanted to happen next year. James, Sirius, Remus, and Rini all wanted to be on the Quidditch team next year, even if only as substitutes. Lily said she'd rather devote her time to her studies. Remus just shook his head and said, "Ah. Lily." which made everyone laugh. Lily looked at them indignantly and said, "What?!" This just made them laugh even harder.