potts-Actually, I was going to have them like each other A LOT, and Lily just has to dump him, so he's devastated for the next few months, but with time, everything heals (I know from experience… but that's besides the point). Then I thought it was way too cruel for me, so I gave him some happiness. That doesn't mean there won't be sadness coming up in this story, though… it will be ending sadly. Quite.
Tidal Waves- Yay; a new reviewer! Unless you're one of my old ones with a new name… I thought a lot of people would want a sequel towards the end of this story, but you're the first to suggest it. Congratulations (I think)! Yes, it will be wrapping up shortly, but not before I clear everything. I'm glad you like this one so much!
Laney-Wood- Cute name! I know, crazy, isn't it, that this is finally ending. It just seems so… final. Well, I'm glad you enjoyed this, and I'm glad you guys stuck by me! You're awesome! LOL As I said to potts, I was going to have Chris be devastated… ah, just read her response. Lets me type less. And great observation about the dorm thing! I hadn't even thought of that and I will be sure to include it (with a thanks to you) somewhere before I end this. I'm really pleased about the compliment on the driving scene—I was hoping it'd be funny!
MPPSexxySiriusJamesRemus- Wow, you are very observant! No, Matt is most definitely NOT a Death Eater! Never! I like how you analyzed that, though. I'm glad Lily did, too… but I'm just disappointed in myself that I didn't make the scene well enough. Oh well. Maybe one day I'll go back and fix it. Anyway, keep reading and sending in those reviews!
BlackLupin- Ooh, wow! I've always wanted to go to Europe! Yay for you in all those places! :P Hmm… Jake? Probably not… I'll try to squeeze him in again sometime before the story's over… which, after this chapter, will probably be around two chapters and an epilogue. L Oh yeah, and asterisks don't work on the site anymore, and neither do little dashes… any idea what I could use?
Chapter 35: Take My Hand
"Another year drawing to a close," Professor Dumbledore was saying as the Great Hall quieted. "Seventh years, if you would, kindly stop by the small… voting booth right outside the doors on your way out. Thank you." He clapped his hands and the large doors opened.
Lily stepped outside, among all her friends, and left the Great Hall. She noticed a large crowd of seventh years, so she, Caitlin, Amanda, Arabella and Jane pushed their way through to the center. Standing there, the center of attention was a leprechaun with a red beard, all decked in green, a shamrock pinned to his hat. He sat on a pot of gold, hovering about a foot off the ground.
Lily found herself pushed t the front, right in front of the leprechaun.
"Right-o," the little man said. "I suppose the lady's next then. Right, who shall it be?"
"Who shall who be?" Lily asked, confused.
"Your vote, madam! Surely you know?"
"No, sorry." Lily felt her cheeks getting hot.
"Who you're voting for to be valedictorian at graduation." The leprechaun was becoming impatient. "You are a seventh year, are you not?"
"Oh, yes. Erm…"
"Whisper when you're ready, but try to make it quick. I've got a schedule, you know."
"Erm…" As Lily looked around, she noticed a group of blonde girls walking away, giggling.
"So who did you vote for?" the girl on the far left asked.
"James Potter, of course," the one in the center replied, giggling again. "He's sure to win."
I'll give James a run for his money, Lily thought, smiling. She bent close to the leprechaun's ear and whispered, "Lily Evans." She noticed another gold coin dropped into the black pot.
"A bit conceited there, are we, love?" The leprechaun asked, grinning. Lily felt her cheeks flame. She walked quickly to her next class.
Okay, Potter, it's now or never. What are you afraid of, anyway? She's dating you, idiot.
"Um, Lily?" Lily jumped and whirled around quickly.
"Holy hell, Potter." She smiled. "What do you want?"
At this, James seemed to lose some of his nervousness. He smiled devilishly. Lily loved that smile. "Now that you mention it, Evans…"
"I didn't mean that, you twisted fool." She slapped his arm and pecked him on the cheek. "What is it?"
"Uh, are you doing anything tonight?"
"Me and the books. You know that. N.E.W.T.s, James!"
"I know. Um… could you leave the books by their lonesome just this once?"
"Why?" Lily was curious.
"Well… we could have our first official willing date together."
Lily smiled widely, like she didn't mind leaving her studies for a whole night. Just for James.
"I'd love to."
James smiled. "Great. Meet me by the… actually, the entrance to Hogsmeade, okay? And dress nicely."
"Okay… where are we going?"
But James only winked and left the library.
Lily stood at the entrance to Hogsmeade, alone and cold. She tapped her foot impatiently… when the door opened slowly. There was something small and glittering falling softly from the sky, and the same covered the ground. Lily realized it couldn't be snow, because it was the middle of March, so she assumed it was glitter.
James appeared in the mist.
"James! This is beautiful…" Lily breathed. "… Just like what you did… last year."
"I was hoping you'd remember," James said, placing his coat over her shoulders and leading the way into the magical village.
"Wow," Lily said. "This place is so… empty," she said as they entered the large, rich restaurant, wondering why no one was there.
"Yup," James said proudly. "I bought out the whole restaurant."
"You did this… for me?"
"Well… only for this night," he said modestly. They sat down as the waiter took their order, and the dinner went by without a dull moment or awkward silence.
"Oh, can we stop here?" James asked, stopping in front of a bakery. The window was filled with all sorts of delectable pastries and sweets.
"James, you just ate!" Lily exclaimed.
"I know. But I really am a dessert person," he whispered. "No one really knows that… except Sirius."
Lily felt special that he had told her.
"Fine," she consented.
A moment later, they were exiting the bakery, licking their sticky fingers. They walked in silence for a few minutes.
"James?" Lily asked. "Can we sit down?"
"Um…"
"Come on!" Lily grabbed his hand and plunked down on the grass. She lay down and stared up at the sky. "Sit," she insisted when she noticed James was still standing. She patted the ground beside her. James did as he was told.
"I've always liked the stars," Lily said, staring up at the sky.
"I know. See those?" he said, pointing.
"Yeah."
"That's the constellation Andromeda. Know the story?"
"Yeah. Well. My uncle Harry used to tell me stories about the stars when I was younger. He was my favorite uncle."
"She was almost as beautiful as you." He whispered.
"Who?"
"Andromeda."
Lily blushed. "You seem to know a lot about astronomy yourself there."
"Well," said James, stretching and placing his hands behind his head, "you know me—top student. And it doesn't hurt that the young Astronomy teacher is developing a crush on me, either," he said lightly, only meaning to joke.
But James could detect the jealousy in the awkward silence that followed.
"Oh Merlin. I-I'm… really sorry," he stuttered. "I-I didn't mean that—well, I didn't want it to sound-"
"James," Lily interrupted quietly. "What are we?"
Not this. James hated the 'us' talk. In all his past flings, they had broken up right after this talk because James hated it so much. "I don't know," he admitted. "What… what do you want us to be?"
"I don't know, either. I…" she trailed off, unable to finish her sentence.
"Lily? Do you… do you love me?"
Lily drew back, surprised.
"I… James, I don't know how to answer! I like you, certainly; I like you a lot, but… James, I can't honestly say I love you."
"Yet?" James asked, a slight tinge of hope in his sad voice.
"James, I don't know! I don't know what we are, or where we're going from here! You've got to be open with me!"
"I have been!" James retorted. "I told you I loved you, didn't I?"
"Yes, but… James, that's not what I mean. You've been avoiding this question, and to tell you the truth, I'm scared to move on with you. I like you, but… your history with… everyone… I'm scared you're going to hurt me, James, and if that's the case I don't want to get in deep at all. If there's a chance of me getting hurt by you, I want out. Tell me."
"Lily, why can't you just understand that I'm trying? This is different for me, too. I'm not used to being in a real relationship. I-"
"Don't you think I know that? That's exactly why I'm scared. Scared of being hurt. Tell me now, James. Is this going to go anywhere?"
"I…"
"If you can't be honest with me, then I don't see how this can work out."
"I'm trying, alright? Just give me a break!"
"If a break is what you need, then you can have one! But I don't think a break is going to help, James, not in this situation."
"I told you I loved you! I told you more than once! Isn't that enough?"
"James, I don't doubt you've never told a girl that you loved her before, and I appreciate that. Really I do. But you can't just keep telling me that you love me and expect things to just fix themselves! You have got to grow up! Tell me… are we going anywhere from here?"
"I… I don't know."
"That won't do, James Potter! I need to know if there's any future in this… in us. We'll be graduating soon, and moving on with our lives, and you have got to make a decision."
"Can't we just take this one day at a time?"
Breakdown
I can't take this
I need somewhere to go
I need you
I'm so restless
I don't know what to do
We've had our rough times
Fighting all night
And now you're just slipping away
Give me this chance
To make the wrongs right, to say:
Don't walk away
I promise
I won't let you down
If you take my hand tonight
I promise
We'll be just fine this time
If you take my hand tonight
Without you I go through the motions
Without you it's just not quite the same
Without you I don't want to go out
I just want to say
That I'm sick of these fights
I'll let you be right
If it stops you from running away
So give me this chance
To make the wrongs right, so say:
Don't walk away
Take my hand
I promise
If you take my hand tonight
I won't let you down
Take my hand tonight
"Lily? I think I'm deeply, hopelessly, madly in love with you," James said, taking her hand tightly in his. "Please don't be mad."
A/N: I know it's short, guys, and I'm really, really sorry! Just think of it as Part 1, okay? Part 2 will be up soon, thanks to Thanksgiving break! (Another thing to be thankful for on Thursday!) J After "Part 2 (Chapter 36), there will probably be one more chapter, then the Epilogue, so count on that as my plan.
The song was "Promise" by Simple Plan. (If you can't stand my songs, then be glad to know there's only one left!) I'm really sorry it took so long… I was ready to update on November 20, but my computer's Internet was broken and there was this long icky thing… anyway, sorry it took so long!
I know this chapter sucks, but… deal with it! Argh. More will be up over Christmas break, I promise. Um… two chapters and an Epilogue. Yep—sorry. Hopefully it'll all be up over Christmas break, but no promises again. Really, really sorry! I promise to let the Epilogue be the best work I've ever done… that's my ultimate goal for this ficcy!
Leave me a wonderful review!
-OOA
