I know I said 30 reviews before I posted the next chapter, but that seemed about as probable as getting blood out of a stone. Plus I have no self restraint. So here goes…..

Entering the Common Room, Lily was about to collapse on one of the sofas, but it was already taken. James was lying asleep. God he looked cute when he was asleep. Lily thought. Then she mentally reprimanded herself. She and James were over now, she couldn't go on thinking like that.

Her thoughts were broken by mutterings coming from James, not being able to help herself she leant down to him to listen in, he wouldn't ever find out she reasoned with herself.

"Uhhhh, Lily." She jumped back from him in surprise, why was he talking about her. Wasn't he mad with her?

"Lily I love you, you know that?" He muttered. Followed by, "Oh, God Lily, yes, yes." He was speaking in a more breathy voice now.

Lily couldn't listen any more. If she did, she might have to admit to herself she wasn't disgusted by this, as she felt she should be, rather than being slightly turned on.

She turned and left the room, and made her way up to the Gryffindor Common room. Seeing Kate sitting in one of the arm chairs, she called out to her. "Kate can I have a word, upstairs?"

"Sure" She said following Lily up to the dormitory. "What is it?" She asked when the door was closed behind them.

"Well I went into the Common Room, and James was on the sofa."

"So?" Kate asked "What's the problem, its his room to. Wait you didn't do anything stupid did you?"

"No I didn't, he was asleep."

This is it, Kate thought, Sirius had been right.

"He was sleep talking. About me."

"And?" Kate pushed.

"It was disturbing, wrong." She looked up to see Kate grinning. "Its not funny Kate."

"So, he likes you."

"Kate, I think he was dreaming, I was, well you know."

Kate raised an eye-brow. If this was the case then Sirius would be the King of Dumb. She'd be lucky to keep Lily in the same room as James now.

"Look you know he fancies you, you've known for years. You've had a falling out, so his overcompensating in his dreams, it'll sort itself out."

"I guess so." She agreed reluctantly.

"Now I need to go and speak to Sirius quickly, then will you be coming back up here after diner?"

"Don't think so, I'm really tired, I'll see you at dinner?"

"Yep. Catch ya later."

"Sirius."

"What's up Kate?"

"How could you do that. Lily walled in on James sleep talking."

"And?"

"By the sounds of it he was having sex dreams."

"with her?" he questioned.

"Of course with her."

"Good good."

"Shes disgusted Sir, its not good."

"No, she says she's disgusted. She's not really." And then seeing the disbelieving look on her face he added, "Look I know what I'm doing."

That night at dinner the tension at the Gryffindor table could have been cut with a knife. Lily was now not only angry with James, but also embarrassed. While she felt she should be avoiding him, she did not want to be forced out of talking to her other friends because of him. Conversation was forced, and no one wanted to be accused of taking sides. That was until a large black owl entered the Hall, it was unusual for post to be delivered in the evening, and it grabbed everyone attention.

"Shite" Sirius hissed, he recognised that owl, and he was sure that only one other person in the room did.

"What's up?" James asked concerned.

"That's mother special owl." Sirius said worriedly, "I said some things to the 'better' son that I now feel may have got back to her." And sure enough sitting across at the Slytherin table Regulus was grinning smugly at his older brother.

"Mate, what exactly did you say?" James asked as a red envelope landed on the table.

"Erm, I think you may find out, in a tick." Sirius forces a laugh, making no move to reach for the howler.

"Your not going to open it?" Lily asked timidly.

"Nah, let the old cow stew a while." Sirius seemed to have regained some of his cocky attitude.

Suddenly the envelope began to shriek at Sirius

"Sirius Black, how dare you threaten your brother," Everyone in the hall turned to look at Sirius, who just sat there smirking at the paper producing the replica of his mothers voice, for all the hall to hear.

"You threatened Regulus?" James whispered shocked. Sirius knew better than to provoke his mother.

The voice however went on, "primogeniture may be what you are relying on, due to your laziness at school, and your continued association with filth at that school. But unless you change to my satisfaction by Christmas, you will no longer be considered as my son, and rights you expect because of this will be forfeited."

The hall looked at Sirius shocked, no one had ever heard a howler like that before. Usually they were just embarrassing tellings off for rule breaking, not for threatening to disown your child. The babble of chatter that normally began to rise, didn't happen.

"Well lovely voice don't you think? Should have been a singer." Sirius said loudly, a few people laughed. Turing to James, he said more quietly "Can I stay at your house for Christmas?"

"Course, thought you were anyway. But your not going back?"

"After a promise like that? She'll disown me mate, best news I've had in ages. Any one got a quill and Parchment?"

"Here" Lily said passing them to him.

Sirius sat writing for a few moments, then handed the letter to James. "What do you think?"

James read it then laughed, "If you want to be disowned mate."

Remus looked at them questioningly. "Read it out Jim." Sirius laughed, eyes twinkling.

"Ok here goes. 'I am spending Christmas with a friend, and shan't be coming home. If you honestly believe a threat like that will bring me back, you obviously don't know me. We evidently have very different ideas of 'filth' when it comes to people. If you think that removing me from the 'noble house of Black' seems like a punishment then you are very much mistaken, it's the best news I've had in ages. Sirius.' "

"Well say something." Sirius pushed, looking at his friends shocked faces.

"Like what?" asked Remus.

"Anything." Sirius said, tying the note to the owl and watching it fly out of the Hall.

"I had no idea you knew such long words." Kate grinned.

Sirius looked at her and laughed. "I guess I tried to avoid talking to you about my family."

"Well its no matter. But you know, if you want to talk"

"Yeah," Sirius said getting up, "You coming?" he directed at her.

Gradually the Great Hall began to clear. Lily said good night to Remus and Sarah and got up to leave the Hall. James also got up and began to follow her out. Fantastic, he thought, he was now going to have to face the long walk back to their rooms with her.

They walked back in silence, both to proud to break the deadlock. Entering their common rooms, they each went to their own rooms in silence. James using the bathroom first in a routine that had developed to eliminate even this opportunity for conversation.

Later when James lie in bed his mind began to replay the events of that night, that night when he had blown it with Lily. No he hadn't done anything wrong. It was her. Still he drifted off to sleep thinking about the red-head.

Suddenly James was woken by a screaming coming from next door. Thinking Lily was in trouble, he jumped out of bed and ran silently into her room. He was completely unprepared for what he saw.

Lily was lying in her bed sobbing. He was able to catch random phrases she said. "Leave James……take me…….James, you know I love you, only you" James was shocked, then he realised, she was dreaming.

Unable to watch any more, or leave her in that state he walked swiftly over to the bed and sat down next to her hugging her to him, gently trying to wake her.

She woke crying and looked up at James, he smiled down at her, "Forgive me." He said quietly. She smiled slightly at him and allowed him to hug her closer.

"I had the most horrible dream." She whispered to him.

"I know," He said, "that's why I came in, I don't tend to come into your room while your asleep."

She laughed quietly. Then they were silent. "Try and get back to sleep, Lily." James muttered.

"Stay here James?" She questioned. James was shocked. She giggled at the look on his face. "In a non-dodgy way, you understand."

"Sure." He said lying next to her, and holding her close to him. He felt her relax after a few moments, the memories of the nightmare obviously fading from her mind.

The next morning James woke to find himself entangled with another person, he quickly turned over the events of the previous night in his head. He looked down at her and smiled. This was how it was meant to be he thought, gently stroking her hair.

Lily woke a couple of minutes later content just to lie in his arms for a while, with out having to think about any of the questions she knew she would have to face that day.

Finally, they both realised one of them would have to break the silence eventually. James began, awkwardly, "Lily."

"James." She replied, turning to face him.

"I know I've been a prat. Its only been in the past weeks though I've realised how much you mean to me."

"I'm sorry to James. My pride, got in the way as well." She said softly. "Both forgive?"

"Yes" He said grinning. Lily smiled as well. She hadn't seen that smile in weeks, and she realised how much she had missed it.

"Better go for Breakfast." Lily said hearing his stomach starting to growl.

"Thanks, I didn't want to ruin the moment." He said gratefully.

They met a few minutes later in the common room, and walked down to the Hall laughing, like they used to. Upon entering they were met by cheers from their friends.

"Brilliant." Kate said. "I guess that means we can talk to them both now?" She asked Sirius loudly. Lily and James blushed.

"Look we both know we've been stupid, so no need to rub it in, O.K Kate? We've got over that last misunderstanding, we're friends again." James looked up shocked at this little announcement by Lily.

Sirius catching his friends look, cut in, "Only friends Lils? Not an item any more?"

"How can things go from us not talking, to being back as if nothing had happened. We fell out for a reason, and that has still to be addressed." She practically shouted at Sirius.

"Errr, Lily, you do know its Jim you broke up with not me." He said tentatively to the red-head. "I think you two need to talk properly"

"My God, Sir, that's got to the first sensible thing you've ever said." Said Kate. "Take some grub and go back to your rooms." She instructed them.

Lily glanced at James, they both knew Kate wouldn't give them any peace unless they went so grabbing some toast and fruit they began to walk back to the common room.

"Can you believe Sirius?" Lily asked James, handing him a piece of toast.

"Ermmmm, no?" He replied, not sure what she was expecting him to say.

"O.k. Can I take that as you do believe Sirius?" she reached out for the orange he had finished peeling.

Passing the fruit to her he sighed. "I'm gonna be really honest here Lils, and if you don't like it, then that's tough." He paused looking up at her. Seeing she wasn't going to interrupt he continued. I know I was a prat, and I know we need to talk, but not talking to you for the past couple of weeks has been killing me. I love you Lily, and I want to be with you. If you want a break or whatever, I'll go along with it, but I would prefer it if we went back to the way things were."

Lily just sat there staring at him, not knowing what to say, finally not being able to take her silence any more James started again worriedly, "Look Lil, I don't expect you to feel the same way, but say something."

She met his eye, "James I had no idea you felt so strongly, I guess I tried to hold back from you, and that made me doubtful about everything you said. But now," she stopped. And glanced up again worriedly.

"But now, what?" He pushed gently.

"I've been falling in love with you to James, since the party after the quidditch match. That's why it hurt so much at the club."

He reached over and hugged her, she looked at him, "In that case scrap what I said earlier. Do you want to try again?"

"Ermmmmm, now let me think?" He began sarcastically. She hit him on the arm. "Lily of course I want to give it another go."

She grinned and pulled his head down towards her, she kissed him lightly on the lips and felt him respond almost instantly. Merlin, she thought to herself, she had forgotten how much these kisses had affected her.

She leant further into him and he fell backwards lying onto the couch, pulling her down onto him. Leaning into him, futher she felt him pull her even closer. After the long period of not talking, suddenly they couldn't get close enough.

"Lil," James said eventually.

"J" She replied pulling back.

"As much as I'm enjoying this, we have Defence in 3 minutes, and its gonna take us at least 5 to get there."

They both got up and grabbed their books, and ran hand in hand down the hall way, arriving in the class room, and sliding into their seats just as the professor called Lily's name.

Kate slid a piece of paper across the table to Lily, 'So u and Jim back on? Lily read.

'That we are.' Lily passed back. Kate grinned at her and then they all turned to listen to their teacher. Normally the group paid attention in this lesson, as they all believed it to be important, and, as Sirius pointed out they learnt loads of useful things for dealing with Snape.

"Today we will be learning about Dementors." The lesson began.

"This is gonna be useful." Sirius said sarcastically, "When am I gonna come across a Dementor."

"So Mr Black, you think you know enough about Dementors do you. Well what is a Dementor?"

"Emotional liposuction?" Sirius answered innocently.

The class sniggered, "Amusing Mr Black, and I suppose partly true. Take a point for Gryffindor."

"What? No professor, you'll ruin my record." Sirius pleaded.

The teacher ignored him and continued with the lesson. The group started to listen again until Sirius realised Kate and Lily had quite a note system going, he leant over and tried to snatch it of Lily but she pulled back quickly causing Sirius to fall of his chair.

"Black, what exactly is going on here?" The teacher asked.

"Nothing." Sirius answered helpfully.

"Really, that looks like a note. Miss Evans would you care to share it with us?" Lily blushed bright red, and Kate looked over sympathetically to her friend. "I have tried to impress on this class the importance of secrecy, if you don't want people to know information, you don't leave hard copies. Maybe this will be a good lesson for you all. Miss Evans read it out so we can all hear."

"The blokes a nutter." Sirius stage whispered to James hoping to get his teacher to forget about Lily.

"That maybe Mr Black, but I'm waiting to hear what Miss Evans believed to be more important than my lesson."

Lily stood up and gulped. "Ok then. Lily looked down at the parchment, maybe she could make some of the stuff up."

"Miss Evans only what's written, I shall know if your lying."

Lily began to read. "Kate: So you and Jim back on then?

Lily: That we are." A few groans were heard from the other girls in the room.

"Hush let Evans continue with this fascinating account of her love life." A Slytherin shouted from the back of this room.

"Your just jealous" James threw back quickly.

"Any way Miss Evans." The professor promted.

"Kate: So is that why you and J were late?

Lily: Aye.

Kate: Come on girly, details.

Lily: We talked we made up, we kissed.

Kate. And…

Lily: and what?

Kate: And did you have wild make up sex?" Lily blushed.

"Sorry" Kate mouthed up at her.

Lily nodded once to acknowledge Kate, and ignoring the whistles in the room carried on, "Lily: No.

Kate: But you wished you did?

Lily: ermm, I ain't discussing this on a piece of parchment K"

"Very wise Miss Evans, continue, please, lets see how wise you were." Forcing Lily to continue, it was now hard to tell who was blushing more Lily or James.

"Kate: Oh my God, you do.

Lily: Like I said, not talking.

Kate: to right your not, your writing. So spill. Rampant Sex on the sofa in the common room. Or more relaxed, but passionate in his room?

Lily: I've only just started talking to him again.

Kate: Your point?" Lily paused, "Ermm that's it."

"Miss Evans I think there's one last line." The teacher said.

Lily groaned. "Lily: For your information I could have done it quite easily there, in the bathroom. Or the way I'm still feeling after that encounter in the common room, here on this table."

"Way to go Lil's" Sirius shouted standing up and applauding her.

James just looked up in shock. "Wow," he breathed.

A/N: Well there you have it folks, more should be up soon. Just a quickie thank you to those of you who have reviewed, you are stars who made me happy!!

Charlatan

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