Chapter Thirteen

Many days and hateful glares later, Lily and Jenny were sitting together in the common room, going over some Divination notes when the Marauders walked in. Lily stopped talking and smiled at James. She had been trying desperately for the past few days to make peace, but to no avail.

He surprised her and everyone else in the room by walking up to her. "Hi, James." she said with a genuine smile, trying to subdue her frantically beating heart.

"My father wrote back." he said simply, with no emotions in his voice or on his face as he dropped a letter in her lap. "You got the job. I hope you're happy." Then he walked off to the dorms. Lily continued until she realized what he said.

"What?" She quickly tore open the letter and Jenny looked up as she began to read the letter silently.

Dear Son,

I have spoken with Cornelius about the young woman, referring to a Miss Lily Evans, currently enrolled at Hogwarts with you. At my request, he has checked into her records and found that her grades, qualities and availability over-qualify her for the job she inquired to and he is very impressed. If Miss Evans is still interested, please inform her that Mr. Fudge is looking forward to interviewing her for the position she wishes.

Now, James, on a more personal note, I must agree with you that she is quite the young woman. Her insight and experience in the wizarding world is extraordinary considering her age and the fact that she is muggleborn. I know you have spoken highly of her in the past and i must now say that I approve. She has impressive knowledge that will make her valuable to the Ministry, a surpassing beauty that will make a fine wife, and a disciplined but caring heart that will make marvelous mother. I hope that you still are seriously considering this young woman. You have expressed to me before your feelings for her, and I encourage you now to act on them, seeing as this is your final year in school.

Your mother and I are so proud of you. You have exceeded our greatest expectations as our only son and we love you greatly. Be good for now, and we're excited about seeing you during Christmastime.

Love always,

Your mother and father

Lily sighed and shook her head, ignoring Jenny's inquiry. What am I going to do with him?

---

It was now Halloween night and there was a party in the Gryffindor common room. There was chocolates, cakes and candies courtesy of Professor McGonagall, a warm fire in the large fireplace and friends gathering, chatting, laughing everywhere. James, however, was alone. Lying in the bay window, watching the rain pour outside, humoring two 1st year girls and chewing on some Cockroach Clusters.

Lily was watching him from across the room, sitting in between Jenny and Nancy on the couch, guilt flooding her entire being. He cared about her, he did everything for her and she had treated him terribly. She was with Travis and that was where she wanted to be, but she couldn't do anything if James was upset with her.

Suddenly, she stood and walked to where James was, surprising both Nancy and Jenny. "Where is she going?" they asked each other.

"Come on, girls." Lily said, shooing off the bashful first years, though she was looking pretty bashful herself. "James Potter doesn't like to be bothered any more than necessary. "

He smiled and took a bite of the chewy candy, which gave Lily hope. But then, he spoke. "What makes you think that I would be more bothered talking to them than talking to you? I wouldn't want people to think that I associate with a mu-"

Lily instantly covered his mouth with her finger, pain apparent on her lovely face. "Please, James. Don't call me that. I can take it from anyone but you."

He grinned suddenly, then licked her finger. She pulled her hand away, but he caught her wrist and pulled her over him, so now she was laying down beside him. He looked down at her, leaning on his elbow, while she was hunched beautifully beside him.

"I was only going to say muggleborn, but if I can get you to touch my lips more often..." he said teasingly, then she blushed and turned away. When he suddenly took her hand and laced his fingers with hers, she looked up into his eyes and her heart began to beat faster. His eyes were full of sorrow and remorse, and Lily hated the fact that she was its cause. She hated that she made him this way, but she didn't know how to change it.

"Lily, I'd like to apologize for what I said to you. I was way out of line and I had no right to say the things I said. What I did was wrong, on many levels, and I hope that you can forgive me so that we can go back to being friends."

Lily felt like her heart was going burst with emotions. She was so happy that he wanted to resolve this and be her friend, but she felt so ashamed that he was apologizing to her when she knew that she had first been in the wrong.

"Oh, James!" Then she wrapped her arms around his neck, hoping he hadn't seen the tears in her eyes, for she was suddenly overwhelmed with a strange sensation. She felt such a sense of peace, here in his arms. Nothing could ever compare to the warmth, the security or the love that she felt with James Potter. She never would have guessed a few years ago that she would be in this situation, crying on his shoulder, but she didn't really care. She'd had a growing feeling about him for a while that she didn't really want to analyze, but now that he was holding her so lovingly, she couldn't deny it anymore.

"James, I am so sorry." she said, pulling back and laying down beside him again. "While we're in this apologizing state," she said with a laugh as she wiped her eyes, "I too am sorry for the things I said. Embarrassing you and mocking you in any way has shamed me and I am truly sorry. Though I still don't know how you found out what I said," he grinned widely at this, "or why it bothers you so that I told him. I thought it was public knowledge."

He closed his eyes and squeezed her hand that his fingers were entwined in. "It's not because you said it, Lily. It's the way you said it." Lily suddenly looked away, ashamed. But he took her chin gently and made her looked directly at him, their faces so close they were almost touching. "There are sometimes, Lily, like that night when I found out what you said to Travis, that you can royally tick me off." She closed her eyes then with a smile, enjoying the feel of his hands running through her hair, of him cupping her face so gently. "But then there are times like these, Lily, when I get to talk to you can hold you that I just can't help but feel like..." She opened her eyes and locked with his, as he leaned in and kissed her tenderly on the cheek, allowing his senses free reign, to feel her, to smell her... but she suddenly pushed him away.

"Feel like what, James?" she asked, no tease in her voice.

"Like there's no way in hell I'm going to let you go back to Travis tonight." Then he leaned in again. Lily, however, had picked up a Cockroach Cluster from its wrapper and shoved it in his mouth as he leaned in. She smiled as she watched him choke on a laugh.

"James, I'm sorry. I really don't know what else to say. I..." She sighed and looked away, hoping not to see he hurt look on his face. Then he squeezed her hand, causing her to look back at him She was teary eyed but tried to smile. "I can't do anything about Travis, but I would still like to be your friend."

James looked at her for a long time, staring into her beautiful green eyes, trying to escape the pain and rejection he was feeling, trying to squelch his desire to lean in a few centimeters and kiss her. He only nodded.

"All right, Lily flower." he said with a small smile. "All right." He put a hand on the back of her neck and she closed her eyes in fear and anticipation of a kiss, though he only pressed his lips lovingly to her forehead.

"I'll be your friend, and as much as I don't want to, I'll try to put up with you and Travis better than I have." he moved for her to get up but before she did, she squeezed his hand one last time. "Thank you, James." Then she kissed him softly on the cheek, though he stopped her from pulling away and held her face before his.

"I just wish I didn't have to put up with it, is all." he said quietly.

Lily sighed and stood. "I wish you didn't either, James." Then she walked away, wondering the depths of her own words.

"Damn," he said under his breath, turning back to the window. "Why is she doing this to me?"

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A/N: -snickers-

Yes, back to the "Torture Travis Thread." lmao!!

-next chappie coming up-