Chapter Thirty Four

To everyone's great surprise, Gryffindor, and not Ravenclaw, won the match. James was almost knocked to the ground by the other seeker, but in his long fall, he caught the snitch, only to be saved by his broom, a few meters above the ground, insuring his victory for Gryffindor: 210 points to Ravenclaw's 70 points. The field was the flooded with Gryffindor students and fans, determined to carry their champion off the field and to the common room, for a well anticipated victory party, last of the year, but well deserved - they had earned the coveted Quidditch Cup.

James was sitting with his three buddies by the fireplace of the crowded Gryffindor common room, where everyone was snacking, talking and partying.

"You won it, Prongs. You won the cup." Sirius said, slugging him on the arm, then taking a sip of his butter-beer and winking at two 5th year girls, sitting on the large crimson sofas and giggling in his direction.

"Congratulations." said Peter.

"How do you feel?" said Remus.

"Well, I've decided to drop the Ministry job and go join the Chudley Cannons as the new seeker." said James with a wide grin.

"What?" Sirius asked. "Are you serious?"

"James, you can't do that. Do you know how many people would kill for the position you're going to get?" Remus exclaimed.

"No, I'm not serious, Moony. Calm down." James said, patting him reassuringly on the shoulder. "I've just never felt so happy in my life and I wanted it to continue."

"But you're not going to quit the Ministry." Remus confirmed.

"No way. Just doing some wishful thinking. And I hope that when my son is old enough, we'll play quidditch together. You know, when we all live next door to each other, when we're all old and married with lots of kids, we're going to have to get together and have all the kids play together." James said with a warm smile.

"Oh, yeah. That'll be loads of fun." said Peter, rolling his eyes.

"And since none of you have a lick of quidditch talent, my son will be the best player out there. Not to mention, he'll have my genes and he'll be a natural Seeker."

"You know, Prongs, you get right puffed up in your old age." Sirius chortled.

"Ah, let him bask in his glory, Padfoot." Remus said. "After all, it's only going to last for one night."

"James!"

They all turned at the sound of Lily's voice. She had just entered the common room with Alice, and she was now running towards him excitedly. He caught her in his arms and picked her up, both of them laughing before he placed her back on the floor.

"Congratulations, James. You've finally won it." she said.

"Yup." he smiled.

"And now, you get your trophy in the trophy room, just like you've always wanted."

"The trophy room?" he asked curiously, shaking his head. "I'm lost."

"Oh, you remember. First month of school, we were giving the first years a tour of the castle, and in the trophy room, you told me that you wanted to have the Quidditch Cup that you won in there someday."

With a shocked smile, James looked down at her. "I can't believe you remember that."

"I remember all the times I've spent with you, James." she said with a coy smile.

"Really?" he teased, gently squeezing her in the side.

"Listen," she said giggling, "McGonagall told me that because of your big victory, she said you have been relieved of you Head Boy responsibilities tonight."

"Awesome!" he exclaimed. "Hear that, boys? Big Head Boy is off duty tonight!" He turned and delivered high fives to his three friends, planning a party for later in the night, and nothing would make him happier than to spend it with Lily. But when he turned, she was already gone, running up the spiral staircase with Alice.

Oh, well, he thought. I'll get her yet.

---

Lily was trying to stay awake as she read over "Hogwarts: A History," preparing for the N.E.W.T.S. but finding it hard not to lean over and fall easily asleep on the crimson couch. Her eyelids continued to flicker, her yawns were more insistent, her head would occasionally nod off, but she fought her fatigue in order to fulfill her 1AM bedtime.

Suddenly, she heard a click, and then the silent swinging of a door. She didn't know where the sound was coming from, so she let her eyes go out of focus and simply listened, her pulse growing faster. She heard footsteps that seemed to walk past her, quickening in step. Then she heard a loud thump behind her. Looking over the back of the couch, she gasped. She saw a leg, unconnected to anything else. The foot had caught on the gold rug of the floor and then it swiftly disappeared.

Lily sat back in her seat and smirked, placing a bookmark in her place and waited. Someone was trying to sneak out under a certain invisibility cloak. She listened until she heard an opening in the Fat Lady's porthole. Then placing her book under a golden pillow, she stood, now fully awake.

James Potter thought he was so smooth.

---

"Hoverium." James said with a flick of his wand, and then as he lay gently on his broom, it began to glide higher, enchanted by a gentle hovering spell before he tossed his shirt to the ground. Though the broom was not the only thing that was enchanted this night. As James gazed up at the cloudless night, stars shining in the sky and a crescent moon piercing the darkness, James' mind was utterly consumed with Lily.

He had to win her. There was no question about it. Somehow, he had to make her see how much her really did love her. That, if necessary, he would gladly give his life just to be in hers. To be able to openly love her and in turn be the recipient of hers, even if it was only for a short time, he would willingly give anything - his life included - just to have her love.

"James Potter! Get down here!"

James nearly fell of his broom at the sound of the yell from the ground far below. He had immediately recognized the voice as Lily's, but it had still scared the crackers out of him.

"Decendum." he chuckled, slowly descending back to the ground where Lily was waiting by the edge of the quidditch pitch.

"What's this? Lily Evans, Head Girl, out breaking rules?" he said teasingly as he neared her slowly through the air.

"I told you, I do know how to have fun." she said, eyeing his bare chest favorably. "But I just followed you out of the common room to see what you were up to. And sure enough, here you are, abusing your Head Boy privileges."

"Ah, so you saw me trip in the common room?"

"Yup. Caught a glimpse of your leg. And you're the only student that I know of that has an invisibility cloak. Where did you get that fine piece of fabric, anyway?" she asked curiously, running a finger over the silk.

"Family heirloom." he said simply.

"Ah." Lily smiled. Then after a moment of silence, she spoke. "You're father was a great man, James." she said quietly.

"Lily, you never knew my father."

"No, but I read one letter. And that was all I needed to see, to know how much he loved you." she said. "Besides, he also thought very highly of me, so he couldn't have been too bad."

James laughed at her arrogance and she giggled with him. "So Lily flower, do you want a ride on this thing or what?" he said, patting his broom affectionately. "Did you just come out here to catch me in the dead of night, flying shirtless or are you going to prove me, once and for all, that you really do know how to have fun?"

Lily hesitated, she'd never been a fan of quidditch and she had a terrible fear of heights. But he had taken her flying once before and she'd had a blast. Plus, there was no way she was going to let him win this one.

"Sure, why not?" she finally said, walking towards him as he lowered his broom.

"Wow, you really are changing. You're not the chicken I thought." he said approvingly.

"Yeah, the true Gryffindor is coming out." she giggled with a roll of her eyes as she mounted the broomstick in front of him.

He wrapped his arms around her, on hand on the broom and on around her waist, the heat permeating from his bare chest, through her clothes and warming her back. "Are you ready?" he whispered in her ear.

"No," she said fearfully.

"Hold on tight."

---

"Can we please have some steady flying?" Lily begged after thirty minutes of whirling, zig-zagging, tossing and turning in the sky. "I'm sure you don't want to see my dinner."

"Well, no, but it would be funny to watch it fall on the people below." James laughed, making Lily laugh softly, as not to disturb her churning stomach.

"There's no body below us, James. It's just you and me, all alone, flying around in the dark night..." she said with a smile, leaning back against him comfortably and closing her eyes.

"Hmmm, you, me, alone dark - I like where this is going." James whispered in her ear, tightening his grip around her waist.

"James?"

"Hmmm?" he replied, too busy to give a worded answer, but enjoying it as the atmosphere thickened at her soft connotations. He loved the feel of his arms around her waist, the scent of her hair filling his nose, just the two of them high in the sky, far away from everyone...

Relishing their closeness and patting his arm reassuringly, she leaned her head back on his shoulder so she could look up at him. "Strange weather we're having."

James suddenly snapped out of his Lily-induced trance and looked down at her awkward statement with a raised eyebrow. "Excuse me?" Here they were, cuddling miles in the air, he wanted to snog her and she decided to comment on the weather?!

She giggled as if reading his mind. "I only meant to say that despite the fact that it's April, this sure is a cold night."

"Well them," James said, grinning wickedly, "Allow me to warm you up." Then as he tilted her chin up at him, with a smile on her face, she welcomed his kiss.

Yes, indeed. James knew exactly how to warm her up. The chilly goose-bumps on her neck and arms melted away at the gentle touch of James lips to hers. She placed a hand on his jaw and leaned forward, deepening the kiss. She loved kissing James, because it sent all her reason and reality out the window. All she knew was that she wanted to stay in this exact situation forever: locked in his arms, the only object of his affection, that being his glorious kiss.

He suddenly wiggled a finger on her waist, making her giggle. But instead of breaking away from his kiss, she simply wrapped her arms around his neck, with no intention of ever letting go. Kissing him sent her senses whirling and it almost made her forget about the prophesy...

"You two get down here this instant!"

That was when they finally broke away. Lily almost fell over but James caught her wrist. They had heard a faint voice from below, though both knew full well that it was the authoritative tone of Professor McGonagall.

"Uh oh," Lily said. "Do you think we'll get in trouble?"

"Yeah, but it was well worth it." James said with a smile, leaving one loving kiss on her lips before slowly descending. Before they even reached the ground, they could hear it - they knew that they were in for a good tongue-lashing.

"And what do you two think you're doing? Just taking a midnight stroll in the clouds, Mr. Potter? Is that it?" she demanded.

"Well, I-"

"And you Miss Evans. I expected more rational behavior from you... the both of you. Head Boy and Girl flying around after hours? Honestly!"

"But, Professor, I-"

"Silence! I must tell you that I am very disappointed in the both of you and that both of you will serve detention. I don't know if this will jeopardize your Head Badges, I will have to discuss it with the Headmaster. And as punishment, I must take 30 points from Gryffindor - each. Now - what do you have to say for yourselves?"

Lily was glad it was dark, that way McGonagall couldn't see her grinning. She could hear James also smile as he said "We're sorry?"

"Indeed, Mr. Potter. Now, you two come with me and I will escort you back to your dormitory."

Then she turned and led the way back to the castle, both Lily and James silently snickering in the dark. James picked up his broom and Lily picked up his cloak. When his hand began grabbing at her side, she assumed that he wanted his cloak. But after shoving the cloak up her arm, he dug through the fabric and grabbed her hand, holding it gently in his own. She couldn't help but smile as she squeezed his hand back.

Yes, giving into love was much better than fighting it.

---

A/N: Okay, there's another one. I have to go now... please review! -hugles all-