Let me just say that you guys ROCK! I love you all! –throws cookies and other tasty morsels to crowd- You guys made my day! Well, week really… But since I got so many reviews I've decided to actually update quickly. You see where reviews can get you? Remember this at the end of the chapter…

Ch. 7: Costume Fittings

The following morning Lily walked to breakfast, Lori and Katie on either side. She entered the Great Hall and they sat in their usual seats. James was already sitting at the other end of the table, in his usual seat.

"Go talk to him!" Lori pressured.

"No," said Lily.

"Why not?" asked Katie impatiently.

"I don't know. I guess I'm nervous," said Lily, sounding like a first grader. Lori sighed exasperatedly and continued eating her Lucky Charms.

Breakfast came and went, and soon it was time for History of Magic. Lily sat in her seat and stared out the window. Her mind was spinning. Why was it so hard to talk to James? She had despised him since she was 11, and had been able to tell him off on a daily basis from the time she was 12. Now that they had experienced something a little different, Lily was filled with butterflies at the very mention of his name.

Lily was awakened from her dream state by a prodding finger. Lori was poking her side. "Help me with my lines; Lockhart will kill me if I don't know them by tonight."

Lily's mood dropped dramatically. She had been looking forward to her private practice with James tonight, completely forgetting that she had rehearsal. She glanced quickly back at James and said "Sure."

Lori rolled her eyes. "Lily, you are worrying way too much about this."

"I know," Lily said, taking Loris lines. As quietly as possible, she helped Lori with her lines. Professor Binns didn't miss a beat.

Lily entered the auditorium and went backstage. The crew had been busy making the set for the play. Things were coming along nicely, she noticed. But it did look like they were having a bit of trouble with her balcony, which looked to have devils snare growing up it instead of roses.

She went around a corner and hit a hard object. She jumped back in surprise, but she was immediately pulled back, and into a shadow. The grip on her arm grew tighter as she looked up into her captors' face.

"Snape," she said curtly, and attempted to walk away.

"Uh-uh-uh, Evans," he said. "You're staying right here."

"I think not, Severus, I have costume fittings tonight."

"Listen, I know my girlfriend can be a bitch," Snape said, ignoring Lily. "But sometimes you have to kiss up to get a little ass. You, on the other hand," he leaned closer and brushed a stray piece of hair off her brow, "are a gentle flower in need of loving care."

"That loving care will not be supplied from you, I'm afraid," a smooth voice said from behind them.

Snape closed his eyes in fury and loosened his grip on Lily. Seeing her opportunity, she wrenched out of his grasp and James pulled her to his side.

"Potter, can't you see that we were in the middle of a conversation?" Snape asked, trying to stay calm.

"Not one that Lily was enjoying, I'm sure," James said. "Now, if you will excuse us, we have an appointment in the fitting room."

Snape, unable to come up with a suitable reply, let them walk away unchallenged.

Once out of Snape's view, James pulled Lily over to one side and began inspecting arm. A slightly purple mark was left from Snape's hand. Lily began to smile at the concerned face James was making as he checked her over for any more injuries.

James looked up and caught Lily's smile, turning it into a grin. "What?"

"You just looked really cute," Lily said honestly.

James blushed slightly and took her face in his hands. "I just don't want you hurt."

Slowly, James leaned forward. Just when they were going to kiss, Lockhart walked up behind them. "Well, well, well, I see that you two are finally ready to play your roles correctly! Get to the fitting room so we can finally start getting some worthwhile practices in. I swear it's about time you two came around. I've been waiting ages for this. Go on, now, they're waiting for you."

James and Lily walked briskly to the fitting rooms, hand in hand. They entered the room and were surprised to find everyone staring at them. It had never occurred to them that their relationship might seem a little strange. But, apparently, after six years of Lily hating James, it kind of gets planted in everyone's brain that it's going to stay that way forever.

This finally occurred to Lily and she quickly detached herself from James's side. "So, what am I trying on?"

The room immediately burst back to life. Lily was pulled one direction, and James the other. She stood on a small stool and looked down at her fellow students. They were bickering about what color her dresses should be.

"Maroon, it matches her skin tone."

"No, no, no, purple, it goes with her freckles."

"What about pink?"

"No, not with red hair, silly."

"Maybe white."

Lily cleared her throat. "Excuse me," she said quietly. No one paid her any attention. "Excuse me," she said much louder. The room stopped and looked at her. "I have to have more than one dress, right? And maybe we should try some dark green."

The room's inhabitants nodded in agreement and began working. Maroon, purple, and white fabrics were draped across her and quickly made into dresses. After much debate, a dark green silk was brought out and fashioned into a dress. The girls gasped.

"Oh my, that's lovely."

"Matches her eyes perfectly, doesn't it?"

"I wish I was that pretty."

Lily blushed at the compliments and stepped down from the stool. She walked over to the mirror, careful not to step on the hem, and glanced at her reflection.

They were right; she had never known she could look like this. As she gazed at herself, they got to work adding ribbons, sequins, and patterns. When they were finally done she could see that she looked beautiful.

"Might as well throw the other dresses away," a girl muttered.

"Don't be ridiculous," Lily said quickly. "I'll wear this one twice during the play, and wear the other ones the rest of the time."

Lily began to strip herself of the dress and into her normal clothes. The rest of the people in the room began busying themselves with their tasks. Dressed, she walked bouncily into the hallway. As she got nearer the stage she could hear shouts of protest. The voice belonged to none other than James, who was yelling at Lockhart.

"Professor, you don't understand! I am not wearing tights! Maybe in your day that was cool, but now, it's not! I'll be the laughing stock of the entire school! Can't I just wear robes?" he whined.

"I'm sorry, Potter, but you must wear the tights. The play just won't work right if you don't. And all the rest of the boys will be wearing them too, so it's not like you're alone." Lockhart argued.

"But mine are especially gay," James tried as a last argument. Lockhart shook his head sternly and walked off the stage muttering something about kids these days.

James noticed Lily and smiled. She returned it and said "Especially gay, huh?"

James made a pouting face and nodded his head.

"Poor baby," Lily pinched his cheek.

Practice went quickly, since there was much less arguing from Lily and James. Soon it was 9:00 and the rehearsal was over. Lily and James stayed behind for a minute to show each other their costumes.

"Is this gay, or is this gay?" James asked, pulling out a pair of pink and red spandex tights, a matching half dress, and a big hat.

Lily stifled her laughter.

"Exactly," James said while putting the hat on. "Hello, coz. Put thou's heart into thine hand and break under pot pans."

Lily laughed and replied, "If thou art holy palmers kiss, then thou beist a sinner."

Their joking continued for a few minutes, until James couldn't think of anything to say, which only made the situation even funnier.

"What do you think?" Lily questioned while showing him her dresses. She held up the green one. "I like this one best."

"So do I," James agreed. "Especially this," he said, pointing to the low neck. Lily smacked his arm and put the dress back.

"Bad James," she said.

"Oo, I like it rough," James joked.

Lily tried to remain serious but broke into laughter. She suddenly felt his mouth on hers, and she closed her eyes. His warm lips stroked hers, and she moaned. 'This is how it's supposed to feel when you kiss someone,' she thought to herself.

James' tongue fought to make its way into her mouth, and she finally gave in. Their separate tongues met and twisted together. Gasping for breath, they broke apart and stared into each others eyes. The stayed locked like that for what seemed like decades, just enjoying the perfect hazel and green shades of color.

Lily sighed and looked away. "Time for bed, buddy," she said quietly.

James groaned and ran his lips along her neck in a long trail of kisses. Her eyes fluttered closed and she turned into him. Again their lips met. They stayed together for as long as possible, dreading the breath that must come. When the time came, they breathed heavily.

"Lily," James whined as she dragged him out of the small room. They slowly returned to the Common Room, pausing for long kisses in dark corners.

Once they got there they stopped for one last kiss, and walked in. It was already empty, and Lily glanced at her watch. It read 11:08.

"Oh, poop, I have an Arithmancy test tomorrow, I had no idea it was this late!" Lily said, getting flustered. She gave James a quick peck on the cheek and ran up the stairs, calling goodnight.

James stood and stared after the woman he was falling in love with.

Wow, I feel like I'm writing porn… Hope you like it! This story is rated for bad content, ya know! I'm actually reading Romeo and Juliet in my english class right now, and, to tell you the truth, it sucks. But I still like my story! So all the joking they were doing is pretty much the same thing my friends and I were saying. If you like all this action, or if you don't, please tell me in a review! Thanks a lot!