Lily and James-Love May Never Last Forever

Disclaimer:

I wish I did own Harry Potter, but, unfortunately, I don't…

Pre Author's Note:

It's an update…

Chapter 12:

Lily shoved a chocolate frog into her mouth a few days later, taking a break from her pile of homework. She was still stuck in the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey insisted that she stay in there for the rest of the week to be sure she was okay, much to Lily's annoyance. She hated being stuck in a bed with nothing to do other than homework. She wanted time to herself, time to think, without Madam Pomfrey fussing over her or students coming in with a jinx or charm cast upon them. At least many of her friends came to visit her throughout the day to keep her company. Tara and Raluca stopped by between every class to make sure Lily was okay, mentioning James at least once a day.

According to her friends, James was doing terrible. Sirius reported that James couldn't sleep and would hardly eat. He was just too devastated to do anything. He also seemed to be falling behind in schoolwork. It was as if James had given up on living.

Hearing the depressing news wanted Lily to jump out of her bed, find James, and apologize, but Lily knew she couldn't do it. She'd just end up getting hurt again. James would eventually get over her, wouldn't he? She would eventually get over him, wouldn't she?

Finally, the weekend came and Lily was discharged from the hospital, with a pile of homework still left to complete.

Everywhere Lily went, people from the school constantly bombarded her with questions. How was she? What had happened? Did she need help doing anything? Lily sighed, and reluctantly told the first few people what had happened. After the tenth person, Lily just ignored them.

The news that Lily and James had broken up three weeks prior was still rotating around the school. Many guys had come up to Lily and asked her to go on a date, or study with them, but Lily declined them all. She wasn't ready to begin dating. Secretly, she still loved James.

It still hurt to think about him, even to see him, but she knew the breakup was for the best. She didn't want to get hurt again. What her friends had told her was true: James wasn't doing so well. As much as she tried to ignore him, she noticed that he had gotten skinnier and dark circles had appeared under his eyes. Hopefully, he'd start looking better soon.

James sat at dinner a couple nights later staring at Lily talking and laughing. How could she laugh while he sat there in misery and pain? Didn't she care about him at all?

James felt as if he had no reason to be happy. There was no one he could just glance at and get the feeling of warmth and comfort. There was no one he could hug and kiss. He had no one to cuddle with and whisper loving thoughts to. Life was being terrible to him – it just wasn't fair.

Girls seemed to be enjoying the fast that James was a free man. Everywhere he went, girls were swarming around him, desperately trying to flirt with him. However, James couldn't care less about the girls. There was only one girl for him – and that was Lily.

Sirius, Remus, and even Peter, when he hung out with them, got annoyed at the depressive aura around James. They tried to get James to cheer up or talk to Lily, but he just shook his head. The likelihood of Lily and James getting back together looked worse than ever.

"I had an idea, guys," Lily exclaimed, one late November morning. She slung her arms around her friend's shoulders as they made their way to Charms.

"What kind of idea?" Raluca asked.

"Well, since Hogwarts hasn't had a ball for a while, I was thinking…we could have one for Christmas!"

"Ooo!" Tara and Raluca squealed.

"Wouldn't that be cool?" Lily grinned. "I talked to Dumbledore, and he said it'd be okay. Could you guys help me plan?"

"Duh!" they replied.

"Great! Thanks!" Lily said, as they entered Professor Flitwick's room.

"Did you hear that there's going to be a Christmas Ball?" Remus sat down the next evening at dinner. James, Sirius, George, and Jupiter nodded their heads.

"Yeah, it's going to be in about three weeks. I think I'm going to asks Fiona Briding."

"Cool," Sirius said. He bit into a turkey leg hungrily. "Yeah, Tara told me all about it already. Sounds like it's going to be alright."

James nodded absentmindedly, not even paying attention to his friends. Maybe he could ask Lily to be his date? Ha, he wished. She seemed to have forgotten about him. It'd been about a month, and she still ignored him. He'd noticed that she'd been hanging out with a guy named Steve, a guy from Ravenclaw. Pain wrenched at his heart at the thought of her being with someone else. He still loved her as much as always. Hopefully, Lily would realize how sorry he was and take him back.

James glanced over at Lily and her friends writing things in a notebook, probably planning the ball. As if right on cue, he saw Steve approaching them. Hatred struck James and suddenly he wanted to jump up and punch Steve. Why was Lily forgetting about him?

"Ok, so, we'll probably need about 1000 balloons…" Lily said, about fifteen feet away from where James sat. She and her friends were planning the dance.

"We'll also need lighting. I was thinking about putting a color changing spell on all of the candles for lights," Ral said.

"Good idea!" Lily praised as she scribbled the idea down.

"Hey Lily," someone said behind her. Lily twisted around and saw a cute guy from Ravenclaw. He had short, black hair, spiked up with gel, and bright blue eyes. His perfect white smile was grinning and there was some stubble covering his chin.

"Hey Steve," Lily replied. Steve had been one of Lily's friends in her first couple of years at Hogwarts, but they had grown apart over the years. Now, after Lily's accident, he suddenly seemed really interested in her.

She liked Steve, as a friend. He was funny, smart, caring, and really sweet to her. Her friends acted as if he liked her, but she didn't think so. He was just a friend. Even if he did, she didn't think she was ready for another relationship.

"What's up? Planning the ball?" Steve asked, sitting down next to her.

"Yeah, it should be really cool." She smiled at Steve.

Around her, Tara, Ral, and her other friends grinned at each other as Lily described her envision of the dance to Steve. All of them knew Steve liked her. He'd even talked to Tara to find out what kind of person Lily was. Hopefully, Lily would get over James soon. Steve seemed like he'd be good for Lily.

"So, Steve, are you going with anyone?" Sabrina Minneart, one of Lily's friends, asked, winking at Lily. Lily scowled at Sabrina, angry that she'd even asked that. She didn't think of him that way. She wasn't ready yet. But he was so nice and caring…

No! Lily thought. James would never forgive you!

"I'm not going with anyone yet…" he answered, glancing at Lily. The girls giggled, all except Lily.

You don't like him, Lily. You still love James.

But he hurt me so much…he doesn't deserve my love…

But Steve might…

"No!" Lily said sternly. She quickly covered her mouth, surprised that she'd thought that aloud. "I mean… I'm going to my room. Bye." She just wanted to be alone and cry.

"What? Here, let me walk with you…" Steve said, jumping up and picking up her books.

"That's – that's okay." She tried to smile, but failed miserably. "I'm sorry," she muttered, taking her things and walking away.

"Ok then…" Steve whispered, looking upset. He turned around and Tara shrugged.

"Just give her time," Ral said. "She's still hung up on James."

"Yeah, I guess so." Steve looked over at James, who had been watching the whole time. Steve shook his head in dismay and walked away.

Lily entered the common room and quickly headed up to her dorms. Emotions and thoughts were swirling in her head. She couldn't like Steve – it was too soon. She still liked James, still loved him, but he had hurt her so much. All of his harsh words, kissing Samantha…he deserved exactly what he was getting – pain and loneliness.

It was time to get over him.

But could she?

Reaching her bed, Lily dropped her things on the floor and laid down.

Steve seemed to really like her. He seemed like a really nice guy. She could trust him. He was really easy going and caring. Maybe she could give him a try?

But James… he would be so hurt. He'd hate her forever, and she didn't want that.

But how could she ever forgive him for what he did? He had done too much.

Steve didn't seem like the type to cheat on a girlfriend, but, then again, neither did James.

After another five minutes of debating, Lily finally decided what to do.

Steve strummed his guitar, playing Iron Man, a song by Black Sabbath. The band was actually a popular muggle band, even though its members were actually wizards, one of them being Ozzy Osbourne. Ozzy had gone to Durmstrang years earlier, along with the rest of the band, and was one of Steve's idols. No muggles knew the band's true identity, although they'd almost blown the cover many times.

None of his friends liked Black Sabbath, or any heavy metal, for that matter. They thought his loud guitar playing was annoying. They just didn't understand.

Just as Steve was about to switch to Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, he heard a knock on the dorm-room door.

"Steve?" someone asked from the door. The voice sounded a lot like Lily's.

"Lily?" Steve asked, turning around. Sure enough, Lily stood at the doorway, looking extremely nervous and troubled.

"What…how'd you get up here?" he questioned, gently placing his guitar on the bed and standing.

"Um, I'm head-girl, so I know the passwords and locations for all of the houses."

"Oh…right…"

"So, um, I'm sorry about earlier tonight. I just got really scared because my feelings for James are still really strong."

"Oh. I'm sorry too, then," Steve said quietly.

Lily took a deep breath and continued, "But…I really like you, Steve. And I'd be willing to take our friendship father…"

"What are you trying to say?" Steve asked, suddenly becoming very anxious and excited.

"Well, um, I wanted to know if," she paused. "I, um, wanted to know if you'd like to be my date for the ball…"

"Are you serious?" Steve asked incredulously. "What about James?"

"I want to get over him. I don't want to love him anymore. I want…I want to love someone else. But, um, so…will you go?"

"Of course!" he exclaimed, sweeping Lily up in his arms and hugging her. Lily laughed happily, but felt her stomach twist in anxiety. She was finally getting over James.

Post Author's Note:

I've totally changed the plot of this story. This is actually the end of Part 1 of Love May Never Last Forever. I'm starting the sequel under the title Love May Never Last Forever 2. Then I plan on continuing that story to Love May Never Last Forever 3. Anyway, thanks to anyone who's still reading! Check back to see if the new story's been posted in a few months! Thanks!

-Elle