A/N: Aw, youse guys, this is gonna be my next to last chapter, I think . . . Depends on how the plot fans out . . . but it's looking like a definite maybe.

Mary-Jane Black: Thanks for not forgetting about my story and not giving up on me!

Sweet Sarcasm: Sorry about that! Here's more for you!

Luckyloo 16: Thanks to you too for not forgetting! I was worried I might have lost everyone who used to read this! Thank you! Here's more!

Coco-Pop: Thanks! I try not to make my Lily like all of the other Lilies I've read. You're right, she always does seem to forget and forgive or understand too quickly or too easily, and I don't think a real person would be like that, so I didn't make her that way. Thanks for noticing!

PleaseExcuseTheOrneryPenguins: haha! First, I have to say, FABULOUS NAME! It's so funny! Thank you! I try to spell check and correct everything before putting the final thing up here, but of course, I can never check EVERYTHING. I'm glad I seem to be doing a good job, though! Thanks for the review!

DobbyGrl: Thank you so much! Here's more for you!

Jersey Princess: Lily… um… she… LOL. I can't remember either… Oh wait, yes I can! She almost got James caught in his Animagi form, remember? He could have been expelled and all that jazz… Anywho, thanks!

livingdead2010: Thanks a lot! Here's more!

Jinger: I completely agree with you. It definitely wasn't the best I've ever written. Nor, was it was worst… lol. Scary thought, huh? I was in such a rush to get out that last chapter, so I'm afraid it wasn't very exciting . . . Hopefully, this one is better! Hope you enjoy!

cylobaby: Thank you! The letter idea wasn't very original, I think I might have seen it somewhere before… or dreamed about it, maybe… but thanks anyway! And yes, you're right! James DEFINITELY belongs with Lily!

Titou Moony: Hello you! I stopped writing and reading fics for a LOOONG time… I just couldn't seem to find any really good ones about our favorite Remus, so I didn't want to read or write ANYTHING. I wasn't inspired! Wahhh! Haha! Well, thank you for keeping up with my stories, still! You're the best! And you've been with me the WHOLE TIME so thank you so much! xoxoxo!

TenkunoMeiou: Well, my fanfic spirit/soul died for a while . . . Does that count? Lol. I'm glad YOU'RE back, and I'm glad I didn't lose everyone that used to read this story! Thanks for sticking around! Here's more!

Disclaimer: I own nothing, but the plot, a few characters, and a bad conscience . . .

Chapter Sixteen – Pocus

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Maybe he would arrange to "accidentally on purpose" bump into a certain Miss Evans on his way . . . Maybe, if he was lucky, Miss Evans would agree to talk to him, and he could have everything that was in his head out in the open instead.

"I will," he said, decidedly, really talking to himself more so than Sirius. "I'll talk to her after class."

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Lily tapped her quill impatiently on the table in front of her. Charms was her best subject, her FAVORITE subject, and she loved it to death, she really did, but she couldn't seem to remember when it had lasted so LONG before. It was ridiculous sitting here in class, when she could be elsewhere . . . escaping from James.

And speaking of James, he was watching her again. He had been watching her constantly, almost. For three days. Ever since they had had that talk. Lily inwardly cringed. She would never know what had possessed her to suddenly blurt that out . . . to confess like that . . . Lily Evans did NOT blurt out her feelings.

" . . . Evans? Could you perhaps demonstrate the proper wand motion for us?" Lily unconsciously heard Professor Flitwick ask.

She blinked. Never before had she answered anything wrong in Charms. She EXCELLED in Charms. Lily took a deep breath. Careful, girl, she told herself. Calm down. Just ask him to repeat the question. Everyone has off days, it's no big deal.

Just when she was about to open her mouth to ask, the bell rang, signaling the end of their lesson.

"Oh, my, how the time does fly!" the Professor squeaked. "Your homework is an essay on the Color-changing Charms created by Kindelwald Grupowsky. Since you are seventh years, I expect no less than twenty inches. Due two weeks from Friday! Class dismissed!"

Lily sighed with relief and began to gather her things.

"Lucky break, huh?" she heard a low voice say by her side. Her breath caught in her throat. James.

Slowly, she straightened up to meet his gaze. She noted that he looked rather nervous. Lily felt her heart plummet. Any news that was brought with a messenger whose face looked like that couldn't be good news . . .

"I . . . I have to get to dinner," she stammered, mentally cursing herself for not coming up with a better excuse. Now she probably sounded like a pig.

"So do I," he said, quickly. "But I was wondering if we . . . if maybe we could talk first? I could walk you to the Great Hall. I told my friends to go ahead without me."

"Oh," Lily replied, "Um, but I have to . . . go to Gryffindor Tower first. I'm meeting someone . . ."

"Oh. I see," he said. "Okay . . . I'll . . . see you afterwards, then?"

She nodded, stuffing the last of her books into her bag. She rushed out of the classroom and let out another sigh of relief. That had been close.

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James watched her go, momentarily confused. If he didn't know better, he'd say that she was avoiding him . . . But why would SHE avoid HIM? It didn't make any sense. He was the one who said he needed space, not her. James shook his head and started down to the Great Hall.

He would NEVER understand Lily Evans.

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"Lily! Lily!" He called over the heads of the people blocking his way. He could see her heading towards the doors out of the Great Hall now. At least, he thought it was her. After all, who else had hair that exact shade of red? "LILY!" he yelled again.

Was it just him, or did she seem to speed up a little every time he called her name? He sighed, for the moment, giving up. Either she was ignoring him on purpose, (and he couldn't for the life of him, see why), or she honestly hadn't heard him. James didn't understand why she would ignore him, so he went with the second option.

He shrugged. He'd just have to meet up with her later in the common room, it seemed like.

After James had more or less seen all of the first years back to their Houses for the night, he exhaustedly climbed through his own portrait hole. He hadn't seen Lily since dinner, and didn't really expect her to be in the common room, either, so he was a little surprised to see her sitting at one of the tables with books all around her. Her head was a curtain of hair, and her face wasn't the least bit visible. However, her hand gripped a quill so tightly it seemed it would snap any moment, and she was scribbling furiously across a piece of parchment already covered with so much writing.

As much as he wanted to talk to her, had been dying to talk to her . . . he hesitated. She looked so busy. But . . . James set his jaw determinedly. What he wanted to say would only take a moment.

"Lily," he said. Immediately, her hand froze, and her head snapped up.

Her eyes clouded over with an emotion he couldn't identify. Was it worry, maybe? She didn't speak.

"Lily," he repeated.

Her name seemed to trigger something inside of her. Suddenly, she began to pack up her things, slamming every book and stuffing it into her bag. She rolled up her essay, sticking it into another side pocket.

"James, I just remembered," she said, her eyes going wide. "There's something I have to do! I knew I was forgetting – "

"Lily, whatever it is, I'm sure it can wait another second! I have to talk to you. Now," he said, persistently.

She shook her head and headed for the portrait hole. "I'm sorry, really I am, but this can't wait." She hurried away before he could say another word. "Later, James!"

James stamped the floor in frustration, oblivious to all of the first and second years giving him odd looks. Lily was definitely avoiding him. There was no doubt about it now.

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"Every time I try to say one little word to her, she jumps up and runs away!" James said, heatedly.

"Maybe it's a coincidence – " Peter started.

"No! Coincidental things don't happen three times in a row!" James snapped. "NO ONE can be that busy!"

Sirius shook his head. "She's definitely avoiding you."

"Thank you, genius," James retorted.

"Don't jump all over us, James," Remus said, softly. "We're only trying to – "

" – help. I know," James finished, tiredly. He gave them an apologetic look. "It's just . . . I'm so tired of this. I don't know why she won't just stop and let me talk to her. It'll only take a second! Honestly!"

"Maybe she's scared," Remus suggested. "Maybe she thinks you're going to reject her."

James started to shake his head, but Sirius interrupted. "You want my advice?" he asked. "I say you just go up and say whatever you have to say right to her face. Don't give her any time to make up an excuse to leave, just say it."

"I don't want to say it in front of people, though," James insisted. He began to turn red. "It's embarrassing."

Sirius rolled his eyes and Peter followed suit. "Oh, for the love of – "

Remus smiled, "No, he's right, you two. This is something he should do in private."

Sirius rolled his eyes again. "Fine, do what you want," he said, sourly. "But I still think public is the way to go."

"I'll use it as my last resort," James promised, grinning.

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Lily made sure she was the last one down to breakfast. She knew it was very out of character for her, and therefore, James wouldn't suspect it of her. Just in case he had gotten any ideas to ambush her at the table. She'd have to eat super fast, so her plan wouldn't backfire and he wouldn't catch her on the way out, either.

Her heart sank as she pushed the Great Hall doors open and spotted James and Company eating with Pat and Kat. Maybe she should've skipped breakfast altogether . . . She was seriously considering turning right back around when Sirius caught her eye and waved her over.

"Hey, Lily!" He said, scooting over on the bench to make a spot for her between him and James.

Lily's heart started pounding. How could she escape this? There had to be a way.

"No, thank you, Sirius," she said, flashing him a quick smile. "I actually just came over to grab a piece of toast."

"You're not staying?" Kat asked, surprised.

"No, I'm sorry. I have to look over my Charms essay once more before it's time to turn it in," Lily said, trying to sound apologetic. Great excuse! She marveled at how easy it was to think that one up.

"You mean the essays we were assigned YESTERDAY?" James finally spoke up. "You've FINISHED it? It's supposed to be twenty inches!"

"Mine's thirty-two," Lily said, quietly. Kat and Pat, who were quite used to this, exchanged amused glances, while James, Sirius, Peter, and Remus all stared at her in awe. She smiled. "I'll see you all in class."

She turned and walked away, trying not to beam. The looks on their faces had been wonderful, even though she knew no one liked a braggart. She had to be careful not to make it a habit, she thought, as she smiled again to herself.

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"I have to get her attention somehow!" James whispered to Sirius, later that night, long after Remus and Peter had gone to sleep.

Sirius mumbled something unintelligible.

"What?"

"I SAID, she's HeadGirl, right?" Sirius repeated.

James just stared at him.

Sirius let out a breath of frustration. "Honestly, Prongs! Do I have to do ALL of your thinking? She's HEAD-BLOODY-GIRL, isn't she? So why don't you do something in order to appeal to that side of her. Get her to pay attention to you through your work, or something. She's HeadGirl. You know how seriously she takes her job. She can't ignore you, then . . ."

"Sirius! You're brilliant!"

"I know," he said, yawning. "Now, go to sleep, will you?"

James pulled the covers over his head, grinning. What Sirius had said had given him the best idea ever.

It was chancy, VERY chancy, but for Lily, he'd have to risk it.

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A/N: wow! Writing this chapter gave me the BEST idea ever! I can't wait to write the next one! I promise you will all love it! You have to! And sadly, it will be my last chapter, cuz I really can't stretch this story out anymore . . . but it'll definitely go out with a bang! (and a rather unexpected plot twist cough cough) Yes, well . . . NEXT UPDATE COMING SOON!

Ariana S.