After dinner, Lily and James gathered up the prefects, and led the first years to the Gryffindor dormitory.

"Password?" Said the fat lady, whose portrait was the door to the common room.

"Lemon Drops." James replied, and the portrait swung forward to reveal the cozy Gryffindor common room.

"Girls to the right, boys to the left." Lily directed them. No sooner than five minutes have passed when the first years emptied into their rooms, leaving Lily and James to be the last ones remaining in the common room.

"You're not going to bed?" James asked her, taking a seat next to her in front of the fire.

"No not just yet. I think I'll just sit by the fire and think."

"Its kind of chilly tonight isn't it? Got a lot on your mind?"

"Mostly the NEWTs. I'm real nervous about it. Aren't you?"

"Not really. My parents have helped me loads. They did very well, so they tutored me some over break."

"Really?" At this news, Lily sat up and started paying more attention. "I wish I had someone to pass their wisdom on to me."

"I could help you." James said, knowing this was an oppertunity to get closer to Lily.

"Oh could you? That would be great."

"Of course, anything for you. When would you like to start?"

"um...now if you don't mind."

"Now? You are serious about this aren't you?"

"Well I guess it is a little late isn't it..."

"How about one little tip?"

Lily smiled, which James took as a "yes".

"The trick is to relax. Don't try too hard, just do your best. I know it sounds cliched, but it's the truth. You have to focus on the subject, and really put your heart into it." As he said this, he looked into her eyes as she looked into his. "And..." he leaned forward a little bit wanting desperatly to kiss her.

They just sat and looked at each other for a while until the grandfather clock chimed 12.

"Oh my, I didn't realize how late it's gotten." Lily sat up suddenly "Thank you. Good night." And she walked off to her room.

"Good night Lily." James said quietly to himself. He didn't go to bed until 2 in the morning because he had sat there thinking. "did she like me?", "why didn't I just kiss her?". So many thoughts went through his head until he realized again what he had realized on the train. It was impossible for him to love her, they were just friends, and that was it.

Meanwhile, Lily was sitting by the window, thinking the same things. She wondered what the feeling in the pit of her stomach was. She had never felt this before. She knew she had to rest, so she climbed back into bed and her thoughts dozed off to the full moon, when she saw a beautiful white stage running around on the grounds. Its mystery always made her fall asleep thinking about it.