A/N: This is it...the one you've all been waiting for...the EPILOGUE! I'm so happy...this is the first multi-chapter story of ANY kind that I have finished. I wanted to get this up as fast as I could, because Hurricane Dennis is on its way, and the power might go out. So I'm sorry to those of you who haven't reviewed for part fourteen; I hope my updating's not too fast for you (of course my updates aren't very long, so it shouldn't be a problem).
Thanks to all who have reviewed! I love y'all so much! --tear-- A list of all reviewers for this story will appear at the end of the epilogue.
Enjoy, everyone! I did when I wrote it!
ebtwisty9: I agree with you...I like gradual stuff. But it ends with this chapter...and it seemed to fit when I wrote it...it's not like the kiss was intentional, anyway.
iWILLmarryDanielRadcliffe: Hilz, it's OWL-type grades! Go read the 5th book again, FwaPfM (Freak with a Passion for Michigan). AND WILL YOU CHILL? It's the fic business, babe. Sorry. That was harsh...
InuBecka: Yeah, James can't just give up on her!
LadyOfTheCelticLand: Again, I'm glad you find it interesting.
Inuyashafaneva: Yeah, Lily is so stubborn. I'm writing her character, and I want give her a smack upside the head!
Epilogue
"Lily, I can't believe you're Head Girl!" Emmeline Vance squealed as she entered the train compartment and caught sight of the badge Lily wore.
"I can believe it," said Dorcas Meadowes, who was sitting next to Lily.
Lily blushed. Everyone had been making such a fuss over her new occupation, and she didn't know what to say. Even a bitter Marlene McKinnon had congratulated her, although she led everyone to believe she didn't want that big of a burden in her last year at Hogwarts.
"You've heard who's Head Boy, then, haven't you, Lily?" Emmeline asked excitedly.
"Actually, I haven't," said Lily. "It wasn't in my letter."
"Well, I ran into Remus Lupin on the platform, and he told me who it is."
"Who is it!" Lily and Dorcas asked simultaneously, with a hint of impatience.
"All right, already. It's James Potter."
Lily sat silently, mouth gaping open. Dorcas spoke next, "Isn't he that fellow you did the potions assignment with last year?"
She nodded.
"You're a bit pale, are you feeling well?" said Dorcas concerned. The train then began moving.
"I'm…fine. Erm, I have to go to the front of the train. James and I need to meet with all the prefects." Lily rose and exited the compartment hurriedly, running into a mass of untidy jet-black hair and stumbling.
"Oh, I'm sorry; I was walking backwards—Lily!" James recognized her, helping her up. "How was your summer?"
"Oh, um…" Lily was flustered. "It was pretty uneventful. Yours?"
"The same." James smiled. "Nice badge."
"Oh! Thank you," Lily said. "And yourself."
"Guess we'll be working together, huh?"
"Probably," Lily gulped at the prospect of this. She had spent much of her vacation thinking of ways she could avoid contact with James the next term, but now it was inevitable.
"I suppose you were on your way to the prefect compartment?" said James.
"It's only logical," Lilly said irritably.
"Shall we, then?" James offered his arm.
Lily hesitated. If I take it, am I flirting? We agreed not to speak of that one-time snogging session in the dungeons… James is doing a fine job of it. I wish I were able to do so as well… She looked to James, who was waiting expectantly with his right eyebrow raised. Oh, why the hell not? She linked her arm through his, and to the front of the train they went.
"That takes care of everything. You're dismissed."
Lily and James had finished assigning jobs to the prefects, and now they were alone in the compartment.
Apparently, the drawing up of patrol timetables had exhausted Lily, for she soon fell asleep in her seat.
James gazed lovingly at Lily, as he knew it would be one of the few opportunities he'd have to do so. She's grown even more beautiful since June. A lock of Lily's auburn hair fell from behind her ear, obstructing her face partially. James reached out to tuck it back into place, but then the train hit a bump on the tracks, and both Heads jolted.
Lily woke up with a start. "Sorry,"—she yawned, covering her mouth—"did I fall asleep?"
"Yeah," said James, looking away. "So…have a favorite band?" He was trying his best to keep it light. It's what Lily wants.
"The Beatles."
"Who're they?"
"You're telling me you've never heard of the Beatles?" Lily looked at him disbelievingly.
James only blinked.
"They're a Muggle band. I suppose that's why you don't know them. What about you? What's your favorite band?"
"Er…I'd say Vladamir and the Bloodsuckers. Those vampires sure can rock."
Lily laughed. "What a gimmick!"
"You should do that more often."
"Do what?"
"Laugh. Your laugh's a pretty sound, like wind chimes, and your eyes light up." James' eyes widened at his own daring.
"Thanks," said Lily slowly, considering him.
"Please don't look at me like that," James said pleadingly.
"Why not?" Lily asked, staring at him harder.
"It's…it's difficult, all right? You tell me, a week before school ends, to basically forget probably the best thing that has ever happened to me. Then, you don't speak with me until two months later; only out of necessity, I might add. Now, you look at me in a manner I envy. I can't look at you like that! You'd think I was a perverted jerk if I did.
"Asking me to forget we kissed is like asking the sun not to rise: worthless. That kiss we shared haunts me. And you know what, Lily? I have the right to believe you loved it every bit as much as I did." James spoke with such passion and feeling that Lily was shocked and touched at the same time.
And then came the tears.
Damn, I didn't mean to make her cry. "Lily, I'm sorry…please, don't cry," James said, handing her a handkerchief.
Lily bit her lip and gave him a watery smile of reassurance. "No, James, you're right. That was unfair of me. I'm just a bit…frightened, is all."
"What frightens you?"
"You."
Me? James was rendered speechless. What's so scary about me? Unless…
Lily saw James' confusion through his expression, and explained. "But not only you…me as well. This"—she gestured at the air between her and James—"is what scares me."
"But…why?"
"Because I've never felt this way before, about anyone."
"That makes two of us."
Lily opened her arms and embraced James tightly.
"You know what, James?"
"Hmmm?"
"You've changed."
"I may have, but my feelings towards you haven't."
They both closed their eyes, relaxing.
"Lily?"
"What is it?"
"Will you go to Hogsmeade with me some time?"
"Hmmm…" Lily tilted her head skyward, pretending to think. She locked her eyes with his and leaned toward him, kissing him deeply.
"Yes."
A/N: Come on, that was cute! Cheesy, but cute. My first real fluff, I guess. I strategically tried (I think I did it right...) not to use the word "yes" until the very end for effect (instead, I used nodding, "yeah's", and "mhm's")... Oh, the cleverness of me!
BIG VIRTUAL HUGS TO (in no particular order) MY REVIEWERS:
iWILLmarryDanielRadcliffe
ebtwisty9
october tuscany
WallofIvy
Jedi Knight Bus
Nicnak
InuBecka
MickeyG51591
Jen
cherokeegirl47
EmpressM
ST3
LadyOfTheCelticLand
James'sSnitchBoxersLover
Inuyashafaneva
AND to the readers who didn't review (I still love y'all anyway), you get hugs too!
I don't think I forgot anyone...if I did, I'm sorry!
Next Up: Yes, I will be posting something else. It's a re-post (only the first two chapters were posted), under a different title. The original was "Harry Potter and the Sound of Music", about Harry and his friends starting a band (very random, I know), but now it shall be called "Much Ado About Music." I hope y'all take a look at it; it will be up soon! It'll be under Romance/Parody. I got bashed horribly with that fic by God-Awful Fan Fiction's forums, and I'm going to post it, becuase I'm NOT a chicken.
Again, THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Much Love,
suckr4romance (Christine to you)