Chapter Twenty-Four: Choices

After reading the letter, Lily was certain of what she had to do.

Granted, it would cause heartbreak for both parties, and they probably would never speak to the other again, but really, it was for the best.

So when James came in later that evening, Lily put her plan into action.

He immediately saw her with his books out and groaned. "Merlin, I'm sorry, Lily. I completely forgot about our study date. I had a lot on my mind so I needed to fly it off…"

"James, we need to talk."

He paled, thinking he was in big trouble for missing the study date.

Sitting beside her on the couch, he gulped.

Lily took a deep breath. "I think we should break up."

James gaped. "What—why! Is it because I missed our study session?"

Lily shook her head. "No. But I was thinking… maybe what happened at the wedding… wasn't supposed to happen. Perhaps we're better off as just friends."

James felt like his world was crashing down. "You… you told me you loved me."

Lily flinched internally, damning herself for breaking his heart, but knowing that if it would save his life, so be it. "Do I really know what love is, James? I'm only seventeen. It was probably a crush gone awry or something like that."

She continued, not letting him get a word in. "I'm sorry, James." She quickly turned and fled to her room, not noticing that she accidentally left the letter lying among her homework, where James could easily see it.

James, however, didn't notice it. His body was trembling from trying not to cry, he hurt so badly.

What he didn't know was that on the other side of her door, Lily was feeling the same way.

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The next morning, having spent the night on the couch, James looked around groggily. God, everything reminded him of Lily. Her cloak on the hanger, her scent on the couch, her homework on the table.

He loved her handwriting. It was utterly Lily. While the words looked feminine, they displayed her quirky and fiery nature by being all italics and rushed looking.

But there was a paper among her homework that wasn't her handwriting…. In fact, it looked strangely like… his mother's!

And James suddenly knew why she broke up with him. It wasn't because she didn't love him. It wasn't because of that at all.

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All week, he tried to talk to her, but she kept avoiding him. Neither of them told their friends they had broken up, so both parties assumed the two were having a fight, but over what, they weren't sure.

He finally cornered her in their common room as she was about to sneak out and study in the library instead of there.

"We need to talk," he said, unintentionally mimicking her words to him earlier.

"Are you sure this can't wait? Because I have some studying to do," Lily tried to protest, but James wouldn't have it.

"This can't wait."

She nervously took a seat next to him, the roles now reversed.

"I know why you broke up with me," he said bluntly.

Lily gulped but remained cool. "Of course you do," she told him, throwing him a surprise.

"What?" Now James was confused.

"I told you why I broke up with you. Because it was all infatuation."

Ah, so that's the game she was trying to play.

Well, she was going to lose.

"No, Lily," he said gently. "I know you read the letter."

She immediately stiffened.

James continued. "Lily, I don't care. Look at me, Lily. I. Don't. Care. I love my mother, but you're… god, Lily, keeping us apart is like Sirius coming out of the closet. Or trying to give McConagall a make over, or even trying to get Snivellus to lighten up on the hair gel. It's not going to happen. Ever. I love you. No one, not even my mother, is going to keep me from you."

"You could get killed because of me," Lily wailed. "I don't want that to happen. That can't happen." She sobbed, "I'd die if that happened."

His arms found her then and he held her close. "And I'd die if that happened to you. But I'm already in danger anyway, Lily. Remember the Halloween ball when we fought off Death Eaters and Dementors? There is no way in hell I'm going to remain neutral in a war that I know is wrong. Especially not when the girl I love's life could be at stake because of the outcome."

Her sobs soon quieted and she heard James tell her, "I love you so much. I told myself, 'I would rather go down with her by my side than spend the rest of my life without her.' I know that you were trying to protect me, but it's my choice to make. And I made it the moment I finished reading that goddamn letter. I'm sorry, but I'm not letting anyone, mother or no, separate us. You hear me?"

Lily nodded. "Merlin, I love you so much, James. So much."

"I know, Lily. I know."

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A/N: Sorry if the break-up is too short and rushed—I just don't have the time to make it longer….. that being said, ONE MORE CHAPTER TO GO. Yesss. Doubt I'll have it up today, but I hope so.

Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed! You guys are the greatest!