Lily ran blindly down through the hallway and took a sharp turn. Still moving, she ripped off her shoes for a quieter escape and began running full speed again. Her throat burned and her sides ached and her stomach roiled, but she kept running.

Finally, she reached the seventh floor and ran by the room of requirement three times. The door was just disappearing as Peeves rounded the corner with Apollyon Pringle few steps behind. Both of them wanted desperately to catch the student out past curfew.

Lily definitely did not want to be caught.

She slid down the wall and fought to catch her breath. Eventually, she had to lie down because passing out became a very real possibility. Then, she started laugh. The very thought of Lily Evans, Head Girl, running from Peeves the Poltergeist and the custodian was laughable.

Of course, it was rather pathetic her first attempt at sneaking from school turned out in almost being caught, but the night was still salvageable. She waited until her breathing evened out again and cautiously opened the door. Seeing no one, Lily walked carefully back into the corridor and began her trek back to the mirror on the fourth floor. She had been nearly there when Peeves spotted her the first time, but it had taken her forever to shake the poltergeist and Pringle.

The long, damp tunnel led her underneath the lake and to a hollow tree trunk near the Hogsmeade railroad station. A short walk led her into town, and despite the late hour, the streets of Hogsmeade were far from empty. Many of the middle-aged crowd were far too sensible to be out after dark, especially after the recent crime spree, but the younger generation was bent on having a good time. It didn't take long for Lily to spot him. James was staring pensively at a shop window and didn't notice her. She quickly crossed the street and snuck up behind him, placing her hands on his sides. "What's got you all caught up?"

James immediately turned around and grinned. "Hey. I thought you might not come, and I thought about canceling. I couldn't be sure of reaching you soon enough, though, and I didn't want you here alone. Besides, it's been ages since I saw you last."

Lily couldn't help but laugh; he had that effect on her. "Pringle almost busted me. I think I ran though Hogwarts in its entirety, and I very nearly passed out from the exertion. What was the big deal about not coming?"

"Another family was mysteriously killed last night. Most people with sense are choosing to stay in."

"It they are killed in their homes, that obviously isn't a wise choice."

"Being in the streets after dark is never a wise choice. All the same, you're here; let's have a good time."

"I need a good time; Hogwarts has been a veritable wet blanket since the last Hogsmeade weekend. I believe most people are either mad or disappointed in me for one reason or another. It's a bit disheartening." Lily shrugged and leaned closer to him when he wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Why, what happened?"

"A little of everything. It isn't a big deal. Can we talk about something else?"

"Nope. Tell me what's wrong. We better hash it out to begin with so we can have a good time for the rest of the night. This way." James tugged her down a side road off of High Street and opened a door to a building with a bright, flashing sign with the name 'Joe's' proudly emblazoned. "The Bats are here tonight, and I thought you might like to hear them. They're really very good."

Loud, thumping music immediately assaulted her ears. "You wanted to talk," Lily shouted, "in here?"

"It'll quiet down when The Bats get out there." The two of them sat down at a table where drinks and an appetizer appeared. James was right; a group of two men and three women walked onto the stage a few minutes later, and the volume level immediately dropped. "Now what happened at Hogwarts."

Lily told him the edited story of her fight with her friends, and ended with: "So I was exaggerating just a bit. The entire school isn't mad at me, just the important people."

James stirred his drink around for a little bit before he said, "Millie will always be a downer as long as you're on good terms with me. She isn't the I Only Want You To Be Happy sort of friend like Sirius and Remus and Peter. She just wants you to be a smidgen less happy than she is and on her terms. As for Amos, he is just upset you broke up with him. I predict the two of you will soon reconcile."

"You aren't any good at Divination."

"You aren't any good at not being liked."

"You are so weird, but I like you all the same. We've established that I am universally hated, so tell me what you've been doing."

"I have been extensively studying medicine and healing in hopes I can talk you into playing Healer."

Lily paused with her drink halfway to her mouth, and then started cackling and the unexpectedness of his response. His bright grin and accompanying laugh was so out of character that she was truly shocked. "What is going on? A cheering charm gone wrong?"

"I am in an unusually good mood. Do you want to dance? When I step on your feet, you can step on mine."

Lily shrugged when she saw the nearly vacant dance floor. "Why not," she answered, "as long as you keep me from running into someone else."

They danced for well over an hour, until both of them had wobbling legs. Finally, after an insanely fast song that had both of them gasping for air, James said, "I suppose you need to be getting back to the castle. Things most likely will not go well if one of your dorm mates awakens in the night only to find you missing."

Lily groaned from sheer regret, "If I didn't need to take my NEWTs, I think I'd hide here forever."

"That is always an option, I suppose." James helped her into her coat and walked close to her as they walked down the street. "Have you resigned yourself to being sexually discriminated against and decided to become a Hit Witch."

"Definitely not. The system here in Britain is entirely reprehensible and I will not be part of it. In Italy, however, I could be on equal footing with males in my same position. Since I have family in Venice, I am going there once I graduate." Lily glanced over to see what James thought of this, but she only saw an inscrutable expression that could have hid any number of reactions.

"Let's see, graduation is the last week of June, right?"

"Yes."

"So that gives me a little under four months to change your mind."

Lily didn't have a chance to delve deeper into that particular statement because James suddenly pulled her hood over her hair and leaned down next to her ear to whisper, "Dumbledore is behind us. There's a pub up ahead; don't look around, just walk in and sit down with your back to the door. I'll find you."

Lily kept walking briskly down the pavement, but James abruptly swung around to come face to face with Albus Dumbledore and a group of other witches and wizards. "Hello, Professor!"

"Why, hello, Mr. Potter. What brings you out this time of night?" Dumbledore asked innocently, but of course, the headmaster was rarely fooled.

"I'm just meeting a few friends," James said carefully. "It was nice seeing you again."

"And it was nice seeing you also," Dumbledore said gravely, but there was a twinkle in his eye.

James knew that Dumbledore knew, and Dumbledore knew James knew that he knew.

James quickly left Dumbledore and found Lily quietly sitting at a table. When he touched her shoulder, she jumped and immediately said, "Am I caught?"

"I think he knows you're with me, but I don't think he will say anything. I don't want to abuse his tolerance, however, so let's get down to the passage entrance."

To Lily, the lightheartedness the evening had brought her was dampened by the reminder that she shouldn't really be with James. He apparently felt it too, because he said reassuringly, "You aren't the first person to sneak out of Hogwarts, and I can't imagine you'll be the last. Every student who knows how can't resist the temptation; Sirius and I would leave every Saturday and most Wednesday nights. Remus and Peter came along the majority of the time, and we were seldom the only Hogwarts students in town. Why do you suppose there is a town so close to school? For the students to sneak out, that's why. Even Dumbledore sneaks out."

She couldn't help but laugh at the thought of Dumbledore sneaking out of the castle like a criminal. "What do you think he was doing?"

"No doubt dark and illicit things."

Lily giggled again and felt like an idiot for doing it, but she felt suddenly deflated as they reached the tunnel entrance. "I had a really nice time tonight, James."

He abruptly stopped and tugged her to face him. "Did you really have a good time?" he asked, resting his forehead against hers.

"This has been the best night I've had since my parents died. Thank you."

"It was my pleasure."

They spent several minutes lingering outside the hollow tree kissing and murmuring to one another.

"I suppose I should be getting back to the castle. Goodnight, James," she whispered, and ran her hand down his jaw.

"Goodnight. Think of me?"

"How could I not?" When she smiled back at him one last time, it was a smile filled with regret about their separation and joy of their relationship. Lily slipped into the tree and went down the stairs into the little stone room that adjoined the entrance with the actual tunnel. When she opened the wooden door, instead of a long, dark passage, she found a wall of boulders and stones. "What in the world?" she muttered, experimentally picking at the rocks to move them. She tried moving the first layer to find even more rocks before realization finally hit her. The tunnel had caved in. "Good grief. I sneak out one time and the whole world nearly falls apart. Urgh!"

Lily stepped out with irritation, and she was truly surprised to see James still staring at the tree despite the amount of time that had elapsed.

"Forget something," James asked with a trace of sarcasm that Lily answered with an expressive look.

"The tunnel caved in."

"You're kidding! Let me see." Being a man, James just couldn't believe Lily knew what she was talking about, so he had to step into the entrance to examine things for himself. He announced, "It has caved in."

"I would have never guessed that."

"You can't get back into Hogwarts at this time of night through any of the other tunnels. They are all in businesses that are closed by now. The only way is through the front door."

"Come on, James, surely you know of others."

"The one behind the one-eyed witch, the one you used, behind the mirror, behind Gregory the Smarmy, there's the one under the tower, one out of the dungeons, and one only Sirius used. I don't know where that one went. Probably no place decent." James refrained from mentioning the passage under the Whomping Willow because he knew he could not possibly take her there without implicating his friends as well as himself. Lily was entirely too aware of everybody not to allow the final pieces of the Remus the Werewolf puzzle fall into place. The Shrieking Shack bore all the marks of a werewolf and even had a few of the Marauders' belongings.

The only emotion Lily could describe at the moment was sheer, blind panic. "I will be in so much trouble. Oh my Lord."

"No you won't. We'll just find Sirius, ask him about his passage, and we'll go for there. But if you would be more comfortable, you can stay at the pub and I'll go find him."

"I suppose that since I'm already off school grounds, things can't get much worse, can they?"

"I suppose off school grounds if off of school grounds no matter if you're in Hogsmeade or London.," James agreed. "If you don't want to, though, I understand."

"I think I'll be much safer with you than alone in a pub. I never thought I'd say this, but let's go find Sirius."

They went back to pub to Floo to Sirius's flat, and luck was with them, because Sirius was there. He looked up from a book and gaped at James and Lily. "What in the blazes is she doing here?"

James answered, "I asked her to meet me tonight, and she used the passage behind the mirror. Whenever Lily was ready to go back, we discovered the tunnel had caved in. All the other passages are in businesses."

"So sneak in."

"Sneaking isn't easy with two people and impossible with Lily. It would be terrible if she was caught; I don't want to risk it."

"Understandable. What about the Who-."

James frantically shook his head and mouthed No behind Lily's head.

"Uhh, so, what do you want me to do?"

"You mentioned another passage a few times, but you didn't tell any of us. What about it?"

Sirius snorted, "I was lying, you idiot. I was meeting Lucinda Beck and I didn't want to catch hell, so I said I was using a secret passage. You didn't know where I was at, so you couldn't meet me, and I had the map so I couldn't be traced."

"Well…crap. Have any suggestions now?"

Sirius grinned cheerfully, "Have her spend the night at your place, give her the map, and take her back early in the morning. Honeyduke's opens at eight. If she hurries, she can make is straight to class."

"Wearing what, exactly, Sirius?" James asked testily. Lily hadn't worn her uniform to meet him. "Don't you suppose that one of the professors just might catch on?"

"Good question. I'll see if I can't locate one she could borrow, minus the tie."

James really had to applaud Lily for her control, because the expression on her face could only be described as appalled. While Sirius was thumbing through his address book, she turned to James and whispered, "Do I even want to know where he is getting a uniform?"

"Probably from a girlfriend or former girlfriend. He is rather popular."

"I can't wear somebody else's uniform."

"Unfortunately, unless you want to be busted, it looks like you're going to have to. Sirius doesn't date, well, unclean girls, if you will."

"What a relief." Lily wandered over to the couch and flopped onto it, and peered off into space as if in thought. "How can this be happening to me? I am a good girl; I don't sneak out. I do it once, though, and my route caves in! Explain that to me!"

"I think it falls along the lines of 'no good deed goes unpunished'."

"Well, isn't that just brilliant." Suddenly, her freckles went on a dance as she wrinkled her nose. "You know, this is sort of comical."

"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself," James said mildly. "Sirius, can you just reach us at my house about the uniform?"

"Sure, sure. Good luck with Mr. and Mrs.," Sirius said absently. When Lily turned away, he winked at James who shook his head in return.

"I think it would be better if I just stayed at the Three Broomsticks instead."

"There is absolutely no chance you could get out of there without being spotted by somebody who would snitch. Most likely, you can stay at my house without my parents even knowing you're there."

"How lucky."

"Home sweet home," James said, dusting the soot from his pants. He watched Lily look around before turning on him. "This way. My parents are in the central portion of the house. I stay in the north wing, and there are guest rooms there too. If it is acceptable to you, you'll be in one of those rooms. Hopefully, you won't have to be exposed to my parents, not because I don't want you to meet them, but because well, I can't imagine you enjoying the experience."

Lily glanced at him briefly before continuing her study of the house, or at least what she saw of it. Her impression of the Potter home was that of a medieval manor. The impression was supported by nineteen suits of armor that lined a corridor. The ceilings were high with Gothic molding and the walls were covered in tapestries. She only saw a few tables, mirrors, and benches in the hallways, but those were all old and intricately carved. She had a nasty suspicion that heeled shoes would echo on the stone floor. All in all, it was rather apparent why James was so gloomy at times. "How old is this place, James?"

"We're still in the main part, and it was built in 1482. The newer additions were built in 1803 and 1927."

The new and old additions were connected by small marble rooms that had recessed areas filled with ancient sculptures and artifacts, but the walls were decorated with contemporary paintings and art prints. Past there, the newer part of the house was beautifully new.

"This is the north wing; it was the one built in 1927."

Instead of the old, gloomy castle appearance the central portion of the house held, this part resonated with light, and it looked to be recently redone. When she asked him about it, James answered, "I've been working on it. Rather, I found a decorator since I live in this part."

The floors were made from a light-colored wood and covered in long runners. The walls were papered in a sage and cream striped pattern and held many gold-framed paintings. There were even small trees and ferns in alcoves. The most striking feature, though, were the doors that lined both sides of the hallways. All of them were in varying shades of green. "Isn't is hard to tell the rooms apart?"

"Most of the doors lead to bedroom suites. All of them have a black and white print over the doorway, and the public rooms have scenes that depict things that are generally done in the room. The game room has Dogs Playing Poker."

"My dad had a print of that; he kept it in his office."

"That's where I got the idea. Look, here's your room. If you don't like it, you can have a different room, but I'm assuming it's more to your tastes than the others. My room is down the hall and on your right; it has a picture of a field. If you need anything, feel free to get me or use the bell pull for a house-elf. Sirius will have one of the elves bring the uniform during the night, so don't be alarmed if you spot a huge set of eyes in the darkness. One of them will wake you at six so we have plenty of time to get breakfast and get to Hogsmeade." James swiftly leaned down to kiss her cheek, and he was walking down the hallway before she even had the chance to turn to face him. "Goodnight, Lily!"

"Goodnight," she answered, wondering at the amused tone in his voice. Lily watched him walk down the corridor and out of sight without looking back. Distantly, she heard a door shut, and snapped back to reality. She opened the door and stepped into her room and sighed at the sight of it. 'Pretty' was really the only word that could be used to describe it. The wallpaper was a light yellow and cream stripe and the furniture was all white wicker. Watercolors hung happily on the wall and the buttery carpet made her want to take off her shoes and dig her feet in. Inspection informed her that a large closet was behind a wicker changing screen and a splendid washroom was behind a door that blended perfectly with the wallpaper.

Lily giggled at joy at the sheer cuteness of the room and the absolute absurdity that it belonged in a house that James Potter lived in. The thought of James even looking inside a room this adorable made her break out in a fresh round of laughter.

Her earlier fatigue had been worn away by the lovely room, so she decided to bathe then rather than in the morning. By the time she emerged from the bubbly tub, the clock read three a.m., surprising her greatly. Rationally, she knew it had to be late, but she was having such a wonderful time she had forgotten. She found a terry robe and toothbrush hidden away in the cabinet, and she took her chances with both before curling up in the bed under a draped window. Finding out the name of the decorator was the last thought that crossed her mind before she fell asleep.

When she was awakened by a house-elf three hours later, Lily knew she had to find out who the decorator was. The fact that the room was so charming took away most of the bite of an early morning and some of the pain the makeshift uniform caused her. The skirt fit her decently, but was just a bit short, obviously belonging to a slighter girl. The shirt was terribly large, but a house-elf brought some pins for her. Luckily, the tie and robes were Gryffindor.

She was examining one of the watercolors when James knocked on her door. When she stepped out of the room, she could tell he noticed the knot the pins made at the back of her shirt under her robes, but he merely raised an eyebrow until she asked, "Whose are these?"

"I didn't ask. A bit busty, is she?"

The serious tone James used brought back her giggles, and soon they were both in fits of laughter. Despite the noise they were making, the two were able to leave the house without seeing another breathing soul. When Lily mentioned this, James gave her a rather pointed look, "Don't you suppose it's a bit early for the two of them to haul themselves out of bed?'

They ate scrambled eggs and cereal at the counter of a small café, and the laughter didn't stop until it was time to leave. When the door closed behind them, Lily felt a nervous ball form in her stomach. She wasn't good at sneaking, and she never had been. In fact, she was rather terrible at it, and James was aware of the fact. That was why he had a book bag with him, and it wasn't filled with books.

Once they reached Hogsmeade, James pulled her behind a large tree and drew his Invisibility Cloak from the bag. Her eyebrows raised, but she said nothing until he explained, "I'm going to go into Honeydukes, and you'll slip in the door behind me. Stand to the side for a minute or two, and Sirius will come in. He'll do something to distract the shopkeeper and I'll make sure he doesn't notice you go into the storeroom. There's a trapdoor, and under it is a tunnel that leads to the one-eyed witch. When you get to the end, look at this and make sure nobody is around." Here, he pulled out a crinkled piece of parchment. "Crawl out, and go to your class. Make sure nobody sees you coming from that direction. When you're in a safe area, tap your wand to the paper and say 'Mischief managed'. I sent Millie a note to have your books with her, so all you have to do is get to class. Got it?"

"Yeah," she sighed, and then inhaled shakily. "I'm going to screw this up."

"No, you're not. If you do, it isn't the end of the world. Just stay calm. You'll do wonderfully. Look, they're opening the shop."

Lily glanced over at the store and began looking severely panicked.

"Lily? Focus." When he had her attention again, James said, "I had a great time with you. Will you owl me when you get a chance? Tell me how it went."

"Okay. I will." Suddenly, Lily smiled. "I had a really good time, too. Let's go."

James wrapped the cloak around her and squeezed her hand reassuringly. Without glancing at her again, he stalked across the street and flung open the door of Honeydukes. He didn't hear any yelps or other exclamations of pain, so he assumed Lily was safely inside.

"Good morning," the clerk greeted.

"Hello," James answered, and then mentally yelled when he saw there were two clerks in the store today instead of just one. How wonderful. "Er, I was wondering if one of you could help me select some chocolates for my girlfriend." He moved over to the portion of the wall covered in boxed chocolates and positioned himself so that the shopkeeper would not be facing the back of the store. "I really have no idea what to get," James continued. "You see, I forgot our anniversary and she's going to be sore at me in approximately an hour when she wakes up and realizes I forgot."

The middle-aged wizard who approached him had a wide face and even wider belly, and he immediately said, "Aaahhh. More than a few young wizards come in here with the same problem. Old wizards too, come to think of it. Do you have anything in particular in mind?"

"I want something….unique." James took out his reading glasses and randomly read a box with miniscule print without the clerk noticing. Just to make the man search, he added, "What about something with butterscotch?"

"Well, let's see, I'm not real sure about what we have out here…."

About that time, Sirius, heavily laden with many boxes, entered the store. When the bell above the door tinkled, the other worker glanced up and said good morning. Sirius promptly tripped over his own feet and fell flat on his stomach, sending all his boxes to the floor and upsetting the contents. Huge, chocolate-covered lumps spilled onto the floor, and James recognized them as several previous prank attempts. "Oh! NO!" Sirius yelled, scrambling to pick up chocolates that were crawling away. Many of the items were merely bugs with chocolate or caramel drizzled lightly on top. In the rush, Sirius also managed to empty the remaining boxes and fall down again.

Both of the horrified shopkeepers rushed over to clean up the mess and prevent the contamination of their chocolates. James kept glancing between the pile of boxes and chocolates and the storeroom door. When he saw it open and then quietly closed, he knew she was safe. Soon everything was captured, and the one that had been helping James asked angrily, "What were you doing with these things in here?"

"I was hoping to become a candy provider for your wonderful store. As you can see, I have many fabulous, unique recipes!" Sirius exclaimed.

"Nobody wants to buy this garbage," the other salesmen blustered, and then he turned to James. "Would you want this for your girlfriend?"

"Certainly not, but it would be a great gag gift. You should consider it. So, how about those butterscotch chocolates I was asking about?"

It wasn't long before James had a box of butterscotch chocolates for Lily and a candy contract for Sirius's on-the-spot Marauder Candy Company. Surprisingly, their first order was for five cases of chocolate covered worms.

While James was negotiating a candy contract with Sirius, Lily was running through the underground passage that got her to Hogwarts. She followed James instructions to the letter and managed to get into greenhouse number six two steps in front of the professor. Lily rushed to her seat between Amos and Millie and felt burned by their reproachful stares.

Oh, yes, it was good to be back at the castle.