A/N: I am going to try and update two chapters a day. Mainly because I want this part of the fic—seventh year-- on this site by the time HBP comes out, and as I am expecting fifty chapters for their seventh year, updating twice a day seems logical. That said, please read and review, because as always, your reviews and suggestions are valued!

Chapter Seven: Coming Back Together

James Potter entered the Heads common room a little after three in the morning. He, Sirius, Remus, and Peter had gone to Hogsmeade as a late night expedition, now that he and Sirius had settled some things, not everything, but they were talking now. To his surprise, he found red hair splayed across the sofa and the quiet figure of Lily Evans sleeping.

James walked to wear she slept. She looked so beautiful and peaceful in her sleep. Her red hair was tossed in different directions, her red lips curved into a slight smile. Her fair skin was lighted by the firelight. James had to use all of his self-control to keep from kissing her, and just as he was reaching over to try to lift her to bed, she stirred. James jumped back and watched in horror.

Lily stretched and then her eyes began to open. "James?" she blinked. "Is that you?"

James shuffled where he stood. "Er, yes, I was just going to wake you up."

Lily yawned. "Whattimeisit?"

"A little after three." replied James.

Lily stood up and stretched, sleeping on the couch was stiffening. Suddenly, she remembered why she was waiting here.

"I'm just going to go to bed." James yawned. "Now that I know you'll get to your bed alright."

"Wait, James. I need to talk to you." started Lily.

James looked her in the eyes, they were sincere, and pleading. "Right now?" he yawned. "It can't wait till we've both had some sleep?"

Lily shook her head. "No."

James nodded and stretched once more before sitting down on the chair opposite of the couch Lily had just gotten up from.

"I want to hear you out." started Lily, her eyes closed, not wanting to see James's expression. "About last week. I'm starting to think I didn't give you a fair chance."

James almost laughed. Starting to think? Nevertheless, he nodded. "Alright."

Lily sat down across from James and looked at him attentively.

James took a breath. "When you came in. Padfoo—Sirius, Remus, Peter and I, had been on our way to the kitchens when we stumbled across Snape." James watched Lily's face as she listened.

"Kitchens?" she asked. "You know the way to the kitchens?"

James nodded. "Yes, found it second year." He replied dismissively before letting out a sigh of reminiscence." Anyways, Snape was walking by, and Sirius, decides to start something."

"Why?" asked Lily. "Snape hadn't done anything."

James chuckled, unnerving Lily. "Snape exists, he exists as a shrewd, dark arts obsessed evil twit. And Sirius hates that."

"You can't just pick on someone because they exist!" exclaimed Lily.

"You don't understand, Lily." retorted James. "Snape isn't innocent, he makes comments to Sirius about his family situation. He especially likes to remark about Regulus and how he is going to be a great little Death Eater." James grimaced. "Sirius has his reasons."

Lily nodded, she knew the Black family was a dark family, and she knew Sirius was different.

"Anyways. Sirius tries to start something. I tell him to stop; he just grins because he doesn't think I'm being serious." James shrugged. "He doesn't think I take the Head Boy position seriously. He continues to mess with Snape, provoke him, and Snape responds. Remus and I, we know Sirius can't bully Snape because of certain…er…events that happened last year. So we decide to stop them and take their wands. Remus takes Sirius's, and just as you conveniently show up, I'm taking Snape's. And being the wanker he is, he decides to make it look like I was dueling him unfairly."

Lily nodded, and then gave a quiet smile. "What if I don't believe you?"

"You don't believe me?" exclaimed James with frustration. "Hell, Lily, if you don't believe me I just don't bloody care anymore!"

Lily laughed. "No, James I, I believe you…and I'm sorry. But you have to understand, I've had this image of you being an arrogant, bullying toerag for so long, and I was just beginning to see beyond that when I saw you doing something…or rather thought I saw…that you would have done last year." she laughed again. James took a breath, God she had a beautiful laugh." A part of me wanted to believe that so I could make an excuse for not being your friend."

James nodded. "I know I wasn't the best person." He looked down. "I'm sorry. Can we please be friends, Lily?" he pleaded.

A smile curved on Lily's lips. "We can try."

James was elated. He hadn't felt this happy since they had won the Quidditch Cup his second year and the first and most precious of his career.

"Alright, trying is all I ask." replied James, not showing his explosive excitement, but looking happy nevertheless.

Lily yawned. "I think I'm going to go to bed." She stood up and smiled. "Thanks for letting me listen, James."

James nodded. "Well thanks for wanting to listen. You know how hard it is to get you to understand when you're mind is set?" He smiled. "You are too stubborn for your own good."

"Hopefully it will come in handy." she replied. "Good night, James."

The next morning, James took a bold move and sat down right next to Lily, who was seated beside Allison and across from Ellie.

Lily, remembering their talk that previous night, acknowledged him with a smile and a good morning. Ellie and Allison, not yet having heard Lily's story of their make up, looked at each other in shock. Lily sent them a warning look and went back to buttering her toast.

"So where are the other guys?" asked Ellie, trying to make conversation.

James swallowed. "I'm guessing their beds. They sleep in until the last possible minute and come crashing down here ten minutes before classes start."

Ellie raised an eyebrow. "Even Remus? He always seemed so…prompt and studious."

"Oh he is, but he loves his sleep." replied James nonchalantly, before pouring syrup on his pancakes.

"So what are you doing down here so early?" asked Allison.

James looked at her and smiled. "Well I wanted to dine with you beautiful ladies." He sent a wink to Lily, who sent a sharp jab of her elbow to his side, yet almost playfully. James dramatically clutched his side. "And plus, if I don't get down here before Sirius there won't be any pancakes left."

The girls nodded their heads in agreement, Sirius's eating habits were part of the reason they got down to breakfast so early, after third year they had decided they were either going to starve or lose sleep. They settled for the latter.

"James, do you want to hold the prefect meeting Sunday night?" asked Lily. "That way we can give them the patrolling schedule before the week starts."

James nodded. "Yes. We're patrolling late Tuesday and early Thursday this week."

"I know." replied Lily. "Qudditch doesn't start till the next week, right?"

James looked at her excitedly. "Yes! Ten Days!" James smiled. "We need a beater, and a new chaser. I'm sure we'll find some great talent."

"Whoa, James. Slow down a bit, you're going to choke." cautioned Ellie in a grin.

Lily giggled, her friends looked at her. Lily never giggled. "I hope we have a good team this year."

"I do too!" replied James, like an excited little boy, Lily giggled again.

"Er, say, I think I left some things in the dorm, books and stuff." started Allison. "Say, Ellie, Lily, I think I need help getting them." Allison shot a look at Lily and she stopped giggling, but James plunged into more details about the latest broom and all the gadgets it came with and how he wanted one so bad. He was still talking extremely fast, and almost jumping out of his seat.

Ellie and Lily excused themselves and followed Allison out of the Great Hall. Once out of James's sight, Allison turned on Lily.

"What is with you this morning?" she asked, blonde hair flying.

"What ever do you mean?" replied Lily, knowing exactly what her friend meant, but choosing to ignore it.

Allison looked at Ellie and then to Lily. "I mean James sitting beside you, I mean you actually conversing with him, and I mean you flirting!"

"I was not flirting!" retorted Lily, color rising in her cheeks.

"You were giggling." replied Ellie.

"I was laughing. Because James was being so… funny." defended Lily lamely.

"Right. What happened to him being 'the same as last year'." asked Allison, she, who knew the whole story of James's actions was surprised Lily had listened to him.

"I, was…wrong. He explained it to me, and I felt…guilty, and I agreed to be his friend." explained Lily.

"You're being his friend out of guilt?" asked Ellie abashed.

Lily danced on the balls of her feet. "Sort of, I mean, I feel guilty for never giving him a chance as a friend, and the whole incident sort of proved how ridiculous I was being, and I felt …bad, so I agreed to be friends."

Allison and Ellie nodded, Lily's stomach growled.

"If you don't mind I think I'll get back to breakfast…I'm rather hungry." Lily excused herself.

Allison turned to Ellie once Lily was out of hearing distance. "Do you think she's finally realizing her feelings for James?"

"Well she's always had them. I wouldn't be surprised." answered Ellie. "Do you think we should go get your books so it doesn't look completely obvious that we were talking about him?"

Allison nodded. "Yeah, I kind of need them, I didn't finish that Muggle Studies essay."

"I think Jacob was looking for you this morning, too." added Ellie.

"Oh really? Well lets stop by the Ravenclaw table first, then." replied Allison excitedly.

Ellie shook her brown head. "No thanks, I don't really like seeing my brother snogging." Ellie gave a mischievous grin. "I'll go get your Muggle Studies book."

Allison nodded. "Alright, see you at lunch."

That afternoon the entire school seemed to be alive. It was a fairly warm, sunny day, probably one of the last till Spring.

Lily and James decided to go ahead and post about the prefect meeting and the first Hogsmeade date, so that's why they could be found strolling the nearly vacant halls, while all of their classmates and friends lounged outside in the departing warm autumn breeze.

"We just have Slytherin left." remarked Lily, in disgust.

"Want me to go in?" asked James.

"No, I'll be fine, besides, you got to do Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, I can't make it look like I'm giving you all the dirty work." joked Lily.

"So you save the dirtiest for yourself?" laughed James. "Alright, Lily, but when you get out of the dungeon make sure you take a good shower. We don't want that serpent stink up in our common room."

"Oh don't worry, I plan on burning these robes." answered Lily, and for any casual observer they would have thought she was completely serious. James however, had been a observer of intimate sorts, not a stalker, he argued, and he could tell she was just joking.

They approached the dark, cold dungeons of the Slytherin house with dread. They hated being down there, but they needed to make their posts.

"Why don't we both go in?" offered James.

"They hate you." replied Lily matter-of-factly.

James laughed. "I'm sure they don't consider you the best company either."

Lily wrinkled her nose. "Maybe not. Alright, we'll go together."

James inwardly cheered. He hated the idea of letting Lily go into the Slytherin common room where there were bound to be Slytherins, all by herself.

Just as they were reciting the default password the Heads and teachers were all given, three boys walked out. One, James recognized as Severus Snape. The other, who had the same perfect black hair and reserved handsome, aristocratic features as his best friend had to be Regulus Black. The third James could only recognize as Marlon Malfoy, with his sleek blonde hair and cold gray eyes. Marlon was a fifth year, and the younger brother of Lucius Malfoy, who had graduated from Hogwarts in James and Lily's second year.

"Hello, Potter, Mudblood." greeted Malfoy.

James felt his blood boil, his pulses quicken, and his face turn red.

"Ooh, sensitive are we, about your ickle Mudblood girlfriend?" asked Malfoy.

"Don't call her that!" snapped James, he felt Lily at his side. He turned to her, she had a bored but threatening expression on her face.

"What, Mudblood? Or girlfriend?" asked Malfoy, grinning. "Have you managed to shag her yet, Potter?" Marlon took the time to read James's hateful expression. "No, I doubt you have, one of the little things you've not managed to do at this school, I suppose."

"Malfoy" replied James through gritted teeth. "If you say one more word, I will hex you until the only thing left is your wand. And then I'll snap that!"

"Ooh, testy today, Potter?" laughed Malfoy.

"Thirty points from Slytherin." came the cool voice of an angry Lily. One James knew too well. "And if you three don't get to where you were headed immediately, I will take more!"

"Aye, Aye, Captain Mud." saluted Malfoy before snickering and motioning for Snape and Regulus to follow him. "Oh and Potter." Malfoy turned around. "Visit your auntie for me."

"Fifty points from Slytherin!" cried James, whose face was a peculiar shade of white at the neck and red at the ears and cheeks.

James took a chance and cast a look at Lily, who had several blotches of red forming on her face, but other than that looked perfectly collected.

They walked through, made the posts, and quickly got out.

"Are you alright?" asked James, as Lily still hadn't said anything.

"I'm fine." replied Lily, in a abnormally high voice.

James didn't believe her. "You know, you'd make a good Auror. They are trained not to show any emotion." conversed James.

Lily looked at him, he could tell that she was hurt and her confidence was wounded.

"I cannot stand them." she stated.

"Either can I" agreed James.

She breathed in heavily. "It just gets so hard. I think…I think that was the last straw."

They stopped in the hallway, and Lily burst into tears.

"Oh Lily, don't cry, they aren't worth your tears." soothed James. "That's what they'd want from you."

Lily just stood still as a statute, silent tears streaming down her cheeks. James did the only thing he could think of; he pulled her into a hug.

Her arms relaxed as she returned the embrace, crying onto his shoulder.

And for once, she didn't try to run away.

chikichiki and hpgirl7777 and all previous reviewers: thanks for your reviews!