A/N: Here's another chapter! After the poll I had, it seems that hpgirl7777 was pretty right about having a wide variety of music opinions when it came to Harry Potter readers. It seemed that everyone agreed on not listening to much country or rap, though. So that was interesting. The next poll question? How about your favorite Disney movie? Mine have always been The Little Mermaid and Sleeping Beauty, but I liked Aladdin too. Anyways, here's the next chapter. Oh, and to the many comments about how I update so frequently….I write a few chapters ahead so I always have something to update, if I don't feel like writing one day or something. Usually the more reviews I get, the more inspiration I have to write, quickly. Hint Hint. In all seriousness, if I'm on a roll I can get a chapter done in about 30 minutes. So review, and I'll write quickly, and thus update quickly.

Chapter Thirty-Three: Valentine's Day Dates

"So, Prongs." Sirius started as they hung around the seventh year boys' dorm. "What are you planning for Valentine's Day?"

James shrugged. "I haven't really thought about it."

Sirius, Remus, and Peter looked at each other and shook their heads.

"I somehow doubt that the first Valentine's Day that you are actually dating Lily will go entirely unplanned." Sirius continued, smiling knowingly. "What do you have up your sleeve?"

James grinned. His friends really knew him too well. "It will be a surprise."

"You aren't going to tell us?" asked Peter.

"No." James replied quickly. "Valentine's Day is for you and your Valentine, so Lily will find out, and that's really all that's necessary."

"You'll tell us the day after, right?" Sirius asked.

"But of course." James replied, smiling. "What are all of your plans?"

Once he saw Remus's face, James had immediately regretted asking the question.

"Well, I have a date with Lisa Marsh." Sirius stated. "I'm sure it'll be fun."

"And Claire and I were going to go to Hogsmeade." Peter replied, grinning.

Remus looked at the floor glumly. "I guess I'll just hang around here Saturday, then."

Sirius and James exchanged a glance, and James nodded.

Sirius shifted and patted Remus on the back.

"Cheer up, Moony. You can get a date. Grace Melbourne is in to you."

Remus looked up with question. "Really? Isn't that the girl you were obsessed over?"

Sirius shrugged. "Yeah, but she's really not my type. And besides, she hinted to me that she liked you. I think she'd be perfect for a date."

Remus let out a sigh. "I don't know, I mean…so soon after Ellie…and how do I know if she still likes me?"

"First off, it's been a few weeks since Ellie, Second of all, she's going with someone, and thirdly, she still likes you." James added.

"She's going with someone?" Remus asked, almost tearfully as he looked at James.

James nodded slowly. "Yeah, well that's what Lily says, nothing serious though. Hugh Locke, Hufflepuff seventh year."

Remus shrugged. "I guess I could ask Grace then."

"Good!" Sirius exclaimed, hitting him on the back.

"We all have plans, then." Peter stated, happily, he just wanted to be included for once.

"Good morning, James." greeted Lily the next morning as she walked into the Heads' common room, ready for the day.

James smiled, he was wearing a pair of black slacks and a bright blue button up shirt under his cloak. Lily smiled back at him, he looked so handsome.

"Morning." He greeted happily. "Ready for breakfast, valentine?"

Lily blushed. "Who said I was your valentine?" she asked, grinning. "I was really planning on being Gilderoy Lockhart's."

James walked up to her, smiling. "Ah, but that fourth year backed out. He can't handle you."

"Like you can?" Lily asked, laughing.

"Exactly." James replied, offering his arm. "Doesth thou breakfasth, my lady?"

Lily took his arm. "Only if you don't talk in Old English for the rest of the day, my lord."

"I doth agreeth." James replied as they walked out the portrait door. Lily giggled as she clutched his hand, ready for the best Valentine's day she'd ever had.

"Hi." Remus greeted shyly.

Grace smiled up at him as she waited for him outside the Great Hall. Remus had to admit she looked beautiful, she was of average height, had a darker shade of blonde hair, but nevertheless it was blonde and likely to stay that way, her eyes were a mix of green and blue, and she had cute dimpled cheeks. Her features were a complete opposite of Ellie's dark, striking ones, they were two different kinds of beautiful.

"Hey." Grace replied, almost as shyly. "Happy Valentine's Day."

Remus grinned. "Yes, Happy Valentine's Day."

They stood beside each other awkwardly, before Remus spoke up.

"Are you ready to go to Hogsmeade?" he offered his arm, and Grace smiled and took it.

"Yes, are you?" she let out a light laugh, and Remus smiled, one of the first real smiles he had actually meant since Ellie had broken up with him. Today was going to be a good day, Remus decided. He and Ellie were over and it was time to start over.

"So shall we go to Hogsmeade?" James asked Lily as he offered her his hand as they got up from breakfast.

Lily looked over to the Hufflepuff table. "I'm waiting on Gilderoy."

James pouted. "But I want to be your valentine!"

Lily grinned at him. "Well, we'll have to have a contest to see who can win my heart, then."

"How about I kiss you and then I win?" James asked, smiling.

"That might work." Lily replied grinning as James leant down and kissed her deeply in front of the entire school.

When they broke apart, James smiled. "Ready now?"

Lily nodded. "Yes, but only because you're the better kisser."

James laughed as they walked out of the Great Hall, hand in hand.

"So I thought you'd like to get some chocolate." James suggested as they entered the village.

Lily grinned and kissed his cheek. "You know me too well."

James grinned. "I'm just glad Hogsmeade visits resumed."

"I was worried they weren't after the deaths, but I suppose there's more protection now, right?" Lily asked.

James shrugged. "I hope so, I think Dumbledore's probably watching…somehow."

Lily nodded. "He's always got a plan."

"That he does. And we need chocolate." James stated as they reached Honeydukes. "Pick out whatever you want and I'll buy it for you."

Lily smiled. "Help me pick. I want to share with you!" She reached for the first thing she saw, which was a slab of white chocolate with sprinkles and held it up to his mouth. "Try!'

James smiled and took a bite. "I like it." He then held it to her mouth, and Lily smiled before taking a huge bite.

"Delicious."

"We'll get a pound."

"Now let's find the caramels." Lily exclaimed grabbing James's hand.

After picking out several treats they agreed on, going through a dress robe shop and trying on ridiculous outfits they would never in a million years buy, James suggested they get something to drink.

"Where would you like to get something to drink?" James asked.

"Madam Puddifoot's, of course." Lily replied in a quick, serious voice.

James's face faltered, and then Lily laughed.

"I was joking. Three Broomstick's of course."

James nodded, quite relieved. "All that lace makes me queasy."

Lily grinned. "But you looked dazzling in that lace dress robe!"

"I thought it was for a girl!" James exclaimed. "I was pointing at it for you to try on!"

Lily laughed. James had, indeed pointed at the lace dress robe and told Lily to try it, but the clerk came up to James and asked if he would be trying it on. James had looked like something akin to a transvestite bride.

"If you say so, Jamesie" Lily grinned, James folded his arms.

"What?" Lily asked, still smiling.

"Not you too!" He started as they reached The Three Broomsticks. "Everyone likes to call me Jamesie, can't you think of something else?" He pouted, and Lily raised an eyebrow.

Lily grinned as they took a table and Madam Rosmerta appeared beside them.

"Alright, precious." Lily stuck out her tongue as James made a face, much to the amusement of Madam Rosmerta.

"Two butterbeers?" she asked, grinning at the both of them.

James nodded, breaking a smile as well. "Yes, me and my shnuckums here would like two butterbeers."

Madam Rosmerta let out another airy laugh and walked away to get their drinks. Lily pouted at James.

"No fair! Mine sounds like a noise you make when you are about to hurl!"

James grinned as the drinks came. "But I want to call you shnuckums…shnuckums!" Lily couldn't help but laugh as she took a sip of her drink.

As the talked and drank, James couldn't help but think about how he had only dreamed of this, and now that it was actually happening, he smiled broadly, even without all of the embellishments that come with years of yearning, Lily was still amazingly wonderful and beautiful and he felt like he was the luckiest guy in the entire world.

"What would you like to do next?" James asked as he looked at Lily's drink quickly loosing its contents.

"I actually have something planned." she answered, with a tone that left James with much curiosity.

"Really?" he asked, disbelieving.

Lily nodded. "The Marauders aren't the only ones with elaborate Valentine schemes."

James looked appalled. "And here I thought we were the only ones."

Lily smiled and grabbed her purse. "Let's go."

"You're the boss."

James smiled and left three sickles on the table before following Lily.

He put an arm around her shoulder as they walked the crowded streets that glowed with the loving warmth only Valentine's day could bring.

"So where are we going?" he asked.

Lily grinned. "Well I have to stop by this store I know, and then we'll be good to go."

James pouted. "You still haven't answered my question."

"I know." Lily replied as she walked into a market and motioned for James to wait for her outside.

James put his hands in his pockets as he looked out into the street. He saw Remus and Grace walking together, talking and looking happy, Remus looked elated, and James smiled as he saw him reach for Grace's hand.

After a few minutes of mindlessly watching the happy couples, or groups of dateless girls giving a classic 'we don't give a rat's arse about Valentine's Day' attitude as they had fun with their friends, Lily appeared beside him, holding a picnic basket.

"Food!" James exclaimed happily.

"Picnic!" Lily replied, just as excitedly.

James grinned and offered Lily his hand, she took it and smiled back at him.

"Would you like me to carry that?" he asked.

Lily shook her head. "I've got it."

James nodded. "Well, I had to do the gentlemanly thing and at least try to be polite."

"You fill out your duties nicely." Lily replied as they walked down a path James had been down only once before.

They ended up in Lily's spot, or as James had started to think of it, their spot. Lily pulled out a blanket and put a drying, warming spell on it to keep the snow from dampening it. She sat down gracefully and opened the basket and waited for James to follow suit.

She pulled out two gigantic sandwiches, packed with James's favorite meats, a cherry pie, her and James's favorite dessert, a dish of mashed potatoes, and a plate of corn on the cob. For a final touch she pulled out two goblets and a pitcher of pumpkin juice, plates and cutlery.

"Happy Valentine's Day, James." she said, looking into his eyes. James smiled.

"Happy Valentine's Day."

Lily leaned in, and James reached for her as he pulled her into a warm, tender kiss.

After a moment, they pulled away and began to eat.

"I really did have a good time today, James." Lily stated as she returned from putting her cloak away in her room. James was sitting on the couch, contentedly looking up at Lily.

"I did too, thanks for lunch." James replied, patting his stomach. "It really was good."

Lily sat down beside him. "I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for everything, James."

James grinned at her and leaned in and softly kissed her lips. "You're welcome."

He stood up, leaving Lily to look at him in wonder.

"Where are you going?"

"I have a present for you." he stated, walking to his room and returning a minute later, holding something behind him.

"Close your eyes." he requested, and watched Lily smile and close her magical green eyes.

James walked up to her and softly lay something in her lap. Something soft and furry.

"Open!" he stated excitedly.

Lily opened her eyes quickly and looked down into her lap, which had gained a sudden warmth.

A tiny, calico kitten lay in her lap with a red bow wrapped around his—or her neck.

Lily picked it up with her hands and smiled. "He's so cute!" she exclaimed.

James beamed as he took a seat beside Lily. "It's a she."

Lily looked at James and grinned. "What shall we call her?"

"It's your kitten. You decide." James replied smiling and petting the small creature's soft head. The kitten was surprisingly calm in Lily's embrace, and purred incessantly.

"Alright, but you have to approve of the suggestion." Lily stated as she began to rack her mind with ideas. After a few minutes she looked up at James. "Either Lola or Iris."

James thought for a moment. "I like Lola."

"I like that one too." Lily approved petting the kitten's now sleeping body. "Where did you come from, Lola?"

James smiled down at the two. "A family in Hogsmeade had a cat that was having kittens, and I thought you might like a magical cat to keep you company here, so here's Lola."

Lily looked up and kissed James long and slow, his hand reached up and touched her face. When they broke away they were breathing heavily, and they were both grinning.

"I should you bring you kittens more often." James replied, before receiving a playful hit from Lily.

"Ouch, Shnukums!" he exclaimed.

Lily laughed. "We better get to bed, Precious."

James nodded. "Wait a moment, I bought a bed and some other things for Lola."

Lily smiled, James really was the perfect guy.

James returned shortly with a small cat bed, some toys, cat food, a dish for water and food, and a cat box with litter. He placed the cat box in the corner of the room and the food dish opposite of it, and then put the bed and toys in Lily's room. Lily followed him into her room and placed the kitten in her new bed, she walked to the door where James was standing, smiling.

"I love you so much." she stated.

James nodded. "I love you too." he smiled and offered her his arms, and Lily hugged him.

Thanks to May Olivia, jillybean90, MistressBill, chikichiki, laJardiniere, 2005girl, hpgirl7777, X.Little.Black. Cat.X, WhiteCamellia, Lily Evans 4 Life, BornTooSlow, PaintedBlank, Zippy-Wings, Harry Ginny 4eva, IAMSOAP, Galasriniel, and ChristinaMarie15 for reviewing. I think That's the most reviews I've gotten for a single chapter, so I'm glad you all are enjoying this story. I'll try to keep writing and updating as fast as possible.