James couldn't sleep. The darkness pooled around him, but did not draw him to dream. He lay back against the pillows, his mind fully alert. He sighed slowly. He heard a soft moan and bolted upright. It could only be Lily. They were in a wing to themselves, separated entirely from the Slytherins.

He leant over his bed to see her, smiling wickedly. So who did the untouchable Lily Evans fantasise about? She was sprawled across the bed, the sheets bound tightly around her slender form. Her rich tangle of passionate red hair was spread across the white silken sheets, a riot of wildfire. James' stomach clenched into a fist as she arched, her arms flung across the pillows.

James padded across the brief expanse between the gurneys, unable to resist studying her further, her defences down. The moonlight played on her features, making her seem ethereal, an angel. A goddess. James leaned forward, to hear what she was whispering. Her lips were moving almost fervently. Without warning, James' surroundings began to haze and blur, a miasma of shapes and colours. He felt something soft and powdery brush his cheek, like a fine spiderweb of glimmering, shimmering strands. Suddenly, he felt himself flung through a hurricane of hues and it was a few moments before he felt his feet hit solid ground again. Only it wasn't solid.

He was in a very gloomy room. Though it was hard for him to discern, he was sure it was not the hospital wing. James stood silent, a strange rush of excitement and fear burgeoning in his chest. He stole forward, a wraith in the impending night. As he crept ahead, further into his mysterious surroundings, his vision improved, some of the dimness falling away. He could glimpse the outlines of two figures in front of him, when he strained his eyes. One was groaning. With barely suppressed passion. A shudder of...an unrecognisable feeling...danced viciously up James' spine. He felt uncomfortable...but intrigued. He had obviously been brought here for a reason, wherever ' here ' was.

James prowled closer and saw a woman, pressed up against a wall, pinioned by a taller man. James, his burning curiosity piqued, continued forward, fighting to keep his breathing even. A low, guttural moan of longing made the sparse hairs on the nape of his neck stand to attention. He stopped dead as the woman arched her neck, her arms moving feverishly across the bare back of the man.

His insides clenched painfully as a shower of vivid scarlet hair fell, in a cascade, from the woman's head as the man undid her ponytail. It was Lily. Her eyes were partially closed, lidded with desire, hazed. A wild, manic jealousy strangled his veins, choking his blood. He realised...he was in Lily's dream. Deep within her fantasy. And, soon, he would glimpse the face of the man she longed for. James fisted his hands, curling them tightly against his raw palms. He was maddened with envy and rage. No-one touched Lily. No-one. A possessiveness swept over him and he had to force all his self-restraint to simmer at the surface to resist killing the fantasy man, who invaded her dreams, right then and there. A fierce swollen fury was drowning in his heart. He felt dead. This man...he was who she wanted.

She would never want him, gasp when he touched her, flushed with hunger, as she was doing now. James turned to look away, unable to watch anylonger. Lily was purring throatily as the man kissed her passionately, his hands moulding her body. The man moaned suddenly and James felt the desire to kill him rise once again within him, like a snake poised to capture its prey.

'' Need...bed...now,'' James heard Lily purr throatily. A fierce urge to leave forever and never think of this again swept over him. He stumbled backward, trying desperately to close his eyes tight and deafen the groans of pleasure scarring his mind. But, even though James backed into the wall, willing himself an exit from this fantasy of Lily's, his surroundings stayed solid.

He could not free himself. He glanced around wildly, panicking. He didn't want to see Lily in the throes of passion with another man. It would tarnish his images of her forever...Images of her in his arms, quivering under his touch. He could not stomach delving any deeper into her secrets...her dreams. Painfully, James' gaze alighted on the entwined two. He was unable to shift his stare, drawn to them. Though he wished to tear his gaze away, violent with jealousy, he couldn't.

The lean male had his hands all over her...and she was moaning, her head thrown back, pleasured by it. James was sickened. His eyes were burning. The man looked a lot like Sirius...dark hair, deft hands...if only he was taller...The man murmured lustfully to Lily, his fingers inching under her clinging robes. James felt his heart rip in two as Lily held onto him, kissing him ardently with unbridled desire. James closed his eyes momentarily as Lily fell back onto the bed, the male with her. James bit his lip in consternation, crazy with envy. He gritted his teeth, paralysed, unable to vent his towering fury. He was watching another man touch Lily...his Lily. Lily and the fantasy man tangled with eachother on the bed tortuously, whispered murmurs filling the air.

'' Lily,'' the man groaned. James stifled a choked cry of anger. Then the mournful moonlight shot through the window, illuminating the two writhing figures, and James' eyes widened as large as saucers in disbelief. For Lily was wrapped around the taut, whipcord body of a teenager...the Gryffindor Quidditch captain. A lean sixteen year old with messy black hair and chocolate eyes...himself.

'' James...'' Lily breathed, her gulps ragged in delectation, her hands stealing across his skin. James shivered, his jaw slack, his eyes orbs of mingled pleasure and utter shock. His head was swimming, his surroundings shimmering into an indistinct haze....

'' WOAH! '' mouthed James silently as he was hurtled back into the hospital wing. '' No way...''
He pinched himself, hard, on the arm. '' Ouch! '' he bit his lip in pain. Nope. He was most definitely awake. He let his stunned eyes fall on Lily. She was still whispering softly in her sleep, stretching luxuriously. He stooped down close, to hear what she was saying.

'' James...'' She spoke his name in urgent longing and James felt his stomach flood with heat. His head was reeling, he was elated...Lily wanted him! Him! He could not believe his eyes. Lily was writhing on the hospital gurney, her face contorted in bewildered sensuality.

'' No way...'' James muttered, shaking his head. He had to be hallucinating. Lily Evans hated him. That was the undisputed fact. Ever since first year, she had despised him. Then, in fourth year, he, stupidly, thought he could finally win her by...erm, pulling pranks on her...sadly, he was wrong. But here she was...he had somehow penetrated her dream, he knew instinctively...and discovered she wanted him!

'' Get a grip, Potter,'' he said firmly, sitting back on his bed. '' It doesn't mean she likes you. ' ' He remembered back to fifth year...when he had fantasised about Jenny Tean, the Ravenclaw seeker. He had hated her with a vengeance and found himself plagued by images of her. She disgusted him! Lank mouse brown hair, droopy eyes and a runny nose!! EUGH! But his damn, warped hormones didn't care! He still tried to force it out of his memory...if Sirius knew....?! So it was likely Lily was just aroused and as he had been the last male she'd seen that night...yeah, that was it.

'' Don't give yourself false hope, man, '' he said finally, still watching Lily. '' Hey did I just talk to myself by referring to myself in the third person? I'm so weird,''

With that rather...er, weird...thought, he sank back into bed, shaking his head in despair.
''Nah...she doesn't like me....'' But, somehow, he felt just a bit more hopeful that she didn't despise him as much as he'd thought.

James woke with a big grin on his face. ' Why am I smiling? ' he thought, racking his memory. Then it came to him. ' Oh, yeah...''

He allowed himself a satisfied smirk before bounding out of bed, wrenching back the drapes that separated his gurney from Lily's. She was sitting ramrod straight against her headboard, her brows furrowed in what looked like total shock.

'' Mornin' sexy,'' he beamed impishly at her. Lily twisted her head around and stared into his eyes with mounting horror. She felt her face burn, heat engulfing her body. WHAT? She had had an erotic dream about Potter???? Had hell frozen over? Had the world stopped turning?

She flailed her arms, scrambling awkwardly out of the bed. Unfortunately, her nightdress was clinging tightly to her curves. James' eyes widened, his pupils dilating as he let his gaze slide langourously over her scantily-clad figure. He grinned with pleasure, masking the heat rising in his face and the uncomfortable tightening of his jeans.

'Ah! Stop looking at me! ' she cried, hastily wrapping the blanket about her petite form.
'' Aww,'' he pouted seductively, delightedly aware of Lily's deepening blush. '' Leave it, Potter,'' she said warningly, before hurrying into the bathroom, shooting horrified glances over her shoulder at him.

'' Man,'' James groaned, stuffing his hands in his pockets and strolling into the open ward. '' Man,''

'' Oh, dear God,'' whispered Lily, leaning against the cool wood of the bathroom door. When he had looked at her like that...she couldn't deny it anylonger, even to herself. She hated James Potter....but she was hideously attracted to him.
'' Oh God, no,'' she moaned in despair. '' Noooo,''

'' Would Lily Evans and James Potter report to the headmaster's office at once, please. Lily Evans and James Potter...oh and Potter, fair play on the last Quidditch practice, we'll flatten Hufflepuff, the duffers...the next match is OURS... oh and Pott- '' The announcement was suddenly punctuated with muffled shouts and what sounded like flapping arms as the magical microphone hit the floor with a reverberating thump.

'' McGonagall and Cash,'' chorused James and Sirius high-fiving eachother. Jack Cash was one of the beaters on the Gryffindor team and a bit...er...enthusiastic about Quidditch. He also made announcements as his voice was naturally boisterous. '' Yeah....sorry, Professor, won't happen again....sorry...yeah, that's Evans and Potter to Dumbledore's office....wha- ''

This too was interrupted with shrieks of outrage and indignation. '' Er...sorry Professor Dumbledore's office...sorry...oh and practice tonight at seven Potter, be there or be square...''
'' JACK! ''

'' Yeah, sorry, that's Evans and Potter to the office...sorry...''

James shook his head, grinning. Jack was such a laugh. He rose to his feet, excited. Dumbledore could only want to talk to Lily and himself about one thing...! Training! He had already decided whether he would accept or not. He hoped Lily had too. Well, he'd soon find out.

'' Lily and James. I know this is not ideal...but I have just received word from the Ministry. The Hubbles have been found murdered in their homes. The Dark Mark hovered above the remains of their house. They were an upstanding, talented wizarding family and it is clear Lord Voldemort was the one who caused their deaths. I am sorry to bring such news, though I know neither of you knew them. ''

James and Lily regarded Dumbledore questionably. He continued on, ignoring their stares.

'' I feel we do not have much time before a full-scale war breaks out. Lodema Fudds has informed me the Dementors in Azkaban are becoming restless and I fear they, as they are bred from evil, will join Voldemort. It is imperative that I receive your answers as to whether you wish to partake in this war, on the side of Light, and begin to hone your skills as Sages. I am sorry it is at such short notice but I must insist. Time is of the essence,''

'' Professor...I would be honoured to fight alongside you,'' said James proudly, running a hand through his hair.

'' James...'' Dumbledore replied gently, his grave blue eyes seeking James'. '' You are very courageous...where others would have wilted, quailed...you have shown bravery and true determination. It is one of your finest qualities. And I too would be honoured to fight alonside such a true Gryffindor,''

James grinned selfconsciously, a fierce thumb of excitement wellinn in his heaving chest. He glanced expectantly at Lily.
'' Lily...? '' Dumbledore surveyed her sombrely. Lily returned his gaze.
'' Professor, I – ''

WARNING VERY IMPORTANT A/N!!!!!! : Whew! Will she say yes or no??????????????? I'M SO SORRY I DIDN'T UPDATE! I HAVE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT EXAMS IN 2 WEEKS THAT DECIDE THE COURSE OF MY FUTURE SO THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER UPDATES...EVER!!!!! ONLY JOKING!!!!!! SERIOUSLY, THOUGH, I CAN'T UPDATE TIL THE 17TH OF JUNE COS THAT'S WHEN MY EXAMS FINISH BUT PLEASE........STAY FAITHFUL TO THE STORY! PUT ME ON AUTHOR ALERT!!! PLEASE!!!! AFTER THE 17TH THERE WILL BE LOADS OF FREQUENT UPDATES COS I'M ON SUMMER HOLS!!!!!!!!!!!

PhinixoftheZodiac: Thank you so much!

HedwigSasso: Thanks!! Your reviews rock! I can't read spanish...so sorry!

Skye: No I haven't read that book...I might check it out though! I just make up the spells from my imagination and I'm from Ireland! Land of leprechauns, faeyres and dwarves! Seriously though, we're just normal people....read my biography and you'll see!

Sassafras: Thank you!!!! Keep reviewing!

LilyPotter: Your review seriously....rocked! Thanks so much! PLEASE don't abandon the story...I will update VERY frequently after the 17th! Bear with me!

Laura Johnson: I didn't actually plan out the chappie, it just ...flowed onto the page! A beta is the second person to proofread your story...like an editor. Thanks to Mercedes 4 telling me that! I actually won't reveal what the dream was about for another while ( ha ha ha ) but thanks! I love cliffhangers 2!

Lady of Masbolle: I respect you...thanks 4 telling me about the a/n's in the middle...thanks!

Nino: Breathe! LOADS of updates coming after the 17th so stick with it! Thanks 4 your review!

Siobhan: Er...Marilyn Manson....yuck! Thanks 4 review! And LIVE!

FlameSpirit: Thanks! Evil is fun!

SuperGirl 03996: Voldemort is not dead...or even remotely injured....he's just ' getting' started baby! ' !!!! Thanks 4 review!