Chapter 5

"Hey, you wanna take a walk?" James asked.
"Yeah, I'd like that," replied Lily. They walked out of the Great Hall and through the main hall to the front gates. As they left the building a clock somewhere chimed 10 rings reminding them that they had to be back into the common room in half and hour.
The two walked hand-in-hand towards the empty quidditch pitch. James led Lily into the stands and they sat together.
"I love this place when it's empty," James admitted more to himself than anyone else.
"But even more when it's full of screaming fans cheering you on in the stands, right?" Lily said, laughing. Whenever she had seen James play in a Quidditch match he was always full of excitement and his only goal seemed to be egging on the crowd.
James smiled and shook his head. "The truth? No."
Lily's forehead wrinkled. "No what?" she asked.
"No I don't like the matches better. I come here a lot when I need to get away from my homework or the guys or, " he paused, "or girls."
"Hey!" Lily retorted, knocking him lightly.
"But I'm serious; this is my favorite place in the whole world. I mean, I can just come here and forget my problems and just relax. And if things are really bad, flying always makes me feel better." he continued.
"That's because you're so good at it."
James sighed. "You wanna know something?" She nodded her head. "When I was five, my dad gave me a broom for my birthday. It was nice but nothing really fancy. He told me he wanted me to learn Quidditch and I'd be the best flyer and the best player in the world. So I took lessons." He paused, then, "I was horrible." Lily cocked and eyebrow and threw him an unbelieving look.
James came to his defense. "No it's true, I swear! I was absolute rubbish." He paused again. "But I loved it. I loved the feeling of the wind whipping across my cheeks, even when it stung them. I couldn't get enough of throwing the Quaffle and messing around with the Snitch. When I was on a broom, I was the happiest kid in the world. Slowly I got better. I still wasn't good by any means but I didn't suck as much as when I started." Lily giggled and James sighed a ragged sigh.
He swallowed. "And then when I was 10, my dad died and all I could think about was how he wanted me to be the best. So I used all the money I had ever earned and bought a new top of the line broom and paid for extra lessons. I put everything I had into being the best Quidditch player the world would ever see. I wouldn't talk to anyone, I hardly ate or slept. Everyone thought I was moody, but the truth was, was ever time I was on a broom I thought about my Dad and how-" a stray tear leaked from James's eye; he didn't bother to wipe it away. "How I still wasn't good enough for him and all I wanted was to make him proud of me." He took a deep breath. "It's stupid, I know."
Lily shook her head. "It's not stupid. I know what you mean."
James forced a laugh. "Yeah. So then I got my letter and by that time all the practicing had paid off and I was really good. I couldn't believe when I made the team though; it was the best moment of my life because I felt like I finally did it. And I guess it just escalated from there. I never really thought I was being cocky or anything, I was just doing what made me happy."
Lily smiled at him. "Yeah."
"He'd be really proud of you, I know it," she added.
James turned to her. His eyes were still glossy and the stain of tears had traced lines down his face. He smiled weakly at her. Then he closed his eyes and leaned towards Lily who found herself doing the same. She felt their lips meet and she leaned into him. Lily thought she could smell the salt from his cheeks as he kissed her again lightly.
"Thanks," he murmured against her lips.
"Anytime," she replied, grinning as she kissed him.

Soon it was time to get back up to the school so James and Lily walked back to the castle. They gave the password to get into Gryffindor Tower and James walked Lily to bottom of the stairs leading to the girl's dormitories.
Lily fidgeted a little as she said, "Well, I guess this is good night?"
James nodded. "Yeah, guess so. It was a good night."
James moved closer to Lily. She quickly scanned the room to make sure there was no one watching before she moved closer to meet him in a kiss.
"Oohhhh, Lily and James, oooh la la!" they heard from the top of the stairs. Lily looked up to see some of her friends taunting them from the first landing. James went slightly pink and Lily tried to discreetly shoo them away.
Bridgette, a tall black girl and pink pajama's puckered her lips and made kissy noises at them. The rest of group dissolved in giggles.
Lily sighed. "Oh well. I have to go beat them." She paused. "See you tomorrow?"
He nodded. "Good-night, Lily"
Lily watched him as he turned to ascend the boy's staircase. When he was out of earshot she whispered, "Good-night, James."
Then she climbed the stairs towards her friends.
Elizabeth grabbed Lily's hand dramatically. "Good-night, James!" she repeated breathlessly before fake fainting.
"Shut-up you guys," Lily retorted as they filed into their room.
"So.."
"So what?" Lily asked as she made herself busy getting out her pajama's.
"So how was your night like after the rest of us left? How was the infamous James Potter?" Liz asked, winking.
Lily hesitated. "Well.." they waited anxiously. She bit her lip and grinned. "He's a really good kisser!"

Ok, that was kinda short but more will be up soon! Promise!

Jes