Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. However I DO own the plot.

Chapter 3:

Weeks passed uneventfully in Hogwarts. Classes begun and everything turned back to normal. Lily and Jen never talked about the incident during their first night in school. For the time being, Lily forgot about her problem and focused on her studies in preparation for their O.W.L.S.

When leaves began falling as the autumn season came, a Hogsmeade weekend was ensued for students year three and above. Also, at the end of the month was to be a Halloween Ball. All students were excited about it and were eagerly anticipating. Even Lily became excited about it and was hoping that Matt would ask her.

As the foursome entered the carriage, everyone was in high spirits. Matt and Paul talked animatedly about quidditch while Jen talked nonstop about her new "hot" boyfriend, David, who was, in Lily's opinion, a total jerk, using Jen to get into her pants. Lily, on the other hand, sat quietly, not really listening to Jen's blabbering but focusing more on what to buy in Hogsmeade. She stole a glance at Matt and realized he was, for a moment, staring at her but quickly looked away. She sighed.

When is this game of cat and mouse ever going to end? Ever since our last argument at the train, things haven't been what they used to be. We hardly talk and on such occasions it would only be when it is necessary. Why can't he just forget about it and come to me and apologize?

The girls separated with the boys when they arrived in Hogsmeade and agreed to meet at the Three Broomsticks in three hours. On their way to Honeydukes they met with David who looked handsome in a simple white turtleneck and a pair of khaki trousers. Jen squealed irritably and checked herself before walking towards him and giving him a kiss. Lily, not interested in watching her best friend snog some guy senselessly, decided to go to Honeydukes alone.

        Honeydukes was cramped with kids of all ages. Lily found it difficult to breathe with so much people around her and decided to come back later when lesser people would come. She hurriedly walked past the aisles but realized there was no way out of this crowd as more and more arrived. She passed through the aisle in the far corner and thankfully it was the only aisle that was deserted. Lily exhaled and headed for the door, but not before she passed by a couple making out. She slowed her pace and frowned at them. What is wrong with the world today? Everywhere I go there are always snogging couples! It's Halloween!  Not Valentines, for Christ's sake!

        She was met with the cold wind as she exited the store. She pulled her cloak tighter to her and walked. As she was passing by the Shrieking Shack she halted at the sound of someone calling her name.

        "Lileee! Lileeeee!"

        She turned and saw no one was around. She glanced momentarily at the Shrieking Shack and ran quickly to the Three Broomsticks. If she had stayed longer she would have heard the sound of loud guffawing.

Lily ran as fast as her legs could carry her. When she entered the Three Broomsticks, she was relieved to see Paul and Matt there sipping their butterbeers and talking. She straightened herself before walking casually toward the pair.

"Lils!" Paul exclaimed, "I thought you wouldn't be here for another hour. Where's Jen?"

"With loverboy Davie, of course." Lily said, taking a chair beside Matt. "So what have you guys been doing?"

"We just had a trip to Zonko's, then here." Paul said. Matt stayed quiet the whole time.

Lily noticed that, so she decided to break the ice between them and make the first move.

"Matt, how have you been lately?"

He stared at her for a moment before saying, "Good." Then he stood up.

"I'm going to get another butterbeer. See you later."

Paul stared at him in disbelief and said, "What's wrong with him? He's never been like that before. I'll go talk to him." Then he stood up and walked away. Lily was left alone again.

She sighed. At least I did something. If he doesn't want to be friends, then forget him. She stood up and left.

~~o~~

Lily walked straight towards the carriages, planning to go to Hogwarts ahead of the others since she doesn't feel like staying anymore. As she passed by the Hogs Head Inn a hand suddenly clamped her shoulder. Out of reflex she turned and punched whoever it was. A cry of "ouch" was heard and Lily found that voice quite familiar. She looked at the person in front of her and realized that the man standing before her was none other than James Potter. Lily felt elated at having the chance to punch him but groaned at his presence.

"Potter, what on earth's name are you doing here?" she demanded.

"Why should I not? Is it a crime to come to Hogsmeade and visit my 'beloved' fiancée?" he said, wincing as he touched his bruised cheek. This girl could hit, he thought.

Lily forced herself to breathe and relax. "What do you want?" She asked quietly.

"Talk."

"Fine. Let's talk." He carefully put an arm around her middle back and brought her inside Hogs Head.

Lily stared at her surroundings, and then raised a brow at him. Do you think I would want to stay in a dump like this?

As though reading her thoughts, he said to her, "We're only here to talk. Not eat, not drink, not to spend the night in."

"I know. It's just that... umm…" She straightened, "Fine." She sat on one of the chairs. James sat opposite her.

"So what do you want to talk about?" Lily asked. James just stared at her.

"What?!?!?" she exclaimed, irritated. James smirked.

"How have you been?" he finally spoke. She raised a brow at him.

"Uhh… good. What do you really want?"

"I'd like to apologize for my outburst back in Spain," he said, "I shouldn't have acted that way. Part of the reason why you are becoming miserable is me and I'd like to apologize for causing you that. I'm sorry." He bowed his head, a sign of defeat and regret.

Lily looked at him in bewilderment. Why apologize when he knew he would also be affected by this?

James was startled when he felt a hand covering his. He looked up and was met with the most beautiful emerald green eyes he has ever seen.

"Listen," Lily started, "I'm sorry too, but we shouldn't apologize to each other. The one that needs to do the apologizing are our parents. They caused this, and you have no right to blame yourself for this situation. You were right about this, though." She removed her hand from his and looked away.

"What? What was I right about?" James inquired, grabbing her chin to face him again.

"The fact that we have to cooperate in this…this thing we have," she took his hand from her face and slammed it on the table with unusual force, "but I need to experience first what it's like to be independent, to be free. You're lucky you have the chance to do that right now. So, why don't we make a deal about this?"

"A deal? What kind of deal?"

"Like while we still have the time we should enjoy life as it is. No boundaries. No stupid betrothal to restrict us. We could do whatever we want. I bet you want to have your own fun with other ladies out there. Here's your chance! I bet you also want to—"

"What about us?" he interrupted.

"Us?" Lily exclaimed. "There is no 'us'. We are just two people who are in a dead-end situation. The only way we can survive this is by doing anything we want to do before time runs out."

"You sound as though we are about to die." He said sarcastically.

"Exactly," Lily said, raising her finger as if she was a teacher. "This is like a death sentence. Once it becomes official, there's no way out of it. So here's my idea. I have two and a half years before I graduate from Hogwarts. How about we spend the next year and a half doing what we want to do and when I enter my seventh year we would get together and see what happens. What do you think?"

James looked hurt. "I think you're out of your mind." Then he stood up and went out the door. Lily stood up and followed.

"Pot-James! Wait!" Lily called out. James stopped and turned to her with a look of disappointment on his face.

"Seriously, I need your thought in this." She looked him in the eye. Once again James was captivated at her deep, soulful eyes and he realized that he could stare into those eyes forever and never look away. He realized that the only way that could happen was to give in to her deal. He sighed in resignation.

"Fine. A deal it is."

Lily yelped ecstatically and hugged him tightly. James closed his arms around her while she spoke. He watched her eyes sparkle and it made him want them to stay like that forever. Then his eyes shifted to her lips and he noticed how beautiful they are. It looked luscious and red, seductive yet innocent. He wondered how they felt like…

"I'm so glad that you agreed to this! I swear I will commit to you full time when seventh year comes. This goes to both of us." She said happily.

How they tasted like…

"You can't imagine how much I've wanted this. I planned on going to clubs and bars with my friends and dance with strangers, but since the announcement of our engagement I found that hard to accomplish. I was also wishing for a little fling or two to excite my senses—"

She was interrupted by a mouth swiftly covering hers. The action was so sudden that the first thing she did was struggle free from his grasp. But it only made James hold her tighter, forcing her to cooperate.

Lily didn't know whether to feel pleasurable or fearful. This was the first time she ever kissed anyone, and she never realized it would feel so… so… nice. As though her body was taking power, she put her arms around his neck and pushed her body closer to his. James tightened his grip on her and kissed her with so much passion, so much force and so much power that her knees were about to give in any minute.

James loved the taste of her. She was like a mixture of citrus and lemon. So fresh, so breathtaking, so wonderful! He thought. He found it surprising that she kissed like an expert when he was sure that this is her first kiss. But he had no complaints about it.

I was also wishing for a little fling or two to excite my senses…

The moment he remembered her say those words suddenly hit him like a blow in the head that he immediately broke the kiss. Lily was a little shocked by such an immediate action and she looked at him with passion-filled eyes. James let his palms rest on each side of her cheek and kissed her slowly, gently. Lily was about to kiss back when he suddenly pulled away slightly and whispered, "No."

Lily was taken aback. "What?"

"No flings, no relationships whatsoever. I wouldn't allow you. I agreed to let you taste freedom, but not to the extent of having relationships." He kissed her again, this time longer and enough to prove a point. When the kiss ended, Lily's legs were shaking so badly that she held on to James tighter to keep from falling down.

"You got that? No relationships."

She looked at him in the eye and realized that he was really serious about this.

"Okay."

"Good. I got to go now. Bye." He kissed her one last time then apparated.

Lily pressed a finger to her lips and closed her eyes. She never felt anything so wonderful in her life.

Her knees finally gave way and she fell to the ground.

A/N: I'm really, really sorry for the really long delay, and I mean really long. Sorry folks! I was kind of busy with school work and other stuff. But at least I finally updated. Almost one year later. Sorry.

I'm also sorry if you think this chapter sucked. I wasn't really into it when I wrote it. Constructive criticism is very welcome. So I guess that's that. Don't forget to review!