IMPORTANT A/N: I went back and revised the last chapter to make the story go faster. So, unless you want to be a little confused, it might help to go back and re-read it. Many Kudos for your time and reviews! I love you all!

Chapter 2: ACCEPTANCE

Lily clutched onto James once more as they soared through the night sky. The air was cold now, and it whipped her robes lightly. Millions of stars sprinkled the sky like glitter against the black blanket behind it.

They landed in front of Hogwarts and quietly snuck in through the great oak doors. Looking out for Filch and Mrs. Norris, they quietly made their way around the corner.

Expecting that the so called 'date' was over, Lily was startled to see James head another direction other than the one that lead to the portrait hole.

"Pot-James, what are you-"

"Shh, I have one more surprise" James whispered back.

The raven-haired boy pulled a piece of parchment out from the inside of his robes, muttered that he solemnly sweared something and gazed intently at it as he walked. It looked as though there were words and markings on it, but Lily found it was too dark to tell exactly was was on the parchment.

After they turned many corners, James finally stopped, tapped the parchment with his wand as he once again muttered something, and then stopped in front of a scraggly old witch statue. Lily found she was completely confused as to what was going on now as she watched James hurriedly put the parchment back in his robes and tap the witch three times, muttering an incantation.

Just as Lily opened her mouth to speak, the witch's hump opened, and Lily found she was suddenly lost for words.

"Come on" whispered James. Lily tried to speak again, but he pressed his hand against her lips. Lily looked down into where the statue's trapdoor lead, and found her stomach tighten at the thought of entering the tunnel before her. It was so dark.

But something about James Potter made her trust him. And as he climbed in, Lily followed suit.

James and Lily felt like they had left all their innards behind as they slid down a type of chute. Lily screamed in a fright as they hurtled down the stone slide. After several seconds they landed on a hard dirt ground. Lily coughed, as dirt entered her mouth.

"James?" She said, standing up. He was nowhere in sight. Then again, it was to dark to be able to tell. She couldn't see her hand in front of her face. Beginning to panic, she started horribly as someone's hand covered her mouth, causing her to emit a scream into their palm.

"Shh… It's me." Came James's voice in a deftly, low whisper.

He slowly removed his hand and took out his wand.

"Lumos." He muttered quietly. The tip of his wand lit up and Lily found herself able to breathe again after receiving such a fright. She was glad the light brought comfort. She was now able to make out James's face. The light reflected beautifully off his round glasses.

He started to walk toward the unreceeding darkness in front of them. Lily hesitantly followed. She couldn't see how this was a surprise. It certainly didn't make a fun date.

The dark and cold place certainly wasn't doing anything for her nerves. Feeling scared again, she quickly latched on to something so she wouldn't feel so alone. Only to find that she had grabbed James's hand.

Lily found she was feeling very foolish of the action she had just taken. And then James squeezed it lightly, and she felt all feelings rush out of her as though someone had just dumped warm water over her.

Finally, they found themselves before a narrow staircase. Squeezing James's hand tighter, they made their way up it. There was a moment when they paused while James lifted another trap door. Dust filled the air as they climbed out of it.

It was still dark, but Lily found her shoes were creaking on wood, so they must be in a building. They climbed another staircase, and then walked through a door.

Lily gasped at a shop she knew only to well. The hard, wood floor she had been walking on before must have been that of the Honeydukes cellar, because before them were shelves of candy.

They were behind the register desk, so they walked through the little wooden door that was meant to keep customers out and found that the candyshop of every witch and wizard's dream was right before their eyes, and at their fingertips. It was dark in there, but when both their eyes adjusted they could make out the 'closed' sign on the window, along with every row of fizzing-whizz bee's, every jar of cockroach clusters, every bag acid pops. And every single box of Bertie Botts every flavour beans among all other varieties of mouth watering candy beyond what one could count, and of every flavour. And it felt like it was all theirs.

James held out an oddly shaped, red lollipop, "Want one?"

Lily looked startled. Of course she wanted it, but- "James, this is stealing!"

"Hmm, I suppose your right." With that, James took out a bag of gallons and set it on the register counter. "They'll find that in the morning. There, no harm done." With that he unwrapped the pop and began licking it.

Lily looked around at all the candies. She hesitantly plucked a cockroach cluster out of a jar. Feeling James's carefree nature begining to rub off on her, she popped it in her mouth. James smiled. And Lily smiled back.

Eventually they sat down on the floor with a small pile of candy and chatted about simple things, really. Both Lily and James found it odd that the other was so easy to talk to. And for what seemed like hours, they chatted and laughed, forgetting that they were once strangers. Lily forgot she hated James. she was seeing a side of him he had never shown before. A non-arrogant side. A funny, sweet side. And James saw past the bitter nature Lily had always worked so hard to maintain when James was around. He saw the real Lily. And he found him self caught in a deeper love then he could have ever imagined.

They began feeling tired as the night rolled on. It was terribly late and they were still there, though neither of them wished to leave. With their backs leaned up against the wall, they talked a bit more, before Lily found herself dozing off. Sleep overtaking her, her head feel gently on James's shoulder. And James felt he wouldn't give up this moment for a million broomsticks, let alone every candy the whole Honeydukes sweet shop.

When James found he to, was about to nod off, he quietly woke Lily, who flushed with embarrassment to see she had fallen asleep on James's shoulder. They headed down through the cellar, then back down into the tunnel, where James Potter held Lily Evans' hand all the way back.

When they finally got back to the common rooms, Lily found she didn't know what else to do other than say thank you. She hoped James hadn't been expecting something more as she rushed up the stairs to the girls' dormitories.

James collapsed into his bed in a dream-like state, not wanting to fall asleep, so he could lie awake and think of him and Lily in Honeydukes just a little bit longer.

And Lily collapsed into her own bed, where she found that she wouldn't mind being back in the dark, scary tunnel again, as long as it meant she got to hold James's hand, one more time…