(A/N) Tada! Another chapter done! (takes a bow) Thanks so much for the lovely reviews everyone! Alas, I've heard tell that the big people have banned direct comments to readers! This ruins my fun! I love letting readers know how much their reviews mean to me! Let me take this moment to impress on you how much you are appreciated! And now, on with the chapter!

Chapter Six – Late Night Conversations

"Going under, drowning in you,

I'm falling forever, I've got to

Break through, I can't keep going under."

Evanescence – Going Under

"So, Becca? Who's your latest guy?"

It was Thursday, after classes had ended, and Lily, Julie, Alli, Becca, and Alice were sitting on their beds, chatting about school. And, of course, that meant talking about boys.

"Actually, I'm still with Derek." Becca answered Julie.

"Who?" Alice asked.

"Derek Porton, Ravenclaw 7th year?"

"Oh,"

"And while we're on the topic of boyfriends," Becca said, looking pleased. "Did I tell you that Julie's dating Rick Lesher?"

"It's only one date!" Julie cried, looking flushed.

"It may only be one date, but the bug question is, do you think there'll be a follow-up?" Becca asked.

"I honestly don't know yet." Julie told her. "And why is it such a bug deal? Yeah, I'm going on a date. Oh my god, it could be the end of the world!" Lily, Alli, and Alice laughed, while Becca rolled her eyes.

"Lily, had James asked you out yet?" Alice asked.

"What d'you think?" Lily asked sarcastically. "Of course he has!"

"I guess it's too much to hope for that you've finally said yes?" Alice asked, looking quite put-out.

"Not a chance," Lily cried. "In fact, I…"

At that point, all five girls were distracted by an owl flying right into the window. Alice got up, let it in, than said, "Lily, it's for you."

Lily took the letter and read:

"Miss Evans,

This is a reminder that tomorrow morning after your transfiguration class, you and Mr. Potter need to stay behind. I need the list of Hogsmeade visit days you've come up with. I expect you to let Potter know about this meeting.

Professor McGonagall."

"Oh shit!" Lily cried. "We haven't done the list!" And without any further word of explanation she flew from the room. Alli, Julie, Becca, and Alice looked at each other.

"That was weird," said Julie.

"Way weird," said Becca.

"Moving on," said Alice.

"Any crushes, my dear Miss Farrow?" Alli asked, grinning at bringing their previous topic back. Alice groaned.

XXXXXX

Lily ran across the common room and up to James' room. When she knocked, their room mate Frank Longbottom answered the door. James and Sirius were sitting on their beds, and Remus was sitting on a couch. All of them looked shocked at their sudden visitor.

Lily walked over to James, grabbed his hand, and dragged him out the door.

"What did I do?" James asked, thoroughly enjoying Lily's hand in his.

"We haven't made that list for McGonagall yet!" Lily cried, pulling him down the stairs.

"Oh yeah," said James, realization dawning.

"I can't believe I forgot!" Lily moaned, dragging him towards a table near the fireplace. "I've been so busy with homework, and with this whole Julie-dating thing, and you haven't helped!"

"How?"

"You never once reminded me about the list!"

"Yeah, I guess I forgot too. Funny how things work like that."

Lily stopped and pointed to a chair. "Sit," she ordered. James sat, and she sat across from his. Lily noticed that her hand felt cold the minute she let go of James', but she dismissed it and began to talk instead.

"Ok, we need to plan for the days when there should be Hogsmeade visits. Ideas, please? I thought there should be one on Halloween, and of course one before Christmas, so people can shop…"

Well this is nice, James thought. I get to spend time with Lily, even if it's related to school work. Maybe tonight will be better than I thought.

XXXXXX

"So Prongsie, did our Lily-flower finally realize that she's madly in love with you and drag you somewhere private to snog you senseless?"

"My dear Padfoot, don't you think about anything other than snogging?" Remus asked, making space for James to sit on the couch too.

"Of course I do!" Sirius cried, affronted.

"I guess you're probably right, considering what I heard you saying in your sleep a few nights ago." Remus agreed, causing James and Frank to laugh.

"I was talking in my sleep?" Sirius asked nervously. "What did I say?"

"Nothing," said Remus airily, enjoying the scared look on his friend's face. "Anyway, what was that about, James?"

"We had to make a list of Hogsmeade weekends to give to McGonagall tomorrow." James told them.

"That reminds me, I need to figure out who I'm gonna ask out this time," Sirius said. "I was thinking about asking Lacey Carlton. Y'know, that blonde from Ravenclaw?"

"Didn't you go with her in fifth year?" James asked.

"Yeah, so?"

"She was kinda an airhead, but whatever."

"I think I'm gonna ask Alice Farrow," Frank told them, looking awkward.

"Finally!" Sirius exclaimed. "How long have you liked her?"

Frank looked surprised. "Um, I don't know. Probably a while."

"Good luck," Remus told Frank, who smiled nervously. "Are you planning on asking Lily again, James?"

"I don't know." James said. "I don't ever plan on when I ask her, it just happens."

"The next time we see the girls, he'll ask her before five minutes are up." Sirius said surely, causing James to whack him on the head with a pillow.

XXXXX

"Nice to see you at last, Mr. Potter." McGonagall said sharply, looking up as James entered the room.

"Sorry I'm a little late professor," James said, putting on the charm and sitting down next to Lily. "I had some things to take care of." Things had actually been running into Snape in the hallway on the way there, and cursing him for calling Lily a Mudblood.

"Five points from Gryffindor for your tardiness." McGonagall said. "Now, on with the meeting. Where is your list?"

"Right here professor," Lily said, handing the list to her. McGonagall looked it over, and finally said "Well done you two. I trust you didn't need my reminder to get it done on time?"

"No Ma'am," Lily lied smoothly. James was surprised; he'd never heard Lily lie before.

"Of course not, professor," he played along.

"Good," McGonagall nodded. "This list isn't the only reason you're here. Your patrolling duties start next Monday night. You will be patrolling from 11pm to midnight, Monday through Friday. The older prefects do patrolling from 10 to 11, and the ghosts take over after you leave. The professors patrol weekends to give you a bit of a break. Understood?"

"Yes professor," Lily and James chorused.

"That is all. You're dismissed."

As soon as they were far enough down the hall, Lily sighed and rubbed her forehead. "I was so sure she would notice I was lying." She told him, sounding relieved.

"Not a chance." James told her honestly. "You were great."

Lily looked at him. "Really?" He nodded. "Well, it's not something I should be proud of, I guess, but at least we didn't get in trouble." She looked startled when James began to laugh at her. "What?"

"You're always the perfect student." He told her through laughs. "I didn't think you could pull off something that wasn't allowed."

"Well, for your information, Mr. Potter," Lily said, pretending to be offended. "I don't always follow the rules.

"Really?"

"Yes, and to prove it… race you down the hall!" And she took off, a laughing James at her heels.

XXXXXX

That night, James couldn't sleep. He was thinking about Lily. This year, he was already getting closer to her. He'd found out more about her in the past couple weeks than he had in the several years he'd known her. It seemed like the Marauders were slowly becoming friend with Lily and her group. Knowing he'd never get to sleep, he decided to sneak down to the kitchens, maybe for hot chocolate or something. When he got there, he got another surprise.

Lily was sitting on a chair, in a yellow camisole and gray sweatpants, drinking hot chocolate and chatting animatedly with one of the house elves.

"Well, I think this just adds to our earlier conversation." He said, making her jump and spin around to face him. When she saw him, she looked relieved; as though she was happy he wasn't someone there to rat on her.

"You mean the one where you had never though I would be one to break rules?" She asked him, smiling.

"That one exactly," he said. "Mind if I sit with you?"

She shook her head, causing her long red hair to sway, and conjured a chair.

"Is there anything we can get for you, Mr. Potter?" The house elf who had been talking to Lily asked.

"Sure, how about a hot chocolate?"

"Of course," said the house elf with a bow. "Right away sir." And she walked off.

"How did you figure out how to get here?" James asked, trying to stop an awkward silence.

"Alli and I were exploring in our fourth year." Lily said simply.

"Sirius and I've got you beat." He told her. "We found it at the end of second."

"Well you are the Marauders," she pointed out. "That's kind of expected."

The house elf came back, carrying a mug of hot chocolate and gave it to James.

"Do you come down here often?" James asked, trying again to keep a conversation going.

"Not really." She answered him. "Only when I'm really having trouble sleeping. I don't always come down here anyway; sometimes I'll just go sit in the common room or something." Lily stopped talking abruptly, realizing that she'd been saying more than she wanted to. This was James Potter she was talking to. She hadn't even realized she'd been describing her sleeping habits to someone she was supposed to hate. What was going on with her?

They'd both finished their drinks, so James decided to try something rash.

"Hey, Lily? Would you walk back with me?"

Lily looked at him. "Uh… sure," she said, with no idea why. James' heart jumped for joy.

"So, you looking forward to patrolling?" Lily asked as they walked, trying to break an awkward silence. James started. Lily wasn't yelling at him or cursing him! This was marvelous!

"Sure, I guess. What are they like?" He knew she'd been a prefect, so she should be able to answer him.

"Well, there's not much to do. Just make sure that no one's out of bed when they aren't supposed to be. And then you always have to break up the snogging couples you run into. I like it though, because it's an excuse to stay up late." There I go again! Lily thought. Why do I keep saying things I don't mean to?

"Do you need an excuse to stay up late?" James asked playfully.

"I guess not," Lily said as they approached the fat lady's portrait. "It's just that an excuse makes it more fun."

"Dragon's snout," James said to the fat lady, waking her up. She glared but let them in, still to sleepy to question. "Well, I'll see you later tomorrow, I guess."

"Yeah," Lily said, stopping in front of the stairs up to her room.

"'Night Lily." James smiled at her, and she felt her stomach do something she didn't recognize. She decided to ignore it, however, and went upstairs to bed, leaving James happier than he'd been all month.

(A/N) Well, there's chappie number six! I'm going to try to getseven up either today or tomorrow. I'm trying to get as many chapters posted as I can before school starts, because I don't know how often I'll be able to post then.

Please review! It's kinda this chain-reaction-thing. You review, I write faster, chapter gets posted faster! So, review away!