His Final Year

Chapter Nineteen: Brilliance

There were two more days until winter break began, and the students at Hogwarts were beginning to rejoice. The teachers had slowed down and with them the workload. They realized break was here, and no more work would get finished. There was just so much to do: party planning, invitations for friends, gift buying, packing for vacation.

There was also so much to talk about. The students couldn't help but notice that ever since the dance their Head Boy and Girl had grown apart. They weren't seen together nearly as often, and when they were their communication seemed cold and bitter. There were no more innocent kisses in the halls, no hands being held on the grounds, no outbursts of laughter in classes. Both the students and the teachers were scared for the cutest couple at Hogwarts.

"What are we going to do? They're breaking apart and we can't come up with anything! I mean Moony and I can't even think of something and we're the Marauders!" Sirius finally stopped pacing and threw himself on his bed.

Their friends were going bonkers. It was just two days after the dance and already Mel, Remus, Sirius, and Alex were all terrified for their friends and trying their best to come up with some way to help. They had been talking for well over two hours in the boy's dormitory and not one of them could think of something.

Mel sighed. "Is there even something we can do? This seems so weird from both of them."

Alex nodded. "They both seem so unlike themselves. James isn't putting any effort into the relationship or even noticing Lily's around. And Lily…did you guys know she ate lunch with Matthew yesterday?"

Sirius and Remus nearly wet themselves. "What?"

Mel nodded. "Yeah she couldn't find James and Matthew invited her to sit with him."

Sirius was pacing and swearing, while Remus just took a deep breath. "How'd that go? Them having lunch together?"

Alex tried to calm Sirius down while Mel explained. "Lily was crazy. We couldn't hear anything, but she was definitely not herself. One second she'd be laughing this really annoying girly laugh that wasn't hers, the next she looked like she was mad, the next she was on the verge of tears, the next she was invading his personal space too much. It was like she was possessed."

Sirius scoffed. "Or on her period."

Alex punched him hard on his arm and glared. "She is not on her period you jerk."

Sirius grabbed her and pulled her onto his lap. "Sorry hun, I'm just frustrated. Was she trying to make Prongs jealous?"

Remus shook his head. "He had detention with Mom during lunch."

Both girls looked confused. "Mom?"

Remus kept looking at Sirius. "McGonagall."

Sirius nodded. "She bitches at us like a mom." The girls just shrugged at each other. "What do we do?"

Mel sighed again. "What we always do with them; hope they figure it out." The meeting came to an end.

"Hello sexy lady." Lily looked up from her dinner and broke into a grin.

"Matthew!" He grinned and sat down, his leg 'accidentally' bumping into her butt. She giggled, making Alex, Mel, Sirius, and Remus gag.

"Now Matthew, none of that, silly!" Matthew just continued to grin and took a sip of her drink. Lily's smiled disappeared and her eyes hardened. Matthew couldn't help but notice.

"What's wrong baby?" He leaned closer to her, but she moved away.

"You didn't even ask if you could have a drink. That was really rude."

"Come on baby, it's not that big of a deal. It's just a drink."

Lily's voice grew. "Stop calling me baby, I hate that!" She started getting tears in her eyes. "James never called me baby, you can't either."

Matthew rolled his eyes. "Stop bringing him up all the time! God you're so emotional sometimes, I can't imagine what you're like on your period."

The tears disappeared from Lily's eyes in three seconds. "I can't believe you just said that!"

"What the hell? You're so irritating!" Lily suddenly softened up and giggled, clinging to him.

"I'm sorry, I'm just acting silly I guess!" Matthew stood up, making Lily raise an eyebrow.

"You know what, I think you're mental!" His voice had grown so loud that everyone in the Great Hall looked at the pair. "How Potter ever put up with you for so long is a puzzle to me. Thank God I cheated on you when I did." He threw his hands in the air. "Potter can have you for all I care." With that, he turned and flew out of the Great Hall, leaving everyone to stare at Lily, who was staring out the door.

Before anyone could utter a word, James strode into the Great Hall, pausing at the door and staring at Lily. The whole crowd held their breath, looking back and forth between the two.

After what seemed like an eternity of just staring at each other, they both slowly made their way to each other. When they were about a table away, Lily broke into a run as they both broke into a grin. James stopped where he was as Lily jumped into his arms and kissed him.

Everyone watching was smiling at the two, completely confused. They had absolutely no idea what was going on, but by the look of the kiss between James and Lily, it wasn't a bad thing.

After they finally broke apart, still grinning like mad, their friends ran up to them. They just stared at them until Sirius finally asked the question on everyone's mind. "What the hell is going on between you two?"

Lily just laughed. "Ever since the dance, Matthew wouldn't leave me alone. He kept pestering me all the time and wouldn't leave James or me alone."

James wrapped an arm around her waist. "So my brilliant and I guess 'irritating' girlfriend came up with an idea."

Lily smiled. "We'd pretend our relationship was on the rocks, we weren't as close, it was near the end. Meanwhile, I spent as much time with Matthew, annoying him the whole time. I was loud, overly talkative, and emotional. Oh and I mentioned James whenever I could."

Alex was furious. "So this whole time we were freaking out about your relationship, you were faking and actually were completely fine?"

James and Lily grinned at each other and nodded. Mel and Remus started laughing. "That's completely brilliant!" Everyone else started laughing with them, slowly going back to their dinner but still talking about the exciting event.

After being congratulated for their brilliance by practically everyone at dinner, James and Lily finally made it back to the Head Boy and Girl dorm. James plopped down on the couch, a goofy and triumphant grin on his face. Lily, on the other hand, sat down softly on a chair next to the couch, an upset look on her face.

James sat up, grabbed her hands, and kissed her temple. "What's wrong sweetheart?"

Lily looked up and smiled, giving his hand a little squeeze, "Nothing, I'm just tired." James wasn't convinced.

"Lily, please don't lie to me. I know something's wrong." Lily looked down, unable and unwilling to make eye contact. When James tilted her face up to look him in the eye, his heart nearly broke; she had tears in her eyes. "Lily, sweetie, please talk to me."

Lily closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, her eyes still closed. "I didn't know he cheated on me."

James scooted closer to her. "What do you mean?"

Lily sighed and finally looked at him, tears slowly falling from her eyes. "Before he walked out of the Great Hall, Matthew said he was glad he cheated on me." More tears started falling, and she chuckled slightly as James held her hands. "I know it's stupid to cry over someone like him, but…I just feel…like I'm not good enough. I'm not enough, there's more that I don't have."

James scoffed. "Yeah all the bad qualities someone can have." Lily smiled a little. "Lily, you're plenty and more. You're the most amazing and wonderful person I've ever met. He cheated on you because you're not a whore, and assholes tend to like whores.

Lily grinned. "Is that why you and Sirius always got so many girls?"

James's eyes narrowed. "So that's how it is? I see. Well, Miss Evans all I have to say to you is…" He grinned and stood up, throwing Lily over his shoulder. She shrieked and laughed as James spun around and threw both of them on the couch. They both laughed, James pulling Lily closer to him and kissing the top of her head as Lily snuggled into him.

"Lily what are you doing for Christmas?"

She snuggled closer. "I don't know. My folks were never really big on Christmas and I can't stand my sister's boyfriend, but I still need to visit them a little while. I don't know, I'll probably hang out at Mel's or Alex's." She leaned up and kissed his chin. "Why, what are you doing?"

James grinned and kissed her. "You want to stay at my place?" Lily raised an eyebrow, causing James to laugh. "I talked to my parents, and you're more than welcome. We have plenty of room, the Marauders will be over which means Mel and Alex can come over anytime, and we always have a huge New Year's party. What do you-"

Lily leaned up and kissed him. "I love it. I have to talk it over with my par-"

James cut her off with a kiss. "No you don't. My parents already talked to yours, and they're fine with it. We'll pick you up two days before Christmas."

Lily raised an eyebrow. "What if I hadn't wanted to?" James, unsure of what to say, just opened and closed him mouth repeatedly. Lily rolled her eyes and laughed. "God I love you." James grinned and kissed her again and again.

Author's Note: Yes, the story still exists! Shocking, I know. I'm so sorry this took so long, I hope you like it. I know Matthew didn't last long, I decided after the last chapter that I just totally hated his character. Don't worry, he's not coming back, but there's larger issues coming up. (hint hint)