To Have And To Hold.

Summary: Lily Evans and James Potter must go back in time to save a small boy from Death Eaters. He conceals a secret that could change the lives of everyone in the wizarding world. As expected there will be a lot of L/J love/hate (Which may get annoying). It's not a great plot, I know, but I'm thinking of one-two more and I need to practice somewhere. Bear with me and R/R!

A/N: I crossed the 1600 hits mark! Yaaaaaay. I'm really, really happy, and kind of pissed off too. If 1400 people read my story, at least a quarter could review! That's like…400 people! And I have what… 36 reviews? This is a bad thing to do, people. Come on! Look alive! Ahh, sorry, it's 12.15 am and I'm kind of sleepy. Supposed to be studying. But I'm not. I'm updating! So, thank you to:

Patiens-liberi: Yay, you're a new reviewer! This is great! You said you'd review after every chapter, but you did so only after 2. Well, anyway. Thanks!

JaDe-ViPeR08: That's cool! So this makes it your national duty to review every chapter. Hehe. Thanks a lot. I love getting new reviewers.

AnTiAnGeL: Thanks.

Saurabh: Thanks a lot. I'll try to update whenever possible, but writer's block has tightened its icy claws around my mind again. .:Shudders:.

Aoms: You should come online more often!

By the way this will be a really boring chapter. I couldn't think of anything to write. Real waste.

Thank you to the others who reviewed as well… I'm sorry I couldn't put all of you in.

Now, on with the story.

America… Ah… America.

"Evans."

"Mmmpf."

"Evans, wake up."

"Gowway."

"Evans, wake up."

"Mm… Whaaaat?"

"Ev-ans!"

Lily sat up and rubbed her eyes.

"Potter! Just what do you think you're doing here? How did you get in? You'll be in so much trouble if you're caught! Pott-"

"For the love of- shut up, Evans! I just came to ask you what you're going to do about the dress robes."

Lily glanced at her watch. "At one fifteen in the morning? Tell me, Potter HOW did you survive without a brain all these years?"

James sighed. "This is not a time to be cute, Evans. Just tell me. 'Cause I have mine but you… your social life is less active than Peter. I doubt you'd have them noting the distinct disinterest in dressing up. And you probably wouldn't want Annie or Leisel's. I... I can arrange to get them for you if you'd like."

Lily graced James with a half surprised – half annoyed look. "Excuse me, Mr. Party Animal, but that won't be necessary, as I don't plan on wasting my time in America attending silly social do's."

"But you have to go!"

"I don't believe our saving Justin has anything to do with this."

"What? So?"

"I'd prefer if you kept our conversation limited to the bare minimum. Speak to me only if you need to talk about the mission or if you want me to tell you the best ways to dispose of yourself. And now, excuse me, Potter, I need my sleep."

"Evans!"

"Good night, Potter."

"Listen-"

"I said good night."

"But-"

"Go away, James!" Lily said and fell back on to her pillow."Wh - what!"

But Lily was already asleep.

…----….

The wind was cool on her face as she walked down the Hogwarts grounds towards Dumbledore's office. Her baggage had been charmed to follow her as she walked.

"That's a pretty neat charm, right there."

"Potter."

"It would be nice if you sometimes actually acknowledged what I said instead of just my presence, you know, Evans."

"I'm not nice, Potter."

"Heaven forbid, that I should ever imply that. I was merely saying that you could be a bit more pleasant to me, seeing as how you have no one but me for company for the next few weeks."

"Have I not told you not to remind me about that, Potter?"

"Alright, fine. Sorry, sorry. I'll just keep quiet for the next few weeks and pretend I'm not alive, shall I?"

Lily laughed, a clear tinkling laugh that cut through the crisp air like a knife. "I know you wouldn't do that, as much as I wish you would. Potter and havoc go together."

"Gosh, you laughed. In a non-spiteful manner. You're a morning person then, aren't you?"

"Most certainly am. There are less people around in the morning."

"What's your big problem with people?"

"Alright. You're not around in the morning."

James turned away to hide his smile. "So what's your big problem with me?"

"Nothing I can put a finger on."

"Come on, Evans. The whole of the girls dormitory was swooning for you when our names were announced to open the dance at the Christmas Ball in year four and all you could do was stand around, looking livid."

"I'm different."

"Aw, shucks, you can do better than that."

Lily sighed. "Alright. You want to know why? Because I love order and discipline. And the more order and discipline I try to bring, the more you try to-"

"Take it away? Yeah, I've been known to put a toe out of line here and there."

Lily covered her mouth. "Might big toes you have there, Potter."

James laughed as well as they walked the rest of the way in silence.

…----….

"… I think that's all, then. Here are your tickets."

James and Lily accepted the tickets. It was strange to see plane tickets dated back 15 years. Then again, James thought, Is there anything in this whole situation that's not strange?

"Well, all the best, Mr. Potter, Ms. Evans. I hope you will remember that I have full confidence in the two of you. And remember whatever happens, your life is most important. If you have to be cruel, then be cruel. You must get back alive. There's nothing more important than that. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," they said in unison.

"Do you? Do you, really? I don't think so. No. You have to understand me, Lily. And you, James. This mission has every chance of going wrong. And you must not give it that chance. This is wizard's law that we are breaking. There is much at stake. You must get back the same. No broken bones, no permanent scars. Nothing. Understand?"

"Yes, Sir."

And this time, they sort of did.

"Good. Well, all the best again. Do well."

James looked him in the eye and said, "We will, Sir. We will."

Lily didn't say anything but the determined look in her eyes said more than any words ever could.

"Right," said Dumbledore, as he threw a gold chain around their necks. He handed the hour glass to Lily, ignoring the indignant look on James' face. Lily threw the gold chain around James' neck and then around her own.

"How many turns, Sir?"

"Hmm… fifteen years. 5 turns should do it, Ms. Evans."

"Alright, Sir. Goodbye."

"See you later, Sir."

Dumbledore smiled and waved at the two teenagers.

The next second, they were gone.

…---…

James grunted.

"For heaven's sake, Evans, get off me. How much do you weigh, anyway?"

Lily got up in a hurry, her nose matching the colour of her hair.

"Shut up, Potter. This is not a time to be juvenile. This is not a time to be you."

Lily turned and there stood a smiling Dumbledore.

"Professor!" exclaimed James. "Boy, you look young!"

Dumbledore laughed. "Come on, children. To the gate. Professor Dippet will be awake in the next ten minutes."

Lily and James nodded and followed him out.

Five minutes later, they were all walking down the garden path, James having a surprisingly hard time trying to keep up with Lily and Dumbledore.

"(Pant) Professor, where are we (wheeze) going to the new school from? I mean, how are we going (cough)?"

Lily sneered at his exhausted state and mumbled something about "… quidditch captain, my father in law's left foot."

James glared at her as Dumbledore said, "Portkey, of course, Mr. Potter."

"… Right."

On arriving at the gate, Dumbledore picked up what seemed to be an old scarf and checked his watch.

"Alright then, Mr. Potter and Ms. Evans. Take this," he said handing them the scarf.

Lily shuddered. James paled a little.

Dumbledore smiled and said. "I suppose I will have already told you this, but all the best."

Lily and James had barely finished thanking him when they felt a tugging on their navels followed by whirling around in what appeared to be a whirlwind. Lily pictured a scene from a muggle movie called Wizard of Oz and laughed. James yelled, "What's funny?"

Lily didn't answer and James forgot his question as the next second they were standing, crumpled in front of a huge building. A gigantic sign in front of the building said,

"THE RIVER VALLEY SCHOOL OF AMERICAN MAGIC."

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A/N: I hated that chapter. If you did too, let me know! I'll be right here waiting for reviews. And sorry about the bad formatting. I don't know WHERE my beta reader is.