Thanks to reviewers: CarbonMonoxide, swim210, londsay, Boogie, harrypotterfan52, tnick, Lady-Slytherin-Warrior, cheer4cheesecake, Emmelz, Tanya J Potter, dreamergirl86, Precious421 and AnnaLangdon. And Thanks to people who may be reviewing well I write this chapter

Chapter 10

Day 8- Saturday

(AN:I skipped Friday, but I will bring up what happened that day)

Friday had been uneventful. The weather was still cold and wet and they had remained inside the whole day, sitting around in the living room pretending they weren't bored so they wouldn't have to do the housework that Mrs. Potter suggested.

In the end, Lily found herself dusting and tidying the house by herself.

It wasn't fair to say that no one attempted to help her. Mrs. Potter was sorting through old papers in her and her husbands office well she was in the kitchen and den tidying, and James did offer to help, but she turned him down, saying she could do it fine on her own.

And it wouldn't be fair to say he didn't put up much of a fight on the subject. He had actually grabbed the duster; which had been floating in mid-air in front of Lily dusting the bookshelves, and insisted that he do it. Sadly, she had to place a tickling charm on him straightaway so she could go back to her business, a bright smile on her face after that.

Come Saturday however, the weather cleared up perfectly around midday. The thick clouds still floated ominously over the sleepy town but the water began to dry up and the wind became a little less intense.

So... what would any Quidditch loving boy do at such times?

Once again, Lily found herself alone with Remus in the living room.

Until, however, he cautiously pointed out that there had been more muggle deaths.

He knew his mistake instantly, when her face fell and she seemed distracted when she tried to return to the book in her lap. Every once in a while, her eyes drifted over to the telephone near the entrance to the room (James' mom had muggle born and muggle friends she always kept in touch with); wanting desperately to dial the number her mother gave her for the Dursley's home. She knew her sister wouldn't be amused if she phoned to check up on them, she could just imagine the look on Petunia's face if the Dursleys began asking question about her 'estranged' sister.

So she didn't phone, only answered Remus' questions, if he asked, trying to ignore his attempts at conversations knowing she wouldn't be able to concentrate on such a task at the moment.

When James and Sirius came in later they were surprised to hear the Lily had gone upstairs to her guest room; even more surprised when she told them she wasn't hungry for dinner that night when Mrs. Potter called them down.

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James hesitated outside the guest room door, his hand poised to rap against the solid wood door, staring at it intently as if, by chance, Lily would open the door before he did so.

She didn't... and he was worried about her.

He had tried to sleep, as everyone else in the house seemed to be (though he did hear Sirius and Remus talking quietly as he walked past Sirius' bedroom door), but was finding it extremely hard when he was worried about the red headed young women. She hadn't come down to supper, and when he wondered aloud what was wrong with her Remus had sheepishly told them about the information he let slip to her earlier.

She was frightened for her family.

He didn't blame her. Even he was worried about his family, his pure-blood family. Lily was muggle born... she had a right to be afraid when it came to Voldemort.

But she never showed fear before. Then again, it had always been in fear of herself that she never showed such things. She wasn't worried for her own safety as much as her families. Even that horrible sister of hers was a cause of her worries, and Lily was in just as much danger as them, if not more.

He took a deep breath and returned all thoughts to the matter at hand. Talk to Lily Evans.

He knocked, holding his breath as he did so. It seemed so loud of an action in the quiet house, and down the hall Sirius' room became oddly quiet at the sound.

He was contemplating leaving the doorway to tell Sirius and Remus not to listen in when a call from inside the room brought him back to the moment.

"Lily?" He turned the doorknob and slowly opened the door, peering around it into the room.

A candle was lit on the bedside table, casting an eerie glow around the small room. Lily was sitting on the bed with her knees drawn up, her forehead pressed against them. She looked up when he stood uneasily in the doorway, watching her.

"What?" She asked, her voice a hushed whisper, her face flushed, her deep red hair flowing down her shoulders and back. She looked so beautiful, even when she was sad.

"You can't sleep?" He walked further into the room, leaving the door open in case she thought he was coming onto her or something. He did not want her thinking that at this moment.

She shook her head, casting her eyes down to his feet. "No..."

He moved closer still, the desire to reach out and touch her getting stronger the closer he got to her. She smelled like flowers and vanilla, the whole room taking on the wonderful smell. He hoped the smell would linger there long after she leaves, but found the thought stupid seeing as they would both be at Hogwarts anyway.

"Your worried."

She nodded, turning from him to bury her head once more in her knees. "I keep having bad dreams when I sleep."

He stopped, within arms reach, but resisted the urge to stroke her hair, stroke her arms... "I get them sometimes too."

A small sniff came from behind her curtain of hair and she sat up again, wiping at her eyes, yet he saw no tears. "I suppose everyone gets them." She laughed slightly, but it sounded hollow. "I'm being stupid."

"No your not."

He said it which such sincerity that she looked up to meet his gaze, her green eyes dancing. Now he could see the tears there, just there, waiting to fall. "James..." She trailed off, her eyebrows slowly knitting together. "You-"

"I want to show you something." He cut in, holding out a hand for her to grasp. "I think you'll like it."

She was silent for a moment, just watching him, not taking her gaze off his face. Then, slowly, her eyes drifted down to his outstretched hand and she took it, unfolding herself to stand beside the bed in front of him.

He tried not to register the fact she was wearing a sexy yellow nighty, something he thought Lily would never wear but found himself liking it very much. He had dreams like this... but of course they never included so much sadness... and hadn't been dressed in his pyjama bottoms and night coat... and... well... they always went a little more perverted before it ever got to simple hand holding.

"Right." He said it before he could stop himself, feeling a sudden huge amount of blood rush to his head making him feel slightly disoriented. She was blushing too though... something he found a good sign. Though it could be because he was shirtless under his undone night coat. Well, come to think of it, that was a good sign as well.

"You wanted to show me something?" Her voice was still hushed but there was amusement there.

"Yes." He turned, and; still clasping her hand, led her out of the room and down the stairs. They were heading for the back door when he felt her hesitate.

"Where are we going?"

He turned to her, a reassuring smile on her face. Or, what he hoped was a reassuring smile, he could have just been looking like a complete lecher or something. "Outside."

"Why is that, James."

Without an answer he unlocked the backdoor, mumbling the word to undo the charm put on it, and was pulling her along the back lawn towards the old willow tree before she could protest again.

He stopped just short it and let go of her hand.

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Free of his hold, Lily found the spell he had her under collapse and she wrapped her arms around herself, realizing that she was dressed in the nighty she hadn't wanted James to see it all. Well that all seemed completely pointless now. He had seen plenty of it by now.

Sighing slightly, she watched as he approached the trees and trudged past some of the bushes growing near the bottom. Curious, she stepped a little ways to the right to get a better view of the messy haired boy.

What she saw made her smile.

James was tipping water out of a tire swing which was tied to a thick branch of the tree above. When the task was done, he wrapped his hands around the rope and stepped back, smiling widely to her and making a grand gesture towards it. "What do you think."

She tried to look indignified but it was failing terribly. He was always full of surprises, and she found herself liking that about it. "Pray tell me what you plan to do now?"

Still beaming he stepped towards her, took her hand again; which had been offered without her even realizing what she was doing, and pulled her towards the swing. "What do you think."

Shaking her head she stepped up to the tire swing. "I don't think so."

"Why?" He moved across from her so that the suspended tire was now between them. "It's fun."

"No." She crossed her arms across her chest, eyeing him carefully. "I'm in my nighty."

He laughed. "So?"

"So, no."

With an exaggerated sigh, he stepped back from the tire swing, crossed his arms over his chest like she was doing and put on the most strictest look he could muster. "Sit, now."

"No."

"Sit."

"I won't do it." She found she was close to giggles now, feeling light-headed and cheerful; completely different to the way she was feeling inside when she was alone. Before James came along...

"Evans, Sit."

"Fine." She grabbed the sides of the tire to steady it, pulled one leg through the centre and plopped herself half into it unceremoniously flattening her nighty so she wouldn't show anything she didn't want him to see. "Happy?"

He chuckled, leaned down next to her level and whispered right into her ear. "Yes, I am."

She found herself blushing, unable to control herself. However, when James stepped away from her, pulling the tire with him she couldn't control the words that came tumbling out of her mouth either.

"I get motion sickness. It's why I don't like flying. I get sick whenever I use the floo-network."

"Oh?" He began to slowly push her back and forth, watching as she clung to the tire helplessly. "I'll be gently, I promise."

She opened her mouth to retort... but found herself suddenly speechless, watching as James got closer to her until he pushed off again, his smile never wavering. Merlin... she was loosing herself.

But she wanted this moment to last forever...

"I'm starting to feel sick." She whispered it as she took another swing towards him, staring hard up at him, unable to break that spell he had on her once more.

"Ok." He grabbed the rope of the tire, dragged along for a moment with it's momentum before he brought it to a complete stop, holding it steady so she could slip out.

Unfortunately, she really was feeling slightly sick and dizzy, and instead of keeping her distance like she intended, she soon found herself clutching to him, one hand clutching his arm, the other almost around his back. She felt his bare chest brush her bare shoulders and heard his heart beating as he forehead fell against his chest...

And she could feel his arms instinctively wrap around hers, making her feel warm and protected.

It seemed like several days had past, listening to his heart beating, his breath on top of her head before she got enough nerve to speak.

"Why me, James?"

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AN: yes...this chapter is longer. I've been waiting to write this one.

Continueing soon. I'll be on vacation in Victoria B.C. for 4 days... so I won't be able to update until after then. But please wait! It will be well worth it.

I would really really like reviews for this chapter.

Thank you to all! -hugs-

-Aurora