Sorry this chapter is really lame and a little corny but I wrote it ages ago and just found it on my computer. I was young and stupid.

Chapter 6

Lily convinced herself that Potter seeing her was a fluke. Perhaps she needed to take the potion again; it must have been wearing off. So with a dose of potion she decided to go and have a look in the Gryffindor common room. She walked through the portrait hole and there was a scary quietness to the room. The Gryffindor ditzes were sitting in the corner, surprisingly not flirting with any of the Marauders or discussing make up they looked quite…serious. The only other people in the common room were Remus and Sirius and they were playing Wizard chess and talking. Lily had always wondered what the Marauders talked about so she decided to eavesdrop on them. She walked over and sat beside Remus.

"-do something." Sirius finished.

"We can't. I haven't seen him like this since…you know."

"Yeah, but this is different. He blames himself."

"Well that's understandable. Look at the events leading up to it. Knight to E-4." Remus commanded the chess piece.

"It's not all his fault, though it mostly is. He definitely took it too far. He's too stubborn. They both were. He will come out of this funk right?"

"I hope so. It's quite sad really. I really thought she'd change him for the better. He was slowly learning."

Lily was trying to guess what they were talking about but she couldn't guess.

"Pawn to F-7. Yeah I could see it and I'm his best mate." Sirius said.

So it's about James. Lily thought triumphantly; glad to have a clue to the puzzle.

As if to stop her from guessing James Potter trudged in through the portrait hole and turned and looked at them. His eyes widened in disbelief. Oh crap, I'm caught. Can he see me? Lily thought wildly.

But instead of confronting her he shook his head and walked up to the boys' dorm, muttering about going crazy.

"We better go see him." Sirius said getting up.

"Fine but don't push the subject."

Bored, Lily decided to go see what was happening in the Girls Dorm. She noticed the Ditzes were gone and she figured she could always laugh at their conversation. She made her way up to the dorm and walked through to find they weren't being there usual selves either. What happening around here?

"I mean, like, can you believe she just left?" Ok maybe they still talked ditzy but it wasn't about make up. Lily realised they were talking about her. She didn't think they even knew her.

"Yeah, but what James did was totally mean." A brunette, the only brunette in the group, called Shelly said.

"Mmm…I guess, who would of thought little Miss perfect could have such a thing happen to her?" Brittany the uber-slut said.

"You know I think we were a little harsh on her." Kim a dirty blonde said.

"Nah…she deserved it." Brittany said.

"I dunno…we really just ignored her and her friend." Cheri said the last of the group said.

"Yeah but she was getting all Jamsies attention." Brittany said pouting.

"He was pranking her Britts."

"I don't know. I think they had, like…chemistry." Shelly said causing Lily to gag. Disgusting.

"Yeah I totally agree. Did you see the way they looked at each other? Complete passion."

"That was HATE!" Brittany shrieked. Lily was glad some one was on her side, even if it was Brittany.

"Whatever. I'm trying to study here, can you keep it down." Lily almost fell over. Study? When do ditzes study? I think I need to pay more attention to people in the future.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lily was getting quite scared at the schools state now. As the days passed she expected them to go back to normal yet they didn't. The classes were quiet. There were no Marauders pranks. James and Abby seemed down. The Ditzes seemed…smarter and less…flirty. The other three Marauders seemed worried about something. The teachers seemed constantly exasperated. Lily was sure she saw James looking at her a few times and then shake his head as though he was seeing things. Lily decided to test and see if she was invisible. In potions she saw Sirius walking along carrying potion ingredients and she stepped in front of him. He went right through her. James was looking as though he had seen a ghost. Hmm…that right. Sirius can't see me I must be invisible. I'll see if they can hear me.

Lily stood on the potions teachers' desk and coughed loudly. No one seemed to notice. She didn't see James watching her. She continued. She decided to sing…

"Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa la la la la la la la la"

No one was watching except James. Although, she didn't see James watching her as though she was crazy. She thought no one heard her so she continued even louder.

"'Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la la la la la
Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa la la la la la la la la
Troll the ancient Yuletide carol,
Fa la la la la la la la la."

James was looking at her shocked. How can no one else see her? He looked around and saw no one else paying her attention. God she has an awful voice.


"Fast away the old year passes,
Fa la la la la la la la la
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,

Fa la la la la la la la la
Sing we joyous all together,
Fa la la la la la-"

"STOP! STOP!" James yelled covering his ears. "STOP THE SINGING! YOU CANT SING!"

The entire class was watching him. Who was he yelling at?

"Mate, are you all right?" Peter asked.

"YES! TELL HER TO STOP SINGING!" He yelled pointing at Lily who was standing in fear. They did hear.

"Who?" The entire class waited for his answer.

"Lily." The entire class broke into whispers…

"Potters finally loosing it."

"It was only a matter of time before the guilt made him crazy."

"He's lost his marbles."

"He's hearing her. I knew he was secretly in love with her. Didn't I tell you?"

"Aww…he misses her so much he's seeing things. How sweet."

The last two caused Lily to gag. Stupid Gits.

"Lily isn't here." Sirius said stating the obvious.

"Yes she is. She's right there." He pointed to her the class watched him as though he was crazy.

"There's no one there."

"Yes there is. It's Lily. I mean Evans. Evans is there."

"No, Lily is gone, remember?"

"NO! She's there. Li-Evans, tell them!" He commanded her, staring her in the eye.

"You can see me?" She asked incredulously.

"See, she talked." He said smugly.

"Mate, no one talked, you're hearing and seeing things."

"NO! NO! NO! SHE TALKED! I HEARD HER! I SEE HER! SHE'S THERE! YOU'RE BLIND!" James started stomping his floor like child.

"Mr Potter Perhaps you should go...er…rest. Get some sleep. You are excused from this class." The potions master led the mentally deranged boy out of the class and as he left the class once again broke out in gossip about how James was around the bend. Lily was thinking hard.

Why can Potter see me? Obviously Potter has some sort of magic powers. Wait...he's a wizard of course he has magic powers. Lily you're an idiot. She decided to stay away from James as much as possible and take another dose of potion. That would fix it.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

James Potter wasn't having a good week. He was seeing Lily every where. Students thought he had a guilty conscience and he was quickly going mental. He didn't agree with that. He knew he wasn't crazy. He didn't understand why in every class he saw her. Around the school he saw her. In the common room he saw her. He heard her. She was EVERYWHERE. He shrugged it off as his conscience striking back at him but he was certain he had seen Sirius walk through her and he knew he heard her singing in Potions today. She had talked to him. He was considering the fact she may have died and came back as a ghost to haunt him and make him go crazy. That was his number one theory. When he told that to his friends they stared at him. Every one thought he was loosing his mind, even his friends. Every one told him he should get some sleep but he couldn't sleep. He couldn't. Images haunted his mind. James decided to take his broom out to the Quidditch pitch and think.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lily decided to take a walk. She needed to decide whether or not she was going to come back to Hogwarts. Today was her last day at being invisible. Dumbledore was right. The school wasn't quite the same. The Marauders played less pranks, in fact they played NO pranks this week. Abby was walking around like a zombie. The girls in her dorm were even quiet and less giggly. She found her way to the quidditch pitch. She didn't know why but she walked up to the top of the stands. She was deep in thought when she saw some one down on the pitch. Being the curious (nosey) person she was she decided to go and see who it was. She saw some one lying down next to their broom staring up to the sky. On closer look it appeared to be James Potter deep in thought.

"What the hell?" Lily muttered standing over him.

"Lily?" He jumped in shock. "What are you doing here?"

Lily thought quickly. Dumbledore said no one can see, hear or feel me so what's happening?

"Why are you here?" He asked again.

She stood thinking quickly as he stood up and brushed himself off.

"Lily, why are you here? I know you're here. I'm not crazy." He repeated. Lily decided to answer, he wouldn't hear anyway, maybe he can only see me.

"James Potter I'm going to tell you something that I've always wanted to tell you and it doesn't matter because you can't hear me. You. Are. An. Idiot. Just to put it simple, phew I feel a lot better, now I must be going." And she turned to leave.

"Wait." He grabbed her arm. Lily stared at him in shock.

"You-You-you can touch me. You can see me. You can hear me. How?"

"What do you mean how?"

"I mean how can you see, hear and touch me?" She said slowly. He dropped her arm.

"You're here aren't you? Why wouldn't I be able to?"

"No one else can."

"I KNEW IT!" He yelled happily. "That day by the lake I wasn't seeing things you were there weren't you? And today in potions you were singing? And all week you were here right?"

"Er…yes." Damn it. Damn it. Damn it. How am I going to explain this?

"But I thought you were gone. Why are you here and why can no one else see you?"

Lily had to think on her feet. Dumbledore made her say she wouldn't tell. But these…these were special circumstances. He also said no one would notice her. She didn't know what to do.

"We're going to see Dumbledore." She dragged him by the arm to Dumbledore's office, earning a few weird looks from people they passed because it looked as though James was being dragged by an invisible force.

"Pixie Sticks." Lily said before dragging James up the stairs.

"Professor Dumbledore! Professor Dumbledore!" She called and barged into his office. Thankfully he was alone and he was looking at the pair oddly.

"Miss Evans? How is it you are able to touch Mr Potter here?" He asked confused.

"I was about to ask you the same question." She said while James wondered what was happening.

"What do you mean?"

"He," She pointed at James, "has been able to see me all week. He can hear me and he can touch me. You said NO ONE could EXCEPT you."

No one could ever tell what was going on in Dumbledore's at anytime but right now it was saying…What the hell? What is happening? He shouldn't be able to do that. Unless they're…no that's impossible.

"What is going on?" James interrupted his thoughts.

"You see Mr Potter, Miss Evans here came to me and wanted to leave the school. I persuaded her to take a special potion that makes her go unnoticed. She was to see how the school was without her as she believed it wouldn't change. I dare say it did. Anyway, the potion no one was supposed to see, hear, or touch her. For you to be able to do so…" He trailed off.

"What? What's so special about Potter?"

"Ah, I have the answer but neither of you would like it so I will not answer you."

"Just think Evans, I thought you had died and came back to haunt me and turn me crazy."

"Not a bad idea." She grumbled.

"Miss Evans, have you made your decision?"

"Yes."

"Well?" James asked. He wore a face of anticipation that did not go unnoticed by Dumbledore who smiled to himself.

"I will stay."

At this James beamed but immediately tried to mask his face of glee. This was also noticed by the old man who chuckled quietly.

"That is good Miss Evans. I will announce it tomorrow at breakfast. Take the potion until the morning. Mr Potter, do not tell this to anyone and please do not mention the potion ever it will be very dangerous if it was to get in the wrong hands."

"I understand."

"Alright that will be all."

Lily walked out with James practically skipping behind her. He didn't know why but he was extremely happy.

Perhaps it was because his guilty conscience was almost cleared. Yeah, that has to be it.

Dumbledore laughed when he motioned for a cat who was sitting in the corner to come forward.

"Ah Minerva, I trust you got all that?" He asked as the cat transformed into Professor McGonagall.

"Yes Albus. If you do not mind me asking why was Mr Potter able to see Miss Evans?" She was quite curious about the matter.

"Minerva, that is simple. The potion also has another use. It is used to find your true love. It is said that you will only be noticed by the potion brewer and your soul mate, the one you belong with, you share a bond with that person therefore you are connected, that is why they can be seen by them."

"Surely you don't mean…"

"Why yes, I do." He said chuckling, causing McGonagall to go into a dead faint.

"Who would have thought?" he said to himself smiling. "Sometimes the craziest option is the best."

He decided to erase what he had told McGonagall from her memory. Simply because it would be funnier that way.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday morning James awoke feeling better than he had in a long time. He knew it was today would be the day his guilty conscience would be cleared. Right? Dumbledore would announce Lily was coming back at breakfast and everything would be as it was. His fellow Marauders noticed a change in him that morning also and it was beginning to scare them.

"Is he…singing?" Sirius asked incredulously. "Prongs doesn't sing."

"He is, Padfoot, he is." Remus stared at the bathroom door.

"What do you reckon happened? Do you reckon he's finally snapped his twig and gone loopy? He was pretty close to it before."

"Either that or he knows something we don't."

"Here he comes, let's casually ask him." Sirius suggested trying to look casual. James came out of the bathroom humming and started skipping a little as he got dressed.

"Have you finally flipped your lid?" Sirius blurted out thoughtlessly. Remus mentally smacked himself for Sirius' bluntness.

"No…I'm just in a good mood is all." James beamed scaring Peter a little and causing him to whimper.

"What's brought the mood change? You've been down all week."

"Oh no reason." He smiled.

"Liar." Sirius said immediately. "You're not wearing shoes, I can see you crossing your toes."

"Ha ha…" James laughed nervously. "I don't know what you're talking about. Well I must dash, see you blokes in the great hall. Hurry up." He ran out and immediately started sing 'Joy to the world'.

"He's flipped his lid." Sirius said knowingly.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lily awoke feeling lighter than usual. Today she would get to talk to Abby again. Everything would go back to normal. She wondered if James would prank her today or would he hold it off until tomorrow. Probably today. He's probably planning as I think. Dumbledore had told her the exact time to enter the hall because he would announce her right before her last does of potion wore off. It was almost time. She walked down and stood outside the hall. It was surely full and she didn't really want all the attention. She just wanted to talk to Abby again, it was quite lonely for the last 4 days. One more minute…

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dumbledore stood causing the great hall to cease talking. He saw James smiling and still humming causing Sirius to look at him funny. Dumbledore cleared his throat.

"I have a very important announcement." At this James was squirming in his seat and Remus had put a hand on his shoulder to restrain him from jumping up and down. He was acting like a 4 year old child. "Four days ago Miss Lily Evans decided to leave our school, as I'm sure you all know." A few glances were shot at James, who was still humming and looking at the Headmaster intently. "It is my pleasure to inform you that she has decided to return to Hogwarts."

Dumbledore waited for the reaction. He could almost hear the swivel of everyone in the hall turning to look at James. A few people gasped and there were murmurs all around. Andrew Jenkins and the rest of the Quidditch team looked as though they would burst of joy. The doors flung open and gasps came through out the hall. Like royalty she made her way towards Dumbledore casting her spell of silence over everyone as she passed. She stood silently at the front facing the students. Silence reigned, no one dared speak a word as they waited for James' reaction. They held their breath as James silently stood. He walked out from him seat quietly and made his way to the front where Lily was. Sirius and Peter made to stop him but Remus prevented them with a look. Even Lily stood awaiting his next action.

She felt her stomach tingle. Surely he wouldn't attack her here? The Marauders shot each other worried glances and the students braced themselves for the yelling that was sure to come as he neared her. He stopped within inches of her and looked as if he was going to pounce. Surely he wasn't going to physically hurt her in front of Dumbledore. The silence was shattered as he spoke his words clearly and they rang throughout the hall.

"Welcome back." He said it without a trace of spite or sarcasm. Then he stuck out his hand for her to shake causing a couple of females in the hall to pass out from shock. Lily eyed his hand warily. Obviously it was a prank. Nonetheless she took the offered hand and shook it, causing a few more people to pass out. When there were no pranks detonated the students were becoming antsy for when the surprise would spring. McGonagall was frantic and was using all her self restraint so she didn't leap across her table and rip their hands apart for fear of her sanity. Everyone watched as the two enemies shook hands in some sort of semi truce. They knew it wouldn't last but momentary peace was reassuring for now. As if to press the boundaries James tugged Lily's arm and embraced her in a warm hug.

The two felt comfort they hadn't felt before. Half the school fell out of their seats and McGonagall looked as though she was going to turn psychotic at any moment. Lily was reluctant to give into the hug at first but let herself sink into it at last. He lent closer and quietly whispered in her ear.

"You were a worthy rival Lily Evans." And he let her go. "Forgive me?"

They let their gaze pierce into each other. Green eyes bored into Hazel for many moments. Lily studied him and found sincerity in his eyes. She nodded briefly and saw him relax a little. An unspoken agreement was reached.

Silently James nodded and broke eye contact. He turned and walked back to his seat, with his footsteps echoing through the silent hall, as if nothing had happened. Lily smiled gently after him as she was tackled to the ground by Abby who hugged her tightly.