KT's apology:

Voiced by Dobby

I AM SO SORRY!

KT HAS INSULTD THE RATING FOR HARRY POTTER!

IT'S IN KT'S 2ND PARAGRAPH!

KT WROTE:

Just because the love of your life has gone off with another girl, you decide to become the living dead.

PLEASE FORGIVE KT! KT MEANT:

Just because the love of your life has gone off with another GUY, you decide to become the living dead.

I WROTE GIRL INSTEAD OF GUY, AND WE ALL KNOW LILY WOULDN'T GO OUT WITH A GIRL!

PLEASE, COULD YOU GUYS EVER FORGIVE KT?

(CRY, CRY, CRY; KT PUNISHES HERSELF, BY HITTING HER FORHEAD ON HER DESK, LIKE DOBBY!)

PLEASE, FORGIVE KT!

(KT laughs the whole apology thing, but KT really is sorri 'bout the mistake, really I am)

Ch 3: Midnight Mix-Up

"So, anything happen between you two?" Sirius asked James as the train came to a halt.

"We just talked, we didn't do anything." James admitted, hoping off.

"Look, I've got to go. Lily's expecting me to help herd everyone, I'll see you guys later."

"Oy, I know you've matured Prongs. Just don't mature too much," teased Sirius as he stepped off.

"Oh, leave him alone Padfoot. Keep this up, Prongs, and you may have Lily's trust sooner than expected. It's all in a matter of time." Remus encouraged leaving with Sirius. As James patrolled the platform, he kept a watch to make sure everyone got out safely. Just to make sure no one was left, he jumped onto the train and examined all the compartments. When he came to the last compartment, he could hear a pleading voice breathing deeply,

"Oh, come on. You don't need to be like that around me, do you?" James recognized the voice to be Eric's so he tried leaving before he could hear Lily's voice answer. When he turned on his heel, it wasn't Lily's voice that answered, it was April's.

"Eric, we're through, so please don't make it harder for yourself." James could see April about to leave, and luckily James had his invisibility cloak with him, he took it out and put it on. In a matter of minutes, April came out and rushed out of the train, Eric following quickly. James took off the cloak and followed them to the last carriage.

"Hey guys." James greeted them, as he grabbed the carriage door from closing.

"Hey James. Need a ride," April greeted, not noticing Eric's sneer.

"Um yeah, this seems to be the last of them so you don't mind do you?" James asked, more to Eric, than to April.

"Of course not," Eric said, shocking James by smirking. April scooted over and let James sit next to her. Throughout the ride, Eric didn't look at either April or James, and this worried James.

"What could he be thinking? Could he have guessed I eavesdropped on them?" James thought. As they approached the castle, James quickly rushed out of the carriage to become lost in the crowd. As he neared the oak doors, a solid figure hit him, but he caught them before they fell over.

"Seriously James, you have to stop doing that." A calm voice chuckled.

"Oh sorry Lily, look there's something you need to know…" James started, but a slimy voice interrupted.

"Hey, Potter. You wouldn't be trying to hit on my girl, would you?" Eric smirked, wrapping his arm around Lily's waist. James flared at him a menacing look, but this wasn't time to start picking a fight. Not in front of Lily, especially when they just began to become friendly. So there was no other choice but to back down, for now.

"No, I wouldn't even think about it O'Bryan. I mean I've had my chance, and the better man won, huh?" James said, smiling pleasantly. Eric was taken back at this, and a suspicious look crossed over his face.

"Well, Lily and I better be off. See you later Potter," Eric noted and pulled Lily towards the castle. As they walked off together, James felt his blood boil watching Eric move his hand lower, towards Lily's hip, then her waist.

"Oy, Prongs. I think I'm about to vomit." A booming voice came, from behind James. He turned to see Sirius, Remus and Peter standing behind him also watching the couple.

"I think I'll join you Padfoot." Remus said, as Peter pretended to.

"Yeah, yeah, I hear you," James chuckled.

"And we could hear you too, loud and clear." April said, cheerfully as she tackled James with a hug.

"Have you guys seen Lily?" May asked looking around. As if reading each other's mind, the three boys, pretended to vomit right on the spot, receiving strange looks from the three girls.

"I take it, you saw her with Eric?" April asked, more to James.

"Yeah, I did." James said coldly, as they entered the Great Hall.

"Well, you don't have to get your knickers in a twist. Just try to ignore them." April suggested as they sat down.

"Oh, I've tried. You try, and tell me how it feels."

"I have and it feels fine."

They became quiet, as Professor McGonagall began calling out the first years' names and after the Sorting Hat did its job Dumbledore stood up and made his usual announcement.

"I'd like to welcome all of you to another year of Hogwarts. We all know we must prepare for a certain wizard, so I'd like to note some important security measures. First note, of course, that the dark forest is off limits to any student this year. Those select few, who are familiar with this momentum, please try to listen to it." Dumbledore said, and proudly, James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter stood up and began waving, celebrity-like. A few fits of giggles and laughter could be heard as clapping echoed through the hall.

"Yes, well, going on." Dumbledore continued, chuckling himself.

"All Hogsmeade trips will have to be supervised by our head students," Dumbledore motioned for both Lily and James to stand, which they obliged. A few gasping girls could be heard while James received stone stares from some of the guys.

"And our prefects," Dumbledore noted, as James and Lily sat down and the prefects stood up.

"Also, any students are restricted to leave their common rooms, after curfew. This is required by the needs of protection and if any student is found I will leave it to their head teacher to direct punishment." (I'm sorri I 4got what they call their rooms and leaders)

"Now, seeing as there are no more interruptions, let the feast begin." He said raising his hands and all four tables were covered with food.

"You hate his guts, huh?" April asked, looking at James all of a sudden.

"Is it that obvious?" James snapped, making it sound like a joke, but April just smiled sarcastically.

"Well, I know a way to get back at him."

"Oh? How?"

"Make him jealous."

"Play the jealousy card? How cliché," Sirius laughed.

"What would he have to do?"

"Easy. This," April said, spinning around and kissed James hard on the lips. Seconds flew by, until they were minutes, and by this time the Great Hall was dead silent. It was mostly girls that were glaring hard at April, as she leaned back and looked down the table to see Eric looking at them in shock, but he wasn't the only one. Lily looked at her surprised too, but none looked more shocked or furious then Sirius who had a good amount of food in his mouth. James himself hesitated to ask what just happened, as April began eating her food.

"What was that for?" James whispered to April, once everyone began to eat their meal again.

"Yeah, what was that for?" Sirius asked, swallowing his food.

"Just an emotional experiment," April smirked, satisfied with the look from Eric and Lily.

"An experiment, what am I? A guinea pig," James spat.

"No, but didn't you see the way Eric looked?"

"I wouldn't care about him right now. I didn't even give you permission to kiss me."

"Oh, funny, while I've kissed you once without any permission, Lily never gave you permission to kiss her, and yet you've kissed how many times?" April said, looking James straight in the eyes. James opened and closed his mouth, for he couldn't find any way to answer, which didn't give April the upper hand. But all in all, she had him cornered.

"That is completely…and totally…different." James gaped, trying to find appropriate words. April smiled, gently and explained,

"The thing is James, I believe Eric is trying to do the exact thing to you. And now that he's seen you kiss me, he feels his plan is failing." James looked at her speechless.

"What the bloody hell is she talking about? O'Bryan trying to do the exact thin, what thing? Is she talking about trying to get him jealous? Does she mean he's just getting me jealous, about dating Lily?"

"I have no idea what you just said, but can you please explain it again." Sirius asked.

"Um, I've forgot. What did I say again?" April asked, looking thoughtfully. May giggled at her sister's forgetfulness and smiled,

"Don't worry boys April's just had one of her moments."

"Is it that often that she has one?" James asked trying to change the subject.

"No, but once she's said what she thinks, she forget it completely." May giggled.

As everyone began to feel full, students filled out of the Great Hall.

"Well, I've got to talk to Dumbledore. I'll catch you guys later." James said waving to them, as they left.

"Okay, see ya." April cried back, leaving with the rest. As James made his way to the side room of the Great Hall, he noticed Eric and Lily talking, when Eric caught James' eye. Loudly he whispered,

"Meet me right in front of portrait of the village girl in the grapevines, okay? It's on the third floor to your left."

"Okay," Lily agreed suspiciously, getting up and walking with James to the back of the hall.

"Ah, here they are. Here they are." Dumbledore chuckled.

"Here we are Professor." James smiled.

"Well, on to business. I'm sure you've got all of the papers you'll need for this year?"

"Yes Professor, we went over them on our train ride here." Lily noted.

"Well, as I said before. The Hogsmeade trips will need to be supervised. I'm thinking a perfect in each group?" Dumbledore continued.

"That sounds reasonable." James said.

"And I'm thinking about having a party this year."

"A party," Lily asked, thinking of the sort of muggle part with balloons and streamer.

"You mean like a dance?" James asked. Lily's image changing into one of those high school dances with loud music and disco balls.

"I was more on the lines of a gathering," Dumbledore assured, smiling at both of his head students' different expressions. Suddenly, a flowing evening gown, lit scented candles and waltzing entered Lily's head as she cried,

"That's a wonderful idea Professor." Both Dumbledore and James smiled at Lily's enthusiasm for the event.

"Then it's settled. I'll be expecting you two to create the theme, if you feel it necessary."

"Of course, Professor."

"Oh, and before I forget, the head boy and girl common room is on the second floor, fourth corridor, behind the picture of a gorgeous looking sphinx. And may I be bond enough to mention that lemon drops are my favorite sort of candies, and they would be a wonderful party desert, now good night you two."

The two answered and left with a smile.

As they walked down the corridors, the silence was killing James. So he decided to tease Lily a bit, sort of like how he used to. If he was going to be her friend, then he'd have to tease her once in a while.

"So how's life in paradise?" James teased.

"Okay, I guess." Lily answered, her eyebrow shifting to look at James suspiciously.

"Okay, just okay? There isn't anything wrong is there. I mean you've liked this guy for how long and now that you're his girlfriend," James laughed, trying to ease the pain in his stomach from saying those words, "things should be going how you want them to be. Am I right?"

"You, right? You wish, Potter."

"Oh, I thought we agreed not to call each other by our surnames, Evans?"

"Well, like I said, nothing can last forever. Plus it's your fault anyway."

"My fault?"

"Yes, your fault. You're the one who pulled that oh-I'm-so-perfect sort of voice. I mean you don't even live up to your advice."

"Not live up to my own advice. Name once."

"Well, you say just because I'm dating Eric, everything should be fine. Although, I've noticed you and your girlfriend aren't exactly in a friendly spot.

"My girlfriend," James asked, stopping suddenly on the foot of the stairs.

"Yeah, well what else do you call a girl you kiss on the lips? Just a friend," Lily teased stopping too.

"Look Lily…" James started, but then a rumble under their feet interrupted them. The stair cases began to move beneath them and began shifting. Lily grabbed onto the rail, as James lifted his arms to keep his balance. Just as the staircase halted to its newest position, Lily tripped over her robe and fell forward. Luckily, James reached over and grabbed her arm before she fell to the ground.

"You okay?" James asked, teasingly. Lily decided to play along with his little laugh and sighed.

"Oh, no, I…I twisted my ankle and I can't get up. I…I think I won't make it." James laughed at Lily, and before she could do anything, he picked her up and carried her to the third corridor.

"James! Put me down," Lily laughed, and began to squirm.

"But how will my lady walk if she is injured?" James asked, pitching his voice a bit deeper.

"Seriously James, put me down," Lily said, sternly. Surprisingly, James lowered her onto her feet, as they stopped in front of a portrait of a huge field of grapevines. A maiden with rags on was stretching out her arm to pick some of the grapes.

"This is…"Lily started when she realized where she was.

"This is where you are supposed to meet that oh-so-charming boyfriend of yours. What was his name again? Fredrick, Garret, Hedrick?"

"It's Eric, James."

"Oh, right, right. I knew that." Lily laughed despise that he just insulted her boyfriend.

"James Potter you are the most childish boy I have ever met." She giggled.

"Well, I'll have you know Lily Evans that I have matured a lot over the summer. Thanks to a certain red head's advice," James said coyly. Suddenly, James took Lily's hands into his and his expression became a bit more serious, but gentle.

"Look Lily, April's not my girlfriend. She's…just a friend. And I don't ever plan having a girlfriend."

"Oh and why is that?" Lily teased, but her voice sounded smaller than usual.

"Because…. the girl I want already has a boyfriend." James said, calmly. Lily froze from shock, seeing the James Potter having a real civil conversation with her. It made her uneasy. Seeing the nervous feeling in her eyes, James immediately dropped his hands to his side and looked at her more teasingly,

"I'll see you later, okay? Don't stay up too late. We've got lots of work to do. Night," James said, waving to her and making his way, back to the stairs. Lily starred at him, a sort of unnerving feeling running in her.

"What did he mean by the girl he wanted? The only girl I can image would be me, but James couldn't mean me, could he? I mean I'm talking about James Potter. Although…he did say he matured, but that only lasted a second." Lily's mind became fuzzy, as she looked up and down the corridor for Eric.
As he made his way to the fourth corridor on the second floor, James' mind buzzed with thoughts.

"You idiot, what were you thinking when you said that to her. No, I'll tell you what you were thinking. You weren't! Now you can doubt your chances of showing her your maturity."

As he walked up to the picture of the sphinx, she sat up from her sleeping position and smiled.

"Password?" she asked her voice shockingly deep.

"Um, darn I know I remember it. Darn it. Let's see some kind of candy, right? Yeah, but what kind," James murmured, but then a thought hit him. It was a bit out of the blue, but it was his only chance to get in.

"Well it's worth a shot, just don't go and mess this up, again James."

"Um, excuse me. I know this may seem odd but seeing as you're a sphinx, can you give me sort of clue to the password?"

(I'm sorri. I'm not sure if this is what sphinxes do, but I got this idea from the fourth book, so please just go along.)

"I can give you a riddle, but nothing more. If you answer correct, you may enter, but if your answer is wrong I will not allow you passage." She said, smiling.

"I think I'll take my chances. May I hear the riddle?" She smiled and recited,

First, this item's color is a friendly bright yellow.

But for this I must say it is quite the sour fellow.

Second, it is something that is surely well known.

But only to muggles, and Dumbledore, alone.

Third, this object is both sour and sweet

Some call it a trick, but others call it a treat.

James thought long and hard about the three clues, but they just didn't make any sense.

"What is yellow, sour and yet sweet? Of course Dumbledore knows what it is, but it's something muggles know too. So, what could it be? Trick or a treat, if its trick I should know then. Argh, what could it be? I remember Dumbledore saying it was his favorite candy, so it has to be a candy? What kind of candy? Yellow? Sour? Sweet? What's sour and sweet?"

James ran his hand through his hair in frustration.

"What is it?" James spat, feeling his brain go on overdrive. He knew if he didn't figure it out sooner, he'd have to wait for Lily to come and who knew when that would be?

"Wait, that's it! Lily! Why didn't I think of it before? I'll go and wait with her until she decides to come back. I mean I'm not going to interrupt anything, just watch over her, like I promised. Although, what if I don't like what I see when I get there? I'll just wait in a nearby classroom."

Feeling for his invisibility cloak, he smiled to the sphinx and rushed to the nearest corner, there, he pulled out the cloak and wrapped it around him.

Careful not to trip over it, he made his way up the stair cases and up to the third corridor, where he, surprisingly, found Lily exactly where he had left her, although, she was in an interesting conversation with the portrait's maiden. Thinking about turning back, James caught the maiden say his name.

"That James fellow seemed nice. What's up with him?"

"I don't think you should get any ideas, Juliet. He's the top bachelor here. You'd be fighting a lost battle. Beside if he's fan club knew you liked him, I can only image what they'd do to you." Lily sighed.

"Hm, well I can only image what they'd do to you then."

"What do you mean?"

"I saw how he took your hand, before he left. And don't even think for a second that I didn't see how he was looking at you. I bet you, he was thinking you'd be prettier than a portrait."

"That's a new one. I've never heard that one before."

"Believe me Lily, when you're a painting, you learn loads. So, what's going on between you two?"

"Nothing, Juliet. He's just a friend. Plus, you heard him. He said he said he didn't want a girlfriend any way."

"I wonder why that is? Could it possibly be that the girl he wanted already has a boyfriend?" Juliet asked, her voice sounding serious and yet a teasing hint was in it. Lily looked flushed and turned her head so she didn't have to face Juliet.

"Well, that seems impossible. I mean any girl that likes James would obviously stay single for him. So the question really is does this girl like him back?"

"Hm, I was wondering the exact same thing? Anyway, why are you here Lily?"

"Oh, I'm meeting my," but Lily hesitated at the words. If she told Juliet that she was waiting for Eric, her boyfriend, she'd probably put two and two together. Plus, if she knew that Lily had a boyfriend, she'd guess that Lily was the girl James mentioned. So she just said the first thing that came to mind, "My friend."

At this, James' heart did flips.

"A friend, a FRIEND, is that how Lily actual sees Eric? As a friend, or is she lying to Juliet to so she wouldn't suspect anything. She seems to have heard our conversation, and she seems pretty bright. I bet she'd figure it out, even before Lily does."

Suddenly, a figure raced through the shadows and James noticed two piercing eyes spot looking at him. It was Filtch's cat, Ms. Norris.

"Wait, she can't see me, so then what's she looking at?" James thought, but then it hit him, "Lily!"

James watched as the eyes disappeared and he ran to the corner. When he made sure no one was looking, he pulled it off and ran back to Lily.

"James?" she asked, seeing him in panic.

"Lily, come on. We have to go."

"But, I'm meeting…"

"Yes, I know but Filtch is coming and…"

"And he's right behind you." An eerie voice sneaked from behind James. They both looked up at Filtch's filthy face and put on bold faces.

"So…whatare Hogwarts' head student doing out of bed at this time of the night?" he asked, them.

"We were," Lily stammered, but James cut in,

"We were patrolling the corridors. I mean you never know what may happen these days do you?" he said convincingly.

"Yes, but just why in this certain part of the corridor, hm?"

"Well, this lovely young lady was saying she saw some students out of bed and she was describing them to us, just before you came." James said, nodding his head to Juliet.

"Oh, yes I was. I was just about to go to sleep when I saw a couple of students running down the corridor. Then, these two came to patrol so I thought I'd tell them." Juliet lied. Filtch looked at them suspiciously, until Lily spoke up,

"You know, I'm sure Professor Dumbledore wouldn't mind us out of bed, seeing as we were doing our duty, but what would he say if a couple of students weren't following his instructions from the feast. He'd be quite upset with them. Maybe even suggest punishment." At the word of punishment, Filtch smiled.

"And of course if we were the ones to catch them, all we could do is give detentions and take away points, but image if you caught them, Filtch? I mean with all the protection, students shouldn't really be roaming around past curfew, you could give Dumbledore a really good reason to seriously punish them." Lily suggested. Filtch smiled wider and he looked at Lily brightly.

"You're right." He cried, but then he darkened his expression.

"I mean, you're right, but you two shouldn't be up this late even if you are doing your duties. Now, I'll let you two go to bed now, but don't let me capture you guys out again. You hear?"

"Oh, yes Filtch we hear you," James smiled weakly and pulled Lily to the heads' common room. "But that doesn't exactly mean we were listening." He added as they walked down the stairs. Lily smirked and nudged James in the rib.

"Hey, at least we got out of that. I can't image what I would have done if you weren't there," Lily admitted.

"Also, what were you doing there?"

"Well, I couldn't sleep and I wanted to start sketching out plans early for the party. Then, I decided to check if you were still up and I noticed you weren't in your room, so I came to look for you."

"Well, that seems responsible James but you don't have to worry, about the party or me. You're not going to have to plan this whole thing out by yourself, and you certainly don't have to look after me. I can take care of myself," Lily defended.

"Who said I was looking after you, I mean. We're supposed to be a team, so I wasn't looking for you, I was looking for my partner," James teased, as they came to the portrait of the sphinx.

"Do you wish to try again?" she asked, seeing James.

"Try what again?" Lily asked, looking at the sphinx then to James.

"Nothing, it's…I forgot the password, do you remember it?" James admitted.

"But how were you able to get in then?" Lily asked.

"Well I remember it, but then I took so long looking for you I've forgotten it already."

"Oh, well, its Lemon Drops if you didn't know, and you really took that long to find me?" James didn't answer directly as he stepped through the entrance hole and said, "Well, look at the time. It's past midnight I think I'll hit the hay. See you in the morning." James said, rushing to a door with the words; Head Boy, James Potter. Lily went to her own bedroom and got dressed. When she was about to go to sleep, she kept thinking to herself, "I wonder what happened to Eric?"

So did you like it. I hope you did. R+R pleez