Hey, sorri 2 keep u wait'n.

Ch 8: Lies equal... Love?

James made his way slowly to Gryffindor Tower, with Sirius, Remus and Peter going just as slow. Sirius was carrying Remus over his shoulder like a bag of wheat, while James was supporting Peter with one arm. Each one of them had battle scares that anyone would easily guess that were painful. They had gotten in late, and everyone seemed to be going about with their daily lives. Although,they didn't knowthree certain girls were waiting expectedly for them. So as they walked through the portrait hole, James felt three pairs of eyes shoot at him on the back of his neck. When he turned around, there was April, May, and June starring uncertainly at him, not even making the slightest blink. As he was about to walk into the dormitory with the others April came over and said cheerfully,

"Hey, James. We were about to see how's Lily doing. Do you want to come?" A part of James did want to go see if Lily had been alright, but the other part wanted to get some shut-eye.

"Well, I'm not sure if Lily wants to have company if she's still sick," James blurted, trying to change her mind. Although, April looked unfazed and grabbed him by the arm.

"Of course you do! Let's go!"

"Hey Lily!" April shrilled as theMarch sisters and Jameswalked into the Hosptial Wing.

"Hey guys." Lily answered just as cheerful, when she noticed James was with them. She put aside her Pride and Prejudice book to let them sit on the bed side. As April opened her mouth to speak, Madame Pomfrey came in and began to stutter nervously,

"Ah, Evans. Did you get enough sleep? Are you in any pain? What about your leg? Is it doing better? Your fever's gone, but do you still feel sick?Seeing from last night,I believe you can get around." Even with all the questions, April was only able to make out the last one.

"What do you mean, 'seeing from last night?" Here it comes. The thing Lily had hoped sodesperatly to avoid especially with James. While James on the other hand, wasn't shocked at all but scared.

"Well, I'll tell you. This young lady thought it would be alright for her to leave in the late hours of the night to do who knows what, and come back beatened and bruised. You came in two, didn't you dear?" Madam Pomfrey asked May, who shyly noded. After giving Lily her medicine, she left the group to talk amoungst themselves. April, of course, waited for about five seconds, before,

(Agian I'm going to use the little initials for this dialogue.)

A: "You did what?"

L: "I... I... I just went for a nightly stroll." She glanced at June who was giving her what looked like a scolding expression, along with James whose mouthlooked unfazed, but she can tell furry was burning in his eyes. May didn't say anything, for fear from her sisters.

A: "HELLO! You've got a broken leg, a semi-cold, and you've been to the Hospital Wing three times this week! What more could you possibly do to yourself?"

L:"Look, I'm sorry. I just had to look into something," Lily said turning away from James' glaring eyes. She felt like a five year old being punished fornotdoing what was told. She clearly remembered about the promise they had made, even with her diziness. April sighed and decided to change the subject.

A: "So, James. We hear you went out late last night. Care to explain." Both James and Lily looked interested in the topic and listened anxiously.

J: "And where did you hear that."

A: "That doesn't matter."

Ja: "Yeah, it does. What are you stalking me or something?"

A: "No. May said she saw you running across the courtyard, late last night." Now it was Lily's turn to look at James' scoldingly. Although, James chose to look at May.

Ja: "Oh, really. I bet May was dreaming. Weren't you May? After all, you said it was pretty late."

M: "Perhaps James' right. I was a bit sleepy."

A: "No, May clearly said it was you James."

Ja: "Well... uh..."

A: "Uh-huh. That's what I thought. Anyway, May why don't you tell us what happened last night to you and Lily. I thought I'd be able to read what happened, but you seem to be shutting it all up tight." James and Lily looked at April questioning, while May and June looked horrified.

Ju: "I think it's about time we leave. Lily needs her rest."

M: "I agree. Coming James?"

Ja: "Actually, I think I'll stay a bit. I need to have a tiny chat with Lily." James looked at Lily, his eyes flarring.

L: "I couldn't say it better myself." Lily glarred back, fully understanding his meaning. It was only after a few minutes after the three sisters left, that James said something.

"So, when were you thinking of telling me about your 'nightly stroll?", James asked coldly.

"Probably later then when you were going to telll me about 'May dream." Lily challenged.

"Lily, you promised you would rest up."

"I was confused and dizzy. You can't blame me. Besides, what about you? I thought you wouldn't do anything drastic."

"I didn't do anything. All I did was check the grounds, to see what happened to Remus."

"Really, you just went to see?"

"Yes, see."

"Don't lie, James. Tell me the truth!"

"You first! What were you thinking when you left out of bed?"

"I thought I could help Remus."

"So did I." The two starred, before they turned away. James looking out the window, and Lily fumbling with the bed sheets.

"Now what? James' you're messing it all up. Whatever happened to that promise you made with her dad?" James pondered over the exact words he had said."I'm trusting, you to protect my daughter, James. Please don't let any harm her come to her."

"Yeah, you've been keeping your end of that promise. First, she breaks her leg in the first Quidditch game. (membr, he hasn't got all the Dtails from Lily yet) Then, O'Bryanhas sex withher. And to top it all off, she gets attacked by a werewolf."

Then, James glanced at Lily's book and asked,

"So, how is it?" Lily followed his gaze.

"It's great. Really... interesting."

"Really? How?"

"Well, you know Darcy."

"Yeah, he's that really cheerful one, right?"

"No, that's Bingley. Darcy's the one whose too proud."

"Oh, yeah. So what about him?"

"Well, he's starting to fall for the main character Lizzy."

"Really? I thought he hated her."

"Not really. It was Lizzy who hated him."

"What's with the past tense?"

"Well, she's not so sure now."

"Really? Why?" (Okay, time-skip w/ the book)

"Well, there's these new characters. Mr. Collins and Wickham. Mr. Collins is Lizzy's cousin and he wants to marry her. Then..."

"Wait, I thought you said he was her cousin?"

"Yeah. Long-distantly-related though."

"Oh, anyway..."

"Anyway, he's this annoying git, and tries too hard to impress everyone."

"What about Wickhat?'

"Wickham."

"So what about Wickham?"

"Well, he's this handsome guy who Lizzy comes to like, and he has some sort of past connection with Darcy, which draws him more closer to Lizzy."

"Yeah, but what do they have to do with this Darcy bloke?"

"Well, Lizzy spends time with all three of them and firgure she hates Darcy, is irrated with Collins, and is in love with Wickham."

"Oh, but you said something's changed."

"Yeah, it's Darcy's attitutde, and now something big's happened."

"What?"

"Well,... Darcy proposed."

"Really? Well, what did Lizzy say?"

"She said no," Lily said hesitatedly.

"Firgures. She hates him so of course why would she say yes... I bet she'll hate him forever."

"Nothing can last forever." Lily murmured, feeling her eyes burn ferciely. James took this moment to look at her, his heart breaking in two.

"Why? Why is it, I always end up making her mad a me?" he thought sulkily, and didn't hear her talking to him. When he finally snapped out of it, she repeated,

"Why did you break your promise?" she cried. James couldn't answer. He knew if he told her why, she'd begin to ask other questions. So he asked the same question back to her.

"Why did you break your promise?"

"I... Remus... he helped me out earlier. You know with all those girls... and I felt terrible just lying here,... thinking that he was in pain." she continued to cry, but suddenly lept onto James and placed her head in his lap,

"WHY? Why did you go? Who knows what could have happened. You could have gotten hurt, or worse.You could have died!" The words left James shocked, as he watched Lily just cry her heart out. Although he felt awful,a tiny smile crept along his face.

"She was worried. About me. Boy,I thought she'd hate me for sure."

"I'm sorry Lily. I won't do it agian. And as for you,"he said, pulling her gently by the shoulders so he could look directly into her deep green eyes.

"You have to promise too. You did break your promise too you know."

"I... know..." Lily kept crying, but calmed a bit as she put her head back on James' lap, and he began to run his hand through her hair. Loving the way, she kept a tight hold on his robes. Wishing, hoping, that he'd never leave her agian.

And that's what he did, for the rest of the month. During the rest of the month, James helped Lily get through her classes. He carried her books, helped get her downt he stairs, and even opened the door for her time to time. Lily felt as if she could walk agian and soon she could. As October came around the corner, Madame Pomfrey exclaimed that Lily's leg was nearly healed completely. The reason it was taking so long in the first place, was she kept putting pressure on it, and herself. So enough, Lily could make it to classes with only a cane. A better onethan theone thatshe used that night, though. As the weekends came, Lily and James had planned out the first few Hogsmeade visits.

"I think we should have it every other week," Lily suggested, as she went through the schedules she had made up.

"Well, I disagree. I think it should be every weekend."

"James, some people have better things to do, than go to Hogsmeade," Lily blurted, making James' jaw drop onto the table.

"Are you mad woman? What kind of idiot git would have better things to do than spend a lovely fall afternoon in Hogsmeade. Especially if they want to go with a certain person that they liked."

"Then, that person has homework they didn't finished," Lily answered sweetly, directing it straight at him. James blushed and crossed his arms.

"Fine. I get it, but we should have our first visit this weekend then."

"Why?"

"Well, remember when Dumbledore said he wanted to have a ball this year?" How could Lily forget. She had spent all that time in the Hospital Wing trying to come up with a theme.

"Yeah, but what does that have to do with our visits?"

"Well, I was thinking we can have the ball at the end of this month."

"You mean on Halloween."

"Exactly. And as a theme I was thinking of a masquerade." Lily's heart leapt with joy and anxiety.

"James, you're brilliant."

"You've just noticed?" James asked, his eye-brow raised.

"Very funny, but let's be careful with this."

"Careful? How?"

"Well, it's not going to be easy for some people to desguise themselves." Lily pointed out her wavy red hair. James smirked, knowing he'd never be able to miss it.

"Don't worry, that's why were we wear masks, and dye our hair with magic."

"Also, let's not let anyone ask anyone to it as a date."

"Why? That just goes agianst why I wanted our first visit to be this weekend."

"But it'll be more mysterious. Please James," Lily pouted cutely. James tried shutting his eyes, but couldn't help it and smiled in defeat.

"Fine, but now I add my condition."

"Okay, what?"

"No body reveals themselves, clue each other in on their choice in clothing, or gives any hints about their identity until the stroke of midnight."

"Okay, but why?'

"It'll be more mysterious," James mocked.

"Fine, I guess I can't disagree."

"Now about our visit..."

"Yes, which is next weekend."

"No, this weekend."

"No, next."

"This!"

"Next!" The two starred sternly at each other until Lily sighed,

"Fine this."

"Oh, and why backing down so easily Lily?"

"Well, now you owe me."

"What!"

"You got what you wanted James Potter, so now you owe me. End of discussion," Lily giggled and gathered her stuff. She rushed to the door, but added,

"Remember to tell Dumbledore!"

As James walked to Dumbledore's Office, he thought about his masqueradeidea.

"Well, at least she likes it. Although, why did she have to suggest no one ask each other out? Now I can't ask her out, what a total drag." When he gave the gargoyle the password, it moved aside and he walked through the oak door.

"Why hello, Mr. Potter. I was wondering when I'd be seeing you. Have a seat," Dumbledore greeted, while he fed his pet phoenix.

"Professor, you know why I'm here don't you?" James asked, liking how Dumbledore always knew what someone would say, before they said it.

"I'm hoping it's about our upcoming ball."

"Yes."

"Lily and I-"

"Ah, so you've settled your little argument?" Dumbledore chuckled.

"Um, yes, sir," James answered, suspiciously.

"Anyway, we've decided to date it one the thirty-first of October."

"Oh my, a All-Hallow's-Eve ball. How mysterious." James smirked at the word, that he had heard atso manytimes today.

"Yes, we're also planning it to be a sort of masked event."

"A masquerade? How exciting."

"Yes, in other words a masquerade."

"Well, I like the idea.You may schedule a decorating time and send it to me. Then, I can assist you in the preparations."

"Thank you Professor, and I'd like to add that our first Hogsmeade visit is this weekend."

"Oh, how delightful. I'm sure this would be a good time for-"

"The students to ask each other, to accompany them as a date? I'm sorry sir, but they can't do that."

"Oh and why not?"

"Well, Evans believes that it would be more enjoyable that way."

"Ah, well if you two have agreed, I won't go agianst it. I trust you two to make the right choices."

"Thank you, Professor." James smiled and got up. As he walked to the door, Dumbledore asked,

"How is Ms. Evans? I haven't seen her too much lately."

"She's doing great Professor. A lot better now that she can walk a bit."

"That's wondeful to hear. You take good care of her, now Mr. Potter. Who knows, she just might be your date even if you didn't ask her to be." With this James blushed and left Dumbledore to chuckle to Fawkes,

"And maybe,end up being more than a date."

"Okay, now a little higher," Lily instructed as April levitated the hangings across the ceiling.

"This alright?" April asked.

"Perfect." Lily examined the rest of the hall as streamers flew across the window sils and gigantic pumpkins were placed at the center of each of the tables. It was Friday night, the day before the Hogsmeade visit and Lily had asked the March sisters to help her decorate the Great Hall.

"Well, we're all donewith the teacher's area." May announced as she and June made their decorations disappear.

"Great! By this rate, we'll be done in no time." April cried, cheerfully.

"I'm glad James suggested to start decorating," Lily thought to herself.

"ACHOO!" a loud sneeze echoed throughout the Quidditch playing field.

"Catching a cold Prongs?" Sirius laughed as he and James walked back to the castle, with the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. (Quidditch team, practices.)

"I don't think so." James said, scratching the side of his nose.

"I guess someone' thinking about you." Sirius teased. James blushed as they made their way into the Great Hall, which was beautifully decorated.

"This is turning out pretty well." James stated as the rest of the team admired the Hall.

"Thanks," Lily, May, and April said in unison. June was eating what looked like a bat cupcake. For some reason, James couldn't help butfeel depressed, as he gazed at the decorated hall.

"She's probably meet some guy, and dance with him all night."he thought to himself. Upon seeing the disturbed James, April decided to step in,

"Well, I think it's time for bed, see you later Lily."Then, she began pushing June and May back to Gryffindor Tower. Noticing they were one Sirius short, April bounded back in and found himeating some pasteries.

"You too Sirius." Apil grabbed Sirius' collar and began dragging him back withthem, but only after whispering to James,

"If you can't ask her to the ball, ask her outto Hogsmeade." And they left James and Lily in an awkward silence.

"Well, I guess we should get to bed too." James suggested.

"Yeah, I guess." Lily answered following him to the Head's common room.

"Serious? She said that?" Lily asked, laughing. They were dressed in their pajamas,but decided to go over some of the finer details about the party.

"Yeah, she said that I come to see her more than all of the other students put together. Although, Madame Pomfrey and I have a sort of thing between us."

"Oh, really?" Lily asked suspiciously.

"Uh-huh."

"Well, I guess I can't compete with Madame Pomfrey." James nearly fell off the couch when he heard this. Lily laughed histerically as James slouched on the floor, crossing his arms on the cushion and resting his head on them.

"Nah. No offense to Madame Pomfrey, but you're much prettier." James assured, making Lily slightly blush.

"Oh, am I?"

"Absolutly."

"So if I were to dress up as a troll for the ball, you wouldn't think it's me?" James raised his eyebrow to the question, and answered.

"Well, what's it matter anyway? It's not like I can't ask you to the ball." Lily suddenly looked shocked.

"So, are you saying you wouldn't even try to find me?" she said lowering her head. James saw her worry, and shot up.

"NO! NO! That's not what I meant at all. It's just... I'm sure you'll find some guy at the ball and dance with him." James got back on the couch and looked away.

"Well, I think I'd better go to bed. We have that visit tommorow. Good night." Lily said and began to walk to her room, when James got up and grabbed her wrist.

"Um, Lily?"

"Yeah?"

"You remember when you said I owed you?"

"Yeah..."

"Well, I was thinking.Do you want to hang out, at Hogsmeade?We could walk around, go shopping, buy lunch. My treat?" James said very fast. Lily looked both shocked and confused.

"James, what are you saying?"James took a deep breath and decided to put it as simply as possible.

"Would you like to go out with me tommorw?" It took a minute for Lily to comprehend what he had just said, before she answered,

"Um,...sure, I guess." James swore he could have died.

"She said yes? She said yes! SHE SAID YES!" he kept screaming in his head.

"Alright then. I'll meet you in front of the castle, while the prefects gather everyone up."

"Okay."

"Okay."

"Well, good night."

"Good night."

And they both went to bed, dreaming about the next day.

'Kay tat's tat. I'm sorri 4 leav'n u a cliff. but I need 2 keep u giz intrestd. now pleez r+r.

'kay luv ya, bye. KT