Chapter Nine

Sam sighed as she woke up in the Hospital Wing. "Oh shit, how'd I get here?" she asked desperately.

"You fainted," a voice said simply. She looked up and saw Sirius leaning against the chair he sat in. "You can't kick me out, I was here too."

"What?" she asked in confusion.

"Major headache, so I was sent here. Someone saw you faint, so they brought you here the same time I went," Sirius explained. Sam sighed and slumped against her bed. "Why did you faint exactly?"

"It's not my place to tell," she answered icily. Sirius rolled his eyes.

"You're so stubborn."

"Well, you annoy me."

"You lose your temper too much."

"You complain too much."

"You're too pretty for your own good." Sirius eyed her. Sam felt her cheeks flush at that. She glared down at the floor.

"You're too flirtatious."

"You don't want to admit that you like me."

"That's because I don't."

"You lie too much." Sirius smirked as Sam's face turned into a red tomato.

Remus sat next to Mattie. "So what's gonna happen today?" he asked, cocking his head to the side. Mattie glanced up at him and found her heart beating slightly faster. She couldn't take it.

"Uh, I don't think we should do this."

"But you said it was foolproof," Remus protested, his brow wrinkling in confusion. "What's up? Are you nervous that it won't work or something?"

"I'm nervous around you," Mattie blurted out. Remus was taken aback. "I'm nervous because somehow I get jittery and everything, my heart is beating faster than it's supposed to and I feel lightheaded after everything."

A slight smile formed on Remus's face. "Uh, Mattie… D'you know what that means?"

"Yes." Mattie looked down, ashamed. Remus started laughing and he hugged her. "What?"

"Mattie, you like me?" he asked, tilting her chin up with his hand. Mattie blushed and nodded. "Well, I like you too."

Mattie's lips broke into a grin. "Really now?"

"Swear." Remus laughed and pressed his lips against hers.

James woke up and walked down to the common room. He saw Lily sniffling by the fire. "Hey, Lily Flower," he said softly, walking up to her. "Are you alright?"

"No," she sobbed, burying her face between her knees. "James, please, I don't wanna talk to anyone right now."

James put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Okay…" he said, standing up. Lily looked up at him, her eyes red and her cheeks tear-stained. James's heart tugged at his chest. "Lily… I… I can't leave you."

Lily started crying again and James bent down to hug her. She buried her face in his chest, sobbing uncontrollably. "Now, love, tell James what's wrong," he murmured soothingly, stroking her hair as if she was a child.

"They're gone, James…" she whispered. "My parents are gone."

James's face went white and he pulled Lily closer. "Oh, Lily Flower," he whispered. He tilted her chin up and for some reason; he started kissing her tears away. "You'll be alright…"

"Promise you won't leave me," Lily said softly. She looked up at him and he glanced down at her, his hazel eyes softening at her gaze. He nodded and felt a lump at his throat.

"Yeah, I promise." James held her close. "Now come on, Brett will be waiting."

"James…" She gave him a half-smile. "D'you mind if I go with you instead? I'm sure Brett will understand. Please come with me this once."

He grinned and hugged her. "Sure, Lily."

"Okay, I lost Mattie and Lily. Now I'm stuck with you," Sam grumbled angrily, walking down Hogsmeade with Sirius. He grinned at her.

"Hey, it won't be so bad. Come on, where d'you wanna go?" he asked, tucking his hands into his robe pockets. "Damn, it's cold."

"Yeah, I know, I lost my mittens."

"What? Lost your mittens, you naughty kitten, now you shall have no pie," Sirius teased, making Sam laugh. He paused before taking his mittens off and handing them to Sam. "Here you go. After all, you fainted."

Sam smiled and put them on. She noticed Sirius's cold hands and hesitated before taking off her right hand mitten and putting it on his right hand. She took his left hand in her right. "We're even then," she said softly.

"Aw, you're getting all soft on me, eh, Samantha?" Sirius laughed. Sam rolled her eyes at him and he kissed her cheek. "Doesn't matter. I think I'm getting all soft on you too."

Sam blushed slightly and they walked hand-in-hand. "So where do you wanna go?"

"Wait. I think I wanna show you something." Sirius started running with Sam close behind.

"Hey, Lily, don't drink that." James grabbed the Firewhiskey away from Lily. She glared at him and he glared back.

"Please."

"NO." James took her hand. "As much as you feel like drowning in Firewhiskey, I won't let you. You're gonna regret it tomorrow."

"But," Lily protested, "My parents died!"

"No reason for you to drink your misery away! Butterbeer, please," James ordered. Lily slumped against the counter. He sighed. "You're a handful, Lily Flower."

"Shut up." She refused to meet his eyes. "If Brett was here, he'd let me."

"Then he'll rape you." James rolled his eyes. "You really are a handful." He smiled slightly. "But a good handful, you can keep me busy."

"You make me sound like a dog." Lily narrowed her eyes at him. He laughed and kissed her cheek, making her blush slightly. "Now little dear, where will we go after our butterbeer?"

"Bookstore! And that rhymed, if you noticed." Her eyes lit up. James sighed.

"I knew you would say that." He grinned as Lily rolled her eyes at him, yet giggles escaped her lips. And both of them didn't notice a boy from afar glaring at the two of them.

"One day you won't be laughing like that," he murmured evilly. "One day, Lily will be laughing with me."

Thanks to the reviewers! I lurrv ya all!

Well, I can't keep saying thanks to all of ya:hands over cookies to all her friends, which are the reviewers:

Thanks so much to Flame of Desire, IamSiriusgrl, waterfaerie15, Aura, KawaiiMegami86, Hazeled eyed marauder, outoftheordinary, Chrissy8887779999, BabyWrestler, imfeelingthis182 and Radieschen!