Hi everyone! I know, I've been gone for SO long, but I have a reason! (Dodges stones and flaming torches) I was in the mountains where there is NO computer, and then I got home after four days.

Then, the next day at about noon I left for the city where I visited my mom's old friend who lives 6 hours away.

See! I had a reason!

Chapter 14: Black and White

Lily woke suddenly, aware that she was in her bed. She drowsily wondered how she'd gotten there.

Lily groaned when it hit her. "Daddy's dead…" Lily banged her head on her palm a few times.

Lily thought of something. 'I can't believe Petunia would blame me! Daddy was always paranoid about me living in the magical world, no matter how supportive he was. Oh my, I hope Mum and Pet are okay though…'

Some people would wonder why Lily would bother caring about Petunia right now, seeing as her sister practically disowned her.

Lily sighed.

Lily looked to her right, and saw a note left by James. After she read it, she smiled at how sweet it was. God, it was hard to smile.

She got up, and got dressed. She smiled slightly, seeing as wearing black wouldn't be a problem. She pulled on a black turtleneck sweater over a black tank top and the black uniform skirt and robes.

Lily also dug out some black sneakers and socks, and pulled them on.

Ready to face the school, sooner than she had expected, Lily walked out the door.

Lily saw that with her timing, she could make it down to lunch and be ready to go to classes afterward.

Most of the school was unaware of Lily's crisis but the Gryffindors knew too well that Lily had run out of the common room, obviously upset.

Lily tried putting on a smile, but failed mostly. Being in front of all these people made her too nervous and a bit upset.

"Lily? You okay?" Alanna asked, as Lily sat down next to her.

"I'm okay…" Lily said softly, mustering up a last ditch effort for a smile.

"Uh, don't get mad, Lily, but we read the letter after you left." Anya said, looking at Lily's face closely.

Lily looked at her friends, and said, "It's all right. I was going to tell you about it today, but I guess I don't have to."

Alanna nodded, and the three ate silently through the rest of the meal.

James walked into the Great Hall, late for lunch, talking with his friends. He saw Lily eating at the table, and he quickly went over, and sat in the chair next to her.

"Hi James." Lily said, smiling at him, sticking her fork absently into her meat.

"Hi Lily. Do you feel better?" Lily nodded, and yawned slightly.

Alanna checked her watch, and saw they had ten minutes to get to DADA.

The six friends (Sirius and Remus joined them as they were walking to class) made it to DADA earlier than usual, and the group made paper airplanes fly around the room, tapping people on the back then flying away as the person turns around. What kind of evil people are they? (Note sarcasm here.)

Once class started, Lily found the rest of the day to pass in a monotonous blur. She couldn't concentrate; her mind was off in a totally different galaxy. A strangely unaware and empty one.

James and her friends tried talking to her, but to no avail. She just shrugged, or didn't make a single motion to show she heard or saw what they were doing.

Sirius thought what would get her attention was James in his boxers, so as they were walking down the hallway to dinner, he took his wand and pantsed James in front of about 50 people. Lily glanced back at all the laughter.

She seemed to snap back, and she laughed. Loudly, and she did stop after awhile.

James was threatening Sirius with permanent inability to have children, when Lily turned back, still slightly laughing.

"Lily! You're showing signs of life!" Sirius said, waving, while with his other hand (and his wand) keeping James at a ten foot radius away from him.

"Yeah, I am! And want to see another one?" Lily said, grinning softly.

"Sure!" Sirius said, not liking the look in her eye.

"Okay..." Lily flicked her wand, and Sirius was on the ceiling and purely pink. "Stop messing with James, pinky." James laughed, and Remus and Alanna laughed hard as Anya was in hysterics. Sirius was sputtering his discomfort and complaints, and Lily let him down.

"Well, James, I guess you owe me." Sirius said, smiling.

"Why?" James asked.

"I got your girlfriend out of her funk."

"You dork! She had a reason to be in a 'funk'!" James said, rolling his eyes at his best friend.

"It's okay, James. Calm down." Lily said, smiling slightly. James nodded, and Sirius nursed the knee he had hit on the way down from the ceiling.

Lily and James headed up to their shared dorm rooms, and they sat on the couch together.

"Hey, Lily…" James started. Lily looked at him with her brilliant green eyes, which were slightly red still, and answered, "Yeah?"

"Do you mind if I could kiss you?" James said very fast. He then began to babble, "If you don't want to me to I understand, I mean wee just started dating and you father and all-" Lily shook her head, and James saw she was laughing.

"Good Lord, James! I would think that if we were dating and we've kissed many times before that you could kiss me now!"

James smiled and leaned in. Lily smelled his unique, wonderful scent and she let him kiss her, and he was hesitant, and Lily almost laughed.

The James? A hesitant kisser? Heaven forbid!

Lily broke off the kiss, smiling, and James said, "Are- are you okay?"

Lily nodded, still smiling. "For heaven sake, James, I'm not made of glass!"

"Lily, you are to me. And with good reason! If I drop you or fumble, you're broken and I won't have you any more!" James explained, and Lily chuckled slightly.

"That could be true, but I'm made of harder stuff, James."

And Lily closed the short gap between them, and kissed him hard. Deepening the kiss was not hard for James, and Lily basically welcome it.

The kiss left them breathless, and James kissed her again, and again.

After that they sat there laughing about how far they've come and about how stupid their friends were.

Lily yawned, and James offered that they both go to bed. Lily nodded, and the two love birds went to their separate beds, and they both slipped into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Okay everyone. I got an email a week ago or so, and it said that we can't answer reviews. If this rule is still in effect, could the smarter reviewers (a.k.a. smarter than me) tell me? If not, I'll answer ALL reviews next chapter.

You know I luv ya!