Hey all Pupparoux here, OK in case it isn't clear this is Lily and James's 7th year at Hogwarts. Sorry about that.

Wow this is a long one. So once again that you all so much! You rock! YAY!

I might not update for a while because of sucky SAT's…I swear they are ruining the lives of teenagers everywhere…but yeah. And say congrats to me because prom is Saturday and I have a date! WOOHOO! Lol.

Thanks.

R&R

P.s I don not own anything related to The Harry Potter franchise. Well duh, why would I be writing here if I did right? All hail the genius that is J. K. Rowling.

Right onward! ;) Pupparoux

Chapter Three: To Grandmother's House We Go

Lily woke the next morning to find herself the sleeping on her pillow, under her blankets, the right way on her bed.

That's strange, she thought. I distinctly remember falling asleep against the pillar…OH NO! James! She looked frantically around, but he wasn't there. She let out a sigh. He had left, good thing too. She didn't want to wake up to that face…

So she sat up, stretched, and threw open the hangings around her bed. She got up and started to walk to her trunk to get clothes for the day but she tripped over her friend Molly's stuffed dog, Wrinksy.

She fell to the ground with an "OOOFFFF!"

"MOLLY!" Lily called from the floor.

"Yes, Darling?" Came Molly's cheerful reply.

"UGH! You are way too awake in the morning." Called Lily sleepily from the floor.

"So everyone says…" Molly poked her head around her bedpost, her long dark swishing with her, her dark eyes twinkling. "Hey!" said Molly rushing over to Lily. "What are you doing on Wrinks?" she asked as she tugged the stuffed dog out from under Lily.

"Well what's he doing on the floor?" asked Lily standing up and massaging her hands, which she used to catch herself.

"Must've thrown him," said Molly shrugging and straitening up.

Molly Christensen was Lily's best friend at Hogwarts. She was 5'6 with long dark hair and dark eyes. She was always smiling and laughing. Molly was on the Gryffindor quidditch team. She was a chaser. She was also practically the ONLY girl in the school who wasn't in some way infatuated with James Potter. She happened to be infatuated with some one else, but she refused to tell Lily who.

"You'll just laugh at me and tell me to 'get over him'"

Molly always told Lily how cute she and James would be. To which Lily would reply indignantly, "SHUT UP! NEVER! He's so immature…"

But Molly would just smile her playful smile and say, "Ohh, right. I forgot…"

"SO…where you off to?" asked Molly, hugging the dog to her chest.

"Home. Gram's ill," said Lily sadly.

Molly's face fell. "Oh no. Lils…give her a hug for me, kay." She shook her head. "Man, I really like your gram." She sighed then she looked up at Lily. "Well?" she asked. "Who are you bringing, then?"

Lily, who had got her clothes from her truck and was heading toward the bathroom to wash up, stopped.

"WHAT?" she asked.

"Which boy are you bringing with you to your gram's?"

Lily had forgotten she had told Molly that. "Ohh… uh…I'm not telling," she called over her shoulder as she rushed out the door.

"YOU ARE!" Molly said, grabbing her clothes for the day and her toothbrush, and rushing after Lily.

Molly caught up to Lily in the bathroom.

"Tell me, I'm dying to know."

"Oh shut up. You won't believe me even if I do tell."

"C'mon? What haven't I heard before?" Molly cocked an eyebrow. "I am a witch you know… not a lot surprises me anymore."

Lily paused a moment. She never could keep secretes from Molly.

"Fine, but be quiet about it." She took a deep breath and looked around the bathroom to make sure no one else was in there. Since it was seven o'clock it wasn't likely.

"James Potter."

Molly looked at Lily, and then she burst out laughing. "No WAY!" Still laughing. "Oh man Lils. You couldn't have come up with a better one…Ohh that was brilliant. So who are you really taking?"

"Mols," said Lily calmly and seriously. "I am really taking James Potter."

Molly smile got even broader. "HA! I knew one day you'd crack." She shook her head then cocked it to one side. "So…how'd it happen?" she asked sweetly.

"UGH! Shut up!"

When the girls had gotten dressed and put away their pajamas in their room, they went to breakfast in the Great Hall.

They were walking through the entrance hall and through the doors talking distractedly, when Molly walked into something very tall and solid that knocked her to the ground. Lily looked up; it was James and the Marauders. Molly had walked straight into Sirius Black.

"Oye," said Sirius, going slightly pink. "Sorry…"

"OH!" started Molly breathlessly. "No problem…my fault, wasn't watching…"

"Here," Sirius extended his hand to Molly. "Let me help you."

Molly took Sirius' hand and he lifted her up, pulling her closer than was necessary. They stood close together, just staring into each other's eyes.

Lily stole a look at James. They locked eyes and smiled. Then they coughed discretely.

"Oh!" Molly jumped away from Sirius as though she'd just been burned, her cheeks going scarlet. "Right, breakfast! Bye!" and she all but ran to the Gryffindor table, leaving Lily with James, Remus, and Peter. Sirius mumbled something about homework and bolted up the stairs also.

Lily was still smiling and looking where Molly had run.

"All right Evans?" asked James more loudly than was necessary.

"Just fine, Potter." Said Lily.

"I'm going into Hogsmeade around ten thirty, to the Three Broomsticks, want to go?"

"No chance, Potter." She said over her shoulder as she walked into the Great Hall.

"Shot down again, man." Said Peter sadly. "That would be what? The 100th time?" he pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and made a mark on it with his wand. "Ohh excuse me… the one hundred and third time that Lily Evans has rejected you…hmm"

James scowled. No rejection this time, Wormtail. He thought. "Why do you keep that? It's so stupid."

"Just to annoy you," replied Peter, spitefully. Peter had been getting bolder lately, and snappier. "Did you ever stop to think she didn't like you?"

James was looking daggers at Peter.

"Hmm, 103 times Prongs. I've got to say. New record…" Remus said as he started to laugh and slapped James on the shoulder, trying to lighten the tension. "I wonder if anyone else tries this hard to get one girl." And they walked back to their dormitory.

Lily sat down at the breakfast table across from Molly.

"So you and Sirius…" asked Lily.

"Yeah…" started Molly dreamily. "I wish. He has no interest in me though." She sighed sadly.

"Yeah, no interest at all." Said Lily smiling.

At ten fifteen Lily walked back up to her dormitory and grabbed her trunk. She put on her coat, a muggle pea coat. It was a cream color and figure flattering; she also wrapped her Gryffindor scarf around her neck. She walked down the path to Hogsmeade and into The Three Broomsticks.

The room was crowded with all the Hogwarts students that weren't leaving for the holidays. She searched the pub for James but he was nowhere in sight. She shook her head.

OF course…why would he be on time?

She sat down, took off her coat, and ordered a butter beer while she waited. The door opened and a rush of cold air filtered through it. Lily looked toward the door, it was Sirius.

Oh NO! thought Lily. Don't look at me, DON'T LOOK AT ME!

But of course Lily was exactly who Sirius was looking for.

He sat down across from her and smiled his roguish smile, running a hand through his hair and leaned back on the back two legs of his chair.

"So…you finally took James up on an offer, did you?"

"NO…" started Lily. Then she added. "Well not exactly. I mean, I asked Potter to come with me."

"Mmm"

"He told you didn't he?" asked Lily.

"Yup. And while you're here and I'm not annoying the heck out of you…yet, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry your gran is ill."

Lily studied his face, he was genuinely sorry. She eased to his presence a little.

"Thank-you."

"But I also want to give you a warning." He looked even more serious than Lily had ever seen him, though he kept his composure and was still leaning on the two back legs of his chair. "James is my best friend. DON'T MESS HIM UP. Alright." His voice was deadly calm.

"He's just doing me a favor," Lily bristled. "There's nothing personal about it."

"You do know that he's been in love with you for the passed seven years… Of course it's personal to him. Just don't trod on his feelings…please."

Lily turned as red as her hair and was about to open her mouth to say something back, but the door burst open and James came in with his trunk.

"There you are, where did you bugger off to?" James asked Sirius.

"You were supposed to help me with this." He pointed to his trunk.

"You managed." Said Sirius.

" No thanks to you. Evans are you ready to go?" asked James impatiently.

"Almost." Said Lily as she sipped the rest of her butter beer. She put the empty bottle back on the table and stood up. "Ok, we can go." She put on her scarf and coat, grabbed her trunk and followed James out of the Three Broomsticks.

"Have fun you two," called Sirius loud enough for the whole room to hear. "Don't do anything, I wouldn't do!"

James smiled, Lily turned crimson again. Erg… she thought grimly. This is going to be fun.

Lily and James walked briskly side by side to the edge of town with out speaking. James suddenly threw out his arm to stop Lily. It caught her in the upper chest.

She coughed.

"Whoops." James smiled sheepishly. "Sorry"

"Oh sure, yeah."

"Right, so call the bus." Said James, as he bent down to make sure his trunk was securely closed. He looked sideways up at her.

A little breath of wind stirred and blew a few wisps of Lily's red hair into her face. She tucked them back behind her ear and looked down at James. He was watching her and smiling. He didn't even seem to hear her talking to him.

Lily waved a hand in front of James' eyes; bring him back to the present.

"James? Hullo? I'm talking to you…"

"What? You were? What did you say?"

"I said to stop looking at me like that…" she started.

"Why?" He asked, standing up to his full height and looking at her with smoldering eyes.

"It makes me feel uncomfortable…" Lily said coldly, turning away from him.

"Sorry…" said James, though his tone suggested he wasn't sorry at all. He continues looking at Lily. "Flag the bus then,"

"I don't know how to flag down the Knight Bus." Said Lily impatiently, her back still to James.

"What?" started James. "You don't know how to flag down the knight bus?" he grinned.

"Yes…I don't know how to. So just do it already!" said Lily frustratedly, turning back to face him.

"Ok, ok." He pulled out his wand and pulled Lily closer to him. "Don't get scared…"

Lily narrowed her green eyes at him and tried to move away, but he kept a firm grip around her waist, pulling her close to him. She felt a warm surge go from the top of her head, down her spine and to her toes.

Oh, thought Lily. That's new. It scared her…

"Potter…let me g…"

James had raised his wand hand into the air.

There was a deafening BANG!

Lily jumped closer to James and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck as a huge, violently purple, triple-decker bus appeared in front of them with the words KNIGHT BUS stamped on its side.

An elderly man wearing a purple conductor's uniform that matched the bus, hopped down the bus stairs smiling.

"Well 'ello! And welcome to the Knight Bus. My name is Froderick, and I will be your conductor on this fine English morning." He paused and looked at Lily's frightened face. "First time callin' us, is it." He asked her kindly.

Lily smiled awkwardly. "What…what makes you say that?" she asked.

"Well…" started Froderick. "You have a death grip around that young man's neck" his smile broadened, "though he doesn't seem to mind…do 'e?"

Lily looked up at James. He was grinning with Froderick. He looked down at Lily with his big brown eyes. Lily took her arms away from James' neck and pushed herself a respectable distance away from him, smoothing out her clothes.

She cleared her throat. "Well," she said briskly and formally. "Froderick, would you be kind enough to take us to my Grandmother, Marie Evans' house. She lives just outside of Godrick's Hollow."

"Of course. Hop on board." He gestured to the bus with a grand sweep of his arm.

Lily bent down to grab her trunk.

"No, no...Leave that," said Froderick. "I'll get them."

"Alright." Lily said as he walked over and started to pick up the trunks. Lily glanced uneasily at the bus. If it appeared like that…what was the ride going to be like…

James took her hand and led her up the stair of the bus. "C'mon.

It's fun…"

Lily laughed uneasily. "Uh, right, sure." She removed her hand from James's just as Froderick came back up the stairs with the trunks.

"So will that be galleons or sickles?" he asked holding out his hand.

"Galleons," said James as he paid the fare, both his and Lily's.

"I can pay my own way…" started Lily.

"No," said James firmly. "You're housing me for two weeks…the least I can do is pay for bus fare…" he smiled at Lily. She felt herself soften toward him a little and found herself smiling back. Then she shook her head.

"Wait miss," called Froderick. "did you say your gran's name was Marie Evans?"

"Yes…" started Lily uncertainly. "Why?"

"I haven't heard from her in a long while…Tell 'er ol' Froderick says hullo."

"Alright…" said Lily. How does he know my gram?

James led lily up two flights of rickety stairs until they found seats. The top floor was empty, save for them. They had just sat across from each other on squashy armchairs when Froderick's voice came booming through the bus, magically magnified.

"Everyone hold on…" he said. "We're…off…"

And the bus lurched forward sickeningly with another BANG!

Lily flew forward; James caught her and steadied her.

"This is FUN?" she asked him, starting to feel sick.

"Um, yes?" started James. "I think it is, anyway.

"uhhhhhhh…." Was all Lily said.

"Not feeling well?" asked James.

"What tipped you off?" asked a slightly green Lily, as she closed her eyes.

Four and a half hours later the bus finally stopped. James helped Lily down the stairs and Froderick gave them their trunks.

"Hope to see you all soon and don't forget to tell your gran I said hullo," he called as the bus took off again.

Lily was sitting on her trunk, her head in her hands. "Eww…I feel like we're still on the bus."

"Take deep breaths," said James, soothingly. He sat next to Lily on her trunk and started to rub the back of her neck. His hands were cold and Lily was ticklish there. She scrunched up her shoulders, trapping James' hand. Then she felt the shock, like the one while they were waiting for the bus, only stronger. She un-scrunched her shoulders and James moved his hand away.

They both stared at their shoes for a while.

"Time to go…" said Lily finally and she stood up.

"Right."

Lily and James both grabbed their trunks and started walking. The Knight Bus had dropped them off on a little side road so they wouldn't attract muggle attention.

After a short walk they arrived at Marie's house. Lily and James stood at the gate, looking at the house. It was small and made of brick. It was a very cozy looking house, set back among some trees. The garden was just starting to bloom and the little gravel path that led up to the door was neat and lined with early daffodils.

"Are you ready?" asked Lily.

"Of course." Said James. "I was born ready." He added playfully.

Lily shook her head and sighed, "This is going to be a long trip. Ok remember. You are my boyfriend coming to meet the family over the holidays."

"Yup." Said James.

"You and I obviously have to pretend to like each other…"

"Yup," said James.

"Be convincing…alright Potter" Lily said, turning to face him.

"May I make a suggestion?" asked James as he looked down at her.

"Hmmm…"

"Maybe, to be more convincing we should not call each other by our last names? I mean it's just a thought…but."

"No, you're right Pott…uh, I mean, James."

"Thank you Lily." He said formally, bowing.

Lily took a deep breath. "Alright…let's go…"

Lily opened the gate; she and James walked through it and up to the house. They stopped just outside of the door. James took Lily's trunk and put it on top of his, then he took her hand.

Lily looked down and their intertwined fingers with mixed emotions, she shook her head, she didn't have time for this now. Her Gram was ill. She turned the handle, and opened the door.

Once through the threshold she called "Hello everyone! We're here…"

About ten people were sitting or standing in the kitchen where Lily and James had just walked. All the talking stopped mid-sentence and everyone looked at Lily, then everyone's eyes flicked to James and settled on him…

Uh ohh, James thought. Is it hot in here or is it just me… he gulped…

So? What ya think? Reviews please!

Thanks all and until next chapter…

Keep a sharp eye ;)

Pupparoux