OMG! Do you people even know how much you frickin MADE my weekend? YOU ALL ROCK! So I had to do another chappie.

And thank you Skylar for fixing my French translation. I appreciate it.

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

Here we go, I hope you like it.

Chapter 7: The Grandmother

Lily awoke the next morning with her hand still intertwined with James'. Her head was resting on something soft and warm; she didn't want to open her eyes. In her ear she heard a pulsing, rhythmic thump-thump, thump-thump that she couldn't place. Lily opened her eyes and discovered that her cheek was resting on James' slowly rising and falling chest, right over his heart.

Lily didn't know why she was sitting next to James' bed in a chair. She didn't know why she was holding his hand. And she really just couldn't understand why she was nestled so closely and comfortably to James.

But she didn't move; she didn't want to wake him. She thought for a moment as she shook the sleep from her body…the day before.

There had been a snowball fight. James had gotten his clothes soaking wet. Lily had made him get into something warm and dry, get in to bed, and go to sleep before he got sick. She had been just about to go to sleep herself when James had said…

"Don't leave me…" called James, looking in Lily's direction.

"I'm not leaving you James, I'm just going to the other side of the room." Continued Lily, though she paused where she was standing.

"I'm so cold…" James shivered.

Lily turned and went to his side. "Well what do you want me to do? I made you tea."

James shook his head, looking away; trying to verbalize the thoughts that were going through his head. "Just…just stay with me… please."

"Ok," Lily pulled up a squashy chair to the bedside and sat in it. "Ok I'm here, James." She said softly.

James closed his eyes and slid a hand out from under the sheets and took hold of Lily's. His hand was warm, while Lily's was cold. There seemed to be a pulsing heat energy running through their hands. She felt it flowing through her entire body and into James' hand. Lily wondered it James felt it too.

Lily's eyelids were getting heavy and her head was nodding; without warning, she fell asleep, their hands still firmly intertwined…

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh…Lily's eyes popped open.

It was all coming back to her.

Lily slowly lifted her head off of James' slowly rising chest and looked at his peaceful, sleeping face, upon which sunlight was falling. He looked so…so…

Lily sighed, then slowly and carefully took her hand out of James', trying not to wake him up. She then placed that same hand gently on his forehead, to check to see if James had a temperature. Luckily he didn't. So they would be visiting her Grandmother today.

Lily pushed her chair back and made her way quietly towards the bathroom.

James let out a heavy sigh. Lily paused, hoping not to wake him. He needed the sleep, Lily noticed, judging by the shadows under his eyes. When it was clear he wouldn't wake, she continued on.

Lily made it to the bathroom door, pushed it silently inward, stepped inside, and closed the door; all with out a sound. Lily let out a sigh of relief and turned around to get her towel and walked into the sink, sending everything that was on it; toothbrush, soap, toothpaste, etc; to go crashing to the tiled floor. She quickly opened the bathroom door to check on James. He didn't appear to have heard a thing.

Lily let out a sigh as she closed the door again and slapped her hand to her forehead.

"I'm such a klutz sometimes!" she thought.

So while Lily took her shower with out further incident, James was very much awake and listening.

He had been awake before Lily and he had just lain there, with Lily's head on his chest and their hands intertwined, thinking that this was exactly how he wanted life to be.

"Too bad Lily can't stand the thought," said James aloud, to no one in particular.

So James put his hands behind his head and continued to stare at the ceiling above his head while listening to the running water of the shower.

Lily came out, dressed, ten minutes later to find James still in bed, reading her copy of Hogwarts: A History.

"Morning James," said Lily. "How're you feeling?"

"Morning Lily," said James in reply. "Just fine thank you. Oh and good job being quiet this s'morning." He looked over the book at her and grinned.

"Oh shut up you," said Lily, growing pink. "I thought you were asleep."

"Well I was, until that sudden crash in the bathroom…" Continued James quickly. "Was someone in there with you? Another boyfriend, perhaps. I might need to inform your cousins, after I have a word with the bloke." He steered the conversation away from his being asleep, he didn't want Lily to know that he had been awake before her.

"Ehem," Lily cleared her throat. "So I, um, thought that today would be a good day for you to meet my gran." Said Lily shyly. "Though only if you want to." she added quickly, not looking at James as she walked over to her bed and put her clothes from last night on it.

"Of course I want to meet her Lily!" said James. "That's the whole reason you brought me here. Not to mention the ONLY reason you would've even considered bringing me anywhere with…"

"Oh be quiet and go get ready so we can have breakfast. I'm starving." Interrupted Lily. She really was hungry; they hadn't eaten since lunch yesterday.

"Fine…" said James playfully as he got up and put the book on the bed. "By-the-way…did you know that you can't apparate or disapparate on the Hogwarts grounds?"

"Yes…everyone knows that." Said Lily sideways through a curtain of her long red hair.

"Oh…well…excuse me Ms. I'm-too-smart-for-James-Potter," said James good-naturedly as he went to take his shower.

Fifteen minutes later, when James was finally done and dressed he came out of the bathroom. It was ten-thirty.

"Finally!" said Lily. "Let's go." And she walked quickly to the door. James just looked at her, moving more slowly.

"ERGG!" exclaimed Lily. She ran at James, grabbed his hand and pulled him across the room, through the door and down the stairs into the kitchen. Once there, she pushed him into a chair and said, "What'd you want for breakfast?"

"Uh…"

"Pancakes it is!" said Lily as she started making pancakes.

James looked around; there was no one around. The television was off; there were no creaks from the upper levels…

"Uh…Lily?"

"Yes James," asked Lily distractedly from the hot griddle where she was pouring pancake batter. James noticed a bit of flour on her nose.

"Where is everyone?"

Lily looked at the clock, it was eleven. "I would guess at the movies…or something…there should be a note on the table… do you want chocolate chip pancakes?"

"Yeah! Those are my favorite! How'd you know?" he asked Lily as she looked for the note. And sure enough there was. James took it and read it aloud.

"Lily and James,

Petunia and Vernon have decided to take us all out to breakfast. So when you wake up and have had your breakfast, check on Gram. Don't know when we'll be back.

Love,

Us"

"Typical," said Lily, as scowl crossed her face.

"They didn't even wake us?" asked James, surprised. That didn't seem like the rest of Lily's family. Petunia, yes but not the others.

"Petunia didn't want us…"

"Well," started James. "I'm sure we're going to have a much more fun breakfast anyway. Pancakes are my favorite. And chocolate chip pancakes are like whoa…" He said as Lily set a plate of chocolate chip pancakes down in front of him, then one of plain pancakes for herself, and went to get syrup.

James wolfed down his pancakes like he had never eaten anything in his life. Lily just stared at him, her fork suspended halfway to her mouth.

"Geesh! Were you a little hungry?" she asked. "Did you actually taste them? Is the fork still outside of you gut?"

James was patting his stomach contentedly. "Yes I tasted them. They were fantastic…orgasmatic even."

Lily shook her head and continued to eat her pancakes.

When Lily had finished she got up to collect James' plate.

"Oh no no no you don't." said James standing up and taking the plates and silverware from Lily. "You cooked, I clean."

"But you don't have…"

"I know I don't have too. But I'm going to. So sit down and relax."

James went to the sink and did the dishes.

"Well…" thought Lily. "That's sweet of him…."

"Well this was a bad idea," thought James. "Lily is seriously the messiest cook I have ever seen!" He looked around at all the dishes. "She must have used every single bowl, dish, measuring spoon…how?"

So when the dishes were finally done, James went back to the table and sat down next to Lily.

"Well thank you James." Said Lily kindly, patting his arm. "No one has ever done the dishes for me…"

"I wonder why?" asked James sweetly as he covered Lily's hand with his own.

"Well, I suppose it's because I make such a mess," said Lily, a little breathlessly, as she locked eyes with James.

"You think so?" asked James, quietly, looking deep into Lily's green orbs, leaning in.

"Well…. yes." Lily breathed, glancing at James' smiling lips and back at his eyes.

James leaned closer still. "Then…you'd be right."

Lily swallowed a growing lump in her throat "So lets go meet my gran then, yeah?" and she got up and walked into the living room.

James shook his head as he followed her, watching the swish of her long, red hair as she walked.

James caught up with Lily and took her hand.

Lily looked at him.

"We have to make this believable…"

Lily gulped. "Yeah." She continued to walk, then paused. "Wait, one more thing."

James stopped too and looked at Lily. "What…?" he asked hesitantly, expecting Lily to tell him he needed to do something special, like dance around the living room while singing the Hogwarts school song.

"I'm supposed to have had a talk with you about how I'm not going to have sex until AFTER I'm married…" Lily blushed and wouldn't look James in the eye. Instead she looked everywhere else around the room.

James was stunned. "Now that's a promise, huh?"

"Yeah. And I intend to live up to it." Said Lily, defiantly, finally looking into James' eyes.

"And I believe you will, Lily. I think you are strong enough." James said seriously, giving Lily's hand a squeeze.

"Ok, well we'll talk more about it later."

They walked around the screen.

Lily's grandmother was sitting in a rocking chair by the fireplace with a blanket around her shoulders and another in her lap. She looked so small and tired.

"Hullo, gram." Said Lily, walking forward and bringing James with her.

Lily's grandmother looked at Lily and smiled a weak but happy smile.

"Lily darling." Said her grandmother softly. Her eyes flickered over to James, looking him up and down interestedly. Her eyes lingered on their clasped hands.

"And Lily, who is this?" she asked with a hint of amusement in her voice. Marie met James' eyes, and looked deep into them. James suddenly knew where Lily had gotten her beautiful eyes and he also made the split second decision that he really liked Lily's grandmother.

"Gram, this is James Potter. He's my BOYfriend." Said Lily, beaming. "You told me to bring one home, so I did." Lily shrugged. "James, this is my grandmother Marie Evans."

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Evans." Said James politely.

"Oh posh! What is this 'Missus' business? Please dear, call me Marie." Said Marie, sticking out her hand for James to shake.

James reached out and shook her hand. "Thank-you, Marie. I'm pleased to meet you."

"Yes." Said Marie, looking at Lily. "Lily would you excuse us, please? I would like a word with James…Alone."

James gulped.

Lily smiled. "Of course gram, anything I can get you while I'm gone?"

"Yes, get me tea, please dear."

"OF course, gram." And Lily left, smiling, to get the tea.

"Sit down James." Said Marie pleasantly, letting go of James' hand and pointing to a chair.

James brought a chair in front of Marie's and sat down.

Marie looked James over again.

"May I?" she asked, raising a hand to James' face..

"Yes…" said James, hesitantly.

Marie reached out and touched James' face.

"Mmmmmm…." She said thoughtfully, nodding her head. "Yes, yes…Well, I'm sure you and my granddaughter are getting along famously, no?"

James chuckled. "Yes, M'am, in fact we are."

"Now, James, what did I tell you to call me?" asked Marie.

"Sorry, Marie, it must be the manners my parents drilled into my head at an early age finally emerging."

"Ahh…well better late than never I always say." Said Marie, seriously, winking at James.

James' suspicions were confirmed, he really liked Marie.

"Yeah," James shrugged.

"So," continued Marie. "Are you enjoying your stay?"

"Yes very much." Said James. "Thank you for allowing me to stay in your home. It is quite beautiful, and quite large. I have to tell you it doesn't look that big from the outside."

Marie's smile broadened and became mysterious. "Yes…well my family made some modifications when they had lived here, before I was married, of course." She winked again. "I hear you and Lily took some of my other grandchildren outside for a snowball fight yesterday."

"Yes, it was a lot of fun."

"It must have been, you and Lily didn't come back in until after six." She gave James a sly look. "You must have been soaked…"

James cleared his throat and felt his neck growing hot. "yes…I was."

"well, I'm sure Lily took good care of you." Said Marie dismissively, seeing that this topic made James uncomfortable. "And speaking of a related topic, I'm just going to get this over with and keep you in this uncomfortable state for a while longer, has Lily talked with you about no sex until after marriage?"

James' face got a little red. "She mentioned it, yes."

"Ohh, good. I'm sure you've already been told what will happen to you should any harm come to Lily?"

"Yes…" laughed James. "Chris, Brandon, and Shawn made sure to fill me in."

"Yes, you can see why Lily hasn't brought very many boyfriends home. She must really like you to think you can stand up to her cousins' testing of you."

James felt his face go as red as Lily's hair. "I dearly hope so." Said James quietly.

Marie's smile broadened. "I like you James," she said frankly.

"I'm glad you approve of me. I'm good enough for Lily then?"

"Well, I didn't say that, did I?" she looked at James again. He looked slightly wary. "But, and don't tell Lily this, yes I do think you are perfect for her. There is just something about you…a certain quality; I can't put my finger on it." She smiled at James again. "But we'll let Lily figure it out on her own." Marie's eyes twinkled.

"Do you think I will be meeting Lily's parents?" asked James. "I would really like to meet them."

Marie's smile faltered. "Well, James, I should tell you…"

"I've made the tea!" said Lily, walking back behind the screen, bearing a tray with three cups, a pot of tea, milk and sugar.

"Come see me later," whispered Marie to James. "We'll have a chat."

Lily poured the tea for each of them and smiled.

"So what have you to been discussing?" asked Lily over the rim of her teacup.

"Oh you know,' began Marie. "If James, here, is good enough for you, his past, why he's dating you…the usual."

"Uh huh." Said James.

Marie yawned. "Ok, Lily, James, I think I'm going to have to ask you to leave so I can take my nap. All this talking has made me tired

Lily and James left Marie and went back upstairs where they worked a little on their holiday homework.

Later that night, after dinner Lily got up from the table.

"James, I'm tired. I'm going to get ready for bed and then read for a while." She said as she tucked her long hair behind her ear.

"Ok. I'm going to stay down here for a while."

"Fine."

James got up from the table and walked through the living room. The younger boys were in there, watching a movie. They said hullo to James as he passed.

James walked to the screen. No one was visiting Marie, so he cleared his throat and walked behind the screen.

Marie was lying on her bed, looking expectantly at him as he emerged.

"Ah, you have come for a story then…" she smiled.

"Yes," said James. "If that's alright."

"Of course of course! Sit down."

Marie was propped up with pillows in the bed. She had an open book in her lap and a light over her shoulder.

"So what was your question again? You'll have to refresh an old mind."

"I wanted to know if I would be meeting Lily's parents."

"oh yes. Anything else?"

"Well, maybe, and I don't mean to pry, could you tell me about why Lily and Petunia don't get along?"

"If we have time I'll tell you that one too." Marie settled herself back against her pillows. "Now sit and listen, James. You will not be meeting Lily's parents. They have sadly passed away during Lily's fifth year at Hogwarts. They were on their way home from a trip to the mountains and, from what we have come to understand, there was an avalanche."

James' looked very sad. "Poor Lily. I never knew. I couldn't imagine losing a parent, let alone both at the same time."

"Yes. It was a sad day in the Evans household. Sam was my only son, he looked just like his father, god-rest-their-souls." Marie sighed, crossing herself.

"I'm so sorry." Said James. "But wouldn't the loss of their parents make Lily and Petunia closer to one another. So they could support each other?"

"Well James, and understand this because it is important, Lily and Petunia used to be the best of friends." Marie sat a little straighter. "Petunia is older by three year so they have always been close. They used to play together," Marie smiled as she remembered. "Petunia used to always pretend that Lily was her baby. They would go to the store and she would put Lily to bed, the whole deal," she looked into James's eyes. "But Petunia didn't, and still doesn't, like things that are out of the ordinary."

"Yeah, I could tell. She called Lily and I freaks when she first came here." Said James, looking scornfully at the screen divider to the kitchen, where Petunia might have been.

Marie nodded her head. "I have spoken to her about that. Anyway. Petunia and Lily grew up; but strange things started happening as Lily got older and didn't always get her way. I'm sure you have noticed Lily's red-headed temper?" asked Marie smiling.

"Yes, occasionally." Said James, looking away from the divider and back at Marie.

"Well, Petunia liked to tease Lily, it is, after all, a big sister's right. But When Lily would get mad, things would start to break without her touching them, the lights would go out, Petunia's hair would get pulled by no one. Of course, it is because Lily turned out to be a witch, and a very gifted one at that. Petunia had always complained, " Lily's pulling my hair! Lily's breaking things! Make her stop!" But their parents could do nothing about it, they didn't have control."

James smirked, imagining a little Lily getting mad, with plates rattling in the cupboards and the lights flickering. "I know how that goes."

Marie nodded. "So when Lily got her letter from Hogwarts, Sam and Elizabeth were so proud. This fueled Petunia's anger; her own parents were proud to have a "freak" in the family. Well if only Petunia knew…" Marie paused, sucking in her breath as though she had said too much. But she continued as though nothing had happened. "When Lily would come home from school during the holidays and talk about her lessons, friends and a certain boy that just wouldn't leave her be," Marie gave James a slight nod. "Petunia couldn't stand it. Pockets full of potions ingredients, sweets that she had never heard of, quills, ink, parchment, owls… she couldn't stand it."

"It must have pushed her over the edge." Said James, starting to feel a little sorry for Petunia. "Lily was the favorite child, anyone would be mad to be second place to…"

"No James." Said Marie, cutting him off. "Don't you see?"

James shook his head. "Petunia was sent to the best schools in our muggle, that is the word you use, world. She was granted every opportunity. Sam and Elizabeth loved her as equally as Lily."

"But not in Petunia's eyes."

"That is right, James," said Marie, leaning back again. "Petunia can sometimes be petty and greedy. She craved all the attention from her parents instead of the love that she did get. Then when Sam and Elizabeth died in the freak avalanche, Petunia blamed it on Lily."

"What?" asked James. "How?"

"I don't see the logic either dear." Said Marie sadly. "Instead of the two sisters embracing each other and putting aside their differences at that time of tragedy, something that Lily had been trying to do, Petunia kept to herself, went away to her room. It was a sad time." Said Marie slowly.

"Well, that does explain a lot." Said James, pensively.

"Yes, I assume it would." Said Marie. "Well James, that's all for tonight, I think."

James stood up. "Thank you for telling me." Said James slowly. "But why…"

"well James, I think you and Lily have a future together."

James turned scarlet.

"yes, and I think you should know about Lily's past and our past."

"Your family's past?" asked James confused.

"Yes, but that will come later." said Marie, evasively.

"I appreciate your kindness at letting me stay at your home." James said as he turned to leave.

"Oh and James?"

"yes Marie?"

"Give Lily a kiss, from me."

"ok." Said James and he walked around the curtain, through the living room, up that stairs and into the bedroom.

"well. I do like the way that went," thought Marie and she fell asleep.

James entered the bedroom. Lily's reading lamp was on. He walked over to her. "Lily…" he called softly.

She was asleep on her stomach, her face on her book.

Well staying up all night with me would do that, I guess…

James pulled the covers over Lily's sleeping form and shut off the light. Then he bent down and kissed her cheek lightly. "Your gram told me to give that to you," he whispered, hoping that she wouldn't hear his heart beating ever louder in his chest.

Lily sighed and smiled in her sleep. James wondered what she was dreaming.

He walked over to his side of the room, got into his pajamas, did his teeth and climbed into bed. He had had a busy day. Poor Lily, no parents, luckily her family was so supportive. It was sad that Petunia and Lily were not close anymore. But James bet that if Lily needed her, Petunia would come through for her one and only sister.

And with that thought and a last look at Lily,James fell asleep.

Ok so I did finish this chapter before I left for "pirate camp" go me! I didn't think I would…applause Thank you thank yew! You're too kind really! Lol so please leave me a nice long review! Oh and go read and review my little one-shot ficlet Flowers For Lily. OK? They review to that too! Thanks in advance.

So, until next time.

Keep a sharp eye ;)

Pupparoux