Author's Note: I AM SO SORRY! I know it's taken me forever! Let me give an explanation: From May 3-7, I had state exams, which I know I forgot to mention to you all. Then, I had a few projects due & a math exam that next week. And on Wednesday, my aunt, uncle, and three cousins came from Canada to visit for a few days. And yesterday, I was gone all day on a cotton candy fundraiser for my Student Council. Anyways, I hope you're not too mad and haven't abandoned me…because this is an important chapter! Thanks to you all who reviewed…

chippagirl: I know, and it's a horrible downfall too! But, as you can see above, I was a little busy. But here it is, finally! (And thanks!)

sunnysweetie: Thanks for reading again, and hope you'll like this chapter!

Susan D: Wow, you actually liked the whole Remus story? I thought people would be tired of hearing it by now…but that's great! Thanks!

Lady of Masbolle: I'm so glad you "LURVE" it! Hope you like this chapter too, and thanks a lot!

yeen: One of the best? Wow, that's so nice of you! I'm glad you like my characters, and I hope you liked it enough to read again! Thanks!

Windowseat Wonderer: I'm sorry for leaving you like that, especially for so long! I hope you'll still read! And I'm definitely going to continue writing this, I'm just not sure quite how long. So here it is, even though you know what was going to happen, it's the actual words!! Thanks!

katmiester: Considering how much I hate cliffhangers, it's amazing that I put so many of them in there. But I'm so glad you like my story, and I hope you continue liking it! Thanks!

TheSilverLady: Thanks!

Tanya J Potter: So glad you like it, and I hope you're not too mad I took forever to update. Thanks!

Lone Songbird: Ten points? Awesome! I'm glad you like everything about it, and especially that you like Anna…I was hoping she wouldn't be too useless or annoying in the story. Thanks, and I hope you keep reading! (By the way, I love your name!)

loonyloonylupin: Glad you like the story, especially since you're picky about them (I am too)! Hope you keep reading, and thanks!

Chapter Eight

James sat in the Common Room; his game of chess against Sirius was finally over. In fact, Sirius wasn't even here; nor was Remus. After Sirius making another comment about the whole "procrastinate" thing (which he still couldn't pronounce right), Remus had dragged him off to the library, insisting that he learn the true meaning. Peter had gone up to the dormitory. He started when someone from behind him cleared their voice. He looked up, to see Lily was standing there, smiling nervously.

"Er…we have to go," She said, a bit timidly. At first he was completely confused as to what she meant, but suddenly remembered that he had to go patrol the corridors with her. He had forgotten about it, and had planned on finishing his Transfiguration homework.

"Oh, sure," James replied, getting up lazily and yawning. He was actually very tired, but felt like he needed to be on top of things--after what Dumbledore had said to he and Lily in his office, James had been feeling like he should do his best at everything.

They walked through the corridors rather slowly, not speaking much. James figured Lily must be having a hard times getting into a conversation with him yawning every other five seconds, but he could hardly help it. They found nothing really interesting around the school, except for a few dungbombs (unused) that they'd argued about for a few minutes.

"Put them in the next trash can you see," She'd said, while eyeing them cautiously.

"Yeah, I could, but then they'd explode and Filch'd be after us before you could say…er…well, before you could even say one word," James had replied. After a few more protests from Lily, he quickly pocketed them while she wasn't looking.

Quite a bit later, Lily announced that they were done. Thankfully, and feeling extremely exhausted, the pair made their way up to Gryffindor Tower. James was longing to be able to go up to hi four-poster bed and fall asleep, but right as he opened his mouth to give the password to the Fat Lady, he was interrupted by a very small voice.

"James?" Lily said from behind him, and, wondering what was coming next, James turned around.

"Yeah?" He replied, leaning against the wall. Lily hesitated for an awfully long time before speaking again.

"Well, I--uh--I feel really stupid asking this, but---well--" She stammered (was it his imagination or did she look redder than usual?), "How come…you're not so--well, annoying this year?"

Oh great, James thought, How am I supposed to answer this? He quickly racked his brains for something rational to say.

"I really have no idea why," He said, shrugging, "I didn't really even know I was that different until Anna brought it to my attention."

"Oh…" She said timidly (James now knew she was blushing--her face was as red as her hair), "Well, I just noticed that you don't ask me out anymore, or bug me about that stuff, I guess."

"Well, that must be pretty nice for you," James said, grinning. She said nothing, and he immediately stopped smiling.

"So…y-you don't like me anymore, right?" Lily said, very slowly and weakly, biting her lip.

James took his time on this. He had two choices of a response. One, he could lie and say he didn't like her anymore, which would probably make her very glad indeed. Or, he could opt to let everything come spilling out in a garbled mess and make the both of them feel extremely uncomfortable. Finally, while trying to figure out exactly how he'd word his particular response, Lily cleared her throat quietly, making him realize he'd been standing there for quite a long time.

"Lily, I know I haven't been really…paying as much attention to you as usual," James said, pausing and sighing, "But I thought you'd understand by now that I could never just…stop liking you. And it's not like I just like you either, I'm completely smitten with you. So…yeah."

Until this point, she'd been staring very determinedly at the floor, but she finally looked up, and her face shone with an expression James had never quite seen before. He didn't know exactly what to do after just making a complete fool of himself.

He sighed and looked toward the portrait of the Fat Lady, who was snoozing lightly.

A moment later, he jumped when he found somebody kissing him. It should have shocked him more when he realized that it was, as he'd hoped, Lily who had flung herself on him--but all he could do was wrap his arms around her and feel happier than he ever had before.

Lily was experiencing something of the same sort. She never expected to have been happy to hear that James was still crazy about her--and she most certainly never had dreamed of throwing herself on him like this. It was downright unusual.

However, of all the feelings she was having at the moment, relief flooded through her more than anything. When they finally broke apart, she couldn't stop herself from smiling a little bit.

"What…in the world was that all about?" James asked, his eyes wide.

"Er…well, I hadn't really thought about that part yet," Lily replied, shrugging. James laughed.

"Okay, so neither of us know what's going on," He said, "But whatever it is, it's working out pretty good for me."

Likely slipped her hand into his and they walked into the deserted Gryffindor Common Room, finally together.

Author's Note: Okay, so it was short--but there was a lot in the small amount of words, wasn't there? I know everyone's their own worst critic, but I don't really know if this was meaningful or believable enough…would you please give me your opinion? I would really appreciate it…and I promise to try my hardest not to take forever to update! Remember to review!