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Chapter 11—Times Have Changed

"So, erm, thank you." She said again, but James said nothing. Lily was getting ready to walk away but he stepped forward and placed his hands softly around her neck and kissed her. He deepened the kiss and Lily moaned.

"I've missed that." She whispered and he pressed his forehead against hers and laced his fingers with hers and grinned.

"Me too." He said, kissing her sweetly.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

"I'm still thinking it was Malfoy." Sirius stated. Lily groaned.

"Look, Sirius, it's been almost 3 weeks. I appreciate your help saving my life, but you don't need to go on and on about it."

"We need to know who it was." Remus joined the conversation.

"I'm not sure I want to know. We reported it, but there's nothing we can do. It's been to long."

"I agree with her, Padfoot." James said.

"Shut up." Sirius threw a pillow at him. "You have to agree with her, she's your girlfriend."

"Ha-Ha. Well even if she wasn't, I still agree. It's been too long."

"Fine." Sirius mumbled and turned back to work on his Potions essay.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Lily felt her mattress sink lower and she felt arms around her. She turned over under the blankets to see James. She smiled and snuggled into him.

"Happy birthday, my Lily." He tipped her chin up and placed a loving kiss on her lips. He pulled her close and she buried her face into him. He smelled rather good. "So listen, I hope you're not busy tonight, because there's a little party going on for you, little one."

"Little one? James, I'm eighteen today."

"Yes, but I've been eighteen since August. For you, on the other hand, it's April and you're seventeen until 2:35."

"Fine then." She smiled and kissed him lightly. "I'm going to shower, so I'll see you in a bit."

"Yeah, me too."

As Lily was getting ready for her party, James came in her room. He was carrying a small, neatly wrapped package in his hand.

"You look amazing." She was wearing a short denim skirt that showed off her legs, and a tight, blue spaghetti strap shirt she borrowed from Katie. Her hair was in loose, large ringlet curls, tied up loosely with some curled strands falling down on the side of her face. She grinned happily.

"Thank you."

"Here." He handed her the packaged. She untied the ribbon and opened the silver box. It revealed a shining, beautiful necklace that matched the bracelet he got her for Christmas.

"Oh, James." She whispered. He gently took it out of the box and placed it around her neck. Lily touched the heart shaped charm. "Thank you so much, James. It means a lot." He grinned and wrapped his arms around her waist and she smiled at him. He lightly and quickly tipped her chin up, causing her to look him in the eye.

"I love you, Lily. I really, really love you." He gazed into her eyes and she knew he meant it with all his heart. She knew exactly how she felt.

"I love you too." He pulled her close to him and kissed her with more love than ever. She gladly kissed him back and wrapped her arms around his neck. She knew, somehow, this was it. It had to be. He was the love of her life.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

"Happy birthday, Lily!" Katie yelled, excited and hugged her best friend, after Lily showed up at her party with James. She saw a new, gleaming necklace tied around Lily's neck. "It's that from James?" Lily nodded and smiled.

"Yeah, he gave it to me earlier. I absolutely love it."

"It's amazing." Katie told her. "Now, look over there!" There was a table with presents from all the people that showed up at the party.

"That's for me? Wow!" Lily was truly happy. She felt like she'd never be sad again in her whole life. James came up behind her and gathered her in his arms.

"C'mon, dance with me." He asked. Katie smirked and left them alone. Lily spun around to face him, just as a slow song played. He pulled her close to him and smelled her scented hair.

"Mmm, I love your hair." He ran his hands through her smooth strands and she smiled.

"Well, I think yours is sexy." She grinned and ruffled his hair just the way he always did.

"You better. It's too late otherwise." He grinned as she threw her head back and laughed.

All night Lily heard 'Happy Birthday' and received many presents. It was so far the best day of her life. James was amazing to her, and she loved him so much. She didn't think it was possible to fall so hard in love this young, but she knew she had.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Lily changed into plaid pajama pants and a too-small tank top, which revealed three inches of her belly, once she got back to her room. She then walked into James's room and plopped down onto his bed. He smiled when he saw her. He pulled the thick red blankets up around them and she snuggled closely to him, falling immediately asleep. James kissed the top of her head before he did the same.

Once they woke up, neither of them felt like moving. Lily leaned against James's chest and let him run his hands through her hair.

"James, when you first saw me, what did you think?"

"I'll tell you the story. I was getting on the train with Sirius and I saw a girl with the most beautiful red hair. She looked nervous and was quietly talking with a blonde girl, but I recognized her as Katie Connors, because she had attended some of my parent's parties with her father. Katie was pretty, but the redhead had struck something in me and I couldn't stop thinking about her. Sirius and I found a compartment with a sandy haired boy, Remus, and a mousy boy, Peter." Lily listened closely to the story.

"A few minutes later, Katie and the redhead came to our compartment asking to sit with us. The redhead introduced herself as Lily Evans, but she didn't talk to us much. I kept sneaking glances at her, hoping she wouldn't notice. Her eyes were a brilliant green and large and innocent. I couldn't stop thinking about her."

"I was ecstatic we were sorted in the same house, Sirius included since I assumed he would be a Slytherin like his whole family. I became best friends with Remus and Peter, and of course Sirius, because he'd always been my best friend. I noticed Sirius was rather attracted to Katie and me to Lily. I was only twelve, but she was eleven. I decided to ask her out anyway. She rolled her eyes and said no. I asked why and she said because I was full of myself and big headed. It hurt but I didn't let it get to me. You probably know the rest of the story." Lily nodded.

"You really liked me that long, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"I thought you were a know-it-all, I'm-so-cool, Quidditch loving prat."

"Thanks, Lil." She laughed.

"I don't think that anymore." She turned to face him.

"Good." James kissed Lily rough and heard her moan. She ruffled his hair and he smiled into the kiss.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

"James! Wake up! Our N.E.W.T exams start in 10 minutes!" He heard Lily's voice calling him. James shot out of bed and caught the shirt Lily tossed him and quickly put it on. He quickly changed his boxers and jeans and ran out the door. They got to the Great Hall just in time. Sirius was leaning back in his chair with his feet propped up and Lily could tell Katie was reviewing facts in her head by her expression. Remus was conversing with Peter, most likely about Transfiguration.

"Quiet! You may begin…NOW!" McGonagall said.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

"There's been more deaths!" A sixth year brought the Daily Prophet to the Gryffindor table. It said that 3 muggles and 2 wizards were murdered by You-Know-Who or one of his followers. There was said to be a skull with a serpant emerging from the mouth floating over the scene of the crime. An anonymous source said it was to be called the Dark Mark and all the Death Eaters (You-Know-Who's followers) have it burned on their arms.

"That's terrible." Remus said.

"It's as if Voldemort is trying to rule the world. The ministry won't even say his name. This has got to be bad." Katie added.

"He's really powerful. He's got all these followers, and we don't know who they are, nor have we seen him or them." Sirius pointed out, and no one had anything to respond with.

"I wish there was something we could do." Lily said to James as they walked back to the Heads dorm.

"Yeah." James agreed. They entered their common room and found a note on the table.

Mr. Potter and Miss Evans,

Please report to my office once you see this note. I have something to discuss with you.

-Dumbledore

"I guess we should go now." James said.

"Did we do something wrong?"

"Nothing he could have found out about."

"I hope so." They walked to Dumbledore's office in silence, said the password and knocked on his door.

"Enter. Ah, Mr. Potter and Miss Evans. Please, sit down." Dumbledore said kindly.

"Professor, did we do something wrong?"

"I don't know, did you?" There was a twinkle in his eye.

"I, erm,--." Lily stuttered and James kicked her foot, which Dumbledore didn't notice.

"Ah, I'm only joking, Miss Evans. As far as I know, you have done nothing wrong. Anyway, I have something important to discuss with you." Lily and James listened carefully.

"I know you've heard of Lord Voldemort and his followers gaining strength. I am organizing a defense squad. It's called the Order of The Phoenix. It's for people who are strongly against Voldemort and would never think of spilling our secrets or betraying us. We are only recruiting trustworthy people. I am positive I can always trust you two. Joining the Order can put yourselves in danger, but it's for a good thing."

"I'm in." James said immediately and looked at Lily. She was deep in thought. Dumbledore waited patiently, while James was impatient. He needed to do this with Lily. He wanted her to know everything. He couldn't do it alone.

"I'll do it." She answered.

"Excellent. You may inform the seventh years that you trust. No one else. I recommend only telling Mr. Black, Lupin and Pettigrew. None other."

"Yes, Professor." They said in unison. "Thank you." Lily added.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Hey! I know this chapter was short and probably boring. Sorry! I'll try to make the next one longer. Hope you liked it…and any ideas for the next chapter are welcome! Please don't hesitate. Thanks so much for reviews.

Much Love,

HPF670

sorry I had to take away my review responses. Supposedly they're not allowed anymore, but I still appreciate all your reviews.