A/N: This is very short, and I didn't think I would ever finish this chapter. It went through many transformations before I finally settled in on this version. It's not exactly how I wanted it, but it's close. I hope you all still like it. 

I own nothing. :-)

Lasting Impressions

To say that I was the happiest I had ever been at Hogwarts was an understatement. I remembered the carefree days at Hogwarts when it was all about Quidditch and pranking. We Marauders had so much fun in those days that it was hard to imagine any of us ever getting any work done in between (except of course, Remus). While we were still having a blast, our idea of fun was quickly changing. It was a different sort of fun our seventh year. Yes, there was still Quidditch, and no, we never stopped torturing Snape, but we came to realize that there were other things at Hogwarts to keep us entertained. Who knew? Thanks to Lily, we learned to appreciate the art of having fun without torturing the innocent. She always had a trick up her sleeve so that by the end of any night all of us, even Sirius, had spent the evening inside the Gryffindor common room and not getting into trouble. That was just one thing I loved about her. She had an incredible imagination and she never stopped believing that we were good people despite our juvenile past. She became an unofficial member of our group, and a sister to my three best friends. Even Peter, who always seemed a bit reluctant to get to know her, enjoyed her company. Although he would never admit it, I once caught him staring at her with his mouth wide open. Poor bloke, she was probably the only girl that ever paid him so much attention.

Life really couldn't get better. The only thought that hampered my mood in those days was the fact that Valentine's Day was quickly approaching and I was having a difficult time figuring out how to make the day absolutely perfect for Lily. It was the first time I had ever put so much thought to the holiday considering I had never had a very serious girlfriend in the past and had always been unwilling to go through all the trouble of preparing something special. This was the year of all years. It was my opportunity to show her how much I cared about her.

xxx

Immediately following the Valentine's Day feast in the Great Hall, I had Remus keep Lily occupied for an hour while I finished all of my preparations. I was very proud of myself, and was determined to make it a memorable occasion. When I went up to the common room to call on Lily, I was sure I wasn't going to be able to go through with my plans. She made me nervous and always managed to make me forget what was on my mind the minute I looked into those beautiful emerald eyes.

"What are you staring at, prat?" she asked as she came over to where I was standing like an idiot.

"Just wondering how I got so lucky," I responded hoping she wouldn't sense my nerves.

"Well I won't argue with that," she responded kissing my cheek.

As I wrapped to my arms around her waist, I couldn't help but melt into her arms. She was finally mine.

"Come on, I have a surprise for you," I whispered into her ear as I led her out of the portrait hole and towards the third floor.

She looked excited at the prospect of me, James Potter, doing something romantic for her. I admit I hadn't been the most romantic boyfriend since we made our relationship official, but who could blame me? I had never been with a girl that I cared so much about and Lily still made me nervous whenever we were together. I was always at her mercy and she didn't even know it.

"What are you staring at Potter?" she asked flashing me that toothy smile I loved so much.

"Oh so we're back to Potter are we?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"I don't believe we ever left it, although I'd be willing to drop it if you told me what you're up to."

"No deal Evans," I responded as she pouted. "It's not too far off now."

"What's not too far off now?" she asked using her most innocent tone. I knew that tone too well by now and if I wasn't careful, she would have me on my knees and at her every beck and call before I could say Quidditch.

"Oh no you don't. I know that tone and I'm not falling for it this time," I responded as I mock scolded her. She only pouted more before she suddenly stepped in front of me and put her arms around my neck.

"What tone, James?" she asked deliberately using my name in the most seductive tone I had ever heard coming from her mouth.

Stupid male hormones! At that moment she reached up and placed her lips on mine in a way that almost made me melt into a puddle on the ground before her. How she always did that to me I never knew, but I wouldn't have traded the feeling for anything in the world. Breathing? Who needed to breathe when I had Lily Evans in my arms? Conscious thought? I didn't need that either. Hell, I didn't even need to know my name as long as she didn't stop doing what she was doing. When she pulled away, I knew I was looking at her with my goofiest smile, but I didn't care. She did that to me, and I wanted the world to know it.

"So are we almost there?" she asked and she traced little circles on my chest with her finger.

"Yeah," I managed to croak out.

Somehow I was able to force my legs to function properly again, and soon we were making our way toward our destination. It was no small feat, but with the help of the other Marauders and a few bribes, I was able to accomplish what I had been planning for well over a month. She looked at me like I was crazy when I stopped in front of a statue of a humpbacked witch, and I grinned at her. I couldn't believe we had been together for so long and I still hadn't revealed all of the Marauder's secrets.

When I whispered Dissendium, Lily looked at me as if I had finally gone off my rocker. She opened her mouth, about to question my sanity, when she let out a loud gasp of surprise instead. Her surprise soon turned into an indignant stare, and I just had to let out a low chuckle at the open display of her emotions before me.

"You sneaky little bugger," she berated. "This is how you've been sneaking out of Hogwarts all these years!" she exclaimed.

"Yeah, this is sort of how the Marauder's Map got its start," I explained.

"Perfect," she said. "I'm dating an absolute criminal."

"Yes, and as a brilliant criminal, I must insist that we scamper out of this corridor before the entire school learns our secrets," I said trying to steer her closer to the statue.

"And where exactly are you taking me you…you sneak," she asked blushing a bit at the fact that she couldn't come up with a witty come back.

"Hogsmeade. Now come on," I said to her before giving her an encouraging shove.

"Hogsmeade again?" she asked, clearly crestfallen. "But we just went there this past weekend," she whined.

"Yes I know that, but this will be different," I said bringing her close for a hug. "I promise," I whispered into her ear.

Satisfied that it was not going to be just another trip to Hogsmeade, we stealthily made our way into the secret passage that led to Honeyduke's cellar. I had to keep reassuring Lily that no, there were no rats in the passage, and that yes, I did know what I was doing. Once we reached the cellar, I placed the invisibility cloak over our heads. I knew Honeyduke's was closed for the day, but I didn't want to take any chances. Once I helped Lily out, we made our way out of the front door and onto the snowy streets of Hogsmeade.

Now, I'm not going to lie and say that I wasn't nervous. Because I was. I was so nervous I kept running my hand through my hair more than usual, and it was making Lily twitchy. She gave me 'The Look' a few times, but I tried to ignore it. It was Valentine's Day and it was going to be special even if it killed me. After bypassing almost every shop on the main road, Lily finally got tired of walking and turned on me.

"Where exactly are you taking me?" she asked with a little bit of edge behind her voice.

"It's a surprise," I whispered to her like it was some sort of conspiracy we were keeping from the rest of the world.

"Well I don't care much for your surprise anymore James Potter," she started. "Because frankly, I don't see why you have to be so secretive about it."

"Well you see, the whole point of a surprise is to catch someone unawares. Meaning you can't know about it until you see it because then it won't be a surprise," I stated coolly.

"I know what a surprise is you git, I just don't see how walking past every deserted shop in Hogsmeade has to do with anything," she pouted.

She was literally the death of me. One pout. That's all it took for me to melt in a puddle before her. One perfect lip slowly sliding up to cover her other perfect lip in the sexiest and sweetest way known to man. Just one pout and I was ready to give her the world.

"We'll get to it faster if you don't pout," I responded wrapping my arm around her waist. "Your pout has the ability to knock me senseless, and I have to know what I'm doing if we're ever going to get to the surprise."

"I'm going to knock you senseless if we don't get there soon," she responded with a smile threatening to break her always effective pout.

We walked in that manner for a few more minutes; her complaining about not getting there soon enough, and me groaning as she pouted again. It was a very disturbing walk.

When we finally arrived at our destination, I was relieved to see that Lily actually looked impressed by it. As a matter of fact, she even looked at a loss for words. After a few more minutes of complete silence, I began to wonder if she had lost her voice or if I was reading her all wrong and she hated it.

"Lily?" I asked hesitantly.

"Oh James," she whispered. "James," she choked out with a sob.

"Hey, hey, why are you crying?" I asked beginning to panic.

"This is just….it's so…..oh James," she repeated taking my neck and yanking me forward so that my head was placed unceremoniously on top of her head. They were happy tears, I gathered.

"Do you like it?" I murmured.

"It's perfect," she responded sniffing loudly.

It was just one of those things I learned about Lily during those long nights when I was sure I had absolutely no chance in hell to be with her. It was during a time when we knew absolutely nothing about each other's lives outside of Hogwarts, and it was during a time that I would always hold dear to my heart. She told me then that her father had always taken her ice skating on a secluded lake by their home during her Christmas breaks before her Hogwarts years. They never shared that experience with anyone else, and it was the same every year; just the two of them, her dancing circles in the middle of the frozen lake, and him making a complete fool of himself in skates in front of his daughter. The telling of those memories was very difficult on her because her parents had died just a few weeks before Christmas of her second year. She hadn't wanted to go ice skating after that for fear of a complete break down. It was with much trepidation and second guessing of myself that I made arrangements to spend a quiet evening with her at the park in Hogsmeade where the lake was just frozen enough for two people to skate. I had to bribe many people to make it happen and I had to place a few well placed cooling charms in some areas, but the final effect was spectacular. We had the lake to ourselves, and although I was dung on ice skates, I was willing enough to make a complete idiot of myself in front of her just like I had for so many years.

"Come on," I said as I began leading her towards the frozen lake.

"I…I can't," she responded with tears in her eyes.

My heart sank. I had been too presumptuous. I had led myself to believe that I could take her father's place in some way during a ritual so sacred to her. I had once again, royally messed up.

"Lily, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…"

"James, you have no idea how much this means to me," she said squeezing the blood out of my hand. "If I get any closer to that lake, if I let myself be overcome by what you have done for me and by what I'm feeling for you right now, I don't think I can ever look back."

I lost myself in her gaze. There are few things that fall into the category of rendering James Potter speechless, but Lily Evans was the one person who always managed to do just that. Had I known that my brain would seize to function by what she was trying to tell me, I would have prepared some sort of speech to place in my coat pocket before taking her out to the lake. I always hoped she would feel half of what I felt for her towards me, but having it all out there was too much for me to handle. I stared at her wide eyed for an eternity, never wanting to break contact with her loving gaze. I was mesmerized by the way the color went to her face, and the way she absently bit her bottom lip. I unconsciously saw my hand stretching to touch her face, desperate to make sure that it wasn't all just a dream. When the tips of my fingers finally made contact with her warm, soft cheek, I let out a breath I wasn't even aware I had been holding.

"Lily, I…"

"Shh," she said as she caressed my hand. "I know."

When she finally tore her gaze away from mine, she took that first step towards the lake. It was one of those moments that defined our lives together. I don't think our relationship would have ever been so strong had I been the one to take that first step. She stopped right at the edge where the snow met the frozen water and smiled at me expectantly. I whipped out my wand, transfigured our trainers into ice skates, and spent the evening together talking, laughing, yelling, falling, and getting to know each other's intricacies. I must have spent that entire evening on my arse more than on my feet, but it was moments like that made me realize just how much she meant to me. I might have been jumping into things too quickly, but I had never been so incredibly sure about anything as I was about her.

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A/N: The next chapter may take quite a while to make it up here…..it hasn't even made it to the outline yet.