Chapter Ten: The Tenth Note

Lily was still saddened about the ninth note. Like Remus, she too was thinking that the note has a trace of bitterness in it. She couldn't help but wonder if he was truly trying to win her heart or trying to hurt her. After all, she was slowly developing some feelings for him—whoever he is.

Lily was walking her way to the library, not really knowing why she was heading that way. She wasn't aware the James too, was on his way to the library. But unlike Lily, he knew why he was there. He was there to find Lily.

"Lily!" James called after her, before giving her the chance to round up another corner. "Wait!"

Hearing someone call after her, she was awakened from her daze. Looking around, she saw James hurrying his way towards her.

"James? What are you doing here?"

"I came here to find you…" James said, stating what seemed to him as obvious.

"Why?" she asked, looking alarmed.

"Because we have rounds tonight, remember?" James asked. "Well technically, we should have started eight minutes ago."

"Oh crap!" Lily said, suddenly remembering. "I'm sorry. I completely forgot about it!"

"It's ok… There's a first time for everything." James chuckled. "So let's go?"

Lily smiled gratefully as she nodded her agreement. "How'd you know where to find me?"

"Can you keep a secret?" James asked, eyeing her closely.

Lily thought about it for a moment before saying, "I can if it's not illegal."

"Well, there's nothing written about it being illegal." James said. "So I guess it's not."

"What is it then?" She asked curiously.

James smirked at her and pulled out a parchment from his robes. He showed it to her proudly while saying, "The guys and I made this… This is a map." He tapped his wand to it and mumbled, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." To her complete surprise, a map appeared before her. Looking at her stunned expression, James said, "Yeah I know… but it does come in handy. Remus brings this with him during his rounds."

"Is this us?" Lily questioned, eyeing the spot that labeled their names on it. "Is this actually telling you where everybody is?"

"Yes… as long as you're in Hogwarts."

"This is incredible. You guys are brilliant!" James gaped at her for a while, surprised that she was actually awed by the Marauder's Map. "Oh.. So you liked it… I thought you didn't"

"This is awesome… how come you never showed me this before. It could have saved us a lot of nights! I mean look," she said, asking James to study the parchment as well. "Everybody is tucked in. We can skip tonight and do other things…"

"Are you suggesting what I think you are?" James asked, not quite believing what he's hearing.

"Well yeah. There's no use to go around when we know no one's lurking around." Lily laughed. "And if you're going to allow me to skip tonight, this will be my second time."

Amused by the confession, he couldn't help but ask. "Where did you go?"

"Kitchen…" Lily said. "I wouldn't have told you but since you know where everything is judging by this map, then I guess there's no harm done."

"You were in the kitchen late at night? Aren't you counting calories, Lily?" James asked, still overwhelmed by Lily's confession.

"Nope… couldn't resist… I wanted a hot chocolate badly that night."

"I never thought you would do something like that. You've always been the perfect prefect…" James laughed. "Who would have thought that Miss Lily Evans would suggest skipping rounds and suggesting it to a Marauder, nonetheless?"

Lily just laughed out loud, wondering why she even bothered telling James about her escapade. "Fine… if you don't want to go, then fine…" Although she wanted to sound angry, she still failed to hide her amusement.

"Who said anything about me not going? I'm game if you are." Needing no answer, he grab hold of Lily's hand and led the way to the kitchen.

"James Potter!" Lily scolded, struggling to keep up with James' paces. "Would you slow down please?" They were both laughing now, certain that there was no way for them to be caught.

Taking a glance at Lily's laughing face, James couldn't resist but give in to her request. He started to slow down his pace and smirked at her. "Now my lady, are we off to the kitchen or do you have something else in mind?"

Deciding to play along, Lily smiled back and said, "Now my Sir, I wish to fill in my empty stomach with delicious muffins… Do you mind being my escort?"

With a malicious glint appearing in James' eyes, he nudged Lily playfully at her side and said in the most teasingly manner he could muster, "Now Lily… If I wasn't sure that you're not taken with me that way, I would have thought that you were asking me out on a date…"

Lily, hearing this, gave out a snort. "Keep dreaming, James…"

"Gladly…" James replied smoothly with an adorable smile on his face. "But what if I give you a tulip right now? Would you consider it?" James asked, still wearing the same expression not so long ago.

"Hmmmm… Let me think…" Lily thought for awhile. Both of them were oblivious to the fact that they were still holding hands on their way to the kitchen. "If this tulip guy and I won't work out, then maybe I can give you a thought…"

"Just a thought?" James asked, stopping instantly, showing her his pouting face. "No assurance?"

"Oh stop being a baby!" Lily laughed. "At least I'm going to give it a thought. If you have suggested that to me two years ago, I would have automatically said no …"

Still pondering on what Lily said, a silly smile slowly emerged from his lips. "You're right." Surprisingly feeling light again, he tugged on Lily's hand again to start her moving. And then, it hit Lily. For the longest time, they were still holding hands. Watching James moving slightly ahead of her, squeezing her hands on his, she realized that she didn't mind at all. It was after all, a harmless gesture.

As they arrived the kitchen, James reluctantly let go of Lily's hand and motioned her to take her seat as he called for a house elf to assist him. After a few minutes of waiting, James finally arrived with two goblets of hot chocolate in his hands. Trailing on his back was an elf carrying muffins for them.

James and Lily sat quietly across each other, sipping through their goblets. Feeling James' gaze on her, she looked up to him and asked in the most annoyed manner she could muster. "What?"

Placing his goblet gently on the table, he then started. "So? Are you telling me that if this tulip guy and you won't work out, you're going to give me a thought?"

Lily stared at him with her mouth slightly open. "You were serious?"

Sighing, James shrugged his shoulder, attempting to relax himself. "Ok… So pretend that I am serious…"

"Pretend?" Lily asked, with her right eyebrow raised. "Do you want me to actually think about it, or do you want me to pretend thinking about it?"

"No, seriously…" James said finally. His heart was beating fast against his chest that he was sure he was going to faint.

Lily grabbed a muffin from the table and took a bite from it. As he looked at her, he decided that acting cool would do him good. So like her, he grabbed a muffin and ate it. "I will." Lily said finally. "Give it a thought I mean…"

"Seriously?" James asked rather excitedly.

Smiling playfully at him, she said, "Nah… I was only pretending…"

James and Lily were heading their way back to the common room. As they were too busy minding each other, they didn't notice a figure appear on the map, pointing to the place below the girl's staircase in the Gryffindor common room. And then, as the figure silently placed his message on the first step to the girl's staircase, he crept back and went to his own dorm to sleep.

James bid Lily goodnight as he turned on his way to the boy's staircase. But before fully turning away, he took a glance at Lily's direction and was glad to see that the tulip was there. Smiling to himself, he continued his way to his room.

Lily was about to take her first step on the flight of stairs when she noticed a parchment hanging on something. Curious, she picked it up and was surprised to discover that it was one of his notes to her. Glancing hopefully around her, she found no one. Sighing, she began reading it.

The sea of your doubts is blocking my way to you…
Pushing me away from you… (10)

Looking at her surroundings one more time, she headed her way to her room, deciding to tell the others about the note in the morning.