Lily had marched to the boys' dormitories as fast as she could, afraid that she might turn back if she hesitated. She had to do this. He had to know. She knocked on the 6th years' door and then, afraid of who might answer and how she might react, opened it herself. No one noticed her enter.

"Don't you know the healing spells, Remus?" James was lying on his bed, Remus standing next to him with Peter looking on. Owen had fallen asleep, so emotionally exhausted that even an angry and injured James cursing his former best friend hadn't woken him up. Gwen was sitting on the edge of his bed, obviously interested in what Remus would be able to do. "I'm sure you could do them."

"James," he sighed. "You know that Sirius was the one who knew those. Remember Georgiana Harlan taught them to him last year. I don't know the incantations."

"You should go to Madam Pomfrey," Lily said softly, approaching James' bedside.

James shot up and put his newly repaired glasses back on. "Evans? What are you doing in here?"

She ignored the question and repeated herself. "You should go to Madam Pomprey."

James hesitated. He watched Lily intently as she approached him. He could tell that she was wearing an expression of complete determination. He loved her for that look. Then James lay back down. He had given Evans up. He wasn't going to imagine that she was here to tell him that she had loved him as long as he had loved her. She was here to enforce the rules. He answered her. "No, if I do then Sirius will be expelled."

She stood over him. Her red hair fell as she leaned over him and examined his eye. "It's pretty bad, Potter," she said. "You really should let her look at it."

James shook his head; determined not to think about the smell of that hair as it hung inches from his face.

Lily looked at him strangely as Remus moved back over to sit on his bed. Both of them ignored him. "What do you care if Black gets expelled? I thought you weren't friends anymore."

James took a breath and shrugged. "Whatever happens, Sirius will always be like a brother to me. I can't betray him like that."

Obviously struck with his loyalty, Lily sat down on the bed and pursed her lips. She saw Gwendolyn and Remus watching the two of them.

"Why don't you go check on Veronica," she said to Gwendolyn. "She went up to our room sobbing."

Gwendolyn glanced at the sleeping figure of Owen and nodded. She stole a glance with Remus and then exited the room.

"Listen Potter," Lily said; turning back around to face him. "I want to…to…" Lily couldn't seem to get the words out.

"What Evans?" James smirked. "Cat got your tongue? Can I…" He stopped himself before he dropped the line.

"Remember," he thought. "I am no longer going to go after Evans."

She looked at him expectantly and when he stopped suddenly, a flash of disappointment was noticeable in her emerald eyes.

"What is it?" he asked; trying to be nonchalant.

"Iwannapologize," she said very quickly.

James didn't understand her. "You what?" he asked.

Lily took a deep breath. "I want to…to," she started softly. Then looking over at Peter and Remus, who were staring at them, she whispered. "Do you think we could talk about this more privately?"

James was dying. He wanted so badly to tell Evans what he really wanted to do more privately, but he willed his mouth to be silent and shrugged. "Sure," he said.

As she climbed all the way on to his large bed and began to close the curtains around them, James felt an uncontrollable swell of excitement run through his entire body. He was on his bed with Evans. WITH EVANS. His heart was beating so fast. And she was closing the curtains, muttering an imperturbable charm. It took every fiber of his will power not to grab her and snog her silly. Then, he remembered. He was no longer interested.

Then she looked at him, a somewhat fearful expression in those eyes that he wanted to fall into. "Do you think they'll think that we're…well…you know?" She bit her lip.

He laughed from the tension of it all. This was too much. "No," he shook his head, as he propped himself up on his elbows.

"Alright," she settled herself down near James' feet. She exhaled again, getting her strength. Then she began.

"I want to apologize for earlier today," she said calmly. "You have every right to kiss whomever you like and I have no right to tell you not to."

James gaped. He didn't know how to answer her; so he didn't

"I also," she stopped and scratched her head in frustration. "I've been a prat," she said firmly then screwing up her face. "I've been awful to you and while you are a prat yourself, you don't deserve it."

James' sore jaw dropped. Was that an actual apology? Sure, she had called him a prat, but had she really just told him that she'd been wrong to treat him the way she did.

She was tracing the pattern of the quilt on the bed, a sheepish look on her face.

"Why'd you want to tell me that?" he asked.

Her head popped up at the sound of his voice. "If you think I'm going to say yes to you Potter, then you…"

He shook his head. "I'm not going to ask you out." Then he added, "Ever again, remember."

"So you were serious about that?" she asked rather mindlessly.

He let out a stream of air and then nodded, his lips pressed together.

"Oh…" she said. Did her face fall a little? "Well, good," she recovered.

"But, honestly Evans," James continued. "Why did you need to apologize to me?"

Lily upper lip twitched a little and she glanced back down at the quilt. When she looked back up at James, there was a hint of wetness to her eyes.

"I didn't want you to, well," she swallowed hard to regain control. "If you were hurt," she stopped again. "I wouldn't want you to think that I actually hated you."

"So, you don't hate me?" James was suddenly enjoying this apology session more than ever.

She bit her bottom lip and exhaled. Then, closing her eyes, she shook her head.

"Good to know," he smiled. "I don't hate you either."

She smiled slightly back. "By the way, I know how to do healing charms. Do you want…"

"Oh please," he said, taking his glasses off. She muttered something and the swelling and pain around James' left eye immediately stopped. He ran a finger over his eyelid and then put his glasses back on. "Thanks Lily," he said, opening his eyes to find her face inches away.

"You're welcome, James," she said.

Then she undid the imperturbable and climbed off of the bed.

When Dorcas and Sirius had separated, both had immediately jumped up and thrown their clothes back on in a hurry, avoiding each other's glances. Once they had bumped into each other when she reached for her jumper. He had handed it to her without looking at her. When they both were completely dressed and Dorcas had combed through her long hair with her fingers, they were silent. Unable to look at her, Sirius murmured something about forgiving her and she made a sort of acknowledgement noise. Then she walked up the stairs to her room. Quickly.

Once she had turned her back, Sirius watched her ascend the stairs. Then he lay down on the same couch where they had made love, exhaled loudly and went almost immediately to sleep. Dorcas did the same thing when she reached her bed.

The next morning, Sirius waited for his friends to come down and immediately broke into an extensive apology.

"I've been a total bastard," he had said the minute he saw James, Remus, and Peter descend the stairs. "You have every right to hate me forever. I would."

Then he saw James' eye. Although Lily's charm had helped to stop the swelling, the bruising was still a sight to see. "Oh Merlin, James, did I do that to you?" he grimaced. "Gods I'm sorry."

The three were so shocked to see such a different, non-sulking Sirius waiting for them. They glanced around at each other.

"I should've thanked you that night," Sirius had a look of pure remorse on his face. "You're right. It was an unbelievably stupid thing to do, and unbelievably insensitive of me Remus. You saved all of us, James."

The boys stood still at the bottom of the stairs, where a blood stain remained from last night's activities. James pursed his lips in something that what either thought or anger. Remus looked unconvinced

"I'm an idiot," Sirius looked at his feet. "You know how hard it is for me to say that. I made a mistake. Come on, guys. Peter? Remus? Come on. James?"

James smiled. "You are an idiot, but I forgive you."

Sirius grinned and clapped his friend on the back. "No more fights, I swear. This was ridiculous."

James grinned back. "It really was."

Sirius turned to Remus. "Moony, mate, you know I didn't actually want you to get in trouble. I wasn't thinking. I was just mad. And stupid. Forgive me?"

Remus pondered Sirius' words for few moments. Then calmly, he said. "I guess I can just chalk it up to your rash personality, Sirius. I forgive you."

Sirius beamed. "Thanks mate. I'll make this up to you, I swear I will."

"I'm not really sure how," Remus shrugged. "But I forgive you, Padfoot."

Sirius wrapped his long arm around Remus' shoulders and in his exuberance at having his friend back, he ruffled his light brown hair.

Remus laughed.

Peter burst in to a huge smile. "Thank Merlin," he sighed. "I was starting to think you three would be angry forever. Things can go back to normal now!"

James smiled at him. "You're right Wormtail."

"Tell him about what happened with Evans last night," Peter smirked.

Sirius cocked his head in interest and nodded. "That's right, she was up there last night." He smirked and elbowed James in the side. "You finally get her to go out with you, Prongs?" Had James had fun last night too?

"Hardly," James scoffed and gave Sirius a look. "She came to apologize to me for being a prat yesterday."

"What happened yesterday?" Sirius asked.

"That's right," Remus laughed. "He doesn't know any of it."

James shook his head and then smiled. "See what happens when you do this. Now I have to tell the entire story again."

Sirius smiled as James burst into telling him what had happened in the Astronomy Tower and later, his bed.

When James told him that she had placed an imperturbable charm on his bed, Sirius had howled loudly and ruffled James' hair.

"Well," he said when James had finished. "Looks like you've got a shot, doesn't it?"

James shrugged. "Maybe." Then a dreamy look fell on his face. "I still can't believe she called me James."

"JAMES.. OH JAMES.." Sirius began to say in a high pitched voice. "You're so good. Oh harder…"

Sirius stopped his imitation when James punched him in the shoulder. Remus rolled his eyes, though obviously was happy to have the resident pervert back.

"I thought we were done with the violence." Sirius shrugged innocently.

A huge grin formed on James' face. "Shut up Sirius."