They walked contently, indulging in animated chatter. Lily was surprised at how well she and James got along when they were not sniping at each other; had he always been like this and she hadn't noticed it? They navigated two whole floors without the slightest bit of discomfort. And although Lily was trying not to, she couldn't help but notice how nice James smiled, or how good it was to make him laugh. Try as she might to the contrary, Lily realized that she was definitely falling for James Potter.

When they hit the lowest level of the castle, there was an incident. As they strode, still arm-in-arm, down the corridors, the two teens heard a slick phsst. Lily and James hurried around a corner just to see a wall of the dungeons seal. James broke away and practically flew to the door, running his hands over it in concentration. Lily, feeling suddenly cold, followed him and stood behind as James knelt down at the base of the wall.

"Well what's this all about, I wonder?" said Lily after a few minutes of James' intensive scrutiny. James stood up abruptly, shoving his hand through his hair in frustration.

"This," he replied, thumbing at the door, "is the Slytherin common room. I wonder why it's been open. Remus, Sirius, Peter and me thought they were up to something tonight…Going in or going out…hmm…"

Lily scoffed although she was faintly uneasy. "We didn't see anyone in this hall. How could they've been going out?" James waved his hand dismissively.

"There are ways to be invisible, Lily. Point is that someone could be here right now, and we wouldn't know a damned thing unless we heard it. They definitely made it just in the nick of time and since the door's closed so tight I don't think they ran out. Would've been in more a hurry, see. Hmm…shifty bastards…"

"James, you're being scary. There's nothing here," said Lily shakily, backing up into the opposite wall. Calm down, you're trembling. It's nothing, it's nothing. Just some mistake, just some kid…. Swallowing, Lily stretched out her arms and began feeling around the air. Dumbledore's voice seemed to ring in her head and her hands met nothing. Lily didn't like thinking about people she couldn't see; she wanted enemies out in the open, where she could hex them properly and where they couldn't sneak around—

"I…I don't feel anythi—anyone here…James, please." He looked up at her, hair tousled over his bright eyes, and he closed the distance between them in two strides. He came closer and closer until she was back up against the cold wall.

"I'm not gonna let anything hurt you, okay?" he whispered, breath tickling her ear. "I just think we'll need to approach patrols carefully in the near future."

"Alright. Alright," agreed Lily slowly, taking in a deep breath. His body heat radiated to her over a gap of maybe a hand's width. She gazed right into his eyes. So very very hazel…

"And you've got me up against a wall, Potter, so if you could move…" He flicked his brows in amusement before answering in a husky voice,

"No, I don't think I want to." And then he kissed her.

Lily sensed fire spreading throughout her body as James' lips closed over hers and he pressed softly into her mouth. She felt his arm snaking around her waist, putting a warm barrier between her and the dank stone. Lily's hands traveled of their own volition and crept around his neck, with her fingers tangled in his hair. He made a rough noise from his throat as his other hand moved to the back of her head.

Merlin, she thought breathlessly, barely able to think at all. They were right; the boy can kiss… James pulled her up against him and she sighed into his mouth before he ran his tongue along her lip and she—

A keening singing voice broke through the air, an unnerving cackle that swooped down the corridor.

"Got to get those ickle firsties, dropping dungbombs ain't the worsties—"

"Peeves," muttered James, sounding harassed. "C'mon." They broke apart and James grabbed Lily's hand, diving behind a statue and up a narrow staircase before Peeves had turned the dungeon corner. They hurried up several more flights of stairs. It was only inside the empty Gryffindor common room ("Hinkypunk" mumbled James to a practically snoozing Fat Lady) that James stopped. He let go of Lily's hand and turned to face her, spearing his hand through his hair.

She was out of breath and panting through her rosy lips. James noticed that Lily's tumbling red hair was blown about and glittering brilliantly in the firelight. Her cheeks were delicately flushed and her wonderfully intense green eyes were glinting ferociously. A wave of pride and pleasure flowed through him and James grinned somewhat wolfishly.

"Some patrol, eh?" Lily went scarlet.

"James, I…ahem…I…"

"Lily, will you go to Hogsmeade with me?" asked James swiftly. He was pleasantly rewarded with a fresh surge of color in her cheeks.

"How…how do you know when Hogsmeade is?" James grinned even wider.

"Let's just say my mates and I found out early. They'll be posted tomorrow anyway. Look, will you go? It's in almost a week."

"I…I…" Lily stammered, still not quite sure what just happened or what was happening now. James suddenly pulled her forward and kissed her once, hard, on the lips.

"Think about it," he murmured, backing towards his dormitory. "Goodnight Lily."

"Good…goodnight James," she managed, before he shut his door. Lily raised her hand to her mouth and her fingertips grazed her lips, which still tasted like James.

I…I didn't. I just…oh dear Lord, what was that all about… Confused and elated, Lily fairly ran to her room, knowing she would not be sleeping well tonight.

Fluffy shifty chapter. Hope I wrote good romance up there for those of you who were waiting for it. Thanks again for all encouragement