Falling

Chapter 5: Project: Matchmaker

Disclaimer:Still own nothing.

Thud.

She sat up slowly, holding her head. "Oww" she moans.

"What in the world.." She hears a male voice say beside her.

She opens her eyes to see James Potter, clutching his head and rubbing his eyes. They are in a perfectly square , stone room. It is dimly lit with a few torches burning in their holders on the walls. The walls were plain. The ceiling was plain. The floor was plain. There was no exit in sight.

She stood up and spun in a circle, taking in the entire room. "How did we get in here?" She looked up. She could have sworn she fell from the ceiling after falling down that long tunnel of light, but there were no creases or holes in the ceiling.

James stood up as well, and walked up beside her. "Better question; how do we get out?"

Lily was beginning to panic now. Oh god, he's right. She thought. There's no way out. We're trapped. She voiced this thought out loud. "Trapped! We're trapped!" She whispered hysterically.

"Lily, calm down. Don't panic. There's got to be some way out." He examined the stone walls carefully. There was a crease in the middle of one. Just a small crack. He traced it with his finger, and followed it down to the floor, where it continued into the center of the room. Right to where Lily was standing. He stepped closer to her and followed the line right under her feet. He moved his gaze slowly upwards to meet her eyes.

"Lily."

"Huh?" She asked dumbly.

"I think you're standing on our way out."

"Oh." She stepped aside.

In the spot where she was standing before was another imprint of a hand. Just like the one before she fell. She pressed on it. It clicked and there was a rumbling noise as the room shook slightly and the wall before her was split open to reveal a staircase.

She looked to James, and he looked back. Together they stepped toward the staircase.

"Lily..."

"Lily..."

"Mmm, yes James?" She mumbled sleepily.

"Lily, you should wake up. Don't want you to be late for breakfast."

Her eyes fluttered open. "W-What?" She blinked at him.

"I said I don't want you to-"

"No, no I heard you. I'm up." She sat up and stretched, yawning widely and rubbing her eyes. She looked back to James and flushed as she realized he was sitting on her bed, staring at her. "Um..."

He shot up, rubbing the back of his neck. "Um, well...I-I should go." He walked quickly to the door and disappeared into the hallway. She ran a hand through her hair and sighed, thinking about the latest dream.

I'll need to tell Isis about this. And we can do some research today in the Library. After classes of course. She thought to herself as she wandered into the bathroom to get herself ready for breakfast.

After classes, Lily, Nadia and Isis were in the Library, doing Charms homework and also researching information on prophetic dreams.

Lily was writing an essay on the Confundus Charm for Professor Flitwick when Isis found something in one of the books on dreams.

"It says here that some people can see certain future events through their dreams. Those people are considered a type of seer." Isis read.

"Wait-" Lily cut in, " How can I be a seer? I'm muggleborn."

"Some muggles carry seer blood in their families. It's fairly common. Though usually they don't show the abilities unless they're magical." Nadia explained.

"So you think I have seer blood in my family, and that's why I have these dreams?"

"Basically, yes. But we're still not entirely sure if these dreams are prophetic or not yet. We need to find a way that we can tell."

"Well they certainly aren't normal dreams. What else could they be?" Lily was beginning to get frustrated with these dreams.

"I don't know. Personally, I think they are prophetic. But at the same time I don't think we should jump to conclusions without being completely sure."

Nadia nodded her head in agreement. "Lily, have you ever repeated a dream? Or do they just continue in sequence?"

"Well, I've only had a few, but so far none were repeated. And they seem to go in order. Does that mean they're prophetic then?"

"Perhaps. We'd have to check..."

Isis sighed. "I really don't think that we're going to find any useful information in these books." She leaned in closer and looked around, "I think we may have to pay a visit to the restricted section tonight" she whispered.

Lily and Nadia just nodded in agreement.

"Tonight it is."

vVvVvVvVvVvVv

The girls designated Lily to find the book in the restricted section. They thought that she might not get in as much trouble if she were caught, considering she was head girl. Plus, it would be easier for Lily to convince James to let her borrow his invisibility cloak. So she sat in the common room around 10 30, waiting for James to show up and ask to borrow his cloak.

Finally, he strolled in at about 5 til 11, to find Lily staring at him with an anxious face.

He stood there, confused, for about a minute, and then slowly made his way around the couch, and up to his room.

The whole time he was walking by her, she was yelling at herself mentally to just ask him.

Come on! He's practically in love with you, there's no way he'll say no!

He's probably going to ask me to do something in return for it. Like, kiss him or something.

Pfft, come on! Don't be such a baby. Besides it's not like it would mean anything.

I just don't want to owe him anything!

Stop being such a sissy and do it!

Fine! I'll do it..

By the time she was finished battling with herself over the subject, James was already in his room.

Crap! See now look what you did!

Shut up. I'll just go in there and ask him then.

She walked up to his door and knocked. Waited. Knocked again. Waited. Checked the time. 11 10. Come on, James. I have to sleep sometime tonight.

This time she pounded on the door. "James! Open up please! I need to ask you something."

"What is it? Why aren't you sleeping?" he asked sleepily when he, finally, opened the door.

She cleared her throat. "I need a favor."

He raised his eyebrows in a look that urged her to continue.

"Okay, well. Um. I need to, er, do something tonight. And I was wondering" more throat clearing, " I was wondering if I could perhaps, that is, if you would be so kind as to, well, I need to borrow your invisibility cloak." she finally blurted out.

"Whatever for?"

"Well. I can't tell you that."

"Why not?"

"Because."

"Because why?"

"Because I could get into trouble for doing this."

"Well, tell me what you're planning on doing. I mean, if it's dangerous, then perhaps I should accompany you along."

"No, it's not dangerous. That won't be necessary. I just need the cloak please." Although...she thought to herself perhaps it would be good to have someone along as a lookout.

"Well you have to at least tell me where you plan on taking my cloak. I think you owe me that much."

"Actually. I think it would be a good idea if you came along."

"Really?" he asked, genuinely surprised.

"Absolutely. It might be good to have a lookout."

At this he looked a little wary. "Lily," he started "what exactly are we going to do here?"

She sighed. "Okay. Well, you know about my dreams already," she gave him a pointed look and he grinned sheepishly, "so I suppose I could tell you. Last night I had another dream. And after classes today, Isis, Nadia and I decided to do some research on my dreams in the library. We think they may be prophetic. But none of the books had any useful information, so we thought we should check the restricted section. And we decided I should go tonight. Which is why I need your cloak. It wouldn't do to be caught in the restricted section, and out of bed after hours, no less." she took a deep breath. "So will you help me? And you could be the lookout for any teachers while I search for the books I need."

"Uh, yeah. Yeah I guess I could help. Let me just get dressed and grab my cloak." He said as he rummaged around his chest, searching for a shirt. He slipped it on over his head, slid his shoes on and grabbed his cloak from his trunk before heading towards the common room.

He pulled the marauders map from his pants pocket, and was activating it as he realized Lily was still standing at his door.

"Er, Lily?"

She turned and blinked at him. "Hmm?"

"Are you coming?"

"Oh, oh. Yes." she ran down to him and shook her head. "Sorry, don't know what came over me."

"S'alright" he mumbled as he threw the invisibility cloak over both of them and they set out into the empty corridors.

vVvVvVvVvVvVv

Lily's plan went off without a hitch, and they got the books she needed and were out of there without being caught. On the way back, they chatted a little here and there, but mostly walked in a comfortable silence.

"You've changed you know" Lily said softly.

"Is that a good thing?" He turned to look at her. They were both standing in front of the head's common room entrance.

She bit her lip and nodded to herself. "Yeah. Well, you've become a lot more mature." he smiled at this. "And you haven't asked me out all year"

"Would you like me to?" he asked teasingly.

"No!" she said quickly. "I mean no, it was a little annoying." she chuckled. "Though very flattering."

"So you like me better now? Now that I've changed?"

"You don't even know. And thanks. For coming with me tonight."

"Anything for you, Lily" he said softly, mostly to himself, but she heard him and blushed.

They went inside after that and went straight to bed without another word.

vVvVvVvVvVvVv

"James, you're such a softie! I wouldn't be caught dead going all 'goo goo ga ga' over a girl the way you are." Sirius teased him during a game of exploding snap in the Gryffindor common room, after dinner.

James just glared at him, causing Sirius to stick out his tongue.

"Oh, grow up Sirius. You're so immature." James said playfully.

"Oh right as opposed to you, James" Remus teased.

"Oh but not according to Lily, Remus." Sirius cut in. "Oh, James! You're just so mature now! Kiss me you fool!" he said in a very high pitched girly voice.

James shoved him and he fell onto the floor laughing. James scowled and threw his cards down, where they exploded in front of Peter's face. He squealed loudly, causing James and Remus to join Sirius in another round of raucous laughter. Peter pouted in the corner while his friends all laughed at his expense.

Lily, Isis and Nadia all walked in to see James, Remus and Sirius rolling around on the floor, laughing hysterically, while Peter just scowled at them with singed eyebrows.

Nadia cracked up at the sight, Lily covered her mouth with her hands, and Isis fought hard to suppress a smile.

When they finally stopped laughing, Sirius and the others stood up, addressing the girls. "Ah, hello ladies." Sirius said, flashing a charming smile at them. "Care to join us for another round of exploding snap?" He wriggled his eyebrows at them and glanced at Peter, causing everyone to crack up once again.

Nadia looked at the other girls, "Whaddaya say? Just one round?"

Isis and Lily agreed and they ended up playing about 4 rounds of the game until it was almost curfew.

Lily looked at the time. "Oh, whoops. Looks like we've been playing for a lot longer than we thought we would. I should get back to my dorm... it's almost 11."

James jumped up at this. "Yeah, I guess I should go, too. See you guys."

Everyone chorused their goodbyes to Lily and James and lounged on the couches until curfew.

Lily and James chatted for a bit on the short walk to their own common room.

"Well that was a lot of fun, don't you think?" James asked.

"Yeah, we should do that again sometime." Lily smiled. "I think Isis has a crush on Remus."

James raised his eyebrows. "Really? He'll be happy to know that..."

"Oh, no! You cant tell him! Isis would kill me."

"Well then how is he supposed to know to ask her out?"

"I don't know. It seems obvious to me that they like each other. So you would think that would be enough evidence. I mean, you knew I hated you last year and you still asked me out all the time. So if Remus even thinks that Isis might be interested in him, then he should ask her."

"Yes, well, Remus is nothing like me. He's too shy to ask her unless he's sure she'll say yes. Maybe-" he paused.

"Yes?"

"Well, maybe if we all go out together...you know, you, me, Sirius, Nadia, Isis and Remus. And Peter" he added. "Or maybe not Peter, whatever. If we just make sure they're together a lot, then maybe they will start to see."

"You know," Lily said as they stepped into the common room, "that doesn't sound like a bad idea. In fact I think it may just work. It's a Hogsmeade weekend this Saturday, right?"

"Yeah"

"Well then we should do that this Saturday." then she added "Unless you have a date or something already, I mean then we could do it another time." she flushed and looked at the floor.

"Lily." he smiled at her as she looked up at him. "Saturday's perfect."

She nodded and smiled back. "Okay, good."

"Goodnight, Lily"

"Goodnight"

vVvVvVvVvVvVv

As soon as the entrance to Gryffindor common room closed, Isis, Nadia, Sirius and Remus began scheming ways to get Lily and James together. Peter was just confused as to what was going on, and was busy nibbling on a sugar quill the entire time.

Sirius cleared his throat loudly. "Isis, Nadia. What you need to do is keep putting ideas into Lily's head. Keep her thoughts focused on James, talk about him every chance you get. Remus and I, oh and Peter, too, will make sure James doesn't give up on Lily. We all have to push them together as often as possible. Eventually they'll have to crack!" Sirius was quite proud of his plan, and was confident that it would succeed.

Remus looked wary, Isis contemplative, and Nadia just as excited as Sirius.

"Oh!" Nadia exclaimed. "And I can pester Lily into coming to all of our quidditch games so that she'll see James play there too!"

"Yes, good. Project: Matchmaker goes into action first thing tomorrow morning at breakfast. We can all sit together, and we'll make sure Lily sits across from James."

"You know, Sirius, I think this plan may just work." Isis said as they all went there separate ways to their dorms.

He smiled confidently and everyone said their goodnights.

A/N: Wow! Thanks for all the reviews guys! Keep them coming, they have really inspired me to keep writing. Please let me know what you think!