January 15, 1978

Somewhere in between telling James that she loved him and the end of winter holidays Lily had decided that their relationship need not remain secret(probably Christmas, when James had shown up unexpectedly at her house). She was tired of stealing glances at James when she could be holding hands with him between classes. She was tired of pretending she still only tolerated him when she could just snog him anytime she damn well pleased.

Lily was sure that James would be 100% for this, but the only question was how should they go about revealing their relationship. They could just sit their friends down and explain that they had been dating since about the end of November, but that would be to simple. Lily knew James and if he was going to reveal that he was now dating the girl that he had been chasing for years it would have to be better than just telling their friends about it.

Then she realized, the perfect opportunity, the most obvious and only as subtle as they were, way to do it. When she got on the Hogwarts express she hunted for the compartment which she knew James and his friends sat in every time.

"James, heads duty, did you forget?" She said casually sticking her head through the door. James grinned and stood.

"I would never." They left and went to the Heads compartment. "So," James began, "You dragged me here to snog, or what?" James smiled mischievously and sat on the large desk placed in the middle of the compartment.

"No actually," James pretended to look disappointed. "I wanted to tell you that I think that the time of our relationship being secret is over."

James looked like it was Christmas all over again. "Wow Lils, you sure?"

"Yes, and I have the perfect way to do it." Now Lily smiled mischievously. "Next Hogsmeade, be ready."

o0o

Finally the day arrived, the weeks between the start of term and the Hogsmeade trip had seemed like an eternity, but it had arrived. The Hogsmeade weekend was upon them and Lily was trying not to grin all over breakfast.

"Well, Alice just desert us then."

"I will thanks."

"Oh come on Al, you spend all your time with Frank nowadays and we hardly get any of you. It's not fair." Mary complained.

"It's not my fault he's a better snogger."

"Alice!" Lily exclaimed.

"What, it's the truth."

"And you would know that Mary's not as good of a snogger?" Marlene asked.

Mary and Alice blushed slightly. "We were drunk on new years." Alice mumbled.

"Merlin's beard!" Marlene exclaimed.

"Called it!" Dorcas said calmly sipping her pumpkin juice

"Oh come on it's no big deal, we were sloshed!" Mary protested.

"That's what they all say dear." Lily said, bumping Mary lightly on the side.

o0o

They all made their way out onto the snowy grounds and headed towards Hogsmeade. Lily lagged behind and let her friends walk faster. Then she felt someone tap her shoulder.

"Hey Lils." James said.

"Hey you. What did you tell them? Because I know last time they were trying to get you to get a date."

"Oh I told them I was going stag. They thought it was very amusing." James smiled to himself.

They walked into the town and behind a building.

"Hey." James grinned.

Lily smiled at him, she felt so happy whenever he was around. Her patronus had always been a doe, but if it hadn't this right here would've converted it to match James.

Lily heard laughter and talking coming, and had an evil idea.

"James, have you got your invisibility cloak with you?" she asked.

"Yeah, but-"

"Get it out, quick!"

"Okay okay…" He pulled it out and put it over them just as a couple of slytherin fourth years came into view.

Lily stuck her hand out and reached towards them. They all screeched and ran when they saw it coming towards them.

"You're evil." James said smiling down at her.

"I know."

"Who knew Lily Evans was such a prankster?"

"Why what else would she be when she's dating the James Potter?" She smiled up at him.

He kissed her softly. "Perfect, I've always said it. You're just perfect, Lils."

"Thanks." They stood looking at each other for a minute.

"You ready to do this?" He asked, "We don't have to, I mean."

"James, I love you and I am ready for the world to know." James had never grinned so wide in his life.

"Alright then." He said, taking her hand in his.

They walked down the main street. Several Hogwarts students gave them shocked looks, but didn't say anything.

Then, by the three broomsticks Lily saw the marauders open mouthed and gaping.

"That's not possible." Remus stuttered.

"Tell me I'm not seeing what I'm seeing." Sirius said. "They're dating!?"

Lily smiled. She knew James had the biggest grin plastered on his face without even looking at him.

"Hey mates." He said to them casually. "Fancy some butterbeer?" Lily knew how much he must be enjoying their faces because she was enjoying it just as much.

"I know you said you were going stag, but we did not expect you to pick up her." Sirius said, still gaping.

"I'm right here." Lily said, still smiling.

James led them all into the broomsticks and they sat at a booth. The three boys on one side, and James and Lily on the other. They were still gaping when Madam Rosmerta dropped five butterbeers off at their table.

Peter sipped his butterbeer and stared at them quietly. Sirius hadn't even touched his and still had his mouth hanging open. He was looking back and forth between James and Lily and looked rather like a fish out of water. Remus however was calmly sipping his butterbeer and smiling at James and Lily.

"Well," James said leaning back and putting his arm around Lily, "I'm sure you have questions."

"When…. How… Why?" Sirius spluttered.

"November-"

"November! You too have been snogging since November and you never told me! I mean us." Sirius burst out interrupting James.

"Yeah, we thought it best to keep it secret for a bit." James glanced quickly at Lily, and she appreciated that he hadn't said that she'd asked him. She still felt really badly about asking him to do it.

"Lily, You're a smart girl, what are you doing with poor old James. Is this a prank, cause I swear if you're pranking him I'm going to-"

"It's not a prank Sirius. I actually fancy James."

Sirius flicked his eyes back to James. "Alright which love potion did you put in her pumpkin juice? Remus told you not to do that."

"He didn't spike my drinks. Sirius you aren't giving James enough credit here."

"Thank you, love, Sirius this isn't fake."

"I still think it's a prank." Sirius mumbled leaning back and gulping his butterbeer.

"I think it's wonderful, nice going James." Remus said putting down his butterbeer.

Peter nodded vigorously over his mug.

"Thanks mate." James said.

Dorcas, Mary and Marlene entered the pub and began looking around for a table. "Oh James, I'd better go and sit with them, they'll be worried."

"Alright, see ya." Lily pecked him and then stood to go over to her friends.

She heard Sirius spluttering about her kissing James as she walked over to their table.

"Hey," Lily said sitting in the chair opposite them.

"Oi Lily, don't go wandering off like that again!" Marlene said.

"We were worried about you." Mary said.

"What were you doing anyway? I thought we were going to celebrate your birthday now while we're in Hogsmeade and not doing school?" Dorcas asked.

"We were. I was…" she glanced back at James' table. "I had a date."

"What?!" They all exclaimed simultaneously.

"Spill!" Dorcas said.

"Oh no." Lily smiled.

"Who is it?!" Mary said.

"Why should I tell?"

"Because I may actually kill you in your sleep if you don't." Marlene said so seriously Lily felt slightly scared.

"You won't, and you'll find out later."

"Is it Michael?" Marlene asked.

"No! I'm not going to date your brother, Marls."

"Worth a shot." She grumbled.

"Oh is it Dirk Cresswell?" Mary giggled. "He's in that Slug Club with you isn't he?"

"Stop guessing, it isn't Dirk."

"Why can't we guess?" Dorcas asked.

"Because you'll find out soon, and I don't feel like telling you."

o0o

After Dorcas, Mary, and Marlene had chugged their butterbeer, they braved the cold to get to Honeydukes.

"Oh, this looks delicious!" Mary sighed, looking at a chocolate wand.

"Oh yeah." Lily said.

"Alright you chocolate whores-"

"Excuse me?" Mary exclaimed. "Says the witch you keeps a stash under her bed at all times."

"Alright, but I don't go around sobbing about it in stores." Marlene looked indignant.

"Relax, you two." Dorcas said

It was quite loud in Honeydukes, there were many students from Hogwarts inside and they crowded all over the sweet shop.

"Hey." A voice said from behind and arms wrapped around Lily's stomach and hugged her close.

"Hey." she said lightly, glancing at Dorcas, Mary and Marlene who looked like they had just been hit in the head with a brick.

"But… you said….never….James Potter!" Marlene nearly shrieked.

"Nice." Dorcas said, nodding appreciatively at James.

"Lily Evans, is this a prank?" Mary said seriously, her hands on her hips.

"Why does everyone think that?" James wondered letting go of Lily's stomach and holding her hand.

"Watch it Potter, you're on my naughty list, and I'm not delivering coal." Marlene said rolling up her robes sleeves.

"Marlene, relax! James and I are actually dating."

"Oh wow! Oh Lily! Oh my Merlin!" Mary cooed.

"Mary get a grip, it's Potter, this is a bad thing." Marlene said.

"Right, did you spike her pumpkin juice?" Mary asked.

"No, I would never!" James protested.

"Hmm." Marlene looked unconvinced.

"Marls, let it go." Dorcas said putting her arm around Marlene.

"Well, I'm happy for you, Lils." Mary said.

"Oh yeah, so happy. James Potter I require a word." Marlene said sternly.

Lily rolled her eyes.

"Potter you hurt our Lily in any way, you so much as make her shed one tear, and I can personally assure you it is the last thing you will ever do." Marlene looked very threatening.

"Relax, Marls, I would never hurt Lily, I love her too much." James said seriously.

"Alright then." Marlene seemed to believe him at least a little bit.

"Oh Lily, this is so great! I'm so happy for you!"

"Thanks Mary." Lily was still concerned Marlene might do something dangerous to James.

"Hey, where is Alice, don't you all go to Hogsmeade together usually?" James asked, looking around.

"Well, Alice is with Frank, doing god knows what." Marlene said wiggling her eyebrows.

"Mar!" Mary exclaimed. "Alice is on a date with Frank."

"I didn't see them in the Three Broomsticks." James said frowning.

"Well, they're probably somewhere else." Mary said.

"Where though…" James pulled out the Marauder's Map.

"James! Don't spy on them!" Lily exclaimed, smacking him lightly on the arm.

"What? We're just taking a peek."

"There!" Mary exclaimed.

"Shh! Secret map!" James said.

"Oh sorry."

The five of them crowded the map and looked at where Mary had pointed. Alice and Frank were in the post office of Hogsmeade.

"What are they doing at the post office?" Marlene asked.

"Beats me." Dorcas said.

The five of them walked outside into the snow. It was so peaceful and quiet. James quietly slipped his hand into Lily's and when she looked up at him he smiled. They were in love their friends knew, and they didn't have to hide it.

A/N: Yeah they're together for real! Hope you enjoyed!