"Happy new year, Lily." James whispered against Lily's lips.

"Happy new year." She replied just before he kissed her.

Despite the hordes of people around them that were shouting and singing Auld Lang Syne it felt like they were completely alone in this moment; that it was theirs and theirs alone. That is, until Sirius jumped on James' back – completely ruining the moment.

"Come on, I came stag because you promised me a hot babe!" He complained.

"No, I said that I wasn't going stag this year because I have a…" He glanced down at Lily who was giving her a questioning look. "beautiful girlfriend." She smiled. Right answer she thought. "There's loads of girls here Padfoot, just talk to them!" Just then Sirius spotted Remus out of the corner of his eye.

"MOONY!" He shouted across the room. He sped off towards him, pushing everyone that was between them out the way. James shook his head and smiled at Lily.

"Come on." He said, taking her hand and leading the way to the garden.

This was the first time she had seen the beautiful garden but she was amazed by it. James led her towards a small bench underneath a tree that was filled with twinkling lights. They sat there in silence, just the sound of the music and chattering in the house that seemed so far away from them.

"I love you, you know." He told her. Lily smiled and nodded.

"I know, I love you too." It wasn't the first time they'd said it – in fact it had been a lot earlier on in their relationship than most would say it – but the words still made Lily's heart flutter and they seemed as important as they had that first time.

"I feel bad because I've been keeping something from you." He admitted. Lily closed her eyes – dreading what it could be. "I want to tell you, I really do, but…it's not my secret. I will tell you, I just want to make sure he's ok with it first. Can you forgive me?" He looked at her with longing eyes and Lily stared into them. She bit her lip.

"Have you cheated on me?" She asked quietly.

"No, of course not."

"This secret, does it have anything to do with me, us, or our relationship?"

"No. It has to do with me and-" he stopped himself "Me and someone else, but it plays a pretty big part of my life and I want you to understand it."

"Then, ok. I'll forgive you. You can tell me when you and whomever else it is are ready." She kissed him on the cheek and he smiled at her. "But I probably should be getting home. I promised mum I'd be back by one." She looked at her watch and saw it was already half twelve.

"You could stay here if you wanted." He suggested.

"My parents would never let me spend the night with my boyfriend."

"They do realise we live at Hogwarts and could spend the night together any time we wanted." He laughed and Lily shrugged her shoulders.

"Whatever. I live by their rules when I'm home, and they're pretty strict."

"Come on, let's get you back then. Wouldn't want the Evans to hate me!" He joked. The party seemed to be breaking up in the house anyway and a few people were using the fireplace's floo network to get back home. James followed Lily through the fireplace and then walked her back home.

They walked hand-in-hand and watched as fireworks flew through the sky and exploded in beautiful colours, it looked a lot like magic – or the best that muggles could manage. It made the dark sky look even more beautiful than it usually did when it was just filled with stars.

"I'll see you on the platform on Sunday, that's only three days away, but please write to me as much as you want. I'll try to send Scrawl to you tomorrow and you can keep him or send him back to me and I'll see you at 9 ¾." He kissed her on the forehead and she went inside where her parents were sat together on the couch.

"Happy New year!" The three of them cheered at the same time and exchanged hugs and kisses before they all headed up to bed.

After a few more awkward days at home between Lily, her sister and her fiancée, Lily was more than ready to go back to school where she could be herself and considered normal enough to have an actual conversation with. As much as she loved her family, she missed her friends, teachers and lessons, everything that made her world even more magical than it already was as a witch. But Sunday finally arrived and Lily was packed and ready to go. Her parents dropped her off at the local train station at seven in the morning and two hours later she was at King's Cross. James was waiting for her on the other side of the barrier and immediately took her case off her and carried it to the train. Once inside of the scarlet steam engine, the pair walked down to a cabin at the far end where the rest of James' friends were waiting for them.

"How was everyone's Christmases?" Lily asked the group as she sat down.

"Decent." Remus started. "My parents had another argument but at least it wasn't on Christmas day this year." He tried to laugh it off and Lily moved to speak; to find out what was going on, but James elbowed her and spoke instead.

"New Year was epic though." He commented. "Best one yet. You were so drunk, Padfoot!"

"Yeah, so glad we convinced your mum to let us drink this year, made it so much better."

"I didn't have a drop." James said proudly. "Spent my last moments of that year and my first moments of this one with my best girl." He winked at Lily who blushed slightly. "It's how I want to spend my whole life from now on."

"Let me get this straight. Your new year's resolution, Prongs, is to spend more time with your girlfriend." Sirius asked, James nodded and he sighed.

The beginning of term feast was just as amazing as it always was and the group chatted and ate for an hour before finally heading up to bed. Lily missed her parents and even her sister but she knew for a fact that this was her true home so she couldn't be homesick. She never could be homesick again because her home wasn't where her parents lived, or even Hogwarts where she had spent ten months out of the year for 5 and a half years, but with James and his friends. Where she could be herself and still be happy and accepted. She smiled and went to sleep easily.

Sorry for the wait and I know this chapter isn't the best but I prefer them at school and this is really just a transition so I'll see you next time with *hopefully* a better and longer chapter - Chescaannie xx