Hello! Gosh, it's been a long time, huh? I'm SO sorry, my life has just been a bit too frantic to keep on top off my FF demands. But anyway, I think I can start updating regularly again now, I hope.
So here's the next chapter, hope you like it. Thanks to everyone who reviewed last time! All I can ask of you now is to read, enjoy and review! Molly x

2. The Flying Moose With Radishes

How do I loathe thee?
Let me count the ways.

"I hate the way you drive me mad,
I hate it when you stare."

"Hey, Lil!"

Lily ignored the voice and continued to walk away.

"Lily!"

She didn't look back.

"Look, Lily, please! I didn't know you were afraid of horses!"

She whipped around, her wand glowing in the dark corridor, to face James. "Yes you did, James Potter. You knew perfectly well that I am absolutely terrified of them, all kinds, and yet you still allowed Sirius to morph me into one! Well, I've had it with you and your stupid jokes!"

"Lily, honestly, I'm really sorry."

"Let's just get this patrol over with," she snarled.

"Sure thing," he said, keeping step with her as she prowled the corridors.

They walked in silence for a while, Lily eventually slackening her pace slightly so that James could keep up.

"Lily…"

She held up a hand to silence him, peering into an empty classroom with her wand lit.

"Lily…"

"Shh!" she hissed, and James ruffled his hair nervously.

She motioned to him to get flat against the wall like she was, and they crept along the corridor to where a broom closet was making sloppy sounds.

With a sudden flick of her wand the door sprang open and two fifth years were discovered wrapped tightly around each other. They both scrambled out of the closet.

Lily put her hands on her hips.

James smirked.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"I-er…" the boy stuttered.

"We…"

"You know what? I don't want to hear it. Go to bed. Now. No snog sessions on the way back, either."

She kicked the closet shut and shooed away the fifth years. They scuttled off down the corridor shamefacedly.

James burst out laughing.

Lily glared at him. "What now?"

"You-" laughter "are so" more laughter, "funny" laughter, "when you're" laughter, "mad…" he carried on shaking uncontrollably.

She raised an eyebrow. "Oh really. Well, you know what? I feel a comic turn coming on. I cannot believe you, James Potter. You think you're so good, don't you? Well, you drive me mad, you know. Absolutely mad. So I suppose I'm funny to you all the time, am I?" She stared at him menacingly- he was still laughing. "I can't put up with this. I'm off to bed- you can finish the patrol on your own." She started to flounce off, but James quickly straightened his face and caught up with her, taking her hand to stop her go.

She tried to wrench it out of his grip but he twirled her round to face him. "I'm fed up, James! I'm fed up of you, of life, of everything! You're driving me mad!" She had tears in her eyes.

His remark caught in his throat. If there was anything he hated, it was to see her cry.

She wiped under her eyes with the back of her free hand and sniffed hard. "Please, James." She could feel his penetrating stare even when she wasn't looking at him.

He looked down at their hands, entwined together for the first time. He hadn't wanted it to be like this. He had wanted it to be a gesture of love. She yanked again, and he let her go.

She let out a tiny sob and began to run up the corridor, burying her face in her hands.

He stared after her sadly. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

After a few moments, he shook himself and lit his wand. He carried on the patrol, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

In the morning Lily walked down to breakfast alone and sat as far away from James as possible. In the few times she looked up at him, she found he was staring at her.

The day's lessons passed quickly and soon she was settling down into her favourite chair in the common room, reading a book on the complexity of charms Mr Flitwick had lent her.

The common room was virtually empty aside from a few third and first years, so she took the time to enjoy the peace and quiet. She let her thoughts swirl around her head like the haze of the fire in the hearth.

She must have fallen asleep, because she woke to the sound of loud, raucous voices, and opened her eyes to see James and his entire gang settling into the chairs nearest to her.

She groaned and closed her eyes again. Better to pretend to be asleep.

"You're joking!" squealed whom she thought might be Peter.

"I'm not!" indignant, as always, was Sirius.

"Well, then that was very irresponsible of you, Sirius," said Remus sensibly.

Peter laughed his squeaky head off and Lily groaned. Whatever they were laughing at, she didn't want to be a part of it.

She opened one eye a tiny crack to see why James wasn't laughing too. She wished she hadn't. He was staring at her again and was heading towards her.

She snapped her eye shut and turned her head away as far as she dared. Why was he always staring at her? It was beyond irritating. After a moment, however, she felt the heavy flump of someone sitting down next to her. She sighed. "What do you want, Potter?"

She opened her eyes. It wasn't him, but a burly fifth year she didn't know. She cast her eyes about the common room and caught sight of the portrait hole closing behind someone. A messy-haired someone.

She looked at Sirius, Peter and Remus. Sirius was still showing off about something, Peter gazing at him adoringly- but Remus was staring at the portrait hole with concern on his face. She watched him sigh resignedly and shake his head before lifting himself to his feet. He approached her cautiously, as if waiting for her to shout at him.

She smiled. "Hello, Remus."

He smiled briefly back. "Lily- James is very upset."

She looked at him, confused. "I'm sorry- did you say- James- is upset?"

He nodded warily- he knew what was coming.

"James! James! How- how can you think that James is upset? I'm upset! How can you dare come over here and berate me because darling James is upset!?"

He breathed out calmly. "I never berated you, Lily. And I'm not denying that you aren't upset. I hadn't finished when you- er- interrupted."

"Go on then," she said sharply. She wasn't in the mood to listen to James' envoys of peace.

"Well- James is upset because, er, you are." He waited a moment for her to register the fact, and then continued. "He is very ashamed of what he, er, accidentally or purposely did, and for the fact that he made you cry. He would like to talk to you about this, but it appears you- er- to say the least- detest his existence. Lily- James just wants to be your friend, at the very least. He never meant to hurt you emotionally or physically and swears never to do it again."

"You've got that memorised off by heart, haven't you?"

"Actually, Lily, James doesn't know I'm talking to you. In fact, when I offered, he begged me not to."

"Then why did you?"

"I can't bear to see either of you like this," he said simply, shrugging.

Lily paused.

"Just- think about what I've said, yes? He honestly didn't mean to hurt you in any way, and if you could commiserate with him enough to be friends, I can't tell you what a difference it would make."

She nodded slowly.

"Thank you." Remus' hand hovered near her shoulder for a second, then he pulled away and walked back to his friends.

Lily exhaled and threw her belongings haphazardly into her bag.

Someone tapped her on her shoulder and she turned quickly, spilling a bottle of ink all over the carpet. She cleaned it and looked up.

It was James, of course.

"We have to go and see Dumbledore at seven, just before patrols." He said it abruptly and quickly turned away again, heading straight for the boys staircase.

She watched him go, feeling perplexed. He turned at the foot of the staircase and looked back at her. They both went red and she turned away. When she looked back, he'd gone.

At ten to seven, when she'd freshly showered and combed her tumbling red hair, she stood in the crowded common room to wait for him.

When he still wasn't there at 3 minutes to, she decided to go. Why was she waiting about for him anyway?

The walk to Dumbledore's for Lily was pensive. She shouldn't have to give up and be nice to James, just because he was upset. That was just ridiculous! He had upset her in the first place, so he should apologise, not start moping. Gosh, he did make her angry. And what was all this staring about now, anyway? Crazy.

She was glad when she arrived at the stone gargoyle and gave the password ("Sugar Quill"), glad because she had arrived their first, and had a few calming moments with Dumbledore.

In fact, as she knocked on the door, she was smiling at the thought of seeing Fawkes without James mucking about, tugging out his feathers. She was smiling as she thought of Dumbledore opening the door and offering her a Liquorice Wand, and she was smiling at the thought of all the previous headmasters beaming down at her.

Then she stopped. Because it was James who opened the door, not Dumbledore.

He looked quickly, searchingly into her eyes and then as quickly away, smiling at Dumbledore, who was sat at his desk.

"Ah, Lily."

She glanced at James, then gritted her teeth and smiled at Dumbledore. "Professor."

"James was just telling me the incredibly entertaining story of when you transfigured him into a cockerel and then a pig! Fantastic, Lily!" He wiped a smiling tear from the corner of his eye and beamed at them both.

Lily flicked a quick look at James who pretended to be very interested in the ceiling.

Dumbledore spread his arms wide. "Sit down, sit down, my Head Pupils!" he said, gesturing to two chairs before his desk.

James courteously pulled a chair out for Lily, who looked quite taken aback as she sat down, and then sat down in his own.

"Now, I suppose you're wondering why on earth I have called you here, into my inner sanctum!" He smiled at them both before continuing. "Well, as Head Boy and Girl, I am sure you know, you share duties. Patrols, etc. That isn't the only thing, I'm afraid. No- from tomorrow night you shall be sharing accommodation as well."

Lily was sure her jaw had dropped, and had to feel her chin to make sure. Thankfully, it hadn't. "I'm sorry, Professor, could you repeat that last part?"

"Certainly. No- from tomorrow night you shall be sharing accommodation as well," he recited, chuckling softly to himself.

Lily stared white-faced at Dumbledore. "But sir- sir- I can't!"

James, with one arm resting against the arm of his chair and his head in that hand, looked across at Lily.

"And why is that, Lily?" asked Dumbledore pleasantly.

James waited for her answer and she looked across at him and back at Dumbledore. "Well, I just, I just- can't."

"That still doesn't explain why…"

"I- he…"

"To put it mildly, I drive her mad," interjected James amiably.

She looked at him, and he shrugged. "If you don't want to, Lily, you only have to say."

She lowered her eyes to the floor.

"Well?" said Dumbledore.

She sighed quietly. "I don't mind sharing with James."

"Excellent. Now… I'll explain to you where it is, how to get there and the passwords."

Lily looked angrily at James, who was watching her. How could she have acted that way in front of Dumbledore? And it was all his fault, too.

"Your new rooms are on the Seventh Floor. You have a large common room with study facilities, not unlike the Gryffindor common room you are used too. It is located behind an enormous canvas entitled, "The Flying Moose with Radishes." It is a favourite of mine. To gain entrance, tap the largest radish and ask the Moose his favourite colour. He will tell you ginger, and then ask you the password, which this week, amusingly, is Custard. Once you have given the correct password, the smallest radish will swell and become a high door, steps will descend and Bob's your uncle. I don't know if either of you have an uncle called Bob, but it seemed the appropriate thing to say at the time. Now, you may be wondering why on earth I have made it so difficult for you to get into the rooms. This is simply because I thought it might amuse you." He chuckled genially to himself and looked at them both. "Well? Any questions?"

"Er- yes," said Lily, "do we have individual rooms?"

"Naturally." Lily breathed a sigh of relief. "One for yourself and one for James, but unfortunately only a communal bathroom, so you shall have to take turns."

"Are we still allowed to visit the Gryffindor common room?"

"I thought if might be you to ask that, James. Being aware of your large friendship groups, how could I not permit you to visit?"

James smiled, satisfied, and sat back in his chair.

"What about- what about…" Lily struggled to find some loophole that would permit her to stay in Gryffindor tower. Finding none, she sat back too.

"Because I figured you may take some persuading, Lily, there is a surprise for you on your arrival. You too, James."

"Thank you, sir," said James, smiling. "Are we free to go now? It's just- last night in Gryffindor Tower…" James didn't need to add the phrase "big party".

"Yes, I'm sure you want to get to bed early. But first- your patrol? I'm sorry you have to do it every night, but the prefects, as you know, cannot seem to cope without you there for guidance. Thank you both for coming to see me. You may leave now."

"Thank you, sir," James said, again, heading for the door without a backward glance at Lily.

Lily nodded at Dumbledore and made for the door too.

"Lily?"

She turned, hand on the doorknob.

Dumbledore glance at her searchingly for a moment. "It'll all work out between you and James, you know. In better ways than you can imagine, I'm sure. For the moment, however, please forgive him."

She stared, then blinked and let herself out.

James was waiting for her at the bottom of the staircase, staring at her all the way down.

"What?" she snapped.

"Oh- nothing."

"Then quit staring." She looked away and took a deep breath. "Ready for patrol?"

She looked back at him, a whisper of a smile on her face. He noticed it, and latched on to it. Any part of a smile from Lily was worth a lot to him. He beamed at her. It was her forgiveness of him. "As I'll ever be." He offered his arm.

She raised an eyebrow. "You're not that forgiven," she said, but with a smirk, and started to walk away.

He smiled faintly at her back, chuckled softly, and followed.