VI. Betrayal – the act of being unfaithful in guarding, maintaining, or fulfilling

"What is the big deal?" James asked. "I'm just doing what you did." They were in an abandoned room.

"No you're not. I was forced into this. You're doing this by choice," she said. "There's a big difference."

"I'm just moving on! You moved on, can't I?" he asked, angrily.

"But you're not moving on. She's just a rebound," Lily said.

"A rebound? A rebound? No, she's not a rebound, for your information."

"Oh yeah? Well, do you still love me?" Lily asked.

"That's—that's beside the point," James said.

"Answer. Answer my question."

"No," he said. "I don't have to."

"That's because you do still love me," she said, triumphantly.

"I'm trying to stop, Lily. Is that what you want?" He began to get angry.

"No," she said, quietly putting a hand to her forehead.

"Then what do you want?" he asked.

"I want you," she said, looking at him longingly.

He looked down. "That's not possible."

"It could be," she said, stepping closer to him.

"No," he said firmly. "Lily, don't do this."

She looked away from him with tears in her eyes. He put a finger under her chin and pointed her face towards him.

"I love you, Lily," he said and leaned in to kiss her. He pulled away before it got too deep. "Don't forget that."

The relationship between James and Andromeda blossomed furiously. James decided he would move on and forget his feelings for Lily. He immersed himself in Andromeda, becoming infatuated with every thing about her. Her hair, her nose, her thoughts, her feelings, her dreams. And she, in her blissful naivety, returned the favor wanting know everything she could to become more devoted to her new lover.

"What are your hopes and dreams, James?" she asked one evening, as they lay together watching the sky change colors as the sun set behind the fog.

"To start a family, I guess," James admitted. "What are yours?"

She stayed quiet for some time, pondering her response. "I'd like to find someone special. Someone who could return the devotion I give to them."

James felt a hole burning in his heart. "Do I not do that for you?" he asked, slowly.

She turned to look at him, her eyes full of tears, and shook her head. He became cold and his arms tensed around her and she sat up. "You're always somewhere else," she said. "You're never here, with me."

"What do you mean? I'm here with you right now!" he said, defensively.

"That's not what I mean," she said shaking her head. "I see it in your eyes, James, every time I look at you."

"See what? What are you talking about?"

"I see someone else. Your heart belongs to someone else." He didn't respond. She continued. "It feels as though you could never return the love I give to you. I don't feel anything back."

"But I love you," he said, the words flying out of him before he even realized it. "I do, Andromeda. I want to be with you. I really do."

She smiled and looked him in the eye. "Then prove it," she said simply.

"I will!" he exclaimed. "Tell me what to do and I will."

"That's the thing, James. I shouldn't have to tell you." She turned away from him, the tears now rolling down her face.

"Marry me," he said finally. She looked at him, sorrow in her eyes.

"That's not what I meant," she said. He moved closer to her.

"I'm serious," he said. "I want to be with you. You want to be with me, right?" She didn't respond. "Right?" he demanded.

"I-I don't know, James," she said, avoiding his gaze. "I just don't know."

"I'll do anything, Andromeda," he begged. "Please don't leave me." It came out as a whisper and James found himself on his knees in front of her. He needed her as much as he needed Lily.

She looked at him now, staring deep into his eyes. "Run away with me," she replied in a whisper. "Lets go somewhere, just you and me, far away from here."

He shook his head. "I can't." His eyes were filled with tears now. "Please understand, Andromeda. I can't." Andromeda turned away from him, as to not show him the tears running down her face. "I can't do that to…" he hesitated.

"To who?" she asked now looking at him. "Who can't you leave?"

"…Sirius," he finally said. She looked at him and he could see all the hurt and pain he had caused her. It broke him into two. His heart was bonded to Lily, he held an undying love for her that he knew would never stop. But he knew he had to let go and move on. Andromeda was perfect for him in so many ways and he knew it but he just couldn't let Lily out of his life, and neither could he let Andromeda.

James and Andromeda were married a year later. Lily found herself sitting in the audience with an empty feeling. This marriage, to her, felt like the stopper in a bottle filled with their love. James found himself at the altar in a similar position. Yet he, nevertheless, found himself reaching for the wedding band from his best friend. But James didn't feel anything like he did the day of Sirius' wedding. He felt sorrow and disgust at this sacred ceremony of holy matrimony. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. He was supposed to be standing there with Lily. His mind drifted to the days when they first met. The days when they were carefree and helplessly in love. He'd give anything to go back to those days.

He was snapped back to reality when he heard the familiar phrase of, "You may now kiss the bride." He shook his head lightly and smiled at Andromeda who was leaning towards him. He kissed her and she began to laugh. He smiled and heard clapping around them. He grabbed her hand and held it up. They were now married, and he shouldn't forget that by falling into Lily's trap.

Lily couldn't sleep that night. Sirius was fast asleep, like he was every night. She got up and put on a robe and walked down to the main hall. She made her way down the staircase and she let herself outside. The air was cold, like it always was. She had been cold everyday since coming here. She longed to be warm again. She looked around and saw the decorations from the reception had not yet been cleaned up. She walked down into the garden where it had been held. She sat down at a table and played with the edge of a tablecloth.

"What are you doing here?" someone said. She turned to look where the voice had come from. From out of the shadows stepped James.

"I-I couldn't sleep," she stammered.

"Yeah," he agreed, "me neither."

"Congratulations," Lily said. James took a seat across from her.

"Thanks," he said.

"It was a nice wedding," Lily said.

"It was, wasn't it?" he concurred. Lily smiled.

"Are you happy?" she asked.

"Yes," he admitted. "I am. Andromeda is wonderful."

"Oh," Lily said, feeling the slightest bit hurt. "That's great." James nodded. Lily saw his hand resting on the table. She put hers on top of his. "I'm really happy you found someone," she said. "I really am. Love is a wonderful thing, that everyone should be able to enjoy."

"I think love is overrated," James said playfully.

"Are we having this discussion again?" she smiled.

"Do you want to?" he asked. She knew he didn't mean the discussion. She stood up to move next to him. She sat close to him and she could smell the faint scent of alcohol on his breath.

"Yes," she said quietly, looking from his eyes to his lips. They leaned in slowly towards each other but then she stopped.

"Are you sure?" he asked. "I won't if you don't want to."

"No," she said taking a deep breath. "I want to." She finished and kissed him. It was everything she dreamt it would be. It was everything she imagined. She had been dreaming of this kiss forever. It was a kiss without any worries. It was a kiss without any attachments. It was a kiss merely between two lovers embracing the moment given to them.

The heat began to intensify between them. Months of built up desire finally broke through. Lily didn't remember the last time being like this, but that was so long ago. James picked her up and she wrapped her legs around him. He laid her gently on a table and undid the buttons of his shirt. Lily pulled the rest off for him running her hands across his back. He was warm to her touch. He slid his hands underneath her gown and rested them on her hips. She moaned with pleasure as he moved one hand up her stomach to her breast.

"James," she called out into the darkness. She forcefully pulled off her robe, as she began to grow warm from the heat. He then slid the gown over her head, leaving her bare in the night.

"You look so beautiful," he murmured into her ear, while he kissed her neck. She undid his trousers and they fell to the floor. In moments they had moved onto the soft grass. They continued to kiss and he began to move his mouth lower. She put her hands and ran them through his hair, moaning slightly.

"James," she panted. He moved his lips back to hers and positioned himself on top of her and entered in her. She came to him gracefully. They went slow and passionately savoring every moment. After she climaxed, he lay down beside her, exhausted. They lay with each other, naked a few moments longer. She held him to her chest running her hands in his hair.

"It's getting early," she said quietly, in his ear. He nodded and began to sit up. She released him and he went searching for his clothing and hers.

Once each was dressed they stood together, gazing into each other's eyes. "Can I see you again?" he asked.

She smiled and looked at him. She nodded.

"Where?" he asked. "When?"

"Are we really going to do this, James?" she asked.

He swallowed and glanced around. "I don't think I'll be able to survive now, without you," he admitted losing himself in her green eyes.

She looked down. "We'll find a place," she said. They saw a light in a distant window of the castle turn on. "I must go," she said. "Goodbye, James." She let go of his hands and scurried away into the darkness.

Before returning to her room, she stopped by the kitchens to pick up a glass of water, just in case Sirius asked. On her way up, she smiled to herself. It was the happiest she had felt in a long time, and she didn't want to hide it. She wanted to run around screaming it at the top of her lungs. "James Potter loves me!" she envisioned herself saying. As she opened the door and saw Sirius lying peacefully in their bed, she snapped back into reality. She set her glass down and walked to the window to watch the sun rise.

"Mmm…" Sirius mumbled. "Where did you go?" he asked, sleepily, his eyes still closed on the bed.

"I went to get a cup of water," she lied.

"We always have a fresh pitcher here in the room. Did they forget to refill it again?" Lily's eyes snapped to the corner of the room, where a pitcher of water next to two glasses stood upon a small table.

"Oh, well, I couldn't sleep either, so I decided to go for a walk," she said.

"Everything all right?" he asked.

"Fine. Why wouldn't it be?" she said immediately.

"I dunno," he mumbled. "You sound a little distraught."

She sighed. "I'm fine," she repeated.

"Come back to bed," he grumbled. She walked to the bed and slipped under the covers beside him. He put an arm around her. Lily watched him as he lay peacefully with his eyes closed. He had no idea what had just happened. He had absolutely no idea of what she had just done.

A/N: Hope you liked it! And please review! By the way, the next chapter is a little… intense. Just wanted to warn ya!