Thanks a lot for the reviews from Amenti, tennisjock, amanamanam and american nymphadora. Also thanks to bossyboots for adding this story as a favourite. This chapter is back to Lily and James. Hope you like it! (I also hope I don't get too repetitive with the thanks to reviewers but I really appreciate all the reviews and like to acknowledge everyone who has taken the time to write one, and also feel free to mention it if I do every forget someone, I'm really sorry if I do!)

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Ch 9: Friends?

As November drew to an end, Lily still hadn't heard a word from Petunia. The last she had heard was a letter from her parents a few weeks before they had died announcing that Petunia was engaged to a vile man named Vernon Dursley who she had been dating for forever and a day. Lily was not surprised but had been hurt that Petunia could even bring herself to contact her only sister with the news of her engagement.

"You coming Lily?" Clara called as her and Marly stood at the portrait hole of the common room. Grabbing her bag, Lily joined them as they made their way to breakfast. It was the weekend again and Lily was glad. The week had been a long and tiring one, what with finally coming to terms with the death of her parents and all the hysterical fits she had thrown. Her mood swings had subsided and Lily knew that her friends were glad.

"I'll meet you guys in a minute, I forgot something." Lily turned quickly as she saw the Marauders approaching. She had been avoiding James as much as possible and was hoping he hadn't just seen her. Recently he seemed particularly keen to talk to her and Lily wanted nothing more than avoid seeing him.

Unfortunately for Lily, James saw her glance in his direction before hurrying away. With a wave at his friends, James raced after Lily until he caught up with her.

"Lily, wait up!" James was barely puffing he was so fit from quidditch.

"Look, I really can't talk right now, we can talk another time." Lily desperately wanted to run away from him but he wasn't going to let her get away that easily.

"You can't avoid me forever, you know. We have a few hours of rounds tonight." James was very persistent. Admitting defeat, Lily turned to face him, still standing 3 metres away.

Lily refused to meet James' eyes that continued to bore into her. She didn't want to have this discussion since she had overheard his late night confessions. Lily knew she should be honest with him but she badly wanted to put it off as long as possible. Unfortunately, that didn't look like it was going to happen.

"You seem really awkward around me, have I done something wrong?" James asked her seriously. Damn right she was awkward around him. Not only had she heard some of his secrets but he also had no idea. He had seen her in an incredibly unattractive state (now that was an understatement, she had probably looked like a hideous monster that night) and she had actually hugged him and clung to him as she blubbered like a baby. She was like a human hosepipe around him! If that wasn't mortifying, Lily didn't know what was!

"Umm, no." Lily was blushing hard. It was now or never. "Look James, I really appreciate everything you have done for me recently but we can go back to normal now. You don't have to act concerned about me anymore. I'm fine." Not quite the confession she was trying to get out but at least she had the thank you out of the way.

And before she could stop herself or chicken out, the words were tumbling out of Lily's mouth.

"I heard you that night when you though I was asleep!" Lily blushed furiously but James looked unabashed.

"How much did you hear?" James wanted to get the facts straight before he made even more of an arse of himself.

"Uh, all of it." Lily spoke quietly to her toes.

Well, this is suitably awkward, James thought. Although Lily did look more embarrassed than he felt. Still, there was no point denying what he had said. Maybe he could even show Lily that he could be honest and mature. Well, try to be mature anyway.

"So, I guess it's all out in the open now. Do you believe me now that I really like you?" There. Short sharp and shiny. Honest and straight to the point. James felt that he couldn't have put it better if he tried. Lily's face matched her hair now and she continued to avoid his eyes.

"You know, I haven't been asking you out for 4 years because I particularly enjoy being turned down. It damages my ego. So, I'll ask again, will you go out with me Lily?" James attempted to add some humour to lighten the mood but Lily's face wasn't looking promising. Maybe he had badly misjudged the situation. Again. Lily looked like she desperately wanted to run away and hide and never come out again.

"Please don't James!" Lily begged, finally meeting his eyes. "I really can't deal with this right now."

Her eyes were pleading with him. He didn't need her to say it. She didn't like him back. James felt his heart sink as disappointment and rejection spread through his body, not for the first time. Lily had told him many times that she hated him or that she would never go out with him, but this time it was different and she knew it too. This time it hurt so much more.

"I'm really sorry James. Can we be friends?" Lily offered, looking like she was going to cry as she tried desperately to repair the situation.

James smiled carelessly, ignoring his hurt and trying to act casual, like he didn't care. Hey, at least she had offered to be friends. That was definitely something new and definitely progress.

"Sure." James said easily, "If friends is all you want then I'll take what I can get." James shot her another dazzling smile and Lily relaxed a little.

"Great." Lily said awkwardly before turning around and heading back to the Great Hall. Had she really just offered to be friends with James Potter? What on earth was she thinking? She hated James Potter, didn't she?

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Lily arrived at the Gryffindor table looking pale and clammy. She barely even noticed what she was putting on her plate.

"What's wrong Lily? You look sick." Marly asked looking concerned.

"Later." Lily mumbled back shooting a quick look at Clara who was looking on curiously.

Breakfast was one of the most uncomfortable meals Lily had had in a while. James was sitting a few seats down and kept looking over at her and grinning mischievously. He had forgotten his hurt at her rejection earlier and was now thrilled at the opportunity to be friends. Who was he to complain? It had only taken him 7 years to get to friends, maybe by the time he's thirty she might even start to fancy him. Blushing furiously every time he caught her looking at him, Lily tried to hurry Marly along.

"Lily!" A disgruntled Marly said as Lily just about dragged her from the Great Hall. "I was eating."

"Quit complaining, I need to talk to you." Lily replied impatiently as she gave the password to the Fat Lady.

In the common room, Lily sat down in the corner away from the other students. Marly joined her, looking curious. After 10 minutes of silence, Marly interrupted.

"Did you drag me all the way up here just to stare at the floor?" Marly tried to sound annoyed but she was far too curious. Lily shook her head.

"Is there something you haven't told me?" Marly asked. Lily nodded. "Something to do with James Potter, perhaps?" Another nod.

Marly remembered her conversation with Lily after her hysterical fit a few weeks ago. James had been mentioned but Lily had been keeping something from her.

"So…?" Marly prompted.

Lily groaned in frustration. "There was more about that night than I told you."

Marly nodded encouragingly. "Did you kiss?" She asked bluntly.

Lily looked shocked. "What? NO, no, of course not! Where would you get that idea?" Lily looked distressed at the question.

Marly shrugged. "I didn't think so, it would be very unlike you but I had to ask. And it's not like he wouldn't have wanted to."

"Marly, you are terrible." Lily scolded, still looking unhappy.

"Don't change the subject."

Lily explained what had happened, while blushing furiously, and what James had said.

"And just then, I told him and he said he really liked me again!" Lily continued. "I kind of felt sorry for him so I offered to be friends." Lily buried her face in her hands while Marly laughed.

"Lily, it's not the end of the world. You're friends with James Potter, so what? And there are much worse things than having a guy, an incredibly hot guy if I may say so, admit to you that he really likes you. Now what's the problem?"

Lily gave Marly a 'well duh' look. "The problem is that I don't like Potter and I can't possibly be friends with him because he is irritating and he drives me insane with his bullying, his showing off and the way he constantly flirts with me. Oh, and the tiny fact that he teases and makes fun of me all the time!"

Marly rolled her eyes, Lily really was ridiculous. Most girls would be over the moon if a guy admitted he liked them, especially James Potter, but not Lily. Instead she got uncomfortable and embarrassed.

"Lily, I tease you and make fun of you all the time. What's the difference? Except the obvious, that I'm not a guy, I don't flirt with you and I don't fancy you?" Marly grinned, unable to help herself. "No offence."

Lily glared at her but Marly could see she was struggling to contain her smile. "It's just different."

Marly rolled her eyes.

"How do I know if he's only making fun of me and joking around or if he's really serious?" Lily asked, looking confused and way out of her depth.

"Lily, considering both the circumstances in which he told you, it seems highly unlikely to me that he wasn't serious."

Lily looked terrified. "Oh, that's even worse. Now everything is going to be awkward because I don't like him back!" Lily wailed.

"Listen to me Lil." Marly shook Lily's shoulders. "It doesn't matter. Just act normal and be friends. You might even surprise yourself and find you like him. And if you don't then you can go back to hating him like you always did. Simple."

Lily hardly dared to believe it. "That simple?" Lily asked wide-eyed and astonished.

"That simple." Marly confirmed with a laugh. And suddenly they were both laughing uncontrollably at the ridiculousness of the whole situation. So James Potter liked her, so what? He would eventually get over it and they might even be friends.

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This chapter was originally twice as long but I made it two separate chapters instead. Sorry! I just like having shorter chapters (and therefore more of them which hopefully means more reviews! ;-) lol.) However, to make up for that the next chapter will be posted really soon :-)

Anyway, next chapter is the patrols. Can Lily and James finally become friends or will it backfire badly? Well, at least Lily told James that she heard his late night (or early morning) confessions, so it can't be all bad, right?

BTW: I never thanked madsdagirl for telling me what AU meant, that had been bugging me for ages! So thanks!