Thanks messyblackhair66, american nymphadora, xo-MidnightSun-ox, STonks, Super Cara, laxrules18 and rose94 for reviewing:-) Hope I didn't take too long to update. It's a bit shorter than the last few chapters have been but I hope it's still okay. Wow, chapter 20, I never thought this fic would be so long, and it's not even finished yet!

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Ch 20: Things Aren't Always As They Seem

Back out on the main street of Hogsmeade, James and Lily walked next to each other on the narrow sidewalk.

"Did you want to go into Honeydukes?" Lily suggested, hoping that chocolate would make James feel a little better.

But less than ten minutes later they emerged, James in barely a better mood and Lily feeling increasingly nettled at James' behaviour. Sure he was embarrassed and upset, Lily understood that, but he was sulking worse than a two year old.

"Zonkos?" James' eyes lit up slightly at the mention of his favourite shop and Lily felt a rush of relief. She wasn't liking this sulky James very much.

With the closest thing to a smile Lily had seen from him all day, James was almost back to his old self as he wandered through Zonko's. Lily felt her own spirits lift at James obvious pleasure in the newest additions for practical jokers.

Laughing and joking, this was the James that Lily fancied. The fun, light-hearted, interesting, easy to talk to James.

The comfortable atmosphere between them had returned and they both seemed to be enjoying themselves. Maybe this date isn't a complete disaster, James thought happily as Lily squealed and burst out laughing as he startled her with one of the jokes. Soon, however, James would be cursing himself for thinking too soon.

"James, stop it!" Lily laughed as James chased her around the shop throwing a Fanged Frisbee at her. "You'll break something!"

Barely a second later, a loud crash resonated through the shop. The Frisbee had crashed into one of the displays of dungbombs as they went flying through the room, customers ducking to avoid the smelly packages.

"Excuse me." An angry sounding voice spoke from behind Lily. Whirling around, she found herself face to face with an unpleasant looking woman.

"Were you responsible for the destruction of that display over there?" The angry looking shop assistant asked.

"Err…." Lily looked over at James quickly.

"That was a destruction of property and you will be charged for the damage and the inconvenience to the shop." The shop assistant said curtly.

"But…I can't –" Lily stammered.

"The total cost will amount to 52 galleons and 7 sickles." The assistant peered at her sternly as if daring her to argue.

Lily looked shocked. "But I don't have that much money!" She exclaimed.

The shop assistant's face hardened but there was a spark of malicious glee in her eyes. "Then I will have no choice but to press charges." A gleeful smirk crossed the woman's unpleasant features.

"What? You can't –" A scared look passed through Lily's eyes and she stared at the assistant.

"The Ministry of Magic will –" The nasty assistant broke off.

"It wasn't her fault. Here's the money." James said roughly while shoving a heavy bag of gold coins at the startled assistant.

"Sir, I'm afraid –" The assistant's words were drowned out by the wind as James took Lily's hand and led her outside.

Once on the sidewalk, Lily still couldn't bring herself to speak. She had nearly been carted off by Ministry officials and charged with damage to private property.

"Lily, I'm so sorry, that was all my fault." James said in a rush. He knew what was coming next.

"I'll save you from saying it Lily. This whole thing was a disaster." James hung his head and a wave of despair washed over him. This was it.

"What are you talking about James?" Lily said, finally finding her voice and looking confused.

"You're breaking up with me." James couldn't look at her. It was too painful. "I understand. Everything that could possibly go wrong today did go wrong. I'm just not cut out to be your boyfriend. You're too good for me."

With his last shred of dignity, James turned away and walked off. Lily stood in shock, staring after his retreating figure.

"James!" Lily called, chasing after him. "What are you going on about? I'm not breaking up with you!"

James continued to stare at the ground. "Lily, I can't be the guy you deserve. I tried so hard today and it turned into a complete mess. First Snape, then the chair, then I spilt burning tea all over you, I took you to a place you detested and then, as if all of that wasn't enough, I nearly had you charged and fined in a shop!"

"James. Do not even try and give me that self pity." Lily said sternly, not at all impressed by his tirade.

James managed to pull his eyes up from the ground to look at her. To be honest, he'd kind of been expecting a little more sympathy, maybe a long passionate kiss if he was lucky followed by a declaration of how much she loved him and how she would die without him by her side. Well, maybe not, but he had at least expected her to protest just a little bit.

Not that he hadn't thought she was going to break up with him. He had, in the beginning. But…he'd also kind of thought, okay hoped, that she would fall into his arms and beg him to never leave her. Or something like that at least. Something a little more encouraging than the look she was giving him now.

"And that whole thing about me being too good for you is a load of rubbish!" Lily continued.

Her voice softened. "You tried, and that's all that matters. Anyone could see that you did the best you could to try and make this date perfect, and that means more to me than anything. But just be yourself James. I fell for you because you are just you. Don't try and change to impress me because you already have." With that, Lily leant up and kissed James quickly on the lips.

James was almost as shocked as he had been the first time she had done the same thing. Shocked in a very very good way. This was more like it, James thought happily as he kissed her firmly back. His earlier thoughts, okay hopes, hadn't been so farfetched after all.

"So, we're okay?" James asked when she pulled away.

"More than okay." Lily smiled and James felt his heart fill with happiness.

Lily truly was an extraordinary girl. One in a million. She didn't expect him to be anything and after the world's worst date in history, she could still make him feel like the luckiest, happiest guy in the world. She liked him for him. Well, after he had grown up a little. She hadn't been too keen on him two years ago. But Lily hadn't known James then.

"Just no more sulking." James laughed and promised he wouldn't sulk anymore. "Or pity quests." James nodded. "And definitely no more idiotic ideas like me breaking up with you over a date." James nodded again and Lily smiled.

"You had me scared for a second there." She said quietly, not quite meeting his eyes.

James was shocked to say the least. "You were scared?" He asked, as if he didn't quite understand. Lily nodded. "I didn't know you were scared of anything!" He grinned mischievously and Lily felt a grin spread across her own face.

"There's a lot you don't know about me James Potter." Lily replied.

"Were you really scared?" James asked again after neither of them spoke.

Lily got that slightly shy look back again. He loved that looked. It was the only time he saw her looking vulnerable. It made a nice change from her red face, boiling with anger as she yelled herself hoarse at him. He didn't love that so much.

Lily nodded. "I thought you were trying to break up with me but didn't want to hurt my feelings so pretended like you thought that was what I'd wanted."

James raised his eyebrows in curiosity. "Who would do that?"

"You'd be surprised." Lily looked with a slightly sour look. James was about to question her but thought better of it.

"Well, just for the record," James began, "I was bloody petrified that you were going to break up with me."

"Has that even ever happened to you James?" Lily asked dryly.

"Well, um, no." James looked sheepish. "I can understand where you're coming from though. Who in their right mind would break up with the great, the handsome, the funny, the completely amazing James Potter?" He grinned cockily and Lily laughed.

"But," James looked more seriously at her and Lily felt her tummy squirm pleasantly at his intense hazel gaze. "You're not like anybody else I've ever known." He pressed his lips to hers softly and Lily felt like her legs had turned to jelly.

Breaking away for air, Lily leant against the wall, a happy grin covering her face. James looked happier, and far more relaxed than he had all day.

"Just answer this honestly," James began after a short pause. He didn't want to ruin the moment… "But was that the worst date you've ever been on?" James tried not to show his worry.

"James." Lily said exasperatedly. "It's the only date I've ever been on."

James rolled his eyes. "You know what I mean. Did you really hate it that much?"

Lily looked uncomfortable. "Well…er…no."

"You did didn't you?" James said with a sad sigh. "You're just trying to be nice."

"Okay, well maybe I am." Lily said a little reluctantly. "I didn't hate it, but I can't say much for your taste in tea shops."

James made a face. "You think I like that place?" He asked incredulously. "I hate it. But I thought you would like it."

"Well, if not for Madame Puddifoot's the date would have been perfect, if you weren't so damn nervous all the time."

"Was I that obvious?" James asked sheepishly.

"Just a little." Lily said comfortingly with a small smile. "I think the chair, and the tea and the constant wiping your hands might have given it a way."

Taking James' hand gently, Lily smiled as they began to walk. Without quite knowing, or caring, where they were going, James and Lily found themselves back by the oak front doors of Hogwarts Castle.

"Now, what have you planned for the next part of our date Mr Potter?" Lily asked with a small smile. James grinned back.

"I think I may have some ideas."

Up they went, walking in silence, their hands still entwined. Finally, they came to a rest outside a door.

"Ladies first." James held open the door for Lily, a wicked grin plastered to his handsome face as he followed her and closed the door tightly behind them.

James took back everything he had ever said. What had started out as a disaster had ended perfectly. But really, what couldn't an hour or so in a broom cupboard fix?