Chapter 5

On Sunday afternoon Lily and James were talking in the corridor about when to meet again before the Ball to finish their project. Kenny, who had just walked up to them, interrupted their conversation.

"Okay, so uh, are you going to the ball with anybody?" Kenny asked Lily. James's face set as jealousy coursed throughout his body.

Lily saw the change in James's expression from the corner of her eye, and hid a smile. "Uh, why exactly?"

"I was wondering if you'd like to go with me, if you don't already have a date."

"Oh, right, of course, sorry, but I already have plans. Thank you, though, Kenny."

"Yeah, well, worth a shot at least," he said. He eyed James before saying to Lily, "See you later," and striding off.

"You lied to him," James said when they continued walking. "The only plans you have are with me, and that's just if neither of us can get dates."

"Exactly," Lily replied, still fighting her smile knowing what was going through James's mind, even if he didn't. "What? You want me to go back, and tell him I'm available?" she questioned.

"No!" he said loudly, and abruptly. "I mean, unless you want to, I guess," he recovered softly. Then added sadly, "And I'll just have to try harder to find my own date..."

"Relax James; I'm not going to tell him."

"And why is that?" James was curious as to the reasoning behind Lily's answer. Was it because of him? Or was it she just didn't want to go with Kenny? Who was this guy she's been waiting to ask her anyway?

Lily sighed. "Well James, as smart as you are, you should be able to figure that out," she replied, and then stepped inside an empty classroom.

"But I'm an idiot when it comes to the opposite sex!" he pleaded following her in.

"Well, I'm not going to explain it to you," she said in a rather short tone, "so you'll just have to get smart or ask someone!"

"Are you okay, Lily?" James asked nervously, unsure of what would get him yelled at.

"Oh, so I'm Lily again, not Lils anymore?"

"Um, I'm confused, what's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," she replied sharply.

"You're acting like something's bothering you. Come on, Lils, you can tell me. I want you to be able to tell me anything." He took her hand lightly in his.

She looked up at him, seeing if he was serious, if he really wanted that. His brown eyes were sincere and honest; something not even James Potter or Sirius Black could fake.

"It's just, ahh you're so slow!"

"Um...what? I'm still confused."

"That's exactly what I mean! You don't get it; you're not reading the signs!"

James stared at her for a moment, trying to comprehend what she was saying. "What signs? Signs from you...for me?" he asked slowly.

"And they made you Head Boy," she said sarcastically dropping her hand, and turning away.

"Well, I don't want to misread, and screw everything up!" he told her back.

"Since when is James Potter afraid to make a move?"

"Since I really like the girl, and I really want to have a serious relationship with you."

She turned somewhat to face him. "You want...you...what?" she said breathlessly.

"You want me to make a move?" he said. "Well, here's one for you."

He stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her shoulders, and leaning her back, one hand cradling her head. Lily's hands went to his back, her heart beating fast. Was he really doing this? She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath, parting her lips slightly as James's face drew closer to hers.

"Hey you kids!" a gruff, annoyed voice interrupted. James looked in the direction of the voice, and Lily let her head fall against his shoulder in dejection. " Get out of here!" Said a professor who had just walked in on them.

"Um, sorry, sir," James said, standing Lily up straight, and letting her go, "we'll be leaving now." He took her hand, and lead her passed the irritated teacher, through the classroom, and back out to the hall. All this was outside Lily's world. She was lost in her emotions. James had made a move; he was about to kiss her, something she'd been longing for the past weeks. If only the teacher hadn't come just then. Why do these things keep happening to us?

But, now James was holding her hand. She never knew that something as simple as that would cause such excitement in her. Little did she know that James was experiencing the same feelings.

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School was finally let out for the holidays, and everyone was still talking about the ball; plus Lily and James had finished their project. One cold afternoon, when everyone was having lunch in the Great Hall, James couldn't help but notice that Lily wasn't there. No one had seen her; he had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. James walked outside the doors to the Great hall. Shortly after he heard a faint scream.

Lily was kicking as hard, and fast as she could trying to get this man off her.

"Oh hell no are you doing this to me!" she yelled at him. She let out a scream, and began scratching at him. He started to snatch at her legs, but it wasn't helping so he got up, and began to kick her. When his foot hit her stomach she stopped kicking, and she clenched her stomach. The man took advantage of this, and quickly tied her hands together. Lily trying to get away, scooted backward but, all that did was put her back ageist the wall. When she looked up the man was gone, and she heard footsteps coming closer.

James had no idea where he was going but, he ran towards where he thought the noise came from. He just knew it was Lily. When he got to the end of the corridor he saw her, she had her back ageist the wall huddled in the corner. Her hands were bound behind her back, her clothes were ripped and torn, and she had cuts and buries on her legs. But there was no one else in sight. James quickly untied Lily's hands, and he helped her up.

"It's okay now," He whispered to her "their gone and, I won't let them come back."

He wrapped his arms around her; she buried her head in his chest as tears streamed down her face. She was shaking, she felt cold, and James picked her up and carried her back to the common room. He set her on the couch, and nursed her cuts. Lily didn't speak a word the rest of the day. James kept telling her that she was okay now, he knew she was safe but, when he looked into her eyes he could still see the fear she had. They never spoke of that afternoon again, until two nights before the ball. Lily and James were on the couch in fount of the fire.

"Thank you," Lily said calmly "for saving me really, I…I didn't know what to do. Oh James I was so scared." Tears started to poor down Lily's cheeks. "I didn't see his face, but I wasn't going to let him take me. I never stopped kicking, I was happy to hear running footsteps, and he ran away just before you came." James held her all night. They didn't say a word. They just held one another, Lily felt so safe, so right, and so perfect.

James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter put on their suits, and waited at the girl's stairs. Willow came down the stairs first, she was in a pink dress, and her blonde hair was in tight curls, and her blue eyes stood out because this was the first time they had seen her with makeup on. Dawn came down next, she was wearing a blue and white dress. Meghan's hair was straight, and her eyes were a piercing light blue. Remus's mouth almost dropped to the ground when he first saw her. Bex was wearing a red and black dress, and her dark brown hair flipped up at the ends. She walked down to Sirius, and kissed him. The last person to come down the stairs was Lily. Lily was wearing a light green dress, which made her green eyes glow. Her red hair was straight, and she looked stunning. James took her hand, and told her she looked gorgeous. Then the eight of them walked down to the Great Hall. The Great Hall did not look like it normally did; it looked like a real Ballroom. Everyone inside was dressed formal, and dancing around having a good time. Sarah and Peter went off with another group of friends for the night, which left James, Lily, Sirius, Bex, Remus, and Dawn to sit, and talk. Remus and Dawn did not sit for very long, they got up, and danced. James went to get something to drink with Sirius, which left the girls to talk.

"You and Sirius look great together, I'm so happy for you Bex." Lily said.

"Well so do you and James, Lil. Hey, what's that on your leg?" Bex said pointing at the cuts on Lily's legs.

"Oh um..." Lily said hesitantly, but James and Sirius came back just in time.

"Hope we're not interrupting anything." Sirius said handing Bex a drink.

"No, we were just killing time" Lily said looking up at James with a small smile, her eyes watering a little.

"Well come on, do you want to dance?" Sirius asked Bex. She got up, and took his hand, and they walked out onto the dance floor. James looked down at Lily; he held his hand out, and smiled. Lily put her hand in his, and they followed Sirius and Bex to the dance floor. After a while of dancing Lily and James separated from Sirius and Bex. They were alone in the corner of the room. Lily had her head resting on James's shoulder as he held her close to him.

Once the song ended James let go of Lily, he took her hand quietly, and lead her outside. It was a cold, winter night, but Lily was hot and sweating. James stopped walking. Lily's back was against the stone wall of the school, sweat on their faces. James came very close to her face, their lips touched. Closing their eyes, and parting their lips slightly so their tongues could meet for the first time. Their love for each other finally showing, but without words. James, holding Lily began to move his hands up and down her back. Lily's hands moved to his shoulder blades. The feel of affection they had for each other could not be described. They held, and kissed each other for a long time before they heard people talking, and laughing on the way back to their dorms. But Lily and James had become so caught up in the moment that they didn't want to go back to their dorm, and separate yet, they wanted to stay together just for a little longer. When Lily pulled away, she looked down at her watch; it was already 12:30.

"We really should be getting back." Lily said looking up at James.

"Do we have to go so soon?"

"Yes, I don't want anyone to worry."

"Alright, come on." He said taking her hand in his. They walked up to the common room where they found all six friends who had all changed, and were sitting in their pajamas around the fire. Bex and Sirius were sharing an armchair; Remus and Dawn were on the couch leaning ageist each other, and Peter and Willow had their backs to the couch facing the fire.