A/N: Hope the last chapter went down well (not that I would know of course, seeing as no one bothers reviewing – apart from the wonderful Flutterby Princess and Rich, who both I love mwah!)..Sorry about that I'm feeling a bit bitter today, (confusing story) so don't take any notice. This chapter starts off from a flash back from last Saturday – the 'girls night'. This is before the first task has happened.

Dedicated to my first ever reviewer Blue Arrow – I don't know if she's still reading this but if she is, thanks a lot, that first review from you made me want to continue this even if it was the worst thing in Fan Fiction history.

Chapter 9 : My Secret Admirer

"The night is still young Elfie!" declared Lily, theatrically brandishing a bottle of firewhisky.

"Don't call me Elfie! I've grown 1 cm since last year for your information….Carrot head," retorted Alyssa drunkenly. She accidentally-on-purpose tipped her firewhisky onto Lily's head. "Chuck me another Firewhisky," she asked Kaytlin who had a whole crate of them next to her bed.

"Carrot head! My hair isn't carroty" slurred Lily indignantly, putting a drying charm on herself. Lily yanked out a handful of hair and yelped, "Ow!" before carefully studying it. "It isn't carroty, it's…. red."

Kaytlin, who had just downed a whole bottle of Firewhisky and added it to a huge pile of empty bottles, smiled sluggishly and threw a bottle to Alyssa. However, due to all the bottles she'd drained, she was seeing double so the bottle ended up flying straight out the open window. "Oops!" she giggled, slightly crazily, and picked up her wand. "Ashio" she slurred pointing at what she thought was the window, but was in fact Alyssa.

Alyssa was now chanting "Carrot head" at Lily, and Lily in reply was throwing anything she could reach at Alyssa.

'Ashio' is not the summoning charm which Kayt intended to use but in reality a household charm used to fix tumble-driers, when they stop tumbling.

So Alyssa began to do half of what a tumble-dryer would do.

Not dry, but tumble.

In mid-air.

Whilst drunk and surrounded by drunken friends with one of them who would like to inflict a lot of pain for calling her 'Carrot Head'.

Poor her.

Or poor them.

Alyssa threw up, still tumbling, causing vomit to spiral right into Kayt's face and Lily's backside, because Kayt had blacked-out from laughter and Lily was slipping off her bed, head first.

Lily cringed at the memory of their girls-night-out-turned-disaster. Kayt's spell had eventually worn off and Alyssa was unceremoniously dumped onto the floor where she groaned before blacking out as well. Lily fell off her bed and woke up the next morning with not only a killer headache but also a lump the size of an oversized bludger. Kayt had woken up better off than the other two girls but not for long because they had decided to leave the cleaning up to her. Did I mention the girls had also had a fully-fledged food fight?

After Kayt found and dug her wand out of the swamp of food submerging it, she cleared up the room fairly quickly before joining the other two in the Common Room. She had brought down Hangover Potion that she kept just in case they did something like this. A little concoction that the Marauders had thought of - being as they were usually the ones who got drunk frequently. The other two girls immediately excused her for her cataclysmic behaviour yesterday and gulped down the rather detestable potion which thankfully eased their headaches. The three friends didn't even mention the night before until Lily asked them about something.

"Erm hens?" she said tentatively, not wanting to rouse the sarcastic dragon slumbering inside each of them.

"Mmm" they both mumbled in reply.

"I was just...er...wondering if you guys knew any…um…quick hair growth spells?" asked Lily going slightly red.

Alyssa gave her a quizzical look, whilst Kayt sniggered silently.

"Well, actually I do. Useful when duelling. It's Predsonti." said Alyssa indifferently.

"Thanks" said Lily weakly, getting up and leaving the Common Room. She went to the Toilets and re-grew her hair where she had wrenched it out before.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

"Told you James was going to be first" said Kaytlin to Alyssa, who sighed and handed over 5 galleons.

"Well, Callum wasn't too far off and you've got to admit that rock he transfigured into a bird was a great bit of magic." said Alyssa matter-of-factly.

"Suppose so. Although the magic James did was amazing. It's so advanced, it really was unreal." said Kayt who happened to be bouncing up and down.

Lily was lying in her bed listening to their conversation and they had no idea she was awake until she spoke.

"It was alright. It wasn't that advanced. Quite simple really," chipped in Lily in an off-hand way.

Alyssa and Kayt both twisted around and stared at her looking a bit surprised. Kayt's jaw dropped. Alyssa continued to eye Lily shrewdly.

"Ok, Lils, I know that you can conjure up every potion possible, and cast any spell known to good witches/wizards of all time, but really, "Quite simple really" is something that NOBODY would use to describe the spell James cast." Said Kayt hollowly, with a dumbfound expression on her face.

"whatever" yawned Lily, sitting up and stretching.

"Okay, sure, whatever you say…" said Alyssa giving her a you-must-be-loosing-it look.

Lily grinned at them, feeling amused by their reaction, though they continued to gape at her like she was some sort of maniac.

Truth be told, Lily was actually astonished by James's performance the day before. A-S-T-O-N-I-S-H-E-D. Not about him winning, or him not boasting but the bit of magic he did. It was such advanced magic, combining a series of spells. Lily could perform it but it took utter concentration and absolutely exhausts the witch or wizard.

The three girls got ready to go down to breakfast and left the Tower still discussing the First Task.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Lily arrived at the Table laughing like a fanatic at Kayt's description of Snape's performance. She unconsciously scanned the Table for the Marauders, well James to be exact. He was sitting at the back of the hall in between Remus and Peter. His robes were all dishevelled and his naturally messy hair was even more tousled. Remus seemed to be telling James something very animatedly. James threw his head back and laughed freely, oblivious to all the swooning girls around him. Lily noticed his long, elegant neck as her laughed, his small, ears, the firmness of his jaw line, the evenness of his teeth and as she noticed these things, she realised that she, Lily Evans, was standing in the middle of the Entrance to the Great Hall thinking about how good-looking James was. Call the Mental Hospital she thought wryly to herself as Alyssa grabbed her arm and hauled her to the Table. Lily ended up not only embarrassing herself in front of the whole school, but also in front of the godly James Potter. Thankfully, the godly Mr. Potter hadn't noticed Lily gawking at him. Alyssa brusquely plonked Lily opposite James before sitting down next to her opposite Peter. Kayt was congratulating Callum Kent at the Hufflepuff Table as Sirius glared at Callum forebodingly. She soon joined them and sat opposite Remus.

"Morning Kayt" Sirius cheerfully greeted Kayt, pouring her a glass of tea.

Kayt gave Sirius an inquiring look before replying plainly. "Yeah, I don't drink tea."

"Don't I get a 'Hi' or a 'Good Morning'? And how was I supposed to know what you like?" retorted Sirius, offended.

"Ok then, lets start all over again. Good Morning Sirius. How are you? Don't pour me any tea if you don't know what I want, and for your information I usually have black coffee." said Kayt in a sarcastic tone.

The atmosphere perceptibly thickened as the two gave each other icy glares. Alyssa tried to break the tension by congratulating James.

"You did remarkably well yesterday James" said Alyssa.

"Well, I suppose, but there's still three more tasks to go." he answered, giving Alyssa one of his genuine smiles.

Lily gaped at him. Did James Potter just pass up an oppurtunity to brag? And why was he not glowering at her?

"You alright there Lily" said James lightly, putting an obvious emphasis on her first name.

"Yeah…I'm fine…er…James" she replied, quickly looking intently at her nails, also placing an emphasis on his name.

She put some cereal in her bowl and reached for the milk jug.

"So…how did you find the Task yesterday?" he asked with a small smile playing on his lips.

Lily began to pour the milk into her bowl. "Very good. All the contestants did really well. Severus Snape's approach to the whole matter was very…um…different." she said, meaningfully praising his arch enemy.

"He took over the mind of the phoenix" he stated bluntly and in a taut voice.

"It was an unexpected-"

"The phoenix is fighting for life."

Lily looked up at James with her spoon still in her mouth. His eyes were watery and his jaw clenched tight.

"I'm sorry if I upset you" she said, feeling terrible.

"It's fine. I was surprised you -"

But James didn't finish his sentence off as Quasi (Lily's owl, for those of you that have forgotten) swooped on to the Table knocking a jug of orange juice on James.

"Quasi!" scolded Lily not unkindly as he lightly pecked her on the cheek, as though kissing her. "Oh, you little scoundrel" she laughed untying the letter from his out-stretched leg.

"What's this?" wondered Lily out-loud unfolding the parchment.

The parchment was thick and scented. Lily stared at the message written on it, taking a while to process it.

"So, what does it say? Can I look?" asked James casually, although he was very curious as to what it was.

But Lily didn't hear him. She was just staring at the note, an unreadable expression on her face.

James decided not to pursue her, and craned his neck, trying to see if he could read the note upside down. He somehow managed to do so. On the note, was written:

…you take my breath away…

Prince

Lily finally took her eyes away from the note and loked up at james, who was still staring at her hand, which was holding the note. The colour had drained out of his face and he was a livid white when he looked up.

"Who's 'Prince'?" he asked not very happily.

"You can read upside down?" inquired Sirius, taking his eyes of Kayt for a second. Everyone ignored him. They were all too keen to know about the note – what did this mean?

"I haven't got the slightest clue" she replied racking her brains.

James smiled forcedly at her. "Seems like you've got an admirer."

"Yeah. Why, are you surprised?" asked Lily flippantly.

"No. Of course not. You're a very attractive girl." he said sounding bit flustered.

"You're not going to hunt whoever wrote this to me and threaten them then?" Lily asked, rather sceptically.

"I'm not going to hunt anyone down. It's not like you belong to me or anything"

Lily raised an eyebrow at him before deciding that he was being genuine.

"Wow! I'm…surprised James. It's good to see that you've…. matured, really."

Lily looked down at the parchment now lying on the table. She picked it up.

"I'd better reply or do something" said Lily pulling out a quill.

Hi, who are you? I'd like to get to know you

Lily

She folded up the note and tied it to her owl. She tried to follow Quasi amongst all the other owls delivering post and soon lost him. However James's keen eyes followed Quasi and saw the owl leave the Great Hall.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Lily told her two best friends about the note and they all did what girls do.

"Aw! That's so cute!" squealed Alyssa and Kayt hopping around her.

"I know it's just so sweet and romantic" said Lily dreamily.

"Maybe he means Prince Charming by 'Prince' ", said Alyssa.

"Yeah!" supplied Kayt enthusiastically, still hopping around, clapping childishly.

Lily nodded thoughtfully.

"It's like something Sirius or James would do, you know" added Alyssa.

"That's true. It's something they would do." said Lily. "But Sirius was too concerned having a glaring match with Angel. And he totally likes her. I don't think its James. No. He read the letter and he was obviously a bit pissed by it. Either he's an incredible actor or it is …him."

The conversation drifted onto their day and mainly Callum Kent.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

'Gran' hobbled over to Lily and put an arm around her.

"My dear, hard times approach. You shall be tested. You must stay steady. Do not be fooled. Remember what I gave you, the cristal I gave you. The piece of glass. Use it. It will reveal the truth to you."

Gran looked at Lily sadly and pressed a little phial into her hand.

"Be wise, my love. Be wise."

Lily woke up, shocked by the dream she had just had. She had been in a dreamless sleep until that. Lily felt a phial in her hand. She gazed at it, perturbed. She placed it on her bedside cabinet and checked the time. It was 7 in the morning. She looked around the dorm. No one had woken up yet. The morning sun glimmered brightly in the sky. Lily walked over to the window after garbing a warm, comfy jumper and a pair of old jeans. She breathed in the clean, revitalizing air.

Autumn was Lily's favourite season. The leaves turning a rich, auburn, the trees gradually shedding their locks and the golden leaves carpeting the ground forming overwhelming splendour.

Lily decided that she would take a walk out in the grounds; it would help her clear her mind. She wrapped a stripy scarf around her neck and left the Tower.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

A gentle breeze wafted past her, blowing her hair. She stuck her hands into her pockets and began to think about herself. All the things that had happened. Despite that, she couldn't help feeling happy. It was a strange feeling.

All of a sudden Lily heard a voice. She gasped and ducked behind a tree. She had stupidly left her wand behind. Lily mentally kicked herself and held her breath as someone walked onto the path.

It was a ruffled black haired tall boy.

James Potter.

He stopped on the path and seemed to be talking to himself. He was holding a deep crimson rose in his hand.

Lily wasn't sure what to do. She didn't want to intrude on anything personal. And she didn't want to raise any questions either. But before she could sneak away…

"Who's there?" called out James, hearing Lily rustling around in the leaves.

Damn, thought Lily, slowly emerging from behind the tree.

"Hi, James. How you doing?" said Lily, plastering a false smile on her face.

"Oh, hi Lily. What were you doing behind the tree?" said James confusedly.

"Well, I heard someone and hid behind the tree." explained Lily truthfully. "I didn't intrude on anything personal did I?"

"It's my mum."

"Sorry?"

"She died."

"Oh. Mine did too" She added.

"Her name was Rose."

"Her name was Julia, she loved flowers."

James and Lily didn't break eye contact during there conversation until James said, "She's still here really." He held up the rose in his hand, its scarlet petals glowed in the sunlight. "Mum, this is Lily." A tear formed and dropped from James's eye.

"James" said Lily softly. She moved towards him.

He looked at her wordlessly, the sorrow in his eyes screamed to her.

She put her arms around him and hugged him tightly.

"We'll get over it. Together."

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

A/N: So, they're relationship has changed…dun dun duh! Lol…drop a review, make me happy : D. Oh and check out my new story 'Head or Tails', I might continue it depending on how it goes down…

x Suba x