A/N: Dear loverly reviewers. Thank you SO SO MUCH for all of the reviews, and favourites. It makes my day when I get one of little emails from fanfiction. This chapter isn't the most interesting, but there will be another up this evening or tomorrow. As always, everything belongs to JK, except Sasha and Evangeline. Enjoy!

Finally, after what seemed an age to Lily and James, the rest of the group left, winking widely. Finally with a last "Don't do anything I wouldn't!" from Sirius, they were gone, leaving a widening silence in their wake."So, are you doing anything for…Easter?" Lily cringed again. Ack! Why do I always use the worst questions ever? James quirked his eyebrow a bit, but never the less, answered.

"I'm going home, with Sirius. I guess we'll just hang out there for a bit. You?"

"Oh, I have nothing planned, but I want to go watch some Quidditch at some point."

"Are you going? Oh wow! Can I come too?" James's face lit up.

"Sure, it would be fun." Lily smiled too, slipping her hand into his and squeezing it. "Come on, let's get out of here." She rose, pulling James up too.

"Good plan, Batman." James rose too.

"Wait, you know Batman?" Lily stopped.

"Of course I know Batman. He's like my hero!" And so they left the bar, comparing notes on muggle TV shows, and their childhood heroes. The wind buffeted them, pulling at their scarves and hair, twitching it this way and that. However, it had warmed up considerably so was not unpleasant, and the teens meandered back towards the castle. They walked hand in hand, peering into shop windows, laughing and skipping along when the mood took them, making Lily's scarf looser and looser, until suddenly it was blown off, cavorting mid air. She let go James's hand with a yelp.

"My scarf!" She took off, batting at the knitted strip, jumping high to try and grab it, but did not succeed. James tried too, leaping his best, his hands flapping at the scarf, in a futile attempt to get it, but it was just too high. They followed it down the high, running faster and faster until finally the wind let up for just a second, and James was able to dart a hand out to snatch it from the clutches of the breeze. They slowed by the forbidden forest, and Hagrid's hut.

"Thank you." Lily smiled and leant up to place a delicate kiss on his neck. Unfortunately it was just instinct for James to grab her arm and pull her in to deepen the kiss. He leant in hastily and his cheek collided with a hand, with a resounding slap. The girl in question flounced off, towards the castle, and James was left feeling thoroughly dejected.

"Fuck me, Lily. That hurt." He grumbled under his breath, and clutching his cheek, stumbled forward to collapse on one of Hagrid's pumpkins. Angrily he blinked back the fierce tears that were threatening to escape. We were getting on so well…He narrowed his eyes and looked up to see Lily running towards him.

"James! I'm so sorry!" There was confusion in her eyes; James could just see the war of wills raging in her brain. James raised his brows. "Honestly, it was just reaction. I would… very much like to kiss you." She blushed and chewed her lip, sticking out her bottom jaw defiantly. She could feel her ball of anxiety bouncing around in her middle. James let a hint of a grin onto his face, but didn't give in.

"Well, you shouldn't have hit me like that. It hurt." He massaged his cheekbones tenderly, wincing over the fresh bruise that was blooming. Lily reached out and ran her fingers over his skin, lightly tickling them.

"Hey! No tickling!" James poked her gently, then tickling her ribs until they were engaged in fierce combat, screaming and laughing.

"No!" Lily yelped when James finally really attacked her underarms. "I give in!" She stuck her arms up in the air, in defeat and flopped back onto the soggy leaves around the plants, panting slightly. James flopped down too, and slipped his hand into hers. She brought her knees up to her chest and slid her self into a sitting position. James, always one better, hopped up and plopped himself onto a pumpkin. Lily copied him, and soon they were sitting side by side, in compatible silence, watching the castle.

"I'm sorry" she whispered, into his ear.

"S'fine. Why did you run away?" He finally turned to look at her.

"I was angry. Then I realized it's exactly what I would have liked to have done." She whispered, quieter still. With that she grabbed James face with her hands and leant in.

"Erm…" someone cleared their throat behind the teens. Lily spun around. Behind them was Rebeus Hagrid, the school gamekeeper. She flushed, a deep, lobster red, as did James.

"Sorry, it's just I need to put some slug killer on the pumpkins…" The young man held up a pail which was sloshing about dangerously.

"Oh, um… we'll go…" James grabbed Lily's hand and pulled. They walked off quickly, not daring to look back, or even speak. Finally James chanced a glance. He was rewarded with a giant thumbs up and a wink by the man, and flushed even more. They dawdled, not wanting to return home. Finally they were sitting next to the lake. Lily shivered, partly in anticipation, and partly in cold. Without thinking, James slipped off his hoodie and wrapped it around her.

"Oh. Thanks." She smiled at James, and he couldn't resist any longer. He turned to look at her properly, and just as Lily had done, he placed his hands around her cheeks and brought their faces close. Their lips touched and James felt as though electricity was pulsing up and down his lips. His hands were running up and down her body, while hers were running through his hair. Finally his hands were under her top, caressing her warm skin with their rougher surface. She moaned a little, but pulled away.

"We have to get back. Or we'll get locked out." James rolled his eyes but complied. They rose and headed back towards the castle.

Not many people were surprised when Lily and James confirmed they were a proper couple. Many were glad, some annoyed, but all in all it was final. James Potter and Lily Evans were going out. As the days grew gradually warmer, so their relationship became more dedicated, and as January melted into February, they remained ever faithful and loving, spending many a happy afternoon sitting by the lake.

A blast shook the room, rattling Lily's bones in her skin. She clutched onto James's hand, as though her life depended on it. She could feel the floor slipping and shaking beneath her very feet and tears streamed down her face, but she carried on running, searching. Great rattling breaths were coming from a corner. "Who is it?" She called bravely. A thin pointed finger rose up from the shadows.

"You… you will be the reason the Dark Lord – "

Lily's eyes flashed open. She sat up, sweat dampening her face and neck. Her breathing was short and ragged, as though she had run a marathon. "Fuucckk…" She could feel her eyes dampen slightly with tears.

"What is it Lil?" Lily started at the voice. She turned around fast, so fast she felt a twinge in her neck. She caught sight of Sasha. "Bad… bad dream." She nodded slowly. "So, how did you sleep?" She tried to change the subject, her voice as filled with bravado as Sirius'. Sasha flushed; an unusual sight. "Really well, actually…" She looked down, playing with her duvet.

"What did you dream aboouuttt?" Lily's voice was singsong, lilting like a Welsh accent.

"Remus…" Sahsa's voice was barely the meanest whisper.

"Aaannd?" Lily was cajoling.

"We were… kissing…"

"Was he good kisser?"

"In the dream… yeah, he was." Sasha glowed even more, now almost beetroot. (Very similar to Petunia's husband, Vernon, Lily noted.) Lily bounded up and hugged the girl.

"Someone's on your mind!". She giggled, as did Sasha and they prepared to descend for breakfast. As it was a Saturday, they settled down to homework, but it was a tiresome task. Weak sunshine was streaming through the window, making the back of Lily's neck hot and uncomfortable, and try as she might, her dream would not be shaken from her head. A fly was buzzing noisily, banging against the window, and some first years were playing a loud game of exploding snap. Finally she flopped back in defeat.

James entered the common room, looking deliciously disheveled in Lily's eyes, for he had just returned from Quidditch practice. He stomped upstairs, very muddy and gloomy. When he returned, however, he was clean as a new button, and much brighter eyed.

"The lake?" he stuck out a hand.

"Definitely." She grabbed it and they meandered lazily through the castle, to go sit by the water, and talk.

"Lils, what are you doing after Hogwarts?" James looked out onto the water.

"I don't know. It's like home. I can't help but feel lost without it."

"I know. I'll miss it." There was a long silence.

"What are you doing, James?"

"I think I'll rent a flat with Sirius. In London somewhere."

"That sounds nice."

"You should too. With Sasha and Evangeline, and Remus and Peter."

"Yeah. That'd be nice. All of us together."

"It would." There was another long silence. "I want to fight." James burst out.

"Pardon?"

"Against You Know Who. You've read the papers, Lily. He's ruining our world." Lily gave a sad nod. "I want to be able to stop him, to fight him. To be a part of it, at least."

"James, don't. You'll end up killed, or maimed, or insane. You know what happened to the Prewett brothers. The only one left is Molly. I can't let you go." Her voice was quiet.

"Yes! That's why I need to. I can't let anyone else go through that. What would you do if Evangeline got killed? Or Sasha. It would ruin your life. He must be stopped."

"What would ruin my life is you dieing."

"I still want to help." He was defiant.

"Just – be careful. I can't lose you." Lily turned to the boy, so nearly a man, and placed a soft kiss on his lips, his arms wrapped around her. Though Voldemort was on the rampage, at that moment Lily had never felt safer.

To be continued...

There you go, I hope that was OK. Next chapter is muuuuch more exciting. Jelly babies for all reviews! And also, thank you dear, darling Anna for being my Harry Potter Geek Out Buddy.

"I wish my name was Tora, 'cause that's a pretty name..."