The TOP ALE ATE SHOES OF WHIP In the Winter

Hey, people.

I hope you liked this.

Please review!

Anyway, I really wanted to write another chapter.

So please, read, enjoy, and review!

Disclaimer: Je ne parle pas français. Pero yo hablo inglés y español. So, I own nothing.


Previously, on this fanfic:

Lily frowned at the two of them.

"What are you two up to?"

Sirius grinned evilly. James' eyes widened.

"Well, James here would like to know if you'd accompany him to Hogsmeade next weekend."

Lily's eyes widened slightly in shock and disbelief, and she turned to James for confirmation.

James' ears reddened and his hand rose to his hair. A lopsided smile appeared on his face.

"Erm...all right, Evans?" He queried lamely, shrugging.

Sirius was trying very hard not to laugh.

Lily blushed (quite prettily, to James' dismay and Sirius' delight), bit her bottom lip, and looked downwards, at the ground.

Well, actually, to be more accurate, she studied her toes with great interest for a few seconds before answering.

"Er...well, James...well, the thing is...I don't think we should."

James and Sirius looked slightly disappointed, though for vastly different reasons.

"Damn, maybe Sirius was right!" thought James.

"Damn, she didn't say what I said she would say!" thought Sirius.

"Oh, no, James, not for the reasons you think!" Lily amended hurriedly. "No, I know you're not an arrogant toerag anymore, and I'm really glad we're friends-"

James made a strangled noise in his throat, and Sirius fell subject to a violent fit of coughing, which may or may not have been hiding his laughter.

"-it's just that," Lily continued without showing that she took notice of either of the boys' noises, "well, that's it, really. We're such great friends, and I don't really feel that way about you."

There was no disguising Sirius' triumphant smirk at these words, and James shot him a quick glare. But Lily carried on, oblivious.

"You see, James, we have such a great friendship now, and I wouldn't risk that friendship for anything. You're my best friend, and that's why we can't have this relationship."

Lily took a deep breath and chuckled a little before continuing.

"I mean, even though you help me get through everything that's hard in my life and let me cry into your shoulder and do all the lovely caring things a boyfriend would do to his girlfriend, it won't work. You're such a nice guy, and you deserve everything the world can offer, but, James, I'm sorry, I just can't be with you! You'd be a perfect boyfriend...but just to someone else."

James stared.

"Oh...okay, then," he said. "You just...you just don't feel that way about me, I underst-"

"No, James, you don't! You don't understand, you can't understand! You're far too dense to understand on your own, and who would tell you? Sirius?"

James started at the irony, and Sirius' smirk grew even wider for a second, before he recognized the insult for what it was.

"Hey!" he started to complain, but was ignored by both James and Lily.

"The thing is, James," Lily began, looking back into his face for the first time since she was indirectly asked out, "I do fancy you. A lot. (The jaws of James and Sirius both dropped in utter shock at this admission) And I know you're not who I used to think you were, and you're really a nice, smart guy who probably deserves a break after a six-year chase-"

"You think?" James interrupted quickly.

"-but I also know how determined you are. And I love that you're so nice to me, and that you do all the things a boyfriend would do for his girlfriend, and that you never take advantage of me, but...I just can't believe that you actually love me. And...I just can't let myself get hurt."

After several long moments, James broke the silence.

"So, that's it, then?" he asked quietly, in a defeated sort of tone. "You won't even give me a chance, because you're afraid to get hurt."

"I'm so sorry, James," Lily whispered, and there were tears beginning to form in her eyes.

James softened a little, and his voice lightened considerably and his eyes twinkled with mirth as he said, "Naturally, that makes it all better. Oh, it's all right, Lily pad, I don't mind. Well, not that much, anyway." And with that, he wrapped his arms around her protectively.

They stayed like that, together, for a minute or two, before Sirius loudly cleared his throat, when they started and broke apart.

"I really am sorry, James."

"Lily, it's all right. Maybe it is time for me to move on." James let out a huge breath. "I'm tired of trying to convince you that I love you. I'm tired of trying to get a date with you. Perhaps, after six years, it's time to throw in the towel. A man needs his rest."

"I think you're right. I think you-we-need to move on. We can do it. You need to go find yourself a nice girl, who will appreciate what you do and who you are even more that I appreciate those things. You're a great guy, James, and you deserve a great girl, too. And don't worry about me. Time heals all wounds...("Then why won't you go out with me?" thought James) I will be okay. And, I will always be there for you. Perhaps not as what you want me to be, and what even I want myself to be, but I will be there as your friend. Because that's what we are. Best friends. Friends forever."

"You really think I should give up? Now? When even you admit that you fancy me?"

"Yes, James. Go, be free, and be happy. Get yourself a date with a nice girl, like Mary, or Elizabeth. Get married, have children with bad sight and black hair. Forget about me-"

"I could never forget about you, Lily Flower," James smiled.

Lily ignored him.

"Do it. Forget about me. Be happy. Don't let me stop you from living out your life. F-f-fall-" Lily wavered for a second, "fall in love. No, don't interrupt. Fall in love, for real, with a girl who can love you back." Lily dropped her voice. "Be brave, James. Be brave."

"And you, as well, my dear Lily," James whispered back.

Lily smiled; a small, ironic, bittersweet smile. "I will, darling. I will."

James smiled back and cleared his throat. His voice resumed its normal volume.

"So, Elizabeth, you think so? Really?"

"Certainly. She's smart and funny and sweet and caring and nice and everything you could ever want-"

"I dunno, Lily, she's not you," Sirius kindly pointed out.

"Not helping, Sirius," said both Lily and James.

"Well, I never!" gasped Sirius. "Try to compliment a girl and all you get is, 'Not helping, Sirius!' Honestly!" he muttered to himself.

"Elizabeth. Huh. I never really thought of her in a dateable way, y'know?"

"Still, though, you should give it a shot."

"Maybe I will."

"Good. Good for you. And who do you think I should try to-yeah, you and Elizabeth would look great together," Lily hastily changed her sentence upon catching sight of the muscle jumping in James' jaw.

"Hey, Pads," called James to Sirius, "Lily says I look great!"

"I did not!" protested Lily, with a smile on her face. "I merely suggested that a good majority of people would think that you and...what? What is it, James?"

For he had stopped smiling and was gazing at Sirius with a very puzzled look on his face.

Lily turned to Sirius and found that he was staring very hard at something in front of him, over James' shoulder. It seemed he had zoned out, and had not, in fact, heard James' call and Lily's protest.

"Speak of the devil...and he shall appear," muttered Sirius to himself. Then, slowly, he grinned a very broad and very evil grin.

Lily and James spun around, and, sure enough, Elizabeth was making her way over to the trio.

"Hey, James," she began seductively. Well, sort of seductively. It didn't really work, though.

"Err...hi," James replied. Sirius' hand met his forehead in a trademark Remus Lupin face-palm.

Elizabeth glanced at Sirius momentarily, then looked at Lily. Her eyes lingered upon the other girls' for a moment, then flew back to meet James'.

"Well, James, as I was saying," Elizabeth continued,

"I just wanted to know if you'd like to accompany me to Hogsmeade next weekend."