A/N: The confrontation! All I'm going to say now is: REVIEW!! :)

* * *

Lily woke up the next day and looked outside her window; it was snowing and the grounds had been layered in white. Smiling, she quickly put on her morning robe, excited to go open her presents. It was safe to say Christmas was her favorite holiday.

When she got downstairs everyone was waiting for her as they chatted animatedly next to a big pile of presents.

"Lily!" cried Macey when she saw her friend climbing down the stairs.

Lily grinned and plopped down next to her, eager to see what everyone had gotten each other.

Lily first opened her gift from Sirius which was,

"Lingerie?" asked Lily, her eyes skeptical. The skimpy golden fabric could hardly be considered clothing.

Sirius laughed, "Just kidding, Lily." And with a flick of his wand he turned the "ensemble" into a beautiful golden quill with embedded emeralds.

Lily gasped, "Oh, Sirius, its wonderful!"

Sirius smiled and Lily began to open the present from Remus which was a very thick book called A History of Unicorns: Beautiful Beasts.

Lily smiled, "I love it; I'm going to read it straight away."

Everyone continued opening their presents along with Lily, who also got a beautiful charm bracelet from Macey and cute earrings from Amity and Janelle. When everyone had opened their presents and dispersed around the common room or to breakfast, Lily stayed behind to pick up the left over wrapping paper. There, she saw that one present had been left unopened- and it was addressed to her in familiar handwriting.

Her heart skipped a beat when she realized it was from her admirer.

When she got to her dormitory she started to slowly tear the wrapping paper, hoping to save it. Eventually, though, she got to a point where she couldn't take the suspense, and instead took to ripping it off. Underneath it was a medium-sized green velvet box.

Opening it, she saw a beautiful golden braided chain; and hanging from it was a golden key carved with intricate patterns of roses. She put it on carefully and admired it from the bathroom mirror- it was perfect.

When she got back to her bed she started to close the box, but found that there was a small folded piece of parchment inside. It said:

Because only you hold the key to my heart;

Merry Christmas.

Lily could've died on the spot; this guy was perfect. She wanted to meet him right now and just hold him. She wanted to see him face to face and tell him how much she…loved him?

Yes; those past months of writing and laughing and sharing things together had led to her feelings turning into those of love. She loved him, and she didn't even know his name.

It was time for her to take action, so she decided to go write him a letter. It was simple:

Let's meet tonight; at the corridor on the second floor by the painting of the spinning flower. Wear your mask.

This was it, she thought, as she tied it on an owl's leg and watched the bird fly away. Fate just wasn't fast enough for her.

* * *

It wasn't long before he replied. They were eating lunch when one of the school's owls landed on Lily's lap. The note was even shorter than hers, but even then, it made her stomach flutter:

7.

Seven o'clock tonight she would meet him. Seven o'clock tonight she would either be happy or disappointed. The fluttering increased and it felt more like metal butterflies were scraping at her insides. She was going to faint- she could feel it. So she ran out of the Great Hall and into her dormitory. She was so panicky that she didn't realize someone running the opposite way until she crashed into him.

Then, everything went black.

* * *

Lily moved her hands around and she felt sheets and the edges of what seemed to be a bed.

Where was she?

When she tried to open her eyes, the lights stung and she had to cover them with her hands. Trying to sit up, she got dizzy and fell immediately back down.

How had she gotten here?

After finally getting accustomed to the light, she let her eyes open and look around her. It was the Hospital Wing and next to her was James Potter, his eyes open and looking around the room as well.

Great. He had gotten them into another mess. Why did he have to do this to her?

"Potter!" she whispered, "What did you do this time?!"

James turned around, glaring, "I didn't do anything, Evans. You were the one that was running like some madwoman through the corridors."

"Yeah, so what?" she asked.

James rolled his eyes, "You crashed into me, you prick. We both fell back and you hit your head against the wall and I hit my head against an open door. Happy? Your crazy antics got us stuck here."

He turned around, obviously trying his best to ignore her, and Lily was perfectly ok with that. At least now she knew the cause of her aching head.

She looked down and saw her pant pocket bulging a little and when she stuck her hand inside she felt the note. She gasped audibly, wondering how long she had been in here. Surely it was too late.

She got up, ignoring the throbbing coming from her head, and looked desperately for a clock. She saw one on the far wall, closer to James than her, but couldn't make out the numbers. Sighing, she sought out her only option.

"Potter," she whispered, "Potter- what time is it?"

James turned around disbelievingly, "You're asking me for the time, Evans?"

Lily groaned, "Don't question, just tell me what time it is, Potter! Be of use for once!"

"You really expect me to tell you the time? Why do I care what-?

He stopped, eyes widening, as if he had just remembered something. Lily looked at him curiously as he turned briskly around to look at the clock.

"What is it?" asked Lily.

"It's ten to seven," he croaked.

"Oh, Merlin!" she cried, "I have to be somewhere!"

"So do I."

Lily was nearly hyperventilating- she needed to meet him. If she didn't, who knows what he would think.

"I'm leaving," she said, getting off the bed.

"The nurse is going to kill you," said James, secretly wondering if he should do the same.

"I don't care! I need to meet-

But James didn't hear the rest of her words since she had sprinted out of the hospital wing so quickly. A thought did pop into his mind though…could Lily be his-? He shook his head; yeah, right.

Then, he realized that someone was his secret admirer and he needed to meet them- in eight minutes.

"Oh forget it," he mumbled and went running out of the hospital wing.

* * *

Lily managed to sprint to the Gryffindor common room, grab her mask, and run back down to the second floor. Surprisingly though, she found herself alone. It must be seven. Where was he? It was then that she heard the coming footsteps. Oh, Merlin.

Lily tightened her mask around her and she felt that familiar sense of confidence. She could do this- they loved each other. Smiling, she thought those words again: they loved each other. She closed her eyes and gave a final deep breath; this was going to be ok.

The steps rounded the corner and suddenly, and very quickly, he was in front of her breathing deeply.

"Hey," he whispered.

Lily smiled, "Hi," she whispered back.

"On the count of three?"

Lily looked confused, "Wha-

But he lifted his hand and lightly tapped his mask.

Lily suddenly became very nauseous, but nodded anyways.

He stepped closer and whispered, "One…two…three."

It took them a while to realize who the other was.

But when they did…chaos.

"What?" Lily asked desperately, her eyes brimming with tears. All of this had been a joke? Her love had been James Potter? Impossible!

James shook his head, "What are you playing at, Evans? What did you mean by this?!"

"Playing? What are you saying?" she croaked; he was accusing her of lying about her feelings. "All I said these two months is true! How could you think that I was lying?"

"Of course you were lying!" he said, stepping back, "I can't be in love with you. No; it's a trick- I get it. The prank's on the Marauder, now. Good one, Lily. Way to go."

Lily shook her head desperately, "No. I truly fell in love James; although with you, I don't think so. But please don't dare accuse me of lying."

James opened his mouth to object, when they heard someone running down the hall. They both turned at the same time to watch a sixth year Ravenclaw girl trip and fall, her books sprawling out around her.

"I'm so sorry!" she said, getting up. Now that she was facing them, Lily saw that she had gorgeous, almost golden, hair and mossy green eyes.

Something changed in James's eyes as he started to pick up her books. "That's ok; where were you headed, anyways?"

He helped her up with one hand and she shook herself off, "I was off to meet some friends, and I was late so I started running and well, you know."

James smiled, "Do you want me to take you to where you were going? I could carry your books for you?"

The girl twirled a strand of her hair, "That'd be great; I think I might hurt myself if I trip again."

James laughed with her as they walked down the corridor and disappeared when they turned a corner.

Lily felt her face with her hand and it was no surprise to her that it was wet. He had ignored her. After two months of confiding in each other and growing to love each other, he had left her. Left her for who she really was; and she had thought that their love ran deeper than that. He had said that they were meant to be together; that fate had planned for them to meet. He had given her confidence, and reassurance that she was special. Now, he was gone with some girl that he had just met.

Lily couldn't take it and let out a choked sob. She covered her mouth with her hands and went into a nearby broom cupboard, determined to not let anyone see her cry over James Potter.