Over the next 3 days Lily sat in classes rarely listening. Her head was in another place. She kept drifting to Potter. How nice he had been to her. Why was he being so civil? Why did he really care? She had to admit; at least to herself she cared for Potter even if it was only a little bit. It wasn't the first time she had felt something for James Potter. Every time a slytherin would call her a mudblood he would defend her and she would get the same feeling. Then she would remember he was an arrogant pigheaded male, who had made her suffer for years.
When the time finally came to board the Hogwarts express students flowed into the station. Lily, Alice, and Maria were walking ahead of James and Sirius. Maria and Alice were in a deep conversation about Frank Longbottom who just happened to be Alice's new crush.
"Alice he's not that cute. He's nerdy cute, not handsome cute."
"Not yet. You have to get them when they are nerdy, he'll grown into handsome. They always do."
"Lily please knock some sense into her" Maria pleaded.
They gained no response. She was starring off into the distance. Her eyes glued to Hogwarts.
"Lily what's wrong?" Alice questioned.
"Nothing, I'm just going to miss this place."
"Well, we will be back, just gone for the holidays."
"Yeah." Lily couldn't tell them she was leaving for good. She would owl them halfway into break to tell them her news.
The Hogwarts express slowed to a stop at platform 9 ¾ . Lily gathered her trunk and threw her school bag over her shoulder.
"You know Lil you didn't have to bring everything home." Maria laughed.
"I didn't really"
"yeah sure. Come on let's go home."
Alice saw her parents straight away and ran to hug her mother. Maria was standing with Lily until her name was called. Her older brother was standing at the edge waiting for her. "Hey, you want me to stay till they get here?"
"No it's okay. They'll be here soon."
"Okay, have a great Christmas!"
"You too!"
With a hug goodbye the two separated.
Lily reached down to grab her trunk but it wasn't where she had left it.
"I have it Lil."
"Potter I can take care of it myself."
"Yeah but you don't have to. How are you getting home?"
"Cab, why?"
"Well I can take you if you want."
"Um, I don't know. You don't even know where I live."
"Does that really matter?"
"I guess not. Potter?"
"Yeah"
"Are you only helping me because you know?"
"Had I not known I would have asked you. However, you probably would have said no. I'm going to get Sirius to take my trunk home I'll be right back."
James returned with his broomstick. "Ready?"
"On that?" Lily glanced from James to his broomstick.
"Yeah, how else do you expect I'd get you home?" James' grin appeared on his face like never before.
"I guess I just never thought about it."
"Get on"
Lily's face still looked unsure; she was never fond of broom rides, she sat down behind him. "What about my trunk?"
"A simple spell should work. Locomotous!"
Now levitating behind them was Lily trunk and bag.
James turned to look at her, "Don't worry Lil. Hold on."
Lily had barely enough time to grab onto James' waist. Lily looked down to see blurs of lights. "You okay?"
"I'm fine, just don't let me fall."
"Wouldn't dream of it"
Their ride was over sooner then Lily would think imaginable. She was finally getting the hang of being up in the air having no control, when she lightly landed on the ground. Lily climbed off and gathered her trunk and bag. Lily turned toward James expecting him to fly away. But there he was standing right behind her with his broom in hand.
"Thanks James."
"You're welcome."
It was starting to snow; the little flakes were falling onto their eyelashes.
"Are you going to be okay flying back?"
"Yeah I'll be okay. Cold but nothing I can't handle."
"Do you want my cloak? I don't think I'll have any use for it."
"Are you sure? I mean you'll need it when you go back to school."
Lily eyes pierced his. "James please take it." Her arm outstretched with her Gryffindor cloak.
"I wouldn't feel right taking the only thing you have left of our world."
"It won't be the only thing I have. I'll have your letters if you still want to write."
"I won't break my promise."
Lily's smile reached her eyes; she hadn't smiled like this since before her father died and the one time Sirius had to dance with McGonagall at a New Years dance. James took her cloak from her reluctantly.
"Thanks Lil. I promise I'll right. If you ever need me I'm an owl away."
"I'll remember that, thank you James, for everything.