Chapter 6

Lily yawned and stretched early Saturday morning. She dressed slowly and took extra time to brush her hair. Then she stretched again and walked down to the common room.

"Morning Evans," came James' familiar voice from an armchair.

Lily didn't answer and scrambled out the portrait hole into the corridor. She took a deep breath of the breeze blowing through the open window.

James followed Lily. "Is there a reason why you're not talking to me?" he asked her.

"No," answered Lily, sleepily. "I just didn't feel like talking to you."

"Then why are you talking to me now?"

"I don't know Potter. Maybe I'm not actually Lily Evans but someone else who drank a Polyjuice Potion with my hair in it."

James looked taken aback. "Well, what's something I could ask that would make sure I know it's you?"

"Favourite sweets and Christmas presents are always good."

"But I don't know the correct answer for either of those."

"Then you're stuffed," replied Lily.

"But I would like to know the answers," said James hopefully. "But only if it's really you."

Lily sighed. "This is getting confusing. Of course I'm really Lily Evans, ok, so let's just drop that."

"Right," said James slowly. "So what are you're favourite sweets and what do you want for Christmas?"

Lily looked at him. He looked serious. "Well, my favourite sweets are sugar quills…"

"Ok," said James, making a mental note to buy some from Honeydukes next time he was in Hogsmeade. "So what do you want for Christmas? It's in two months you know."

"Of course I know. I'm counting down the days."

"So what do you want?"

Lily gazed into space and said wistfully, "I would really like a silver clip for my hair that has emeralds on it. My mother says that it would suit my hair and eyes perfectly since she let me wear hers for a day. She has green eyes too." Lily paused then said, "It would be such a beautiful thing to own."

James didn't say anything.

The two reached the Great Hall. Lily spotted Nichloe and James spotted Sirius. They were sitting next to each other.

Nichloe waved at Lily and gestured for her to sit next to her.

Sirius smiled at James and motioned for him to sit on his right.

Lily sat down and took some toast. She spread butter on it and began to eat. She began to listen to Nichloe and Sirius' conversation.

"So, would you like to come with me tonight, Nichloe?"

Nichloe went pink then replied, "Yes, Sirius, I'd love to."

James leaned over and whispered into Sirius' ear, "What are you doing?"

"Project S. I. K."

"Am I allowed to bring a friend?"

Sirius looked a bit annoyed then said, "Yes, I suppose so. We'll just have to change it to Project S. I. C."

"Righto."

"Only if your friend accepts though."

"Oh, she will. If I put a broomstick ride into the offer." James leant back in his seat and called to Lily, "Hey, what are you doing tonight?"

Lily looked startled. "Nothing," she replied then kicked herself. Now he was going to ask her out and she had given him the opening!

"Do you want to come down to the kitchens with me, Sirius and…" James trailed off forgetting Nichloe's name.

"Nichloe," Lily prompted.

"Yeah, I knew that. So, do you want to come down to the kitchens with me, Sirius and Nichloe tonight?"

Nichloe looked at Lily in a way that clearly meant, 'You know you want to!'

Lily took a deep breath and a risk. "Yes, Potter, I do."