Chapter 7: Minor Misunderstandings

"So Prongs, I saw you go outside after Evans at your parents' party," Remus mentioned a little too casually. He was stretched out across James' couch, an hour before they were all supposed to Floo back to Hogwarts.

James, who was munching on a leftover cookie, didn't look back at Remus. "Yeah, what of it?"

Sirius leant forward and stole what remained of James' cookie. "Did you get lucky Prongs?" To Sirius' surprise, James started blushing. "What? You did! You and Lily did something!"

All three boys surrounded James and started poking him. James fell over while trying to defend himself from the jabs.

"Alright, alright!" breathless, James righted himself. "So we kissed big deal! It's nothing to get excited about."

Peter started laughing, "You are such a liar. You've waited for this for three years!"

"Yeah, Prongs, all you've talked about for ages is Lily Evans. Aren't you the least bit excited about finally going out with her?"

"Going out with her?"

Sirius looked aghast. "You ARE going out with her, aren't you?"

James turned redder and said, "Well, we actually didn't really talk about it. She was sort of…crying."

"You kissed a girl while she was crying!?" Sirius looked like he was about to burst with laughter.

"Well, I mean…hey, she kissed me!" Sirius gave him pointed look. "Fine, we kissed each other. But it wasn't like I took advantage of her or anything, she asked me to hold her."

Remus looked amused. "You know this means that she likes you, right? And if she likes you, I bet she wants to go out with you."

"Do you think so? I'm sort of afraid to ask her again-"

"Of course we think so," interrupted Sirius. "I can just see it now: In two years, we'll hear the pitter patter of little feet."

"Oh, shut up Padfoot," but James was smiling despite himself. Lily Evans finally liked him back.

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James practically skipped back to the common room he shared with Lily. His insides were soaring; he couldn't wait to see her again. He knew that finally they would be going out. After waiting for so long, he had finally won Lily's heart.

As he pushed his way into the common room, he caught site of Lily reading a book. She didn't notice him come in, and James just stood there, appreciating her beauty in the flickering light of the fireplace.

She looked up. "Oh, hey James. Good to be back, isn't it?" and she went right back to her reading.

James was startled by how normal she was acting. Wasn't it just a few days ago when they had kissed on his backyard lawn? "Um, yeah," he said after standing their awkwardly for a few seconds. He sat down on the couch next to her. "What are you reading?"

"Oh, a muggle book," said Lily absentmindedly. "My parents gave it to me a few years ago; I picked it up when I got back. Ellie and I got here about three hours ago." When James didn't say anything for several moments, Lily looked up at him. "Something wrong, Potter?"

Her use of his surname brought him out of his confused reverie. "Potter? I thought we were using first names now." His eyes squinted at her, but she simply looked back down at her book.

"Sorry, old habits you know. Must have slipped." She turned a page in her book, apparently not aware of James' partially open mouth.

After sitting in amazement for a few minutes, James got up. "Well, I'm going to go unpack. Um, see you later." Lily nodded, still immersed in her book.

James walked into his room, his heart sinking. Things hadn't changed, Lily didn't like him still. Why had he ever thought they would get together?

Closer to crying then he had been in years, James plopped himself onto his four-poster bed.

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The other Marauders instantly noticed James' sullen attitude, but said nothing about it. They knew it must have to do with Lily, and they knew better than to pry. James was always touchy on that subject.

Still, Sirius watched James stare sulkily at his paper all through Charms class, trying to decide how he could best make his friend feel better. He knew he was walking into dangerous territory, but he decided to approach the subject of Lily.

"Mate, did you talk to her at least?"

James blinked several times, but continued to stare at his parchment. "That's the problem, Padfoot, it's like it never happened."

Sirius thought it might have been something like that. Girls had an odd way of assuming the worst until they were set straight. "You should talk to her, Prongs. Start the conversation."

James nodded, and stole a glance at Lily, who was talking animatedly to Ellie. The glass ball they were given to practice already twinkled with colors and flame inside of it.

When the class was dismissed, James made his way straight towards her. She was packing up her bags, still talking to Ellie. He tapped her on the shoulder, and she looked up, her eyebrows raised. "Hey, can I talk to you for a second?" James thought his voice sounded rather gruff, probably because he had barely used it the past few days.

Lily opened her mouth, but Ellie got to it first. "Oh, do you have 'Head boy' business, James?" She winked at him, and then patted Lily on the shoulder. "I'll leave you two alone, wouldn't want to interfere with 'Head duties.'" She left laughing, leaving Lily behind blushing slightly.

"What do you need, James?"

James glanced around at the still full classroom. "Um, I meant in private." Lily shrugged and walked out the door, James only just realizing he was supposed to follow her. She walked down the corridor until she identified an empty classroom, and went into it. Shaking, James slipped in after her, closing the door shut behind them.

Lily was waiting for him, still adorning her only mildly curious look. "So?" she asked.

James put down his books and rubbed the back of his neck absentmindedly. "Lily, I'm confused. I thought we-well, I thought something had happened between us over break, at my parent's party. But then I get back here and you just act all normal, as if we never kissed." He looked back up to her, letting his hand drop. He finished lamely, "I'm just confused."

Lily opened her mouth, and then closed it. Then she did it again. Finally, she put her books down as well, and sat on a desk close to James.

"Look, I didn't mean to confuse you, its just…well, I just thought you were only trying to make me feel better. You know, comforting a friend."

James raised an eyebrow. "Do all of your friends comfort you with a kiss?" His words didn't disguise the hurt on his face. She thought their kiss hadn't been real, and that saddened him.

A small smile crept onto Lily's lips. "Well, no, but I didn't think you'd know any other way to comfort a girl."

"I don't kiss girls unless I mean it, Lily." She looked at him pointedly. "Alright, I don't anymore, and I never would with you."

She sighed, and stared intently at her feet. She wasn't helping James at all, but at least she wasn't angry at him. He decided to take his chances.

"Lily, I meant that kiss in every possible way. It was meant to comfort, but only because I really care for you. It wasn't a pity kiss." She looked up at his last sentence, her eyes determined.

Afraid he had said something wrong, James broke eye contact, only to be stunned when he felt Lily's lips on his. She was kissing him. Lily Evans was kissing him, James Potter. His heart soared, he dared to hope…

Lily broke their kiss. James eyes were wide, and he prayed that she wasn't regretting what had just happened. He began to open his mouth, but Lily got to it first.

"I know this is probably stupid and just a tad ironic, and that I'm not in a good point of my life right now, but would you like to go out with me?" Lily exuded confidence with only a hint of fear at how he would respond.

James could only stare, his mouth gaping open. Finally, he managed, "M-me?"

A smile instantly donned Lily's face. "No, the smart looking bookshelf behind you-of course you! Come on Potter, going to refuse me?"

"I thought we were done with surnames."

"Fine, will you go out with me James?"

She was answered with a breathtaking kiss, and they didn't reemerge from the classroom for several long minutes.