A/N: Hello! So, here's chapter 12! I really hope you like it. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE WITH SPRINKLES FUDGE AND CHERRIES ON TOP REVIEW! It'd mean so much to me :) Enjoy!

(LILY'S P.O.V.)

I elbowed James in the ribs, hoping he'd get the message that though his jokes were funny they were pretty much borderline ridiculously rude.

"Ouch!" he exclaimed. I gave him a look and he finally understood.

"Sorry," he whispered, and smiled at me. I sighed heavily.

We were on our "double dinner date" with Petunia and Vernon, and safe to say, it was not going well. Petunia had just broken the whole "my sister's a witch and there's a whole magical world out there filled with other freaks like her and her boyfriend's a wizard so that's that" news to Vernon last night after the engagement party and least to say he did not take it well, though he was attempting to be sort of civil with us.

"So, er, James…" Vernon grumbled. "What kind of car do you drive then, hm?"

"Car?" James asked, scratching his head. "Cars are only for muggles, my good man."

"For what?"

"Muggles. You know, ordinary people like yourself."

"Ordinary?" Vernon said defensively. James ignored it.

"Anyway, I've got a racing broom. I'm not old enough to apparate yet-"

"Appa-?"

"-But I will be in March. And Lily will be next month! Anyway, I've got a Comet 101- the newest! I got it for my birthday last year. Quidditch captain, you know. Got to have the best," James said proudly.

I could tell James was having too much fun talking to Vernon without him understanding a single word he said. I kept giving him looks, like signals to stop, but he wasn't getting it. It was one thing to make fun of Vernon when they weren't around, but right in front of his face?

James was smirking as he dug deeper into his pasta.

Petunia looked absolutely livid. She couldn't stand magic talk.

Vernon had a twisted smile on his face. "Well, you don't have a car, you must not have a job either...probably not a dime to your name then. Ruddy wizards, you probably live on unemployment benefit. Ha!"

"Well, not exactly," said James. "You see, we have our own kind of jobs and money as well. And excuse you, but I have more than a dime to my name…whatever that means. Wizards got a bank, you know. Gringotts. Run by goblins."

"Don't be absurd. There's no such thing as goblins," said Vernon spitefully, rolling his eyes.

"Of course there is. And they run the bank. Anyway, my parents happen to be very wealthy and I've got my own vault in Gringotts from the fortune my parents left me…in solid gold," James said.

Vernon's face started turning red. "Who do you think you are, boy? Racing brooms? And goblins? Solid gold, you say? Your family probably stole it all, you filthy wizards and your stupid magic sticks being able to take whatever you desire!"

"All right, calm down no-"

Vernon shut up. "Don't tell me to calm down, you arrogant scum!"

"Excuse you, but please don't talk to him that way," I said loudly. "He was only trying to explain-"

"It's all a bunch of poppy-cock, if you ask me! Don't you agree, Petunia?"

"Of course," she sneered.

"I'm not making it up!" James defended himself. "You just don't understand!"

"I won't stand here and be talked to like this by such filth!"

"Look who's talking," James whispered under his breath.

"I'm leaving!" Vernon announced. "Come on, Petunia!"

Petunia got up too. "Wait, Tuney, he didn't mean-"

"Don't speak to me, Lily," she said in the most loathsome voice. "I knew this was a bad idea from the start. Your boyfriend is just like you, a complete freak. Just leave me alone."

"Don't talk to her like that!" James shouted as she stormed off with her fiancé. The restaurant door slammed.

I couldn't help it. I couldn't stop the tears from forming in my eyes and then rapidly falling down my face. As much as we fought, I really wanted things to be good with Tuney again. And this was just a reminder that it never would be.

"Oh, Lil, I…I'm sorry, I…I didn't mean to…oh, bullocks," he said and then just wrapped his arms around me and let me cry against his chest.

After a few minutes I started to calm down. James was stroking my back and kissing my head every now and then. He said, "I'll make it up to you. I promise, okay? At…at the wedding. I'll apologize to the both of them. All right? I'm sorry, Lily."

I nodded against him and then let go of him, wiping my eyes.

"Are you cross with me?" he asked in the most innocent voice.

I looked at him, and you know, I really want to be cross with him, but I just couldn't. It wasn't worth it. But I couldn't help but be upset about what happened. "Only a little," I told him.

"Just a little?"

"Not enough," I said, with a hint of a smile. James smiled back and then kissed me for a short moment.

He wiped away a tear from my cheek with his thumb. "Come on. Let's get out of here."

I paid the check and James took my hand and we walked outside for a bit, and then we apparated to his house. It was only nine o'clock anyway. I was still technically grounded though, which was so bloody stupid, so I had to be back by ten or I would be killed by my mother.

His parents were both still at work, so he gave me a tour of his house. It was ridiculously huge. Like…wow. My house was the size of his closet! We walked and talked for a while and then sat down and ate some ice cream while we back and forth made jokes bashing on Petunia and Vernon, or as I call them, the blob and the stick, which James has started calling them as well, but I claimed my copyright to it, so ha! As I was saying, they had an entire container of chocolate ice cream, my name practically written on it.

GOD BLESS THE POTTERS.

Anyway, we spent the short remaining amount of time in his room (which is HUGE, by the way. And fairly messy.) We had a very nice snog, if I do say so myself, and it tasted a lot like chocolate, which, I think, made it one of our best snogging sessions yet.

I think James agreed, because neither of us wanted to pull away. Of course, the chocolate taste was a factor, but it was also the fact that James was such a good kisser and he was doing things with his hands that he should not be allowed to do because they make my mind go blank and we can't have me blanking out too often or the world would implode. I mean, I'm the logical one in this relationship, you know? I've got to keep it that way, damn it!

So, after a reasonable amount of time, I pulled away and looked at the clock. I had to be home in three minutes. Shit.

James groaned. "No," he said, pulling me back against him.

"James, it's 9:57!"

"One more minute," he whispered, pressing his lips to mine again.

I let him kiss me, because, really, who could resist, but only for a few short moments and then I pulled away again and got up, straightening myself out. "I have to go, James. I'm sorry. Everything after Tuney and Vernon left was lovely. I'll see you in a few days."

I took out my wand to apparate back home. "Lily, wait," he said and got up. He took my face in his hands and gave me one last long, sweet, chocolaty kiss.

"Bye," he said quietly as he let go, smirking his classic James smirk whenever he does dumb cutesy sort of romantic things like that to me.

Psh. Blokes.

"I'll write you," I told him, smiling, and then I apparated back home.

I walked in through the door.

"You're late," my Mum said.

I checked my watch.

"It's 9:59!"

"Well…fine then. Where's Petunia?"

"I don't know," I said, walking to the kitchen and picking up an apple from the counter, biting into it.

"You don't know?"

"Nope," I said, chewing.

"Why not?"

"Her and Vernon stormed out of the restaurant."

"Why did they do that?"

"Because James and I are freaks."

"Of course you're not, dear," said Mum. "Petunia is just jealous of your gift."

"I know, I know…"

The rest of the holiday off was quite uneventful. I stayed in the house mostly except to help Mum with grocery shopping and to visit Dad in the hospital, who seemed to be doing not too bad. James and I wrote to each other a couple of times. I really missed him. My mum asked a lot of questions about him, which was very awkward, to say the least.

Petunia and I barely spoke to one another, or even acknowledged each other for that matter. Not until January 2nd, when I was leaving the house. I called out a goodbye to her and she answered one back, but that was it.

Mum dropped me off at King's Cross and gave me a lengthy, loving goodbye. I was really going to miss her despite the fact that I still can't believe she grounded me.

Mum drove away and I walked on the platform, searching for any familiar faces. The train was due to leave in five minutes, so most people were boarding the train.

"Lily!" I heard someone call out. I turned my head.

"June!" I shouted. She was running towards me. We hugged tightly. "I missed you!"

"I missed you too! I'm sorry your Mum grounded you."

"Yeah, me too," I laughed. "We'll have plenty of time to catch up though. Did Noel right you?"

"No," she sighed. "Not once. I wrote him three times, and not a single response!"

"Maybe he didn't get them? Or he was just busy and never got the chance to respond?"

"Oh, c'mon, Lil," she said. "Christmas in Hogwarts is anything but busy. Something's up."

"I'm sure he has a good explanation," I assured her.

"He better, that prat," she said, as we went on the train.

"Is this compartment good?" June asked, opening a door to an empty one.

I nodded. "Yeah, why not? Hey, I'm going to go find James and then I'll come back here with him and we can analyze you and Noel's problems. Sound good?"

"Please," she said, smiling. "I could really use your expertise."

I laughed. "Okay. I'll be right back."

June went into the compartment and I kept walking, looking through them to see if I could find James. Suddenly, someone was pulling on my arm, and I turned my head to see James dragging me into an empty compartment, sliding the door and closing the curtain.

I wrapped my arms around him tightly and he embraced me back, swaying with me on the spot. I let go to say hello and then he started smothering me with kisses, pulling me down with him on the seat, snogging me senseless. Once I got my head out of the clouds, I pulled away. "James, I promised we'd sit with June."

He frowned at me. "But-"

"No buts, mister. I saw you twice this Holiday and I didn't get to see June at all. I miss her! And she's your friend too!"

"Yeah, but you'll have all night to catch up on your girl stuff…" He leaned in again but I stood up.

"James, come on, she's my best friend. We won't be with her the entire ride! Just for a few hours. Then we'll get the rest to ourselves. All right? I really missed her. Don't you miss your mates?"

"Of course I do," said James, standing up and sounding irritated by the question. "That's why I want to spend time with you now, because I'm going to be with them later. Especially since it's the full moon tonight."

Oh, right. I forgot about that. But still. I sighed. "You're going to get a fair share of your time with me. And them. Okay?"

He sighed also, taking my hand. "Yeah, okay. You're right. Sorry," he said softly, kissing me shortly. "I just missed you. I kind of did miss Carter too, though. She's a bit mental, but at least she talks Quidditch."

I rolled my eyes and opened the door. "C'mon," I said, and led him out of the compartment to the one June had picked.

We went inside and sat down across from June.

"Hey, Potter," she greeted him. "Ready to hear about my relationship problems?"

He gave me a look. "This is why you made me come here with you?"

"Hey, if I have to suffer through this, so do you. You know, that's what committed relationships are all about," I told him, smirking.

"You're such a-"

"Oh, not now, James!" June shouted, slapping his knee. "When you two start insulting each other you both just get turned on and then start snogging and you can save that for later! I need help here!"

James and I both looked at each other and laughed. "All right, Carter," James said. "Let's do this proper. Lay down."

June obliged and lied down on her side of the compartment.

"Tell Dr. Potter what's wrong, miss," he said in an attempt of what I assume was supposed to be a sophisticated voice.

"It's Noel, Doctor. He hasn't responded to a single one of my letters! And things have been a bit rocky lately between us anyway."

"Could you elaborate on that, Ms. Carter?"

I couldn't help but laugh at the way they were talking.

"Well, we keep fighting over the most trivial things! Like the other week, we had a row about me borrowing his quill. Like, how fucking dumb is that?"

"Uh, language?" I interceded.

They both looked at me and then rolled their eyes.

"Is bloody dumb better for you?" she asked.

"I guess."

"Well, it was really bloody dumb! And one time we fought over the fact that he wanted to hold my hand and I wasn't in the mood. Like, cut me some slack? I was on my-"

"You don't need to say it!" James shouted, cringing.

"PERIOD," June said, loud and clear and pro-longed. I laughed.

"Thanks for the info," James snorted.

"Well, it's relevant!" she said. "When it's that time of the month you don't always want to be all lovey dovey like that."

"Lily isn't like that," he argued.

"Well, excuse me, we can't all be perfect like Lily Evans!"

"Hey," I interrupted. "I'm not perfect."

"Oh, don't give me that," June scoffed. "You are and you know it. And James will back me up on this one."

"She's right," he said, smirking.

I rolled my eyes. "And that's not true. I snap easily at you when I'm on mine."

"You always snap at me!" he said.

"It's irrelevant," I told him.

"ANYWAY," June said. "We just haven't been seeing eye to eye on everything…I don't know."

"Well," James said. "He is a Hufflepuff."

"James," I sighed.

"I'm just saying," he continued. "That being in different houses means that there are clear characteristic traits that differ from one house to the next so obviously there are going to be things you don't agree on and you'll both have different attitudes, so on and so forth."

"But Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors get on good together," I reminded him.

"Yeah, Lily went out with Dave Beckon from Hufflepuff and they never had any fights like this," June said.

I was going to slaughter her.

James's ears turned red and he looked annoyed now. "Yeah, and she dumped him for me, so that really worked out."

I gave June a scathing look and took James's hand. "Anyway, back to your problems, June. It has nothing to do with him being a Hufflepuff."

"Yeah, I know, but still…maybe I would be better off with a Gryffindor…"

I rolled my eyes. James said, "Yeah, ditch Johnson and go for Remus! He needs to get over Delia anyway."

"I can't do that! That's totally breaking girl code," June told him.

"Yeah, not a good idea. Plus, I think you two are better off as just mates," I said.

"Agreed," she said.

"Him and Delia would have been good together," I thought out loud.

"Well," James chimed in again. "Tell her to get Moony back!"

"She's too in love with Michael," June scoffed.

"Still?"

"Still," I told him.

"I mean, she's slowly getting over him," June said.

"But slowly to its true definition," I said.

"Ah," James sighed.

"Yeah."

"Well, anyway," said James. "Just confront him when we get to Hogwarts. But don't come off as a bitch. Kill the kid with kindness, yeah?"

"He isn't wrong, you know," I said.

"I guess you're right," June breathed. "I'll do it ASAP."

"Sounds good," I told her.

We spent the next couple of hours talking about our Holidays and just fooling around and ate some candy from the trolly.

Then June decided she needed some "beauty sleep" before she confronted Noel, and kicked us out of the compartment. We went back to the one James had been in before. We talked for a bit, but we were both pretty tired as well, so we cuddled up together and fell asleep.

I woke up to a knocking on the compartment door. June was standing in the entrance.

"Aw, you two are precious," she said.

I rolled my eyes. James was still asleep so I whispered. "What do you want?"

"We'll be at school in fifteen minutes. Just thought you should know."

"Thanks," I said softly, and then she waved and closed the door again.

I could feel James breathing against me. His mouth was very slightly ajar and his glasses were crooked. I decided it'd be best if I woke him up.

"James," I said lightly, letting my hand move softly along his cheek. He didn't respond. So I kissed his mouth lightly for a few moments, and when I pulled away he groaned very softly. I leaned in and started to kiss him again, and this time I felt him react and kiss me back. I pulled my lips away from his and said, "Morning, sleeping beauty."

"Sh," he said, pulling my face back against his, kissing me again.

I laughed against him and then pulled away, and got off him and sat up straight. "June said we'll be there in fifteen minutes or so."

"And you couldn't let me sleep for another fourteen minutes?" he asked.

"No," I admitted. "I wanted you awake so we had a few more minutes together before you go with your mates and I go with mine."

He smiled. "Oh," he said, and put a hand in his hair. "Well, within good reason, then, yeah?"

"I guess," I shrugged, smirking.

He chuckled and took my hand, moving ridiculously close to me, putting his head against mine. I felt my breathing stifle. It was amazing how he could still do that to me after three months. He leaned in and kissed me slow and soft but so intensely, it was intoxicating. His tongue entered my mouth and my arms made their way around his neck, pulling his face closer to mine, as if it were possible. We remained entangled in each other for a while, and finally we both pulled apart for air. I kept my eyes closed and couldn't help myself but smile, and then James leaned in again and kissed me for one more moment, and then kissed my head.

"I love you," he said.

I felt a lump in my throat. Every time he said that, it came back. I still couldn't bring myself to say it back, and I didn't know why.

So I just kissed him again.

He pulled away, which made me nervous, because when does THAT happen?

"Lil," he said softly.

"Mmm?"

"Don't worry tonight, okay?"

Right. The full moon.

Nothing about love.

Nope. He wasn't pushing me to say it.

I knew he wasn't.

I'm just freaking out.

"I'll try not to," I told him.

"Good," he said, putting his arm around me. "How's your dad?"

"He was okay when I visited him last night," I told him. "Not any worse since you saw him."

"Well, that's good then, right?" he asked, giving me a hopeful smile.

"I guess," I shrugged. Then I smiled. "He likes you."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," I said back. "Thinks you're good for me."

"Wise man, Mr. Evans," James said, squeezing me closer against him.

I laughed lightly. "I don't know how right he is, though."

"Excuse you?"

"I think you're terrible for me."

"O-oh?"

"Yeah," I said, trying to sound serious. "Shall I make a list?"

I guess he caught on when I said that. "Ah, a list? Haven't done one of those in a while."

"Well, I'm doing one now. Reason number one why you're oh so bad for me. You distract me from work."

He rolled his eyes.

"Reason two: I hum a lot more now."

"What a travesty," he said, chuckling.

"Reason three: I…you…erm…"

"Out of reasons there, I see?"

"Psh, no… I just…I need more time to form an accurate, complete, articulate list. I'll have one for you by tomorrow."

James rolled his eyes again, grinned, and then kissed me chastely for a moment.

The train slowed and stopped. We got up and found June and left the train and took a thestral to Hogwarts. Emily sat with us and, to June's intense dislike, so did Henry, but she sat in between them.

We got off the carriage and James said to June, "Don't be that older sister."

"What do you mean?"

"Don't be overprotective and cock block them like that! How would you feel if Emily sat in between you and Noel all the time?"

"He has a good point," I said.

"Well, I gave them plenty of time on the train while I was with you two and while I slept," she defended herself.

"Still. She's fifteen. Let her make her own mistakes. It's the age, mate," James reminded her.

"But…It's Thorne! We hate Thorne!"

"We do," James agreed. "But your sister doesn't."

June sighed in exasperation. "Well…she should!"

James chuckled. We got to the Great Hall.

"Well," said June. "I see Noel. I'm going to go over there and kick his arse. I'll see you later, Lil. Wish me luck!"

"Don't forget, Quidditch practice tomorrow night!" James reminded her as she strutted away.

"Yeah, yeah," I heard her say.

James turned to me. "So do you think-"

"PRONGS!" someone shouted. We both turned our heads. Sirius was sprinting towards us. He lunged for James and embraced him tightly.

"Hey, Sirius," James greeted him, laughing.

They let go of each other. "Thank MERLIN you are back. This place has been more dull than Pete's sex life."

He turned to me. "Evans!" he said, hugging me too, and then kissed my cheek. "I missed my favorite little ginger."

"I missed you too, Sirius," I told him, smiling.

"Had a nice shag on the train, then?" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

"You're sick," I said, rolling my eyes. I looked at James, who was smirking. The git.

"That's why you love me so much," Sirius said, patting my head.

"Whatever you say," I laughed.

"SIRIUS!"

James and I both turned our heads, and there was Carly, running full speed between us to Sirius, who picked her up and kissed her right on the mouth.

They stood like that snogging, so James and I walked away towards the table.

James nudged me. "He's going to have to make up an excuse to get out of shagging her tonight without it resulting in a row. With the full moon and everything."

I laughed. "I'm sure he'll come up with something. He's the king of getting around things. 'Oh, Professor McGonagall, I'm so sorry I was late, I was helping a crying first year find her class. But thank Merlin, I'm not too late, right? Transfiguring objects into animals is my favorite! So excited for the lesson, professor! Continue, please!' I can't believe McGonagall actually went with it."

James sniggered. "That was pretty good. But not as smooth as the time I convinced Slughorn last year that I was late because I was single handedly healing a third year's broken hand that got hit by a Bludger."

"Oh God, I remember that!" I laughed. "You are such a prat."

"Don't you mean I was one?"

"No. You are one."

"That's a little unfair, don't you think?"

"Nah," I said as we reached the spot where Remus, Peter, and Delia resided.

Delia shot up when she saw me and we hugged and chatted for a bit before I greeted Peter and Remus as well. We all sat down and spoke and ate. Ten minutes later, June came over, looking rather down. She greeted everyone in her normal peppy attitude, but when she sat down both James and I looked at her questioningly, and then we were both able to see the sadness in her eyes. I guess it didn't go so well with Noel.

Sirius returned twenty-five minutes later and sat with us, and Carly went to sit with her friends.

"Had a good quicky, Sirius?" Delia asked.

"Yes, actually," he confirmed, smiling broadly. "Told her I couldn't tonight, so we just did it now."

"How sweet," Remus said sarcastically.

This is why I love Remus.

"Your sarcasm isn't appreciated, Moony," Sirius said.

"Yes it is," I chimed in, slapping Remus a high-five.

"Who do you think you are, Evans?"

"I think I'm Head Girl and could give both you and Carly detention for your lack of self-control," I responded.

"Then we'll just shag in detention," Sirius said, winking at me.

"That is so-"

"Oh, don't even go there, red," he said, rolling his eyes. "Like you and James wouldn't do the same."

"Keep me out of this, mate," James muttered.

"Not in detention!" I shouted. "We're Head Boy and Girl. Not some barbarians who can't keep it in for three seconds."

"Now, now, my dearest, we don't only do it in detention," Sirius said.

"Right, you do it in closets and bathrooms and-"

"We have other places too."

"Like where?"

"My flat, of course."

"Your…what?" I asked, confused.

He just laughed. "Oh, Evans."

"When Sirius moved out of James's he got his own flat," Peter explained.

"But you can't apparate in and out of Hogwarts-" I tried.

"It's right outside of Hogsmeade," Remus chimed in. "They just sneak out through secret passages and go there."

"And you go there all the time?"

"Nah," Sirius answered. "Every once in a while, but when we do…Merlin, does it get wild."

"Okay, a bit too much info there, mate," I said, trying not to vomit.

"What can I say? I'm an open book," Sirius smirked.

"Why don't we close it for a bit, yeah?" said James.

Everyone laughed, and eventually we decided it was time to split. James sweetly kissed me goodbye and I promised I wouldn't worry about him, though of course I would.

When June, Delia and I went to the Common Room, Delia filled us in on what we missed.

"Remus and I snogged again," she confessed. "But only once."

"Delia, enough is enough," I told her. "Remus is too good of a guy for you to keep toying with him like this."

"I know, I'm a horrible person," she sighed. "We had a long conversation the next day and decided we can't keeping do this. He deserves someone better than me."

"You're not a horrible person," I said.

"Yeah, only a little," June said. "Is he a good kisser?"

"June!" I shouted.

"What? I'm just curious! I mean Sirius sure was back in fourth year. And I'm sure James is because his and Lily's lips are practically glued together all the time."

"He is a pretty damn good kisser," I admitted, sighing.

"So how's Remus?" asked June.

"Yeah, he's…he's a really good kisser," Delia said.

"Maybe it's a Marauder thing," June said.

"They probably used to practice on each other," I laughed.

"I don't know if they were doing it for the sake of practicing, or just for genuine enjoyment," Delia said.

"What about Peter?" June asked. "None of us have kissed him."

"I think we should keep it that way," Delia cringed.

"Poor Pete," I said.

"Anyway," Delia said. "It's over, though. And I'm over Michael too. I just need to figure it all out, though."

"You will," June said.

"Speaking of figuring things out," I said. "What happened with you and Noel?"

"We, er, well…he broke up with me."

"What?" Delia shouted. "Why? Things were going so great with you guys!"

"He said he's been doing a lot of thinking over the holiday and he wants to focus on school if he wants to get a job at the Ministry after school, and that he really likes me, blah, blah, blah. Asked if we could still be friends. I poured pumpkin juice on his head."

"Aww, June, I'm so sorry," I said, giving her a hug.

She shrugged. "I went to the loo after and cried it out for a bit, so I'm all right at the moment."

"You'll be okay," Delia said. "He was a loser anyway. You could do way better."

"Thanks," June chuckled. "He was a bit of a tosser."

"And blokes think you're fit! I mean, blonde hair, pretty eyes, solid C cup," said Delia. "Now that you're back on the market, all them will be chasing after you."

"Well," June said, flipping her hair. "I am irresistible."

Delia was right, because sure enough, boys were all over June yet again for the next few weeks. Noel noticed as well, and looked rather bothered by it, which just made June embrace it all even more.

Delia seemed to be in a lighter mood lately, which was good. Her and Michael even seemed cordial with each other now. There was still some awkward tension between her and Remus, but most of the time they made it work.

Things with James have been really great. Ever since I finally told him about Dad I've been able to open up a lot more to him, and he's such a great person to talk to. He always puts me in a better mood and knows just how to make me laugh. We've been getting a lot more intimate, too. Which is, er, well, nice, actually. And he never pressures me, which is good.

Mid to late January rolled around, and James and I were alone in the Common Room, drinking cocoa and playing chess. He won, unfortunately (I'm still convinced he cheated). I was going off on him about he must have switched our pieces while I went to the loo, though he swore he didn't.

I crossed my arms. "You're the worst."

"Aw, come here," he said, getting up from the floor and sitting on the couch, patting the spot next to him.

"No," I refused.

"Please?"

"I don't sit with cheaters. Go join the Slytherins if you're going to be this way."

"Low blow, Lil," he said, rolling his eyes.

"Well, you deserve it."

"I didn't cheat! C'mon, I just got lucky. Want to do a rematch?"

"No, because then you'll just let me win!"

"Don't girls like when blokes do that?"

"Do you know me at all? What's the point of being competitive if you're going to win without a fair fight? That's no fun."

He chuckled. "I swear to Merlin I didn't cheat. Now come over here. Please?"

I sighed, getting up and plopping down on the couch next to him.

"Viola. I'm here. May I go to my room now to sleep?"

"No," James said, wrapping an arm around me. "I'm not letting you go that easy."

"What must I do to escape your villainous clutches, then?"

"Kiss me?"

"Um, no."

"Fine, I guess I'll just kiss you," he sighed, leaning in.

"James-"

But it was too late. He was snogging me. And I was snogging him back.

I am a weak, weak, weak girl.

We were kissing for a while, but once his hands started wondering up my jumper, I pulled away.

"How about no," I said, removing his hands from there.

"Why not, beautiful?"

"The beautiful card? Really?"

"It's not a card," he said. "It's the truth!"

"I'm just not in the mood. I let you fondle me all the time. Can't we just have a snuggle night or something?"

"Always on your terms, isn't it?" he chuckled. "What about the times that I'm not in the mood for your hands to be going wherever they please, violating me like that?"

"Violating?" I laughed. "You're always in the mood! I don't think you've ever protested to anything."

"Fine, fine. So if you don't want me to touch you, why don't you just touch me? It's only fair."

I rolled my eyes, laughing. "You're crazy."

"Crazy for you."

"Oh, real original."

"Copyright?"

"Try plagiarism of every film out there."

"You know, I've seen a film once!" James said, rather excitedly.

I laughed. And then I said, "I love you."

Yes. That's legitimately what I said.

WHY DID I JUST DO THAT?

James's eyes widened behind his glasses, and he grinned rather broadly. "Did you just say-"

"No I didn't," I said quickly.

"You just told me you loved me."

"No I did not."

"Yes you did!"

"Didn't."

"You love me!"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Lily, you just said-"

"I didn't mean to!" I blurted out.

James's face dropped, and the tone in his voice changed dramatically. "What do you mean, you 'didn't mean to?'"

"I…I just-"

"Maybe you should think before you speak, then," he said coldly, removing his arm from my shoulders, standing up.

"Damn it, James, wait, I didn't mean to-"

"I don't want to hear it."

"James, I'm sorry, I…I don't know why I said it."

Okay, so that was a lie. I do know why I said it.

It was because I was 99% sure I did love him.

It's been something I've been thinking about a lot lately. I've been feeling it every time he said it to me…and looked at me, and held me, and kissed me, and said my name, and every time I thought about him…

I just… How could I be sure? Isn't there supposed to be a moment where you realize you for sure do? I haven't really had that moment yet, so I didn't want to say it yet. There was something about saying it that made me feel like some unbreakable vow. I felt like branding him as a person I loved was like putting him in danger somehow. It scared the crap out of me. And I wanted to be so sure.

"Yeah, well, neither do I," he said angrily.

"Please don't be upset with me," I said softly, taking his hand. "You're…you're so important to me, James. I don't know why I said it now. It slipped out, I guess. But I don't…I don't want to say it until I'm absolutely sure. It's important to me, you know? I don't take these things for granted."

"What makes you so unsure? You know how much I love you. I don't get why you just can't admit to yourself that you feel the exact same way."

"Maybe I do! I don't know, James! I'm trying to figure it out, okay? I really am."

"So it just slipped out, was that it?"

"Yes," I told him.

"Well, that has to mean something, Lil. Things like that don't just 'slip out.' You either do or you don't."

I sighed. "It does mean something," I said. "It means that I'm close to saying it and really meaning it. Okay? I just… Remember when you told me for the first time? Before class? It was after the whole discussion about how I shouldn't worry about you so much. What was going through your mind?"

"Well," he said. "I… Just, the way you were looking at me, and kissing me like you were so afraid something was going to happen to me…. You made me feel like I was the most important person in the world. And no one's ever cared about me like that. And I just couldn't help but thinking about… about how lucky I was, you know? I've been waiting for you for all these years, and now I finally have you… and I could never, ever live without you… and, I don't know, I just had this moment when I realized how much I loved you, and I just…I had to tell you. It felt like if I didn't I would explode."

I sighed heavily. He was so wonderful. "You see? I just…I need a moment like that. I'm waiting for the moment where if I don't tell you, I'll explode. That's when I'll know for sure. But I'm sure it's coming soon, since, you know, I accidently said it tonight… Don't give up on me, James, all right? I'll come around. Don't I always?"

He squeezed my hand. "Yeah… yeah, you do."

"Good. Now, shut up and kiss me."

"You know, I don't think I'm really in the mood…"

"You're such a prat," I told him, and reach up on my toes and kissed him passionately.

We parted, and I smiled at him. "I'll see you tomorrow morning."

"Yeah, see you," he said.

I went up the stairs, telling myself over and over what a dumbo I was. Because I seriously am.

I opened the door. Kim looked up from the letter she was writing, giving me a dirty look. Wendy and June were polishing their nails on their respective beds, and Delia was reading a book.

I lied down on my bed for maybe five minutes, replaying what happened with James, when there was a knock on the door.

"Lily, you get it," June said.

"Your bed is closest to the door," I said, rolling my eyes and getting up.

"My nails are wet!"

I laughed, walking towards the door. I opened it, and there stood Professor McGonagall. She looked troubled, and gave me a melancholy look.

"Um, good evening, Professor?"

"Ms. Evans," she said softly. "I think you ought to come with me."

A/N: Whoa, cliffhanger! Next chapter's going to be filled with a lot of stuff…I'm so excited for it. I hope you are too! Please review :) xox