Some Advice and a Proper Snogging

Lily plopped on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Looking back on everything that happened, her and James' kiss, the euphoric haze of the rest of the ball, and then the train ride back home, it seemed unreal. Now that she was detached form it, from everyone – especially James – she wondered how her mind would make sense of it. Her kissing James had been an on-a-whim, passionate sort of thing, and now that she thought about it . . . what would it lead to? Did this mean they were in some sort of relationship? What if it was awkward when they saw each other again? Oh, Merlin – she still had to get him something for Christmas! Did this raise the stakes or something ridiculous like that? Did she have to get him some super awesome present now?

This was her problem. She thought way too much, and now she on the brink of a nervous breakdown. She bet James was just lounging about in that devil-may-care way of his, doing something that he would probably get into trouble for later, because he was just so . . . infuriatingly sure of himself like that.

She sighed and swung her legs off the bed, blowing some hair out of her face. Well, luckily, she would be able to see him and sort this out soon. She promised she'd spend the first week of Christmas break with the Meadowes, who were going to go to the Potter's, naturally. They were only staying until Christmas Eve night, though. However, that was plenty of time to settle things with James, however that might turn out. She just hoped she hadn't made a bigger mess rather than fixing it.

XXX

It was late and Lily's parents were getting ready for bed, but their door was open. Lily hesitated, but then walked towards the doorway, yearning for experienced adult advice. Her mother was sitting on the bed in her robe and brushing her hair as her father called from the closet, "Marie, where's my other black sock?"

"Zachary, you have many black socks," She sighed, "Look under the dresser, dear."

"I did, but – oh."

Mum shook her head, smiling, and Lily finally stepped into the room, feeling extremely childish, and mumbled, "Mum, I need to talk to you."

Her mum frowned, set the brush aside and patted the place next to her. "Of course, sweetheart, what's the matter?"

She sighed and sat down, leaning her head on her shoulder. "I have a boy problem."

"A boy problem?" her dad repeated, popping his head out of the closet door.

"Dad –"

"Zack, if we want your input, we'll ask for it." Her mum said sternly, and her look must've matched her tone, because he pursed his lips, but retreated back into the bathroom again.

"Now tell me what this is all about, honey." Her mother said, in a much softer tone. Lily sighed and relayed her very complicated, confusing relationship with James over the past few years and of the past few weeks, especially the night of the Christmas Ball. When she was finished, she'd lifted her head off her mother's shoulder and looked at her expectantly.

"Well," Mum said with a slightly incredulous laugh. "That is quite the story. I can't believe you've never told me this, by the way –"

"Me neither!" Dad called, just to be a part of it.

They both ignored him. "Now, sweetie, you do need to talk to James about this," she began, "but first, you need to figure out what you really feel about him, because muddled feelings is never good for either parties."

Lily frowned and nodded. "Yeah, you're right."

"But if I may, honey," she said quietly, brushing her daughter's hair behind her shoulder. "James seems like a very nice young man, and when you talk about him, you have a certain flair about you. I really would like to meet him someday."

Lily smiled, and was about to reply when her gangly father appeared in the bathroom doorway in his ridiculous Batman pajama's, holding a black sock in his hand, which he used to flop around as he said, "I would, too, Lily Marie, and you let him know I have very high expectations."

Lily rolled her eyes. "Dad, you're the one wearing the Batman pajama's!"

Her glanced down and hesitated. "That – is beside the point, young lady."

"High expectations indeed." Lily muttered with a smirk, and she and her mother snickered, much to the displeasure of her father.

"Goodnight, Dad, I love you," she laughed and said goodnight to her Mum, too, giving them both a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"Zachary, what did I say about those pajama's? I already threw out the Spiderman ones –"

"And that was one of the saddest days of my life, I'll have you know."

"You're ridiculous, now put on some normal sleeping attire, you oversized five year old –"

"Nope! These are my favorite; I know you secretly like them, Marie. . ."

And Lily, chuckling and shaking her head, finally closed her door, drowning out their conversation.

XXX

"So . . . what? You do or don't like James?' Dorcas asked as they passed through a Quidditch shop in Diagon Alley. It was definitely where they were going to find things for the boys, and Lily might just slip something in there for Dorcas, too.

Lily felt panic rising in her chest again and did her best to squash it. "I – don't know, I'm still trying to figure it out! I mean, I do care for him, I didn't kiss him for nothing, it's just the relationship thing is kind of freaking me out!" she said, her voice getting higher and higher as she went on.

Dorcas snorted. "And you gave Sirius and I so much shit for having commitment issues. Not so easy now, is it?"

Lily grimaced, and just to save herself from endless taunting, said, "Beside the point. I just – aahh!" she squawked, grabbing Dorcas by the coat and launching both of them behind one of the shelves.

"What in the –" Dorcas yelp, but Lily put a hand over her mouth.

"The Marauders are over there." She hissed, peeking out from behind the shelf to watch them laugh at something James did ever so elegantly. Dorcas made an exasperated noise at the back of her throat.

"For crying out loud – " she grumbled, walking out from behind the shelf despite Lily's grappling of her coat. She started to walk over to them and Lily made a face, turning around and leaning against the shelf.

Get a hold of yourself, Lily, she told herself firmly, shaking her head, and then set her face into a determined expression. She walked out to face them and found Dorcas was saying, "Oh – Lily? She's just, well –"

"Right here." Lily said, smiling, and came up beside her to take in the Marauder's, or, specifically, James. His tousled dark hair was more so today because of the wind and snow, and he was bundled in a black coat, jeans and scarf, rather laid back, and surprisingly fashionable. Seeing him made her earlier troubles flee to the back of her mind, which made her uneasy, but the excitement and giddiness overpowered those emotions, leaving her to deal with them later. She was just a little conflicted.

But of course she didn't show that to any of them, especially James and zoned back into reality to find Sirius and Dorcas had meandered off, probably to snog, knowing those two, and Remus gave James a smirk and Lily a warm smile before he drifted away as well, Peter following close behind. Lily started to panic just a little and fiddled with her hands, looking around. When they were finally alone, she noticed James was looking at her with a raised eyebrow.

"You're thinking very hard, and it's probably about something that isn't worth the time." He noted, and she gaped at him.

"I am not," she reprimanded unconvincingly.

He chuckled and took her hand. "Take a walk with me."

"But it's freezing outside." She pointed out as he led her towards the door.

"Evans – we're magical." He said, shooting her an exasperated look.

She was about to retort, but then he opened the door to the Quidditch store, the cold wind bursting in their faces – not for long though, because then James cast a wordless warming charm around them, and it settled around her like a blanket. They walked out into the snow-covered street where there was barely anyone braving the cold weather – even with the warming charm, they had to walk through the thick snow. The snowflakes still fell, lighter now, and rested in their hair on their clothes, but Lily didn't mind. She liked it, actually. They walked slowly, and he kept her gloved hand in his. She snuck a curious look at him to find his eyes on their intertwined hands. She half-smiled and took advantage of the distraction to admire the contours of his face and the flush on his pale cheeks, such a contrast with his dark hair –

He glanced at her, and she quickly looked away, a guilty smile twitching on her lips. He laughed and tugged her closer, putting his lips to her temple.

"I know you weren't just checking out my gloriously good looks, Evans." He said jokingly against her skin, and she rolled her eyes.

"Please, I just thought you had something on your face," She said, though neither believed it. Before he could jump at the chance to inflate his ego, she continued, "Did you know I'm coming to your house tomorrow?"

"Are you?" he asked and leaned back from her, raising an eyebrow.

"With the Meadowes," she said, nodding, and continued without thinking, "You know, my parents –"

But then she cut off, her eyes widening. She was not about to say her parents wanted to meet him. How daft could she be? They weren't even in a relationship! Then she glanced at their clasped hands, noting that that was not something two people usually did when not in a relationship. She sighed in an annoyed manner.

He raised his eyebrows and squeezed her hand. "Your parents what?" he asked, seeming to know already what she was about to say from the smirk on his face.

"Not important." She said in a tone she hoped translated to 'DROP IT', but of course it didn't get through his thick skull.

"It is too." He insisted, and she shot him a look.

"Fine," she sighed in a mumble. "I sort of told my parents about you on accident, and they sort of want to meet you. Sort of."

"They sort of want to meet me?" he said, biting his lip to keep back laughter.

"Yes." She grumbled.

"Because you sort of told them about me?"

"Yes. You're enjoying this way too much." She said, glaring at nothing in particular.

He stopped and she was forced to halt with him, trying to avoid his gaze. To her mild surprise, he brought her towards him in a swift motion, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist. She looked up into his hazel eyes, through his rectangle black-rimmed glasses, and he pushed some of her hair behind her ear.

"Tell me what's on your mind, Lily. Because it's driving me crazy trying to guess." He murmured, resting his hand on her cheek.

Lily squeezed her eyes shut. They were acting so . . . couple-y. Her parents wanted to meet him. Suddenly they were faced with relationship type problems and it was just – too much. She couldn't date James Potter, the guy she'd thrown insults at carelessly for five years! Talking civilly, okay; friends, fine; but – but dating? As in, a romantic relationship? Would they just forget their past? The old James clouded her mind, the one who suspended Severus in the air, the one whose head could not get any bigger, the one she loathed.

She stumbled out of his arms and into the wall of one of the stores, opening her eyes. She was startled by the sudden freezing weather – James must've gotten too distracted to keep up the spell – and sucked in the icy air. It helped clear her mind a bit, but James looked down right out of his mind confused and more than a little irritated, and she couldn't blame him. Time to come clean.

"Lily – you've got to clue me in here, but because contrary to what you might think – I can't read your mind." He exclaimed a but desperately.

"I know, I'm sorry, James, really," she breathed, "It's just – I'm confused here, too. It's just weird that I'm doing this with James Potter, who I used to despise –"

"Lily, have you not noticed that I've changed just a bit?" he said with a short, humorless laugh, looking extremely irritated now.

"I know, I know, you have changed," she relented. That much was clear, and there was no use in arguing about it. Time to get to the core of the problem. "I'm just confused about – what we are, if anything, and don't get me wrong, James, I like you, I do; this is just different and I don't know how to act, or what's appropriate now or – or –"

As she started to get more flustered, he started to get more at ease, smiling softly at her mild hysteria, and she didn't notice how much closer he'd sidled forward – she was sort of glancing around in panic during her rant – until he grabbed her face in his hands. She looked at him in surprise and desperation, ready for his answer, and he leaned his forehead against hers. There was something in his eyes – something that meant he had an idea, an idea that was probably extremely inappropriate – that made her go weak at the knees and she had to grab hold of him to stay standing.

"Evans," he said in a low voice and with a wicked smile, his hands trailing down form her face to her waist. "How about, for one second, you stop thinking so much and just act on instinct?"

She gasped and there wasn't time to think before he pulled her to him with one arm, his hand falling on the wall behind her, and he crushed his lips to hers. Her mind was about to dive into a very detailed analysis of what was going on here and what the most logical thing to do was, but then his words hit her once more. So, slowly, she allowed herself to be hypnotized by the way his warm lips felt on hers and the way he was gripping her hip and the dizzying smell of him. He seemed to be mildly surprised when she responded with a force and passion that seemed to come out of nowhere, allowing their kiss to deepen. She pulled him closer toward her, and he followed her as she leaned back against the wall, which he continued to push her into. She slid her hands in his soft hair, scratching her nails through it, and he reciprocated eagerly, sliding his hand down from her hip onto her thigh and she leaned into him more –

"Oi!"

"Ho-ly hell."

"James, you dog!"

"LILY?"

The two of them broke apart and James dropped his head with a sigh before looking over at their friends, who just exited the Quidditch shop to see their heated snogging session.

"Son of a –" he muttered.

She smirked. "Why does it seem like we're always being interrupted by them?"

He looked up at her with a gleam in his eye and opened his mouth to say something, but Dorcas called, "Sorry to break that up – really, I am, but, Lily, I promised we'd meet my mum for lunch!"

Lily sighed and couldn't keep the dumb smile off her face. "I'll see you tomorrow." She murmured against his lips.

"You better finish what you started, Evans." He replied, laughing.

"Oh, please, I'm more of a tease than that." She joked, sliding out of her arms. "And if I remember correctly, you're the one who started it."

"And if I remember correctly, you reciprocated just as enthusiastically –"

"You're the one who said 'act on instinct'—"

"Oi, break it up already!" Sirius laughed incredulously; the others were already making their way down the street.

Lily and James glanced at each other and then grabbed each other's hand, catching up with the others.

XXX

Lily flopped onto Dorcas' bed, burying her face in the pillows. The day had been exhausting, buying presents for everyone, and not to mention it was rather tiring not being able to get James Potter out of her head . . .

Dorcas set her bags down on her desk and then turned to her, smirking with one hand on her hip. "Well?"

Lily peeked out of her cocoon of pillows and grinned at her look. "What's that look for?" she asked, even though she very well knew.

"Perhaps it's because I'm a bit curious as to how you came about snogging – very enthusiastically, I might add – a very messy-haired bloke we know."

"Oh, shut up." She grumbled, but she couldn't help a smile, burying her face in the pillows again.

Dorcas laughed and picked up one of the pillows, smacking her on the head with it. "YOU FANCY JAMES POTTER!"

Lily quickly turned onto her back in surprise, her mouth agape. "DORCAS! Shut up!"

But they both couldn't quit laughing and Lily shook her head, throwing a pillow back at her half-heartedly.

A/N: Hey! I see you smiling! Don't get too comfortable, folks, there's still much drama to come. Jeez, this chapter was like, fluff-overload. But I seriously love Lily's dad. :D So, thank you so much for reviewing, we're almost to 100! :D Many, many e-hugs to you all!