A/N: :O Holy mother. Almost twenty reviews for last chapter alone? That's more than I've ever gotten, I think – that's amazing! Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you. :)

"Where are you? And I'm so sorry – I cannot sleep, I cannot dream tonight, I need somebody and always . . . like indecision to call you, and hear your voice of treason – will you come home and stop this pain tonight? Don't waste your time on me, you're already the voice inside my head . . . don't waste your time on me, you're already the voice inside my head . . ." – blink-182

Don't Waste Your Time

"You . . . actually did it, Prongsie." Sirius said in disbelief, shaking his head with a slight smile. They had stayed in Diagon Alley longer than the girls to grab a butterbeer and to discuss their bafflement at James' relationship status. Of course, with no offense, James added dryly to himself.

"I still can't believe you almost felt her up in a public area –" Remus laughed with a chuckle.

"Oh, shut it, Remus, be happy for the bloke!" Sirius reprimanded him, hitting his arm with the back of his hand.

"I am happy for him! James, I'm extremely happy for you." Remus said to him with an exasperated look.

"Thanks, Remus." James said dryly, sipping his butterbeer.

Remus hesitated. "I just have a bad feeling about this." He admitted.

Unfortunately, this caused feelings that were not at all warm and fuzzy to stir inside James, remembering the feeling when Lily told him how she'd fancied Remus. He couldn't be jealous, could he?

This was not the case whatsoever. Remus just genuinely had a bad feeling about how James and Lily's relationship was going. It seemed to be going very fast, and neither had experienced such strong feeling for each other, or anyone for that matter, before. Of course, Remus might just be paranoid for his friend's well-being, but he couldn't shake the feeling. But what did he know? He was even less experienced than both of them combined, and they sure did seem like they were made for each other . . . but even so. No relationship can last if you rush into it.

"You have a bad feeling about this?" James repeated slowly, turning fully to Remus.

"James, I'm happy for you, really, I am. You got Lily, who you've always wanted," Remus obliged, but then continued, "I just don't want you to rush into it, or you might get hurt. Both of you."

James frowned and was about to say something, but Sirius beat him to it. "He's right, Prongs. You really just need to take it slow if you want it to last, especially with the two of you."

James ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "You're right," he muttered, "You're right. Listen, I'm going to take that into consideration, but also note that it's sort of difficult to keep my control around Lily Evans, mates. Now, come on, Mum had dinner ready half an hour ago, and I'm starved."

XXX

"Yes . . . Yes, mum, I'll call you when I get there – well, if they have a phone. But I'll call you before I leave the Meadowe's on Christmas Eve. Okay – okay, tell dad I love him . . . Yeah, why not, pass it on to Petunia, too, although I don't we'll ever recover from our fight on moving in with Vern. I'm kidding, mum. Yes, I know he doesn't like to be called Vern, that's more or less the point. Okay – alright, mum? I've got to go. Okay, I love you. Bye. Bye."

Lily hung up the phone and smirked, raising en eyebrow at it. "You do realize that thing's from, like, 1960, right?" she asked Dorcas with a laugh.

Dorcas rolled her eyes. "Well, so-rry, I had to dig that thing up from the basement. Now, come on, finish packing. We're leaving in ten minutes."

Lily did as she was told and double-checked to make sure she had everything. She sighed and put her hands on her hips. She vowed to put her sour past with James behind her. It was time to move on, that was life. People changed. You changed. Things changed. And she needed to grow up and face what was right in front of her face. James was different now – he was kind and funny and everything she'd ever wanted in a guy, and she better get her priorities straight and accept his attempts, or she'd miss her chance. Finally, she realized what everyone was trying to tell her.

Dorcas nudged her arm. "You ready? Let's go already – if I don't snog Sirius in the ten minutes, I won't be very pleasant to be around."

Lily laughed and nodded, grabbing her suitcase and bounding down the stairs after Dorcas, a new wave of excitement washing over her.

"I'd like to see your parents' faces if they heard you say that –"

"Oh, shut it, Evans . . ."

XXX

Of course, right when they got to the Potter's, Dorcas grabbed Sirius by the arm and dragging him into the nearest deserted hallway, looking very conspicuously mischievous. Of course, Sirius didn't look like he was objecting whatsoever – he looked rather slap-happy, as a matter of fact.

James and Lily met eyes and opened their mouths to say their greetings, but Mrs. Susan bustled in, an apron around her waist.

"Kids! Kids, I have lunch in the – where are Dorcas and Sirius?" Mrs. Susan cut off, frowning as she looked around.

Lily and James glanced at each other and Lily gave him a sly look that translated to 'you-got-this-one-mate'. He cleared his throat and tried to suppress his smile.

"Sirius went to show Dorcas her room. No matter how much the girl comes here, she always gets lost."

Mrs. Susan put her hands on her hips and raised her eyebrows. "James Benjamin, I hope you do not think I am so idiotic as to believe that. After they get done snogging, will you please inform them there is food in the kitchen? That should be enough for Sirius," she said, followed with their speechless shock. Then she smiled at Lily. "And welcome back, Lily, happy Christmas."

And with that, she walked from the room, leaving the two staring in astonishment after her. James and Lily looked at each other and subconsciously started toward each other slowly, still staring at the door like they expected her to pop back out.

"That was so weird," James whispered loudly, "She's like a bloody psychic."

She wrapped her arms around his neck once they met and nodded in agreement. "It's a gift all mothers have." She said, shuddering at all the memories of her own mothers' keen, all-knowing comments.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and raised his eyebrows, his lips twitching and nodding in his teasing manner. "Well, hopefully she's distracted with her cooking now." He murmured against her lips, smiling as he kissed her.

Lily felt something sprinkle onto her head and looked up to find a floating mistletoe there and she shook her head, laughing. "Very discreet, James."

"Yes, I try," he said dismissively with a grin, his mind obviously on other things. "Now what was I saying about finishing what you started . . . ?"

She smirked. "Oh, I can't seem to remember . . ."

He chuckled, pulling her closer to him. "Oh, c'mere, you pain in the . . ."

XXX

"An Auror, huh?" she murmured, leaning her cheek against his back.

"Always wanted to be. Family business I suppose." He replied, and she could feel his chest slightly vibrate with his words. The night sky stretched before them, the moon right front and center – James had taken Lily out on his broomstick, since she had never been too swell at flying, he'd insisted they go for a ride. Though she declined – repeatedly – James was a stubborn arse and nearly dragged her out. She wasn't complaining now though. As naïve and girly and corny it may sound, she always felt she was safe with James.

"And you, Lily?" he asked, "D'you have a dram career?"

She frowned, lifting her chin to his shoulder. "Not really. I actually wanted to be an astronaut when I was a kid – Muggle job where you go into space and stuff – but ever since I came into the Wizarding World, I never really had a clue. Better get on that since we're graduating next year . . . but, like I've told you before, I'd really like to help with the war effort, too. I mean, You-Know-Who's killing people like me –"

"People like us, Lily," he cut her off softly, turning his head slightly to her. "Not just like you. He's killing magical people. That includes you and it includes me – it includes wizard and witch. Before you make other people stop setting you apart, you've got to stop doing it yourself."

Lily frowned, looking to the side. "You're right." She breathed. It was so odd – it didn't even seem wrong until he said something about it. It was a subconscious thing that she didn't even realize was a problem until it was voiced.

"Hey – but let's not talk about that now." he murmured, and half-turned to grab her by the waist and swing her around front so she was facing him. He held his hands on the broomstick behind her to keep them steady. The moonlight splashed across his skin and she raised her hand to his cheek. Gravity worked against her – or with her, whatever way you chose to look at it – and she slipped down so she was straddling him.

"It's Christmas," he continued quietly with a slight smile. "And I'm with you, and we're finally together. It's times like these we need to cherish so we can remember them to get through the bad."

She smiled and ran her thumb across his lips, then kissed him softly. Despite herself, she shivered against the December freeze and he leaned back.

"You cold?" he murmured, lifting one hand to rub her back. "Let's get back inside. I'm sure Sirius and Dorcas are done now, and we can have some hot chocolate. If they're not done – well, it'll be fun interrupting them."

XXX

That night, at approximately three in the morning, James was woken up rather suddenly and rather rudely by the sneered words, "Evening, Potter". The voice belonged to his most despised enemy, Severus Snape, who stood over him, his wand to James' neck as the latter slowly sat up, glaring at him.

James' mind raced. How was Snape in his house? Did he have others with him? Where was his own wand? What if he yelled for help? Would Snape really be daft enough to try something on him in his own home?

"We need to have a little chat." he spat and James glowered at him silently.

"How'd you get into my house?" he demanded coldly.

"Broomsticks, Potter," he chuckled humorlessly. "Too simple to be detected by the protective enchantments around your home. How convenient."

"You son of a –" he exclaimed, sitting forward more suddenly, but Snape's wand pressed deeply into his throat, making James choke.

"Not so fast, Potter, I've got friends who have somewhat similar intentions as I."

James looked around as the shadows seemed to shift and there were a few low snickers.

"Why the hell are you here?" James snapped.

"I'll tell you why I'm here," he snarled, leaning forward. "You and Lily's little relationship has got to stop. I realize it's quite impossible to demand you stop being friends, so I'm being generous. But this disgusting romantic arrangement you have has to stop."

"Or what?" James growled, getting closer to Snape's greasy face. Where the hell is my wand?

"Or I have some connections that will be more than happy to make her life hell. I'm sure you're smart enough to figure out who it is," Black and Lestrange.

"You wouldn't do that to her. You love her, don't you?" James said darkly, his gut twisting.

Snape flinched harshly. "That was before she went and –" he started, but then let out a breath, lowering his voice. "And don't think it's just her life that will suffer, I'm sure you're egotistical enough to not really care. So you love your parents? Want to keep them around? Do as I say."

"My parents could kill you in a millisecond –"

"Could they? The real question is – could they take all of us. We're sort of like a pack of animals, Potter, it'll be hard to get one of us alone."

"Animals is right." James snarled, spitting at him.

Snape started towards him, but then stopped, letting out another angry breath. "Don't you dare try anything or tell anybody," he said after a moment, "we'll know and the consequences will be the same – for both of you. Is that clear?"

James just silently glowered with all the hatred he possessed. Snape smiled in sick pleasure at the look and backed away, grabbing for his broomstick. James saw five more and knew he was outnumbered and couldn't just kill Snape right then. The shadows moved and got their broomsticks, as well, but before they left, Snape turned back to him.

"You don't really think it would've lasted, do you? She's far too good for you."

"Better off with me than you, Snape," he retorted venomously, "Even you can't deny that – Death Eater."

Snape's face contorted into an enraged scowl, and he and James kept eyes for a moment before he flew off with the rest of the psycho's.

James sat there, shell shocked.

This couldn't be happening.