AN: So I FINALLY decided to wrap this up in a chapter or two.. Sorry for keeping this on hold for so long – I've been suffering from severe writer's block for awhile now, especially with this story. I don't however, want to be one of those writers who don't finish their fics, so this one is for all of you who have stayed with me. Let me know what you think!

Lily had been hiding out in her dorm since Emmeline's giddy announcement. She didn't know how to face her friends, and she knew the sight of Emmeline and James, holding hands, behaving like a couple would be far more than she could take. Dorcas was wisely leaving her alone for the moment – she knew Lily probably needed space more than anything.

Unfortunately, it seemed as if someone else wasn't of the same opinion. Someone had been pounding on Lily's door all morning refusing to heed her requests to bugger off. Her heart pounded wildly when she heard a familiar, frustrated voice at the other end of the door.

"Oi, Evans… if you don't open the door in the next minute, I'm apparating inside – and I don't care if you're in your knickers.. actually I wouldn't mind that at all"

Lily smiled slightly through her tears. She could practically hear James' smirk. Knowing that it was probably a bad idea to let her best friend's gulp boyfriend who Lily herself was possibly in love with into her dorm, she climbed out of bed and shuffled to the door, pausing briefly by her mirror to run a comb through the hippogriff's nest on her head. It was a blessing and a curse for the Heads to share a common room. She flung the door open to see James standing with his fist in the air – apparently he'd been in mid pound.

James seemed to swallow slightly as he took in her puffy eyes, tearstained cheeks and dark circles under her eyes. Wordlessly, he pulled her into a hug as she sobbed into his shirt.

"Merlin Lily, I'm sorry – I know I was hard on you, but you're so much better than the way you acted. You were the one who made me want to grow up and be a better person, and to see you bullying Mary like that… it wasn't my place to tell you off though, and –"

'You were right' Lily admitted, causing James' head to snap up in shock. Lily Evans NEVER admitted to wrongdoing, particularly not in front of James.

'It was shameful behavior, and it definitely wasn't me. I don't know what I was thinking. My judgment's been all over the place lately' Lily looked up at the head boy with a wan smile. It wasn't fair that she realized how warm and kind his hazel eyes were now – when she'd had the opportunity for years to happily gaze into them. If she had a time turner, she would have told her third year self to stop being a prat and go to Hogsmeade with James Potter.

Looking down into Lily's teary eyes, James sighed.

"Lils.. it'll be ok. He didn't deserve you, anyway. You'll get over him in time"

'Wait… what are you talking about?' Lily was confused. Why was James referring to himself in the third person? And sweet Merlin, how did he KNOW Lily fancied him?

"Barty and Hestia. He was a right bastard for keeping that from you. Leading you on, when he had a girlfriend the whole time! And Hestia! I'd have thought she'd had better judgment than to put up with that sort of nonsense. She watched him flirt with you right under her nose!"

'J-James..' Lily was relieved and slightly pleased to see James Potter's righteous anger on her behalf. He may love Em (Lily's stomach churned at the thought) but he still cared for her. And that was enough. It had to be.

'I – I never fancied Barty. He was a good mate, we joked around and had a few laughs but that was it. The only reason I was upset was because of a misunderstanding' Lily didn't want to make herself look like even more of an idiot by mentioning her matchmaking attempt. Plus she wasn't sure James would appreciate her efforts, under the circumstances.

"Y-you mean you never liked him?" James' tone was disbelieving. He held her at arm's length and looked searchingly into her eyes, seeming to need an honest answer.

'N-no… not as more than a mate' Lily was sure she was squeaking. The way James was looking at her was causing the butterflies in her stomach to flutter even more furiously. Didn't he know he was distracting?

"Never, not for a minute?"

'No – not even for a second' Lily was confused. Why did it seem to matter so much, anyway?

"Huh – someone should have told me that this morning"

Lily raised an eyebrow. "Potter… what did you do?"

A cheeky grin spread across James' features as the marauder glint appeared in his eye.

"I may or may not have turned his hair pink."

'That's it?" Lily was skeptical. Pink hair was a relatively mild hex. You know, for James Potter.

"And he may or may not have pink feathers on his arms and legs. And he may also not be able to talk without rapping for awhile"

'And let me guess – these spells were your inventions, so Madam Pomfrey doesn't know how to reverse them?' Lily tried to sound exasperated but couldn't keep the laughter out of her voice. Merlin, the idea of Barty Crouch flapping about the castle with pink hair and feathers rapping like some deranged bird was amusing, to say the least. Plus, again, it was nice to know that James cared.

"The spell will wear off in a week, though. Didn't want to make it permanent, for Hestia's sake. She's a nice person even if she has piss poor taste in men"

Lily sighed and pulled James into another hug. She had missed him, and at this point she didn't even care that he was taken. He had been hers first. She looked up when she noticed his deep, shuddering sigh.

"Lily… there's something that I've been meaning to tell you. But you have to promise me it won't ruin our friendship –"

'Then don't tell me!' Lily started to panic. She wasn't sure what she would do if James turned around and told her he was in love with Emmeline. She didn't think she'd be able to stop herself from throwing a tantrum and having a good old cry on the spot, right in front of him.

"B-but – Lily…"

'But nothing, James. I know what you're going to say'

"Y-you do?"

'Yes.. and please don't say it. Please don't say anything that might mess up our friendship. I don't think I could take losing you as a friend, James'

Lily didn't notice the defeated look in his eyes as he pulled away and gave her a small, sad smile.

"Alright" He pulled her into a hug and gave her a quick peck on the forehead. When he mumbled an excuse about being hungry and left the room, Lily was relieved. She had a good hour (at least) to flop back on her bed and cry.

At midnight, Lily was worried. James hadn't been back all night. She should know – she'd been sitting in their shared common room, waiting for him. Wondering if his friends would know where he was (he'd said he was hungry, but it didn't take 6 hours to walk to the kitchens. Plus, even James couldn't eat that much. Opening the door to the Gryffindor common room, her eyes grew wide.

Emmeline Vance was on the couch, her lips locked with those of a marauder. A marauder with black hair.

'B-black?'

AN: I promise I'm not going to take another 2 months to update this! Meanwhile, I'd love it if you reviewed, and told me what you think. The conclusion will be in the next chapter!