AN: So this is officially the shortest chapter I've ever posted for this story. I was going to wait until the entire chapter was finished and post it all together, but thanks to all of your wonderful reviews, especially from BieberBeautiful1994, writetoexpress, and Tribot, I decided to post this little teaser first. Please check down at the bottom AN for important info about the next chapter. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Reminder: I do not own Harry Potter. The only thing of value I own is a rusty old car. It's almost the same thing as a castle in Scotland, right?

"Are you sure you're ok with going to the party tomorrow night?" James asked Lily as they lounged before the roaring fire in their common room. Books and rolls of parchment were fanned out around them as Lily had insisted that they really needed to get their Potions essay written that night.

"Why, do you not want me to go?" asked Lily, raising her eyebrows at him. James laughed as she turned her face towards him. She had black ink smudged over her cheek. Lily huffed at his laugh until he reached over to rub his thumb over the smudge. She smiled beamingly at him, nearly dazzling him.

"Well, we could just stay here instead. I'm sure we could find something to do," said James, smiling back at her.

"And miss the last Halloween party the Marauders' will throw at Hogwarts? Are you sure you're feeling alright?" Lily teased, placing her palm against his forehead and frowning at him in mock-concentration.

"I just don't want you to feel uncomfortable," James admitted sheepishly. "It's a Halloween party. There will be some, er, scary things, and I don't want it to bother you after all that you've been through."

"That's sweet, James, but I'll be fine just so long as you didn't hire anyone to dress in a black robe and call himself the Professor," Lily said.

"Of course we didn't," promised James. "but are you sure you'll be ok?"

"As long as I can have you beside me, then I promise I will be more than ok," said Lily. She leaned across their books and parchments and placed a soft kiss on his cheek. James' smile broadened and he brushed his homework aside and pulled Lily closer.

"How about I promise you that I will spend all day with you and escort you to the party myself? If I promise that I will not leave your side the entire time?" asked James, whispering in her ear. Lily felt his hot breath tickle her ear and she felt herself move closer to him subconsciously until she was pressed up against him. James began kissing her neck, thoroughly distracting her from their conversation. She was about to agree when she remembered her earlier conversation with Carrie.

"O-oh, er," said Lily, successfully pulling back from her close embrace with James, "how about you promise to meet me outside the Gryffindor common room and escort me to the party?"

"Tomorrow's a Hogsmede weekend. I thought we would go together," said James, returning to his spot beside her ear, making it hard for Lily to concentrate.

"W-well, C-Carrie," Lily said, trailing off.

"Carrie?" James asked smugly, smirking into her neck as he enjoyed distracting her.

"Y-yes," said Lily.

"What about her?" asked James as he lightly trailed his fingers down her arm.

"S-stop it, J-James," said Lily, her voice a little too wispy to be commanding.

"Stop what, Lily?"

"C-can you just stop for a second? Let me finish my sentence?" asked Lily, unsure if it was exactly what she wanted.

"Alright," said James reluctantly, pulling back to look Lily in her intoxicating green eyes.

"Well, I promised Carrie that we would go into Hogsmede together and get ready for the party afterward. She's been so miserable since Hannah's been gone, and she has no one else to go with," explained Lily.

"You've been so nice to her, Lily, considering," began James.

"Considering?" Lily asked in confusion. She stared up at James and waited for an explanation.

"Considering that I want you all to myself," said James with a smirk. He had been about to tell Lily the truth about her relationship with Carrie. Lily really didn't deserve to be lied to by her best friend. But it wouldn't be right for James to tell Lily what Carrie had done, especially since he had really done the same thing. He hadn't told Lily the truth after she awoke from her coma, so he had no right to judge Carrie for pretending that they were the best of friends up until the accident.

"Well, you'll just have to deal with the fact that I am extremely popular and I must spread my time over my many friends," said Lily with an impish grin on her face.

"Maybe we could all have lunch together at the Three Broomsticks, then?" asked James.

"I'll ask Carrie when I see her," said Lily, "and now we'd better get back to our homework."

"No, no, Ms. Evans, that will never do," said James, flicking his wand and sending their homework zooming to their desks.

"And why is that Mr. Potter?" asked Lily.

"Well, Ms. Evans, I gave you a couple minutes to explain yourself, and now it's time to get back to where we were before you so rudely interrupted us," said James.

"Well, if you insist," said Lily, leaning towards him again and allowing him to wrap his arms around her back. He pulled her closer to him and as his lips descended to hers, she sighed, completely content to be nowhere else but in his arms.

AN: So, the contest to find the best Halloween costume for the boys in the story still stands. Please submit any ideas you have for costumes for James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter! I will pick the best ones, and the winners will receive a sneak preview of the next chapter! I am in the middle of writing the chapter, so it should be done this weekend. I will either PM or email the winners (according to their preference) the chapter a full half a week early a portion of the can tell me your preference in your response for how it can be sent to you. If you want it emailed to you, but do not want the whole world to know your email address, you can PM it to me after I contact you.

Thanks for being such awesome fanficers and putting up with all of my nonsense! I hope you all had a great Holiday season and a wonderful start to a new year.

Love to all,

Littlemisskrissy