Disclaimer: I wish I may I wish I might but I don't own Harry Potter's rights.

Previously on Hidden:

The Potter Mansion was huge, and neo-classical, just like Franklin Hall. The gardens extended farther than Lily could see, and in the distance to the east she could see a lake shimmering in the moonlight. All five of them had apperated in front of the grand house, and they were now making their way down the path and in the door.

"My parents aren't home- they are in Germany for a few days," James said as he performed a charm on the door and whispered a password into a metal box on the frame.

"To my room- c'mon," James said, as he led the group up a case of white marble stairs.

Chapter 12: Hidden

The night passed and the three Marauders, Remus, James and Sirius, grew more and more incredulous about why they had never bothered to get to know Lily before. The girl they knew at school was completely different from the laughing, teasing Lily before them. Perhaps it was only because she had an old friend with her, or because of the bottle of red firewiskey they were passing around.

Much to Sirius' annoyance, no one was paying him much attention. Remus and Aurelie kept eyeing each other while James was sitting much too close to Lily than Sirius knew Lily would ever allow him.

After about an hour of joking, talking and laughing, Aurelie stood up.

"As much fun as this has been," (she looked at Remus and his face fell) "I told my mom I would be home by eleven. Lily, I'll talk to you tomorrow?"

Lily nodded.

"Well, I know it's old fashioned, but I'll walk you to the door? I mean, there is a block on this house- you can't apperate in or out while you are on the interiors… and besides, I try to be a gentleman when I can," Remus said shyly, standing.

Aurelie smiled.

"And I will follow you out- I am going to gather some of my stuff and bring it back here, you know, before my parent's party is over and they go back to the house."

With that, the three of them filed out of the room, leaving Lily and James quite alone.

"So," James said, breaking the odvious silence. "Have you had fun?"

"Yes, yes I think so," she said, turning to look at him.

"What's going to happen when we go back to HogwartS?" James asked.

"What do you mean?" She said, softly.

"Are we still going to be friends- I mean, I think we're friends now. We're friendly, at least, or more friendly than we were before."

"Well, we'll have to see. Do you want to be friends?"

"Hmm," he said, smiling down at her. Even when they were sitting, he was considerably taller than she was. "I'll have to consider that."

And with that, just like earlier that night in the park, he lowered his head slowly- until it was inches from hers. But tonight, unlike in the park, she did not turn away.

Ten minutes later, Sirius was leaping up the Potter's staircase two steps at a time. He had a large duffel bag over his shoulder that he had enchanted to be as light as a feather. He was so glad to be rid of that awful house at last…

Humming softly to himself, he turned into James' room to see Lily and James kissing passionately on the couch.

"Holy Shit!" he said loudly, breaking the two apart.

"I should, I should go…" Lily said, standing. "Um… thank you both for a lovely evening." With that, she ran out of the door.

"Lily- Lily wait!" James ran after her. When he turned into the hallway, he saw a flash of her dress disappear down the stairs.

"Lily, LILY!" he yelled. She was faster than he had thought she would be in heels, and by the time he caught up with her, she was out the door and vanished into the night.

He cursed under his breath and turned to see a confused but smirking Sirius at the top of the stairs.

"Oh what are you looking at." He said sadly.

Sirius continued to stare.

"C'mon mate. I think you should take the room across from mine, what do you think?"

Lily couldn't believe what had just happened. Twice she had done that in one vacation! As she took off her strappy black shoes, she promised herself it would not happen again.

She looked in her mothers room and smiled slightly as she saw her mother fast asleep, her hands clutching a book entitled "Muggle with Magical Offspring? A Guide to Understanding their New World".

As Lily carefully took off the silk dress, she made up her mind. Her life was way too complicated to have a boyfriend. You can't get hurt if you don't take the risk, right? And she didn't need any more pain.

Lily woke the next morning and with a start- Aurelie was sitting on the foot of her bed- a smile from ear to ear. She let out a small gasp and sat up.

"Now I know why you invited me last night- you were nervous about Potter."

"Aurelie!! Dear God you scared me."

"So… what happened when I left…."

Lily laid back down, taking a pillow and putting it over her face.

"HA! You two hooked up, didn't you? Aww, so adorable! And you two go so well together…"

Lily threw the pillow at her friend, her face red. "We are not together. And what about you and Remus?"

"Well, unlike someone here I am not afraid to admit my feelings. I think he's adorable. We're going to dinner the night before I go back to school."

"Adorable?"

Aurelie looked scathingly at Lily, but her scowl lasted only for seconds.. "Yes… and Lily, don't be afraid to open up to Potter… It might be worth it."

"Might. Anyway- I have your dress hung up in the corner. Thanks for letting me borrow it."

"Ah yes, the true reason for my early visit. I have to go to breakfast wth Rory in a few minutes. See you later lovely."

Aurelie turned to the corner, picked up the dress delicately, and disappeared. Rory was Aurelie's older sister who lived in America and worked for the ministry there. Aurelie hated going to visit her, but was forced to keep a friendly relationship by her parents.

Ten minutes later, Lily retreated from her bed and got dressed for the day. Even if she was just roaming the house, she felt better if she was dressed. She hated being sloppy. As quietly as she could Lily walked down the stairs.

"There's no need to be quiet dear, I've been awake for an hour," Lily's mother said brightly from the kitchen. "I scrambled your eggs for you- it's on the stove. How did you sleep?"

This was what Lily was going to miss about her mother: her blunt cheeriness in such sad times. She was overcome with a want to hug the woman, but she resisted and answered instead. "Fine, fine. And you?" She walked over to the stove and spooned some egg onto a plate.

"Good, better than I have in a while. I'm going to take a bath, but could you run down to the store and pick up some oranges and Caesar dressing for me?"

"Mockay" Lily said, still chewing a bite of eggs. She scowled, grabbed both the pepper and salt shaker, proceeded to shake both of the following violently onto her plate and continued eating. She ate fast. Upon eating the last fork-full, she stood. "I'll be back in ten," She said as she grabbed her coat.

The morning was warmer than usual, and the sun was shining knowingly. Lily took off her coat to reveal a three-quarter length Grey v-neck, the retail strip that contained the grocery store in sight. Immediately she regretted her decision not to wear boots. The sun was turning the fluffy white snow into disgusting dirt-snow sludge. Her adorable black flats were suddenly soaking. Lily cursed and looked down.

"Tut tut, that language isn't lady-like," a deep voice said playfully.

"James! Potter, I mean, what are you doing here?" Lily said, mentally kicking herself for not seeing him sitting casually in a chair outside the café. Or maybe he had just apperated there….

"Well, lets just say I was in the neighborhood?"

"James Potter, this most definitely is no where near your neighborhood," Lily said, her eyes glancing past him and fixing on what looked like the never-ending street of modest ranches. She really didn't know whether she should call him James or Potter, so she resolved on just saying his full name.

"Lily, call me James. I think we have reached that level of aquantence."

Lily didn't say anything. Fucking occulemcy. Okay… mind closing now… Focus.

"Can I walk with you?" He said, standing.

"Um… I have to go to the grocery store…"

"Great! I always wanted to see one of those."

"Alright. So. How's Sirius?"

"Sirius is fine. Teasing me relentlessly, of course."

"Why?" Lily wished the moment she said it she could take it back. DUH. Sirius had walked in on them, hadn't he? A fresh wave of wet ice surged into her shoes. They were nearing the store- when they got behind the isles maybe she would perform a warming charm. Or maybe James could- he proved he was good at that last night, didn't he? James spoke again, and she was forced to retreat out of her thoughts.

"Because of what he saw last night. Which is actually what I wanted to talk to you about. "

Lily sped up and entered the automatic doors.

"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL-" James yelled. He jumped back and stared, bewildered, at the closing doors.

"Have you never seen these before? Wizards…" Lily said, coming back outside into the cold. "Look: when you step near them, they sense that you are there, and they open." She stepped close to them and they opened obediently.

"Whoooaaa! How do they sense that? Are they alive?!"

"No James, it's a muggle invention: motion detectors," Lily said, rolling her eyes and stepping in the store once again. Wizards really needed to keep up muggles. She walked quickly behind the canned food display and waved her wand at her shoes. Looking up quickly, she saw a surveillance camera. "Obliviate!" she whispered, pointing the wand directly at it.

James was still outside jumping infront of the doors and back again, each time yelping when the doors opened. Perhaps he saw Lily's disapproving face, or maybe the cashier's, because he soon came inside and followed Lily to the condiments isle.

"Crazy. The things muggles do.. but, anyway, back on topic," James said, taking her hand as she scoured the shelves for Caesar dressing.

"Lily, I really, really like you. And not just as someone to hook up with, or to look at. You're intelligent, mature, funny…"

"Cut to the chase, James," Lily said as she pulled a dressing bottle of the shelf and looked at the label. She knew that, right now, at all costs, she had to avoid looking him in the face.

"Lily Evans, will you go out with me? I know you feel the same way about-"

Lily put the dressing back on the shelf and walked quickly to next isle."No sorry, Potter. I can't, I just-"

Before she could get there, however, James pulled her back and looked down at her intently. Shocked that he had tugged her back so suddenly, she looked up at him. With enormous self-discipline and sorrow, she declined her eyes.

"Sorry Potter, but I can't. I won't."

"Are you sure about that?" he asked, softly. His voice wasn't haughty, or stubborn, but disappointed.

"Yes," she breathed. "Yes. I'm flattered, but no. I'll, I'll see you at school, then. Happy New Years…" And with that, she walked out of the store empty handed, leaving him staring after her in the condiment isle.

Sorry I haven't updated. I was out of town again. URGH School is starting way too soon- not fair. I hope you liked the chapter. I didn't have much time or energy to make sure everything is well edited, so there are some mistakes. I SUCK at kissing scenes, so pardon me. Thank you all reviewers from last chapter. I love you ALL! PLEASE review this time! It might inspire me to write the next chapter before school starts.

Okay, can anyone tell me why I haven't gotten a single update alert since Deathly Hallows came out? Is this happening for ya'll as well?

Thanks for reading!