Previously on Hidden:

"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.

Chapter 13: Hidden

The last few days of Winter Break passed uneventfully. Lily found herself happier than she had been in a long time. Her mother made the best of her situation, and made each moment they had together loving and warm. It was when Lily was alone in her room that the depression creeped back. Lily sat on her bed every night, newspapers strewn all over the floor, illuminated by the moon shining through her window. The deaths and disappearances were growing more and more common with each day, and after seeing the pictures of crying family members in The Prophet, Lily cringed with guilt. After all, her father was probably responsible for more than one of these crimes.

Over at the Potter estate, Sirius kept James busy, though secretly he was disappointed. Did he blow it? What could he have done differently? He kept telling himself he had another semester- another semester to change her mind. So much had happened in a month, maybe the same amount would happen in the next four weeks?

Lily was careful to pick a quiet, out-of-the-way compartment on the train the following Sunday. Just in case, she cast an invisibility charm (otherwise known as disillusionment charm) over herself. In the last year, she had gained a reputation as a protegee in Charms class, and after days of practice became quite good at casting invisibility. She curled up in a corner and began reading her newest novel- this one comparing the economies of the Muggle and Wizarding worlds.

The train ride progressed slowly- too slowly for James. After twenty minutes of sitting still, he decided to go look for Lily. Even though she didn't want to date, that didn't mean that he couldn't talk to her, right? With each passing compartment, he grew more anxious. Where was she? Her image at the party kept flashing through his mind. She had to be here somewhere…

The last apartment was empty, or so James saw. Maybe she was in the bathroom, or getting changed somewhere else. He had started to walk back to his compartment, when a thin Hufflepuff sixth year darted out from behind a door nearby. It was Cassandra Smilton.

"Hey James! Good Christmas?"

"Yah- you haven't seen-"

"Mine was lonely. It's a shame," The girl said, looking at James smuggly.

James was trying to look over her shoulder, but she kept blocking his view. James had gone out with Cassandra in 6th year, but broke it off because she was so clingy. And Lord that girl could talk.

"So I hear there is going to be a Hogsmede weekend next month. You free?"

"I just have to find-"

Lily sat listening in her compartment to the muffled conversation, her book tossed aside. Unfortunately, when he had said "I just have to find-" she had heard "meet me there at nine".

"Damn player," she said to herself. He wasn't worth all of her thoughts- this winter break things had been… different. But it would all go back to the way it was. It had to. All back to the way it was before he had saved her life.

Several hours later, the train arrived at Hogsmede. Lily thought it best to take off the charm- it would be impossible to maneuver around the station invisible without getting noticed. Sighing, she walked off the train and into the cold crowd.

It was snowing in Hogsmede- the lights from the cottages made the flakes dazzle as they fell from the sky. When the students arrived in the Great Hall to eat dinner, however, the snow seemed to dissolve as it fell from the magical ceiling.

"Hello Lilly dear," James said as he slid next to Lily at Gryffindor's table. He was smiling at himself for finally finding her- after a day of searching. "I didn't see you on the train."

"You wouldn't,' She muttered as she ladled soup into a bowl. Clam chowder- her favorite.

Sirius and Remus slid in on the other side of her. She smiled at them. "Hello Remus, how was lunch with Auerilie?" He returned the smile, rolled his eyes, took the ladle

from her and began fishing potatoes out of the chowder.

"What, so your angry with me now?" James asked, his voice lower yet still equally as playful. Lily didn't respond. The soup needed some salt. Where was it? Ahh, here…

"There is a Hogsmede trip this month- would you like to accompany me? It won't be dull, I promise."

Lily put the salt shaker down and turned towards him, her eyebrows furrowed. "No. And don't you already have a date?"

"I don't think so."

"Well then think about it. Remember… Potter… the train…"

With that, the now scarlet-faced Gryffindor got up and went to greet her Ravenclaw friends.

"What did you do to piss her off, mate?" Sirius said, grinning.

"I- nothing- wait- no." He said, staring after her. She had called him Potter. This couldn't be good.

"Ah… young love, young love. Just keep on asking and eventually she has to say yes, right? I mean it's all statistics and probability, right?"

James silently agreed. Why was she acting like this? He had done nothing wrong? And she definitely had feelings for him. He watched as Lily hugged her friends and sat down. Usually for James, girls were easy to predict. Not Evans.

Hello again! I am so sorry it took me so long to update- school started so I have been very very busy. Ick. Anyway, I don't really like this chapter much, but it's necessary. I had trouble passing time in this chapter- there are only so many times you can say "A few hours later" or "that night". It'll get better. Anyway, when Lily misheard James, it might seem a little convenient, but hey. All the great stories are about miscommunications, right? Romeo and Juliet, for one. Besides, Lily wanted an excuse to refuse James. Funny how you hear what you want to hear, isn't it?

Lovely reviewers I LOVE YOU! Keep it up? I don't bite, I only write faster.