Trials and Tribulations
Summary: Harry Potter knew he was going to get shocked when he visited his parents graves. He knew that'd he'd see family he never met; like grandparents, uncles, and aunts. But one thing he didn't know was that he was going to meet his sister.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I am not making any profit off of this fanfic.

Chapter Six: Officially Official

"James Potter, I'm going to put this pillow on your face, and not move it, if you don't do as I say!"

Sirius was standing over James, a pillow in his hands. James was rubbing his eyes, and attempting to reach for his glasses, but Sirius was in his way. "Padfoot, what are you talking about?" He asked, glaring at Sirius.

Sirius grinned at him. "Now that I have your attention," He dropped the pillow. "Moony and I have been speaking, and we think it's about time you do something that is really important." Remus appeared in the doorway of the bathroom; he was brushing his teeth.

James rubbed his eyes again, and rolled onto his side, pulling the blankets over his head. He was not in the mood for fun and games. He stayed up late the night before doing Head duties in the corridors, and before that quidditch practice. "Can't this wait?" He asked.

"No, because it's almost eight; she'll be leaving soon."

James groaned and peeked out from beneath his blankets. "Whom are you talking about?"

"Lily," Frank said. He just walked passed, going to the dormitory door. "She'll be leaving in a few minutes. You better hurry your arse up!"

James glared at Sirius. "What is he going on about?"

"You taking Lily to a nice little shop, and asking her out," Remus said, going to his bed. He plopped down and began putting on his trainers.

"You should really do it," Peter said. He was standing by Frank, who was still in the doorway. "And you're running out of time," He added.

James gave Remus a really weird look. "What?" He asked, totally confused.

"I'll write it out for you," Sirius said. He pulled out his wand. In blue smoke, he spelled, 'Take Lily Evans to shop. Ask. Her. Out.' "Is it really hard to understand it now?" Sirius asked.

"I'm not in the mood for games, you guys." James pulled the blankets back over his head.

"Prongs, you have like eleven minutes before she's gone from you forever. I saw her talking to another bloke in the corridor; that Ravenclaw guy. I heard he asked her to lunch," Sirius said, trailing off. He winked at Remus, giving him the thumbs up.

"What!" James exclaimed, throwing the blankets off his body. "She can't do that. Okay…I have to shower…" He hurriedly got out of bed, and went to his trunk, opening it and grabbing his clean clothes.

He ran to the bathroom. When the door was shut, and they heard water running for a shower, Sirius erupted into laughter. "Why does it always take jealousy to get him motivated?"

"Maybe it's because you woke him up, threatening death, and then you lie to cover up a lie that you told Lily…Who's waiting for James to take her to breakfast." Remus suggested. "I just can't believe you got him to write that note to her while he was nearly asleep," Remus laughed.

Five minutes later the bathroom door opened. James came out. He ran to his bed and searched underneath it for clean socks.

When he found a pair, he put them on, and then he put on his trainers. "Four minutes," Frank said from the doorway.

James nodded his head. He put on his glasses and grabbed his wand and cloak. Then he ran for the door. Frank left first, followed by Peter.

As they were walking to the Entrance Hall, Sirius said, "She thinks you're taking her to breakfast. That's what we told her at least."

James stopped walking. "You told her this?"

"Oh yeah," Sirius said.

"We made up the entire thing, and then you wrote a note to her, saying you were going to take her to breakfast," Frank said. "Because nothing motivates a man like jealousy."

James glared at the Marauders and Frank. 'That's why I had ink stains on my hand.' James thought.

They reached the Entrance Hall, and Filch was checking off names on a list of parchment. Lily was nowhere in site, but Elizabeth and Alice were there.

"Where's Lily?" Frank asked, before kissing his girlfriend.

"She said she was coming," Elizabeth said worriedly. "You don't think anything's wrong, do you?" She asked.

Sirius dismissed the idea, saying, "She's probably realizing that it was Prongs who was taking her to breakfast." They all laughed, except James.

After waiting for a few minutes, the line began thinning for Hogsmeade. James noticed and said, "Well you guys, you might as well leave now."

"What about you?" Remus asked.

"I'll wait for Lily for a few more minutes," James replied. He leaned against the wall. "Go ahead and go."

They all said goodbye to James, and went to the line. Filch checked their names off, and then they were gone.

James sighed. There was a small pebble on the floor, so James kicked it. He watched as it bounced against the wall, and landed in the middle of the hall. For some reason, that made James think about quidditch. He knew he'd have to have more practices soon. The matches would start by the end of the month.

"Potter, you're not going to Hogsmeade? Only one marauding the halls this afternoon," Filch muttered, glaring at James as he walked away.

James frowned. 'Okay, Hogsmeade from the Entrance Hall is totally out of the question. Maybe we can go through a secret pass—' James's eyes were unfocused on the corridor, but he did see a blurry red head coming towards him.

He refocused his eyes, and then looked at Lily. She was looking a bit disheveled. Her face was flushed and her hair was falling out of its ponytail. She was frowning slightly, and trying to fix her shirt.

Lily looked rather dashing, even if she looked a little disheveled.

She reached James, a little bit out of breath. She stood in front of him a moment, just breathing, before she looked up at him. James frowned. She was close to tears.

"I am so sorry," She began, her bottom lip beginning to tremble. "I didn't sleep well last night, then I woke up late, and I'm still really tired, but I was ready this morning! However before we left, I got sick." She stopped, and began playing with the hem of her shirt. "And then afterwards I had to redo my hair, and change my shirt because I spilt Violet's finger enamel on it. Why'd she leave the cap off?" Lily asked, looking at James.

James just shook his head mutely. What was he supposed to do? Offer an answer?

Lily closed her eyes, small tears escaping from the corners. She opened them again, and James's heart began to melt.

"And I was really hungry because I haven't eaten in awhile, and I was looking forward to having breakfast with you. But now we can't because I was late, and I'm feeling sick again…and…and…Oh dear," She sniffed and wiped at her eyes. "I'm just a mess this morning. I'm sorry."

James stared, unsure what he was supposed to do? 'Comfort her?' He thought, a little hesitant on acting on it.

But when she started to cry heavily, James awkwardly wrapped his arms around her. "It's okay Lily. If you aren't feeling up to it, then we don't have to go. We can just eat here, and hang out."

"Really?" She asked, looking up at him. James nodded his head.

They broke apart, and James grabbed her hand. "Let's go to the kitchens."

Lily nodded her head, and the two of them walked to the kitchens. Lily swung their hands back and forth, and James couldn't help but smile. He hadn't seen Lily like this in a long time, and she had never been this way with him.

"So," James said, as they reached the fruit portrait. "Have you told your parents?"

"No," Lily said. "It seems too surreal right now. Wait until I'm showing, then I'll tell everyone."

James tickled the pear, and the two of them entered the kitchens. A small house elf ran up to James. "Master Potter! Master Potter! What can Zilch do for you? Where are the others?"

"Oh, they're in Hogsmeade this morning. Zilch, this is a good friend of mine, Lily Evans." Lily stooped down and shook her hand.

"Good morning Zilch."

Zilch blushed and put her hands behind her back. "What can I do for Sir and Missus?"

James shrugged his shoulders. "What do you want Lily?"

Almost immediately, house elves surrounded Lily. James hadn't seen anything like this before. They ushered her to a table, and began asking if there was anything they could do for her.

Lily gave James a peculiar look. James shrugged his shoulders and walked to the table. But before he sat down, a house elf took James's pants leg and tugged him to the other end of the kitchens. The elf made James stoop down. It whispered in his ear, "Why didn't you tell us that Missus Evans was having little ones?"

Before James could answer, the house elf left James. James shook his head and went to the table. He sat down across from Lily.

"What was that about?" Lily asked. A huge plate of muffins was sitting in front of her along with a pitcher and a baked potato.

James just shook his head. "Nothing," He muttered. "Sometimes I wonder…"

Lily shrugged her shoulders, and then picked up a muffin. She bit into it, then set it aside. She picked up a fork and began eating her potato. It was plain, no butter, chives, bacon, nothing.

James began eating a muffin, and watched as Lily ate her potato. He watched in interest, because she looked totally at ease just eating it.

xoXoXoXox

"I have a Healers appointment this afternoon," Lily said.

Lily and James were sitting in an empty classroom. James had turned around some desks and transfigured it into a couch. Lily was sitting on one side, her legs beneath her. James was sitting beside her, turned slightly so he could see her better.

"Have you been feeling ill or something?" he asked.

"No," Lily laughed. "I have to get a check up. You can come if you want to, to meet my Healer." Lily saw the look of uncertainty on James's face. She patted his hand. "You don't have to of course."

James smiled at her. "Not today."

Lily nodded her head in understanding. She stretched out her legs, kicking off her trainers. They landed on the floor with a soft plop. She cracked her toes, and then stared at them. "Pretty soon I won't be able to see my feet coz I'll be so fat."

James was quiet. As Lily stretched her feet, he looked at her, and had the sudden urge to pull her to him, and snog her senseless. He wasn't sure if it was because they hadn't been close like that one time in August, or because she was just Lily Evans.

Either or, James acted out on his impulses. He pulled Lily to him, and kissed her.

Lily squeaked in surprise, not prepared for the sudden kiss or the sudden movement of her flying towards him.

When they broke apart, Lily's face was flushed. She was blushing. She peered up at him, and he looked down at her.

She smiled at him, and James wrapped his arms around her. "I've been dying to do that for awhile."

Lily laughed. "Is this official now?" She asked. "Us dating at least."

"Of course; wouldn't have it any other way."

xoXoXoXox

BB/N: I'm finally done with this chapter. I've been meaning to update for the longest time…I'm sorry I haven't!

Thanks for the reviews! I like them. :)

Love,
Bob Bennit