Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling, and I do not own Harry Potter, but I love her wizarding world.

A Love for All Ages

By: Aepple

Chapter 4

Sealed with a Kiss

After leaving Petunia and Vernon in Godric's Hollow, Lily's summer passed quite quickly. Though she had seen most of Gringotts, she could never have imagined the depth of its intricacies. She spent half of her time exploring it with Lucas, the small goblin who had allowed her to follow him through his usual routine care of the facilities. The other half she spent with Jessica Kingsley, her summer roommate, who added immensely to Lily's summer experience.

Jessica, a Pennsylvania native interning at the Ministry of Magic, took every opportunity she could to explore London and England. With her Lily had seen places she never would have gone alone: the Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, Blenheim Palace, the National Gallery of Art, and today they sat in the stands just outside of London waiting for the World Quidditch Cup to start.

Jessica and Lily's nosebleed seats gave them a good view of the entire stadium. Lily, who had never been to a real Quidditch game, animatedly took in her surroundings with everyone decked out in their team's colors. A few rows ahead of them, Lily even saw a messy haired boy who resembled James. The dark brownish, reddish black color of his hair insured it couldn't be him, however.

She looked down at the small scar on her hand. It had been two months since Lily last saw James, and she couldn't get him out of her mind, not since he saved her life. The scar always reminded her. She hadn't noticed it until after he walked her home. As she fell to the ground that evening running away from Remus, she had lightly scraped her hand. It didn't bleed like other cuts, but it left a scar, a permanent impression. She admired it as she twisted her mother's ring between her fingers.

James' look alike wore a red robe and had a slight glow about him. He laughed and turned his head, catching Lily's eye for a brief moment before she looked away, still not completely recognizing that it was him.

James, however, couldn't mistake Lily anyway, and made his way through the stands to where she and Jessica sat.

"Lily…" he said gently once he reached her side.

Recognizing his voice Lily smiled gently and turned around, "James," she said quietly. "I didn't recognize you. Your hair… It's lighter."

"Lily, it's summer," James said, his normal arrogant air beginning to emerge, but lighted with an air of geniality.

"But you look older too." She heard herself say.

He hesitated, as if to say something, but bit his tongue.

"I'm sorry for staring," she said.

"So you admit it, the staring."

"Yes," she spoke, this time there was no snap back from her, no clever retort. "You reminded me of someone… you, I suppose."

He smiled. "It is strange finding you here of all places." He said.

"I do like Quidditch."

"You could have fooled me. I don't think you've been to a single game."

"Actually, I've never been to a real Quidditch match. This is Jessica, my roommate, from the US. She wanted to see a game."

"You'll have a pretty hard time seeing it from up there. We have seats here, but my dad also has a booth if you two care to join us. The view is amazing," he said.

Lily looked at Jessica, who had a huge grin on her face and nodded at the proposition.

"Thank you James. I think we might actually like that." Lily said.

"Meet Sirius and me down in the lobby by Section H," he said, jubilation in his voice. And with that he was gone. The messy haired boy had left, the messy haired boy with the lighter hair, the messy haired boy who she was now going to be civil to her, because he saved her life. James had changed.

"You didn't tell me you had a hot boy," Jessica joked after James had left.

"I don't think he's hot. And he's not my boy." Lily tried to correct her.

"I saw the way he was looking at you," Jessica said.

Lily shrugged her shoulders.

"Oh no, I want to hear more of these detail when we get home."

"He's not my boy." Lily added again. With that Lily and Jessica headed downstairs to Section H.

James and Sirius walked Jessica and Lily up to his fathers' booth, where they met most of James' extended family. They all seemed to be rather wealthily retired, though he parents had been working as aurors since 'You Know Who' had started to rise to power again.

Once the Quidditch game started the men became so involved in the game that they hardly noticed the girls' presence, which if anything allowed Lily to view into James' 'unguarded' psyche. He rooted for the home team, even though they were the underdogs – loyalty. He winced when one of their seekers had collided with one of the chasers – empathy. He gave Sirius the last of his chips, after Sirius spilled his all over the ground – kindness. And even after the home team had won, he offered to see the girls home instead of joining the on field party.

"Oh! Thank you," Jessica exclaimed.

Lily just rolled her eyes and sighed. His charm seemed to work on every girl, from anywhere.

"Lily is lucky to have such nice friends," Jessica said. "You've all been very kind."

In truth they had been very kind though Lily did not know how James would act if say a Slytherin would walk by. Jessica had only seen James' kindness. She hadn't seen the pranks he pulled, the people he had tortured over the years. But, she also hadn't seen him at his best, his selflessness, his loyalty, the people he helped, and the pain he dispelled. Lily wasn't sure which person to trust.

They had taken the floo there. On the way back James' would go first, followed by Jessica, and then Lily. Sirius had already taken off to the on field party so it would only be the three of them. They landed in the lobby of Jessica and Lily's apartment building.

James slightly bowed, "It has been my pleasure."

Jessica was tickled to death, and giggled, "Why thank you, but the pleasure has been all ours."

"We're in town all week if you two ladies are free."

Rolling her eyes Lily said, "No, I've got a bunch of stuff to do this week, and before leaving for Hogwarts." It was too much for her.

"Well then I shall see you on the train, later this week," he replied to Lily, ever so accidentally hitting her on the mouth with his wand.

"Oh, I'm sorry," James said, immediately performing the healing spell for the side of Lily's mouth with his wand.

"James, now there's gonna be a scar. I don't want another scar." She held up her hand. "Do you see this one? This one happened the night… um… that I fell in the woods behind your house."

He grabbed her hand, pulling it closer so he could see the scar.

Seizing her opportunity Jessica spoke matter of factly, "I work with a healer. Actually, if you kiss it, it seals in the magic, and there won't be a scar."

"That's nonsense," Lily said.

"Does she really work for a healer, Lily?" James asked.

"Well… yes, all summer," she said impatiently.

"Do you really want another scar, on your mouth at that?" James retorted.

"No," Lily said quietly. "Jessica, you do it."

She put her hands up, "I don't think so," she laughed.

"Lily…" James said questioningly, rubbing the scar on her soft hand with his thumb.

"Okay, just do it quickly."

He leaned in and quickly, gently, & softly kissed the side of her mouth, which sent electric chills down her spine. "Did that make it better?" He whispered looking into her eyes.

Breathless at this point she looked down and softly answered, "I think so."

"It was nice to meet you Jessica. And I see you on the train in a week Lily." He touched her hand again sending similar chills through her body as he left.

"Sealed with a kiss? Why haven't I heard of that before? I think it worked. That kiss was electric."

Jessica smiled to herself. "Tell me more about this kiss. I've never had it done on me before."

"It was, indescribable really, like … sunshine. I feel much better."

"Yeah, kisses will do that to you. You should try them with hot boys more often," Jessica smiled. "Now I want to hear about more about James."

A/N: It's been a month since I last updated. I'm so sorry! This chapter was actually the first chapter I wrote of this story. I had to go back to write about the werewolf event.

Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling, and I do not own Harry Potter.