Sorry for the lack of updates. I've been trying to write some others things, so that's what's been a priority. Anyways, I hope you like this new chapter! Also, I sincerely hope y'all have seen Deathly Hallows part 2! It's freaking EPIC.

Before I knew it, it was already half way through October and I still had to tell Marlene and Alice that I was going to Hogsmeade with James Potter. I was mostly just concerned about how they were going to take it. I knew it was wrong to worry about what people thought, but still. I didn't think I could handle the stares and whispers when word got out that I finally gave in to Potter's incessant begging.

Not that he really begged, this time, I reasoned as I stared out of the window towards the lake on a late October 12 afternoon. The sun was setting behind the mountains that hid the castle and it cast an orange glow over everything, making the Black Lake sparkle in the late sun light. The giant squid swam lazily in its depths while a few Hufflepuff's sat on the lakes edge, talking and laughing.

Sitting back, I rubbed my eyes and looked over my Arithmancy homework and decided that I would finish the homework later. I needed to eat.

Packing up my bags, I glanced up and saw Severus walk by with Mulciber whispering in his ear. Severus grinned a rather wicked grin and I swallowed convulsively. He had never smiled like that before when we were still friends. How much had he changed? Had he always acted like that even when we were friends? Had there always been that side of him that I never saw?

Shaking myself, I pushed thoughts of Severus out of my mind.

It didn't matter anyway. He chose to be friends with his Death Eater friends. He didn't matter to me anymore, though I knew that I would always love him still because we had been friends for so long. And I knew that I would always worry about him, that would never change either. I hoped for the best for him and hoped that he would make better choices, but I knew he wouldn't. He was a Slytherin through and through, I thought grimly as I left the library to go to the Great Hall for dinner.

As I walked in, I tried to find Alice or Marlene, but neither of them were at the table, so I sat alone and pulled out an old, tattered Muggle book and read while I ate.

Turning a page, I glanced up and saw James Potter sitting in front of me, eating his own meal.

Putting the book down, I looked at him and said, "Can I help you, Potter?"

James looked up at me and smiled.

"Can't you drop the use of my surname now?" he asked with a cocky grin. I frowned.

"No," I replied.

"Why not?"

I shrugged and took a bite of my chicken before taking a sip of pumpkin juice.

"Have you told your friends that you're going with me to Hogsmeade?" he asked curiously.

I shook my head. "No."

"Why?" he asked.

"Because I'm not sure if I'm going with you yet, Potter," I replied shortly.

"Oh," he said. I could hear the disappointment in his voice.

"I just need time to think about it, okay?" I asked him, dropping my fork. I shoved my book back into my bag and stood. James's eyes followed me. "See you later."

He nodded morosely.

"Bye."

I shook my head as I climbed up the marble staircase, passing Sirius, who grinned at my approach, Remus, who waved to me, and Peter, who was looking around him anxiously.

I ignored them all as I made my way slowly to Gryffindor Tower.

Did I want to go to Hogsmeade with James? Did I want to give him a chance? I knew Sirius would laugh, Remus would say he was happy, and Peter, well, would be Peter. And Marlene would scoff while Alice had a time laughing about it. But did I really care what they all thought? What would James say? How would he behave when it was just us two? Would he finally deflate his head and be a civilized human being?

Sighing, I realized there were so many things I wouldn't know until I did it.

Yes, I would go to Hogsmeade with him. I would finally give in.

The next day, I saw James walking alone down the hall, going in the direction I was going. He was a little ways ahead of me, but there were people around.

Thinking quickly, I shouted, "POTTER!"

James stopped and turned. He spotted me and walked to me.

"What is it Evans?" he asked.

"I need to talk to you about the other day," I said in a hard voice.

People watched us as they passed so I grabbed his arm, not to gently, and pulled him away.

"McGonagall saw it," I told him. "She's not happy. And plus, she wants to talk to us about our duties."

"What the hell are you talking about?" James demanded.

"You'll see," I said shortly as I shoved him into an empty classroom.

"What the hell are you doing?" James cried as I shut the door behind us. "And where's McGonagall?"

"I lied about that," I said nonchalantly. I watched his face as his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Then why are we here?" he asked.

"Because…" I took a deep breath and said, "I decided I want to go to Hogsmeade with you."

Those words had an instantaneous effect on James.

His face broke into a grin and he said, "Really? You'll go?"

I nodded, my face serious.

"But on one condition," I warned.

He nodded eagerly. "What?"

"No jokes," I said. "None. Not even if someone provokes you. Just walk away. And there better not be any pranks on me," I added in a hard voice.

James shook his head. "No, none. I'll do whatever you want, too. I'll even go to Madam Puddifoot's!"

I crinkled my nose in disgust. "Okay, even I wouldn't torture you that way, James."

His face lit up again.

"Hey! You called me James!"

I rolled my eyes.

"I use your surname when you're surrounded by your friends, James," I told him. "When you're by yourself…I don't mind using your first name."
"Who, the Marauders?" James asked.

I cocked and eyebrow curiously.

"Who?"

"The Marauders," James said. "Oh, c'mon! You don't know what we call ourselves?"

I shook my head.

James threw back his head and laughed.

"Merlin's beard, Lily! Everyone knows what we call ourselves!" he laughed. "How did you not know?"

I shrugged, feeling agitated.

"Well, anyways, I'm Prongs, Sirius is Padfoot, Remus is Moony, and Peter is Wormtail," he informed me.

"Oh, so that's why you all call yourselves that," I said with an understanding nod.

James smiled slyly.

"That and other reasons," he said with a knowing grin.

"What do you mean?"

"Nope! Not saying anything until I can trust you, Evans!" James laughed. He gave me a brief hug and quick "Thanks for going to Hogsmeade with me!" before he rushed out of the room. Meanwhile, I was trying to make sense of my hearts sudden fluttering when James hugged me.

Think rationally, Lily, I scolded myself, giving myself a little shake.

"He's only a boy," I muttered to myself as I left the empty classroom as I made my way to Transfiguration.

Well, I hope ya liked it! I also made Lily not know about the Marauders because I want to have James tell her. So...no telling me "Lily already knows!" Actually, might I point out that no one actually knows when Lily found out about the Marauders, so, yeah. Anywho...Please review! I cannot even begin to tell you how happy they make me! :)

Have a lovely Friday and a great weekend!

~TheTragedyIs13~