(What many of you have been waiting for… finally some James/Lily action!! Goodness, I don't know why I ever bother with fanfiction. It is painfully addictive and I'm terrible at it. But, thanks for the reviews! I unfortunately noticed that same thing, bewareoftrips, after I had already updated it onto the system. I like your explanation quite well, though! Sorry about that odd mispricing (which may not even be a word, but you get the idea). Now… Okay, well, here you are!)

(1st Week of September – Y1)

Seven – Lily's Game

For Lily, the next two months seemed to pass at a frightening speed. Lily now had passed through her month of Healer training, and was now a Junior Assistant Healer in the ward that treated Muggles in St. Mungo's.

More and more patients were coming. More and more headlines, more and more deaths. The world was not safe, but at her job, she could at least try to save one victim at a time.

If work kept her busy enough, then the Order of the Phoenix meetings she regularly attended (held in a location only Dumbledore could reveal) lead her to be on the verge of complete exhaustion. She had finally mastered her Patronus, a graceful swan, which would be used as a means of contacting the Order. She had learned more spells and hexes in the past two months than in her entire Hogwarts career. The serious, dire business had not yet even begun.

Lily barely got to see James or any of her other friends at all outside of the meetings. It was even hard to find time to owl them. Artemis had to give her a nip multiple times when Lily had waited too long to reply.

Today, however, was an exception. She was not required at St. Mungo's. There were no Order meetings. Even her parents were off visiting Petunia and Vernon. She had no obligations, except to the obligation of her heart…

She was at James's now.

She had spent the day, and now night was falling. Sirius was still living in the Potter estate, but he had found an apartment to live in and was already beginning to gather his things. Dorcas was there, too, but Marlene was too busy at her own job, and Remus apparently wasn't feeling to well. And Peter? Well, who knew where that boy was off to?

"Lily, Lily, Lily…" Dorcas shook her head. "Is it not completely obvious that Quinn O'Riley is really Redford Doolittle? I mean, I had that figured out ages ago!"

Somehow, discussing identities of wizards as they posed as Muggle celebrities was not quite her idea of a good off day. She still felt as though there were bigger things at stake…

"Dorcas. You have always been a wiz at figuring things like that out. Now, what I want to know is why the Ministry wasn't there during that Death Eater raid in Kent." Lily shook her head, throwing down the Daily Prophet.

Sirius groaned. "Lily. You may not have noticed, but you are slowly becoming more and more obsessed with bad news."

"She is not," James defended, even though Lily had this stretching feeling in her stomach, indicating that Sirius was probably right. She hated bad news, and that hatred was fueling her obsession. She allowed James to continue, regardless. "I know exactly how she's feeling. Here we are, training to fight Voldemort and his goons, and we have yet to actually do anything."

Lily nodded. She did feel that, as well, she supposed. She took James's hand and squeezed it.

"The three of you need to get out of that mindset." Dorcas sighed. "Dumbledore has already set quite a few people of the Order out on missions. Our turn will come soon enough."

"I'm bored." Sirius sniffed. "And my new apartment won't even be ready until next Tuesday."

Dorcas rolled her eyes. "If you want, I'll agree to go on a motorcycle ride with you. Just stop whining all day."

Lily smiled and met Dorcas's eye. Sirius had been forcing anyone he could to accompany him on his flying motorbike. Dorcas had been refusing since the beginning, and held the record at nearly two months. Lily had this idea that Dorcas, who was currently working at Flourish and Blotts, and was not exactly the most motorcycle-friendly person, was only agreeing in order to give Lily some alone time with James. She silently thanked her friend, and gave a wave as Sirius, eager as a puppy, lead Dorcas by the hand to the drive.

"See you guys later!" Sirius winked. Lily didn't even want to know why. Then the two were gone…

Shaking his head of forever-untidy hair, James gave her a smile, and took her other hand.

"Fly with me, I want to show you something." James asked, a twinkle in his eyes.

"James. This is the one day I have off. I am exhausted." Lily declined.

James pouted. "It's a gorgeous fall evening. Trust me; this is something you want to see."

Why not? A voice tempted Lily. She finally was getting some alone time with James, he had behaved terribly well all day, and now he wanted to take her on a romantic flight.

Giving in, she conceded with a flare of drama and excitement she almost only found when she was with James. "All right, all right; I'll come. But if I fall off a broom, it is completely your fault. Lead the way, and I will follow, oh great navigator of the skies."

"I'll take it." James laughed and gave her a peck on the cheek and they threw on their cloaks. He led her to the broom shed outside.

It was a beautiful night, Lily admitted. The brilliant emerald trees surrounding the Potter estate were all starting to turn to a precious gold or vermillion at the tips of their leaves. The sticky heat of the summer had left, replaced by a crisp, clear air. Lit fantastically by the glow of the full moon, the heavens, freckled with stars, were clear and endless.

Clearing his throat, and attempting to sound like an expert, James spoke as he got out a pair of broomsticks. "Ah, I see you are admiring the skies, young lady. I'll have you know that that bright dot right there is Venus, indicating that old enemies turned lovers will come to find a great harmony. Venus, accompanied with the constellation Ursa Minor obviously indicates that a great truth will be realized, and that you look exceptionally lovely tonight."

Lily laughed. "Well, except for that last point, you have proved just how awful you are at astrology." Her heart swelled with a childish giddiness. James could work magic on her. It was almost impossible to believe that she had ever loathed him at all…

James handed her a broom, which she eyed nervously. She had never been half as keen on flying as James was. Sensing her discomfort, he assured her, "These are just old Shooting Stars. They won't go fast. I promise."

"What if I fall? Remember last time?" Lily bit her lip. The last time James had taken her flying, she had broken the one golden rule of being at great heights; she looked down. As if sensing her fear, the broom had shuddered and shaken until she clung onto the handle for dear life, dangling by two hands. However, of course…

"I rescued you then, didn't I?" James grinned. He had. "I even flew back with you at three feet above the ground. I will be right beside you every second, trust me."

He was just so… convincing. His voice melted into her brain like cream, soothing any worries.

Lily mounted the broom beside him, and, squeezing her eyes shut, kicked off of the ground.

She felt the earth leave her feet, and she was no longer bound by the rules of gravity. The air engulfed her, the breeze sending a chill through her. She had no idea where she was going, and didn't want to.

"Open your eyes, Lils!" James exclaimed. His childlike joy was something she had to see. Despite intense vacillation throbbing in her heart, Lily peeked open. James was right beside her, and they were soaring over the wood.

His mouth was stretched into a beam as wide as the Nile. He seemed so at home up here, so comfortable. He looked to her.

"We're already almost there, you've got nothing to worry about!"

Lily couldn't help but smile. Flying gave James a thrill like no other. The kind of thrill that Lily got just being by James. She followed him into a shallow dive.

"We're going to land in that little clearing right there, okay?" James pointed. "Nice and slow. You're doing wonderfully."

Lily laughed. She was terrible at flying, and he knew that. Thankfully, sure enough, there was a clearing. Another few seconds and… thump. They landed.

A huge sigh of relief involuntarily flew out of Lily's mouth, causing James to chuckle.

"We're here." He announced, setting his broom to the side, allowing Lily to get a look at the clearing. What she saw was surprising.

A small, square table was set up, lit with candles and flourished with a vase of mixed wildflowers. Two picnic baskets sat across from each other, and two chairs remained empty and welcoming. Lanterns, swaying gently on tree branches, filled the area with a warm shimmer.

Lily's breath was taken away. "James. Did you set this all this up?"

James blushed, and for once, said nothing. No bragging or anything. Lily took his hand.

"It's beautiful, James."

"I'm glad you like it, Lily." He declared. "Let's eat."

The food was delicious, and it wasn't the usual, old picnic food, either. The baskets had been filled with wonderful desserts of all sorts! Pastries, cakes, puddings, tarts… Lily's sweet tooth was numb with anticipation.

They had gone through 3 desserts apiece when Lily finally plucked up the courage to ask. "So, what exactly is the occasion, James?"

He wiped his mouth with a napkin. "What, can't a guy simply set up a perfectly romantic date for his girlfriend without a reason?"

"Knowing you, James, I must answer 'no'." She laughed. "Whatever the reason, I'm glad. This is simply… magical."

Lily's heart was filled with a thousand, happy butterflies.

James's smile grew. "All right. I was going to wait until after we'd finished at least 5 more pastries, but…" He paused. James had suddenly grown nervous. For as long as she'd known James, he had hardly ever been nervous. Sometimes before a big Quidditch match, and when they had been sorted… but that was it. Why was he nervous now?

He let out a breath of air. "Okay. Sorry bout that. I just want you to know, before you answer or anything, that I've only really practiced this on Sirius, and as he's a guy and my best mate and a complete idiot and all, this is a lot different than that. Um…"

And then he got up, and kneeled down beside her. Lily's heart stopped. Was he going to…?

He said the words. He said, "Lily Evans, will you marry me?"

He drew out his wand, tapped his hand, and a ring appeared. It had one bigger diamond, flanked by two miniature emeralds on a thin, golden band.

Lily's throat caught. Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God… James had just proposed, hadn't he? Had he? Did he really? He had proposed… The thoughts whirled about in her head, first filled with a joy and warmth like nothing she had ever felt before. And then her stupid doubts came in.

They had only been dating, what, 9 months now? She had hated him terribly. What if she was wrong?

No, another voice argued. You love him. He loves you. You know it. You've always known it.

But I hated him. It's so soon! We're so… young!

She realized that James had been kneeling there, his face frozen in a nervous expression, for quite a few moments now as her internal judgments waged war.

"James…" she croaked, unable to continue.

She didn't need to continue. James was speaking again. "Wait. Before you go and make that pro-con list inside your brain, like I know you always do, just… hear me out." He sighed. "God, I hadn't rehearsed this. Okay. Lily. I have loved you ever since the minute I saw you. We were on the Hogwarts Express, Sirius and I were bonding while flinging chocolate frogs everywhere, and you were angry that one had landed in your hair. You were yelling at me, and I just remember knowing, somehow, that you… you were the one."

"James," She whispered again. "Don't you feel that it's… soon?"

Stupid, stupid! Why was she speaking?!

James, thankfully, put on his determined face. "Lily, this is how it's always been. This is your game, your element. Rejecting me, and then realizing you can trust me. It took me nearly 7 years to convince you to date me, but you did. It took me 5 minutes just now to convince you to fly with me here, but you did. I am going to sit here and take as long as I possibly need to convince you, but… you'll have me, won't you? Right?

"I know it seems soon, but… I don't know how much time we've got left. I mean, with Voldemort about, and us… going off to fight him. I would hate to die without knowing that I had let you know where I stand. And where I stand is beside you, always, and I want you to… stand here, with me. I want to spend every moment we have left with you, Lily. I love you, for Merlin's sake! And so, I'm going to ask you again… Will you marry me?"

Lily let his words soak in. He was so convincing… And she knew that he didn't need to be. Her heart knew the answer. All of the doubts of her mind were silenced not only by his words, but by her feelings for James. He was right; this was her game with him. Rejection and then realization… This time he had won her over for good.

"What am I thinking?!" She cried. "Of course, I'll marry you, James Potter! I'll marry you a thousand times over!"

A look crossed his face even stronger than the joy he got from flying. He jumped up and embraced her; tears were streaming down her face. He gave one booming laugh of joy, pulled back, and slipped the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly.

"Lily Potter…" She tested the name, eyeing the ring on her hand, embracing the feel of it. "That does have a bit of a ring to it, doesn't it?"

"A wonderful ring!" James agreed, before silencing her with a kiss. And then a deeper kiss. He held her tighter and tighter until, Lily felt, they had become one person.

Yes, indeed, James had won her over for good…