Wow! So America is definitely winning in the most views and most visitors right now! England is in a close second with Australia coming in on third! How exciting, eh? Thanks to the two anons who reviewed too aaand mucho thankies to TearsOfEagles! Thank you very very much! Anyways, same old 'I do not own Harry Potter' right here and now, onto the chapter! Please review guys! Reviews really motivate me and if you guys don't review then it makes me think that no one enjoys the chapter *sad face here*

Chapter Four;

"I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; " - Henry David Thoreau

"No."

James Potter, ever 'the mature one', let out a childish whine. "But why?"

"James," There was an impatient huff. "Need I remind you that I'm a prefect?"

"Need I remind you that you're a boring old git?" Came James' reply, mocking the shrill tone that the girl had possessed.

Lily Evans raised an eyebrow, she contemplated about hexing him but then just settled with flipping a page in her Transfiguration book. Her eyes hardened. She didn't look very impressed. James groaned and fell further down the sofa, laying his head on her shoulder. She froze, only for a second, at the close proximity and then moved slightly, hoping that it would make the lanky boy move away.

It didn't work; If anything it made him lean his head further onto her, sending her a smile that was making the hair on the back of her neck tingle. She groaned this time, refusing to let him win.

"I just don't want to break any school rules." They were both in the common room which, surprisingly, was empty apart from the two of them. It wasn't that surprising, however, when you realised it was already past midnight and that all sane students were already asleep.

James scoffed. "You and Evelyn seemed fine breaking the rules a few nights ago to go on a midnight walk around the castle."

"How do you know about that?" She squinted her eyes, giving James what she hoped was an intimidating glare. "Have you been spying on me?"

A nervous, high pitched batch of laughter, followed by a manly cough was her answer. "Hardly," He drummed his fingers against the side of the sofa. "I saw you both in the common room, chattering on to each other about ice cream flavours."

Lily was silent for a second, racking her brain back back to that night. "I didn't see you in here..."

"Well, I was lying down on the sofa, you see." His reply came out hurried and unconvincing. "Remus sleep talks and he was uh," He scratched his head, wondering if she was buying any of this, because he certainly wasn't... "mumbling on about rabbits and how they were flying on broomsticks and playing Quidditch against him and he was loosing apparently (which is why he has never played Quidditch, he really would lose against rabbits). Sirius and Peter are really heavy sleepers and Frank was listening to music on this weird muggle contraption whilst studying... so they... uh didn't hear any of it."

Lily decided to just ignore him once again (it was the easiest thing to do) and went back to her study book, jotting down a few notes on a spare piece of parchment.

"It'll be really fun." She almost wanted to cry out in frustration as she heard his voice, this time coming right next to her ears, his voice tickling with persuasion. She bit her lip but refused to look him in the eyes, knowing that their faces were probably mere centimeters apart.

"I already promised Evelyn I'd- "

"Evelyn can come too then."

Lily scoffed again, shutting her book now with a slam. "Evelyn won't want to."

"Why are girls so infuriating?" James glared, watching as Lily stood from the sofa and yawned. "Why can't you just do this one little thing- "

"Why can't boys just take 'NO' as an answer?" Touché, James thought with a chuckle. "Look," She placed her books on the side of the settee and turned to face him, who was stood defiantly by the fireplace. "Evelyn won't want to be near Sirius and just believe me when I say that that is for the best and if we did it then it'd get really rowdy and- "

"But Evelyn and Sirius are mates?" James looked dumbfounded as Lily let out another cry of frustration, she was harbouring all her strength and the urge to throw her book at his stupid face right then and there was so tempting that she even felt her finger tickle and lean forward.

"Evelyn likes Sirius!" The words were blurted come out before she had time to realise what she was saying. James' eyes widened and Lily's hands shot up to her mouth, muttering out a swear-word.

"Wow." The news made him fall back onto the settee, lying there motionless as Lily timidly sat next to him again; her hands writhed together on her lap.

"Please don't say anything." She was beyond begging, this was now a plea. The biggest plea of all pleas.

James let out a shrill laugh, the first sign of life he had shown in a matter of minutes. "I'm not a twelve year old girl who gossips all the time." He muttered, heat rising to his cheeks as he heard her mumble a 'could've fooled me'.

There was another silence again, the only sound coming from the crackling of the fire.

"How long for?"

She'd already gone too far by telling James in the first place, there was no harm in adding more fuel to the fire now. The worse had already happened. "Uuh... I dunno... m-maybe since last year."

James looked unconvinced.

"Fine, s-since first year, on't train."

"Bloody hell! I was there when that happened! She was hiding in the compartment and Sirius opened it, not realising she'd be by the door and they both fell over each other and ended up on the floor." He sent Lily a goofy smile, she refused to listen to the swell of her heart when she saw him.

"Please don't embarrass her."

"I won't."

"And please don't act all stupid with Sirius."

"I won't."

"Thanks James." She breathed out a sigh of relief. "You're a real mate, sometimes anyways."

"It's going to cost you, though." Lily, who had been walking towards the Girl's staircases, froze.

"What do you want?"

James shrugged, trying to suppress his smile. "Uh. You can owe me a favour, if you want? It won't be anything drastic. Just a friendly favour."

"Fine." She was in no mood to negotiate, she'd accept the terms James had lain. "James?" She poked her head back through the door, biting her lip again as they made eye contact. He was pulling a loose thread off his robe.

"Does Sirius..." She needn't continue as James understood, he shrugged his broad shoulders.

"Sirius wouldn't even notice if his shoelaces were untied."

"Lily! Evelyn!" A grinning James emerged from the boy's staircase, running towards the two girls who were just about to leave the common room.

"You have got to just wait a few seconds and see Sirius; Peter pranked him, threw a tub of cold water on him and then fled the dorms." Lily had seen Peter running out of the common room mere minutes before, a grin was plastered on his face as he had greeted them both a good morning. James was shaking with laughter.

Loud voices were already making their way down the stairs.

"Uhh." Evelyn glanced to the boy's dormitory door. "I'm starving." Her voice stammered. "I'm going to go down to eat now." She stuttered out a 'bye' and walked hastily to the exit of the common room. Then she was gone. Lily and James didn't have time to give each other a knowing glance, as now Sirius' loud and grumbling voice was heard along with the insistent and shrill voice of Remus'.

"Sirius."

There was a grunt and then a loud crash sound followed suit, as if someone had just fallen down a staircase. Sirius groaned as he moved his tie from his face and stood back up. Lily looked alarmed, glancing at James who pointed to Sirius' feet; he was wearing one shoe (which was untied) and on his other foot was only a black sock. His hair looked quite damp.

"For Merlin's sake," Remus emerged from the staircase, throwing the other shoe at Sirius' head, which hit its aim perfectly. "If you didn't sleep so much then you wouldn't need to rush right before breakfast! And Peter did you a favour."

Remus, unlike Sirius, was dressed smartly in his Gryffindor robes, with both his shoes on and tied. The sandy haired boy threw the other a glare as he swung along the banister, landing with a 'whoooosh' of his robes.

"Where's Evelyn and the others?" Remus asked after Sirius had successfully put on his shoe, tied it and did his tie up.

Sirius raised an eyebrow, scanning around the common room for the girl in question.

"Evelyn's already in the hall, along with everyone else." Came James' humoured reply. "Classes do start in thirty minutes, Sirius dear."

To say that Sirius was having a bad start was an incredible understatement. He sent James a rather rude hand gesture and stormed out of the common room, the rest of them following along, trying to hold back their snickers as Sirius almost tumbled on a trick step.
Even Peeves seemed to have no affect on him, the poltergeist had thrown water pellets at them and a group of unsuspecting first years. The boy just continued to storm towards the great hall, earning a bundle of insults and screeches from Peeves.

"What's got your wand in a knot?" Evelyn raised an eyebrow as he slammed down his goblet of orange juice.

"Nothing." Sirius snapped. "I'm just peachy."

"Fine." She snapped back.

Sirius was about to snap a 'Don't snap at me!' but James cleared his throat, casting a glance between the two of them. They both quietened and continued to eat their breakfast in silence.

Gabriel, who was sitting a couple of seats away, called out to James. "Rowen's decided to already book the courts for practice during the Christmas holidays."

"We've got to stay here during winter break?!" James looked appalled and glared towards the oblivious Gryffindor captain who was innocently eating some toast with her fellow seventh year friends. "Mum had promised me she'd make chocolate cake."

"But that's like two months away still," Remus said, baffled. He didn't understand how people could be obsessed with the strange sport. "It's not even Halloween- "

"She's really set on Gryffindor winning the cup," Sirius said with his mouth open, his cereal and milk dribbling down his chin. "Since it's her last year and all." This was the first time Sirius had smiled the whole morning. "I think it's an excellent idea, not going home and staying in Hogwarts. Brilliant. I could kiss her... if I was dating anyways." He mumbled the last bit, sticking his tongue out at James.

"I guess." Came Gabriel's reply, he was already writing a letter to his folks, explaining that he wouldn't be able to attend the annual Acre's Christmas celebration.

"Say I'm not going either!" Evelyn threw a piece of toast at her brother, squealing in delight as it hit his forehead. When he scowled at her she shrugged innocently. "You think I want to be there by myself? Caleb's going to be in Cornwall so it'll just be mum, dad and Auntie Jo's lot. No way. I'm staying here too."

Gabriel shuddered, not wanting to remember the horrors of Auntie Jo's family. "Alright," He nodded. "I'll save you, sis."

She sent a thankful smile towards him and reeled back to the conversation her friends were having: Peter was going to have go back home anyways because a family member was sick, Remus' parents were busy so he was already going to stay at the castle and Sirius just could not contain his glee about now having an excuse to stay at Hogwarts. Lily didn't want to stay at her house because her sister, a snotty girl named Petunia who was two years Lily's senior, was bringing her fiance, a walrus of a man named Vernon Dursley, to the house and wanted to discuss wedding details with her parents. Vicky (as much as she wanted to stay because of Gabriel) had already promised to go on holiday with her family in Corfu to meet a Greek friend of hers. Frank Longbottom and Alice Prewitt sent each other a suggestive glance and then said at the same time 'I'm staying too'.

Breakfast gradually came to an end and the fifth years were relieved to see Sirius smiling again; a grumpy Sirius could last for days and he could become very rude and mean- according to James and Remus anyways.

Their first class was Herbology with the Ravenclaws.

"Fanged Geraniums can be dangerous," Sprout called out once all the students were paying attention. "Which is why you all have a pair of dragon-skin gloves AND a pair of goggles. Keep them both on for the entire lesson. If I see ANYONE taking off their gloves or goggles then they will receive a weeks detention."

The plump teacher went on and demonstrated how to take out the fangs (it was as simple as just pulling out the fangs with one hand and yet it was not simple at the same time. The plant was strong and could spit out poison that made the victim's skin erupt with blisters). "You'll need to work in pairs; one of you will pull out the fangs and the other will use their wands and 'accio' the poison and bring it into these beakers." She jingled a glass beaker. "Then you add the fangs to the beaker as well, and let the two ferment until the end of class."

"That sounds like hell." James murmured to his classmates, each and every one of them looking at the teacher with dread; why couldn't Herbology be simple and easy again like second year when they re-potted mandrakes?

"That's just the start of it, Mister Potter." Sprout barked, she had a gleam in her eyes. "Whilst the fangs are fermenting," There was a groan throughout the greenhouse, "you need to get these bulbs." She pointed towards a strange white bubble which was located inside the mouth of the flower. "Take heed, even without the fangs these plants can give you a nasty bite. You need to grab the bulb quickly and then re-pot the bulb in the same pot, minding the roots of course, which don't like to be disturbed." She demonstrated again with so much ease that a few of the students thought it seemed easy. What a mistake.

"James, d'ya wanna- " Sirius was interrupted, rather rudely he thought, by James who instantly grabbed onto Lily's hand.

"I already have a partner." Lily blushed but still managed a glare at James.

Sirius looked startled. "You're choosing Lily Evans over me?"

James nodded, deadpanned. "Mate. Two reasons: I still haven't forgiven you yet for calling me a 'four eyed Quidditch arse' and secondly, I trust Lily a lot more than you in this greenhouse... I'm sure she will not want to loose house points, won't want to get a detention and most certainly will not want to mess around with dangerous liquid that gives you boils." He hissed the last word, straightening his tie. "I've got a face and a reputation to hold. Boils won't help me with that."

It seemed that a few of the Gryffindors agreed with James, and paired with someone else who was not Sirius Black. He scoffed and muttered something about 'house spirit'. "I can trust on you, can't I?" He sent a hopeful look towards Evelyn.

"I guess so..." She said rather relentlessly, but inside she was cheering and screaming and dancing around goofily as Sirius moved over to her table after grabbing two pairs of gloves and goggles from the store box.

"I don't feel comfortable grabbing onto a plant's fangs." She said quickly before he could say anything.

"Do you feel comfortable trying to get the poison into a beaker?"

"No."

"Great." Came his sarcastic reply. "Well," He messed with his hair and glanced around the room. "Since I have the Quidditch experience of being Beater... I probably have better reflexes than you... So, I'll do the uh," He motioned towards the beaker. "puss thing."

Evelyn took the fang out with ease and nodded her head with a smile as Sirius flicked his wand.

"Hey uh..." He started and scratched his head awkwardly. "Aaah nevermind." This seemed to be the first time that Sirius had ever faltered in speech and blushed at the same time whilst talking to her.

"How's your break from girls going?"

"Great actually, it gives me more time to work on pranks."

Marvelous, Evelyn thought darkly.

"What about you?" This had to be one of the most awkward conversations ever.

"Fine."

"How's Ed treating you?"

She looked up, only to see Sirius viciously throwing the fang into a beaker.

"Uh," She shrugged her shoulders. "We're just friends..."

He only chuckled.

"Why are you asking me that anyway?"

"Am I not allowed to?" He watched as Evelyn grabbed onto the last fang and pulled it out with a lot of force. She slammed it onto the table.

"Well mind your own business."

Now it was Sirius' turn to angrily flick his wand, sending the liquid into the beaker so fast that it almost splashed onto the sides.

"Because he's my friend, that's why." He said after a few seconds.

"Well, I don't care."

"Well I do. He's my friend, I don't want you hurting his feelings or something. He's a real mate."

"Sirius, we're only friends. I'm not going to hurt him!"

"Do you think they noticed what I was doing?" James asked, stealing a glance at the couple ahead of them, they seemed to be discussing something. Young love.

Lily shook her head. "Nah but you need to be careful, don't be too obvious."

He promised he wouldn't and then poised his wand ready- waiting for Lily to reach out to grasp one of the fangs. The plant hissed and James forgot all about his wand, ducking quickly. He felt something whiz past his head and fire onto a Ravenclaw boy who suddenly screamed and clutched at his cheek.

He was about to ask the poor boy if he was okay when the plant fired again, this time hitting James in the face too. After letting out a few swear words he fell backwards and stumbled into the table behind them. A girl tried to catch her falling Geranium but failed, the plant hit the floor with a loud BANG! and the beaker full of puss flew into the air and went all over a girl. Everything was silent for a moment and the students thought the worst was now over... that was, until the plant started firing out like missiles of blistery puss and everyone suddenly ducked underneath their tables, screaming for help.

Sprout didn't seem to notice, she was wearing large ear-muffs and was tending to a strange silvery plant in the corner.

Amongst the screams of terrified students being victimised by the plants there now seemed to be a heated argument going on between the one and only Evelyn Acres and Sirius Black.

It was only when Evelyn slapped Sirius on the cheek that Sprout looked up. And she was livid.

"I can't believe you slapped him."

Evelyn scowled. "He was being an absolute arsehole. I mean, you and James sent yourselves and seven students to the hospital wing because of that bloody plant. All I did was slap him and I got a detention."

"She saw you perform a violent act, Ev..." Lily sent a worried glance over to her friend. "What did he say? It must have been something bad for you to do that... you like him a lot."

She only sniffed and messed with the corner of her robes. "He was just being such an arse."

Lily bit her lip. "You landed him in detention too, you know. Don't you think you should apologise to him or-"

She could have said 'no', but instead Evelyn refused to listen to any more and stomped out of the dormitory. She mumbled out that she'd be late for her detention and left without another word. Lily glanced towards the clock, she was heading there an hour early.

"Where is everybody?" The only fifth years she found in the Common room, the majority being a dozen third years who were discussing Divination and about how one of them was apparently supposed to be dying this year, were James and Frank.

Frank shrugged. "I know Sirius is in detention and Remus is at the library but I dunno about the others." Lily had a nasty feeling that Vicky was probably somewhere in a broom closet with Gabriel.

"I'm so bored!" James complained as he stretched. The edges of his shirt rose slightly and Lily forced herself to look away, a blush threatening to colour her cheeks.

"Homework?" Lily sat down next to Frank.

"I've done it all. I had a free period and I was seriously so bored that I did it all. Out of boredom."

"I've just got to finish off this damn essay," Frank grumbled, blotches of ink were smudged onto his face and hands. "I hate Transfiguration so much... Lily does this sound right to you?"

After correcting a small error in the essay, Frank gave Lily a grateful smile. "You're a lifesaver, Lily. I'm beat. Off to bed, methinks. Night."

Panic rose in her chest and she silently begged Frank to stay longer, but he turned away to the dorms and began to climb the stairs. James gave out another sigh as he stared into the fireplace.

"Third years are rowdy tonight, aren't they?" He sent a glare towards them.

"They had Divination, I think. They're probably freaking out because they got scary prophecies."

They listened in on their conversation for a bit, amusing themselves with the worried chatter that apparently someone knew someone who knew someone who had had Divination last year and that someone owned a toad who died and the Professor had foreseen it.

"How about that favour?" James asked.

"Now? It's a little late, isn't it?"

"Nah." James waved a hand. "You won't get in trouble. I promise."

"What's the favour?"

"Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be invisible?"

Lily huffed. "Really now. What sort of a question is that? Just tell me the damn favour an I'll do it!"

"Just answer the question," James said rather calmly.

Lily was silent for a few seconds. "I suppose so, yes. It would be rather interesting."

James clapped his hands, grinning.

"James Potter the magnificent has the power to make one invisible?"

"No. But I have something that does. Wait here a sec." He ran towards the staircase and was gone. The third year students were still there but their conversation had died (how ironic) somewhat and the majority of them were now yawning and debating whether or not to go to bed. Their decision was made when one of the boys reminded them all about their History of Magic test, Lily applauded him for this in her mind. That sent the students into another frenzy and one by one they raced back to their dorms in the hope of being able to squeeze in some last minute revision.

"Everyone's gone now?"

That was odd. Lily could hear James speaking, it sounded like he was stood just in front of her. But he wasn't there.

"Potter?" She called out, her voice shaking. Suddenly he appeared out of nowhere, like magic. He had taken off some sort of cloak that was now wrapped around his arm. He sent her a grin.

"You! You- You were just invisible."

"Indeed, I was."

"But... how? What is that?"

James handed her the cloak and watched with a smile as she tested it out, amazed at how it made her leg turn invisible.

"What's the favour then?" She asked once she had calmed down from all the excitement.

"Nothing too lavish for now." He shrugged. "I just thought it'd be cool to walk around the castle for a bit and then fly."

"But we'll be seen!"

"Nope. We'll be invisible. Now doesn't that sound like fun, eh? Being invisible around the castle and then flying and being invisible too?"

Lily couldn't deny the sense of excitement that was running through her. She listened intently as James mentioned the do's and the don'ts and then threw the cloak over them both.

"You need to come closer than that," He mumbled and gently gripped onto her elbow so that she was stood in front of him. She could feel his hot breath on her back and was worried that he might be able to hear her rapid heart beat since they seemed so close.

"Are you always spooning Sirius when it's you two under here?"

She could tell James had blushed as he mumbled something under his breath. "The cloak's actually big enough to hold five people under it." He said, he put his hand on the small of her back and pushed her forward gently. They went through the exit. "But for that to work everyone needs to be in perfect sync and that took me and the others months to perfect. I don't want you clumsily letting your ankle be seen by Filch or Mrs Norris so it's easier this way."

They walked in silence around the halls until James felt more relaxed and was able to tell Lily all about the secret passageways and cool paintings that graced the halls. Lily was baffled, it seemed like she didn't even know or understand Hogwarts at all now.

"Do you want to fly for a bit then?"

They were stood by a painting of a teapot.

"Well," Lily fumbled with her hands and turned around to face him. "I can't... well, I can't fly."

He sent her a grin. "I know. I saw you in our first flying lesson, you were bloody awful." He assured her that they could share a broom, his new broom was a Cleansweep 400 and could easily fit two people on it.

"Come on Lily." He egged on. "What's life without a little risk? There's no point having a life and doing nothing extraordinary." Lily had a feeling that he was right and somehow allowed herself to be pushed into the secret entrance. After a short walk they were by the grounds.

"Now hold on!" He kicked off the broom lightly and whizzed around the fields. Lily had never realised how pretty the grounds of Hogwarts were; you could see the forbidden forest go on for miles and miles and to the east there were the vast hills and valleys. The night sky was a pretty dark blue with a few stars twinkling out like lanterns. She'd never felt so happy or relaxed doing something that was against school rules.

"It's pretty, isn't it?"

Lily could only nod, the wind was blowing against her but she knew James was able to fly against the slight turbulence. It seemed like only seconds later that James landed and Lily was almost tempted to ask for another go, but she stopped herself. Time was ticking on and she still had classes to attend in the morning.

They walked back in a comfortable silence.

"That was... exhilarating." She couldn't even speak properly as they entered the common room. "Thank you so much!" Her cheeks were red from all the excitement and her body was still rushing with adrenaline that she leaped onto James and engulfed him in a hug. He smelt like... she couldn't even put her finger on it? Like a fresh breath of air, so relaxing and comforting that she could have stayed in his arms forever. She felt his hands go around her waist and he buried his face into her hair.

"No problem," He said. "Thanks for doing the favour."

Before she could stop herself she kissed him quickly on the lips and then ran with all her might towards the dormitory. Tiredness was creeping onto her but she forced herself to get dressed into her pajamas and brushed her teeth before letting her body succumb to the soft and comfy fortress of her duvet. She was just about to fall asleep when she licked her lips.

She had kissed James Potter. Her heart leapt and it felt like butterflies had erupted all around her. She had kissed him. It had only been a slight peck, and she had done it before she had even realised. Maybe James hadn't realised either? She closed her eyes briefly and replayed the moment again. She tingled just thinking about it. Even on this cold, blustery late September night she felt warm.

So sorry it took so long to update! It's been busy here, my Grandma's not well and neither is my Granddad and we're preparing for a wedding and there's been a lot of practices with the church band so it's been hectic! PLEASE REVIEW! I'd really appreciate it! Until the next chapter~~ and sorry for any mistakes- I'll try and read through it tomorrow and change anything that catches my attention.

COOKIES FOR PEOPLE WHO REVIEW.