Disclaimer: The only things that are mine are Anna and Sirius' sexuality. And the plot, I guess. All other characters I've ripped off from the one and only J.K. Rowling.

Thanks to those who reviewed the last couple of chapters, and to all those who are reading this story without reviewing – it's just nice to know people are actually reading it! Anyway in particular Forneverandnever, LadyKnightSusan, Mr. Prongs (again hehe), and –Scp-, I appreciate it! Enjoy the next chapter!

"James? I need to talk to you…"

James looked over at Sirius, who was wearing an odd expression that didn't suit him at all. It was almost, James thought, as if he were anxious. Sirius Black was never anxious. There was obviously something up.

"Just tell me one thing, both of you. Are you two...together?"

Lily's eyes widened and Sirius practically jumped out of his skin.

"What?! Why would you even -"

"Okay, I get it," James grinned. "That's all I really want to know."

"Oh," said the other two in unison.

"Well, that's what you both were going to tell me, right? That you weren't together?"

Lily glanced at Sirius, who wasn't doing a very good job of acting normal, with his hands stuffed in his jean pockets and eyes flitting around the room. She rolled her eyes and turned back to James.

"Well, that's what I was trying to tell you before, James, but you didn't listen to me. I promise you, there is nothing going on, we would tell you if there was. Wouldn't we, Sirius?"

"Huh? Oh yeah mate, of course."

James raised an eyebrow but he seemed to buy it for the time being.

"Well I'm just going to leave now, I should probably go and uh, find those hot Ravenclaw chicks. 'Cause you know, that's why I didn't go with anyone. So I could have a wider selection. I could actually have taken someone, you know. The girls love me. It's not like I'm ugly or anything…"

Lily and James looked at Sirius anxiously. His rant descended into incoherent mutterings, and he stepped out of the portrait hole, leaving them alone.

James cleared his throat.

"Well, that was certainly interesting…"

"Yeah." Lily breathed an inward sigh of relief that neither of them had been forced to offer some form of explanation for their argument.

"Lils, I waited up for you. I wanted to apologise."

"James, you already did, it's okay."

"Please, let me finish."

He moved over to make room for Lily, and she sat down beside him.

"What is it, James?"

He couldn't believe he was doing this, but he had to.

"Lily, you know I've liked you forever. And I'm pretty sure you know I still do, after tonight, anyway."

Lily held her breath. Was he doing what she thought he was? He was looking at her intensely, his hazel eyes gazing into her own. She was doing her best not to melt right there and then on the couch. Her mind was screaming that she should tell him what she should have told him so long ago. But then...

"I've decided it's time I try and move on, Lily. And you're probably wondering why on earth I'm telling you this, but I thought that, you know, just in case you wonder why I don't ask you out from now on…it's because I need to get over this. And I know you and Sirius aren't together or anything, but it made me realise that you obviously have no feelings towards me whatsoever…"

"James…"

Lily felt as though she couldn't breathe. The air she had been holding in refused to come out. Whatever it was she had been expecting, it wasn't this. And yet it made sense. She had rejected him and pushed him away for years. How could she expect him to stick around and wait for her when she gave him no indication she returned his feelings?

James continued to look at her, and she could tell that this was difficult for him.

"Lily, you're a great friend, and I've really enjoyed being Head Boy with you and everything. I just want you to know that if you ever…well, feel anything for me, that I'll still be here. Honestly, I will."

Lily leaned forward and put her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. He didn't know it was to stop him from seeing her crying. Although surprised, he wrapped his arms around her waist, hoping fervently that she wouldn't pull away just yet, so he could savour the moment.

"Lily, I need to do something, and I hope you won't hate me for it."

Her whole body was tingling.

"James, I'm sure I wouldn't -"

She was cut off suddenly by his lips on hers. He was soft and gentle, and yet she felt as though her body was on fire. Just as she began to realise exactly what they were doing, and opened her mouth to let James in, he pulled away. Breathing heavily, he reached out and brushed a stray hair out of her face.

"I'm sorry, but I don't think I could move on without…without knowing what it felt like to do that."

Lily didn't think she had ever felt so fantastic and so devastated at the same time.

"Lily?"

"Huh? What?"

"I'm going to bed. Remember, let me know if…well, g'night."

He leaned forward kissing her on the forehead, before getting up and walking off to his room.

"Yeah…g'night…"

All Lily could muster was a weak smile.

The following morning, Lily made her way to the great hall for breakfast, yawning excessively. She hadn't had much sleep the night before; she'd been too busy replaying the kiss with James in her mind. It had been wonderful. It wasn't as though she had never kissed anyone before, but with James it was different. He made her whole body go weak.

"Hello? Earth to Lily!"

Lily jumped, her pumpkin juice spraying all over Anna, who was standing behind her.

"Good morning to you too!"

"Oops, sorry Anna. I was…"

"Thinking about James naked?"

"No!"

"Only half naked?"

Lily sighed dramatically.

"You were thinking about him though! What happened last night?"

"Well…"

As Anna sat down, washing the pumpkin juice off her robes with a swish of her wand, Lily considered telling her everything. But Anna would have to wait, because at that moment, James Potter himself entered the great hall. And he wasn't alone.

"Oh my god, who is that?"

If Lily had been devastated last night, it was nothing compared to the shock she felt when she saw James Potter enter the great hall locking lips with a busty brunette. So shocked was she, in fact, that she continued to stare at him as he sat down at the opposite end of the table, not realising that the glass she was refilling was beginning to overflow.

"Lils," Anna whispered in her ear.

"Oh, crap!"

Her exclamation came out louder than she expected, and James looked up from the other end of the table.

"Lily! We have a Heads meeting with McGonagall this afternoon, she asked me to let you know. Are…are you okay? You have…pumpkin juice…"

"I know, Potter, its called an accident. You should know all about them. I'll be there."

She scowled at him and attempted, unsuccessfully because of her anger and embarrassment, to remove the pumpkin juice from her robes.

"Here, I'll do it," Anna said, removing them as she had from her own with a wave of her wand. "Look I gotta go now, I've got Divination. I'll see you in Transfiguration, yeah?"

"Yeah…okay."

Realising Lily wasn't paying attention, Anna rolled her eyes and flounced off, winking at a cute seventh-year Ravenclaw as she went. Apparently, she'd overcome her embarrassment at the state of her hair.

Despite herself, Lily couldn't take her eyes off James and his new girlfriend. He really had meant what he said last night. She was smart enough to realise that it was an obvious attempt to get over her, but she couldn't help feeling jealous.

"Sickening, isn't it?"

Sirius sat down beside her, sticking his fingers down his throat, pretending to throw up. Lily giggled.

"Revolting."

She turned to face him.

"Have you spoken to him at all?"

"Nah," Sirius shook his head, his dark hair swinging across his face. "I…don't think he wants to talk to me."

"Of course he does! You were his best friend! I don't mean…you know, tell him about that. But maybe you should just make some sort of effort."

Lily's mind flew back to a conversation she'd had with Sirius a few weeks after he'd let her in on his secret.

"Are you ever going to tell him?"

"I think I'd rather die. I can't, Lily. He'll think I'm sick, or disgusting, he'll never want to look at me again, let alone be friends with me. It's pointless."

"What if one day you have to?"

Silence filled the empty common room.

"I…don't know. It's better if he doesn't know. Would you ever tell him you liked him?"

"I don't like him. And no, I wouldn't, even if I did."

Sirius just smiled sadly.

"Look, who needs James, we have each other, don't we?"

She grinned at him, and his face broke into a handsome smile. It was a mutual apology that didn't need to be voiced.

"Now, let's go help you finish that Potions essay."

"What? How did you know…?"

"Sirius, as much as I would like to believe you came over here to apologise, there has to be an ulterior motive."

"Now you're jumping to conclusions here, Miss Lily Evans."

"Oh really? So you don't need help with that essay, which I might remind you is due today and assume that you haven't started?"

Sirius hung his head in defeat.

"Well…maybe just a bit…"

Lily grinned triumphantly and they both left the table, not noticing how closely James eyed them as they walked past him.

Obviously, he was eyeing me.

I was eyeing Lily you moron.

Well, the author never specified, did she?

Yeah, you never know, Sirius might get lucky. After all, James made such a big effort to talk to him…

Oh shut it, werewolf, you weren't even in this chapter.

Perhaps not, but I'm going to win the bet with James. He's given up, I haven't.

Oh that's what you think, Moony. That's what you think…

You guys complain way too much about this stuff. I am barely in any chapter, and when I am, it's always 'Peter laughed. Peter rolled his eyes. Peter followed the rest of them around the Great Hall…"

"…Peter was socially inept. Peter never got a girlfriend. Peter decided he'd join the dark side to find fulfillment in life. Peter betrayed…"

Alright, alright. But it worked, didn't it? I outlived you, after all. I may have been less…popular…than you at Hogwarts, but popularity didn't make you live longer, did it?!

Oh shut up, Wormtail. Besides, you didn't outlive everyone. In case you don't recall, I was the last to join you up here.

You don't count, Moony.

Oh gee, thanks.

I would appreciate any reviews!