Chapter Sixteen: "You're cute when you blush."

~~* James' POV *~~

I woke up in the Hospital Wing. Everything looked blurred, until I realised I wasn't wearing my glasses. I reached out a hand and came into contact with a warm body. It stirred and lifted its head.

Eyes blurry from sleep, hair tousled from spending a night leaning over my bed. Eyes and hair that I recognise.

"Lily?" I croaked.

"Hey." Her smile was simple and small. "How do you feel?"

"Like I've just been beaten up." I replied, my voice hoarse.

"That's because you were beaten up. Last night by Matthew McHonahan. He is so dumped!" She giggled. Her laugh brought a smile to my bruised face.

She bent her head and brushed her lips over my forehead. "I spent last night leaning on a cold steel bar and I am hungry. I'll be back in half an hour at the most." She let my hand go and waved as she disappeared out of the door.

No sooner had she let the door shut, Sirius, Remus and Peter bounded into the ward.

"Prongsie! How you doing? Was that Lily I saw departing from this ward? You lucky bugger!" Sirius was talking nineteen to the dozen.

"The Hufflepuffs aren't even talking to that Matthew and he's in their House! What do you say to a Prankfest?" Peter grinned weakly.

Remus just smiled and winked at me.

~~* Lily's POV *~~

I walked into the Great Hall to be greeted by Cassie and Belle. My forehead was scrunched in confusion.

"We came back early!" Cassie grinned.

"Dumbledore said it was urgent. Something about you and James getting along. Are you feeling okay? How's it going with Matthew?" Bella hardly shut up. I hugged them both and sat down next to them and told them the whole story, right up to when I had arrived in the Great Hall and seen them sitting in our seats.

"And right now, I really like James. I just… it's hard to explain. I like him, but only as a friend for now."

Cass and Belle were sitting next to me, sly grins covering their faces.

"We knew it."

"This is, like, totally great! Can we go see Jamesie boy with you?" Bella and Cassie looked hopeful.

"Let's go."

We arrived at the Hospital Wing to find Sirius, Remus and Peter being thrown out.

"AND STAY OUT!" The nurse yelled after them.

"Madame? May we come in? It's Lily, Arabella and Cassandra." I ventured.

"Of course girls." The nurse opened the door and ushered in.

"Thank you." We chorused, our innocent faces upturned to hers.

"Your welcome dears. I'll be in my office if you need anything." She waddled away.

James had his eyes closed; his glasses were on the night stand.

"James? James honey, are you awake?" I whispered.

"That's the second time you've called me honey and haven't hurt me." He said without opening his eyes. A cheeky grin appeared on his face.

"Yet." I replied. I sat down next to his bed. He reached out for his glasses. My hand closed around them and I handed them to him. Our fingers met for a split second and I felt like my whole body was on fire.

"And what about us?" Bella broke the silence indignantly.

"Hey! Weren't you at home?" James asked, his voice puzzled.

"We were. Dumbledore said it was urgent and you two were getting along. We just had to come and see. Plus, I wanted to see Remus again." Cassie giggled.

My eyes widened. Cassie… and Remus? It had never occurred to me before.

"Don't look so surprised Evans. Cassie and Remus flirt like mad. You must be the blind one if you couldn't see it." James grinned the famous lop-sided Potter grin and I hit him softly on the arm.

"Back on last mane terms, are we?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

James propped himself up on one elbow. He looked at me thoughtfully for a second, as if sizing me up. Then he leaned forward and kissed my lips. All his pent-up fire and passion was let into that one kiss. To my surprise, I was kissing him back.

Cassie and Belle backed out of the ward.

I grinned inwardly and finished kissing James. I was slightly out-of-breath.

"I didn't know you had it in you Lily." James gasped, surprise evident in his chocolate brown eyes, which were gorgeous, I might add.

"You don't know a lot of things about me, Mr Potter." I replied mysteriously and walked out of the ward, hips swaying and hair bouncing.

"If you let me, I'd listen!" He called after me.

"Maybe sometime when you're free." I smiled seductively and continued on my way.

I opened the door, to be set upon by Sirius.

"I'm so happy! My lil Lily's growing up!" He began to bawl.

"Okay Sirius, all we did was kiss." I said, prising Sirius' hands from around my waist.

"Get your hands off her, Black." James appeared in the doorway, fully dressed and mock anger in his tone. Sirius immediately dropped my hands and ran to hide behind Bella.

She turned around and kissed his nose. He looked at her weirdly, as if seeing her for the first time, before going in for the kill.

Remus and Cassie looked at each other, shrugged and began to kiss passionately.

I glanced at James and realised he was staring past me, at someone with all the anger he possessed.

"James?" I followed his gaze and gasped. His current girlfriend, Leila Chang and Matthew McHonahan were snogging at the end of the corridor.

"Yes?" He turned to me and his eyes softened visibly. I smiled and he grinned back. He pulled me into his arms and hugged me close.

"Thank you." He whispered.

"What for?" I asked with bewilderment on my face.

"This." He leant down and planted a firm kiss on my lips. I could feel my knees weaken and my legs buckled.

"Jesus." I whispered when he finally let my lips go. My breathing was irregular and my face felt hot. Don't blush, don't blush, don't blush. Damnit! The blush crept up my neck and I could feel James laughing at me.

"You're cute when you blush." He grinned.

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