Disclaimer: Nothing here belongs to me

Chapter Twenty-Four

By the next morning it seemed as though everyone had heard about what had happened to Lily Evans.

James had no idea how information circulated through the school, but as he walked by Lily's side down to breakfast he couldn't help but notice the whispering and the finger pointing.

Remus had done his best to heal the gash on the side of her cheek the night before, as she had insisted on not going to the hospital wing. James had to hand it to his friend, he'd done a brilliant job and the faint white scar was only visible in a certain light.

In a few weeks it would be gone completely.

Lily held her head high as she walked down the corridor, but James could tell she noticed the whispers that followed her. Her fingers twitched as through she wished to touch the scar on the side of her face or reach to check she was still carrying her wand.

"I know I'm handsome, but all this staring is really just unnecessary" Sirius said loudly from Lily's other side as they passed a particularly chatty group of Hufflepuffs. The girl who had been discreetly pointing at Lily as they walked by promptly turned pink and dropped the book she was holding. James saw Lily bite her cheek out of the corner of his eye, he wasn't sure if she was biting back a laugh or the urge to shout something herself.

"Just ignore them" James said bracingly, "They'll get bored and be on to something else next week."

"I can handle the staring, James" Lily told him calmly, "Merlin knows I'm used to it."

The anger he had felt last night flared back up in his chest.

She shouldn't have to be used to it, and if he had anything to do with it she would never have to be again.

He'd been thinking more and more recently about the secret society Dumbledore had mentioned to him and Sirius just months earlier. After he had seen what had happened to Lily last night he had decided he was going to go straight to the Headmaster and sign up for the second he left school. Anything he could do to help change this injustice would be better than nothing.

They were all turning into the Entrance Hall when Lily stop suddenly and flinched as though she'd been shocked. Her green eyes were wide as she stared straight ahead and her skin had turned pale almost as though she had seen a ghost.

Which was not uncommon in the corridors at Hogwarts.

"What is it, Lil?" He asked, reaching out to touch her shoulder.

She didn't answer, but she didn't have to because Sirius spoke for her.

"Snivellus" he hissed softly.

James turned to look at the entrance to the Great Hall, on one side stood Peter and Remus with their arms crossed. He had asked them both to wait before going into breakfast that morning. He had wanted Lily to enter the hall with all four of them, so people would know she was protected and they weren't afraid.

On the other side stood Severus Snape, his black eyes locked with Lily's as though he had been stood there waiting for her.

He hadn't known what to expect of breakfast this morning, but this scenario hadn't even.

"Lily" Severus called quietly as she got closer, because she had been determinedly avoiding making eye contact with him. "Could I speak to you?"

"What about?" She asked, turning those cold green eyes on him.

Severus glanced at Sirius who was glaring at him with a look of pure loathing before turning back to Lily, "In private."

"You lost the right to speak to me in private a long time ago, Severus" Lily said, with a note of finality in her voice.

"In my opinion, you lost the right to speak to her at all" Sirius said, whipping out his wand and narrowing his eyes at Severus. "Now get out of the way before I make you."

"You can't tell me what to do, Black" Severus bit back, pulling out his own wand and taking a step closer.

"Just watch me" Sirius hissed.

"Stop it, both of you!" Lily said, stepping in between them. "Remus, would you please just take Sirius into the Great Hall?"

"I'm not going anywhere!" Sirius said angrily, wrenching his arm out of Remus' grip, who had been trying to simultaneously hold him back and steer him towards the Great Hall.

"Just calm down" James said loudly, before turning to look at Severus. "Why don't you just tell Lily whatever it is you have to say and then leave."

Snape shot him a look of deep disgust before turning back to Lily, "I just wanted you to know that I heard what happened last night." He made a jerking motion with his hand as though he wanted to touch her but thought better of it in the last second.

"Really?" She asked, her eyes flashing dangerously. "Who told you Sev?" She wanted to know, "The people who did this to me?" She pointed to the long white scar on her cheek.

"It wasn't like that-"

"Then what was it like, Sev?" She asked loudly, her green eyes burning with anger and her fists clenched. "Did you tell them I'm the only mudblood off limits, did you get angry at them for hurting me?" She spat, "Or did you wish it had been you that had done it?"

"Lily please-" Severus started again.

"Look this really isn't getting us anywhere" James cut in, "Maybe you should just go back to your table."

"No one asked your opinion, Potter!" Severus said angrily, turning his wand on him.

"Leave him out of this!" Lily shouted, stepping between Severus' wand and James. He moved his hands to her waist to try and shift her out of the way but she would not budge, and the movement seemed to anger Severus further.

His eyes flickered to James' hands before he looked back at Lily, "I see you've chosen your side" he spat.

"It was you who picked a side a long time ago, Sev" Lily said quietly.

"Perfect Potter and his mudblood girlfriend" Severus sneered.

The boys all lifted their wands at his words but he had disappeared into the Great Hall before they could so much as utter a curse.

"Slimy git" Sirius growled.

"Come on" Lily sighed, beginning to move again. "Let's just get to breakfast."

The entire hall's gaze seemed to shift to them as they moved towards the Gyffindor table.

James wasn't sure if it was because they had all heard what had happened to Lily last night, or because she had just entered the hall flanked by the four of them like she had her own personal body guards.

He allowed Lily to sit down first before sliding in beside her.

"You four aren't going to follow me around all day, are you?" She asked, pouring herself a glass of pumpkin juice.

"Of course we are" Remus said dismissively.

"Are you planning on following me into the bathroom too?" She asked, snorting and reaching for a slice of toast.

"You said you felt safe with us here, Lil" Sirius pointed out, "But if you don't want me around, I'll happily go and take out some frustration on those slimy Slytherins."

"That's blackmail" Lily informed him.

"Yes it is" James grinned, "What are you gonna do about it?"

"Come on, this is ridiculous" Lily insisted, "I'm not the first person to be attacked, and I probably won't be the last."

"You will be if I have anything to do with it" James told her firmly, "And I'm certainly not about to let it happen to you again."

Lily opened her mouth to reply but instead a small smile played around her lips.

He felt a warm hand slip into his under the table and he turned to see Lily eating her porridge one handed. He interlaced their fingers and she squeezed his hand comfortingly.

His chest inflated so fast he was surprised he wasn't floating.

He grinned as he caught Remus' eye but quickly looked away shifty.

"Oh shut up" Lily muttered, rolling her eyes.

James glanced up to see she was looking at Sirius. He shot his friend a puzzled look before clearing his throat and saying, "You know he didn't say anything, right Evans?"

"No, but he has that look" Lily said, narrowing her eyes.

"What look is that?" Remus asked interestedly.

"The 'I'm Sirius Black and I know everything' look" Lily said.

"Ah, yes" Remus nodded, going back to his breakfast. "We are familiar with that one."

Sirius just swept his hair out of his eyes and smirked at all of them.

"You can't hide anything from me, Ginge" he said.

James could sense this conversation wasn't heading anywhere good, so he quickly changed the subject.

"Hey Lil" he turned to her, "Do you fancy maybe going for a walk?"

Lily turned to him all big green eyes and pink lips, "I'd like that" she smiled.

Someone cleared their throat behind Sirius and they both turned to see Melody Jones stood staring at the two of them with accusing crystal blue eyes.

James literally had to bite back a groan, "Hey Melody, I'm really not-"

"I'm here for Lily" Melody cut him off.

James opened his mouth and closed it again before turning to look at Lily, who looked as shocked as he felt.

"What is it, Melody?" She asked.

"Dumbledore has asked to see you in his office."

"Now?" Lily clarified.

When Melody nodded Lily sighed and stood up. She turned to face James, "I'll meet you under the big beech tree when I'm done?"

James turned to smile at her, "I'll be waiting for you, Evans."

She winked at him before climbing over the bench and leaving the hall.

James turned back to see Melody was still staring at him.

"So" she said, looping her hair around one finger. "It's Lily Evans, then?"

James sighed when he looked at her, "It's always been Lily Evans" he said truthfully.

She nodded, "See you around, Potter" she said before heading back to the Ravenclaw table.

"I told you things weren't right in the universe when you and Lil weren't getting along" Sirius grinned the minute he turned his attention back to them.

"Yeah Pete you owe me two galleons" Remus put in.

"What for?" Peter said, outraged.

"You bet James and Lily wouldn't get together before the summer" Sirius said, turning to grin at James. "Don't worry Prongs, I never doubted you for a second."

"You bet on me?" James demanded, attempting to feign shock. He couldn't say he was honestly all that surprised.

"I had January" Sirius said, "Thanks for messing it up for me, Prongs."

"You guys do realise that me and Lily aren't actually together, right?" James pointed out.

They all looked at him and Sirius snorted, "Don't be thick, Prongs."

"You better go anyway, you wouldn't want to be late to meet Lily" Remus said slyly.

James glared at them all before standing to leave, not wanting to get his hopes up by actually listening to his immature friends.

Because the truth was he just didn't care anymore. Girlfriend or not, all he really wanted was for Lily Evans to be safe, and aside for that all the silly fights they had been having just didn't seem to matter.

After spending all night thinking of the horrible things that might have happened to her if Dorcas hadn't come along when she did, he had realised what was important.

Having Lily Evans in his life was so much better than not having her in his life, at whatever capacity.

He sat down and leant his back against the beech tree and pulled a Transfiguration book out of his bag, settling down to read while he waited for Lily.

He didn't haven't to wait long, he glanced up when he spotted her red hair shining in the sun.

"Hey you" she smiled, as she reached him. She slumped down next to him and crossed her legs. "It's a beautiful day."

"It is now" James said, not taking his eyes off her.

Her cheeks flushed pink but she smiled, "You aren't half intense, Potter."

"I'm sorry" he hastened.

"It's okay" she told him, "It can just be scary sometimes."

"Listen Lily I wanted to talk to you about that" he said.

"Oh good" she shuffled closer to him, "Because I have some things to talk to you about too."

"Right" he nodded, trying not to get distracted by her closeness and the smell of her hair. "Well, I just wanted you to know, that I'm happy that we're friends."

Lily stared at him.

"What I mean to say is, that I'm happy that we're just friends, and not anything more."

"Oh" Lily said slowly, twisting her hair through her hands. "Is that what you want?"

James hesitated for a moment, he'd clearly messed things up before by being too intense with Lily. The last thing he wanted was for the same thing to happen again.

"I just want you to be happy" James said softly.

"Being your friend won't make me happy, James" Lily said quietly.

He backed slightly at her words. He felt as though a share of ice had punctured his chest and he was struggling to breath without feeling it. He really didn't understand what more she could want from him, and he couldn't even pretend not to be hurt.

"Well I'm sorry Lily but I really don't know what more I could have done, I've tried to be a good friend to you but-"

"James" she cut him off, "I'm not saying I don't want to be your friend."

James' eyebrows pulled together in confusion as he looked back into her green eyes, "What are you saying?" He asked.

Lily took a deep breath and cleared her throat awkwardly, "That I'd like to be more than friends" she said, her face shining like a bright red beacon.

He took a moment to process this as he looked into her eyes, holding his breath as though he could quite believe it was happening.

Then it was almost at once that everything seemed to fit into place.

His brain flashed back to watching Sirius tease Lily about liking someone she didn't want James to know about, to watching her bite back a smile at one of his jokes, to this morning when all the boys were joking around about betting on them, to all those stolen moments in the library, to the gold necklace he had bought her poking out of the top of her shirt.

"Are you trying to tell me you like me, Evans?" He clarified.

He hadn't thought it was possible for her face to get any redder, he was wrong. "Are you going to make me say it?"

"Well I'm just not as smart as you Evans, my brain can't comprehend things as fast" he teased.

"I could easily change my mind, you know" she said, glaring weakly at him.

"No way" he said, grabbing her around the waist and pulling her close to him. "This is it now, no turning back."

"Are you sure this is still what you want?" She mumbled into his chest.

He leaned back to look into her eyes, "Lily, this is all I have ever wanted" he assured her. "But what changed your mind?"

"After last night" she said, her voice slightly shaky. He gripped her a little tighter as she continued, "I realised people will hate me no matter what I do, so I might as well be happy."

"And being with me makes you happy" he couldn't help grinning to himself as he said it.

"You're an ass, Potter" she informed him.

"An ass that you fancy" he teased, laughing. "Go on admit it Evans, I'm irresistible to you."

"You're a prat" she scowled at him.

"A prat that you want to-"

She silenced him with a kiss, throwing her arms around his neck. He responded so enthusiastically that they both toppled over and ended up rolling around in the grass.

"Careful, Evans" he laughed as they both came up for air. "Someone might see."

"I do hope so" she smiled, her green eyes twinkling. "Maybe then Melody Jones would stay away from you."

"I think she got the message" James assured her, grinning and pulling her closer against him. "I do love it when you get jealous though."

"Stop making fun of me for one second, would you?" She laughed.

"But it's so much fun" he said, kissing her under the ear.

She shoved him off her, "I'm trying to ask you something."

"Alright, I can be serious for a second" he said, straightening his features.

Lily looked at him with a straight face with her beautiful green eyes, "Will you go out with me, Potter?"

James paused before he answered, his breath caught in his throat for a moment as he finally heard the words he had been waiting for since he was fourteen.

He pretended to think for a second to cover himself, "Well I don't know" he said after a few moments, "I feel like you need to work for it a bit more, maybe woo me."

"You're such a prat, Potter" she shoved him but she was biting back a laugh.

He laughed and wrapped his arms around her waist, "So does this mean I get to hold your hand in the corridors?" He asked, "Do I get to call you my girlfriend? To take you on dates to Madame Puddifoots and gross people out by kissing you on the nose?"

"You are way too cute, Potter" she smiled at him, "Why did I do to deserve you?"

"You put up with Sirius" he shrugged easily. "And having to deal with his reaction when I tell him about this is punishment enough."

Lily didn't seem concerned, she just flicked a stray hair out of her face and said, "Sirius has known about my feelings for you since before Christmas."

James' mouth fell open in shock and he closed it, trying to form words.

Lily laughed, "You can't be that surprised" she teased, "We've been getting on really well for most of the year."

"Before Christmas?" He demanded.

Lily sighed, "More or less, I wasn't really sure-"

"My slimy, so called best friend has known you liked me since before Christmas!?" James was outraged.

Lily burst out laughing, "Remus has known even longer" she rubbed it in.

James gaped at her again.

"You're ridiculous, you know that" she told him, smiling affectionately and tilting her head to one side as she looked at him.

"No, you're the ridiculous one, Evans" he told her, shifting her over so she was practically sitting in his lap. "You do realise we could have been doing this for months."

Then he reached to cup her face and pull her into a kiss he hoped would last for at least the rest of the afternoon.