Author's Note: I am going to start by saying that I am back from vacation and that the West Coast is probably, no definitely more beautiful than Ohio. Feel free to disagree but you are not going to be able to change my mind on this matter. I also wanted to say that I am thinking about ending this story by the end of summer. So by August 25, I hope to be completed with or close to completing this story. I know that that is sad for those of you who have been with Charmed Love since the beginning, but I want to start working on Charming Lily. And I will not be able to do that until I am done with Charmed Love.

This chapter starts a couple days after everyone else at Hogwarts is back from Christmas Holiday, and because I could not find the particular day of their return to Hogwarts. I just made one up. Quite frankly, this is fan fiction. I am allowed to occasionally deviate from the truth. =)

Now on with the chapter…

Charmed Love Chapter 24

January 9

Charms

I am usually an early riser.

When I was little, my dad ground it into my brain that it is the early bird that catches the worm. And so he decided that no child of his was going to sleep past 7:30 no matter what the occasion might be. Because when he was little he did not have the luxury of sleeping in. His father would get him up bright and early to go paint ceilings.

At least that is what he tells me whenever I complain about having to wake up early when I am on vacation. In theory, that is probably meant to make me feel guilty about the whining. However, I can tell you in full confidence that I really could not care less about what Grandpa Andy's rules were for his REM cycles…or whatever that sleeping cycle is called. Science was never my strong subject in Muggle School.

This, if you think about it, makes it terribly ironic that my best subject should be Potions at Hogwarts.

Life is full of these strange happenings. Just to keep people on their toes, I imagine.

But whatever the cause might be attributed to the effect was still the same.

Because One: I have just adjusted to the habit of waking up early, which means that Two: it should not be shocking that I have gotten up so early. But that does not change the fact that Three: I really would much rather be asleep because Four: it is only 6:30 in the morning, and as such Five: a time that really should not be seen by human eyes. Unless Six: you have had a really good reason for being up such as Seven: you have a sleep disorder which prevents you from falling asleep with any ease. Rather than Eight: you are not quite sure how all of Hogwarts is going to react to the fact that you are with James Potter someone who you have always been quite vocal on the fact that you would sooner kiss Merlin's uncut beard than him. However, Eight: while all of that might have been true, it most certainly is not any longer because now you are convinced that you need him with you to retain your sanity. Even though, Nine: it should not matter what everyone in Hogwarts thinks because the only opinion that really matters is that of your friends. But yet none of that really changes the fact that Ten: you are awake when you would really rather still be asleep.

Damn, did I list two eights?

Oh, well. That does not even really signify.

Nor does it change the fact that I am just staring at the ceiling above my bed because I am too stubborn to admit defeat and just get out of bed. Because I forgot to ring for the house-elves to put more wood on the fire in my room, so I am sure that the floor is going to be frightfully cold.

Or rather, the floor is going to be frightfully frigid. I think that the alliteration gives it a certain ring.

So I just stayed under the covers, battling with my brain because surely if I could just clear my mind I would be able to fall asleep. Although I am sure the fact that I was just creating a list is not really helping that cause.

After what I can guess was about fifteen minutes, when I was almost all the way asleep, I heard Time to get up sleepy head. It is the middle of the morning already and sunlight is burning-on. This was most definitely not the time or the place where I wanted my father's morning call to slip through my sub-conscience.

So I groaned and rolled over, pressing my face into the soft down of my pillow.

Come on Lily, I have a lot of exciting things for us to do today. But you will not be able to do them wrapped up in your bed. Once again came my father's voice from the haze of my mind.

"Okay, Dad. But can I at least have twenty more minutes in bed." I mumbled turning over so that I could snuggle in further to my blankets. "I am not ready to be up yet today."

And just when I was sure that the voice had relented…But Lily, if you do not get up now you will not be able to see the sun rise.

"I am sure that I will be able to live with the disappointment and heartbreak." I muttered, fully aware now but refusing to open my eyes again.

Trust me; you will regret not being able to see it. It is quite beautiful this morning. And you are going to get up right now and see it for yourself. My Dad persisted. Most people who do not know my father often wonder how I got to be so stubborn. But for anyone who had met my dad, it was quite obvious.

It would have come down to a battle of wills, but I knew that he was going to win, because he always wins. I personally think that it is only due to the fact that he has had more practice with being stubborn, but I guess that that does not really matter.

"Fine, I am getting up. Are you happy?" I grumbled as I stretched out in my bed.

There was no response, but I did could almost hear the smile on his face.

If you think about it, that would seem rather odd because you can't hear people's facial expressions. But this was my father, and we are closer than most fathers and daughters.

So when I finally opened my eyes, I just expected to see him sitting at the end of my bed as he takes a sip from his morning glass of orange juice. But, as I am sure that you know, he was not there. All I saw at the foot of my bed was my copy of Ten Things I Love About You, the newest book by Julia Quinn that my mom had surprised me with in her last letter, which I had been reading before I went to sleep last night.

I caught my breath as a wave of homesickness washed over me. I did not usually miss my parents so much while away at school. But it occurred to me that I had not gone to see them over Christmas Break, something that I have done for at least a few days ever since I started Hogwarts.

Picking up my Mom's Christmas letter, I held it close to my heart wishing that I had been able to see them. They understood why I did not come; I had told them that as Head Girl I was needed at Hogwarts to make sure that nothing bad happened. However, that did not change the fact that I missed them.

I slipped on my robe and walked over to my window so that I could watch the sun rise that my Dad had gone through such pains to make sure that I witnessed.

If I was of the mood to compose poetry I am quite sure that I would have been moved by the sight outside my window right now.

The sun was just rising above the mountains that surround the east side of the castle. The sky was set afire by the shades of red, orange, and yellow coexisting together, neither shade trying to outdo the others…Somehow knowing that when they mixed together they provided more beauty for the observer than if they were clashing.

I was not sure how I knew what the sky was thinking, but in that moment, I felt cleansed and whole. I realized that it was just a superficial moment, but I was willing to hold on to this moment with every fiber of my being.

I was struck with the over-powering urge to share this moment with everyone that I loved. My family, Alice, Vanessa, Beth (who I still could not bring myself to not love even though she has not spoken to me in ages), but maybe most of all James. I have never really thought about showing pr telling him about something like this. But it suddenly seemed like the right thing to do.

Without wasting another moment, I rushed out of the door not bothering with the fact that I was still in my pajamas with only a robe on over-top. I simply did not care. The only thing that mattered was being able to share this beauty with James.

But when I entered the common room to find that the guy in question was sprawled out on the sofa…I stopped dead in my tracks.

I quietly shuffled over, careful to make my footsteps light so that I would not wake him up. He looked so peaceful sleeping there, even though I could tell by the fact that his glasses were still on and the Quidditch Illustrated magazine that was tented on the floor next to him, that he must have fallen asleep while reading it last night.

But as I continued to approach him, I was aware of the fact that I was really out of my element here. I could not wake James up just to tell him to come and watch the sunrise with me. It was just so terribly intimate, and considering the fact that we are not even really dating, it would just be unforgivably awkward.

Although, it is not as if we have not been acting like a couple. He is almost perpetually around me, and is always eager to hear anything that I have to say, even if it is rather silly. And when he asks me a question, he just looks so serious and attentive as if my answer is actually important. Moreover, he certainly kisses me as if he considers me his girlfriend, achingly tender and sweet as if he was constantly trying to make it perfect for me…so that it could have been directly taken from a Jane Austen novel.

Almost directly in front of him, my feet must have accidentally stepped on my robe, which was admittedly too long for me, because the next thing that I knew I was basically laying on top of him.

Maybe that is not the right way to put it though, because I certainly knew that I was going to fall. It was one of those times when you are perfectly aware of the fact that you have just lost you balance and you know that you are falling. But yet, at the same time, there is nothing that you really can do to stop your falling. So it is almost like you have accepted the fact that you have once again been tripped by your own feet, but when you do finally make contact with the-object-in-question-that-you-were-trying-to-avoid-falling-ontop-of you still are flustered and confused as to why you fell.

Even though as you have just clearly stated you know exactly why you tripped in the first place. It is just damned annoying that is.

"Good Morning." He whispered into my nose, his voice betraying no sign of surprise that I had fallen on him.

And yes, he literally whispered into my nose. And while I know that that probably sounds really unromantic, that was the honest truth. My face was so close to his face that when he even breathed I could feel his exhale brushing over my eyebrows.

"I am so sorry. I cannot believe how uncoordinated I can be sometimes. I did not mean to wake you up so abruptly." I sputtered trying to hold back the nervous laughter.

"No need to feel any remorse. This is by far the most pleasant way that I have ever been woken up in the morning." He assured me. "Actually I am positive that I can find some way to make this situation even better…" He finished letting his voice trail off as he gave me a wink.

"I am not sure that I can honestly believe that. There is no way that this situation could possibly become more embarrassing for either one of us." I replied as some of the laughter escaped from the corners of my mouth.

"Maybe we are not of the same frame of mind." He said as his arm slipped around to the small of my back so that I was now effectively trapped against him. "I was thinking that I have this beautiful lady with the softest skin," He continued as his other hand reached up to cradle my cheek. "And the most beguiling and enchanting green eyes right here on top of me. So I find that I really want to kiss her, to see if she tastes and delightful as she looks." He affirmed as his smoldering eyes stared straight through to my soul.

With my thoughts an undecipherable jumble and not really caring that they are, I encouraged him saying, "And I have it on the best authority that your lady will not have any qualms about letting you kiss her." And so I leaned down and gently let my lips slide over his.

He returned the kiss with the gentle enthusiasm that I was coming to expect from him. So I closed my eyes and threaded my fingers into his hair, fully aware that I was now completely on top of him, every inch of our bodies touching.

But then something changed, and not in a bad way either.

Suddenly, he gently started nibbling at my bottom lip sending such a jolt of sensation throughout my body that I swear even my toes were tingling from it. I had thought that his kissed before were potent, but this was something else. This was searing leaving me with more desire for more than satisfaction.

This is what I had read about in Julia's novels. But let me be the first to tell you that reading about it and experiencing it are two completely different things.

When you read about it, there is always this sense of fiction because it is not actually happening. But this, James kissing me like this, it was just all so real.

And perfect.

And stimulating.

And seductive.

And, and, and…I just could not think anymore.

I sighed from the wonderful-ness of the whole thing. And I do not even think that wonderfulness is a word, but I do not care. This was just to amazing to ruin it by a self-imposed grammar lesson.

James, rather boldly, slipped his tongue into my mouth. And when he started to explore the inside of my mouth, I was once again swept away on a tide of sensation.

And I found that I have a newfound respect for people who write Romance novels because this is just too hard to write down and actually do it justice. My head was delightfully clouded while all of my nerve endings were on full alert.

I did not even mind when he pulled me closer to him so that I could feel the pounding of his heart against one of my hands that was pressed up against his chest. All I could think about was getting as close to him as possible. Something that I'm not sure is possible without attempting to break the laws of physics. (Think about it, you know what I mean)

So, hoping to return the favor to him, I gently bit down on his lip. And I must have hurt him because all of a sudden he broke the kiss and sat up, knocking me off of him.

Immediately, I was aware of what had just happened. I could feel the warmth of my cheeks and I swear that my heart was beating one million beats per minute in my chest. But most of all, I felt really insecure because as soon as I tried to return the favor instead of letting him do all the work, he jumped away as if I had hurt him.

I tried taking a couple of deep breaths, but that only succeeded with making me feel more lightheaded.

Damn it, I rebuked the tears that were stinging my eyes and threatening to spill onto my cheeks. I was not going to cry. Under no reason would I let James Potter see that I was insecure about the fact that I had bitten him and he did not like it.

"Oh, Merlin, Lily. I did not mean to hurt you. I know that I had no business kissing you like that, I just couldn't help myself. Would you believe me if I said that I was not really in control of my actions just then." James pleaded searching my face for an answer.

"No, it was absolutely wonderful. I just didn't mean to repulse you like that. I would not have done what I did if I thought that you would not like it. I just wanted you to feel the sparkle too. And, James please say something." I begged hoping that he would just get it over with.

"You thought that I did not like it?" He laughed. "Oh, Lily, if only you knew exactly how much I did like it."

I instantly sobered up. "You did?" I asked praying that I did not misunderstand what he had been saying.

"It was precisely because I liked it so much that I had to break it off. I can't let anything happen that might lead us to having our decisions made for us. And you are a lady, and you deserve to be treated as such." James affirmed as he gently brushed my hair behind my ear.

"I didn't mind you kissing me like that. In fact, I really enjoyed it." I confided feeling a blush stain my cheeks.

James's face broke out into a smile that changed his whole face. "Well I am very glad of that because I can promise you many, many more to come." He promised as his eyes twinkled with excitement.

I couldn't help but smile too at the thought. There is just something about James's smile that is so infectious that you can't help but smile too. "Well, I would not object to having another one right now." I pointed out reeling in the way that I saw his eyes smolder once more.

"I assure you that I can kiss you absolutely breathless." He said pulled me over to him so that I was leaning with hands on his shoulders. And then he proceeded to do exactly that.

And when it was all over he gently stretched out again on the sofa with his arms around me, as I used his chest as a pillow.

I found myself drifting off to sleep only to be roused again by the clock that was chiming the arrival of 8:00. "We have to get going to class James. Otherwise we are going to be late." I mumbled into his sweater.

"No, my love we do not have class today. It is only Sunday. We can go back to sleep." He replied as he placed a few kisses randomly on the crown of my head.

"Oh, that is good because I would much rather stay here." I exalted as I snuggled further into his arms.

Giving me a gentle and protective squeeze James added, "Me, too, Love. Me too."

And the wonderful part about this is... I really do feel loved.

And it is a wonderful feeling, only further cementing it in my mind that James and I are really meant for one another.

Author's Note: So I know that I skipped over the Christmas scene, something that I know that you were all probably waiting for. But have no fear, I have actually written it. I just included it into my One-Shot, Loving in Winter. So if you want to see what happens, just go check it out. I know that that is horrible, but just remember, you love me. =)

And I really hope that you liked this chapter. It was really nerve racking for me because I was not sure how to do a kissing scene that was somewhat original and believable. And at least I like to flatter myself and think that I did a pretty good job considering the fact that I have no first-hand experience.

Until next time, dear readers.

Love Allison.