CHAPTER 3

"Lily?" I heard him say, how did he know? Oh no, I fell asleep, opening my eyes but careful not to move all I see is a strand of red hair, he knew, he knew I was here and that I have his cloak. I felt the cloak move as it was pulled off me; I straightened up, realizing I had fallen asleep with my head on his bed. "Lily, how did you get this?"

"I um, got it from your trunk." This got me a blank stare. "Sirius told me it was there"

"Ok ah sorry why am I seeing about seven of you?"

Looking up I saw his glasses where still cracked. Reaching up I took them off him and pulled out my wand, I whispered "Oculus Reparo" and the cracks disappeared, I replaced them on this nose. "Better?"

"Much, thank you, now what are you doing here?"

"um good question, I was the one who found you, so I know you were here and I had just got out of a meeting Dumbledore when I got the cloak and came here."

He stiffened and looked ahead but I could see the sadness in his eyes. "What did Dumbledore tell you?"

"That you shouldn't be able to be hurt by an ordinary hex, then again knocked out by one and he, he told me about your parents."

He then looked back at me, the sadness more prominent in his eyes. "Why are you here?" he asked again, I could see the tears threatening to spill.

"I don't know, I just had to be here, with you"

"Go back to your dorm Evans."

"I, what? No I am not leaving."

"Why? Why do you insist on staying when I don't want you here?"

"Because I want to be here, I don't know why but I do."

"Go get ready for class and leave me alone."

"Dumbledore gave me the day off, saying I won't be paying attention anyway and I don't care what you say or want I'm not leaving."

"Fine, stay then, I don't care." He rolled over facing away from me and what I did next shocked us both, I got up and climbed onto the bed so that I was lying next to James. "What are you doing?"

"Good question, I have no idea what the answer is though."

He rolled over again this time towards me so we were both face to face on the small single bed. "Lily, you have successfully confused me, well done." He smiled as though he couldn't help it. "Not that I mind, of course."

"Oh really now you don't mind? Because five minutes ago, you wanted me to leave." I joked.

"I thought you were only staying because you pitied me, but now I see you just couldn't resist my charm."

Pretending to think for a moment I noted "You know I think you're right, I can't resist you." His jaw dropped open at that. "That is of course when you aren't being the biggest prat to walk the planet." I laughed but James still sat there in shock, realizing I sort of admitted I liked him.

"How? What? When? How? What?" He was flustered and still in a state of disbelief. "I swear Evans if you're joking I may have to make you pay."

Out right grinning I asked innocently "How would you make me pay"

"Something along the lines of kissing you or maybe tickle torture." He responded with a slightly evil grin.

"Now I wish I was joking" His eyes went big as he caught on to what I said, I did like him and I possibly wanted him to kiss me.

Then that grin returned "I can fix that." I looked at him, was he going to kiss me? He leaned in so his face was maybe an inch and a half away from mine and just when I thought he was going to kiss me, he began tickling me, I couldn't help it, I stared laughing and squirming next to him.

"Stop, stop" I managed through the laughter. "Stop or we will wake up the nurse." He still didn't stop. "Fine then" Reaching up I grabbed his glasses of his face and put them on my own, knowing full well that he couldn't see a thing without them.

"Aw come on, that's not fair."

I was about to respond when I heard someone walking towards the hospital wing. "Damn, James where did you put the cloak?"

He must have heard it too because he stopped and looked at what he thought was me but was actually the pillow above my head. "It's on the floor next to your chair." I slid off the bed and put the cloak on. "Please don't leave Lily"

"I won't, but I'll in the corner by the cupboard." He nodded and I moved as quietly as I could to the corner and sat down, hoping whoever it was would be gone soon.

The person opened the door a bit and saw no one else there so they continued to James' bed. "Hey Jamesie, how are you feeling?"

"Pretty good actually." He said looking at the wall next to Sirius.

Noticing this Sirius asked "Where are your glasses?"

"I think I heard Pomie say they were on the bed closest the cupboard in the corner, but I didn't want to risk getting them." Taking my cue I got up and walked quietly to the bed, removing the glasses I put them in the centre of the bed.

"Ahaha yeah good idea mate." He laughed walking over to the bed mentioned. He must have just realized something and whispered "Lily I know you're in this corner, I can smell your perfume and yes I know it's yours because James here taught me how to recognize someone by their perfume."

I walked right up behind him and whispered in his ear, "that's really creepy you know." Then took a few quick steps back.

He nearly jumped out of his skin. "Yeah because that's not." He Stated turning around trying to catch me, but he was too slow. I slowly walked to his side and took the glasses from his hand pulling them inside the cloak and getting out of the way again. "Whoa, Lils you're quick."

"Thanks" I said now half way to James. I put the glasses on again and took off the cloak. James hearing me approach and seeing a bright red blob appear next to him, moved over on his bed again and patted the spot next to him. Getting back on the bed I poked my tongue out at Sirius in a very childish way.

"Ok when did hell freeze over?" Sirius asked jokingly but looking quite shocked as he walked back towards us.

"I dunno but I'm glad it did." James said smiling like there was no tomorrow.

"Now I see why you are 'Pretty good.' considering everything that happened." His smile fell instantly, knowing Dumbledore must have told him about the Potters and anyone could tell how pissed Sirius was that James didn't tell him himself.

I looked over at James and caught his hand in mine. "Sirius not now." I cautioned.

"Oh, I'm sorry, am I intruding on your romantic moment? But you know what I don't care! The closest thing I ever had to a loving family just died and he didn't even tell me." He was seething and whilst I wouldn't normally blame him, this was different, his best friend was in the hospital wing and he didn't even care.

"Outside Black now." I growled. I will not have him upsetting James any more.

"Fine." He turned on his heel and walked outside to wait for me. I gave James' hand a reassuring squeeze and followed Sirius out.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I hissed the moment I was out of the wing.

"Trying to get some answers."

"By accusing a guy whom had just been attacked and knocked unconscious, even though that shouldn't be possible, the same guy that just received a letter that told him his parents had been murdered?"

"I, wait, James was attacked?" He stammered, I guess Dumbledore didn't tell him that.

"Why the hell did you think he was in the hospital wing?"

"I, ah, thought he was sleeping there to avoid us." He replied looking a little guilty

"Yeah well the world doesn't revolve around you." I said, probably a bit harsher than necessary. "Go back to bed Sirius and come back later, when you've calmed down." I turned and walked back, leaving him to his thoughts.

When I reached James I sat down on the chair and leaned my head on the bed again. "You ok Lily?" he asked.

"Yeah I'm fine, just tired."

"Is Sirius ok? Because you looked really pissed and I have been on the receiving end of that before." He joked.

"Oh he's fine, this time." I answered.