Chapter 3

Most men would be hurt. Their pride would be offended, their ego bruised. Most men would be full of rejection, anger and embarrassment.

Yet James Potter couldn't stop smiling.

Lily had almost kissed him. She had let him in, gave back for everything she received. She had let him touch her, she had touched him back. She hadn't retaliated like he was the enemy sent from hell to annoy her into oblivion.

Most men would be depressed that she'd left, but James Potter was thrilled she stayed as long as she had.

He didn't feel a single step the entire way up to the common room.

This was an amazing direction. Usually Lily couldn't stand to be in the same room as him, and now she was in the same cubic foot as him.

"What are you so bubbly about?" The pink fat lady snapped, glared at James as looked up from her nails.

"Perry worth" He replied smiling. Bubbly he thought as the pink lady swung forward, what a perfect word to describe this.

The common room was homey as always. Clustered around the roaring fire were several large and squashy arm chairs. Further back was a mix up of medium sized round tables and smaller square ones that could fit 4 people at most. Windows spotted the walls with seals big enough to sit in, and the entire room was painted comforting colors of red and gold.

James looked around until he spotted his friends on one of the larger round tables. They were studying with the other girls in their year. Butterflies trekked in his stomach until he realized that her red hair wasn't among them. Walking over he saw how was there. Sirius Black, his best friend and son of two very uptight pure bloods. Remus Lupin, a smart kind person who happened to morph into a killing werewolf once a month. Peter, a boy with mouse like features, was watching his homework as though it might run off with a sort of panicky expression. On the other side of the table was 2 Gryffindor girls; Michelle Thompson, who was laughing at some joke Lupin had mentioned, Her long dark brown hair hanging down her back, her blue eyes humorous. Next to her sat Adrian Torrez, a Hispanic energetic girl who was trying to hide her laughter by staring at her book.

Neither Lily or Gemma was present, James noted.

"Hey James" Sirius said as he sat down next to him. "We were just explaining to Adrian how Slytherin boys have fun" His mouth curved up into a grin and his eyebrows wiggled.

"You guys are horrible" He said pulling out his transfiguration homework

"We speak the truth, nothing but it" With a solemn expression he balled his hand into a fist and held it against his heart.

"Are you fingers crossed by any chance?"

"No. Maybe. Does it matter?"

James rolled his eyes half heartedly.

"What's up with you? I mean, you're practically glowing!" Sirius said tipping back on his chair.

"It's been a good day."

Up in the doors Lily was fuming with embarrassment. She was laying face down in her bed, clothes still on and bad next to her on the ground. Her chest rose slowly with each breath, her fingers wrapped in her hair. A pressure on the bad caused her to look up at Gemma, who placing a steaming cup of tea that smelled strongly of Lily's medicine on the table sat down and ran a hand gently across her best friends back. Gemma opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, Lily sat up and picked up the tea

"You look like crap, Lils," She said knowledgably

"Thank you, I needed that."

Gemma smiled slightly before moving her hand to try and fix what Lily had done to her hair. Lily drank the tea and wrinkled her nose.

"eww"

"Could be worse"

"I know, doesn't mean I like it"

Gemma laughed a little, putting her hand back in her lap now that she had determined she had down everything to fix Lily's hair that was possible without a wand.

"What happened?" She asked without looking at her.

"What do you mean? Nothing has happened"

"Oh Please Lily," Gemma said startling her "I've known you for five years, I know you better than that. Something is wrong, Something other than these pain attacks, something you're not telling me."

Lily looked down at her cup, guilt curning inside her. She could tell her now, her best friend would be understanding about it, she hoped. Or, Gemma could be totally and completely discusted she wouldn't have any words of advice, their friends hip would be at risk there.

But she wouldn't hear about it elsewhere, Lily argued with herself, it's unlikely that James would be going around boosting about it. His pride was most likely all ready far to punctured. Gemma would never hear about it from him, and if not from him, who else?

She could forget it happened completely, never act, think or say anything about it. She could keep this mistake a complete secret.

She was her best friend though.

"I almost kissed James" Even without looking up, Lily could tell how her friends mouth dropped open, her eyes widened and her wand dropped out of her hand.

They sat in silence for a moment, Lily wondering if telling had been a mistake.

Suddenly Gemma let out a sound that could be a morbid laugh. It cut off quikly and she practically hissed

"You did what?"

"I almost kissed him, but I didn't, not really" She offered in her defense, but Gemma wasn't listening. She was pacing around the room now, throwing her hands in the air and waving them profusely.

"Why? What in Merlins' name where you thinking? He's James!"

"I know…"

"And do you know how many girls he's dated? How many he's dumped without a word or explanation? He's a player, he'll do nothing but hurt you!"

"I know!"

Finally, Gemma stopped to look at her and sighed. She was sitting up still, tea on the table hand folded in her lap and shoulders in defensively. Her eyes where misty.

Gemma walked over to her and sat down taking her hands.

"I just don't want you to get hurt."

"I know that, I appreciate that, that's why I almost kissed him instead of actually kissed him."

Gemma nodded, Pulling Lily's head onto her shoulders and wrapping her arms around her shoulders.

"Besides, I doubt he'll ever talk to me again."

Gemma laughed at her friends sulken tone

"That's a good thing, right?"

"It should be."

Lily's face was still buried into her shoulder so she couldn't see her face. She yawned and her head became heavier.

"Here," Gemma said lying her down on the bed" go to sleep, you've had a hard day."

"Thanks Gem, you're a good friend"

"Thank you Lily" She picked up her wand and gave Lily a sleeping spell they had learned in charms the day before.

"Goodnight," she said closing the curtains around her bed and leaving the room. She walked briskly down the stairs, over to the table where the fifth years were gathered, past James, Reaching out a hand to grab his ear and hauled him into the hallway.

"ow, OW, Gemma what are you doing? Ow!" James complained. Gemma stopped and shoved him against the wall, gabbing a finger at his throat.

"What are you doing?" She asked harshly

"OW! Gemma what are you talking about," she jabbed him in the throat again " what is wrong with you?"

"What's wrong with you is what I'd like to know!" Jabbed her finger again

"What are you talking about-"

"You kissed Lily!"

Despite her anger, a slow cocky smile spread across his face

"Ahh she told you did she? That's a step in the right direction"

Gemma pocked her finger harder this time

"Are you bloody insane cousin?"

"Bloody insane in love, yes"

"This is no time for jokes!"

"I'm not joking!"

Gemma sighed, taking her hand away to rub her eyes, breathing deeply. When she opened her eyes, her nose was a bit red and James was leaning against the wall.

"If you hurt her-"

"What!" now it was James turn to be raged "Hurt her? Why In the world would I hurt her?"

Gemma was shocked, but she got over it quickly

"Look what you did to all those other girls, looked at Annie, and Joanna and-"

"If I hurt them it was because I'm in love with Lily!"

Gemma moaned, putting her face in her hands again and sinking down to the floor. This was all getting far to complicated.

"She's the only one I've had true and strong feelings for."

The truth was ringing in his voice like a bell, strong and dominant. She couldn't argue with it.

"Just- just don't hurt her"

"I won't"

"If you do I'll hex you into oblivion"

"Don't worry I can mostly take care of it myself, but you better hurt whatever is left of me"

"Hopefully I won't need to, just don't hurt her."

"I won't. I promise you that much"

"Fine. I'll hold you to that.

Well a little bit of cousin fighting, a little weird. I hope you like it though. It will get more interesting as the story progresses though. Please review!

Peace

LIZIES