Author's Note: I really need to start proofreading more often... Ew!

Also changed the end to this chapter. Didn't like the other one.

Chapter 19: Matters of the Heart
Saturday, September 24, 1977

I was panting by the time I ran into the Seventh Year Girls' Dormitory in Gryffindor Tower. I walked up to Marlene's bed where they were all sitting. I couldn't help but notice Marlene laying there, a far-off look in her eyes as she stared at the canopy above, smiling.

"There you are!" Dorcas exclaimed, seeing me. "Did you run?"

"Obviously," I told her, gasping. "From the Library. I was studying with the guys. And dreading Monday."

"Why are you dreading Monday?" Emmeline asked.

"Figured out that we're brewing Amortentia in Potions on Monday and James and I have rounds that night. I have a feeling we're going to be tracking down most of the seventh-year N.E.W.T.-level Potions students. I need to remember to brew an antidote beforehand. So..." I trailed off. I was standing at the foot of Marlene's bed, so I grabbed her feet. "How did it go?"

"We're still trying to get it out of her. She's been in this euphoric trance since she floated in here," Emmeline said.

I started to lift her feet up and down in rhythm. "Come on, Marles! Talk! Or I tickle." I twisted my hands around so my fingers would be on the bottoms of her feet. I keep my nails at the perfect length for maximum tickling.

"He kissed me!" she said finally, not hiding the dreamy, happy tone to her voice.

Cue squealing.

"How was it?" Dorcas asked. "I'm not going to be able to kiss one of them and according to Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum over here-"

"Hey!" Emmeline and I interrupted, in unison.

Dorcas continued, ignoring us. "-Sirius and James are fabulous. And seeing how I'm not about to snog Peter, I need to live vicariously through you three. So, spill."

"I haven't kissed any of the others but I think I'll just say that he's the best of the four," she said, still smiling.

"Not true," Emmeline and I said in unison, again. Dorcas and Marlene laughed.

"Well, we're going to have to figure that one out, then, won't we? I guess I could be an unbiased judge on the matter and it would be a very easy, while pleasurable, experiment..." Dorcas started.

She got a three-way chorus in reply stating, "Don't even think about it."

"Emmeline, do you even have a claim on Sirius?" Dorcas asked her.

"Not really... but still," Emmeline mumbled in reply.

"'But still,' what?" Dorcas asked. She sat there silent for a second, staring at an increasingly pink Emmeline. "MERLIN'S BEARD YOU LIKE HIM."

"Don't tell anyone, please! I don't want to scare him off!" she begged.

"Secret's safe with me," I assured her, putting my hand on her shoulder. "I won't even tell James."

"Thanks," she said, smiling at me.

"Now, Marlene, my dear," I said, turning my attention back to her. "Talk. Now. Hogsmeade."

"All right, all right! You guys are freaking me out with how you're staring at me," she said, propping herself up on her pillows. "We came through Honeydukes, like you did, Lils," she said to me. We ignored the confused looks on Emmeline and Dorcas's faces and she continued. "We did some shopping - OH!" she leapt from the bed, nearly knocking Dorcas over in the process, and retrieved a Honeydukes bag. "I brought presents for your three!"

"You can't stall forever but I'll accept this reason," Dorcas said, accepting her gift of sugar quills, her favorite. She handed some Pepper Imps to Emmeline and squealed with delight. She then handed me a very familiar tin.

"Crystallized pineapple!" I squealed. "Sirius ate most of my last stash. I had to lock it in my room, the wanker." I had to dodge a pillow from Emmeline. I mouthed "sorry" as I took a piece of pineapple from my tin. Marlene took out her treat (Chocoballs, her favorite because of the strawberry mousse and clotted cream filling) and continued her story.

"Well, after Honeydukes - did you know that Remus loves Chocoballs, too?" she asked, receiving three glares in return. "Sorry, sorry, distracted. Anyway, we went to Dominic Maestro's, Dervish and Banges, Scrivenshaft's, and Spintwiches. Remus got me that there," she said, pointing at the top of her canopy. A Golden Snitch was flittering around, charmed so it wouldn't leave the canopy or go too low. "And I got some new goggles for games," she said, holding out a nice pair of Quidditch goggles that had a little Golden Snitch on the sides. "Then we went to the Three Broomsticks and spent three hours there, chatting about everything. Memories and all that."

"Okay, so that brings us to about," Dorcas said, counting on her fingers, "three o'clock?"

"About then, yes. We were wondering the shops for about two hours, so yeah."

"Then why in the name of Merlin's baggy y-fronts did you not get back until seven? That's four hours unaccounted for, you!" Dorcas retorted, pushing her arm playfully.

Marlene replied so low none of us heard her.

"Come again?" I asked her.

"We were in the -" she said again, trailing off the end.

"You were where?" Emmeline asked.

"We were in the Room of Requirement!" she finally blurted out, louder than she intended. She instantly turned to hide her face in the pillows as the rest of us laughed and cheered with glee. I could tell she was blushing since her ears were flaming red.

"Marlene!" Dorcas exclaimed gleefully. "You can't just leave us hanging after a confession like that!"

"Exactly! Were you guys snogging?" Emmeline asked her. "Is that when he kissed you?"

"Oh were you shagging?" Dorcas said, wiggling her eyebrows.

Marlene flipped over after Dorcas's comment. "We were not shagging, thank you. Snogging, yes. Oh, Merlin, was there snogging."

Cue more excited squeals from the peanut gallery.

"Hold on," Dorcas said, looking closely at Marlene. "What's that?" she asked, pointing at Marlene's neck.

That caused Marlene to retreat back to the pillows.

"Merlin's beard, there's three of them!" Dorcas exclaimed.

"Dorcas, let her be," I told her. "She flat-out said, 'oh, Merlin, was there snogging,' so do you expect her to be without a couple of marks?"

"I think Dorcas is just jealous," Emmeline said with a smirk.

"Yeah!" Marlene said, sitting up with a smirk and facing Dorcas. "You're jealous!"

"Okay, fine, I'm dying for some action," she admitted. "But I tease you because I love you."

"A four hour snogging session? Merlin, Marles. That must have been amazing," Emmeline said with a smile.

"It was. He's so amazing," Marlene said dreamily.

"And now, the million-Galleon question," Emmeline said.

"Are you going to go out, again?" I finished for her. The three of us stared at Marlene in anticipation.

"Of course," Marlene exclaimed. "Study dates now and then, maybe more trips to Hogsmeade later."

"Brilliant!" I exclaimed. "Which reminds me. The first official Hogsmeade visit is October twenty-second. We should all go as a group. The official dates aren't as romantic as sneaking away."

"Can we double date sometime?" Marlene asked me, eyes wide with anticipation.

"I'll talk to James about it," I told her with a hug. "Did you get dinner?"

She nodded. "We went to the kitchens after we were... erm... done."

"So, who wants to come back with me to my dorm for a study session?"

All three groaned in response.

"You get to see the boys again," I said, in my best, taunting, sing-song voice.

"What are we waiting for?" Emmeline asked the girls excitedly.

"To the boys!" Marlene said, jumping out of bed. She ran out the door with Emmeline.

"Oi! Lily's common room is a 'no snogging zone,' all right?" Dorcas called after them.

"Wanna bet?" I told Dorcas. She hit me with a pillow before we headed out.

We only studied for about an hour and a half before everyone returned to the dorms. I noticed a few marks on Remus's neck and had to smile to myself. James looked at me when I was smiling, and he was so confused.

Now, James and I have found ourselves in a very... interesting position on the couch in the Common Room.

Okay, the snogging session was amazing, I have no shame in stating that I was laying there in my knickers and he in his boxers. I am such a slag. If a virgin could be a slag but I digress.

It was interesting because we had absolutely no idea where some of our clothes were. I was missing my top and a sock, while James's trousers were missing. We were currently looking around the couch for said articles of clothing before we flip a Knut to see where we're sleeping tonight.

"How in Merlin's name did we lose your trousers? You're six feet tall!" I exclaimed.

"I'd summon them but it seems as if our wands are missing, too," James said, gathering his socks and shirt. "Hey, I found that sock of yours behind the couch pillow!"

"Now just need to find my top and your trousers," I said, still looking. "Oh, and our wands."

"Here's my wand!" James exclaimed happily. "Accio wand!" My wand shot out from somewhere and nailed me on the back of the head.

"Ow! Thanks, James. Appreciate it," I said dryly. I picked up my wand. "How in the hell did it get over there?"

"I'm past asking questions, I'm just going to get more confused," James said laughing. "I do have to admit, that was amazing."

"It was," I agreed, smiling.

"The fact that you're still just hanging around in nothing but your knickers is a pleasant bonus, I must say."

"Quiet you, and find your trousers," I said, not being able to hide my smile. I couldn't complain. Here he his, a vision of masculine beauty, in nothing but a pair of black boxers. Thank you, Quidditch. "Accio blouse!" I said. My blouse shot out from the top of a bookcase.

"I'm not going to ask," James said through a laugh. "Accio trousers!" They shot out from the shadows under the study table.

"All right, then. Seeing how we have all our clothing, I'm going to go put these in my room," I said, walking up the stairs. He grabbed me by the waist and turned me around to face him. Because I was a few steps up my stomach was level with his head if he leaned in.

He kissed my belly, right below my naval. "We haven't figured out where we're sleeping. He started to slowly walk up the steps, never ceasing his trail of kisses up my stomach.

I felt my body shudder with pleasure. "My room's closer," I said. "Decision made."

"Works for me," James said with a smile.

We went into my room casually, and I dropped my things in my hamper, while James left his by the door. I put on an oversized t-shirt and we climbed into bed. I snuggled up into his chest, which is the best sleeping position, in my opinion.

"Marlene was gushing about the date today," I told him. "She said they were talking about going out more."

"Remus said the same. I haven't seen him so happy in a while. Seeing how it's so close to the Full Moon, that's saying something. Usually he's moody around now."

"Marles said she wants to double-date sometime. She gave me that puppy-dog look of hers when she asked. I told her that I'd talk to you about it."

"Sounds like fun," he said, stroking my long hair. "We'll talk to Moony about it after Thursday."

"I thought the Full Moon was Tuesday? We covered that earlier."

"Yes, when you were physically teaching Sirius not to be a wanker, I remember," he chuckled at the memory of me smacking the back of Sirius's head twice in the Library. "The day after all Remus wants to do is sleep. I don't blame him. It's physically exhausting."

"I'll be sure to make copies of my notes," I said. "Does he go to class on Tuesday?"

"Yes, he'll be there. He doesn't have to leave until five or so. Pomfrey always gets the house elves to pack him a dinner to bring. There are blankets and things at the Shack."

"You don't go with him?" I thought he said they all went together.

"No, we head over after we see Pomfrey come back through the Willow. We'd be expelled otherwise."

"Makes sense. He and I were talking about it on the way to the Hospital Wing earlier. He said the potion's vile but it helps."

"It does," James said with a sigh as he took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "He's a lot less violent when he's on it and it helps him keep his wits about him."

"How do you communicate when you're all transformed?" I had to ask. I took James's glasses and laid them on the bedside table, since I was an accidental barrier between him and the table.

"We don't. Our just being there helps him," he said, smiling.

"You guys are so close," I said, smiling back at him. "He speaks so fondly of you all."

"We're practically brothers," he said, kissing my head.

"I have a sister but I don't remember what it's like having one," I admitted.

"I'm sorry that you have to go through that," he said, pulling me closer. It surprised me because I didn't think we could get closer.

"Really, she isn't worth it. If she can't accept her own sister, then I don't want anything to do with her. She can marry her fat walrus and live a dull life, for all I care."

James looked at me with sadness in his eyes. He knew I was lying. I felt a tear fall down my cheek.

Dammit, that bloody tear blew my cover.

"I know you don't mean that," he said, kissing my head. "If she comes around, fine. If she doesn't, it's her loss. You're an amazing person and I'm so honored to have you in my life."

"I have a random question," I said to him, looking up into his hazel eyes. "Do you think your mom will like me?"

He laughed. "Silly Lily, she's going to love you," he said, picking me up and sitting me on his lap and I moved my leg over so I was straddling him. He eyes were sparkling in the way that makes me melt inside. "Do you want to know something?"

"I want to know everything," I said, leaning in to kiss him. He stopped me with two fingers over my lips. I let my shoulders slump and the disappointment cover my face.

"Hold on, you," he said through a laugh.

"I can't help it," I said. "It's your eyes. They sparkle sometimes when you're talking to me and I lose it."

"It's because I'm probably talking about you," he said, smiling. "Anyways. I had a confession, remember?"

"Please continue, I'll control myself. Promise."

"Okay. You're the first girl I'm bringing home to my mother."

"You're joking?"

"Completely serious."

"You. James Potter. Ladies Man. Never brought a girl home to your mom?" I sat there blinking at him.

"They were all flings. None meant anything. This, though, what we have? Means everything to me. So you'll be the first, and hopefully the last girl I bring to my mother to introduce as my girlfriend."

"What do you mean by 'hopefully last,' though?" I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Well, I have no intentions of letting you go, you know. Not after I finally caught you," he said, his eyes sparkling and his smile blinding me.

I practically pounced him after that. I kissed him harder than I ever have before, deeper than I ever thought possible, and with every drop of emotion in my body. He returned it with so much passion it took my breath away.

I eventually broke it due to that horrible need to breathe, and I placed my forehead against his. I couldn't make the smile go away.

I didn't want it to go away.

"Wow, what was that for?" he asked, his forehead not leaving mine, and his smile was a perfect twin to my own. "Not that I'm complaining, mind you."

"Overflow of emotion," I admitted. "With everything. I just feel so blessed and special. I love you so much, James. And do you want to know something?"

"What is it, my Lily?"

"You're the first I'm bringing home to my parents, too," I admitted. "I have only dated casually, and none really gave me that 'need them to meet my folks' vibe. But you," I said, brushing his cheek with my fingers, "you I feel I have to have meet my parents. They're going to love you so much."

"How are you so sure, especially since they thought you hated me?"

"They trust my judgement, for one," I said, shrugging.

"And what's the second reason?" he asked, raising his eyebrow.

"You're not Vernon," I said, smiling.

He laughed loudly and dipped me backwards, maneuvering so he was above me. He kissed me again in a way that put our last kiss to shame.

I broke it and looked into his hazel eyes and laughed. "What?" he asked me, smiling happily but still sounding confused.

"I was just thinking about something."

"Yeah?"

"All my past casual relationships ended rather suddenly," I told him, raising an eyebrow.

"Your point?"

"Is that partially because of you?"

"Guilty."

I hit him playfully in the chest. "Why did you go and do that, for?"

"Seeing you with those tossers hurt. Looking back, I know I shouldn't have. I just couldn't help myself. I knew some of them were 'casually' seeing other girls, too. I know some of them were bragging behind your back about landing the 'un-shagable Lily Evans.' I didn't want you to get hurt."

"You aren't pulling my leg? It wasn't just blind jealousy?"

"Well, there was a bit of that, too. Although when I saw you were very happy I didn't want to, then I would catch the guy doing something that would dishonor you and I wouldn't feel bad about giving them giant zits. Although I can't take credit for Artie Miller when we were fourteen."

"Wasn't he the one you made tap-dance instead of walk?" I asked, my nose scrunching up while I was trying to recall.

"That's the one and it wasn't me. It was bloody brilliant but wasn't my handiwork."

"Who was it?"

"Sirius. He caught him with some Slytherin talking about Muggle-borns and things in a very unfavorable way."

"Wow. Remind me to thank him."

"Don't. He wants to stay anonymous."

"Alright, if you insist. James?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for being a friend to me even when I didn't accept you as such. Even while I hated you, you were a better friend than any girl could ask you."

"For you, Lily, I'll do anything to make sure you're safe and happy."

All I could do is kiss him again.