It's Not Over

James x Lily

Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter... Draco would have a patronus, sadly he doesn't. So if we put that together, I don't own anything. :(

xoxoxoxox--Chapter 4: I Would Have Said Yes--xoxoxoxox

"James and Lily are meant for each other, whether they realize it or not. I'd fight for them myself, simply because they are what we want to find during our time here: a soul mate, someone that you take every step in life with."

-Annie Burt, 7th year, during the first few weeks of October

**********

"It's late, Lily. Let's go to bed."

"I'm not tired. Just a few more minutes, Annie."

"Okay." Annie looked at Lily. She hadn't seemed right ever since James had rejected her three days ago, and she was looking worse and worse each day. She had been tossing and turning at night, but when Annie asked why she was having trouble sleeping, she'd simply say she wasn't tired. Annie sucked in a breath and looked at the girls' staircase. She should leave Lily and her business alone.

Annie looked toward the boys' staircase. But then again, what kind of friend would she be if she didn't help Lily out? Annie turned to Lily. She wasn't looking. Annie took in a breath and began to, as silently as possible, walk up the boys' staircase. This would be the best for everyone. James couldn't remain oblivious to Lily's feelings forever.

Annie stopped in front of the Marauder's door and knocked three times. Remus opened the door. "Is James here?" Annie asked.

Remus nodded. "Yes. What are you doing here, Annie?"

Annie tried to get through. "I need to talk to James."

Remus watched as Annie made her way to the sitting James. "Annie? What are you doing here?" he asked, looking up from his book.

Annie sighed and sat at the foot of James' bed. It was quiet for a few seconds. James was about to break the silence when Annie suddenly demanded, "Do you like Lily or not?"

Remus, Sirius, and Peter looked at Annie who had never demanded anything. "Yes," James said, almost jokingly. He was thrown off guard.

Annie rolled her eyes. "Do you love her?"

This surprised James even more, but he tried to make it sound like nothing. "Love Lily? No, of course not." James tried to get it through his head that he no longer did.

Annie reached out and smacked James on the arm. "I'm serious."

"No," Sirius piped in, "I'm Sirius!" Annie turned to glare at Sirius who shut his mouth and looked as if in fascination at a stain on the floor.

James sighed, dropping all pretense of his coolness. His face suddenly became sad and regretful. "Yes, I do."

Annie sighed in relief. "Then why did you reject her?"

"I don't know. I was being stupid. My pride got in the way, and I don't know how to face her anymore."

"What are you talking about? Aren't you James Potter?" Annie asked, putting air quotes around his name. "The boy who asked Lily out for three years straight? The boy who never got a yes, but still kept asking? What's so hard about saying yes when she's finally ready to accept you?"

James ran a hand through his hair. "That's the point. There's a time to give up."

Annie gritted her teeth. "If you love Lily, you'd go downstairs right now and talk to her."

James looked at Annie suspiciously. "What do you mean? What's wrong with Lily?"

"Why are you asking me? Lily is the one that needs you right now." James got up and was out of the room before Annie could say another word.

James had avoided Lily for the past three days, so he didn't know what was wrong with her. Was it because of him? Did he somehow cause something to happen to Lily? James took the last step down from the boys' common room. He paused.

Lily was sitting, her hair in disarray, and her eyes bloodshot. To make it worse, it seemed like she was on the brink of crying. James took a step toward her, but she didn't move. He walked closer and cleared his throat. Lily looked up tiredly, her eyes widening at the sight of him before she looked away again. "I was told to come talk to you," James said slowly, walking closer to where Lily sat.

"I don't need talking to," Lily said, looking into the fire. "I'm doing just fine alone, thanks."

James sat down and brought an arm around Lily's shoulder. "You don't seem fine."

"I'm perfect," Lily said, turning away from James' hold.

It was silent. James still had one question for Lily. One question that he needed to ask, but now he couldn't get it out.

But when Lily stood, facing away from James as if to leave, he blurted out, "Would you have said yes?"

"What?" Lily asked confused, back still faced away from James.

"A few days ago, under the tree. Would you have said yes?" James clarified slowly, looking at his hands.

Lily stood stunned, but the next second she turned back around to face James. "Yes," she said quietly with a small nod.

James stood, looking at the condition Lily was in. For the first time, he felt that maybe he was an arrogant jerk. He pulled Lily into a hug, but Lily tried to resist. "What about your girlfriend?" she asked, taking a step away.

James took a step toward her and wrapped his arms around her, ignoring her protests. "I didn't go on that date."

"What?" Lily asked.

"I didn't go. I ended up just telling her that it wasn't going to work out," James said, pulling Lily closer.

Lily swallowed, not knowing what to think. She drew out of the hug and looked at James. "Why?" she asked.

"Because," James said, completely serious, "I already love you."

And all Lily could do was smile as James pulled her into another hug, promising her he'd never leave her again.

xoxoxoxoxox

There's still a fluffy chapter left, and an epilogue, stay tuned...pls? :)

R&R