Warning: you will laugh.

Chapter 20: Court Yard

"You have too much stuff." James told Lily. Her trunk was in the common room, but she'd decided she only wanted to take things she needed. As a result she kept running back up the stairs to get things she 'needed'.

"It's all necessary." Lily told him bringing down a plant they'd grown in Herbology.

"What's with the plant?" He asked her.

"It was for Herbology, remember? I've kept it this long, I'm not about to let it die."

"So the plant is required because...?"

"I don't want it to die." James rolled his eyes at Lily.

"Leave it here and have one of your friends take care of it. You don't need it."

"Yes I do." Lily argued.

"The train is going to be here at two. Do you want to spend the holiday here?" James asked.

"It's not even noon yet." Lily reminded him.

"You two are just so cute." Ivy said. She'd been sitting on the couch since they'd come up from breakfast, she sat there watching them argue about what was needed and what could be left.

"We are, aren't we?" James asked pulling Lily into him.

"Oh, jeez." Lily said. "We're going to be late if you keep distracted me."

"No, if I keep distracting you, you might actually realize that you don't need all this stuff, because you have what you need to live at your house. So then we can spend our last few hours together."

"Rather than in sporadic moments that I'm down here?"

"Exactly."

"I'm almost done." Lily promised him. James exhaled loudly. "I swear!"

"And I swear I've heard that before." He complained.

"My potion book!" Lily said.

"You don't need a school book!"

"But what if my family is poisoned on something and it's the only way I can save them?"

"That's not going to happen." James told her. Lily inched away toward the dorm.

"But I want to be prepared." He sighed again.

"This is your last trip up there." he told her.

"But,"

"No. Last trip."

"Fine." Lily pulled away running upstairs. The only thing left was her bed, school robes and a few books. She though about bringing her other school books, then decided she didn't need them, she'd read them through several times. She didn't really even need her potion book.

Lily went back down the stairs empty handed.

"Where's your potion book?" James asked her.

"You're right. I don't need it." She answered. Sirius, Mary and Peter entered the common room. They'd been down on the grounds.

"Are you packed yet?" Mary asked.

"Yes." Lily answered.

"Hey, I need to show you something." Sirius said.

"Oh, Sirius, please don't." Mary begged.

"I have to. It's a part of my duties."

"Duties?" James asked. Sirius nodded solemnly.

"Let's go." He said gravely. James looked down at Lily. She shrugged. They followed him downstairs, out to a crowded court yard. "Okay you two." Sirius said turning to Lily and James. "When you got together you knew this was going to happen." Lily frowned, confused.

"Just stand up here." Sirius instructed motioning toward a bench.

"Padfoot, we're not..." James began.

"Go!" he repeated. James shook his head pulling Lily with him so they stood on the bench.

"ATTENTION! ATTENTION!' Sirius shouted. "AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW! MY MATE JAMES IS FINALLY DATING LILY EVANS!" Lily could feel her face flush. She leaned into James' chest, hiding. He wrapped his arm around her waist.

"SO AS A RESULT," Sirius continued. "I AM REQUIRED TO GIVE THEM MY I-TOLD-YOU-SO DANCE!" Lily turned to look at Sirius. It started out with some minor stretching, but progressed to the moon walk and some disco moves, continuing to limb flailing, kicking, touch-down moves, raise the roofs, break dancing, the worm and ending in a painful split.

There was cheering, laughing and applause. Sirius jumped to his feet, bowed a few times then smiled up at James.

"The splits are new?" James asked.

"Just for you mate." Sirius smiled. Mary stood next to the bench, her arms crossed a smile on her face. James and Lily jumped off the bench.

"You're going to hurt yourself." Mary told him.

"Nah." Sirius disagreed taking Mary's hand. They headed back toward the castle. "Are you two coming?"

"Um, actually, I need to talk to Lily for a second." James said. Sirius shrugged walking away. Mary kept looking back.

"James, it's cold," Lily complained.

"I know, here." he took off his jacket then draped it over her. "I just don't want you to be mad at Ambre."

"I'm..."

"Just listen. She thought our friends knew about us."

"I..."

"No, I had asked her to do something for me. I told her, but forgot to tell her not to mention it to them."

"You told her?" Lily asked.

"Yeah." James said shoving his hands in his pockets.

"Why?"

"It was just apart of my plan."

"You're plan for what?" He smiled at her. "You're not going to tell me are you?"

"Nope."

"Does it involve my gift?" His smile grew.

"I'm not saying."

"It does!"

"Nope."

"Then what was she doing for you?" Lily asked, but she was sure it had to do with her mystery gift.

"Just something for the Quidditch team."

"Quidditch team?" Lily asked, a little disappointed. "Why would she need to know we're dating if it was for the Quidditch team?"

"Because I didn't want her walking in on us acting civil to each other. So to give us more time together, just in case, I told her."

"So it has nothing to do with my gift?"

"Nope. Although you're very obsessed with this gift."

"I am not obsessed. Just very curious." Lily corrected.

"Come on, let's go inside."

"Lily!" Someone shouted from behind them. Lily turned just as they reached the doors to go back inside. Snape was running toward them, his greasy hair hanging in front of his eyes.

"Is it true?" he asked panting.

"Is what true Snape?" Lily demanded.

"That you're going out with," He cringed as if just saying the name pained him, "Potter?"

"Yes. I am." Snape hesitated.

"Why?"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Why him? You always hated him."

"That's in the past Severus. Things change." Lily looked right at Snape, but he was unable to return her gaze. "I'm sorry."

"He's not good for you." Snape whispered.

"And I suppose you know who is?" Lily asked. He mumbled something back before turning and walking away. Lily felt James touch her arm. She turned to him.

"Whatever happened between you two?" He asked holding the door open for her.

"We just got in a fight." she explained.

"But, I mean I never liked him, but you were close."

"Yeah. We were." Lily agreed.

"So then what happened?"

"We were growing apart. He started hanging out with...bad people. And making fun of my kind."

"You're kind?" James asked.

"Mudbloods,"

"What? Did he call you one?" Of course he knew this, but maybe just hearing it again sparked something.

"Yeah, but it was a long time ago. I don't care anymore. He claimed to have not meant it. But he calls everyone else who is one, a mudblood. So why should I have been the exception?"

"I can't believe he'd do that to you." Lily could see the fury in James.

"James, promise me you won't do anything to him. It really was a long time ago. I don't care anymore."

"But..."

"Promise."

"Okay. I won't do anything to him."

"And don't be having others do it for you either."

"I won't." James promised.

~o~O~o~-o-O-o-~o~O~o~

On the train home James, Lily and her friends all shared a compartment. None of Lily's friends were staying at the school over break and all of James' friends were. Sirius thought about going home, but home to him meant the Potter's house. He changed his mind when he found out Laura, James' mom, was cooking.

Lily still hadn't asked James to visit her, and even with the lack of time she couldn't bring herself to. What if he said no? Or her mom and sister drove him away? Maybe it was for the best that he didn't come over.

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Side note: I had a hard time naming this chapter.