A/N: Here's the next chapter – it's been a while in the making! It took me quite a time to gather my ideas from the previous chapter, but I've planned a little way ahead. Now I just need to find the time to write them.

On a completely unrelated note, please check out my YouTube channel! Search for AwesomeFaceSniper (all one word). Some shameless self-promotion there :P

The next few days passed in something of a haze for me. The remainder of our Hogsmeade trip was spent buying the remainder of the equipment and books we needed for the start of term in September, and James and I spent most of the time at each other's sides, occasionally stealing furtive glances at each other, catching each other's eyes and grinning shyly before looking away. Due to the presence of Sirius, Remus, Alice and Emmeline, it was admittedly slightly awkward.

At about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, our party headed back to the Leaky Cauldron, to Floo back to our respective homes. Alice, Emmeline and I lined up first to return to Alice's house, and as Alice stepped into the flames and Emmeline was saying goodbye to Remus, James took my hands in his and looked into my eyes, as if trying to memorise every feature of my face. Then he pulled me into a tight embrace, and whispered in my ear, "I'll owl you this evening, okay?" Then, as Alice disappeared and Emmeline stepped up to the fireplace, he bent down and gave me a swift, but gentle, kiss.

Feeling slightly dazed, and with a tingling sensation spreading across my lips, I smiled up at him, and then walked over to the fireplace. I took my Floo powder and threw it into the fire, stepping into it as the flames turned emerald green. My last glimpse of the bar in the Leaky Cauldron showed me James still grinning broadly at the place I was vanishing; but a second later, I was stepping out of the fireplace in Alice's kitchen, greeted once more by the squeals of the other two, and the rest of the afternoon was taken up with their interrogations over exactly what had happened between myself and James outside Gringotts.

As promised, a letter from James arrived that very evening. His barn owl swooped in through Alice's bedroom window as the three of us lay on our beds talking, and dropped the letter into my lap. Rather than flying back out of the window, however, he settled himself on Alice's desk, next to her owl, Marty. Alice stopped abruptly mid-sentence, and Emmeline sat up and looked over from her Evening Prophet. However, I paid no attention to the other two, but simply opened James' letter to read it.

Dear Lily,

You should see the pile of crumpled-up parchment in my room right now. I can't think what to write! I hope you're okay, and you haven't had to endure too much interrogation from Alice and Emmeline this afternoon, although I think you probably have. Sorry about that! Sirius, for his part, has mostly been ranting about how thick Alice was being earlier. If you need something to shut her up, that should do the trick.

Speaking of the others, I did really enjoy this afternoon, but I thought it was a bit awkward with them there. So I was wondering if we could meet up again before the start of term? I know that September 1st is only just over a week away, but it would be good to have a 'proper' first date before going back to Hogwarts. And, I really want to see you again!

I told Raff to wait for you to write a reply, so I look forward to it tomorrow morning!

James
xx

I smiled throughout reading this letter, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw that there were two crosses, rather than just one, under his name. Aware of the fact that Alice and Emmeline were still watching me, I picked up a quill and parchment from my bedside table, and wrote back my response.

James,

I'm imagining less of a 'pile', more of a 'small mountain'. Alice and Emmeline haven't been too bad; I shall keep that one up my sleeve for future use.

I'd love to see you again before the start of term. I don't have any plans next week, so just name the time and place (you have to choose the first date, cause it was you who asked me out!).

I'm going to stop here, because Alice and Emmeline have been silently watching me since your letter arrived. I promise my letters will be lengthier when I get back home!

Lily
xx

I called Raff over and fastened my reply to his leg. He took off out of the window, and I lay back down on my bed, pretending not to notice the other two's continued gazes.

After thirty seconds or so, Alice said, "Well? Are you going to tell us anything?"

"Nope," I replied casually. Alice looked annoyed, but Emmeline simply laughed and returned to the Prophet. When Alice looked at her instead, she said, "Oh, come on, Alice, she's finally going out with him. She deserves a break from our prying. Not a very long one, mind," she said, grinning over at me.

"Well, that's something," I said, yawning.

James' reply came back the next evening, asking me if the following Monday would be a good time for our 'first proper date', as he had put it. I wrote back my reply as I had done the previous day, confirming that next Monday would be fine, and I imagined that James would receive it in the morning. A routine was established; his letters arrived every evening, and my replies would reach him the day after. Both of our letters became considerably easier and more natural over the next few days, and the routine continued when I returned home on Saturday.

Mum grinned knowingly throughout my retelling of the story of me and James getting together in Diagon Alley. When I had finished, she said, barely containing laughter, "Sounds like he has changed!" I gave her a mock-annoyed expression, and she chuckled and hugged me.

On Sunday evening, I was lying in bed reading, and waiting for my letter from James. It came at about 6 o'clock as usual, and after stroking Raff's beak and feeding him a couple of owl treats, I opened the letter to read it.

Lily,

Sirius is starting to drive me mental. His instincts have finally kicked in, and he is teasing me mercilessly and continuously. It's not too bad, though; he doesn't go too far. I have enough dirt on him to make sure of that!

Still, it'll be good to escape him for a few hours tomorrow. And I get to see you! Two birds, one stone, eh?

I'll be at yours at about 11, if that's alright. I can bring you back here by Side-Along, and we can either stay in for a bit or go out, whichever you prefer. I'm sure I can 'persuade' Sirius to clear off for an hour or two.

See you tomorrow! (can't wait!)

James
xx

James' letters had never yet failed to bring a smile to my face. Grinning, I reached for my quill and parchment. I could think of nothing else to write except,

James,

That all sounds great. I can't wait either!

Until tomorrow,

Lily
xx

A/N: The usual – please read and review!