Author's Note: I think this chapter will make several people happy. Also, I would like to thank everyone's who's reading, because my traffic stats nearly doubled yesterday. Please review!

"Mr. Potter you have to leave. As a licensed healer I cannot permit you to miss another meal and stay up late. The Headmaster already informed me that you are to be notified if there is any change in Miss Evans condition." Madame Warren looked over the boy who was seated next to the cot where the red-head lay, her hand in his. His glasses were even more bent now, his coat and scarf lay in a pile on the floor.

Earlier that day, Professors escorted Lily in with James trailing behind. The boy was reluctant to leave her side, despite the fact he himself had to be checked out. He was ushered away when other people came to see her like Marlene, Athena, Alice, Frank and even David Goldstein. David had to be convinced to leave her alone, because he viewed the accident as his fault. No student could fend off a fully trained Wizard alone, if someone had been beside her...James was almost positive that David didn't know that he was beside her. Lily had probably saved him and he would like to think that he returned the favor, when in reality the ambush was put to a stop before they could finish the deed.

"Can I stay a little longer?"

"Five minutes, but you know the potion took will last until she's mostly healed."

"Lily…" She was alive. That's all that mattered to James. He would never forgive himself if she died while they were in this stalemate. It wasn't one of their faults, they both were stubborn with short tempers and didn't exactly like to share what was on their mind. No one else would call each other out for their bullshit and that's what made them perfect for each other. As he lifted his hand to brush away a lock of hair her eyelids fluttered.

As her senses floated back to her Lily was aware of her aching body, scratchy covers, a too clean scent and someone clasping her hand. Opening her eyes the first thing she saw was James Potter's face and it looked like he'd been to hell and back.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, the words came out gravely. "Water, please." With her hand free Lily pulled herself into a sitting position as James accioed a glass and a full pitcher. She wondered how long he had held her hand, as her right was much warmer than her left. "Thank you."

"Do you remember what happened?"

"Of course I do," she told him in between gulps of water. "I really am sorry."

"About today?"

"No." She set the glass down and threw back the covers. "When that Death Eater hit you…" She shook her head, not being able to find the right words. Instead she wrapped her arms around him inhaling the scent that had become so familiar to her over these past few months. "Don't leave me, no matter how stupid I am."

"Only if you promise me the same thing," he responded.

"Are we ever going to stop acting like this?" Her question was punctuated with laughter as she pulled away and threw back the covers. "Honestly, we're going to drive each other to early graves-"

"Not on my watch." It was Madame Warren, who had appeared silently parting the curtains. "Mr. Potter your time is up." She looked over Lily. "Why didn't you alert me when she awoke?"

"She is here and just so happens to feel fine," Lily said as she twisted her body and attempted to get up. Still under the effects of the potion she wobbled a bit before stabilizing herself with the help of James shoulder.

"Get back in bed," the healer said tiredly. "Mr. Potter go down to dinner and get something to eat, Miss Evans I will check over your injuries again to see if you can be released."

"Ah, Madame Warren," a stately voice said. A split second later Professor Dumbledore appeared in his flowing robes. "I believe that an examination before release is prudent, however it would do more harm than good to dismiss Mr. Potter."

"Thank you," Lily said with a smile.

"Mr. Potter, come with me we'll give them a bit of privacy."

Lily sat back down on the cot as the healer shut the curtains. She did all the standard tests for a concussion, asked several questions and gave her another potion to help with the pain and make sure the effects of the spell were completely counteracted. "Thank you, can I leave?"

"Yes, but be careful." The Healer looked her over. "I've seen countless girls like you, ones that are going to get involved in the war." She looked sadly. "And Mr. Potter is one of countless boys that are all the same. I worry about you two." Madame Warren reached for the curtain. "The two of you will be a force to be reckoned with, but I fear that if you keep risking your lives for others it will lead to an untimely death."

Lily didn't know how to respond, she just nodded and thanked the woman as a set of uniform clothes was handed to her. The jeans and sweater she was wearing were rather uncomfortable from the quick dry spell the used. After she was alone she slipped out of them, the cold air pricking her skin. She slipped on the tights, then skirt and as she was beginning to button the shirt the curtain opened. "Merlin, sorry." It was James whose hands flew to his eyes.

"It's fine, but give me a warning next time." Lily smiled at him as he opened her eyes, the buttons over her chest already fastened.

"Next time?" James voice almost seemed to crack as he tugged at the neck of his t-shirt.

"We're going to be living together this summer," she said.

"Right…" He rubbed the back of his neck. "Do you want some dinner?"

"I don't feel hungry, but I think that's a side effect of the potions." Lily put on her jumper before sliding her feet into her sturdy mary-janes. "I'm going to go back to the Common Room, get some rest before my friends come back."

"Well, I promised not to leave you…"

Lily snorted at the line.

"I happen to know a great place on the grounds that is private," he continued. "I would like some company, but not the entire school."

"Sounds good to me." Lily linked her arms with his and gave him a smile. James was exactly who she she wanted to be with.

The Hogwarts kitchens were a cozy little secret that seemed all the more wonderful because of the fact that students were forbidden to frequent them. The house elves, though, seemed to welcome the distraction and chatted up James the moment he walked in. All of them gathered around Lily seeming to be as entranced by her hair as Mopsy was. James enjoyed this quite a bit and told them an extravagant story about its origin that they pretended to believe.

Lily was immediately drawn to them and they said they would cook her anything. All she wanted was whatever was in the Great Hall, but the elves wouldn't have it. At that James said to surprise her and they sat next to each other at a makeshift table with two rickety chairs. A pot of tea appeared a few minutes later and she laughed.

"I love a good cup of tea," she said as she poured it. "Black, my favorite."

"I know," he said.

"You don't like tea, do you?"

"Not particularly, but I love the smell." James gave her a smile as two plates appeared on the table in front of them. It was pasta with some sort of meat and a side salad. "Dig in."

She twirled the fettuccini around her fork as she watched him carefully. Instead of talking, she just began to focus on eating the plate and drinking numerous cups of tea. When her plate was empty she wiped at her mouth and stared at James who had finished a few moments prior. "Can I ask you question?"

"You just did."

"Is this going to work?"

"Us?" James said. "I sure as hell hope it does," he answers. "Nothing is for certain, Lily, but after today I will do everything in my power to-"

"As much as I want you I don't want people to get hurt."
"What?"

Lily's mind flashed back to the day on the Quidditch pitch...To David's face when he talked with her for that hour at Hog's Head...Then her mind filled with James and what it felt like to see him on the ground.

"Are you talking about Mindy?"

The name was familiar to her. It was the blonde girl on the Quidditch pitch that day.

"She's great." James shook his head as a smile crossed his face. "Exactly the type of girl that I wanted last year."

Lily raised an eyebrow. "Haven't you told me on several occasions that I'm the only girl for you?"

"Don't be so conceited and cut me some slack. I faced rejection from you since second year. Mindy, on the other hand, is just as interested as me as I am in her." He sighed. "I mean she has this nice laugh and she's a great kisser…"

Lily rolled her eyes, but James ignored.

"She does this thing with her hair where she'll flip it and then lean in and let it brush against my arm...And she always smells like flowers…"

"James-"

"No, I'm done talking about her, tell me about David."

"Why?"

"I have a point I want to prove and I need evidence." His face held a mock serious expression as he sat up a bit straighter in his chair.

"Well, he's really kind and a good listener. Not to mention he's brilliant."

"He's a Ravenclaw, what do you expect?"

"Don't interrupt."

"You interrupted me!"

Lily gave him a pointed look that ended any other objections. "He's also really interested in muggles, but not in that way that makes me feel like a zoo animal."

"So he's the perfect guy for you?"

"No, we agree about almost everything. He's sweet, but he doesn't-"

"Make you feel anything?" James questioned. "When you're with him you don't yell or laugh loudly. He's safe and you like that because he makes you feel smile and feel like maybe you could make things work."

"Yeah," Lily responded. She was genuinely suprised at how eloquently she could describe what she was thinking and she was feeling.

"This is going to be a peculiar question, but what does your shampoo smell like?"

"My shampoo?" Her eyebrows shot up to her hairline. "Orange blossoms," she answered. "I use it because oranges remind me of sunshine."

James smiled at that. "If you remember my amortentia smelled like citrus, black tea and books."

"My smelled like cedars, fresh air, and this soap," she replied. Looking down at her now empty cup she pushed it away. "As much as I like this, before we get any further I want to talk to Remus."

"Remus?" James questioned.

"I haven't spoken to him or even seen him since the before the night at the Whomping Willow. I need to-"

"We came down here before dinner even started, Dumbledore is probably going to make it run over with one of his long speeches. Chances are Remus is up in our room right now." James looked Lily over who couldn't quite piece things together. "Godric, you're in your sixth year, haven't you figured out that girls can go into boy's dorms, but not the other way around?"

"No."
"Alice spends half her time in Longbottom's room, that's where she disappears too," James explained. "I'll go to the Great Hall and handle everything for you. Remus probably kicked out Sirius and Peter so I will distract them a bit longer so you can talk with him."

"Alright," she replied slowly. Before she could say anything more James leaned forward to kiss her on the cheek and dashed out of the room. Lily just chuckled to herself as she piled the dishes up and said goodbye to the house elves before calmly making her way to Gryffindor tower.

It was no surprise to her that the Common Room was empty. She looked at the staircase on the left and sighed. "Here goes nothing," she mumbled to herself as she started her ascent, expecting the stairs to turn into a slide. They, however, remained solid. She was surprised that it was an exact replica of the girls hallway, except everything was arranged oppositely.

Each of the rooms were labeled with the year and the initials, as there were three rooms per year. One door was opened a crack, light filtering into the dimly lit hallway. With a deep breath she knocked on the dark wood. "I don't want to deal with your theatrics James, come in."

"It's not James." Lily crossed her arms over her chest and looked up at the ceiling. She heard footsteps and the door opened. Remus was in wrinkled robes, eyes with dark circles. "Can we talk?"

"Go," he said. "Please, Lily you probably don't want to be alone with me."

"It's not a full moon," she said softly, looking him over.

"That's not funny," he responded.

"You're not a monster," she said. "You are one of-
"Stop. Who told you?"

"I figured it out myself, the clues were there all along. Your absences, ragged appearance, the way you act in Dark Arts when the subject's mentioned and your nickname," Lily pointed out. "I wanted to tell you that you can stop hiding from me Remus. You were my friend before and my friend now and forever. I promise I won't tell anyone."

"Lily-"

"I know how you think of yourself, but I have never known you to be anything but a kind, considerate human being. Those men that killed acted Hogsmeade, the people that killed my parents and Michael's, they're the monsters, not you." She stepped forward and wrapped her arms tightly around him. "I've missed you and I'm tired of avoiding everything."

Remus pulled away from Lily, looking her over. "I'm glad that you're alright," he said. "If you really think that I'm not...Why did you react that way after the Whomping Willow?"

"It wasn't you, it was...Sirius endangered Snape's life, I don't care how vile it, but you would never forgive yourself if something happened and James was there…"

"Lily, animals aren't in danger around werewolves," Remus whispered.

"What?"

"You're a smart girl, figure it out," he said. "And thank you Lily, I would recommend heading back to your room, dinner is going to end in about five minutes.