A/N: Hello again, here is the next part! Please review, they mean a lot to me.

Warning: Mild sexual scenes. (Oh yeaaaaaaaaaaah guys, you're getting it!)

Chapter 26
Or,
Of Failures, Sellotape and Disappointment.

An old, abandoned house stood on a dormant volcano in the hilly areas of Scotland. Rumour has it, it was haunted, possessed, dangerous, and that not many people made it out alive. Some people considered it beautiful, a relic, historical, and a place for people on a pilgrimage to rest.

The house barely had a roof, the windows couldn't be classed as windows, and the fence was probably the only modern thing that was still intact. Grass elongated to about 5 foot high, weeds and probably poisonous plants snaked around the 'garden', and an old 'No trespassers' sign hung limply around a mangled scarecrows neck.

However, when an old house is classified as abandoned, it rarely is abandoned.

A man, about 6 feet tall in height, stood watching out one of the windows. Shards of shattered glass scattered around his feet, and they made a satisfying crunch when somebody walked over them. A girl was strung up against the wall; her body was limp and lifeless, though she was still alive. The manacles holding her up rattled as she struggled against them.

Her struggled was futile. Her master showed no mercy.

"I can get him to you." The girl whimpered, pulling on the chains once more.

"Oh?" The man sounded amused, "And how do you propose to do that?"

The girl hesitated, her breath shaky as she inhaled, desperately trying to gather her thoughts into a constructive plan. Anything. An idea, no matter how weak, how small, could save her life.

At the girls silence, the man laughed cruelly, turning around to face her. "You failed your master. You're just trying to save your life."

"Maybe so, but you're not my master." The girl spat, she may be heading for an early grave, but this spineless coward was not going to be the one to send her down, "So either get my Master, or crawl back into your cave."

The man flew across the room and slapped the girl hard across the face. The slap produced a sound that rippled through the room, bouncing off the hollow walls, "I am in charge of you. Master will not bother himself with such failures."

"I take it you haven't told him about your failure to kill Bones."

She was slapped again. "You keep that quiet."

"Or what?" She spat some blood in his face, "You'll kill me?"

Their little spat was interrupted by the door cracking open. In came a man with a snakelike face, the skin pulled tightly over his prominent cheekbones. He was dressed as if he were attending a funeral; a simple black suit, a black shirt and a black tie. Not a single mark or crease could have been found. His hair was the only sign that this man was failing to be a man- it was falling out, in clumps, and he had several bald patches already.

"You failed to kill Bones?" The man was obviously their superior, his voice exuded authority.

The other younger, more human man faltered before he spoke. "She failed; she failed to get the boy-" He accused, tugging on the girls chains so she screamed.

"I did not ask for what young Isabelle had failed in doing," He tutted, "I asked what you had failed in doing. Now, what have you failed in doing?"

The other man faltered again and when he spoke, his voice was barely audible, "Killing Bones, but-"

He was cut off once again, "No buts. This is your third mistake. I have no room for mistakes." The man said, almost in a bored tone, and his wand slashed through the air, producing a bright green light.

"Lily!" James chuckled, walked down the corridor like a drunken man as Lily had her hands plastered around his eyes, "Where are you taking me?"

"It's a surprise," She sang, jumping onto his back, "Alright, keep walking forward." She commanded, her legs snaking around his hips to keep her upright.

"You don't have to have your hands over my eyes," James tried, walking in the direction Lily had ordered, "I wouldn't peak, you know."

She rolled her eyes, "Of course you would, no, it has to be like this. I want it to be a surprise."

"A surprise for what? It's not my birthday, it's not Christmas, it's not Valentine's Day-" James paused, "It's Valentine's Day."

"I know." Lily said, "Turn right now."

James cringed with guilt, "Lily…"

"Don't," She replied, shaking her head, "It's alright. Honestly."

"No," James persisted, "It's not alright."

"Alright, we're here." Lily said, stopping James with a smack around the head.

"Oi, what was that for?"

"You didn't stop when I said 'we're here!"

He chuckled softly, "True."

Lily slid down James, taking her hands off his eyes. They were still on the seventh floor; James recognised it as the place where everything was hidden, the Room of Requirement, and he was mildly surprised that Lily knew where it was.

Lily pushed open the door that had suddenly formed on demand of her thoughts. Upon walking inside, it was as if they'd stepped inside a greenhouse. Plants lined the walls, not just ordinary plants, these plants exuded magic; glitter flew off them, the moved as if they were human, crawling up the walls as if they were meeting a friend.

Lily blushed slightly; stereotypically, this was a girly date. She took James' hand and walked down the stone steps her mind had created, the floated on a substance that seemed like water, only it wasn't.

James was mesmerised, "Holy Merlin, Lils, this is…wow."

Finally reaching the centre of the room, James grinned as he saw a giant chocolate fountain. Lily grinned at his reaction, turned on her heels and plucked a strawberry from a pile the house elves had brought up for her.

Dipping in in the chocolate, she stood on her tiptoes and popped it in James' mouth. He savoured the taste, letting the juices from the strawberry mix with the warm chocolate.

"Enjoy that?" Lily laughed, kissing the chocolate from his lips.

"Mmhmm." James mumbled, snaking his arms around her waist and pulling her closer. The kiss deepened almost instantly. Lily's hands found James' hair; they tugged as she moaned into his mouth, still being able to taste the strawberry she'd fed him not two minutes ago.

They both felt as if they were too far apart. James lifted Lily off her feet and she quickly caught on and wrapped her legs around his waist. James emitted a soft sound and Lily's heart rate quickened as her tongue flicked across his lower lip, he immediately parted his lips and her tongue plunged desperately into his mouth, tasting him, exploring every inch of his mouth. James growled low in his throat, his tongue dancing with hers.

Soon, they were out of breath. They halted their kiss, foreheads against each other, their heavy breathing filling the silence.

"Happy Valentine's Day, James." Lily whispered, kissing along his jaw.

James smirked slightly, his plan was working. "Happy Valentine's Day, Lils." He replied with a fake hint of guilt in his voice. He ran his hands down her back, holding her in place.

She laughed, "Don't you want some more chocolate?"

"I'd rather have you," He winked with a chuckle as he set her down on her feet, "But chocolate is good too."

She grinned, getting herself a strawberry, lathering it in chocolate as she popped it in her own mouth this time, "Mmmhmm, this is good."

"Best Valentine's Day. Ever." James grinned, getting a spoonful of melted chocolate on its own.

"Despite the fact you forgot it." She teased, licking her lips.

"I can make it up to you." He said, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively with a knowing smirk.

"What're you smirking at?" She asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"Never you mind."

Sirius wondered, as he wrestled with a sellotape dispenser, how he'd managed to get himself roped into gift wrapping on a Friday afternoon.

Remus, on the other hand, had mastered a charm that allowed him to wave his wand a couple of times, and then the gift would wrap itself. So, the presents that James had allocated him to wrap, were already done- perfectly- and Remus was currently tackling the last few chapters of a book he'd been meaning to finish for about a year.

"Remus," Sirius whined for the hundredth time that afternoon, "Can you please wrap these presents up?"

"No." Remus replied casually, flicking a page of his book delicately.

"Come on, I have things to do!"

"Yeah, like wrapping those presents, so quit complaining and get it done."

"Oooh, I love an authoritive man." Marlene teased as she came down from the girls' dormitory, a bunch of letters in hand.

"Mars!" Sirius cheered as soon as his eyes landed on her, "How good are you at gift wrapping?"

"Very." She said idly, flicking through the mail in her hand.

"Any Valentine's, Marlene?" Remus asked from over the top of his book.

"Nope," She said, popping the 'p'. "But, that doesn't mean I'm not going to celebrate."

Sirius resumed his wrestle with the sellotape, grinning down at the box he was trying to wrap.

"Oh? What does a single person celebrate on Valentine's Day?" Remus asked, setting his book aside.

"The fact they're not chained in a relationship, being tied down by feelings." She teased, grinning.

"Amen to that," Remus replied, lifting an imaginary glass in the air.

She laughed, sighing as she watched Sirius terribly wrap the tiny box, "Oh for the love of Merlin, Black, give me those boxes."

"Yey, love you, Kinny!" He grinned, reclining back against the chair, as he watched her wrap. She was surprisingly good at it, she refused to use her wand, and her lips pouted in concentration as she folded the corners of the sparkling pink paper into the box.

He frowned, "You're awfully dressed up." He noted, his eyes travelling over her body which was fitted in a snug red dress.

She looked up to say, "I said I was celebrating, didn't I?"

"I thought you were joking." He said, shrugging, "Ah well."

She frowned at the gift she'd just finished wrapping with a bow of silver ribbon, "Who are these for, anyway? Your girlfriends?" She said with an edge to her voice.

"Lily, actually."

"Lily?"

"James is giving them to her, he asked us to wrap them while she carted him off some place. She thinks he's forgotten Valentine's Day." Sirius explained.

"Oh," Marlene replied, smiling at the pile of perfectly wrapped gifts, "That's cute."

"Really? A pile of perfectly wrapped gifts and a fake forgotten Valentine's Day is cute to the oh so heartless Marlene McKinnon?" Sirius teased.

She scowled at him, throwing the roll of sellotape at Sirius' head, "Piss off."

"With pleasure, McKinnon." He said, standing up and stretching. He winked at her, and then grinned at Remus, before disappearing through the portrait hole.

Marlene frowned as she watched Sirius go, and after waiting a couple of minutes- so Sirius would be long gone- she stood up, smoothed her dress down, and climbed out of the portrait hole herself.

"You took your time." Sirius said, smirking when he saw Marlene jump.

"Black?" She said, confused.

"I was hoping you'd follow me." He said, pushing himself off the wall as he sauntered confidently over to Marlene, "Happy Valentine's Day, Mars." He whispered, pushing her softly against the wall as his lips crashed against hers.

Marlene didn't need a second to think. She kissed him back, her tongue not even asking for entry to his mouth; she forced her tongue into Sirius' mouth, running it along the roof of his mouth, knowing exactly the reaction she'd receive.

Sirius growled huskily, pushing himself onto her, bunching her dress up in his hands. Marlene's hands worked on his shirt; she smirked with satisfaction as she heard several of his buttons drop against the floor, then she raked her nails down his sculpted chest.

Then, suddenly, Marlene pushed Sirius away.

"McKinnon?" Sirius panted, his eyes misted with lust.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Black." She smirked, pulling down her dress and rearranging her hair as she walked away from him.

"McKinnon!" He shouted, running after her and grabbing her hand, "You can't just leave like that."

"I think you'll find I can." She said, blinking at his expression- he looked hurt.

"McKinnon, please." He said, almost begging.

"Why?" She said, "What exactly is it you want?"

"You know what I want."

"That," She replied, yanking her hand free, "Was the wrong answer."

"Marlene-"

"Sirius, don't. You're a big boy, you'll find somebody else to aid your needs."

"No, Mars, that's not what I-"

"Save it for somebody who cares." She said, plastering on a fake grin as she turned on her heels and walked down the corridor, leaving Sirius Black standing in her wake.

"Fuck!" He cursed, his fist making a hearty connection with the stone cold wall where Marlene McKinnon had previously been.

Marlene sat in Dumbledore's office, in a chair that made her resemble a China doll. It was huge, like a throne, and it did nothing for the small girl. However, despite how much she hated it, she wanted to know why Dumbledore had asked her along.

"Good Afternoon, Miss McKinnon, sorry for interrupting a delightful Valentine's Day." Dumbledore greeted politely, sitting down in a matching chair to that of Marlene's.

She laughed softly, "No need, Professor, I had no plans."

"Surprising." He replied, smiling softly, "Anyway. I'd like to give you a job. It's nothing big, nothing at all, really."

Marlene nodded, waiting for him to continue.

"I'd like you to ensure Sirius Black receives this letter." He said, handing Marlene the envelope. She turned it over in her hands; it didn't look like it had been opened at all. Seeing her expression, Dumbledore smiled, "I have read it. It contained no strong information that could help the Order, but Sirius deserves to read what Isabelle wrote."

"I understand. Sorry that it wasn't any help." She sighed; feeling a bit like an idiot for thinking Isabelle would have told all.

"It wasn't any help to me, Miss McKinnon, but it will be to Sirius." Dumbledore said, smiling knowingly at Marlene as she stood up from the chair and made her way to the exit, "Goodbye for now, and if you will, please tell the darling Prewetts to stop transfiguring Professor Slughorn's pants to peculiar shades of yellow."

She laughed, shaking her head, "Will do, Professor. Goodbye." She smiled politely and descended the stairs.

"Other McKinnon!" A voice shouted. Marlene knew immediately that it was Gideon, "You look nice, been on a date with Dumbles?" He teased, winking.

"Whatcha trying to say? Only old men want to date me?" She replied, feigning hurt.

"No! Of course not-" Seeing her smirk, he glared, "Oh, you really are a little minx."

"Says you. Stop turning Slughorns pants yellow." She replied, raising an eyebrow.

"You know about that?" His eyes lit up, "How?"

She winked and tapped her nose with her finger, "Never you mind, Other Prewett."

"Ah, Other McKinnon, how you tease me."

"You love it."

"Maybe so. Care to cause some mischief with me?" He proposed, walking backwards so he could still look at her as he walked away.

She looked at the letter in hand, then shrugged, "Sure, why not."

He grinned and continued walking backwards; he was approaching the staircase when Marlene noticed.

"Gideon, careful, you're going to-" Gideon yelled as he tumbled down the staircase, his voice overtaking Marlene's. She rolled her eyes and ran after him, "Fall." She said, finishing her sentence, "Looks like the only mischief we're causing today is the torture of Mrs Norris."

"What you mean?" Gideon groaned, propping himself up as the frightened cat squealed and scurried out from beneath him, "Oh. Shit."

"Indeed. Poor cat." Marlene said, helping him stand, "I'll take you to the Hospital Wing."

He scoffed, "Don't be daft, I'm not going there."

"Your heads bleeding, I'm taking you to the wing." She said, glaring as she took his hand and dragged him down the Hospital Wing, were Madam Pomfrey was waiting.

Looking over at the pair, the nurse raised an eyebrow, "Date gone wrong?" She asked, pointing Gideon to a bed.

Gideon grinned and Marlene laughed, "No, he's an idiot and just fell down the stairs." Marlene told the nurse, sitting on the edge of the bed Gideon had been assigned to.

"Sure you didn't push him?" Poppy teased, checking over Gideon's wound and giving him a potion to prevent concussion, "Sit here for an hour, so I can monitor you." At Gideon's sign of arguing, she added to Marlene, "You make sure he stays."

"Yes, Madam." She said, saluting the nurse as she busied away, checking over other patients, "Looks like we're stuck here for an hour."

"You can go, I promise to be good and stay here." Gideon smiled, leaning back in the bed.

"No, I'll stay."

"Why?"

"First, you'll run off if I leave, second, I have nothing better to be doing."

Gideon laughed and Marlene smiled, and they spent the hour chatting away about various different aspects of the Hogwarts life, eating a supply of chocolate Marlene had summoned.

"Favourite lesson?" Gideon asked her, popping a whole chocolate frog into his mouth in one go.

"Defence." She said, making a face at a vulgar tasting bertie botts.

"Ditto."

"Favourite pastime?" Marlene asked, kicking her feet up on the bed and crossing her legs.

"Quidditch, definitely."

"Ditto."

Gideon grinned and caught a Berties Botts he'd thrown in the air, in his mouth. Madam Pomfrey scowled and bustled over, taking the sweets off the pair and sending them into the corner where a basket was.

"No eating in the wing without my permission," She said sternly, "Now, off you go, Mr Prewett, you're fine."

He jumped up and dragged Marlene with him as he raced from the Hospital wing.

"Where are we going?" Marlene asked as she ran beside him, holding onto his arm for support.

"We're an hour behind schedule, we have mischief to cause!" He whooped and pulled Marlene down a set of stairs and into Flichs' hideout.

The presents, which had previously been wrapped by Remus and Sirius- or Marlene-, were stacked beautifully on the table. Draped above them, were paper chains in the shape of hearts and stars. Two bouquets of flowers; one lilies, another roses, lay on either side of the presents.

Lily walked in, James in step beside her, and she gasped as her gaze fell on the mountain of presents.

Turning to James with a smile, she dove on him in a hug, "You didn't forget Valentine's Day!"

"Of course I didn't!" James laughed, spinning her around, "I've been waiting for years to spend this day with you, I'm not going to forget it when I finally have the chance."

She smiled widely, then kissed him passionately, not letting go of him as she walked backwards towards the dormitory stairs. James frowned and pulled back, "Your presents…"

"They can wait." She almost growled and James grinned, picking her up and carrying her bridal style up the stairs to his dorm. Kicking the door open, he set Lily down on her feet as he cast a charm to prevent any disruption.

As soon as he turned around, Lily's lips were locked on his and he moaned into her mouth, picking her up again. Her legs locked around his waist and she grinded down on him, causing him to moan again. Lily liked the sound.

"Lily.." He said, looking up into her eyes; they were sparkling with delight, with temptation. With lust.

"What?" She asked, frowning slightly, "Is something wrong?"

"No." He said quickly, "I just wanted to make sure that, I was just thinking…"

Blushing, Lily kissed him softly, "Shut up and stop thinking."

James complied and soon they were kissing with a passion they'd never shared. James walked toward the bed, setting Lily down as he climbed on top of her. Their kiss never broke. Lily's hands were tearing at James' shirt, she needed to see his body- that perfectly sculpted, Quidditch trained chest. James let her rip off his top, his own hands trailing up her blouse.

Lily arched her back off the bed so James' hands slipped over her breasts. He cupped them and she moaned, their kiss halting for that moment only. Her legs snaked back around his waist and she flipped them over; Lily wanted some form of control. She was no expert, but she could tell by the look on James' face that he was enjoying this as much as her.

She slowly, shyly started unbuttoning her shirt as she sat on top of him. James' breathing rate increased, he was panting just watching her. A knowing smile crept onto his face as Lily's soft pink cotton bra was revealed, and James idly wondered if she was wearing matching knickers- but he didn't think for much longer, when he felt Lily's hands deftly unbuttoning his pants.

She paused and gave him time to kick them off, her hands trailing softly over his chest as he did so. She then resumed their kiss and the silent room was soon filled with the pair of their moans; Lily would arch into James, begging for the touch of his hands, and James would buck up to Lily, begging for her touch too. Lily soon grew impatient with need and bit down roughly on James' lip.

As if James had read her mind, he flipped them over so he was on top. He allowed himself a brief look at her; her hair, falling in waves around her shoulders, her chest, rising up and down as she panted with need. Tugging on her skirt, she slipped it off, and James let out a low laugh- Lily was, indeed, wearing matching knickers. James bent forward, his lips brushing along her neck; Lily responded immediately and moaned, her back once again arching up off the bed so she was closer to James.

He couldn't wait any longer, his fingers slipped beneath her knickers and into her; she was ready, almost too ready, but she was as responsive as James wanted her to be. She moaned, her eyes rolling back with pleasure, her hands desperately grabbing James so she could feel him, kiss his lips again.

James continued to tease her, until he, himself couldn't wait. Halting his movement, Lily's eyes fluttered opened, "Are you sure?" He asked, praying that she was.

"Yes." She breathed out, wiggling herself out of her underwear and diving at James to remove his boxers. She'd never felt like this. As soon as James entered her, she yelled out with a cry of pain mixed with pleasure; Lily wasn't a virgin, but she wasn't by force; that night with Snape came flushing back and she panicked, but James didn't move.

"Lils, are you okay?" He whispered soothingly, "It's alright, you know. Tell me if you're not."

"I'm fine." She said after a few minutes. She was. This was James. She wanted this. James nodded and kissed her softly, but soon, with ever thrust, their kiss deepened and their moans once again filled the room, until they both, simultaneously cried out together.

"Fuck." James said, collapsing down beside her. Lily giggled and curled up beside him, her head on his chest listening to his heartbeat.

"You could say that." She said with a smile on her face.

"I love you, Lily Evans."

"And I love you, James Potter." She grinned up at him, her eyes shining.

"What?"

"Can I open my presents, now?"

He laughed, "Of course you can, love." He kissed her quickly and the pair got dressed, descending the stairs hand in hand.

Lily sat down crosslegged on the floor, tearing at the paper on her presents. She opened them in size order, starting with the biggest- good things come in small packages, her mother used to say.

James had bought her several books, both muggle and magical, that she'd never read. He'd given her chocolates and perfume, and the gift that Lily loved the most, was in fact the smallest box.

It was a locket. A small, silver locket, in the shape of a heart. It was magical, Lily could feel it. She opened it and inside, was a small picture of James; his hair was a mess and he was smiling up at her lovingly. Noticing something else in the box, Lily picked it up.

It was a small piece of parchment that read: The receiver's true love shall be the only photo inside. Always close to their heart.