Lily didn't know what direction her feet were taking her, only that she was running as far away as she could. It wasn't until she had collapsed on the scarlet couch and managed to control her breathing that she realised where she was - the Heads' Common Room. She began to cry silently, fresh tears trailing slowly down her cheeks. She rubbed them away angrily. Why was she crying? What had caused this sudden upset? Seeing James Potter dancing with some girl, laughing and looking happy with someone else?

And then it hit her quite suddenly.

It was because she wanted to be that girl. She wanted to dance with James, feel his arms around her. She wanted to laugh and look happy with him. Could it be? James Potter had finally won her over? Filled with sudden elation, Lily felt an urge to laugh, shriek, squeal - anything, and would have done so had she not remembered; it was too late. He had moved on. No wonder he hadn't looked at her all evening, all day in fact. Now she realised why.

Lily bit back a sob, blinked back her tears and willed herself not to cry. She stood up and moved to the window which over-looked the main entrance to the castle and the lake. She could see a few couples sneaking out of the building, disappearing into the darkness. Normally she would have gone down to reprimand them, but this time she let them be.

"Lily?"

Lily froze. She quickly brushed away any tears that remained on her face, but she didn't turn around or respond.

"Lily, are you alright?" She could hear James approaching her and she shivered. "You looked a little upset when you left."

"I'm fine James," she replied, stiffly but relieved that her voice hadn't wavered. "You should get back to your partner." She struggled to keep the bitterness from her tone.

Though she couldn't see him, she sensed his posture change. "She's not important Lily, I'm worried about you."

"I told you, I'm fine."

"No, you're not." James sounded very sure of himself.

"Oh? And how would you know?" Lily muttered irritably, keeping her gaze on the window, but no longer interested in what was happening outside.

"Because I just know. Look Lily," James sighed. "I thought you hated me after our conversation a couple of days ago, and I tried to give you space, I really did. But it's impossible! I...I can't not be around you."

Lily whipped around. "Stop it, James," she said. "Just stop." Lily tried to walk around him but James reached to halt her, his arm around her waist. Lily was taken aback and for a few moments both just stood there staring at each other. Eventually, James opened his mouth to say something but then the portrait hole crashed open.

"How could you?! How could you even-"

"Stop it Mary, you-

"...right in front of me!"

"Lily!" Marlene had looked up. "Lil, what happened?"

"Maybe she saw the thing you were dancing with!" Mary cut in. "And couldn't stand the si-" She was interrupted by the portrait hole opening again and Remus spilling into the Head's Common Room, followed closely by Sirius, Peter, Alice and Frank. Lily resisted the urge to cry out. What was everyone doing here?

"James, mate, what were you thinking?" Remus cried, striding over to where James stood by the window.

"Nice catch you had down there, Prongs!" Sirius had followed them over and raised his hand in an attempt to receive a high-five from James. James and Remus glared at him. "Oh..right. Sorry, mate."

James turned back to Remus. "You told me to give her space!" He said, resisting the urge to yell. If Lily heard...

"IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS MARY!" Marlene was shouting.

"Marlene, Mary, what is going on?" Alice had joined the argument.

"She's turned to the Dark Side, that's what!" Mary yelled.

"I said, give her space, not go with another girl!" Remus was shouting to James across the room. Lily heard and turned her head.

"I'm not turning to the Dark Side just because I'm dating Barry Mulciber!" Lily's head whipped back to Marlene.

"What?" She and Alice yelled in unison.

"How was I supposed to know it would affect her? I thought she hated me!" James argued behind them.

"Mulciber?"

"Well, maybe she doesn't hate you as much as you thought," Remus said. Lily sat down on the floor out of pure confusion.

"I knew you would do this! I knew you would judge me! This is why I didn't tell you!"

"Better you told us than me finding out in the Hospital Wing, of all places!"

"Yeah, well, if she didn't, she definitely hates me now." Lily stole a glance at James, he had his hands in his hair.

"I love him, okay?" Lily turned back to Marlene and Mary.

"You sort of deserve it, after what you did." Back to James.

"Yes, because if you love him, that automatically makes him a better person!" To Marlene and Mary.

"What else was I supposed to do?" To James.

"Stop it, Mary!" Marlene and Mary.

"I don't know, I was only trying to help you, James!" James.

"You know what he does to me and Lily, Marlene!" Marlene and Mary.

"Yeah, look where that got me." James.

Lily couldn't take it anymore. She stood up in a rush accidentally backed into Sirius. "Sorry," she choked out, before a fresh wave of tears took over. She turned towards the portrait hole and ran out into the corridor.

"Guys!" Sirius yelled but nobody heard him over all the raised voices. "SHUT IT!" he shouted and immediately the room fell silent. "Prongs..." but James had already seen Lily hurry out of the common room and was running after her.

"Would someone please explain what's going on?" Peter cried.

Marlene looked around at the group. She exhaled heavily. "Why don't we just all sit down?" Turning to Mary and Alice, she said, "We can discuss this tomorrow."

Mary scowled. "Whatever. I'm going to bed." She stormed out of the room, leaving the group in an uncomfortable silence.

James finally found Lily at the end of a nearby corridor, staring out the window. Rain had started to fall, thundering heavily against the walls. The corridor was dark, illuminated by a single lantern throwing flickering shadows over the flagstone.

"Go away James," Lily said, and James could hear her voice wavering.

"I will, I promise I will. In fact, I'll leave you alone for the rest of the year and never bother you again, if you just give me a minute."

Lily remained silent.

"Can you tell me, once and for all, if I'll ever have a chance? I can't keep this up any longer, because the truth is Lily, I love you. I love you and I always have and I really hope I can not leave you alone for the rest of the year, because, honestly, I don't think I could do it."

"James - I -" Lily's breath hitched and she took a tentative step towards him. James moved closer, nervously, until he was so close she could feel each time he exhaled. His hands slipped around her waist, pulling her in tightly. When she didn't move away, James cautiously lowered his head and kissed her.

Lily reached up and wrapped her arms around James' neck as she kissed him back. Butterflies erupted in the pit of her stomach. She smiled against James' lips. James couldn't believe it. This was it! It was actually happening. The thing he had dreamed about for six years. He was kissing Lily Evans. And the best part was, she was kissing him back. He didn't know what day it was, he didn't even know his own name. All he knew was that his lips were kissing Lily Evans and honestly, it was the best day of his life.