I'm really sorry I haven't been updating for a VERY LONG time, think I just dropped the fan-fic bug. Anyway, this chapter is based on the Where's My Shoe/Vanilla Ice Cream scene from Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick's 1963 musical She Loves Me (which I found on YouTube the other day).

Enjoy, and reviews are always appreciated. Hopefully I'll update more from now on...

Oh, and beware of possibly fluff ahead...

"Lancelot!" proclaimed a boy with unruly black hair, and the portrait to the Head's Common Room swung open. The boy did not waste a second to climb through the door and to reach the red-haired (and also red-nosed due to all the sneezing) girl stirring on the sofa, a blanket covering her, with a flask of probably-now cold tea and a huge box of tissues on the table in front of the sofa.

"Oh good, you're awake" he said "How are you feeling?"

"Bit better, head's still throbbing a bi-choo!" The boy smiled down at her. He couldn't believe how adorable she was, even when she was ill; even when her hair went in all directions and was frizzy, even when her nose was as red as said hair, even when despite the red nose, the rest of her skin was almost ghost white and there were dark circles under eyes; even with all that she was still the most beautiful thing in existence. The girl looked around to the window outside, and must have noticed the sun was on the verge of setting….

"Oh Merlin! What time is it?!"

"Nearly half past 6. Don't worry, I've brought you up a snack-"

"WHAT! Why didn't you wake me up before, Ja-choo! I've got to go for rounds! I can't be late for the first Heads-round of the year!" Lily stood up threw off the blanket and started rummaging around the floor, though he swore she swayed a little bit while doing so. "Where's my shoe?!"

James looked at her bewildered, pushing his glasses further up his nose. "Lily," he said calmly "Do you honestly think you can go on rounds tonight? You look bloody awful."

"Of course I ca-choo!"

"You've been asleep all afternoon, you're still in your pyjamas!" Very cute ones he might add too.

"I'm much better now"

"You sure about that?"

"Of course I am! Where have you hidden my shoe?"

"I think you should lie back down Lily-"

"Don't just stand there, help me find my other shoe!"

"You can barely stand up. You're still shivering"

"Don't lie to me James Potter, WHERE'S MY SHOE?!"

"Evans, you're hysterical! Sit down!"

"I will not sit down Potter until I have found my God-damn shoe!"

Right, James thought. That's it; and before she knew what was happening, James picked her up, almost flinging her onto his right shoulder. Lily struggled wildly against him, kicking ferociously and batting her fists against his back.

"Put me down Potter! RIGHT NOW!"

"No way Evans. Not until you realise that there is no way you would be well enough to step out of the common room door, let alone go and do your usual rounds all over the school!"

Almost instantly she stopped kicking and almost seemed to sag into his shoulder.

"ACHOO!"

Well that was it then wasn't it? She knew when to give up. Almost instantly, Lily felt herself being gently dropped from James' hold back onto the sofa, laying her down. He draped her tartan blanket back over her, and she felt an instant warmth from it. She hadn't realised just how cold she had been without it draped over her and she left out a huge shiver.

"I'm sorry" she whimpered quietly. "But who's going to do rounds if not me-achoo!"

James laughed. "Don't you worry about that Flower. Anyway, I've got you a present."

"Have you really? I bet its homework"

"Better than that! I know this is your favourite flavour, so here you are, sorry if it has melted a bit…" And from his robes, James pulled out a tub of vanilla ice cream and a spoon. A little bit of colour returned to her pale face, blushing from her cheeks.

"Where did you get this?"

"Kitchens. One of the House Elves served my parents before we set him free to help Dumbledore here. So I always like to pop down occasionally."

He handed down the tub of ice cream to Lily, coincidentally brushing her hands. She started looking at the packaging on the ice cream, gingerly turning the tub round and round in her hands.

"When I was little" she whispered "My mum always used to give me this when I was under the weather. That's why it's my favourite" She took the spoon from James hand and took a small scoop of the now very soft ice cream. It was delicious.

"Thank you James"

James beamed down at her.

"Now, you get plenty of rest and eat up, you'll feel better. And don't worry about a thing, I'll take care of everything" He bent down and gave her forehead a light kiss. "And you're welcome." He got up, dusted down his robes turned around but paused.

"James are you ok?"

"Under the weather?"

"What do you mean?"

"What does 'under the weather' mean?"

Lily laughed. "It's just a Muggle saying. Sorry, I shouldn't blurt them out like that, I forgot you don't always understa-choo!"

James sent one last smile her way before heading out of the portrait door hole.

Lily reached out for the ice cream again and started eating, and with each mouthful of sweet vanilla, she felt a little better, she could feel it; though by the time she got to sleep, there was something that still bugged her – she still couldn't work out why her forehead was tingling just as much as her tongue….. She was simply stunned!

Will wonders never cease?