When James finally turned up, Lily was about to leave and search for him, Peter had fallen asleep on his seat after waiting for James and eating a box of chocolate.
Lily looked for injuries on James' body and once she had made sure that he wasn't hurt she started beating his chest with her small fists as tears fell from her eyes. James grabbed her hands and hugged her tightly and she mirrored him.
"I was so worried, I was about to leave to look for you at Merlin knows where, Pete returned and told me everything, what were you doing?" she asked.
"Sorry, love. I will tell you but not here, I am tired, and you are tired too, let's lay down somewhere," he said.
"All the rooms are filled, no room is empty," she reminded him and he cursed. "Sirius and Remus are in your room."
"Let's sleep in your room then,"
"Marls is there," she told him. "But we can still sleep there, we will sleep in a sleeping bag, Marls will not make mayhem in the morning."
"Yeah, let's go. I will conjure a warm, soft, and comfy bag that fits both of us," he said. They both lay together on the floor in the sleeping bag, spooning, while James told her about meeting Snape and giving him a chance.
"I mean, it isn't wrong to give him a chance, right?" James asked her. "I can't directly send him to Azkaban and I promised him that I would kill him next time, so I don't think he will dare to do that, he was begging for a woman named Narcissa, in whom he sees his mother."
"It was a brave thing, James, but you risked your life there, alone with two death eaters, they could have attacked you," she said in a worried voice. "Even though they were wandless it was dangerous. So, please don't do things like this next time."
James sighed, "I was feeling guilty for killing that death eater so thought this will help to lift the burden."
Lily turned to look at him, "Did it help?"
"I think so," he said kissing her forehead.
"Just don't out yourself in danger for unworthy things, please," she requested. "I was worried sick."
"Sorry about that," he replied.
James surprised Lily with 'The Mousetrap Play by Agatha Christie' in London's West End before she had to leave to go to her house early for the wedding. This Lily confessed was the best play she had seen and was glad that James was with her, though she also confessed that she had read the script of the play already.
After two days James found himself at the front of Lily's house, dressed in the muggle clothes she has chosen for him to wear on the wedding, the house was filled with many relatives of The Evans who were on their way to The Church, the wedding location. Lily has said she would meet James here so he reached her room and knocked, when approved, he entered the room and his jaws dropped to the grounds, standing in the messy room was an angel in yellow dress, which looked great with her emerald eyes and red hairs, she smiled at him and doesn't has to ask how she looks as James' face already answered her. Though Lily frowned at James' messy hairs.
"Come here, let's see what we can do to these bastards," she said pointing his hairs and making him chuckle.
He sat on her bed as she tried to straighten his hair and bring them down, after ten minutes of trying they won't come down but Lily was just as stubborn as them.
"You are acting just like mum, she used to comb my hair like you every time we went out to any function or I had to go to Hogwarts," he snorted when Lily held his face with one hand to keep him in position and was combing his hair with other.
After twenty more minutes of trying, she was able to make his hirs look presentable though they were still not flat.
The wedding went great, all the time James' eyes were fixed on the bridesmaid whp in his opinion was the best looking girl in the entire place and world. Lily introduced James to rest of her family, saying they both study in same boarding school in Scotland.
"Where did you disappeared in the evening?" asked Lily next day as they sat in her room.
"Oh! that, yes, I was helping your cousin, Robin to get a girl he has crush on," James smirked. "And I succeded, they are going on date today."
"That's why he was talking so high of you," laughed Lily.
Then they talked about the Dursleys and both agreed that Marge, Vernon's sister was the most horrible person they had ever met.
"Why were Venon's friends talking to you? And then you were surrounded by a lot of people, I was with Petunia and was busy so wasn't able to find out," asked Lily.
James bit his lips. "Remember when he visited your house in summer and I was there, and he made fun of us, and I got back at him in the same way by telling him about magic?" Lily nodded that evening was the only bad evening of that summer. "Well, he told his friends that I was a street magician."
"He did what?" asked Lily bewildered. "Why didn't you told me? I would have given him a nice reply."
"I handled it, Lils," James laughed. "I did as he said, I performed magic, real magic, and I did followed Ministry's guidelines, no one suspected me, they were all very amused though si=o Vernon's plan backfired."
"Sorry you had to do that," grimaced Lily.
"I enjoyed it and that was nothing, I was doing it for you and also for Rose and Richard," smiled James, and Lily's heart filled with emotions.
She leaned in and gave him a kiss, "Now, I want to marry you. I couldn't help but imagine yesterday how it would be to marry you. And now I want to."
"We aren't even of age in the Muggle world, Lils," James said. "Though I too imagined the same, you were looking so beautiful yesterday that I wanted to snog you right there in front of everyone. Though be ready, as now you have presented your desire, a proposal might be on the way." He winked at her and she didn't know if he was serious or was joking.
"Really? When?" she asked shocked.
"Careful, Evans, I ma not gonna tell you that, I hate to break to you but that's not how it works,"
"Oh right, yeah," she said sarcastically rolling her eyes.
"Hey! I am serious, it's happening," he said.
"Okay," she said in a sing-song voice.
"And when it's happen it's going to kick your ass, Evans," smirked James, and Lily nodded with the same look. "So, stay sharp."
"I have been warned," Lily said raising her hands. (A/N: PB&J, The office, anyone? I liked that scene so much.)
WE'RE BACK AT HOGWARTS
Sirius couldn't help but notice the lost look on Regulus' face, he looked as though in pain, they hadn't talked since their father's death, and haven't got a chance to talk since they have arrived here. Reg last year has shown Sirius another pair of mirror that belonged to his father and Uncle Alphard but instead of giving the mirror to Sirius he has given it to his girlfriend, Sirius hasn't complained, he just wanted to talk to Reg and knew that he wanted to talk to him.
Snape after a shaky and wonderful Christmas was back too, his mind was occupied with all the nights spend with Narcissa. Earlier he was praised by Lucius for escaping Thanatos, he found out at that time that no death eater was interested in the loss of their two people, they just threw around their names and by next week had forgotten about them. Snape wondered if they would have done the same thing with him.
Now that he was here, he find himself less into Narcissa and more into Lily as heard entering the great hall with her two friends laughing, and talking animatedly, Potter entered later and Snape observed that he sat away from Lily with Pettrigrew unlike other days where he would sit with his arms around Lily. So, the rumor might be true, he should talk to Lily and comfort her, abuse Potter and gain her, he pushed Narcissa to back of his mind. If Potter, that stupid git can have Lily then so can he. He wanted to feel those lips, he wanted to feel her, just like he has seen Potter do it, he too wanted to make her laugh like Potter.
When he looked up at Potter again he found that Potter was looking straight at him and that too with curiosity. Their eyes met for a few seconds before Snape diverted his face and focused on his food.
"That was stupid James," scolded Peter just like Lilu and James has to roll his eyes.
"You agree with me on everything, Wormy," said James. "She doesn't approve of my action but at least you could. This plan is good and if she helps to implement it than we can use it next time. She won't listen to me but she might listen to you."
"I don't agree with everything, not when it can result in your death," said Peter shaking his head. "Lily wasn't too happy with your reckless decision to be alone with Snape and that other death eater that day, you should have seen her, I have never seen her that worried except for the day you were nearly killed by Snape."
"Wish I could involve Pads into it, he would have liked my idea," mumbled James and Peter rolled his eyes.
"Fine, I will try to talk to Lily and try her to accept the new tactic but you will have to be careful."
Snape watched as Peter got up from his seat and walked up to Lily whispering something to her, it was this time that Snape saw that look on Lily's again, the look she used to have when Potter would ask her out and irritate her. Lily turned to look at Potter and frowned at him and then to Snape's surprise and delight gave Potter a middle finger from across the table, not many noticed but a few did. Potter sighed and looked defeated, and Snape felt victorious.
By the end of the day, Snape has listened hard to each gossip and is delighted that the gossip on top was that the head girl was ignoring the head boy in Gryffindor tower too.
He looked at the old potions book Narcissa had taken out from The Malfot Library and had gifted to Snape along with gloves, he put them aside and went out to seek Lily Evans, give her comfort and win her, he will think of Narcissa later.
James ran his hands through his hair violently, why she can't approve of a plan, it would be funny to terrorize the death eaters even more, but Lily had to disapprove of it, he sighed as he ran the plan through his mind again. There was a high possibility of him getting hurt and he knew Lily hates it when he puts himself in danger, finally realizing that she would be hurt if he got hurt he decided to agree with Lily, after all, he can't see her all worried and hurt. He took out the map and found her with Mary and Marls in the library and ran to meet her.
Lily after getting permission from the librarian occupied a corner of the library to study and also teach with Mary and Marls for NEWTs, the three girls would teach the other two what they were strong at thus bringing all of them to a safe level of preparation.
Lily was standing and explaining the theory of a Homonculous Charm to the other two, Lily has nearly mastered each charm except for The Patronus Charm, she has tried to perform it a hundred times when she was alone but has only been able to form only wisp of silvery gas, she knew that she should ask help from James but she was too proud of her charm skills and was ashamed and arrogant to admit to him that she doesn't knows a charm that he has been able to do in his fifth year.
"The boys used this charm on the map, didn't they?" asked Mary when Lily had explained the charm.
"Yes, they have," sighed Lily. "They are bloody brilliant in studies when it comes to doing mischiefs."
"Truly spoken, Love," said a voice behind Lily as two strong arms seized her from behind, Mary and Marls giggled.
Lily tensed up and was about to turn and hex the person when she recognized the voice and the scent and relaxed. "You are lucky I didn't hex you as I was about to."
"I know," smirked James and then whispered. "I realized that plan isn't worth the risk, so we will not use it."
A huge grin spread on her face, "Really?!" she asked happily.
"Really," he said kissing her.
"You know that it was dangerous that's why I disapproved and was angry at you?" she whispered.
"I know. So, no more angry?"
"Nope," she said popping the 'p'.
"Enough you two, James, out, we are in a study session and Lily is ours for now, you can snog her later," said Marls and James jumped back. He gave Lily a quick peck and a blowing kiss to the other two girls, bowed and saluted them and left.
"Sometimes, I think he is the drama queen and not Padfoot," laughed Lily. "Nope, both are drama queens." All three girls laughed until the librarian came and gave them a warning.
After an hour or so, the girls were all tired and decided to resume their studies tomorrow. "You both go, I have to borrow a charms book, I will see you in the common room," said Lily.
After picking up and looking at the theory of Patronus charm, and finding that it has the same theory, she decided to leave and wait for Flitwick to teach them the charm the next week, she was feeling sad about not being able to produce the patrons and the fact that she for the first time has been weak at a spell in Charms. She was thinking of asking James to teach her and she knows that he will immediately help her but she also knows that he already has enough on his plate with classes, NEWTs, Thanatos, Quidditch, Head duty and the worry of his parents. She didn't want him to give his only free time to teach her.
"You look sad," said a voice and Lily stopped in her tracks to look Snape standing ahead of him.
"None of your business," Lily said as she walked past him, already tired she was in no mood to talk anymore and just relax.
"I have decided to leave The Dark Lord and death eaters," he called after her and she stopped and turned to look at him.
"That's. . . that's good," she said a small smile appearing on her face, so James' effort was not a waste, she has to give credit to him for that.
For the first time since the fifth year she has smiled while looking at him, Snape's heartbeat increased, Narcissa had forgotten.
"I am sorry that you are sad," he said pushing his luck as his heart rate increased.
"Like I said it's none of your business," sighed Lily, he may have left them but she was not ready to forgive him, she might forgive him for calling her that word(though she was not sure she would.) but she will never forgive him for nearly killing James. Never.
"He is stupid to fight with you," said Snape.
"Please, I said it's not your business," said Lily turning to walk away and give James the news, she couldn't believe that Snape would think they could be back to being friends again and talk about her personal life.
"Wait. Sorry. I am ready to fight for your side, please," said Snape hurriedly not wanting to mess up the moment.
Unaware to both, two boys were walking back to the Gryffindor tower, under the invisibility cloak with hands full of food and drinks, they both stopped inches away from the only other two persons in the corridor.
Lily turned back frustrated, "What now? If you want help then go to Dumbledore, he will help."
"I agreed to fight for this side because of you," he said, though at that moment he, thought it was more to do with being alive and keeping his promise to death god and to save Narcissa.
Lily looked at him with narrowed eyes, and shrugged, "At least you came to your senses at last." She gave him a small sad smile.
She didn't understand him, he had been cowardly, Thanatos was right about this, he was too cowardly to tell her about his feelings. He decided to push his luck further, he didn't want Lily to be with Potter, and he didn't want Potter to get Lily. Through his hatred for James and not wanting him to win Lily again, he found the courage to speak.
"I want to be your friend again, you don't have to put up with Potter anymore now that I am on your side, I will be with you and this time Potter will not bother you, I have got protection and that too, he said he will protect me if I join your side, so don't worry about that prick, I am here now. I will hurt him bad if he will try to pick on you." It wasn't hard to say these things now that he had said these words in his mind hundreds of times.
But then he looked at Lily and saw the unmistakable anger and fury on her face. "Want to be my friend again? Sorry to disappoint you Snape but friendships are built on trust and it takes time to build trust, and did you forget you have already broken my trust again and again by betraying me, by joining them and then calling me 'mudblood' and not to forget nearly killing James.
And don't you dare talk like that about James. You have always been like that to James ever since the first day, you have hated him and have been jealous of him. I didn't say this back then because then you were my friend but I will say now you have always been jealous of James because he is everything that you are not."
"I am not jealous of Potter," said Snape angrily.
"Yes, you were and you still are, you have hated him and you have never hidden your loathing for him. Even after that incident, it seems you haven't matured." snapped Lily.
"I have matured. And what about Potter, he and his friends still hex me behind your back," argued Snape. "He hasn't changed, he is still the same. He just hides it from you to look good,"
"I know what James does, I know he has hexed you and I also know what has led him to hex you, do you want me to remind you what has led him to hex you?" she looked dead in his eyes and Snape looked down not able to see in those fiery green eyes. "Yes, James tells me everything, he confesses to me everything."
"Still he hasn't matured, he broke your heart, and he was threatening you that day," argued Snape. "He is an arrogant, lazy, weak, selfish prick, whom everyone thinks is a big hero."
"Because everyone sees him for what he is, James is a hero, and in a way that not everyone knows, if only you'd not been obsessed to look into his faults of two years ago and would have known what James has done or is doing, you would have never said this thing, you would have been thanking him. He has matured and has gone so much further to even look past the hatred between you and him. You would have been thanking him for what he did to you but you are blinded by your foolishness, immaturity and hatred for him." She said angrily, how can Snape say these things about the person who has just saved his life a few weeks ago, but then Snape doesn't know who Thanatos is? "And for your information not every fight means breakup, James and I fight but we get over it, stronger than before, he will never break my heart."
Snape searched for words to say, he has made the same mistake of hatred for Potter interfering with him. But before he could say anything thing Lily spoke again.
"Look, I am very glad that you finally made the right choice but this doesn't mean that we go back to being friends, times have changed, I don't know about you but I have changed," said Lily. "So, goodbye Snape," she said turning to go but then stopped and looked back at Snape with the same fiery eyes. "And I swear that if you will ever think of hurting James then beware, this time I will not just hit you with a simple hex but I will hurt you bad and you will regret to be alive. Or if you think of remaining with your death eaters or betraying our side then not even Voldemort will save you from me, I will kill you personally."
"I can never get enough of her in this warrior form, look how she looks with that Valkyrie look," smirked James.
"Can you believe that Snape is telling the truth?" asked Remus but before James could answer Snape spoke.
With that she began to turn to walk away, Snape couldn't let her go, no, he couldn't, he panicked, this might be his last chance before she went back to Potter.
"I love you," he blurted out.
Lily stopped and looked at him, "What? What did you say?"
"Lily, I love you, I always love you. I will love you more than Potter can ever love you, I will make you happier. Leave him, leave Potter," Snape pleaded.
"I should have not saved him that night," whispered James.
"I am glad you did, otherwise I would have been in Azkaban," grimaced Remus.
"I am not talking about that, I saved that git during Christmas," snarled James trying to move forward but Remus stopped him and Lily spoke.
"That was the funniest thing I have ever heard," Lily laughed humourlessly
"I am not joking," said Snape.
"Oh! you are," snapped Lily. "That was the funniest joke or a lie."
"I am not lying," pressed Snape. "I love you, I will love you better than James. I will change for you just like him."
"You don't know the meaning of love then," grimaced Lily. "It is a feeling that makes you limitless, Love is selfless, a consistent passion to give, not a meek persistent hope to receive. To love without condition, to talk without intention, to give without reason, care without expectation, that's the spirit of love, true love. To love is not to change but to grow, to grow together. Love is when you stop the other person and say 'no' to him without hesitation when they are doing wrong and that person understands his mistake. Love is when you feel complete by being with them, love is when the very sight of them touches your soul. Your whole world lightens up when they're there. Love is that power that grows inside you, and gives you strength to fight all the odds, True love is that even when they are gone, even when they're not around, you continue to live, you continue to live happily, then also you continue to love others and love the nature, knowing that they will be with you until the very end no matter what. Love doesn't die with a person, and if it does then that is not love that is an obsession.
True love inspires you to grow, it awakens the souls and gives you hope, peace and happiness. True love is when you love the soul and not the face. True Love is not about possession, it is about appreciation. True love burns a fire into your soul, into your heart, into your body, a fire that can never be extinguished by anything, the fire just grows and grows. You will know that you truly love someone or that someone truly loves you just by looking into their eyes."
Lily shook her head. "You don't love me, Snape, you are just delusional, if you had loved me then you would have never insulted James, just like you did just now, you would have never asked me to leave him, you don't even know me, Snape, you don't know who I am."
"I know who you are, Lily" Snape interjected and Lily snorted.
"There are thousands of Lily and thousands of Lily Evans, I didn't mean that, I was talking about me, you don't know me at all because if you would have known me even a little then you would have known what James means to me, you would have known what I have for James. I will tell you what is love to me, I will give you one word that defines true love for me, for my true love means James," said Lily. "And if you would have even known me then you would have known this.
"And you say, you love me, and here you don't even know me. I will tell you one thing, even those who have known me for ages can't love me the way James loves me, no one can ever love me more than James because his love for me can never be measured, I see it in his eyes, he doesn't need to tell me, he shows me without even intending to do so. No one can love me like James. And you know what? I love James the same way, I love him so much that I can't describe it in words, and I love him in the way that I will never be able to love anyone else ever, I love him through every fibre, every cell of my body, I love him by my soul, I can feel it and I know that I will never love anyone like I love James. True, I have known him for only seven years have been his close friend for only two years, and have been dating him for only about one year but this time was enough to fall in love with him. Love isn't bounded by time. Love is free, it bonds souls and my soul is bonded with James' soul, I can feel it. I will love him until the very end."
Snape at this moment was speechless, he hadn't thought he would have to listen to this after telling her that he loved her, which he now truly realized that he doesn't. But he also accepted that Lily was different than others, very few have this kindness and power to move someone with their words.
"I hope that you will find your love someday, Severus," said Lily. "But you should know that you don't love me. Also, if you ever respected the friendship that we had then you will not join the death eaters again and you will keep your promise. If you need help then Dumbledore is there. You should not waste your life, you should be grateful you are here and not in Azkaban."
And then she was gone. Snape watched after her longingly, James smirked and with Remus followed Lily's path.
"I can't describe my feelings for her, she is the most wonderful person ever, did you listen to how much she loves me?" asked James dreamily.
"I was there Prongs," smiled Remus, Lily's words had touched not only James, but they had touched Snape's and Remus' hearts too. "But you will have to tell me what's going on and I don't want to listen to your made-up stories."
"Fuck, okay, but you can't tell Sirius, he has got enough on his plate already and I don't want him to know that I am keeping a secret from him."
James made Remus promise to keep it secret and told everything to Remus as they slowly made their way back to Gryffindor Tower with food.
"I should have suspected it, now it seems a lot like something you would do," grinned Remus. "So, when I am joining?"
James frowned. "You can't mate, you already have to suffer that every month, though you can help with managing and planning I can't take you there. And you know if Sirius finds out he will go mad and in his eagerness and recklessness will give away the safety."
"Yeah, he is impatient regarding these things," sighed Remus. "How do you feel with Lily? I mean when you both are together, means romantically, I have heard you both say the magical words, what made you say that?"
"Have you said that to Mary?" Remus shook his head. They both stopped outside the portrait." Do you love her?"
"I don't know," shrugged Remus. "I am more confused after hearing Lily, how did you know you loved her?"
"That's the magic," winked James. "You know when you are in love, you just know." And with that, they removed the cloak and entered the common room. James found Lily talking to Mary and Marls in a whisper in the corner of the room, and James had a good idea what she was talking about. "We will not tell her that we heard her unless she tells me, okay?" Remus nodded.
While the boys enjoyed the food and shared it with others around, James saw Lily talking seriously to the girls, finally, after thirty minutes she walked up to him smiling but looking quite nervous. She took him to his dorm and locked the door before sitting with him on the bed and began telling James about what had happened before.
"Marls said, I should not as it will hurt you and make you angry but I didn't want to keep it from you," said Lily. "I love you, James."
James smiled at her. "I know Lils, I know, I was passing from there with food, I heard the entire conversation and I am not worried because your reply was everything, it made my day, it made my life." He said kissing her and she turned red.
"I didn't know you would hear it, I talked about your feelings too," she mumbled.
"And you were right, if I had to define love in only one world then it would be 'Lily'."
January began to pass quickly, and Lily became addicted to her late-night adventures with James now that they were accompanied by Peter and only on a few occasions by Remus, who would stay hidden with Peter, she has become freer in using new tactics and making new tactics as she now has James fighting by her side and not on the roof putting traps to use and assisting her.
Sadly for her, it didn't take long for The Daily Prophet to get her picture too as one night the Aurors had arrived early and someone had taken her picture, they already had her name, and now her hooded photo was printed on the first page, she grimaced. She didn't like publicity, James was good with keeping up with that but not she, even though it was a fake face behind the hood.
Remus has taken it upon himself to get supplies for healing from Poppy who has taken pity on his condition and has given him full access. The room of requirement, they later found out doesn't have a large supply of potions, it was put in here by someone earlier and the magic has preserved the potion. They have found out that the room uses old, discarded things from around the castle, mend them and present them when asked for, the only demerit is that you can't take out things, you have to ask them differently if you want to take out things. Remus and Peter after days of trying have found what to ask.
When the seven friends entered the room, Remus said he had asked for a place to hide things, and now the room was full of all sorts of items, there were mountains and mountains of discarded things, useful things, and precious things.
"It looks like they had forgotten to take it back," said Mary as she looked around and found a cage with skeletons.
"We can take whatever we want from here, cool," exclaimed Sirius.
"Take only useful things, and things you need, others might need them later," explained Remus.
"Why did you take the trouble to find this junkyard?" asked Marls.
"And why do you need to know about that potion?" asked Mary.
"Time-pass," said Peter, they can't tell they were looking for ways to get those potions and books, so Poppy doesn't get suspicious. James has gotten a serious leg injury that wasn't healing, he has lied to everyone saying quidditch injury but only Lily, Remus, and Pete knew it was a dark spell and they were searching for the potion to know its name and brew it more as it was mostly used by James on Lily.
After three hours of searching they gave up, they found all sorts of things but not the potion. Finally, it was decided to send James to Poppy.
Luckily or unluckily on Lily's birthday, they had received a tip, and thus she has spent the first four hours of her eighteenth birthday sitting on the roof of an old house in a muggle village under the cloak holding James, waiting for death eaters while snow fell over them.
For her, the celebration was catching two death eaters and preventing them from recruiting a wizard. Later that evening when they had gotten enough rest, James sneaked her into the room of requirements for a date where he requested the house elves to bring her favourite food, dessert, and drink. Sitting in the room with hundreds of candles burning around the room and soft background music playing, was a romantic gesture from James.
"Here, your gift, it's not expensive at all but I hope you like it," James said hesitantly, he looked at her with nervousness as she opened the present. It was his sketch notebook, on the cover was her colourful sketch, and many more sketches were added to the notebook.
It now has sketches of her parents with her, of Petunia and her, of Petunia's wedding, of both of their families together, and of James and Lily with their parents and Petunia. There were sketches of her as Andraste, in fighting mode.
"It's lovely James, it's the most precious thing you have given me, you have given me a part of you," she said standing on her tiptoes and kissing him.
They had no intention of spending the night here in the room but they found themself in the bed which had appeared by itself in the night and they both were asleep in each other arms.