Unofficial Portkey Archive

A/N: Well…here we are. The last chapter of Bitter About You, which is by far the longest chapter of this whole story. How sad! First I'd like to thank absolutely everyone who has read this story and supported it, especially the readers who have been with me since the beginning. I can't thank you enough, and I'll miss this story and you guys!

Just so you know, this is the first story that I have ever finished, so I really want your input! Be mean if you must, just be honest so that the next story I write I'll be able to improve the ending.

Thanks again, guys. Enjoy!

- Katie

Tell me all the dreams that you have let slip right through your hands
Do you feel lost inside of someone else's life

Failure is the only way to learn till you've come undone
The rest we'll never find out what they might have been

-We'll Never Know, Lifehouse

Lily's mind had been blank for a while, but suddenly a strange, ringing noise went off in her head, telling her, no screaming at her, what are you doing? What the hell are you doing, Lily?

She pushed James away, who stumbled slightly back into the bookshelf on the other side, where he staggered as he tried to hold himself upright. He blinked, his lips looking soft and swollen (had she done that?), and they stared at one another for a while. Lily was glad, because now she could gather her thoughts and figure out what to do next-whoa! Where those his lips again?

So then she was kissing him again, and Lily's reasonable and practical part of her mind was completely gone and running because she didn't care anymore. She never thought she'd say it, but kissing James Potter was so-so-good and she didn't want to stop anytime soon.

She couldn't stop herself from thinking though. And her thoughts-after some serious rational `get-your-act-together' time-were rather strange. Why did she like doing this? It was James. James Potter. She hated him. He wasn't a nice person and he was only stumbling after Lily because he couldn't have her!

Okay…well… Lily closed her eyes. Now that he's had me, he'll let me be…and that's why I should keep on kissing him…

They stayed like that for a while. His lovely hands were on her hips as he came even closer to her, both of them only stopping for air and then going back under again. She never would believe it if someone told her that she would be kissing someone like this, never would think that she'd dare to part her lips slightly as he started to use his warm, soft tongue, and she never, ever thought that she'd let James steadily raise her skirt so he could rest his tingling fingertips there.

Who cared if it was James Potter? He was a damn good kisser and she wasn't going to end this any time soon.

But just when it got more passionate and he was kissing her rougher, pressing her back harder against the books which were falling out from their shelves-they heard a voice which made them quickly jump apart and put some safe distance between each other.

Lannie and Remus were both standing between the two shelves where they had been concealed for the most part, and which now they were thrown to sharp relief as their friends came closer. They were both wearing the same, identical expression of complete disbelief and wonderment as Remus raised his eyebrows and Lannie gaped at them.

Lily suddenly forgot just how wonderful of a kisser James was and put even more distance between him and her. She hid her face behind her hand and blushed so terribly that she was sure that her head looked like one huge, bulbous tomato.

She didn't look at James, and neither did she want to. She was afraid she'd slap him for doing this to her-yes, it was completely, completely his own fault! If he hadn't insisted, hadn't closed in on her, this never would've happened-

"Um, Lily…you ready to go?" Lannie said finally. She was trying to restore some sanity by acting casual and nonchalant, as if she hadn't just seen her friend's lips being smothered by James's.

"Yes!" Lily squeaked, and she ran quickly out of there, practically knocking the wind out of Remus as she sped past him and grabbed her bag in record timing. She and Lannie were out the door before James could even react, which he didn't. He didn't even go after her, which she thought he would but was glad that he didn't. She needed time to just…think.

Lannie didn't ask anything, which she was grateful for as they climbed up to the Gryffindor Tower. In fact, she didn't say anything at all until they reached the safe comfort of their gracefully empty dormitory. She was glad Heather and her cronies weren't around.

Lannie was raising her eyebrow at Lily, who couldn't meet her eyes. "Okay, what happened?"

Lily looked at her blankly, opening and closing her mouth as she lost what she was about to say. "Uh…well…"

"Okay, I'll answer for you." Lannie said, going over to the vanity and grabbing the circular mirror, which she thrust into Lily's hands. "Look at yourself."

Lily did, and was horrified; her auburn hair had come out of her ponytail and looked an absolute terror; her lips were swollen and tender looking; her robes all wrinkled and her skirt higher than usual. Lily put a hand to her mouth. "Oh, dear…"

Lannie plopped down on her bed, leaning against the banister. "Were you thoroughly snogged or what?"

"The first one," Lily said weakly, still staring at her reflection that looked so unlike herself.

Lannie grinned. "So…you finally did it."

"I didn't!" Lily said defiantly. "It was all him! He was the one who came onto me and-"

"Lily, honey," she said. She was smirking. "I saw you two, and believe me-it was not all James."

Lily still couldn't believe it. "I-I don't…understand?"

"It's simple." Lannie said, still smiling widely. "You…like James. He…likes you. And today…you kissed!"

She looked absolutely ecstatic. "Somehow I think you're more excited about this than I am." Lily said dully, sinking back into her pillows.

"Well, why aren't you?"

Lily glared at her. "Because I didn't want this to happen! I just wanted him to leave me alone, so I could graduate in peace and I wouldn't have to worry about having my own stalker…"

"James isn't a stalker!" Lannie said defensively. "He's a guy who is in love with you even though you keep shunning him away!"

Lily sat straight up, her eyes flashing. "You know what, Lannie? Just leave me alone."

Lannie raised an eyebrow at her. "Fine. You don't have to use that tone, though." She hopped off of her bed and Lily quickly closed the curtains with a wave of her wand. "You'll figure out sooner or later, Lily."

"There's nothing to figure out!" Lily said as she heard the dormitory door click. She didn't care how immature or childish she was acting, but she didn't want to talk to Lannie at the moment. Sure, she was her friend, actually, the only one she had, but she was tired of listening to how excited she was about what would happen with her and James. She just wanted to sit there quietly, by herself, and just…be alone. To keep a clear head and think rationally and logically, the way she was programmed to. Lily sank deeper into her pillows and closed her eyes, pretending that she was very far away, from Lannie, from James, from everything.

***

After some time in the library that James stood there, gaping, at what had just happened, the librarian finally kicked him and Remus out and they retreated to their dormitory, where Sirius was helping Peter with some charms they had to study for. Remus quickly filled them in, however, which left Sirius to whoop loudly and Peter to drop his jaw in amazement.

"Finally!" Sirius said loudly, thumping his hand onto the bed and laughing. "Mate, I can't believe you did it!"

"Congratulations," Peter said, grinning as he motioned for them to sit on the bed they were gathered. James sat down but didn't say anything, his eyes unfocused as he stared straight ahead.

"Um-Sirius-" Remus started, but he was quickly interrupted.

"So? How was it?" His eyes were shining in mischief and he was smirking as he waited for an answer, which he undoubtedly hoped that would have very much detail.

"Sirius, I really think-"

"Cool it, Moony. We all want to hear how it happened and how was it, am I right?" Peter nodded frantically and they both stared at James, who had still not said anything. "Uh…Prongs? You there?" He reached out and shook James a bit, who jerked out of his trance and blinked.

"What?" James asked, ruffling his hair.

"How was it?" Sirius asked. He was looking a bit irritated that he still wasn't being filled in on all the details.

James stared at him blankly. "She…ran away."

Sirius looked perplexed. "Okay…what happened before?"

"Was there tongue?" Peter asked eagerly.

"She did kiss you back, right?" Sirius asked, raising his eyebrows. "I mean…she didn't just stand there like some dead zombie, did she? James?"

"Hm? Oh…um, no. She kissed me back."

Sirius grinned. "So? What's the problem?"

"She ran away." James replied flatly.

"I know, Prongs." Sirius said, rolling his eyes at James's slowness. "But what's-"

"He just said it, Padfoot." Remus snapped.

Sirius raised an eyebrow, completely nonplussed. "Well, James, what did you expect? I mean, she's never warmed up to you."

James had obviously had enough. He stood up, wrenched the dorm door open, and walked out without another word.

***

Lily had never felt so hopeless in her life. The next day she was able to avoid people for the most part; she woke up earlier than everyone else and ate breakfast alone, and since there wasn't much time to talk during classes, she sped out of all of them, ignoring conversation.

It wasn't supposed to be so hard. It was just a kiss for Merlin's sake, it wasn't as if they were now going steady or James had somehow tricked her into going on a date with him. In fact, the whole situation wasn't even entirely James's fault like she had told Lannie, because the truth was, Lily had kissed him back, no matter how hard she tried to forget about it.

What had happened? Lily thought she hated him, or at least disliked him very much. He was the complete opposite of her! He was rich, snobbish, selfish, unkind, and utterly unbearable. He was outrageous, he was loud, and he always spoke his mind to the point that it was just plain obnoxious. He always got his way, and when there was that small unlikely possibility that whatever he had planned wasn't going to happen, he chased after it until it did. This was what he was trying to do! He was trying to make her like him, and when Lily finally did, he would dump her like some piece of garbage!

So, so obvious, Lily thought. Well, I'm certainly not falling for that.

The problem was, something had changed after that kiss he had given her. Lily kept trying to tell herself that it wasn't that good, that he was a horrible kisser who slobbered all over her and was much too harsh for her taste, but the truth was he wasn't. He was gentle, sweet, and he wasn't messy and demanding. He held her, and somehow, she felt that she could just melt in the way he touched her, the way he kissed her, so that she would become nothing more than a helpless puddle on the floor.

But this wasn't supposed to happen. She wasn't supposed to feel this way. She tried to forget everything, tried to pretend that it wasn't a big deal, that he had kissed her but it didn't mean she was attached or anything, but she couldn't. She simply couldn't.

Oh no, Lily thought, slapping her hand over her horrified expression. I like James Potter.

He was looking at her in every class they had together. She had even skipped lunch so she wouldn't have to deal with him. Instead she decided to go outside, she didn't cared how cold it was, but she just wanted to be alone with her thoughts. Was it so much to ask?

Lannie, however, had different plans. She tried following Lily out of the Great Hall, but Lily had managed to hide herself in a crowd of sixth years who had just entered. She left quickly, not looking back.

Lily, you are so messed up.

She left her bag in the bushes and clutched her cloak closer to her body so that she wouldn't mind the cold as much, which was biting at face and other parts of her body that were exposed. Her teeth chattered as she pulled some gloves out of her pocket to warm her already dry hands.

Lily didn't like November. She didn't like winter. In fact, she didn't like anything at the moment, especially herself.

Again, you are so, so messed up, Lily. What kind of crazy people talk to their selves in third person, anyway? Stupid, stupid Lily.

She had always imagined that when she finally did like a boy, it would be a nice, warm feeling. Instead she felt cold and bitter, feelings that had nothing to do with the harsh wind that was blowing on her face.

***

James sat down and set his forehead on the wooden table. He closed his eyes and exhaled loudly, ignoring Sirius who was telling him about his recently acquired date, which had turned out well, apparently. As usual, he was not embarrassed to fill his friends in all the juicy details, which were earning him death glares from a group of girls nearby.

"Can you believe it? Only one date and she was already letting me touch her-"

James's stomach felt very hollow, although he didn't think it was because of hunger. "Sirius," he heard Remus say. "Shut up."

"Thank you," James said heavily.

"What? Look, Prongs, I know that you're upset and everything, but you shouldn't just sulk around." Sirius said as James sat up and glared at him. "Here…live a little. Have some potatoes."

"I don't want potatoes."

"Sure you do." Sirius said easily, sliding the bowl of roasted potatoes towards him and dumping some on his plate. "Potatoes are good for the soul."

"Who cares? I'll never have Lily, so my life might as well be over."

Peter shook his head. "You shouldn't say something like that. Sirius is right; have some potatoes."

"Food isn't the solution to everything." Remus sighed.

"That's what you think." Sirius said. "Anyway…James, why are you so worried? I mean, you're telling me she kissed you back, which means that you're probably good at whatever you were doing."

"It doesn't matter if I'm good at it or not." James said dully, sticking his fork in a potato and staring at it mournfully. "She ran away, didn't she? Didn't even say goodbye…she didn't even look at me."

Remus clucked his tongue sympathetically. "I just…expected that when I finally did kiss her…she would like it too, you know? It'd be special-for both of us." James sighed, ruffling his hair.

"Prongs, why do you even like her anyway?" Sirius asked. His eyebrows were raised high into his hair as he tried to comprehend whatever James was about to tell him. But he never would, James knew that.

He had asked the same question in the beginning of the year, and many times before that. James never knew how to answer him; Lily was simply everything he dreamed his girl to be, heck, his wife even, and that was why it was so hard to let her go. Technically, however, he wasn't really letting her go, since he never had her to begin with.

Sirius was now waving his fork and potatoes around, looking confused and incredulous as he emphasized his point. "I mean-you two are nothing alike."

James opened his mouth, ready to respond, although this time he stopped and listened to what Sirius had just said, processing it. He closed his mouth, furrowing his eyebrows and staring at his plate with his untouched potatoes, and frowned. Then he looked up, touching his stomach as he felt that hollow feeling again.

"Don't you get it?" James asked, as he too finally unraveled this. Sirius looked at him in what was clearly, `no.' "That's just it."

Sirius continued to look confuse. "What? I said you two are-"

"-Nothing alike. Exactly." James said, standing up. "I'll catch you guys later, okay?"

"All right," Sirius said in a `what-can-you-do?' sort of tone. Remus and Peter nodded, and then he left. He bumped into Lannie in the entrance hall.

"Oh, hey." James said, already moving so that he could get out of her way and be alone again.

"Wait." Lannie said, and he turned around, raising an eyebrow. "Do you have a plan, Potter?"

James immediately knew what she was talking about. He sighed loudly, ruffling his hair. "Lannie, forget it, okay?"

Lannie scowled, putting her hands on her hips. "No, I won't. And neither will you or Lily. You need a plan, James."

James gave her an exasperated look. "What plan? There's no plan that can change things, Lannie. She doesn't like me, end of story. I should've accepted that years ago." Even though those words weren't what he was planning to say, it was what came out of his mouth. Realizing this made his heart turn and squelch unpleasantly in his chest.

Lannie let out a frustrated growl, stomping her foot on the ground. "Potter, how daft are you?"

James was feeling rather annoyed. Sure, Lannie was nice and everything, but he didn't need her, and she didn't need to get so involved. He merely waved her off then went up the stairs again, ignoring Lannie's huffs as she stormed back into the Hall.

Sure, James had a plan, even though he would never confide Lannie with it or even Sirius. He was going to forget Lily Evans, or at least try to. Eventually, his system would get used to the lack of her, and he'd be able to live peacefully again. Besides, he would only have to do this for a few more months, since Graduation wasn't very far off.

Yes, that was exactly what he would do. No worries. None at all.

Yeah, right, James thought. He'd have to at least try, though.

It wouldn't be easy. He'd have to get rid of everything that reminded him of her. Those lilies the house-elves put in the dorm? Yep, they're gone. I'll chuck them out every day so I won't have to look at them and think of Lily. Oh, and no more eating strawberries, because Lily loves strawberries. Let's see…I have to get rid of that perfume I nicked from her in fifth year…well, I'll ask Remus to do it for me. I'll have to throw out that picture on my nightstand. And let's see…yep, never, ever again will I be able to look at her from that spot I found out. I can never again look at her in the tower when she's brushing her hair and putting those lovely bobby pins in…wait, doesn't Sirius have bobby pins? Yep, I'll have to get rid of those too. Hm, he won't be too happy about that.

The mere thought of that girl made his stomach do massive flips. He didn't even want to imagine how it would be to see Lily once he put his newfound plan into action. Sure, throwing out perfume and lilies wasn't that hard, but James knew it would be a lot more difficult to go through with his plan every time he'd see her. Hm, maybe I can take classes with the Ravenclaws, instead…

He knew that he was talking crazy. Actually, now that he thought about it, Lily was the one who should try to change! She was the one who had to switch classes, even House, because who was torturing who? That's right…Lily, that's who.

He looked around and saw that he was only a staircase and a tapestry away from the Fat Lady corridor. Suddenly, he didn't want people to be talking to him or even hearing people talk at all, so instead, he slid down on the window ledge and looked out onto the grounds. The moon was already coming out, the sun almost set. Lily was probably in her dormitory, avoiding everyone as usual…how typical of her. She was always shunning people away, one of the reasons he could never approximate himself to her…

It was no use, all his feelings for Lily were being torn apart, and the truth was, his good feelings were taking over his anger and bitterness very quickly. His frown was already smoothing into a smile as he closed his eyes and thought of how they had kissed, how he had been so careful not to rush things, to not be harsh, as if she were some sort of porcelain that he was afraid he'd let fall and break. Her skin was like porcelain…white and smooth, and James longed to touch it again, even though in the very back of his mind his conscious was screaming, Warning! Warning, you are getting to breaking point! WARNING!

Lily was probably getting out of the shower and brushing her hair, her bobby pins already in between her lips….

He quickly dropped to his feet and rushed in the way he had come from. He didn't care…he just wanted to see her one more time that special way no one had ever seen her…and then, finally…he'd be done.

***

It was already dark and Lily was still outside. She leaned against the willow tree by the lake, clutching her cloak tighter to her neck and covering her mouth, which was ice cold. She stared out onto the lake, which was already starting to freeze, although not completely, and felt her heart beat dully in her chest, as if she weren't really functioning but was just watching her body from far away, working its way by itself, without her soul.

It was a crescent moon that was out tonight. Lily looked at her gloved hands, which were illuminated by its light. She sighed and stared at them for a while, only breaking out of her trance as from the corner of her eye she saw someone leaving the castle and quickly crossing the lawn.

Even if the moon wasn't out she'd be able to recognize James's messy hair, and that glint from his glasses. She watched him, her heart beating no longer dully but back into action as she felt her stomach do strange somersaults. Suddenly, without thinking, Lily stood up and followed him as he made a turn around the castle and disappeared out of sight, not even noticing her.

What are you doing? Lily no longer cared. She wasn't letting her head decide, at least not for this one moment, as her feet carried her across the grass chipped with frost and she was momentarily thrown into darkness; the clouds were covering the moon.

She felt something very light on her head, and she looked up to discover that it was snowing. The first snow of the season, she thought, and she was so enraptured by it she nearly forget what she was doing, and why she was about to turn the corner of the stone castle. Lily took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly. She could see the warm air float in front of her.

When she turned the corner she saw that James was standing up, pointing to the windows up overhead and counting under his breath. Snow was covering his hair but he either didn't notice or didn't care, because he was apparently concentrating very hard on whatever he was doing. Finally, he seemed to be able to find the window he was looking for, and in doing so he sat down with his legs tucked underneath him, staring up and stretching out his neck as far as possible, apparently transfixed.

Lily raised an eyebrow, half-hidden in the shadow. She looked up also, not understanding what they were looking at. It took her a while to recognize the flowery curtains that she had put there her first year.

She slapped a hand over her mouth, silencing her gasp. That was her room.

Lily stared at James just as hard as he was staring at her window, frowning as if waiting for something. What's he doing…?

He stayed there for nearly ten minutes, sitting and leaning against his elbows. He didn't seem to mind much, he was acting as if he did this often, and he only checked his watch once. Once he saw how long he had been waiting there, however, he furrowed his eyebrows and stared at for a while, the snow covering his hair so that it looked like he had many white strands in that tangled mess of jet black. He stood up, ruffling his hair and shaking the snow slightly off of him. He was frowning and was looking at the ground.

That's when the moon appeared from the clouds.

And that's when he saw her, backed up against the wall.

***

When James finally checked his watch, which he had been trying to avoid but did anyway, he saw that he had been waiting for Lily to show up for at least ten minutes. He took this as some kind of sign that it wasn't meant to be, that he was to start his plan that very night so that he would get used to trying not to like Lily. It would take a while, so he figured that he should probably get started with it as soon as possible.

That's when he noticed that it had been snowing, and that it was a crescent moon that night. The light illuminated his face and the snow was even brighter than before, especially against his black cloak. He stared at the ground for a while, and then finally looked up to see that he wasn't alone.

Lily was standing in the shadowy corner that was no longer dark, and she was pressed up against the wall as she covered her mouth in horror.

He tried not to look at her, tried to remind himself that he wasn't supposed to be looking at her especially that way; he was supposed to just walk away and pretend that he hadn't seen her so that he could finally, finally, try to forget about her. To let her go, even though she was never his anyway.

He couldn't. They stared at one another for a while, his hazel eyes locked on her emerald ones, which were shining in the moonlight. She looked so beautiful with her rosy cheeks that were probably effects from the cold, with her red hair glittering with snow. He couldn't take his eyes off of her, and he could see the warm air heating up his glasses as he breathed rapidly and raggedly.

He walked towards her, but she met him halfway. When they were about two feet apart, she lowered her hands from her face and he could see her lovely, pink lips again, lips he loved kissing in that library. She was looking at him with an expression he couldn't quite read, and wasn't sure if he wanted to.

"What are you doing out here?" he finally asked.

She was already tensing up, already going to defense mode. She frowned slightly and said, "I could ask the same of you."

Another silence. James stared at his shoes so that he wasn't overtaken by the strong urge to kiss her again. Don't do that, she'll just run away like last time.

"James…" she said slowly, and he wasn't sure if she was softening her tone to be nice or out of pity. "Were you looking at my-room?"

James swallowed the lump in his throat and took the chance of looking at her. She had her arms crossed across her chest, which meant she was getting off her guard quite yet. "Yeah," James said quietly. "I was."

"Why?"

She was looking at him, furrowing her eyebrows in both confusion and speculation, as if she couldn't understand. James felt his insides shiver as he looked at her face. He chuckled feebly. "Well…you know."

You should leave now, James thought. Just leave, before she tells you that she'll never have anything to do with you and you get trampled again.

Lily was already backing away, her eyes lowered as she gave him the space that she obviously thought he ought to have. James stared at her, his heart pounding so furiously and hurting so much that he thought he'd have a heart attack or something of that sort.

No, said another voice in his head. Don't let her go…She needs to know…you need to tell her one last time before you give it all up.

"Lily," James said hoarsely. She looked up and he saw that she had her lips tightly sealed, her shoulders arched back. He gulped, plucking up the courage before he ended all those feelings that were squatting in his chest, suffocating him and hardly allowing him to breathe, let alone talk. "I just want you to know that…I've been watching you for a long time. I know you might think it's…well-strange-but, the thing is…"

He stopped, not quite sure what to say. Lily, thankfully, hadn't run away yet. Her expression hadn't changed, but she was looking at the ground again. She didn't say anything.

This made it easier for him. "The thing is…sometimes, I think I might even love you. This isn't some stupid crush, like you think. Lily, I-" he stopped, opening his mouth then closing it, then opening it again. "What I feel for you…isn't stupid. Or childish."

There was a silence that filled all of the grounds; even the owls or other animals didn't seem to want to break it. He could feel the cold tense his muscles, his face, his insides, although he wasn't sure if it was because of the snow that was still falling gently on them. He waited for what felt like a lifetime, waiting for some sort of answer, assurance, rejection even, anything….

"James," she said softly. "You don't even know me."

"But I do!" James said immediately, which made her quirk her eyebrow and look at him as if she highly doubted it. "I-I know that your favorite food is strawberries. I know that your favorite color is green, your favorite flower lilies…"

Lily's eyes looked unusually bright. She smiled slightly, but it was a sad sort of smile, a smile that made his heart almost break. "Those are just my favorites, James, you don't really know who I am-"

"You're kind! You're generous, you're-" James blabbered, and he could feel such cold sweat on his face, which was unusually hot. "-smart, proper, you're-the most amazing person I've ever met."

Lily had silent tears rolling down her cheeks. "James-that's who everyone thinks I am." She paused, catching her breath as she wiped her face with her hands. "But it's not who I-am."

James wasn't going to let her run away; he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to him as she tried to walk away. "Lily, you can be cynical. You can be-extremely hateful, I don't know why." Lily turned her head and looked down at her shoes, but James wasn't going to stop. "But you know what your biggest problem is, Lily? You're afraid of letting people get close to you."

Lily looked up, her eyes red but flashing with anger. "How dare you-"

"Tell me it isn't true, then." James said, grabbing her shoulders and making her face him. "Tell me it isn't true…just like tell me that you don't have feelings for me."

Lily opened her mouth, and then closed it. Her entire face was red from the cold and from her anger, while James's heart leapt to his throat as he watched her and waited for an answer.

"What do you want from me?" Lily asked. She looked so helpless there with James holding her shoulders and tilting her chin so that she'd look at him.

"You." James said softly, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "Just you."

He saw her swallow, her eyes still watery and red from her crying. Her lips were still there, hovering near his but he had to resist, because it just would make things harder if she rejected him again…

Finally, she stepped closer and wrapped his body with her own, closing that space between their lips and eliminating the cold from their bodies, taking that huge step for both of them. James opened his eyes in surprise, but quickly melted into it, pulling her closer as she kissed him in a way that made him want to stay with her-forever, maybe-so that he'd never have to think badly again.

The moon disappeared behind the clouds again, but that was okay. It came out again, and Lily and James were still underneath it, embracing each other tightly and making up for all that lost time.

***

"Lily? Lily? Wake up."

Lily opened her eyes and focused them on Lannie's face, which was hovering above hers as she grinned widely. Lily groaned and closed her eyes again, tossing to the side, which didn't make a difference since Lannie started to shake her violently.

"Lily," she repeated, this time more insistent. "C'mon…your parents are probably here already."

"I'm tired." Lily moaned, tugging at her sheets and pulling them over her head. "I'll be up…in an hour or two. It's still early."

"It's nearly noon!" Lannie said.

"Oh." Lily said, clutching to her sheets as Lannie took a hold of them and tried to peel them off of her. "Lannie!"

"You'll thank me later. You don't want to look like a zombie for all those pictures." Lannie said smugly as Lily opened her eyes and frowned. Lannie grinned. "And this is entirely your fault, because a certain someone only went to sleep at four o' clock in the morning last night…"

Lily blushed, hiding her face. "It wasn't four. Don't exaggerate."

"It was four you liar." Lannie said, going over to Lily's trunk and digging for something inside of it. She threw Lily her dressrobes then went over to the vanity to check how she looked. She was already wearing her silver dressrobes and had her hair pinned up in a French twist, and she looked lovely. "I swear, I don't know if James is doing more bad to you than good…If I told you a few months ago that you'd be sneaking off at night to go on moonlit strolls with Potter…"

"I wouldn't have believed it." Lily said, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "The James part or the sneaking off part." Lannie turned around, sweeping her bangs out of her face and smiling.

"None of us would have."

"Right." Lily said, hopping off her bed and heading to the bathroom. The dormitory was empty except for them, which meant Heather and the rest of the girls had already gotten ready and left for the ceremony. Lily yelped as her emerald green dressrobes were thrown on her head and Lannie laughed loudly.

"C'mon, let's go." She said, as Lily closed the door and turned on the shower.

*

"You look beautiful." Lannie said as they were finally ready, with five minutes to spare. Lily looked at herself in the mirror and smiled; the week before Lannie and her had gone shopping for them and Lannie had immediately suggested that one, since it matched her eyes. Lily grabbed her purse and they rushed out of their dorm, running down the stairs and laughing as they nearly tripped on their gowns.

"Do you think James will get mad?" Lily gasped as the rushed down the Fat Lady corridor, waving goodbye to the portrait that was sobbing loudly. Lannie chuckled.

"James? As in the guy who loves you even if you were dunked in mud?"

Lily smiled. "Yep. That's the one."

Lannie laughed loudly, pushing her bangs aside as they flopped in front of her as they ran. "Do you think Remus will be mad?"

"Remus? The guy who loves you even though it's you?"

They both laughed and pushed the tapestry aside, jumping over the trick step and picking up their pace as they started to hear voices and laughter in the entrance hall.

"Just on time." Lannie said as they spun to a halt at the top of the marble staircase, clutching stitches at their sides and wheezing from running and laughter. All the parents were already in the Great Hall, while all the seventh years lined up near the doors wearing their colorful dressrobes. All of them-except one. "Hm, will you look at that." Lannie whispered as James looked up and grinned, waving as he held up a lily with the other hand.

Lily beamed, glancing from James, to Lannie. "See you in a bit, then."

They rushed down the steps, Lannie immediately finding Remus in one of the lines and standing next to him as they kissed. Lily smiled and took the flower James was holding, kissing him softly as she stepped on her tiptoes.

"Hey, you." She said, smiling as they pulled away.

"Hey." James said, extending his arm, which she immediately took. "You look tired."

Lily smirked. "That's because someone convinced me to sneak out last night."

"Oh? And who would that be? Should I go beat him up?"

"Only if you can beat up yourself."

James chuckled. "So, I'm guessing you're still bitter that I brought you back so late?"

"Four o' clock, according to Lannie." Lily grinned. "And I'm always bitter about you."

James brought her closer, kissing her deeply, which left her breathless, as always. When they pulled away it was because Lannie nudged them from behind, poking them in the ribs, which made them jump. "The line's moving, love birds." Lannie said, raising her eyebrows as her and Remus chuckled. Lily blushed and saw that McGonagall was waiting expectantly by the door, which was already open as she saw most of her classmates entering the Great Hall.

"We're going," James said as they interlocked arms again. They moved into the Great Hall, stepping into the limelight as all those faces turned to look at them, to witness the day they'd officially become adults. James gave her a quick peck on the cheek before going off to his row (the seats were ordered alphabetically), and Lily went to hers. Luckily Lannie's seat was right behind hers, which meant that she wouldn't be worried too much about being bored.

Dumbledore was soon calling the names and giving them a roll of parchment, which was their diploma. As Lily went up to get hers, she heard James, Remus, Sirius, Peter, and Lannie cheer the loudest, which made her grin as she went back to her seat and waved to her parents, who were looking extremely impressed with the Great Hall's ceiling.

Lily was currently looking at her diploma, which had a moving picture of her getting her certificate, and had a little imprint of her Head Girl badge in the corner. She smiled and looked up as "Potter, James" was called up to the staff table, where Lannie nudged her in the ribs again and whispered, "There's your man."

Lily beamed and cheered loudly as James looked over at her and ruffled his hair, grinning widely.

"Yep." Lily said softly. "There he is."

***

The End.

Well…that's it! Just so you know, I really enjoyed writing this story. I enjoyed it so much, actually, that I might write a sequel, although I'm not quite sure yet. I think I'll finish my other two stories first, Living Life and Reason to Live, which hare both on this site, if any of you are interested. Thanks again for all the support, you guys, and Happy Holidays! Have a great 2006.

- Katie

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