Happily Ever After Just Took Time

KcluvsMl

Rating: PG13
Genres: Romance, Humor
Relationships: Lily & James
Book: Lily & James, Books 1 - 6
Published: 07/08/2005
Last Updated: 11/12/2005
Status: in_progress

When A Seer comes to Hogwarts, Lily and James are put in charge of her. After taking care of her for a day, she lets them have their future told. When Lily doesn’t believe her, she casts a powerful spell, causing Lily and James to go to the future. How will they get back?

Chapters

1. Tomorrow's A New Day

2. Everything You Want

3. Real or Make Believe?

4. So Much to Mention

5. Come Any Time You Want

1. Tomorrow's A New Day

Title: Happily Ever After Just Took Time

Author: KcluvsMl

Date: 6/14/05

Summary: When A Seer comes to Hogwarts, Lily and James are put in charge of her. After taking care of her for a day, she lets them have their future told. When Lily doesn't believe her, she casts a powerful spell, causing Lily and James to go to the future. How will they get back?

Rating: PG-13, just to be safe, and for some adult themes mentioned.

Disclaimer: If you think I own this, you have serious mental problems and should be going to a psychiatrist.

Author's Notes: I am so sorry for not updating, you guys. There was an uploading problem, and I didn't want to download something I know nothing about. And I just now realized that I could use a different program to upload! Silly me. I hope you like the new story. And I hope you guys aren't mad at me.

P.S.: Um, my parents are alive, but we live very far away from their families, so when my great uncle, who just died, came to visit my mom, he would tell me what my mom did when she was my age. My mom doesn't like to talk about the past. (Something about a huge fight?) I really miss my great uncle.

---

We said we'd take a little time

For both of us to see

And wonder what it'd be like to carry on

Yeah, I know I got crazy

Well I guess that's just me

If I could turn back time before the wrong...

And I, I think I'll change my ways

So all your words get noticed

Tomorrow's a brand new day

Tomorrow's a new day...

Brand New Day, Forty Foot Echo

---

Chapter One: Tomorrow's a New Day

Saturday

---

“Hello, Potter,” James heard a sinister voice behind him say. James closed the Transfiguration book he was reading and turned around.

“What do you want, Snivellus?” he said, hoping to get a rise out of Severus Snape.

“Why aren't you with your precious Mudblood?” the Slytherin asked.

“What did you just call her?” James asked.

“A Mudblood, idiot,” said Snape nonchalantly. “Why? It's not she even cares about you.”

At this, James jumped out of his chair and drew out his wand. He started to hex Snape, who had also drawn his wand—

“Excuse me!” Madame Pince, the librarian gasped. “Stop this instant! Ten points from both of your houses, and you may leave the library. Go!”

James sighed and put his wand back in his robe pocket. “You're lucky, Snivellus. I would have hexed you into the next century.”

“How could you if you didn't know the Dark Arts?” Snape smirked.

“Wha—”

“You heard me, Potter. Now get away from me.” Snape stalked off, James staring at his retreating back.

“What the bloody hell was that about?” James asked himself. He shook his head and ran his hand through his hair as he walked to the Gryffindor common room. Something was very strange about the greasy-haired git, that was for sure. But was he really a follower of Lord Voldemort? James didn't doubt it.

After his usual rounds, as soon as he entered the common room, James was grabbed by the arm and pulled toward his best friend, Sirius Black. He was then dragged without an explanation to the notice board, where everyone was crowded around. He looked up to see a piece of parchment that said:

The Head Boy and Girl and the Prefects

of each house will need to report to

the Headmaster's office at nine

o'clock. The Headmaster will explain

everything.

Sincerely,

The Deputy Headmistress,

Minerva McGonagall

“Prongs! It's eight-fifty five! You need to go!” Sirius said. “Moony already left, with Evans.”

“I wonder what it's for,” said Peter Pettigrew, his other best friend.

“I have to go! Evan's is gonna KILL me!” James shouted as he ran toward the portrait hole. “Bye!”

He raced down toward the gargoyle, and by the time he was there, he was out of breath. “Pumpkin—pastries!” he managed to gasp.

“Mr. Potter! Nice of you to join us!” Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster, greeted as James flew, almost literally, into the room. “Now, have a seat.”

James grinned sheepishly as he sat down into the only open seat, which was right next to Lily Evans's seat, I might point out. Said young witch glared at James, who just shrugged it off, like he had done many times before. Remus Lupin—a.k.a. Moony—glanced at James and gave him a questioning look.

“Now, as I was saying, we will have a very important visitor tomorrow. A Seer, by the name of Cassandra Trelawaney. As she is quite old—very old in fact—a few of you need to watch over her. Who will volunteer to show Ms. Trelawaney around, accompany her, and make sure she is taken care of?” the old wizard asked.

Lily raised her hand right away. When James saw this, he automatically shoved his hand in the air, also. Lily sent him a death glare, and he suddenly knew that this was a bad idea.

“Well, the Gryffindors! This proves that Lily and James are very brave, indeed,” Dumbledore said with a small grin on his face. “Now then! The rest of you may leave—” The others left in about five seconds “—and Lily, here is your itinerary, and James, here is yours. You will come to the Great Hall tomorrow at exactly six in the morning, when Mrs. Trelawaney arrives. Make sure you know what you are doing tomorrow, and good night.”

Lily left the room before James could say Quidditch. He left Moony and caught up with her, which resulted in Lily saying, “Get away from me, Potter,” which is basically what Snape said that morning, in the library. James cursed Snape silently, but Lily heard.

“What did you just say?” she asked.

“Er—nothing,” James said quickly.

“Tell me.”

“I didn't say anything.”

“What did you say?”

“I don't know what I said.”

“What did you say?!”

“What did I say?”

“What did you say?”

“I don't know. I give up.”

“Argh!” said Lily, clearly frustrated.

“Argh?” Jame asked. “That's not a word, Miss Perfect. Should I suggest going back to primary school?”

Lily glared at him.

“What! It was just a suggestion.”

Angry at James, Lily said, “I hate you.”

“Oh, that hurt Evans,” James said, hoping Lily would know that it was true.

Lily stomped off in the other direction.

“Fine! Get raped by a Slytherin, for all I care!” James shouted after her.

But just to make sure that didn't happen, James followed her. She was heading towards the library, making sure no one was following her. She wasn't doing a very good job, because James was able to follow her to the shelves in front of the restricted section. Her wand lit, she scanned the dusty book titles. When she found a red, leather one that wasn't labeled, she slowly took it out and went over to one of the tables and set it down.

After a few minutes of reading it, she started crying. James wanted to know what she was crying about, so he took his invisibility cloak (A/N: Which I conveniently put in his pocket!) and made it its normal size. He wrapped it around himself and walked quietly over to where she was sitting.

When he looked over her shoulder, he saw pictures a little red-headed girl being taught how to ride a bicycle. Of a red-headed eleven-year-old girl showing of her Hogwarts letter to the picture taker with a big smile on her face. The last one on the page was of her parents.

Her parents.

Her parents, who he knew were murdered by Lord Voldemort.

Her parents, who had been Lily's only friends until they died.

Poor, poor Lily.

By this time, she was sobbing hysterically. Wanting to comfort her, James could only stand there, knowing she would just shove him off. After drying her tears, Lily shut the book gingerly and put it back on its shelf. She walked slowly out of the library, where James took off his invisibility cloak.

“Lily?” he asked softly.

“Potter! Were you following me?” she asked, wiping her nose on her tie.

James grimaced and said, “No—yes—maybe.”

Lily's eyes teared up again, and she started running down the hall, towards the stairs.

“Lily! Wait!” James called out.

“Leave me alone!” she shouted.

“Lily!” he hissed. “We're going to get in trouble!”

“Like you care,” Lily said loudly. “You're always getting into trouble. I don't know how you became Head Boy!”

“Well, I don't want to get in trouble! Do you know how many points we could get taken off? All the ones I earned for getting to highest grade on the homework McGonagall assigned us. Ever. I got the highest grade, ever, Lily. And I'm proud of myself.”

Lily stared at him.

“Really?” she asked.

“Yes. Really.”

“I didn't know you were a high-grade student.”

“Well, I am. I'm probably better at Transfiguration than most of the students in this school put together. And I even—never mind.”

“What?”

“Nothing,” James said, turning away.

“Tell me.”

“I can't.”

“It's not illegal, is it?”

“No,” Jame lied. He could feel his face turn red, and he was glad it was dark.

“Good. I'm tired, so good night, James.”

She left without looking back.

“Good night...Lily,” he whispered. She said his name...

He walked slowly back to the Gryffindor common room, thinking about his secret. If he really liked Lily—possibly even loved—why couldn't he tell her he was an Animagus?

It was to help Remus, so she would understand, wouldn't she?

`And speaking of Moony,' James thought as he turned the corner and found his best friend talking to someone by the Fat Lady's portrait. `Wait, that's Lily! She's smiling and laughing...'

Just then, James heard Remus say, “Well, we'd better go to bed before dawn.”

“I suppose,” he heard Lily say, though he couldn't see her face. Lily stood on her tiptoes and kissed Remus on the cheek. “Goodnight,” she said, grinning as she walked through the hole.

James felt as though he had been slapped. What had just happened? He was going to find out.

When he walked through the portrait hole, he found Moony lying on his favorite couch, reading a book.

“What d'you think you were doing?” James almost yelled.

“What are you talking about?” Remus said, sitting up.

“You were talking to Evans! And she kissed you!” James said, completely losing it.

“She was telling me about how much you've changed, and how she can't believe you're the same wizard who, two years ago, hexed Snivellus for the fun of it,” Remus told him.

“What?” asked James stupidly.

“She has started to think about giving you a chance, Prongs.”

James stared at the dying fire. “Really?”

“Yes.”

“Then why did she kiss you?”

“Prongs! It was a kiss on the cheek. It's not like we shagged,” Remus joked.

Upon hearing that, James turned red. “And if you even think about that, I'll kill you.”

“Er—right. I'll go to bed now,” Remus said quickly, backing away towards the boy's dormitories.

“Alright.”

James leaned back and rubbed his eyes under his glasses.

“She wants to give me a chance...” he muttered, as he stood up and walked toward his dorm. “I have to straighten myself out.”

He changed into his pajama pants and lay down, finding it hard to go to sleep. Around midnight, he finally entered his usual dreams of playing Quidditch and the beautiful red-headed girl called Lily Evans.

---

A/N: Is this long enough? I'm bad at writing long chapters. Next week, or sooner, or later, I will update again! Oh, and week isn't bad, now that I've been writing. One time, I had to wait four and a half months for someone to update, and they hadn't stopped writing. So, you're lucky! I think. How long has it been since I updated? Well, bye, and please review!

P.S: This story is inspired by “The Prediction” on fanfiction.net. It's a really good Harry/Hermione fic, so if you like Harry/Hermione, go read it! I can't remember the author's name, though. Something like pannipiggypittyphant? I have no clue. And I was writing this on Fanfiction.net, under the title: Do You Really Want To Know? Sorry that I forgot to tell you guys earlier.

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2. Everything You Want

A/N: Sorry it's so late, guys. School has been just—ugh! I have homework every single night, including weekends. Today is the first day I wasn't swamped. Please read and review! And please visit my Xanga! I don't think you have to be a member to comment.

I am everything you want

I am everything you need

I am everything inside of you

That you wish you could be

I say all the right things

At exactly the right time,

But I mean nothing to you

And I don't know why

Everything You Want, Vertical Horizon

Chapter Two: Everything You Want

James woke up at exactly five o'clock. He grabbed some robes from his trunk and threw them on. Still half-asleep, he headed down to breakfast, wondering if the house-elves served it that early.

After a run-in with Professor Binns, who was wondering why Jimmy Porter was up at five thirty, he sat down automatically in front of Lily. She was rereading her copy of Hogwarts: A History, perhaps to freshen up for Cassandra Trelawney. Lily only noticed him when he poured some pumpkin juice and accidentally spilled it on her toast.

She tried to smile, but it turned into a grimace.

So much for giving me a chance, James thought sleepily. He stared down at the eggs and bacon that had appeared on his plate. He saw something and continued to look at it. It looked like a large, bear-like dog was formed in his eggs. He had heard something about grims, but did not believe in them.

“Divination is a stupid subject,” said James without thinking.

“I agree,” Lily said.

“What?” James asked, his eyes half closed.

“You said Divination was a stupid subject, and I agree,” she said. She had not looked up from her book. “But what makes you say that?”

“Oh, nothing,” lied James. “I just think it's a stupid subject.”

“Well, we better get going,” Lily said. “It's five-fifty already.” Getting up, she smoothed her robes and walked towards the doors. James grabbed a piece of toast and ran after her.

They walked in silence until they made it to the gargoyle. Lily looked expectantly at James, who looked back at her. She rolled her eyes.

“Oh, for heaven's sake. Pumpkin Pastries,” Lily finally said. The gargoyle jumped aside and they walked up the stairs.

“Come in,” a female voice said when they reached the top. They heard a chuckle coming from the headmaster.

The first thing Lily and James saw when they walked in the room was a very fragile looking old woman wearing the most colorful robes either had ever seen. Her eyes were large and a piercing blue. She had wispy white hair, which was tied up in a loose bun.

“Er...Hello,” Lily said.

“Why hello, dear,” the woman said. “And hello to you, James. I am Cassandra Trelawney.” She said this very dramatically. “Goodbye, Albus,” she added with a wink at the old professor, and she led the way out of the room. The two students heard the old professor chuckle again as they followed the Seer out into the corridor.

“I suppose you two have already eaten your breakfast.” It was a statement, not a question. “So have I. I have also heard the library is wonderful here. And I have heard the astronomy tower is excellent at night.”

Lily and James exchanged glances. Cassandra was walking twice as fast as they were, and she was talking a mile a minute.

“Well, come on, now. I don't want to waste my last year walking and talking slowly!” Cassandra exclaimed.

“Ms. Trel—” James started to say.

“Please call me Cassandra.”

He corrected himself. “Cassandra, how do you know you're only going to live one more year?”

“I'm a Seer, dear. Remember that,” she told him.

“Oh yeah.”

Lily rolled her eyes again.

“What?” James asked, looking offended.

“You're so annoying, stupid, and...” she broke off, noticing the Cassandra was listening.

`Hot?' James thought, trying not to grin. “And what?” he asked.

“Never mind.” This time James grinned.

Since Lily and James did not have classes, they spent half of the day in the library. Lily showed Cassandra where everything was while James dozed off. Cassandra, he didn't notice, kept glancing at him and wincing.

“James!”

“Mr. Potter?”

“Huh?” James jerked up.

“It's time for tea,” Cassandra said. Behind her, Lily raised her eyebrows.

“Tea?”

“Yes, tea, Potter. It's that drink made from hot water and tea leaves. Some people like to put sugar in it,” Lily answered.

“I know what tea is,” he said defensively.

“Where is the Gryffindor common room?” Cassandra asked, clapping her hands together. The rings and bracelets made clinking sounds.

“This way.”

Lily led them to the common room.

After tea, Lily went to the bathroom. Cassandra was reading a book left on a table, and James was staring off into space, thinking about the next full moon.

“Mr. Potter.”

James looked up. “Yes?”

“May I see your palms?”

Frowning, James said yes and held out his hands, palms up. Cassandra looked at them for a few minutes and made tutting sounds.

“What do you see?” a bored James asked.

“You will marry early. You will aid in a war, and you will die young. And you will have one child.”

James raised his eyebrows. “Really?” he asked. He wasn't sure whether he should believe her. He knew what war she was talking about. A man who called himself Voldemort was gathering followers; they were all pure-blood and thought themselves higher than any other magical person. It was all a load of rubbish, the man and his beliefs. James thought that you should judge people by their character.

“Yes. Please keep in mind that the future may change slightly. You will still die, but you may not have one child.”

“Okay...”

On perfect timing, Lily walked in. “What's going on?” she asked while looking at James's perplexed face.

He yanked his hands out of Cassandra's grasp. “Nothing,” he said.

“Would you like me to read your palms?” Cassandra asked her.

“Er, okay,” Lily answered.

“Let's see,” Cassandra mumbled while leaning in on Lily's hands. “You will....be married early? Yes...and...you will aid in a war, and will die young...you will have one child.”

James gaped. Cassandra frowned, and Lily sat down heavily.

“L-Lily?” James stuttered. “You have the same future as me.”

“I do?” Lily asked quietly. “Well, maybe it's a coincidence.”

Cassandra grinned, almost evilly. “I don't think so.”

“What do you mean?” Lily asked angrily.

“I mean that you both, will be married young, together, will aid in a war, will die young, together, and you will have one child, together.”

Lily stood up, knocking her chair over. “I think this is all a load of rubbish! No one knows the future!” she yelled. “I refuse to have the same future as him!”

James winced.

“I would be careful if I were you, dear,” Cassandra warned Lily, who was now at the portrait hole. Cassandra drew out her wand.

“À temps, vous verrez,” Cassandra drawled.

“And what does that mean?” Lily glared at her.

“In time, you'll see,” she answered.

“I've had enough of you!” Lily stomped out.

“What did you do?” James snapped, walking towards the portrait hole. He gasped.

Lily was on the floor, apparently unconscious.

“I sent her forward,” Cassandra said, as if telling someone her name.

“What?” James asked. “You did what? You could have sent her to where she gets killed, you idiot! She could be in danger!”

“No, she's not,” said Cassandra. “I just sent her to the age of nineteen. She dies at age twenty or so. Right now, she will probably be in bed, snuggling with your future self.”

“So we do have the same future? We're going to do all that stuff?” He gulped. “We're going to die in four years?”

“Naturellement. Vous pourriez vouloir prendre votre fleur à l'aile hopital.”

“What?” James didn't know what she said.

“I said, `Of course. You might want to take your flower to the hospital wing.' Do you not know French, boy?”

But James was already picking up Lily ands heading towards the hospital wing.

----

A/N: It's short, I know. Sorry. Please review.

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3. Real or Make Believe?

A/N: This chapter goes back and forth between Lily and James, so sorry if it's confusing. The next chapter won't be like this. Please visit my Xanga and leave a comment!

www.xanga.com/KcluvsMl

In my head there's only you now
This world falls on me
In this world there's real and make believe
And this seems real to me

You love me but you don't know who I am
I'm tore between this life I lead and where I stand
And you love me but you don't know who I am

—Let Me Go, 3 Doors Down

Chapter 3: Real or Make Believe?

Lily shifted in her sleep. She was having the weirdest dream. Something about tea cups, hands, and old women. Suddenly she sat up. This was not her bed. It was too soft, it had silky sheets, and was really warm.

She looked around the room. There were pictures on the wall of an old couple she didn't know, but seemed familiar. A few other pictures were of her and her family. One picture was taken at a wedding.

She and James were standing by a huge cake, with Sirius and Remus. She was in a wedding gown. And James was in a tux. She felt like she was going to throw up.

And she did. Right on the satin comforter.

---

“Mr. Potter.”

....

“Mr. Potter!”

...

“MR. POTTER!”

“Huh?”

“Ms. Evans is fine. She is under a `Le Temps Se rattrapera' spell. Once she realizes that she must accept her future, she will wake up,” Madame Pomfrey explained. “Now please, these beds are for patients.”

James looked at his surroundings. He was sitting on a bed. “Sorry. And what does that mean?”

“What does what mean, dear?” She went back over to the still form of Lily.

“What you said earlier. That spell.”

“It means `Time Will Catch Up' in French. Do you know who cast it?”

“Cassandra Trelawney. Where is she?” James asked.

“She is in Azkaban. She will stay there for a week, for putting an illegal curse on a student. Merlin knows she will die in a day, at her age.”

“She said she had a year left, though,” he protested.

“You can change the future, Mr. Potter. Seers are like watchers, but they can't see the choices we make now. We can make our decisions. You see, most of the time when one's fortune is told, they seem to follow the choices the Seers made for them. The future is...” she stopped and looked at Lily's form on the bed beside James's. “The future is uncertain for all of us, even Seers.”

---

“Lils!”

James was in this house. But he looked older.

“Get out!” Lily shouted.

“Lils, what's wrong?” He looked genuinely concerned.

“What are you doing here?”

“I live here, we live here. Why are you acting like this?”

Older James sat down on the bed and noticed the vomit. “Ew.” He muttered a cleaning spell. “Now, tell me why you're acting like this.”

“I don't know where I am, who you are, because you're not the James Potter I know. Where are we? Where is Hogwarts?” Lily got out of the bed and noticed she was wearing a large button-up shirt.

And nothing else.

She glared at the older James and ran to find the bathroom.

“Second door to the left,” called out older James.

She snorted and found the door. Once inside, she looked in the mirror above the sink. She was also older; her eyes weren't a green as they had been when she was sixteen, like she had gone through a lot. Her hair was longer, and she looked, well, fatter. Like she hadn't been getting as much exercise, and she was eating more than usual.

She felt sick again.

---

James held Lily's limp hand in his own. She had jerked once, and that was it. Just a jerk, then she was still again. She had a frown on her face, so James knew something was wrong.

“Prongs?”

“Moony?”

“How is she?” Remus sat down next to James.

“She moved, but other than that, no progress,” he replied.

“I'm sorry about the other night,” Remus said, looking at where James's hand held Lily's.

“It's okay,” James told him. “I shouldn't have gone crazy and yelled at you. I was stupid.”

“I understand, though. You really like Lily.”

“Moony?”

“Yes?”

“I think I love her.”

---

“Lily, will you please come out?” older James asked Lily after she threw up again.

“No! I don't know what's happening, so I'm staying in here until I wake up!”

“You're not dreaming.” Older James knocked on the door. “I'll go get my wand!”

Lily opened the door, and older James smiled at her. For some reason, the smile made Lily's heart flip, and she wondered what was happening.

“Good girl, now tell me why you're acting like this,” he said.

“You won't hurt me?” Lily asked, looking in his hands for his wand.

“Of course not.”

“Yesterday, I was at Hogwarts. In sixth year. Cassandra Trelawney had just told me my future, and I ran out into the corridor. Then, nothing,” she explained.

Older James blinked. “So that's what happened that day. You were unconscious, but you were really here.”

“I'm sorry, but you're confusing me.” Lily frowned. She was sitting on the toilet seat, while James sat on the edge of the large bathtub.

“That day, Cassandra cast a spell on you to send you forward to the age of nineteen. You ran out, and when I found you, you were unconscious in the corridor. Cassandra was sent to Azkaban for putting an illegal French curse on a student. I can't remember exactly when you woke up.”

“Oh.” She looked down at her hands. “Do you know how I can go back?'

“Well, I think...Madame Pomfrey said that you had to believe.”

---

James was asleep, still sitting at Lily's bed. He was dreaming about a fox and a stag playing instead of fighting. Then the dream changed. He was outside a door, leaning against it and talking. The door opened, and Lily came out. This Lily was different. She looked...pregnant.

He abruptly woke. He remembered how she glowed, her sparkly green eyes, the bulge in her stomach...

And he suddenly found himself wishing that it would come true.

“There he is!” Peter Pettigrew exclaimed. James looked up at the door, where Peter and Sirius were standing.

“Prongs, where have you been? We're going to pull a prank on Snivellus, and you haven't been back to the tower!” Sirius said, walking over. He noticed Lily. “What happened to Evans?”

“She's unconscious,” James answered.

“How? Did you finally ask her out?” Sirius joked.

James glared at his best friend. “Try to be serious,” he warned.

“No pun intended?” Sirius asked, grinning. James reached for his wand.

“Okay, okay, fine. What happened?” Sirius's tone became somber.

“Trelawney cursed her. She's stuck at the age of nineteen. We don't know when she'll wake up.” James's eyes watered behind his glasses. “Or is she will wake up.”

“I'm so sorry, Prongs.”

James didn't answer. He watched Lily's face for any signs that she was okay. She smiled.

---

While older James was explaining what happened in sixth year, someone knocked on the front door. James went to answer it, leaving Lily to change into some of her own clothes. She found a pair of Muggle jeans and a loose t-shirt and tied her long red hair into a pony-tail.

Walking into the hallway, she heard a woman's voice and James. They were trying to talk low, but it wasn't working. She followed the voices and peeked around the doorway.

“I'm sure it's just the hormones, dear,” the woman was saying. “I was like that with Bill.”

“She needs to be alone, though,” James said.

The woman shook her head. “No one needs to be alone. Let me see her.”

“Are you talking about me?” Lily asked quietly. James looked up.

“No...Well, yeah. Mrs. Weasley—”

“Molly, dear.”

“—Molly was wondering how you were.”

“I'm fine,” Lily told Molly. “I'm just a little worn out. Could you come back later?”

“Yes, dear. I'll be back around five. I'll bring some dinner too. Is there anything else you need?” she asked, walking around and surveying the room.

“No, Molly. We're fine,” Lily told her, hugging Mrs. Weasley. “We'll see you at five.”

“Bye, James, Lily.”

“Bye.”

Molly apparated.

“What was that?” James asked Lily.

“What was what?”

“How did you get her to leave? That was amazing.”

“I have excellent people skills, Potter.”

“Don't forget you're a Potter too, Lily,” he joked. Lily raised her eyebrows. “Oh, sorry. I didn't mean—”

“It's okay,” said Lily. “I'll just go take a nap or something.” She smiled, trying to show that she was okay.

“Okay. I'll be in here.”

“Okay.”

---

Back in 1976, James was looking for Madame Pomfrey. He didn't go far from the hospital wing, but he didn't find her. Frustrated and tired, he went back to Lily's side. She hadn't moved.

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4. So Much to Mention

A/N: In this chapter, you will se how much 16-year-old James cares about Lily. And how much 19-year-old does too. It's so sweet, I think I got a cavity writing it. Too bad Lily does not see it.

And there are voices

That want to be heard

So much to mention, but you can't find the words,

The scent of magic, the beauty that's been

When love was wilder than the wind

Listen to your heart

When he's calling for you

I don't know where you're going,

And I don't know why,

But listen to your heart

Before

You tell him goodbye

-DHT, Listen to Your Heart

Chapter 4: So Much to Mention

Lily woke up when Molly came back. It was exactly five o'clock.

“Lily!” James called. “Molly's here.”

“And I brought food!” Molly said.

Groaning, Lily rolled out of the huge bed. She walked to the kitchen, which she found because of the loud sounds of pots and pans. Molly was fixing what looked like pasta.

Lily loved pasta, and she wondered how Molly knew. Molly and her older self must have been friends or something. She hadn't even told Remus that her favorite food was pasta. James was sitting on one of the counters while Molly was by the stove.

“Did you have a good rest?” James asked. He was eating a piece of bread, which Molly snatched away.

“No eating until the whole dinner is ready,” Molly snapped. “Hello, Lily. The pasta will be ready in a few minutes, so why don't you go sit down?”

Lily nodded and sat down on the counter.

“I meant in the dining room, honey.”

“I—I don't know where that is,” Lily admitted quietly.

“I'll take her,” James said before Molly could say anything. Molly frowned and nodded.

“Why do we know Molly Prewett?” Lily asked as soon as they were out of earshot.

“She's a friend. I'll explain later. Listen, whatever you do, don't admit anything like that in front of anyone,” James suggested as he led her to the large dining room. “They'll think you belong in the long-term psycho ward at St. Mungo's.”

“Sorry, but what's St. Mungo's?” Lily smiled meekly.

“Oh, I keep forgetting you don't know these things!” James muttered. “In seventh year, your parents were attacked by Deatheaters and were sent to St. Mungo's. It's a hospital in London for wizards and witches who are sick by magical means. Don't worry, they lived,” he added when Lily's eyes teared up.

“Where are they?” she asked, her voice choking.

“They are in a little cottage just outside London. Your evil sister lives near there, in Surrey.”

“With that ass, Vernon?” Lily glared.

James was shocked. Never before had he heard his wife curse.

“Ye-Yes,” he stammered.

“Sorry about that,” Lily said, blushing. “It's just...he turned her against me. When she told him about my...gift, he slapped her and told her...” Lily broke off, crying. James hugged her.

“Lils, calm down. I know what happened. You told me before we got married. It's okay. We're far away from them. It's okay.”

Lily looked up. Her face was centimeters from his. “I...I think I...”

She fainted.

---

When James finally found Madame Pomfrey, it was almost time for dinner. She had been on the third floor, tending to a hexed student, who did not want to move. The pinchers on his hands were enough to listen.

Anyway, James called out to her as soon as she walked in the room.

“How is Miss Evans?” she asked. She got out her wand and walked over to her bed.

“Well, by the looks of it, I would say she is fine. In a coma, but fine.” Madame Pomfrey smiled.

“WHAT?” James exclaimed. “In a coma?”

“Not a persistent coma, of course. We know that.” Madame Pomfrey waved her wand over Lily. A reddish fog came out of it.

“And that's supposed to make me feel better?” James almost shouted.

“Well, yes. She'll wake up soon.” The reddish fog vanished as Madame Pomfrey waved her wand again. A green light came out of it this time. “And by the looks of it, you need some sleep. If you don't go to your dormitory, I will force-feed you soon sleeping potion.”

“Will you come get me if anything happens?” James asked. He didn't move.

“Mr. Potter,” she warned.

“I'm not leaving if you don't promise,” he stated.

Madame Pomfrey started walking towards the cart of potions.

“Fine! Can I stay in here, though?”

“As long as you sle—” She was cut off. Lily had coughed.

“Lily!” James said, grabbing her hand.

Her eyes opened and she saw him. Then they closed. And she was gone again.

---

“Molly!” James called. “Molly! Hurry!”

“What's wrong?” Molly walked into the dining room, pasta in her hands. She dropped it when she saw the limp form in James's arms.

“Oh my god! Let's get her to the bedroom!”

Carrying Lily to the bedroom, Molly yelled at James.

“What did you do?” she shouted.

“I didn't do anything! She just keeled over!” James said.

When they got to the bedroom, Molly left to get her husband. James stayed behind to watch if anything happened. It all seemed familiar. Holding her hand, James talked to her.

“Lily? Listen, I know what's happening. If you come back, I'll explain everything. I miss you.” He paused and ran his hand through his messy black hair. “About now, you're probably back in the past. I remember...you coughed, opened your eyes, and then nothing. I'm so confused right now. `Please wake up'...”

“Arthur is here,” Molly said. She was standing in the doorway, Arthur behind her. He walked over to Lily and picked her up.

“We need to take her to Albus,” he stated. Then he apparated.

James rubbed his eyes and followed him.

---

“Lily! Lily, wake up,” James cried. “Please wake up!”

“Mr. Potter, calm down!” Madame Pomfrey exclaimed. “I have that potion right here.”

He put his head down, defeated. “This is so hard,” he told her. “Why am I feeling this way?”

“I don't know,” she lied. “Now leave. You need rest. Go to your own bed, too. And get something to eat.”

He sighed and got up. He walked halfway to the door when he turned around and said, “You'll come get me if something happens, right?”

“Out!”

He ran out he was so scared of her.

---

“I believe that right now she is torn between here and the past right now,” Albus Dumbledore explained as he and James waited outside the hospital room in St. Mungo's. They were on the floor for Curse Ailments. James doubted the Healers would know what was wrong. And if they did, they had better not discuss it in front of the Weasley's, Longbottoms, and the other members of the Order of the Phoenix.

“Mr. Potter?” a Healer asked as she came out of the room. “My name is Gina McCauley.” She held out her hand. James looked at it.

Healer McCauley took away her hand, smiling.

“What's the matter with my wife?” James asked, annoyed.

“Well,” she looked at the group behind James. “Can we talk somewhere private?”

“Sure.”

Once out of earshot, Healer McCauley said, “She was cursed with the Time Will Catch Up curse in sixth year at Hogwarts, right?”

“Right.”

“Well, right now, she is torn between then and now. So far, all we can tell is that it will take a few weeks to get her back normal. When she realizes that this is her future, she will wake up. I'm sure you already know that,” she added as James nodded. He was getting annoyed. He knew all this.

“Yes, yes, I know. Now can you tell me when she will wake up here?” he asked.

“Well, here, she will wake up in a day or two. You can take her home as soon as my mentor, Healer Thomason gets her release form ready.”

“Okay,” James said, walking back towards Dumbledore.

“How is she?” he asked.

“You were right,” James replied.

“How are you, then?” The professor and headmaster's eyes twinkled.

“I have no clue. Why did that woman have to do this to us?” he exclaimed, grabbing his hair like he was going to pull it out.

“She saw herself doing it, so she did. Ms. Trelawney is a very gifted Seer, though sometimes...well, excited to do her work.”

“You call ruining people's lives work?” James said. He sat down on a bench outside Lily's room.

“Actually, this is what got Lily to give you a chance.”

James looked at Albus, confusion clear in his hazel eyes.

“What?”

“I shan't say anything,” stated the old man as he stood up to leave, “if you don't figure it out for yourself.”

He disapparated.

James sighed and walked to the little window on the door. He saw Lily on a medium-sized hospital bed. Another Healer was running their wand over her body. A tear ran down James's cheek.

---

No one came to wake James up. He awoke around dinner time the next day. Angry that Madame Pomfrey never came and got him, he almost ran to the hospital wing. But Severus Snape was in his way before he even got half-way there.

“What are you doing?” James asked. Snape covered his left forearm with his robe. He winced in pain as his robe touched it.

“Go away, Potter.”

“What's that on your arm?” James asked, trying to distract him. He had left his wand in the hospital wing.

Severus turned away. “I said go away.”

“I can be here if I want,” said James.

“Then go to the hospital wing where your Mudblood is.”

James's hand formed a fist at his side.

“I said don't call her that!”

Severus whipped around. His right hand was still covering his left forearm. “I can call her anything I want,” he said.

“Fine!” James shouted.

Severus walked away.

James made a very rude hand gesture at his back before heading back towards the hospital wing.

Madame Pomfrey was doing her daily tests on Lily's form. Nothing had happened, so James sat by the bed. Someone had left a book on Charms, so he read that until dinner.

---

They took Lily home an hour after James talked to Healer McCauley. James wondered why it took an hour to fill out a release form, but he didn't say anything.

“Floo us if you need anything,” Molly said when they had successfully brought Lily home.

“I will,” assured James

Arthur slapped James lightly on the back and smiled. “Don't do anything exerting.” He winked.

James smiled meekly. “I won't.”

They left. Now it was just the two of them.

---

Madame Pomfrey made James go back to his own bed at nine that night, but he didn't argue with her. He was beginning to give up. But the next day was Tuesday, and he had already skipped yesterday's classes. None of the professors gave James detention as he walked solemnly back to his dorm.

A/N: It may be a little short, but I wanted to update again.

Explanation of Molly being friends with Lily and James: I think this would be a funnier and better story if James and Lily had made friends in the Order. Of course, younger Lily doesn't know about that yet... But that is how I wrote it.

Next chapter: You'll meet the older Sirius, though he acts like a five-year0old most of the time. James will explain some of the future to Lily, and you will see that Peter is never there.

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5. Come Any Time You Want

It's not always rainbows and butterflies

It's compromise that moves us along

My heart is full and my door's always open

You come anytime you want

I don't mind spending everyday

Out on your corner in the pouring rain

Look for the girl with the broken smile

Ask her if she wants to stay a while...

—She Will Be Loved, Maroon 5

Chapter Five: Come Anytime You Want

Lily didn't wake up in the future until the next day. James was in the living room, thinking about what he should explain to her and what not. He didn't want to jeopardize the past. Or future. Whatever that meant.

When she walked in, she asked, “What happened?” She rubbed her temples.

James looked up, startled. “Why are you up?” he asked. “You're—”

“Greetings Mr. and Mrs. Potter!” came a voice at the door, which slammed open. “I come bearing news!”

A man their age walked in. He had shoulder length black hair and dark eyes that seemed like they were grinning.

“Padfoot, this is not the time,” James told him, rubbing his eyes.

“What's wrong?” He stopped smiling.

“I forgot to tell you, but...” James glanced at Lily, who was staring at Sirius, shock on her face. “Can we go in the kitchen for a sec?” he whispered to him.

“Yeah. Why are we whispering?”

“I'll tell you in the kitchen,” James whispered.

Lily glared at James as he followed Sirius into the hall.

---

“Prongs!” Sirius whispered during Transfiguration. He poked James with his quill. He was asleep. “Wake, up! McGonagall keeps glancing at you!”

James opened one eye. Lifting his head up, he saw that Professor McGonagall was indeed glancing at him with an angry look on her face. He sat up immediately.

“Sorry,” he whispered. Professor McGonagall nodded and continued the lesson.

“Prongs, you need to get some actual sleep,” Sirius whispered. “You have gargantuan bags under your eyes. Ugh.”

James raised his eyebrows. “You sound like a girl,” he told him.

---

“So you mean that sixth year Lily is...here?”

“Yes.”

“Whoa.”

“I know. It's very confusing. Don't say anything too revealing about what kind of life we live here, okay?” James pleaded.

“Of course.” Sirius grinned. “How is she taking it?”

“Pretty well. I don't think she's going to believe any time soon, so...” He looked at the doorway. “You have to bear with me.”

“I never understood why it's bear, and not dog,” Sirius said thoughtfully.

“Oh, shut up.” James laughed.

-

Lily sat down on the couch, her head in her hands.

“This is not happening,” she muttered. “I'm going to wake up any minute now, and I'll be in my bed.”

She pinched her arm to no avail.

“Ow!”

“What happened?” James rushed into the room.

“I pinched myself,” she mumbled quietly. James sighed.

“Don't scare me like that, okay?” he said softly. It wasn't spoken like a command, but she knew it was one.

Sirius came in the room. “What was that `ow' for?” he asked, taking a bite of a strawberry tart that Molly had made.

“She pinched herself.”

“So?”

“Why'd you pinch yourself?” Sirius asked. He plopped down on the sofa next to Lily.

Lily moved over away from him and said, “I wanted to make sure that I was dreaming.”

“But you aren't,” James muttered. “Do you want to be dreaming?”

Lily looked up at James, a sad look on her face. “Yes.”

---

When James walked into the infirmary that afternoon, no one was there again. He sighed and sat down in the chair next to Lily's bed.

BANG

James whipped out his wand as the door slammed open. Severus Snape walked into the room, strange things growing out of his ears.

“Mr. Black, this is the last straw!” he heard Madame Pomfrey yell. “You will not hex students! Do you hear me?”

“Yes, ma'am,” Sirius answered. James knew he wasn't taking this seriously.

Snape sat down on a bed across the room, and made sure his sleeve covered his left arm. James raised his eyebrow. When Snape looked over, he glared at James, who had been staring at his arm that he kept covered. James quickly looked away.

“Now, Mr. Snape, I'll have to get you to lie down so I can get those things out of your ears,” said Madame Pomfrey as she walked back into the room. Any sign of her yelling loudly just seconds before were gone.

Sirius walked in, looked at Snape, laughed, and walked over to James, who was rolling his eyes.

“What did you do this time, Padfoot?” he laughed.

“Why, nothing, of course. What makes you think that I would do anything?” He sat down on the bed nearest Lily's. “Hasn't she woken up yet?” he groaned.

“Nope.”

“Prongs, you need a break. When you're not in here, you're in class. Do you even eat?”

“Yes!” James paused. “Sometimes!”

“Well, I can get rid of one of your problems,” said Sirius.

“And what's that?”

“Snivellus. I know how to get rid of him.”

James wasn't concerned. The worse that Sirius had done was land people in the hospital wing for a few hours. He'd probably just hex Snape.

Probably.

---

“Well! Wasn't that nice.”

“Sirius.”

“What?”

James frowned. “Don't...just leave. Please?”

Sirius knew James wasn't trying to be rude. He left quickly with a “pop!”

“I'm sorry.” Lily hung her head and a small tear ran down her cheek.

“Don't be. I understand.”

“How come you're not as immature as you were...before?” she asked.

“I've seen things. Things no one should ever see. But I won't tell you about them. You'll find out.”

---

Dinner was nothing special. Sirius was missing, but other than that, it was perfectly normal. Peter was also missing and Remus was reading a book.

Because it was near full moon, Remus was being very touchy. Anything James said was apparently the wrong thing to say.

“Lily is not making any progress,” James said to Remus.

“Well, with the way you prank everybody and make her so angry, it's a wonder you will be married!” Remus snarled.

“Er...”

Remus completely changed moods. “What's wrong with her, anyway? You never told me.”

“That Trelawney person cursed her, and made her go to...whenever. We don't know.”

“Sorry, James. I'm really sorry.”

---

“Sorry.”

“It's okay.”

“No, it's not. You're being so nice, and then I go and insult you. I deserve to be here. I'm sorry.” She put her head in her hands. “I'll just...go.” She stood up.

“Lily—no. Please don't go,” he pleaded.

“Okay,” she said, and sat back down.

“Listen, I'll just try to avoid you until this situation is handled. Is that okay?”

Lily sighed, not looking at him. “You don't have to, but that's what I would like.”

James looked down at his hands. “I guess I'll sleep in the guest room then...”

“No, I will,” demanded Lily. “You can sleep in your normal spot, and I will sleep...wherever.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“Okay!” James exclaimed. “I'll sleep in the master bedroom will you sleep in the tiny guest room.”

“Is it really tiny?” Lily asked, joking.

---

“Moony?”

“Yes?”

James sighed and sat down at the small round table in the Gryffindor common room, where Remus was reading a large, dusty-looking book. Remus looked up at him questioningly. “What's wrong?”

“I need to ask you a favor.”

“Okay.” He laid down the book and looked at James. “What is it that you want?”

---

“No, I was joking,” laughed James. It was like his Lily was back. “But you can sleep in the huge master bedroom if you want. I can separate the double-sized king bed into two beds, if you want.”

“No, that's okay. I don't know if my older self told you this, but when I was little, my sister got the biggest bedroom, and I was stuck with the tiny one that was off to the side. I thought of it as a cupboard.”

“No, you never told me that,” he mused.

“Really? Well, actually...” she paused.

“What?

“I kind of never told anyone that. Not even my best friend.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Who was your best friend?” James asked, though he already knew.

“Alice Phillips. She befriended me. Her being half muggle, and me being muggle-born kind of made us equals, so we sort of bonded and became inseparable,” Lily said, rather quietly.

“You'll never guess who Alice married,” he teased.

Lily scrunched her nose and thought for a moment. “Actually, you're right. Who?”

“Frank Longbottom.”

“Two years ahead of us? Head Boy last—I mean, fifth year?” she asked. “I'd have never guessed. When did they start dating?”

“The year we graduated. You were so happy. For the past year, you had been seeing Alice scribble `Mrs. Frank Longbottom' on her notes.”

“Really?”

“Yep.”

“When did we start dating?” Lily asked, suddenly quiet.

James was taken aback. “What?”

“When did we start dating?” she repeated, talking a little bit louder.

“Around seventh year. You actually asked me,” James laughed. “I remember...I was so confused, because no girl had ever had asked me out—they expected me to ask them. And you were so cute; your face was so red. I was so happy inside, but on the outside...I was a nervous wreck. I wanted everything to be absolutely perfect.”

Lily laughed a little at that. “I can't imagine you a nervous wreck.” She paused. “Actually, I can,” she said, and laughed.

James grinned, glad that he could see her happy. “I see you're feeling better.”

“Yeah, I do. But I'm getting really hungry.”

“Me too.”

“Let's go eat,” she said, and together, they got up and actually had a nice, uninterrupted meal.

---

“This is a big favor.”

“Okay.”

“No, really. It's like, a humongous favor. Bigger than a giant.”

“James.”

“Yes?”

“Just tell me what you need!”

“I want...”

“Yes?”

“I want you to...”

“Yes?”

“I want you to send me to the future.”

---

A/N: Ha! A cliffie! Sorry if this is too short...And sorry for not updating so long. I had a supreme case of writer's block. This is what I get for posting an unfinished story. I get off for like, three weeks, so I might update really soon, and make it a LONG chapter. You guys deserve it.

And guys, if Alice was a pureblood, sorry. I'm not sure. And whatever her last name was...

Anyway, please send in any requests—I might put them in the story!

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