A/N: This is the final chapter! Thank you guys so much for those of you that have been following, favorite-ing, and reviewing. Keep up the reviews, and if you guys have any questions and/or requests, feel free to message me. Once again, thank you all for reading!

James stopped. Literally stopped. Everything. Lily swore he stopped breathing, he stopped moving, and he just…stopped. It was as though he was completely frozen in time. He shut down. He malfunctioned. He just stopped.

"James?" Lily questioned. He'd been silent for a while now. It had been at least a few minutes. She was starting to get worried. "Maybe I should go."

"Don't you dare."

"Excuse me?" Did he just…Merlin's pants, he did.

"You're not deaf, Evans."

"Really, James? Are we back to the surnames?" She saw the look of guilt pass his face for the briefest of moments as she threw his words back at him. But as soon as she identified it, anger masked it once more.

"Lily, you heard me. Don't you dare leave me here alone after what you just said."

"Fine." She sat back down on the couch and waited for him to speak. When he didn't, she quietly said, "Well?"

"Lily, I- I can't do this. I can't accept the fact that you would risk yourself for me. You risked your bloody life for me. I would never have been able to live with myself if something had happened to you." His voice was quiet, but not with barely-controlled anger, she noted. This was the voice of a man who'd been beaten and broken.

"But nothing-"

"I know that nothing happened, Lil. But he came pretty damn close, whether he was cursed or not. I want to kill whoever set that curse on Diggory, since that awful bastard is the real reason you're hurting. I can't let you do something like this again."

He can't let me? she thought. She stood again, and he looked alarmed.

"Merlin! You just don't get it, do you? I don't always want to risk my life for you, James. I do have some sense of self-preservation! I'd much rather risk what I have to be with you than do it for you. Think about it, there's really no bloody point in me sacrificing myself if I don't even get to be with you."

"Lily, we can't be together at all if we just keep hurting each other like this! I don't think you understand how much I care about you. I want to have everything with you, Lily Evans, but I can't do that if it means you can't take the time to think out a proper solution to a problem without laying down your life for me!"

"I didn't lay down my life!"

"Lily, he attacked you. You really want to stand there and tell me that that's not putting yourself in danger? Risking your life?"

"Fine, I did. Happy? Bloody hell, James Potter, you need to realize that you're not the only one who is allowed to risk his or her life to protect someone you love." She walked to the door. She absolutely needed to get out of here. This boy was frustrating her beyond all reason. "Why is it that you're allowed to make the valiant sacrifice and lay down your life for those that you care about, but when I do it for you, it turns into one of the seven deadly sins?"

He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

"That's fine, James. I need to get out of here."

An hour later, Lily was sitting in the Room of Requirement. It had transfigured itself into a near exact replica of the Heads' Common Room. The only difference was, instead of one of the armchairs, sat the Mirror of Erised. She had discovered the existence of both the room and the mirror accidentally back in fifth year, when she got lost on her first round of Prefect patrols and stumbled across the Room of Requirement. She did a bit of research and discovered that it showed the deepest desires of one's heart. At the time, it had shown her as Head Girl, and her parents and her sister—yes, even Petunia—were surrounding her, smiling, and hugging her.

Now, it only showed her and James, with his arms around her waist, hugging her from behind and nuzzling her neck. He was the only thing she truly wanted. She became Head Girl. She had a Muggle picture of herself with her parents on either side of her that sat in a frame on her nightstand. She looked at it every day, and it reminded her of the love that awaited her at home. Her sister wasn't there, but she'd given up on Petunia a while ago.

Now, it was only James.

Nothing else mattered. Just James.

That was what brought her to sit on the floor and stare into the wannabe reflection.

She wasn't exactly sure what she had expected him to do when she told him her feelings. She knew he'd be shocked, but she hadn't expected him to do nothing. She definitely didn't expect the two of them to run off into a field of tulips at sunset whilst kissing and holding hands, but…she hadn't expected this either.

She heard the door open and shut behind her, but she didn't bother turning around. She knew who it was. She heard the bloody oaf's stomping feet from three corridors away. He walked over to where she was sitting.

She didn't face him. She didn't even turn her eyes to him. She only asked, "What are you doing here, Sirius?

He didn't respond. He didn't need to. They both knew why he was here. Lily had messed up one too many times, and Sirius was here for damage control.

"The Mirror of Erised, hmm? I'm sure you know what it is by now. Tell me, do you come here often?" He questioned.

"Only when I need to think." He plopped down on the ground next to her and slung his arm around her shoulder. "So, I take it you know?"

"I know everything, Evans. You shouldn't be surprised anymore."

"How?"

"He came to the Gryffindor tower to fetch me. Bloody shame, too. I was just about to hand Marlene's arse to her on a silver platter in wizard chess. She's really something awful at it, you know? Anyway, he dragged me back to your common room and told me."

"How is he?"

Sirius sighed heavily. "He's hurt, Evans. I know that this wasn't your fault, but you really hurt him bad. That boy loves you more than McGonagall loves giving me detentions, and that's saying something. He was also pretty mad that both Remus and I knew about the entire thing and didn't tell him."

"I'm sorry about that."

"Don't pay any mind to that. He'll get over it. He knows why we couldn't say anything, but that doesn't exactly make it any easier. It's like casting an Unforgiveable curse on someone and then apologizing. The 'sorry' doesn't absolve the pain the person felt."

That hit Lily in the chest like the Hogwarts Express at full speed. He was right. "On the bright side, I told him what you told me to tell him," she said.

"That you want to snog his face off?" He received an elbow in the gut for that one, but just laughed it off. "Oh, you mean that you're in love with him! Yeah, I knew that. Trust me, Evans. He didn't leave out any details. Like I said, I know everything." The pair sat there for a bit, not saying anything. Lily rested her head on Sirius' shoulder, and he kept his arm around her.

"Sirius?" she said after a few minutes of silence. He hummed in response.

"What do you see?"

"Right now, I see the insides of my eyelids."

"I meant in the mirror, you dolt."

"I see myself."

"And?"

"Well right now, I see you, but you're happy in the reflection."

"Oh."

"Lily, I may not care for you the way James does, but I still like to think that you're my friend, and I do love you."

"Awww, Sirius, you're making me blush."

"Oh hush, you. You're not my type anyway. I meant like a sister. Or rather, sister-in-law, since James might as well be my brother. I do live with him and his family, after all. Plus, I've got dibs on being godfather to your offspring."

"Merlin help that poor child. With my luck, he or she will wind up just like James, and our kid and you will get along fabulously. You'll poison their mind!" They both laughed.

After a minute of chuckling, Sirius sobered quickly and stated, "You guys need to talk some things out. Please, don't let this fester. Just get it all out now, while the wound is still fresh." He leaned over and kissed her forehead. She smiled. It was the most affection Sirius had ever shown towards her, and she liked it. She could see the over-protective brother in him, just like she saw in Remus. He smiled back at her.

He looked in the mirror again and said, "Now I just see me."

"Pardon?"

"Well, I'm one of the happiest men in the world. I have everything I want in life, Evans. Three best friends that I wouldn't trade for all the tea in Britain, an amazing school where I can stir up trouble, and a brilliant family to go home to when I leave this place." Lily looked at him dubiously. "I meant the Potters, not the Blacks. Anyway, now you're happy, and that makes me happy, which means I only see myself, exactly the way I am." He stood up. "I will see you both tomorrow." Just before he walked through the door, he said over his shoulder, "Don't let him get away, Evans." She promised him she wouldn't.

Twenty minutes later, she heard the door open once more, and again knew who it was without turning around. "Have you ever heard of the Mirror of Erised?" she asked him. James sat down on the floor next to her and quietly replied that he hadn't. She elaborated, "It's a special kind of mirror. It reflects the innermost desires of our hearts. According to the research I've done, the happiest man in the world would look into it and see only himself, exactly the way he is." She smiled as she thought of Sirius. What she wouldn't give to have that same happiness. "I'm surprised you haven't heard of it. I know Sirius has."

"There are some things that Sirius keeps to himself. Not many, but some."

They were quiet for a while, before James gasped softly. He looked at her and asked tentatively, "Lily? What do you see?"

"That, Mr. Potter, is the million-galleon question, isn't it?" She stood and brushed herself off, and then helped him to his feet.

"Lily."

She looked at the mirror and took a deep breath before she said, "I see the two of us." He continued to stare at her, so she continued to speak, still not meeting his eyes, "I see us, but it's slightly different. You're standing behind me, and you've got your arms around me." She became so lost in the reflection, in watching the fictional James Potter and Lily Evans, that she was caught completely by surprise when she felt a pair of strong arms snake around her waist, and secure her safely to an equally strong and muscular chest. She didn't even see him move, she'd become so enveloped in the mirror. As soon as he was locked in her arms, she felt her previous anger at him evaporate instantaneously.

"Anything like this?" he whispered in her ear. Her breathing became quick and sporadic.

"It's changing," she stated. Reflective James had turned reflective Lily around, still keeping her in his arms, and they were—Oh my, Lily thought. She could feel a blush creeping up her neck and spreading across her face. It was weird to witness such an intimate moment, especially since she was watching herself kiss James Potter. But it wasn't her. But it was.

"What's happening now?"

"Er…we're both smiling at each other."

"Like hell."

"I'm sorry?"

"If we were just 'smiling at each other,' you wouldn't be blushing as bad as that first night of patrols this year when we caught two Slytherins in a broom closet," he teased. She rolled her eyes at him, and he asked, "Do you want to know what I see?"

"I'm afraid to say yes."

"It's not as bad as you think. Yes or no?"

"Very well. What do you see, James?" Suddenly, she felt herself moving, and she realized that he had turned her around, and his face was very close to hers. His left arm tightened around her, bringing her closer, although she didn't know that was possible. His right hand came up to hold her cheek, and his thumb traced her bottom lip.

"Th-this is what you saw us doing?" she questioned, her voice shaky. She looked into is hazel eyes and saw that there was a sparkle in them. He was up to something, but Lily couldn't quite bring herself to care.

"Not quite," he whispered. She risked a glance down at his lips and saw that they were closer than she thought.

"Oh." She really didn't know what to say to that.

"It was more like this."

At long last, James kissed Lily. Only, this wasn't exactly how she imagined their first kiss would feel. She had always pictured it as one of two things: either a slow, cautious, I-can't-believe-I'm-kissing-you-right-now kiss; or its polar opposite: the heated, passionate, I-can't-believe-I'm-kissing-you-right-now-and-we're-about-to-shag kiss.

It was neither of those. If Lily had to describe it, it would be somewhere along the lines of a slow, yet passionate, I-can't-believe-I'm-kissing-you-right-now-after-Merlin-knows-how-long-I've-been-in-love-with-you kiss.

Her mind was spinning. She had no idea how one of her hands had made its way into his soft hair, whilst the other held onto the back of his neck as if for dear life. But, she really didn't mind. She was kissing James Potter. She was in love with James Potter. And that was a fantastic feeling. When she pulled back, James groaned. She opened her eyes, lest she be tempted to kiss him again.

"Lily…"

Merlin, her name sounded good on his lips. She almost gave in and snogged him on the spot, but she had something to say.

"I'm in love with you."

His eyes shot open. He knew how she felt about him, since she had basically told him as much in their Common Room. But that's the thing, he thought. She never actually said it. Somehow, hearing her say it now, in the moment, it was so much more real.

He couldn't help himself. He kissed her again. But this time, it was much more heated. He pressed her body closer, so that she was flush against him, and she entwined both her hands in his hair, driving him absolutely mad. He slowed his kisses and managed to breathe out, "I'm sorry I got mad at you." When he opened his eyes once more, the shocked look he saw on her face was almost comical.

"I just…I don't know how I'd be able to live with myself if I lost you. I'm sorry."

"It's all right. I understand. I'm sorry, too. I shouldn't have gotten so mad at you, either. Could we just forget the whole thing?"

"I suppose," James teased.

"Oh, really? Well then, I suppose I'm pretty tired, and I had better head back to the dorm." Lily extracted herself from his arms and turned to make her way to the door.

James was not so easily brushed off. He grabbed her hand, and spun her around so that she was wrapped in his arms once more, and his hands came to rest on her hips. "Don't you dare," he whispered into her neck, right before he kissed it. He began leaving a trail of kisses anywhere from behind her ear down to her collar bone, eliciting a soft moan from her.

"James, we really should go back to the dorm. It's late, and we-"

"We what? Tomorrow's Christmas, Lil. We don't have classes for at least another week, and no homework or school obligations in the meantime. Besides, we can sleep here."

"Where? There's no bed. Come on, James."

"Look behind the couch." When Lily turned to look, she saw a huge king-sized bed several feet behind the couch. That definitely wasn't there when she came in.

Looking at him, she asked, "Are you serious?"

"Absolutely not, I'm James. Merlin Lily, you'd think you would at least know a man's proper name before you snog him." She rolled her eyes, but laughed along with him anyway.

James leaned down again to kiss her, and both their eyes fluttered closed. It was just as passionate as the previous one, but escalated much faster. He softly bit her lower lip, and then daringly ran his tongue across the same spot. Lily responded with such alacrity that it took him by surprise when she nudged the slightly parted seam of his lips with her own tongue.

Lily couldn't believe how reckless she was being. But, this was James. She'd already told the boy she was in love with him, for Merlin's sake. Surely kissing him like this was acceptable. When he opened his mouth, he bravely stroked her tongue with his, causing her to moan again. What was happening to her? She'd only been kissing him for ten minutes, and he already had her body producing inappropriate actions.

Their kissing slowed, and she pulled back, taking his hand in hers and guiding them to the bed. After a bit more snogging (which lasted for quite some time, Lily was happy to admit), they fell asleep in each other's arms.

The next morning, Lily found herself still in James' arms. She opened her eyes and saw that James was already awake, and he was looking at her.

"Good morning," he said, propping himself up on his elbow.

"Happy Christmas," she replied.

"A Happy Christmas indeed," he answered as he leaned down over her to kiss her, only to be rejected.

"I have morning breath," she explained when he cocked an eyebrow at her. She cast a quick charm to clean her teeth and leave a minty taste in her mouth, and he quickly seized the opportunity by kissing her feverishly.

When they stopped to breathe, Lily looked over to the Mirror of Erised, where she had a clear view of the two of them. The only thing she saw was a reflection of herself in James' arms: exactly the way she was.