Chapter 2

It was obvious without asking Katie or Meygan that James and Cassie were dating. But when she asked Peter he made it blatantly obvious how serious it was between the two of them.

"They've been together for . . . well for as long as I can remember. There isn't a time when I don't know them being together."

Katie having been listening in on the conversation leaned over, "James and Cassie don't even see anyone of the opposite sex except each other."

Peter laughed, "So true."

* * *

Lily found herself watching James and Cassie even more after her conversation with Peter. Which wasn't hard, considering after the incident with the Slytherian boy, James and especially Cassie made it a point to involve Lily with their group. Suddenly she was invited to sit with them during lunch and dinner, always next to Cassie, across from Remus. They waited for her in the mornings before attending breakfast. Sirius would call out her name loudly if they saw one another in the corridor and the other people in her classes suddenly had a little more interest than before in her.

Everything became a whirlwind after that. Suddenly she was either studying in the library with Cassie and Elena, playing exploding snap in the common room with Sirius and Remus, going to Quidditch games with the entire group.

She noticed as they walked through the halls, people seemed to part to let them through. Part of Lily thought it was because of Sirius's loud voice that rang out through the corridors but the other part knew it was because she was with the core group of Hogwarts. Even the older kids seemed to have a respect for the group, inviting them along on their own outings, which they mostly declined.

Lily found she spent most of her time talking to Peter or Remus. They were a lot calmer than Sirius or James, didn't seem to want to be in the spotlight as much. Peter was needing extra help in his classes and Remus and her found themselves more often then not in the library helping Peter to study. Katie joined them on most occasions and Lily learned quickly that it had more to do with Remus than with her.

"I heard Elena and Cassie talking earlier." Katie whispered as she sat next to Lily, "She was criticizing Cassie about taking in people like they were little lost puppies when she fully knew that they could never be a part of them."

Lily turned her eyes from her book, looking at Katie, "What?"

Katie shrugged looking up as Remus took a seat across from them, "I just assumed she was talking about you but I don't know."

"But I'm not a lost puppy." Lily stated firmly, shocking even herself at the harshness of her voice.

"I know." Katie whispered.

"I didn't know Elena didn't like me so much."

Remus pulled his head back slightly as he caught onto their conversation, "What are you talking about?"

Lily turned her hard eyes to Remus studying him, "Just that some of you think of me as a charity case."

Remus shook his head slightly, confusion shading his eyes, "No we don't."

"Okay." Lily jerked her gaze from his before closing her book a little louder than necessary and walking out of the library without another word. She passed Peter on his way in and he called out to her. When she didn't respond he hurried back out of the library after her.

"Lily. Hey Lily, wait up." Lily slowed her steps as Peter came up to walk beside her, "What's wrong?"

Lily shook her head, her hair falling around her face. Her eyes were narrowed and hard as her jaw clinched, "I just learned what it means to have friends around here." She spat the word friends as she came to a stop in the middle of the corridor.

Peter came to stand in front of her but she refused to look at him, instead choosing to stare over his shoulder at one of the pictures on the wall. Peter was exactly her height with blond feathery hair, he had deep blue eyes that could be very piercing at the same time as being very kind and understanding.

"What are you talking about?"

Lily closed her eyes briefly trying to calm her anger, her hurt, "I just . . ." She paused trying to find the right words and her eyes met his, "thought wrong about some people." His eyebrows lowered and she sighed, the anger leaving her.

"Who?"

Lily shook her head, "It doesn't matter Peter." She gave a tight smile, "I'm just going to go for a walk." She nodded to the oak doors and Peter looked back at them briefly.

"You want some company."

"Thanks but no."

And that's how she found herself on the Quidditch field watching as the Gryffindor team flew around above her. Her eyes followed Sirius and James's brooms as if by habit. There had already been three games and she understood now why everyone had been so horrified the first day of school when Sirius announced James was leaving the team. He was the best of the best on the field. He made flying look as if it were the most natural thing imaginable.

"Hey Lily."

Lily smiled at Sirius as he hoovered near her. "Hi Sirius."

"You want a ride?" He asked nodding to his broom, his grin plastered across his face. She glanced at the broom warily. It wasn't that she didn't like flying, in fact it was the complete opposite, she absolutely loved it. She just wasn't sure about flying with Sirius. Sirius looked just as natural as James on a broom but had a love for flipping himself and zig zagging as much as possible. His smile grew as he held out a hand to her. Shrugging she took his hand and climbed on the broom behind him, immediately wrapping her arms around his waist as he shot them straight up.

Soon they were gliding across the field and Lily loosened her arms from around Sirius's waist. She raised her head, the wind immediately pulling at her hair.

"You okay?" Sirius called out behind him and Lily gave his waist a gentle squeeze. In that instant he tilted the stick down and they headed straight for the ground. At the last possible moment, as Lily sucked in a breath to cry out, Sirius pulled up and they floated along the ground.

"You arse." She said slapping him on the back but she was laughing and his eyes twinkled back at her.

Lily looked up to find James circling above them, his smile was wide as he motioned for them to join him. Sirius guided the broom to James and they floated there together.

"Is this bloke scaring you?" James asked.

"I would never." Sirius gasped, faking mock hurt at such an accusation.

Lily laughed as Sirius sped off again. Her laughter could be heard across the stands as her hair danced around her face. Suddenly a Quaffle ball was tossed to her and as Sirius grinned back at her, he swung to the left and without even thinking about it she hurled the ball past the Keeper, through the tallest of the hoops. Both Sirius and James cheered as Lily's arms wrapped back around Sirius's chest.

A few moments later the Captain shouted at them to stop messing around and Sirius lowered Lily to the ground, James followed them hoping off his broom to join Lily as Sirius rejoined their teammates in the air.

"You like to fly?" James asked her as she tilted her head back up to watch the brooms above her.

"Yes. Of course. It's . . ." She looked to him for a word and he nodded.

"That it is."

* * *

Cassie rushed to Lily as she entered the common room, "We need to talk." She immediately said, pulling Lily up the stairs to her room. Cassie kicked out the other two 4th years before locking the door and motioning for Lily to have a seat.

"What is it Cassie?"

"Remus told me what Katie overheard and I want to make it absolutely clear that you are not a charity case to me."

Lily glanced down at her hands. Flying with Sirius had made her completely forget about the library incident.

"Lily, listen to me." Cassie demanded standing in front of Lily. "You are not a charity case, do you understand? I consider you one of my dearest friends. We all consider you our friend."

Lily looked back up at Cassie and she believed her, she did, but something was still nagging her, "Katie heard Elena say . . ."

"Elena is just very cautious. And she has every right to be. There are things . . . about us that nobody knows."

Lily opened her mouth to speak but Cassie shook her head lightly before kneeling down to be at eye level with Lily, "There are things that you don't know yet but you will. It's just hard for the people involved."

Lily nodded wondering who exactly Cassie was talking about. Cassie smiled gently at Lily as she reached out to push Lily's hair behind her ears, "You have no idea how nice it is to have another female around all these boys."

Lily smiled remembering what Peter had told her their first day, "And wasn't it just you for the longest time?"

Cassie grimaced, "God yes." She sat down beside Lily, turning to her, "I hated and I mean with a fiery passion, Sirius for the longest time."

"You? Hate?" Lily gasped. It was a truly unthinkable concept. Cassie was nice to everyone. She was even nice to the Slytherians and in turn they seemed to hold some sort of respect for her.

"He hated me too because I could make James do anything I wanted."

"Well, of course."

_____________________

Lily was just behind Hagrid's hut, walking along the lake when James found her. He had seen her exit the school during Quiddatch practice and had hoped she was heading over to watch them. Instead he watched as she headed in the opposite direction. He continued to watch her, wanting to see where she was going but Sirius managed to ram into the back of his broom, causing them both to go sprawling to the ground.

Dropping his broom beside the hut and shedding his cloak, he hurried to her, falling into step beside her. She looked at him and he gave her a crooked smile. Silently they walked together around the lake.

"Do you like Sirius?" He asked suddenly, taking her completely by surprise.

She stopped, confusion clear on her face, "What? No." She paused before adding, "I mean he's a nice guy and funny but . . ."

James smiled, "Good because I was going to have to warn you about him. The arse may be my best friend but that doesn't mean he's good boyfriend material."

Lily chuckled, "No. I imagine not although he has just about as many girls wrapped around his finger as I'm sure you could."

"That among other things."

Lily choked as she laughed at his innuendo. "James Potter. Are you telling me our dear Sirius Black is not a virgin."

"I have made no such assumption."

They were quiet for a few more moments, starring out over the silent lake. The peacefulness of the evening felt so loud. Lily found herself watching James, noticing for the first time how long his eyelashes behind his glasses were. For months she had been watching him. Wondering what was so different about him. What drew her to him. He was of course a attractive man by all accounts but there was something else there. Something else pulling Lily to him. Destiny, her mind whispered.

James turned and smiled at her sudden blush.

"You watch me a lot don't you?"

"I . . ." Lily glanced down at her hands and watched as his hand came into view, touching her hands lightly.

"I've been guilty of doing the same. There's just something about you Lily Evans."

Lily thought of the voice that had spoken to her back during her first week of school. Had he heard it too? Had he felt that connection?

She looked up at him and his eyes clouded over, "Lily, there's something . . ." And then she was in his arms, wrapped tightly against his chest.

I know, Lily thought.

She felt him pull away from her and she looked up at him knowing he was feeling as overwhelmed as she was.

"We can't." he whispered in a thick voice. "We can't . . ."

Gazing up at him, seeing only his eyes, the color of night at it's darkest, Lily's lips moved to form a soundless "No."

And that was when he kissed her.

And in that instant all coherent thought was lost. She was swept away by a salty wave of sheer feeling. It was like being caught in a riptide, sucked under, tumbling helplessly head over heels with no way to stop. She was dying, but oh so sweetly.

She was trembling, boneless. If he hadn't been holding her, she would have fallen. He was kissing her and kissing her - they were both intoxicated, dizzy with the madness of this. She knew her cheeks and throat were wildly flushed; she could feel the heat they made together.

And as they parted, their foreheads resting against each other, she heard it again, the voice she had heard when he had saved her from Malfoy.

Your lives are linked. You can't escape each other any more than you can escape destiny.

And it was so loud she wondered if it wasn't just in her head but in her heart and her soul, in her lungs, in her stomach. My destiny, she thought.

Then just as suddenly it was all shattered as realization seemed to hit her. Jerking away, she stumbled, his hands latching onto her wrist as he stopped her from falling.

"What have we done?" She whispered in pure horror.

For a brief moment, his eyes were unfocused, open but unseeing, as if he didn't understand why she had broken their beautiful trance. But then she saw realization come, and his gaze shattered. His hand dropped her wrists as if they were fire.

Tears sprang to her eyes as she watched him turn away from her. He belonged to Cassie not her. He would never belonged to her and she was foolish to believe it for one second.

Cassie who had taken Lily in and welcomed Lily into her beautiful world with open arms and a warm smile. Lily began to cry. Cassie had befriended Lily and trusted her.

"It's my fault." James said.

She couldn't force herself to look at him. "You didn't force me." Lily said, her voice hoarse, "It's both our faults."

James nodded and she looked at him just in time to see him drop his face into his hands. He was crying. He was crying because he had kissed her and therefore ruined his beautiful life with Cassie.

Lily knew what she had to do then, "We won't tell. I won't tell, James. She doesn't have to know, nobody does."

He lifted his face, his eyes catching hers, "But . . ."

Lily shook her head, her face becoming hard with determination, "No. Nobody knows, nobody finds out."

His eyes that had filled with a hope soon became sad as he watched her. Reaching for her wrist, he held it tightly in his hand, "But you. We . . . there's something."

Lily turned her head slightly, avoiding his gaze, "There's not." She whispered, her heart crumbling all over again as she denied the voice about it being destiny. It was just her hopeless heart speaking to her.

They were silent as a cool breeze picked up behind them in the Forbidden Forrest. The sun was dropping and the night animals were waking, preparing for their nightly hunts. Lily shivered as she looked up to the full moon. She always felt the most powerful as a witch when the moon was full. Even before she had known she was a witch she remembered the nights of her childhood when there had been a full moon. Things, strange things, would always happen. As if the moon called to her.

"Lily, I don't know if I can."

"You love her."

James dropped his chin to his chest, "Yes."

"Then you can and you will."

He raised his head back up, his eyes meeting hers and for the first time he saw the strength behind those bright green eyes. The determination, the fierceness in them and he nodded.

Once they were back inside the school Lily turned to head in an opposite direction from the Gryffindor House. James stopped and watched her sadly before walking towards the painting of the Fat Lady, his broom dragging behind him.

Lily couldn't do it just yet. She couldn't face any of the Gryffindor kids, not even Katie or Peter. Especially not Cassie. She was afraid she would burst into tears if she saw Cassie and Lily knew she had to regain her strength, find her resolve to keep from breaking down and destroying the best person Lily had ever known. She couldn't do that to Cassie and she couldn't do that to James. She knew now that James belonged to Cassie.

"Why hello, Lily Evans."

Lily jerked her head up to find herself face to face with a very tall, cruel looking girl. Her face was hard and boney with sunken grey eyes that seemed to be starring directly into Lily's thoughts.

"Do I know you?" Lily asked with narrowed eyes.

The girl smiled, making it look like the hardest thing to muster, "Narcissa Danes. I am Head Girl of Slytherian House."

Lily flinched at the mention of Slytherian and Narcissa eyes glinted, "Um well, it's nice to meet you." Lily said turning around to head back to Gryffindor House.

A cold hand latched onto her wrist, stopping her, "See there's a reason I ran into you here."

"Oh?" Lily asked, her eyes meeting Narcissa, "And what's that?"

Narcissa dropped her hand, "Everything is seen by another. Nothing goes unnoticed."

"W - What do you mean?" Lily's chest tightened. She knew exactly what Narcissa meant. She was admitting to have seen the kiss shared between her and James. That meant she would tell Cassie. Destroy them all. A perfect predicament for any Slytherian wishing to break up the main core of Gryffindor.

Narcissa shrugged, "Just remember that, Lily Evans, so when I come to you with a favor you won't falter to give it to me."

"A favor?"

Narcissa patted Lily's cheek, "Now be a dear and hurry back to your house. You don't want to have any points taken for wondering the corridors after hours, now do you?"