A/N: Wow, I'm still trying to comprehend all the reviews on the last chapter…wow. Thank you so much.

It's come to my attention I've been saying "Moody" instead of "Moony" sometimes. That's what I think of every time I type Moony. Haha. I thought I had caught all my slip ups but apparently not. Oh well, I think I've gotten them all fixed now.

Disclaimer: Sorry if this chapter is anti-climatic (is that a word?). Oh, and I'm not JKR.

Despite James' protests I went back to my home in the summer, not to the "safe" care of a wizarding home.

There were times when I wish I had heeded James' advice.

No, Bellatrix never came to call on my family. Instead I met Vernon Dursley, Petunia's obsession.

I really think I'm adopted.

Vernon is the most boring, stuffy, close-minded, dull-witted, and insufferable man I have ever met in my life. I never had an overly high opinion of my sister, but surely she could do better than this!

I would amuse myself during Vernon's long, drawn out speeches about the idiots in government by imagining what James would do to him if they were alone in the room together for five minutes.

During a particularly good fantasy, in which Vernon had sprouted a pig's tail, there was a loud bang against the window. I looked up to see James' owl hovering outside, a letter attached to its leg.

As Vernon began a rant about damn environmentalists who protected menaces such as the one who just crashed into the window I asked softly if I could be excused. My mother nodded and I slipped out quietly without Vernon or Petunia noticing.

Once outside the owl hooted softly and landed on my shoulder, dropping a package in my hands. I unwrapped it and found a small hand mirror. Curiously I turned it over, only to find it wasn't my face staring back at me in the glass, but Sirius'.

"What are you doing?" I asked in amazement.

"Prongs!" Sirius yelled to someone out of my view. "Prongs she got it!" He turned back to me. "Well hello Evans. Having a nice summer?"

"It could be better." I replied, looking back through the window where I could see Vernon's face turning an ugly shade of puce.

"Hello Lily!" James' beaming face appeared beside Sirius'.

"Hi James." I said. "What is this anyway?"

"Our own invention." James said breezily. "We use it when we're in separate detentions."

"But Prongs here wanted to send one to you so we could make sure Bellatrix and her little friends hadn't killed you." Sirius explained.

"How did you do it?" I asked, turning the mirror over in my hands. "It must have been a really complex charm."

"We could tell you Lily, but then we'd have to kill you." Sirius said solemnly.

I looked at each of their grave faces, waiting for one to start to laugh. Neither did.

"Ok then…" I said slowly, trying to change the subject. "Well I'm alive and well…obviously. Can't wait 'till school starts again. What is it, a month?"

"Yeah, something around that." James said, face falling. "Listen, have you been reading the Daily Prophet?"

"No. My sister wouldn't be able to handle an owl coming every morning. She can barely take your occasional owls." I said, glancing back to the living room. My presence still wasn't missed.

"Oh." Sirius said.

"Well…ok." James said, searching for words.

"Oh don't sugarcoat it James, just spit it out!" I said impatiently.

"Ok. Ok. This Voldemort bloke, he's getting stronger. Much stronger. There are killings at least once a week now. Did you not hear about that massacre in Bristol?"

"I heard about a bombing…" I said slowly. "But it was just some nutter extremist."

"Some wizard extremist." James said seriously. "That's just the story they're telling the muggles. He's starting to gain power. You need to be careful. Take your wand with you everywhere. Don't go out alone. It'd be best if you could go stay with Marlene, her parents work with mine. They're great Aurors. Or, if you'd rather you could come stay with us." He finished hopefully.

"No James." I said firmly. "If all this really is true I'm staying with my family. They need me."

"I need you." He said softly.

"I'm fine." I said sharply. "I've got to go. Bye."

Despite James' fears no harm befell me, or my family, and I arrived at King's Cross alive and well. As usual, James, Sirius, and Mr. and Mrs. Potter were there to meet us.

"She lives!" Sirius cheered as I walked through the door. "You owe my five Galleons Prongs."

"You made a bet on if I would die?" I asked in disbelief.

"He's a liar." James said, glaring at Sirius.

Sirius crossed his arms and stuck out his tongue. "I am rubber, you are glue. Whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you."

I couldn't help it. The sight of a fully-grown man acting so childish made me burst into giggles.

James looked at me in wonder. "You didn't roll your eyes and huff off. Why are you laughing?"

I smiled at him. "Because I can I guess." I said as he took my hand to help me through the barrier.

"See you later Prongs!" Sirius said after we were on the platform.

"Where's he going?" I asked, turning to James.

"To find a compartment for all of us I'm guessing." James said awkwardly.

"Why aren't you going with him then?" I said, still confused.

"Because I have to go to the Head's compartment." James blushed.

"You're Head Boy?" I said, my mouth falling open.

"Shocking, I know." James said, turning to smile at me. "And if I've guessed correctly the new Head Girl is currently standing hand-in-hand with me."

With a sudden jolt I realized I was still holding James' hand. Dropping it, I mumbled, "Yeah, that's me."

"Excellent." James said grandly. "Now let's go find out what we have to do."

James and I quickly learned that being Head Boy and Girl was more about setting an example than doing actual work. We set the Prefect's rounds and monitored the House passwords. We ran Prefect meetings and organized trips to Hogsmeade.

To my amazement I was spending more and more time with James and I was enjoying it. He had stopped being a prat, wasn't hexing Severus every chance he got, and was treating me like a person instead of a piece of meat. That's part of the reason I accepted when he asked if I would go to the first Hogsmeade weekend with him—just as friends of course.

It's not like I had a choice really. Marlene, and Hestia had dates and Dorcas had to catch up on her homework. James didn't have a choice either. Sirius had no less than four girls lined up for that Saturday, Remus was behind on his schoolwork, and Peter had detention for McGonagall. Besides, its not like we would be spending time just enjoying each other's company. Part of the point of going together would be to supervise students and make sure they weren't misbehaving.

That's what I assured myself at least.

Two butterbeers in the Three Broomsticks and three amusing stories about James' childhood later, I wasn't particularly caring if the fourth years got too close to the Shrieking Shack.

"You know." James said softly, placing his hand over mine. "I didn't think you would actually show up today."

"Why not?" I asked. "Did you think I would stand you up?"

"Quite frankly, yes." James said simply.

"Well I might have a couple years ago, but not now." I assured him.

"Why?" James asked.

"I don't know." I said thoughtfully. "I've changed, you've changed."

"Some things haven't changed though." James said, leading me outside.

"Like what?" I asked mischievously.

"Lily, I think you know what I'm going to say." James said, pausing before he opened the door.

"That doesn't mean I don't want to hear it." I said simply.

James grinned before he opened the door. "Would you mind terribly if you simply saw it?"

"What?" I said, bemused as the door swung open.

The hills around the Three Broomsticks were covered in millions of brightly colored lilies, spelling out:

HA. BET YOU WEREN'T EXPECTING THIS WERE YOU LILY?

THAT'S RIGHT, WE, YOUR CUNNING FRIENDS WERE NOT, IN FACT, PREVIOUSLY ENGAGED TODAY (EXCEPT WORMTAIL. HE DID ACTUALLY GET A DETENTION. LEAVE IT TO HIM TO SCREW UP THE PLAN). INSTEAD, WE WERE WORKING ON THIS LITTLE BRAINCHILD OF PRONGSIE-POO'S (IF YOU DON'T ADOPT THAT PET NAME LILY, I'M SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING USING IT. IT HAS A NICE RING TO IT, DON'T YOU THINK?).

SHUT UP SIRIUS. THIS IS MARLENE HERE, WRITING ON BEHALF OF DORCAS, HESTIA, AND MYSELF. ANYWAY LILY, BEING YOUR BEST FRIENDS WE KNOW YOU BETTER THAN YOU KNOW YOURSELF, SO IF YOU'RE HAVING ANY DOUBTS ABOUT SAYING YES THIS TIME, YOU REALLY SHOULDN'T. TRUST US ON THIS ONE.

HELLO LILY. IT'S REMUS. YES, EVEN I WAS DRAGGED INTO THIS ONE. IT'S A GOOD THING TOO, OR PADFOOT WOULD HAVE WRITTEN SOME…EXPLETIVES ON THIS HILLSIDE INSTEAD OF PRONGS' ACTUAL MESSAGE, WHICH WE HAVE YET TO GET TO.

OH LET'S JUST GET ON WITH IT. I'M SURE I CAN STILL FIND SOME GIRLS WILLING TO GO TO HOGSMEADE WITH ME AFTER WE FINISH. THAT'S RIGHT LADIES, JUST LOOK FOR SIRIUS BLACK.

SHUT UP SIRIUS! NOW ON TO THE MESSAGE.

GO OUT WITH ME EVANS?

WELL THAT CERTAINLY WAS AN ANTICLIMAX.

SHUT UP SIRIUS!

Laughing, I turned to James, who was looked like he was contemplating the most painful way to murder his best mate.

"I guess I have to say yes eventually…" I said slowly.

James' face immediately brightened. "Are you serious?"

"Well, I reckon you've been trying for long enough. I could at least give you a chance, and then if you really are hopeless I'll have a reason to continually turn you down."

James cheered and enveloped me in a bone-crushing hug. "Hear that guys? Eat your heart out 'cause she's MINE!" He cried joyfully, holding me tight.

He turned to look into my eyes. "You have no idea how long I've wanted to do this." He said softly, and began to lean towards me.

"Wait James." I said, putting a hand on his mouth right before it touched mine. "Why did you go through all this trouble for me?"

"Because I can." He smiled as our lips met.

A/N: Rushed and sloppy I know but I have a half an hour before I leave on my trip. I might change it after I get back and read HBP, that is, if HBP doesn't completely blow my fic out of the water canon-wise. As always thank you for reading! You guys made my first L/J fic a great experience.