A/N This is the last chapter, people! It is finished! My first Harry Potter story, is finished. I don't know Ending stories always makes me sad, which must be why I seldom do. (ponders this) lol.
Song: Tearin' Up My Heart by 'NSYNC
Disclaimer: What is the word I'm looking for? Oh yeah. Ownership? Nada.
Lily's POV
Breakfast starts in half an hour. I have half an hour until my inevitable doom. This is all Black's fault. I knew what I thought about James before Black had to come into the picture and screw it all up. Potter was an arrogant, pompous jerk. He cared about no one but himself and his friends with the obvious exception of Remus were the same. But now Sirius had to go and make me recalculate my analysis. And now I can't seem to stop obsessing over what is obviously going to be the worst moment in my life. I can feel my stomach tying itself into knots.
Based on what I've gathered from Remus and Black, Potter is a genuinely good person, and a great friend. But based on what I've seen with my own eyes he's a jerk. And I trust evidence. But there has always been this feeling that has nagged at me about him, as though I were judging him too quickly as though I was wrong. But still a feeling is not a fact. And the facts say that James is a jerk. I need to know whether James is sincere; I don't want to take a leap of faith or anything else that greeting cards are always spouting. I'm sick of hearing about how love is blind and blah, blah, blah. I most certainly am not blind and I have seen Potter act like a jerk with my own two eyes.
I need to go to the Great Hall now; I've avoided leaving my dormitory as long as possible but Breakfast is starting in barely fifteen minutes and Potter always gets there early; if I want any hope of talking to him without an audience I should go now.
It's tearin' up my heart when I'm with you
But when we are apart, I feel it too
And no matter what I do, I feel the pain
with or without you
James' POV
Sirius has something planned I know he does. His eyes are dancing like they always do when he knows something that everyone else doesn't. Sort of like Remus' do when he can answer the teachers questions while the rest of us sleep/taunt Snivellus/zone out/pass notes/pull pranks. But I fail to see the humor which he evidently does, because if you take one look at Sirius you can tell that he is seconds away from bursting into laughter. Oh yes, he has something planned. And I have a sinking suspicion it involves me.
Isn't it bad enough that he is forcing me to talk to Lily?! Although nothing is never been enough for Sirius he always wants to do more or know more; this does not necessarily apply to school work however. He could care less what he knows about Potions or Divination. I can see Slughorn clutching his chest at the thought of his precious perfectly scientific subject being compared with Trelawney's load of rubbish predictions. I must make a note to compare Trelawney's class to his one day making sure to mention many seemingly obvious similarities. With any luck he'll have a panic attack and have to be carted off to the Hospital Wing; leaving us free to do whatever we want.
At this point I glanced up from the table and towards the doors my breath caught in my chest when I spotted her. She was clutching her books and looking my way. I pushed one of my bangs out of my face impatiently intent on my Lily-watching. She seemed to be headed this way. Well duh, she is a Gryffindor, but I mean specifically toward us. Although I never move my eyes from her I can sense Sirius shuffling and coughing hastily to stifle laughter. I hear Remus reprimand him; hissing about he was ruining everything. Clearly, my library loving friend has been dragged into whatever psychotic plan Sirius has thought up. Lily is so close now just fifteen feet away; she's shuffling her feet moving slowly not at all in her usual manner. She glances to my left where Sirius is sitting and scowls heavily before her eyes rest on me once more. She is in front of me now and our eyes lock. Emerald meets Hazel and the world seems to freeze. And then Sirius coughs (it sounded suspiciously like get on with it) breaking the spell. Lily sighs and tucks a strand of red hair behind her ear.
"Can I talk to you, Potter?" Lily asks in a hard voice.
"…" I stare at her blankly.
"James, please?" She asked her tone softening. I snap out of my reverie and nod following her to the far corner of the Hall. Although I doubt it matters much as I'm positive Sirius and Remus are using a spell we, The Marauders, developed specifically for the purpose of listening in on conversations people prefer were left unheard. I stare at her my gaze unwavering as I wait for her to speak. She shifts her weight nervously, her eyes focused on a point just above my head.
Baby I don't understand
Just why we can't be lovers
Things are getting out of hand
Trying too much, but baby we can't win
Lily's POV
I don't think I can do this. I've hated him for years and now I'm going to apologize and admit that I like him?! I'm on the verge of having a panic attack. I take a deep breath and focus my eyes at a torch just above his head and open my mouth to speak.
"James, I-I'm sorry." I stutter choking on the words. James looks shocked his mouth has fallen up.
"W-what?" He asks. The poor boy looks genuinely shocked.
"I'm sorry for judging you, I'm sorry I was cruel to you, I'm sorry I never got to know you, and I'm really sorry I tried to assume what you were thinking without ever taking the time to get to know you. I'm sorry, James, so incredibly sorry." I say swallowing I think it may have actually caused me physical pain to admit that.
Let it go
If you want me girl, let me know
I am down, on my knees
I can't take it anymore
James' POV
Did Lily just say what I think she said?! Have I fallen and hit my head? Have the Slytherins finally learned to do a decent hex? Nah, they couldn't have and I don't remember hitting my head so unless I'm suffering from some kind of amnesia Lily is really saying she's sorry, and that means she admits that I really do like her, and maybe that means she likes me too! "Uh…" I say gaping at her in shock. She looks a bit concerned. I think she's questioning my sanity…wait…she always does that. She arches an eyebrow and I manage to find the will to speak. "I'm sorry that I've been such a jerk, Lily." I finally am able to say something. Go me! Now what do we do?! We've both apologized so now what do we do? I can see Remus mumbling something about incompetent fools who don't know how to carry a conversation and Sirius is staring a hole into Lily silently demanding that she talk.
It's tearin' up my heart when I'm with you
But when we are apart, I feel it too
And no matter what I do, I feel the pain
with or without you
Lily's POV
I loathe Black. Really, I do, it's all his fault that I'm going to do what I'm about to do. I loathe him. I absolutely despise him; I can't think of any type of revenge horrible enough to repay him for this.
"Remember what you always used to ask me?" I say looking at James. It's not the most eloquent way to get on the subject of going out but I don't really care, I'm not feeling articulate at the moment.
"Yeah." James said his eyes sparkling and clearly asking her why she would need to ask such a question.
"I think, that maybe if you asked again, I wouldn't turn you down." I say; I could just ask him out myself but for the sake of his ego I'll let him do it. James glances at me suspiciously but something resembling hope flickers in his eyes and I wonder how I could never have noticed how expressive his eyes really are.
"Lilywouldyougooutwithme?" James asked without breathing it really sounded more like 'mmmphimble' but I have a fairly good idea of what he said. And while I could draw out his suffering and force him to repeat himself I'll spare him; just this once.
"Yes." I answer grinning at him.
"Yes??" He asks not daring to believe it.
"Yes." I answer. I think he's gone into shock again, but then he snaps out of it and leans down his lips meet mine and I wonder why I wasted all these years. I'm dimly aware of Black catcalling and whistling loudly; the rest of the Gryffindor following suit; in fact pretty much everyone, even some Slytherins are clapping. Honestly, if they were all so certain we should date why didn't they say something?!...Oh wait they did…
Baby don't mis-understand (don't misunderstand)
What I'm trying to tell ya
In the corner of my mind (corner of my mind)
Baby, it feels like we are running out of time
A/N It is finished! I was going to add one more chapter, but it feels finished. Thanks for all the Reviews throughout the story guys, they meant a lot.
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Review, everyone, I want to know what you thought of the ending!