Thanks so much for all the reviews you guys!

Thalia0965: I must admit… I am a major fan of cliff hangers :P I do love how bewildered everyone is at the moment but unfortunately that can't last forever :( Thanks so much for the support and all the feedback it's very kind of you

Katmom: Thanks for all the feedback, you're too kind.

Beyondthesea16: You're right, I think all the secrets are about to spill out around now, I hope you're pleased with the chapter. I think it ties a lot of things together

Siriusbabe1988: Thanks a million for the kind words!

Hannahmae94: Hey there! I received your review last night and it encouraged me to post this chapter that had been sitting around on my desktop so thanks very much. Recently I've been feeling interest has been dropping in this story so it was nice to see someone was still so excited about it.

Chapter 15

James kicked a pebble that had been lingering near his foot out into the grass a few metres away. Sirius sat on the small cobbled wall behind him exuding an excited presence that wasn't helping him to calm down. He sighed heavily and kept his eyes on the murky lake that glistened in the morning light. It was still too early for the grounds to be busy, which was comforting for him, and the cold morning breeze was the only relief he could find in the tumultuous morning. He felt more than heard his father approach from behind him but didn't turn to greet him.

"Boys," Harry said quietly.

"Mr Potter," Sirius replied easily before a tense silence settled on the trio.

"James," his father ordered. James sighed but dutifully turned towards the man that had always been too full of mystery to be tangible. His grey hair stood chaotically at all angles upon his head and he carried his large winter coat by his side displaying his white wrinkled shirt. He placed the coat by Sirius on the walls before letting his arms fall by his sides once more in an official stance that James knew comforted the man.

"You are both to listen to me very carefully," he began looking both boys in the eyes to receive the confirmation he was looking for. "The girl is most definitely not who she says she is," he stated clearly, annunciating ever word of the sentence to emphasize the severity of the situation.

"No Dad, really?" James muttered sardonically. His father sent him a cold look that clearly displayed how little his humour was appreciated at that moment.

"She's not Dumbledore's and she's certainly not one of the Dark Lords," he confirmed gravely. "If I were a betting man I'd say she belongs to an old family, trying to get a child educated without drawing attention to a new heiress, maybe for inheritance reasons or some other nonsense," he continued waving his hands dismissively.

"So, let me get this right, you're saying that Lord Voldemort cursed Lily when she was out for a drink with Frank Longbottom because she's some long-lost descendant to a bit of money?" Sirius asked, the disbelief in his tone was obvious. Harry sent the Black heir a disparaging look.

"Use your heads boys. Now what I need you to do is stay as neutral as possible around this girl, we don't know who she's answering to. You must remember that Dumbledore and this Voldemort character aren't the only players in this war," he finished vaguely while reaching for his coat and throwing it over his shoulder.

"What were you doing with Meadows at four in the morning?" James accused harshly. He knew his father had always shared a mutual dislike for his friend's father.

"Somethings aren't so easy to explain James," his father replied while taking a step back still facing the boys.

"Only because you don't want to. I'm not some little kid," he countered resolutely. His father sent him a withering glance.

"Not a child?" Harry repeated with anger flashing across his well-defined features. "Fighting with the Slytherins, dismissing your school work, doing Merlin only knows what most nights," he waved his hands in the air sharply. "Seems like you're a child to me James. At least that girl can protect herself, you wouldn't last seconds outside these walls," he declared harshly motioning to the borders of the forest.

"You don't know what I can do-," James shouted, shocked by his father's honesty.

"Oh I know exactly how much potential you have that's why it's so disappointing," his father responded bitterly. Turning around in his spot he stalked away from the boys. "Don't mention tonight to anyone," he called without even gracing them with a look.

James stared after the man who had always kept a distance from him throughout his life.

Disappointing

The word was toxic to James, filling his heart cruelly with every confirmed suspicion he had tried to avoid. He raised both his hands to his forehead and took in one long shuddering breath before turning once more to look out over the lake. The fresh air now burned his lungs tauntingly, teasing the lump in his throat painfully. Picking up one of the heavier rocks near him he squeezed it hard in his fist before hurling it over his head. A guttural whine left him as the stone flew into the air before hitting the gloomy water with a pathetic splash that barely jostled the water.

"James," Sirius tried gently.

James didn't respond deciding instead to head back into the castle without evening sparing his friend a glance. He needed answers, no more waiting around for this puzzle to solve itself.

…..

Lily opened her eyes slowly, the light hurt every part of her head, teasing her with its unyielding cheerfulness. She lifted her hand to shade her sensitive gaze but the heaviness in her aching limb made her hesitate. Panic filled her heart swiftly, she tried her best to recall what had happened or even where she was but it was like everything in her mind had prematurely hit a pause button. Her eyes darted around the room, taking in the familiar Hogwarts dormitory with a delayed relief. She tried her best to push herself into a sitting position but found her whole body unwilling to comply with her simple request. The only time she'd ever felt this bad was when she'd gone out with Grace one night and decided to test the limits of her resistance to all sorts of muggle substances extended. She'd not gotten up the entire next day and Snape had to brew a strengthening charm just for her to pass off as normal when she'd stumbled home the next night. She'd remembered how he'd supported her by the waist and they'd laughed at her stupidity, but it was all okay because her mother loved Snape and trusted every word he had said.

It was almost as if the thought of her old friend was the key to unlocking her mental block. Everything that had happened over the last few months came flooding back to her cruelly. She shut her eyes tightly until they hurt. Grace and Snape were gone now, she castigated herself for having just having reminisced about her old friends. They were gone. She had duelled Voldemort yesterday.

And then what?

Frank had been walking back to the dorms and he was telling her about someone.

Deirdre.

"Lily?" she heard a soft voice whisper near her ear. Still she didn't open her eyes, she needed to ground herself before she faced anyone yet. Grasping at painful memories was too hard to do with company. "Lily," the voice pressed on, then a feather light touch on her arm finally dragged her from her confusion.

"Alice," she questioned hesitantly when she finally opened her eyes to see the inquisitive girl staring down at her stationary form. Lily noticed Marlene standing behind her looking around the room in her oversized winter robes looking so much younger than she had ever allowed the pompous girl to be in her mind.

"Lily what happened here last night?" Alice asked quietly letting her eyes wonder around the room dubiously. Immediately Lily tried her best to push herself up in the bed, seeing her struggle Alice reached forward and helped the red head until her back was firmly planted against the wooden head board. The sight that met Lily had her breathe hitch. On the floor, right beside her bed Frank lay asleep with his head probed up with his two arms awkwardly. On the bed beside her Dorcas slept restlessly over her covers as if ready to spring into action at any moment. The room itself looked a mess, as if a legion of men had been stomping through it all night.

"What happened?" Lily demanded weakly, her throat ached like she'd been screaming all night.

"That's what we were wondering dolly," Alice reminded gently. "Is that Frank Longbottom?" She added with an interested look at the sleeping man who was still attired in his Auror robes. Reaching for a pillow slowly so as not to jostle her aching limbs she threw it at the man lightly hitting his stomach. He sprang awake suddenly, jumping up into a sitting position before grabbing his neck which was obviously affronted with his movement. It took him only a second or two before he realised what had woken him up from his agitated slumber. Taking one look at the red head he heaved a massive sigh of relief before sitting slowly and preaching at the edge of her bed completely ignoring the other girls' presences. Reaching out to a confused Lily he felt her forehead and lifted her chin to access her face wordlessly. Lily watched as the worry left his face and the crease between his eyebrows disappeared altogether.

"What's going on?" She managed weakly, pulling her face from his grasp lightly. He looked at her in amazement.

"You don't remember?" He asked, his voice rough.

"Frank," she demanded fear leaking into her voice. The man in question took one slow glance at the other occupants of the room before turning back to her.

"You had way too much to drink below in Hogsmeade last night. Dorcas and I were worried you were going to choke on your own vomit or something equally as pathetic," he finished with a joking lilt in his voice that didn't convince Lily. She couldn't help but see a new shadow of distrust in his gaze as he watched her. She wished the girls would leave so she wouldn't have to listen to this stupid cover story. Dorcas stirred from her sleep to Lily's right, meekly rubbing her eyes tiredly.

"Lily!" The girl exclaimed when she saw the girl sitting up fully conscious. Standing quickly, she assessed her much as Frank had done with the same relief flooding her expression at her results. Fear gripped Lily as she tried her hardest to think of what had happened but failed miserably.

"So, you can't hold your drink?" Marlene mocked as she crossed the room completely dismissing the incident that seemed to draw far too much attention to the red head for her liking.

"It would appear so," Lily replied immediately, knowing the lie to be the lesser of two evils. She didn't miss the look that Dorcas passed her way when she spoke but she ignored it for the moment. "Now that I am suitably embarrassed I think a small walk might be best to cure this hangover?" she turned towards Frank who shook his head minutely.

"You can hardly stand Evans," he declared but raised himself off the bed nonetheless. Taking a deep breath, he turned to her slowly. "I'll see you around," he mumbled not able to meet her eyes and practically fleeing the room with a resigned wave that was so very unlike the playful man that had always taken the time to be as polite and inclusive to her as possible. A shiver ran up her spine. She pushed herself out of the bed using all her strength and tried to follow the Auror but nearly collapsed a mere step later only being saved by Dorcas's agility.

"He has to go, the students will be around soon and talk," Dorcas whispered comfortingly into her ear. "How about a shower?" She murmured, steading her aching legs further by gripping her waist, not unlike the memory that had surfaced in her thoughts when she'd first woken pertaining to a certain Slytherin. Lily did not have the strength in her to refuse and leaned heavily on the other girl as they made their way to the bathrooms relatively unnoticed by the two other girls.

When they finally reached the bathroom, Lily braced herself on the porcelain sink while Dorcas turned on one of the showers. They were silent while the room slowly filled with steam. Lily watched as her reflection slowly disappeared in the mirror. Her haunting emerald eyes even unsettled herself, she had no idea how Dorcas was putting up with her. She hadn't looked this bad since Hermione had dragged her out of bed the morning after-

Don't go there

She physically shook her shoulders to dismiss the direction her thoughts had been taking. Finally, when she saw nothing but condensation in the mirror she turned towards the other girl allowing her vulnerable expression to shine through.

"What happened?" she whispered, just loud enough to be heard over the sound of the running water. Dorcas, who had been occasionally checking the temperature of the water paused in her ministrations to look directly at the red head without any reservations. Too much had happened to be shy about the truth.

"Ever heard of the Nee Fratres Nito curse?" she answered while she reached for a towel to dry her hands. Those three words were all it took for the horrible reality of what had been done to Lily that night in Potter manor to descend on her already tender shoulders. Of course she knew of the curse, Snape had talked enough about it the summer before they had stopped talking. He had been wagering that the new Dark Lord would add the curse to his already impressive repertoire. He had been right, just like he always was when it came to dark magic.

"How?" Lily asked quietly, turning from the other girl, suddenly exceedingly uncomfortable with her penetrating stare. The rhythmic hum of water hitting the tiles was the only sound in the room for a few heartbeats.

"An owl that my father summoned, I was hoping you might be able to expand on that," Dorcas explained taking a step towards the shaking girl. Lily heaved a massive sigh of relief at their ignorance. Harry was safe, she hadn't ruined everything just yet. He had saved her, just like she would do him. Always.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Lily answered avoiding her eyes easily.

"I thought you wouldn't have much to say on the topic," Dorcas said quietly before closing the distance between them and reaching over to help Lily out of her ruined t-shirt that was still covered with evidence of her adventures through the forest last night.

Had that really only been last night?

It felt like a lifetime ago with all the worry the morning had brought with it. Lily's sense of modesty was far defeated by her weakness and desire for a shower so she allowed the other girl to do what no one in the dorm had ever been allowed to do before, help her. Together they worked to remove her ruined school uniform as quickly as possible from her sore limbs with as little movement as possible until finally, she could step under the hot soothing water. Dorcas perched on the toilet lid staring through the open stained-glass window that looked out onto the Whomping Willow which was curiously motionless.

Lily stared at the water as it washed away into the drain. For some reason, she'd expected it to be red with dried blood like when Hermione had forced her to shower, but it wasn't. Everything that washed away from her couldn't be so easily spotted. She held her head in her hands massaging her temples roughly, trying to remove any bad thoughts that threatened to immobilise her.

"It took me a while," Dorcas murmured to herself. Lily froze somehow knowing she wouldn't like the direction this conversation was heading. "To recognise that voice," she continued slowly. "Longer than I'd like to admit. It took me so long that other than the fact that it was familiar I was completely stumped," she pressed on shaking her head.

"Dorcas," Lily whispered, in a tone that could be construed as pleading. If she just stopped now, if she could just forget what she'd managed to piece together then Lily could continue like nothing had happened.

"He even called you Red, I mean how slow am I?" Dorcas muttered bitterly. "But seeing my father race into the room like that, it was impossible for even me to ignore that," she added staring at her nails to avoid the gaze of the other girl. Her voice sounded oddly muffled, as if she were holding back tears.

"Dorcas," Lily tried once more.

"You saved my life, not for Dumbledore, not for the Dark Lord, not for anyone. You didn't even take credit for it," Dorcas continued on as if Lily hadn't even spoken. "After all the years I ignored you, even teased you. You never once even brought up Hunter in front of the others when you could have," she murmured. "Why?" She questioned finally meeting the red heads' eyes. Lily stared at the girl for a moment, finally beginning to feel too exposed in her nudity she reached for a towel and took a step out of the barrage of water before covering her front.

"I don't know what you're taking about," Lily finally settled on. Dorcas cast her a disbelieving look finally letting the tears fall down her cheeks unchecked.

"Why?" Dorcas repeated once more. Another pregnant pause filled the room.

"Because it was the right thing to do," Lily finally replied, dapping her face dry.

"I didn't tell you to accuse you of anything, your secrets are your own for as long as you need them to be," Dorcas mumbled through her tears. "I just wanted to thank you," she whispered, at last allowing herself to wipe away the tears. Lily nodded once awkwardly, unsure of what she should do next, unused to these emotional displays especially from such an otherwise stoic girl.

"Wash your hair using my conditioner, it should get rid of that bed head," Dorcas said clearly, reaching over to hand the girl the colourful bottle. A moment passed between the two that clearly exhibited how grateful they were for the change in topic. As quick as it had begun the matter was dealt with and Dorcas didn't breathe a word about it again even as they sat in silence as Lily brushed her hair lethargically well into mid-morning.

…

Frank stalked through the halls of Hogwarts with one thing on his mind, home. He needed to get out of the castle that was so filled with mysteries that settled uneasily on his tired mind. Maybe after a decent few hours' sleep the confusion would dissipate and everything would be as clear as day to the Auror, an open and shut case. Something stopped him from marching straight out the familiar front door however and he hesitated for a full minute on the entrance steps before sighing and making his way back through the ancient halls miserably.

Finally, his feet led him in front of the gargoyle that seemed most unhappy to see him. He cursed to himself in irritation having long forgotten what brand of muggle candy would allow him to enter the office. Feeling slightly sheepish he reached out and was about the knock on one of the wings of the gargoyle in a desperate plea to gain entry when he heard a voice startle him from behind.

"Auror Longbottom?" Harry Potter called from behind him with an inquisitive tone to his voice. Frank once again silently sent a curse to what even deity may have been paying attention at that particular moment for plaguing him with such bad luck. Head Auror Potter would always be a figure of authority to Frank no matter who had decided he was retired. The man was a force to be reckoned with, he had even trained Mad-Eye. Moody had once let slip that his drills were nothing in comparison to the older Auror that had built the department up from nothing after Grindelwald's reign of terror. Ever since then Frank had maintained the simple wish to just stay out of the way of the intense man for as long as possible. Guarding his house on the weekend had almost felt offensive. "I'm glad I caught you I just wanted to pass on my thanks for your part in keeping my family safe," he said kindly. His softened expression did nothing but fill Frank's mind with suspicion.

"That's no problem Mr Potter," Frank replied feeling odd at just using 'Mr' for such a revered man. "I'm sure you've saved a family member or two of mine throughout the years," he attempted to joke before mentally berating himself. He hated how much he always needed to lighten the mood with a joke or two. To his surprise Potter gave a courteous smile in reply.

"Your courage fills me with hope for our young Aurors," he added kindly with a small nod of his head. Frank couldn't believe his ears, according to all the stories that he'd heard throughout his training a compliment from Potter was equivalent to a banshee suddenly deciding that her primary focus in life was the production of baked confectioneries in terms of rarity.

"Thank you Sir, that coming from you means a lot," he concluded quietly.

"You and Miss Evans are truly the future of the Auror department," he continued, nodding slowly as if to confirm that it must be true. Frank froze at the mention of the girl he had been so confused about all morning.

"Miss Evans?" Frank repeated before he could help himself.

"Of course, facing off against a Dark Lord at the age of seventeen, risking everything for people she doesn't even know, it's one of the bravest things I've seen in a very long time. I was so glad that her health is improving so well," Potter said sincerely.

"Bit strange though?" Frank once again murmured without thinking.

"I dare say there are plenty of people nervous about their family roots with all the pandemonium that has been ensuing lately. I wouldn't be surprised if more old families were trying to protect their half-blooded members from being targeted," Potter answered with a sad smile that barely lifted the corners of his mouth.

"Old families?" Frank asked.

"Well, it's the only logical conclusion really. Some old family must have been worried that she might have been targeted for not being completely pure. It's safer nowadays to be completely muggleborn than to have tainted a line, these are dreadful times," Potter concluded bitterly with a shake of his head. "Then again that's really none of our business I'm just glad she was around to save our lives," he finished with another kind smile. Frank nodded his head not quite meeting the older man's gaze. "Well son, were you going to talk to the Headmaster?" He questioned gently. Frank stared at the man for a moment, shocked by the familiar tone he was using with him.

"No actually," he answered hesitantly, suddenly feeling very ashamed at his earlier suspicious thoughts of a friend that had done nothing but prove her loyalty to the cause. He shook his head glad that he hadn't brought his absurd opinions to Dumbledore. "I was just about to head home," Frank continued with a small nod at the other man. He was right, Lily's family life was none of his business.

"Safe journeys," Potter said still maintaining his pleasant smile. Frank walked away shaking his head at how exaggerated all the old tales of the Head Auror had been. He wondered how anyone would consider such a kind man anyway as brash as Moody. He began to suppose that he had mellowed with retirement and hurried his way towards the front door, nervous of being spotted by any students.

Of course, Frank didn't notice the smile immediately drop from Harry's face as soon as the younger Auror was out of sight, or the way he glared at the gargoyle before muttering the password. No, all that was lost on the tired man, who with a few sentences from the older man had abandoned any thought of compromising Lily's integrity in the eyes of the Headmaster.

….

Harry watched as the Headmaster poured two cups of tea from a silver teapot that had the Gryffindor emblem engraved artistically on its lid. There was been a brief exchange of pleasantries when he had first entered the office but since then a calculated silence had descended on the acquaintances. Neither party were naïve enough to let the stillness encourage them to begin the discussion that need to take place, both conscious they might reveal something the other could prey on.

"Deepest condolences on the invasion of your property Auror Potter," Dumbledore finally settled on as he reached for a plate of biscuits that just appeared near his elbow curtesy of the omnipotent house elves.

"Please I'm no longer an Auror, call me Harry. I believe the safety of my family is due to your watchful eye, for that I thank you most sincerely," he declared while reaching out to take hold of the small decorative cup gently. It looked almost comically small in his oversized hands but he sipped away anyway, if only to put the conversation in the Headmasters' hands.

"It was not just me, my friend, but the whole order than was watching for the safety of your family," Dumbledore responded with a small smile, the twinkle in his eyes shone from beneath his half-mooned spectacles tauntingly.

"Ah yes the young Auror Longbottom was most impressive. Is the young red head a trainee as well? I must admit her face does not immediately strike me as familiar," Harry said with a courteous smile, delighted with the direction of the conversation. He could not have wished for a better opener.

"Miss Evans, believe it or not, is still a student, not even in her seventh year," Dumbledore responded with a smile that would have been construed as proud to anyone who wasn't taught to look deeper. Harry's eyes narrowed marginally in suspicion.

"A student? Surely not Sir," Harry murmured, feigning shock at the revelation. "Do you think such a thing wise?" He added for the benefit of his performance.

"Albus, please. Believe me I was quite strong armed into the situation; the girl is quite determined to be involved," he concluded, the gleam in his light blue eyes lessening for a moment at the topic.

"A girl bullying her Headmaster, I never thought I'd see the day," Harry said, his smile growing at his light jab that did nothing but entertain the older man.

"If I were to guess, I'd say she spent much too much time in the Alley for her own good this past summer. Rumours of The Order among other things must have filled her mind," Dumbledore explained, by now his smile was completely absent.

"What of the girl's family," Harry pushed further. No trace of any hidden knowledge flittered across the old man's face thought. Instead he just drank his tea at a sedated pace.

"I did think the matter suspicious, so I paid a little visit to the neighbourhood she was raised," Dumbledore began. Harry had to resist the desire to roll his eyes that only the Headmaster seemed to awaken inside him. He knew there was no way he could have left such a mystery unsolved.

"And?" Harry pushed as he reached for a biscuit to stop himself from fidgeting.

"Her sister had left the country with her husband and her parents are on an extended holiday to celebrate their early retirement. No sign of foul play was noticeable at all, in fact most of the neighbourhood seemed to be happy for the pair's good luck," Dumbledore finished with a contented sigh.

"How jovial," Harry muttered, taking a bite out of the plain biscuit slowly.

"There was one thing though," Dumbledore paused and lifted his eyes from where he had been watching his tea spin of its own accord thanks to an enchanted spoon to lock eyes with the other man. That one moment was all it took for Harry to realise that his topic of questioning had been duly noted by the Headmaster. He thanked Merlin that Occlumency had been mandatory for the whole department back in the fifties. "There had been an attack on a neighbour, possibly in retribution for Miss Evans herself not being home. Such misplaced guilt could drive someone to do some powerful things," Dumbledore added. There was a palpable silence where both men watched each other's' reactions at the words that seemed to fill the room. There was no mistaking to Harry that he was under just as much scrutiny from Dumbledore as Dumbledore was from him.

"Whatever it was that spurred Miss Evans bravery I am thankful for it. I daresay that the Dark Lord would not have been so curious about me as he was about the girl," he finished, drinking the remainder of his tea with his eyes still locked onto the other man. "But we are not here to discuss a girl," Harry dismissed easily.

"No, we are not," Dumbledore agreed with a firm nod. "Well Harry, have your opinions on my offer of induction into the order changed?" He probed with his small sagacious smile returning.

"Greatly," Harry confirmed. "They have changed greatly."

….

James hesitated for a moment outside the window of the girls' dormitories with a sigh. He had spent most of the day waiting for her to be alone. The girl that had filled his mind with emotions that he couldn't even begin to decode. Marlene and Alice often left her alone but it was Dorcas that was proving difficult. It wasn't until rounds had summoned her away that he had discovered that Lily would be alone. It seemed strange that someone who had always been so constant in his life would now appear so anomalous to him. Lily always had her homework completed perfectly. Lily always followed the rules to perfection. Lily was a muggleborn who fought for her rights valiantly. Lily was not some hidden entity of some ancient families illegitimate tousle between the sheets. She wasn't someone that went for drinks with Frank Longbottom in the middle of the night.

Was she?

Gritting his teeth, James unlatched the window before gently pushing it open to make as little noise as possible. He swept into the room quietly before landing on the ground by her closed curtains soundlessly. With a wave of his wand the window shut behind him halting the cold flow of air from overtaking the warm room. Slowly he reached over and pushed back the golden curtains that surrounded the bed in the room that had now become so familiar to him. His breath hitched the second he laid eyes on her. She was sprawled over the covers in some sort of muggle pyjamas that consisted of a pair of shorts and a tank top. For the first time in all his surprise visits to the girls' dorms throughout the last few years he started to feel like he was an intruding.

James knew he needed to wake her up for the feeling to pass, so he wasn't just staring at her half naked body which lay at an appealing angle. He took a few delicate steps forward until he was right above her. Slowly he descended until he was perched at the edge of the bed by her shoulders. Tenderly he reached over until his hand hovered over her face for a moment, swallowing his nerves he brushed some of the red hair out of her face. It was soft and felt like air in his rough calloused hands.

"Lily," he breathed lightly. Her eyes opened slowly taking in his presence with no great surprise, that forgiving confusion that only sleep can provide. Slowly her eyes filled with bewilderment as she watched him and the position his hand occupied by her face.

"James?" She whispered lightly.

"I just came to check on you," he murmured back, surprised that both their tones were calm at his intrusion. She nodded before stretching out in the bed next to him, an action that didn't go unnoticed to James's peripheral vision as he tried to maintain eye contact.

"Dorcas told me your fathers were here last night, I suppose I should thank them and… you," she mumbled finally. Her expression was so open and vulnerable for the first time in so long that it filled his heart with hope. It seemed like the exhaustion that had weighed heavily on her was finally lessoning.

"Think nothing of it," he replied not able to resist the temptation of lowering his body to lean over her, moving both his arms he placed them on either side of her head. Something changed in her expression when she finally noted the position of her body and her state of dress. It wasn't embarrassment or discomfiture but an awareness that did nothing to drive James away.

"But it wasn't nothing," Lily intoned, her voice hitching a little. He noticed her elevate her chest off the bed until it just barely brushed his winter robes which hung open haphazardly. An action that he was sure was subconsciously done which only encouraged him further. He loved that her body responded to him, even if just a little. As he lowered his face to hers it was like their bodies were under some sort of spell of their own creation. He had never felt something so primal flare from deep inside him. In that moment, he knew that they were meant to be together, that no matter what happened over the next year their connection was something he never imagined.

"Who are you?" He whispered softly, a mere inch above her. He peered into her eyes and saw the answer float right there, right where it had always been. This was Lily Evans, clandestine or not, he knew this girl. He knew her the second his eyes met hers that fateful day on the train station more than five years ago. Without thinking he allowed himself to close the mocking space between them and met her lips forcefully. He poured all of his questions and frustrations into that one kiss, that one feeling. It was the most honest either of them had ever been with anyone.

Lily was the first to open her mouth to allow him to deepen the kiss. Her willingness stirred him on further and without breaking the kiss he climbed onto the bed fully until he was lying over her, between her long pale legs which were barely covered with some pathetic material. Without thinking he reached down to rub one hand up the length of one of her smooth legs which automatically wrapped around him unquestioningly. She moaned against his lips as he pushed against her closing any space that could have remained between them. Reaching up she shoved his winter robes off his broad shoulders so that he was only in his trousers and school shirt. James knew he should stop, that he should talk with her, but in that moment Lily's lithe figure pressed against him was the only think that existed in the world.

Reaching up with her small hands Lily undid the buttons of his shirt swiftly before once again pushing it off his shoulders. James couldn't help but respond and without a moment's pause he reached down and tugged at the tank top that she wore so dangerously. They broke apart for only a moment for him to rip it from her before they connected once more just as forcefully as before. He couldn't help the groan that he released when he reached up to feel her bare breasts against his hands. Without any hesitation, he began to play with her nipples until they stood to his attention dutifully. He nearly lost it when she moaned and squirmed against his now hard erection beneath him.

Slowly, as if afraid he might startle her he reached down between them, brushing his fingertips along her stomach until he reached the hem of her shorts. Breaking away from her for a moment he watched her open her eyes and stare at him through lust filled emerald eyes. Tentatively he slid his hands into her shorts and passed the border of her knickers until he was touching her intimately. He watched her eyes widen at his ministrations but slowly her lids began to close as he circled her clit over and over watching as his touch began to take effect on the normally cold girl. He paused for a moment and her eyes flew open but only long enough for her to release a loud moan as he pushed a finger into her drenched centre. He was shocked to meet no resistance but dismissed the thought for another time.

With shaking hands, she reached out and undid the button of his trousers before using her legs to push them down shocking James with her brashness. Not wasting a moment, she reached down and took him fully in her hands squeezing once and drawing a moan from the boy who had been playing on her mind since Hermione had told her of her future all those months ago. Pushing her hand away he raised himself up to pull her shorts from her legs and spread her legs wide roughly, not able to be gentle. He dropped down once more and peered into her stunning eyes looking for the permission he desperately required. The need he saw was answer enough and immediately he drove into her violently. When he fully filled her, he paused and stared once more into her eyes. For the first time in his entire life he felt complete and he knew right then that she did too. Slowly he began to drive into her over and over building a steady rhythm.

"James," Lily moaned loudly as he began to hit something deep inside of her that she had never experienced before. "Please," she cried digging her fingers into his back roughly. It wasn't long before the steady pounding had her at her wits end and eventually her walls began to squeeze around James so tightly that he immediately emptied everything he had deep inside her before collapsing on top of her completely spent, his trousers still half way up his thighs in their rush. A few moments passed while they both recovered from the intensity of their ends before either of them spoke.

"This isn't normal Lily, the way I need you, the way I think about you. It's not normal," was all James muttered into her neck as he gently pulled out of her now sopping entrance. "It's like I can't resist you," he intoned seriously, his voice still husky. All Lily could do was stare at him with those big green eyes that demanded his attention. "Tell me you've bewitched me, tell me you're a siren because that's all that can explain this need I have for you," he groaned, grabbing both of her wrists roughly and shoving them to either side of her head. "Tell me something." A minute passed in which horrible thoughts of fate forcing its hand over the pair flittered though Lily's mind, for she too had felt it, an inability to resist their primal urges.

What if fate was reasserting itself? What if we're doomed to die?

"This can never happen again," she muttered trying to cover the fear that entered her eyes. James eyes stared into hers with disbelief clearly evident. He lifted her wrists before slamming them back into the bed. An action not made to hurt her but to shock her into honesty.

"Not good enough," he growled angrily. Just then the door to the dorms was pushed open and they both heard the familiar voices of Alice and Marlene enter the room discussing the potions essay. Their eyes both flew to the curtains glad that it was still shut firmly around the bed. Releasing her he scrambled towards the edge of the bed where he had dropped his wand and spelled the curtains with a silencing charm. When he turned back to her she was already putting back on her pyjamas again. He watched as her shaking hands struggled with the tie of the shorts.

"I know you felt it too, how whole we were," James whispered still cautious even though his silencing charm stood firmly around them.

"I don't know what you're talking about that was just sex and-," she began not meeting his eyes.

"Bullshit Lily, I've never known how much was missing from me until just then and I know you felt it too," he growled firmly. She shook her head in fierce denial.

"What happened here can never happen again," she repeated. "Just leave me alone Potter," she added, using his second name as a weapon like she had all the years before this. Standing quickly, she reached for the curtains in a hurry.

"Going for a shower," she called to the other girls who mumbled their acknowledgement faintly. Then James was left on his own to wait for the girls to leave the dorms once again, knowing instinctively that the red head wouldn't return until he was long gone. Confusion filled his heart once more at the mystery that was Lily Evans, a moment ago he had witnessed the fear that had settled on her pretty face before her abrupt dismissal of him. He vowed silently to discover what was holding the girl who filled him with such wonder and obsession back from everyone.

So steamy, right? Hope you guys enjoyed, recently I've been feeling that the interest in this story has dwindled massively. While I do love writing it, I am primarily on fanfiction to improve my writing skills through constructive criticism and right now I'm wondering if my efforts would be better spent on a different project. Please note that I don't want to appear ungrateful to the people who have been reviewing, I just want to keep everyone informed. So if there isn't an update in a while you can guess that I'm working on something new and extraordinary :P