"Abby you ready?" Sirius jumped up from the table.
"YEP!" yelled Abby running toward Sirius.
Sirius grabbed his broom and scooped up Abby and flew through the kitchen door.
"SIRIUS BECARFUL!" Lily yelled after them.
"Lil don't worry he does that all the time. He'd never let anything happen to Abby. She's like a sister to him."
Quietly Lily spoke, "like I am to you?" James gave Lily a dumfounded look.
"How does she know I said that?" James thought
Lily's eyes moved to the floor quicker then lightening.
"James I didn't mean it the way it sounded. I meant it in a good way." James still looked unsure what to say. "James, you're a great person. Abby's lucky to have you and Sirius."
With the silence overbearing them James moved forward. He wanted to kiss her but knew he shouldn't. Lily was magnetized toward him. "James…"
They were so close they could feel each other's warm breath. "Yes Lil?"
Their eyes were locked like then had before. "Could you ever be more then a brother figure to me?"
"That depends on you." They knew that everything would never be the same. They wouldn't hate each other. He wouldn't pull pranks on her and she wouldn't tell on him.
Lily started to pull away, "James I can't."
"Why?"
"Peter and I are still dating."
"Bones and you are… are together still." His voice quavered unsure about what to do.
A quick pop ruined the tense moment they shared. Standing in the kitchen was Remus Lupin.
James and Lily both spun around quickly as though they had been caught doing something they shouldn't have been. "REMUS!" James screamed, half irritated and half happily. Lily ran toward him and hugged him. Lily and Remus had been friends since the very beginning. On their first Hogwarts express ride they sat together and had become perfects 5th year together.
"We were just about to go to the pitch" Lily declared.
"Sure you weren't going to kiss each other before leaving?"
Lily's face matched her scarlet hair. And if James' looks could kill, Remus would be dead.
Lily looked toward James for help but received none. "I don't think that's any of you business Remus. And when have you ever been so forward about these things."
"With the last jerk you were dating, and isn't he your boyfriend now?"
Peter Bones was in Ravenclaw the same year as them. He was also a prefect and Quidditch captain this coming year. He was everything James wanted to be and more. James had to get out he needed to go flying. He had made Lily cheat on her boyfriend the night before. He had to get away and not think about Lily and Peter.
"Sirius is waiting on the pitch with Abby. We should go." There was no expression on his face or emotion in his voice. Lily searched his face trying to figure what he was thinking. He was unreadable but he had no desire to kiss her and make her cheat again.
James quickly left toward the pitch leaving Remus and Lily in the kitchen.
"Well, Lily I never thought this day would come." Remus starred out the kitchen window, seeing James running from the house.
"What day?"
"Well two days actually."
"Remus?" Lily stated getting frustrated.
"You were cheating on your boyfriend. And of all the guys in the world it was with James Potter."
"What was the other day?"
"James ran away from you and you not running away from him." A small smile spread across Lily's face. He was right James always chased after her. "Lily, it's a nice change."
"Remus, stop making me feel guilty. I already do. And you're right. I love Peter and he doesn't deserve this." Do I love Peter? I'll have to owl him. I haven't even told him about my parents. He should probably know.
"Lily that's not what I meant."
"Then what the hell did you mean Remus?" Lily was close to tears she was overwhelmed by everything. Did she love James or was she just being irrational.
"It's just nice to see. Lily Evans isn't perfect and she likes Potter."
"I'm not in love with James."
"I didn't say love, and when did he become James instead of Potter."
"That's what I meant, I love PPPotter." Lily had stuttered. What did I just say? Oh shit.
Remus' head snapped up with glistening eyes and an ear to ear smile. "Lily, do you really?"
"Remus I don't know. Please don't say anything to him. If I decide I do then I should say something."
"You want go play Quidditch?" Remus looked hopefully.
"No, I have to write to Peter."
"What are you going to say?" Remus pulled Lily into a hug.
"I don't know. It depends on James."
"What do you mean?" They pulled away. Remus searched her eyes trying to figure out what she meant.
"I don't know if he really like me or not."
"Of course he does." Lily smiled and asked curiously,
"It isn't just a game for him to play?"
"No, Lily I think he loves you."
"Remus, I'm just scared of getting hurt."
"If James hurts you, I'll take care of him."
"With Peter we aren't exclusive we can date other people, so I can't get hurt."
"You aren't exclusive? Does James know this?"
"Probably not, why? Remus?" He was hesitant to answer.
"James thinks you aren't available now."
"What?"
"James' girlfriend 5th year…"
"Katherine Anrol?"
"Yeah, you sure know his girlfriends."
Lily swatted Remus' arm. "Anyway he probably thinks he made you cheat. Katherine cheated on him and he was never the same. I think it was the first time his heart was broken."
"Oh. III didn't know." Lily stuttered uncomfortably.
"No one did. He didn't even tell the maurders until he told us about you turning him down again."
"Remus, whenever James is around I don't ever think about Peter. I'm in a different world with James. He makes me feel important."
"Lil, he loves you more then anyone. He'd die to save you. We've talked about it. And Lil I think you might love him too."
"I have to write to Peter."
"Okay when you're ready we will be on the pitch."
"Thanks Remus."
Dear Peter,
This summer we left our relationship as non-exclusive and I went along with it. I've decided we need to break this up. I want to commit myself to someone else. I don't want to string you along when my heart belongs to him. I'm sorry for everything Peter.
Always,
Lily
There it was. It sounded stupid. And hurtful in many ways, he hadn't done anything to hurt her. Should she do this? She was risking everything for James. James had made her life miserable. And yet she loved him more then anyone. This was right and deep down she knew it.
She borrowed James owl and tied the parchment to the owl's tiny leg. Lily watched it leave and ran out toward the pitch.
James, Sirius and Abby were flying around when Remus came running to the pitch.
"JAMES GET YOUR BUTT DOWN HERE! NOW!"
"What's wrong with Moony?" Sirius asked.
"Probably about Lily..."
"What about her?"
"She's still dating Peter."
Sirius mouth hung open in shock. "That bastard doesn't deserve her."
"Tell me about it." James replied.
"JAMES!" shouted Remus.
"COMING!"
The two boys landed softly on the ground, leaving Abby with the quaffle.
"What is it Moony?"
"It's Lily." Remus had a worried face not sure how to tell James.
"Is she okay?" James responded quickly.
"No. She's confused. And she's breaking up with Peter. Well not really. I mean they weren't exclusive. She didn't cheat on him. She's not like Katherine at all."
"What?" He couldn't believe it. Was she really doing this for him? Did she like him?
"Yeah she's writing to him now."
James was dancing around and smiling broadly when Lily bounded onto the pitch.
"Hi." Her smile was shinning. And all it took was one word to make James swoon.
"Hey, Lil."
"Okay love birds let's go flying!" Sirius shouted.
"James! You and Lily on a team; Remus, Abby and I on a team."
James and Lily had made 10 goals and blocked the other teams. Lily and James were chasers and James was a traveling keeper. Sirius and Remus were chasers and Abby was their keeper.
"These teams are unfair!" Sirius screamed.
"Sirius you made them."
"I didn't know you could play Quidditch Evans."
"I didn't know either Black. It must be because of James."
James couldn't believe it she was giving him all the credit. Lily Evans the girl that hated him who had given up her relationship for him was giving him credit.
"It's not all me! Lil's you're not bad."
"Thanks James."
"You should try out for the house team Evans."
"No way Black"
"Why?" Remus questioned.
"I don't do well under pressure."
"Okay so you can get perfect scores on O.W.L.s but can't play Quidditch?" James asked
"Yep that's right."
"That doesn't make any sense." James stated
"Nothing makes sense anymore James." Lily and James locked eyes and Remus knew they needed to be alone.
"Abby let's go in for dinner."
"Okay, Sirius you coming?"
"Yep. You know I'd never miss a meal."
"James? Lily?"
"I'll be there in a second." Lily responded.
"Yeah I'll be in soon too."
Sirius, Remus and Abby flew off toward the house.
The awkward silence was getting to both of them. Unsure what the next move was.
"I didn't know you could fly Lily."
"I didn't know either."
"Can I show you something?"
Lily nodded
"Climb on."
"On your broom?"
James nodded in reassurance.
He helped Lily on and sat in front of her. "Hold on."
They went faster then she had in their game. "James you were holding out on me!"
"We won didn't we?"
Lily's arms were wrapped around his chest. His heart was beating fast and matched Lily's exactly. Lily couldn't help but think it felt right.
Lily realized James had taken her up high and was flying away from the manor.
"James, where are we going?"
"We're already here."
They landed on a mountain edge over looking the Potters' property. James helped her off and sat down facing toward the manor.
"James it's beautiful." Lily sat down besides him.
"I come here sometimes." He couldn't take his eyes off the sun set.
"To do what?" Lily fidgeted a little.
"To fly fast and mostly think." He turned toward Lily meeting her brilliant green eyes.
"If you don't mind me asking what do you normally think about?"
"Hogwarts, the maurders, family and a girl I've liked for ages." Lily smiled hoping that girl was her but knowing it was still Katherine.
With hesitation Lily asked, "Katherine?"
James looked shocked at what she said, "How do you know about her?"
"Remus mentioned her earlier. Please don't be mad at him. He did it for a good reason."
James was angrier then he had ever been. "Really how's that?"
"James please…" He had yelled at her. James had never yelled at her. Lily was close to tears.
"He shouldn't have. It's personal. I don't want you to feel bad for me."
"I don't."
James got up and turned his back to Lily. "Let's go back. We shouldn't have come here."
"James please just listen to my explanation."
"Evans I'm not in the mood."
"James please!" Lily was now full of tears. She couldn't hold them back anymore.
James turned to her. "Lily please don't cry I just, I'm sorry. I shouldn't be angry with you. I'm angry with Remus."
"No."
"No what?"
"Don't be mad at Remus. "
"Why? He told you my secret."
"He made me realize I'm in love with you."
"You, what did you say?" James walked toward Lily he couldn't believe what she had said.
"I love you James. I don't know why it took me so long."
"It doesn't matter how long you took. I love you too Lil's."
James wrapped his muscular arms around her and held her tightly, "I'll never let this go. We'll always be together."
Their eyes locked as her eyes shed tears again.
"Lily, are you okay."
"I'm more then okay."
James leaned toward Lily as Lily lent toward him. They shared a passionate kiss. As the sun set behind them.
"We are going to be late for dinner."
"Oh well."
"James your parents won't they care?"
"They won't be home until late."
"Why?"
"They are on late duty tonight, making sure the death eaters don't attack during the night."
Lily was silent as she starred at the ground.
"Lil I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you remember."
"James you're the best thing that has happened to me since that. Don't apologize."
"Lily?"
"Yes?"
"That girl I think about is you, even when Katherine and I were dating."
"James I've always thought about you too. What it would be like to be together."
"Lily I love you."
"I love you too James."
James grabbed Lily's hand and held it until they went back to the manor.