Beyond the Lake

Chapter Five

***

Only one more day until Lily came. It was Christmas Day, and a white one, although incredible boring. Of course, there was nothing he could do but sit there and wait for the next day to come, which he did, however impatiently...

He was morphing from human to stag out of anticipation, for no reason whatsoever. Where was she? She was supposed to be here at three, and she was three minutes late. Maybe he should go back home and...

"Merry Christmas!" Lily said suddenly, kissing him on the cheek.

"And to you, darling," he said, gathering her into his arms and kissing her with all the passion of their first.

She broke away and lay her head on his chest as he held her close. "I needed that," she said.

"Is it really that bad?" he asked, his arms still around her.

"I hate going home now. Petunia always ruins everything, the little bitch, although we all know she's just jealous, conceited, pompous, arrogant-"

"Enough! I get the idea!" he exclaimed. "Come on, let's head for the house, you'll forget everything once you're inside."

"Yeah," she said, brightening a little. "I hope so."

They walked towards the house and went inside to find a great welcome from his parents. He was right in saying she would forget everything, as she soon did, chatting merrily with his parents and himself about everything from N.E.W.T.s to the villain, Lord Voldemort. During dinner, he caught her eyes, hoping they told her something like, "Let's go upstairs soon". Although his parents wouldn't shut-up, Lily seemed to get the hint.

***

She climbed the stairs after him, asking, "What did you want so badly, James? You were right, I was having fun."

"Just some time alone, my dear, nothing too out of the ordinary, is it?"

"I guess not, but I love your parents!"

"I'm glad, but they do get a bit suffocating after awhile."

"Nothing compared to mine," she said as he escorted her into his bedroom.

"Well, anyway, Merry Christmas, Lily," he said, handing her a small package.

"Ooh, what is it?"

"Open it already. It took me forever to find this."

She did as he told her, taking the brightly wrapped box and opened it, finding a plain gold chain with a heart shaped emerald pendant dangling from it. It was gorgeous and completely flawless, catching the light coming in from the window. She gasped, and James said, "And that's not all- there's an Unbreakable Charm on the clasp, so it can't fall off or break, hopefully. And I really hope you like emeralds. I thought it would go nicely with your eyes."

"We'll have to wait and see about the Unbreakable Charm, and yes, I love emeralds," she said as she handed him his present. "This," she told him, "was hard to come up with; you're so hard to shop for!"

He took it and opened it for what seemed to be an age, finishing to see a book on not only Transfiguration, but tucked inside was The Animagus' Companion: A Complete Resource for the Animagus. He skimmed through the Animagus book after saying, "You know the weird part? I've been searching up and down for this book for months! Where did you find it?"

"Oh, never mind that," she said quickly. "Just put the chain on for me and we'll see if this charm really works."

She wept her hair over her shoulder almost flirtatiously, and James snapped on the chain. Then she felt a light tickling sensation as he ran a finger down her back, tracing her spine. He then turned her around and pulled her to him a bit forcefully and started kissing her, first her lips, then slowly down her neck as she held on to him, paralyzed, unable to move from him, and she didn't really want to. She just stood and let him touch her, kiss her, keep whatever sensation he was giving her going.

He stopped and stared at her for awhile, looking like he was contemplating something. Then he said, "I guess we should go downstairs again, it's getting pretty late."

Lily turned around to look at the clock on his dresser. Nine thirty, she probably should've left thirty minutes ago. "Yeah, you're right, only I really should go. I'll see you at school."

"Bye Lily," he paused as she walked out of the room. "Lily! Wait!" She turned around and looked at him.

"Lily, I love you," he blurted out uncomfortably.

This confession made her heart skip a beat, and she ran back to James and kissed him roughly, then softening it and holding it for as long as possible. She pulled back and said, "I love you, too," and she walked back out of the room and down the stairs.

***

He heard her saying good-bye and thank you to his parents and the pop of the Apparating. If only she could've stayed. He had never realized how much he really liked her, even loved her, until then. Why did she have to leave? Ugh. Oh well, Sirius was coming tomorrow from his flat, he could talk to him then, and three more days until they returned to Hogwarts. But for now, he would read that book she gave him, The Animagus' Companion. But when he picked up the book, a small slip of parchment fell out of it and onto the floor. He picked it up and saw that it was from Lily...

Dear James,

I'm mostly writing this because my gift to you seemed too impersonal, so I had to add this in, and now I'm just going to ramble on about me, you, us.

First off, I don't know what it is about you, but everything feels so right when I'm with you. Whether it's Transfiguration or my hell at home, you're always there for me, and I thank you endlessly for that.

Of course, you probably have realized that I hated you up to about... this year, but, you've changed, or your actions towards me have changed. Whatever it is, you're practically perfect (Your Charms work ruins absolutely perfect!) in my eyes now, and you're not an annoying jerk anymore!

Anyway, I have to go and board the train soon, so I'll see you soon. In fact, I'll have seen you already by the time you finish this! So, see you at Hogwarts.

Love,

Lily Evans

It wasn't that he had been unsure of her feelings, it's just that this letter assured him of them. Yeah, he knew he could be a jerk, and certainly annoying, but she didn't think so, and for the moment, that was all that mattered.

***