A Reason in Madness

A/N: Completely horrid chapter, of course...just like the rest of them, so no big change.

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"There is always some madness in love. But there is also some reason in madness."

Chapter Fourteen: The One and Only...Qui?

James stood still. He hadn't moved since Lily had left; or fled, really. Even his eyes remained fixed on the back of the open mirror.

Slowly he inhaled, taking in as much oxygen as humanly possible. He let the breath out in a low sigh as he covered his face with his hands.

James thought about what had just happened. He knew she knew. He had let his guard down, and she saw...

And then he saw her fear, ever so evident in her darkened eyes.

He backed to his bed, sitting with a heavy thud, letting his hands fall to his knees with a slapping noise.

"Merde; je suis pathétique!"

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"I'm so stupid! I'm so stupid! I'm so stupid!"

Lily was pacing the Head Girl dormitory, practically pulling her hair out.

"No, no no!" She stamped her black uniform shoe-clad foot in aggravation.

Abruptly, she froze.

This is all quite ridiculous, Lily thought. I'm throwing a temper-tantrum like a three-year-old and talking to myself like a crazy person!

She ran towards the door, wrenching in open, screaming, "Keida! Ké! Keida!"

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"Sounds to me like someone has a crush!" sang Keida.

"Really? Who?" replied Lily in mock curiosity.

Fifteen minutes was plenty of time to get to the Arithmancy classroom, allowing time for chitchat and gossip...

"Oh, Lily, you know who."

"Do I?"

"Yes. You, Lily Evans," said Keida, poking her friend in the arm, backing her against a wall, "have a crush on the one and only-"

"I do not!" Lily whined.

"Oh, please do continue, Brennit. I was finding your conversation quite amusing."

Keida whipped around in surprise, coming eye-to-eye...well, eye-to-chin with none other than James Potter.

Keida tripped over her words, terrified that she may have given away her best friend. "That, is irrelevant. What is relevant, however, is that name you were fixing to drop. So, the gorgeous Lily Evans has a crush on 'the one and only'...whom?"

Lily pushed her friend out of the way so she came eye-to-shoulder with James. She knew Keida would defend her to the best of her ability, but she'd much rather stand her own ground! "Why would you care?"

"Someone needs to make sure this guy's worthy enough for you- that's next to impossible, by the way, cherie."

Despite her frustration, Lily left her cheeks flush; she was quite flattered by James's comment.

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"Why...How...Oh, wow..."

"What?"

"I never really saw how beautiful you are. I mean, I knew, but..." James reached out a Quidditch-roughened hand and gently caressed Lily's cheek. He could feel the heat from her blush.

"Don't be silly, James...I know I'm not..."

"No! Don't you dare say that, Lily...C'est vrai...I couldn't possibly imagine anyone prettier than you..."

"Flattery...will get you farther than some think." Lily grinned just as James leaned in and kissed her soundly on the lips. Lily wrapped her arms around his neck, and just as she felt herself kissing him back...

She woke up.