The Love That Transcended Time

Chapter 7: On The Rocks (With a Twist!)

September had turned surprisingly quick into October. The weather had turned as well, becoming chillier and a bit damper. With the start of autumn, came the start of Quidditch practices. Between those, classes, Head Boy work, and homework, James had become pretty scarce in the suite.

Lily sat quietly in the suite's common room one day, the conference table covered in her school books. She was having a difficult time admitting it to herself, but she was missing James' constant presence. Sometimes she would go to bed without seeing him come back to the suite, and wake up with him already gone. He would of course show up for all their scheduled meetings, but always seemed in a hurry to get off to somewhere else. This thought seemed to be plaguing her mind, making it difficult for her to get her Charms homework done.

Lily had always been familiar with herself as the girl who never let a man get in the way of schoolwork--who would gladly have a lot of difficult homework, rather than 'boy problems' to worry about. She shut her charms book in frustration and shortly thereafter heard a knock outside the portrait hole.

Lily sighed, standing up to go answer the door. She smiled in relief to see it was Alice, a face she had been missing.

"Hey, Lily," she said, giving her a hug and kiss on the cheek. "Man...these N.E.W.T.s have been positively brutal haven't they?"

"Yeah..." replied Lily a bit distantly. She smiled weakly and then turned to Alice, conjuring up some tea and pouring a cup for her. "So how have things been? It's so weird not being in the room with you girls. I miss all the late nights we used to have together."

"Sure I miss that...but honestly I haven't really been spending much time in the dorm room." Alice smiled in a self-satisfied matter and took a small sip of her tea as if to hide it.

"What do you mean you haven't been spending much time in your dorm?"

"I mean I've been spending all my time with Frank Longbottom."

"So it's getting pretty serious with him then? That's great, Alice."

"Yes, it's more than serious. When I say I'm not spending time in the dorm, I mean I'm physically never there. I've been spending every moment I can with Frank, even the sleeping ones." Lily's eyes widened. She had never entertained the thought of sharing a bed with a man, but maybe it was hard for her to imagine. The dorm beds in Gryffindor tower weren't exactly big.

"So what are you trying to say, Alice?" Lily's eyes bored into her as she peered over the tea cup she was taking a sip from.

"Lily, we're engaged." Alice sat her cup of tea down and smiled softly, lifting her left hand and showing her a sparkly engagement ring.

"Wow...That's amazing." Lily smiled sincerely, but said no more. She wanted to be happy for her best friend but was having a hard time with so much on her mind. It didn't take Alice very long to notice. Luckily Alice wasn't the kind of person to get offended easily.

"Lily, what's wrong with you? You aren't yourself at all...is school stressing you out?" Alice watched her for a moment and then shook her head, a smile spreading across your face. "Of course school isn't stressing you out. Nothing in this place could possibly stress you out, save one possibility. I believe it would be in the realm of a male who just happens to live with you, work with you, who is crazy about you..."

"He hasn't been acting so crazily around me lately."

"Oh, Lily! Please don't be ridiculous! Of course he is crazy about you."

"I gave him an ultimatum, Alice. I told him he has to tell me what the hell has been going on, or I won't go any further with him. I don't think I can stand it anymore. Half the time Alice, I just want to jump him, snog-him, and get it all over with, if you know what I mean. I know I'd just feel better. Other times, he's just such a mystery to me, I'm not even sure he's worth getting involved with. I can't live a life full of secrets."

"Lily, you shouldn't rush these things. I think James just needs to get comfortable with the idea of telling you these things, and I would be really surprised if he doesn't get around to it soon. Once he does, I think you should really take time enjoying the dating process, and getting to know each other bit by bit. Snogging and 'getting it all over with' can be fun, but its not as rewarding in the end, I think." Alice took another sip of her tea and sat their looking lost in thought. She looked rather wise.

"Well, what should I do then? How do I go about this?" Lily couldn't believe she was reasoning this out like such a neandertal. She was top of her class in many subjects, and never before had such a subject frustrated her so much.

"Lily, this isn't like a textbook problem. We're dealing with human being emotions here. There is a trip to Hogsmeade coming up this weekend...why don't you invite him to join you...exclusively. You two can reflect on your first romantic interlude, and maybe just sit down and talk."

"Well it's not a bad idea, Alice. Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it."

"Yes, no more pouting please. Now you'll have more time to be happy for me. I have to get going, but please take it easy on yourself. This isn't another N.E.W.T test. Just remember that."

Lily smiled and watched Alice leave. She wasn't sure she agreed with Alice. James Potter was far more important than any N.E.W.T test she would ever take.

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Lily sat up pretty late in the common room waiting for James to come back. She had no idea what was taking him so long. She had curled herself up on the couch in front of the fire, reading a good book to pass the time. It was making her very sleepy however, and her eyes were having a hard time staying open. She thought she heard the portrait swing open at one point, but was sure she was just imagining it because she was tired.

A few minutes later (or hours, she wasn't really sure), she opened her eyes and James Potter was sitting opposite her on the other couch, staring at her.

"I was about to carry you upstairs. Why aren't you in bed? You're always in bed when I come home this late." He was looking at her rather intensely in the firelight. The glow of the fire illuminated him mysteriously. He was still in his school robes, his hair was messy as ever, and the expression on his face was definitely full of mischief.

"I...I was waiting for you." Lily answered sleepily, but also a bit shyly.

"Oh you were? Why didn't you tell me? I wouldn't have been so late."

"I haven't seen you for a few days now. How was I supposed to tell you?"

"Yes, I suppose you're right. You haven't seen me, but I've been here."

"What the hell are you talking about, James? Where have you been? What have you been doing?" Lily looked infuriated, she felt all her anger and frustration starting to pour out. She felt there was this whole side of James she had no idea about. James moved over to her and knelt down in front of where she lay on the couch.

"Lily, I know you are wondering what the hell is going on right now. I would like very much to tell you, but this doesn't only involve you and me. I promise however I will look into this tomorrow, at Hogsmeade. I would rather go and spend the day with you honestly, but I think if I make a few appointments to speak with some people, I may be able to give you what you want, Miss Evans." He smiled gently to her, taking a hand and gently stroking the side of her face.

"Potter! What are you doing?! I'm pretty sure the last time I checked you weren't allowed to do this until I had the truth..." She looked outraged, as he touched her lovingly, caressing the sides of her face.

"Oh this? Well, Lily, I think I'm about to kiss you. Since when have I ever followed the rules?" For whatever reason, Lily's outrage turned into laughter and their lips met passionately.

They made out for a while in front of the fire, until Lily took a quick break to yawn and stretch.

"Am I that awful? Am I putting you to sleep already?" Lily only smiled, suggesting it wasn't really all that awful.

"Well it is 2 AM. Can I have a break just this once?"

He dramatically sighed and said, "I guess so. But no promises from now on." Without asking, he swept her off the couch and carried her upstairs. He laid her gently in bed and covered her up, giving her one last goodnight kiss. "Goodnight, Lily." With that done, he left the room and got started on his homework. Professor McGonagall had assigned an essay on "The Properties of Magical Animagi". James would have to loose sleep elsewhere tonight, because his essay wasn't going to give him too much trouble.

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The next day, James met Sirius, Peter, and Remus in Hogsmeade. After meeting in the Three Broomsticks, and having at least five or six rounds of Butterbeers, things were getting pretty noisy.

Usually, James would have been equally rowdy and noisy, but tonight he had much on his mind. He had promised himself this summer that he would do anything it took to make Lily Evans his. He was strongly debating if it was worth risking his friendship before, because tonight, it was exactly what he was doing...

"Padfoot, Wormtail, Moony...I have something I need to discuss with you all." They all looked at him curiously, giggling at him stupidly because of the serious look on his face. "Oh come on now, quite gawking like that. This is serious."

"What's wrong?" asked Sirius, seeming to notice (finally) that something was up.

He kept his answer short and simple. They would know what he meant. "I have to tell Lily." The noise was deafening around them by this point, but the silence that had just overcame their small table seemed even louder. Peter seemed to cower a bit in his seat.

"James, you know you can't! Do you know how many people you put into danger, including yourself?" The look on Sirius' face was a mix between incredulity and worry.

"I know." He gave Remus a meaningful look, knowing that he risked divulging Remus' less-than-publicized status as a werewolf, thus possibly causing a world of trouble. Remus however, looked into his eyes carefully.

Lupin quietly sat still for a moment, and then looked up to all of them. "I want James to tell Lily. I think it's important. Lily is a good person."

"No you're a good person, Remus, for letting James take advantage of you like this! This is insanity. James, you're going to risk all of this for some stupid love prospect?!"

"She's not a stupid love prospect, Sirius." James was now standing up, raising his voice. "I love her!" The whole pub seemed to quiet as they all turned to see what the commotion was. Sirius stood as well, walking up very close to James, getting in his face.

"James, the day you choose a woman over your friends, is the day we are no longer friends. What will it be mate?" Lupin and Peter looked at the both of them nervously.

James looked Sirius square in the eye and said, "I choose love. If you ever gave a shit about anything besides your own problems, maybe you would understand where I'm coming from." Sirius gave him a weak smile and brushed past him, not hesitating to bump into him roughly as he passed. Peter followed quickly behind. Lupin lingered for a moment.

"James, I think you're doing the right thing. I'm going to go see if I can calm him down. Now, please go see your woman. Wear a condom." James rolled his eyes and gave him a friendly punch in the arm before turning to run out the door himself.

James ran out into the street, grabbing the first stray broom he saw and hopping on it. He kicked off hard and flew into the air, joy and elation filling him. His friendship with his best friend was rocky but he had never felt so great in his life. He flew swiftly to Hogwarts and pulled out his wand, pointing it squarely at Lily's bedroom window. It flew open, and in flew James to find her asleep in bed surrounded by all her textbook. He rolled his eyes dramatically.

"Don't tell me you skipped Hogsmeade to stay in bed and study all day." She drowsily stirred and looked around confused.

"What the hell, James...What's going on?"

"Just be quiet, and come with me. I've got something to show you."