Unknown Cant

“Please, James Potter. I have better things to do than sit here with you discussing decorations for the Ball. Just because we’re both prefects doesn’t mean I have to like you,” said Lily Evans.

“The faster we get this done, the faster I can leave you and your attitude behind,” was the reply.

“I certainly don’t want to be here.”

“Well then. Let’s get this done.” They both leaned in to look at the list of decorations and cracked heads against each other.

“Geez, Potter,” yelped Lily. “how hard is your head?”

“At least it’s not as thick as yours.”

“You’re asking to be hit in the face.”

“Go on then.” Lily just glared. “I knew you wouldn’t,” he said triumphantly. She reached up and hit him in the back of the head.

“Still think that?”

“You messed up my hair!”

“That mop? It looks like you haven’t brushed it in years.”

“Why does everyone tell me that?”

“Only the guys. All the girls are too ditzy to do anything but stare and giggle. Except for me.”

“Thank goodness for that,” he said sarcastically. Lily just glared again, not noticing the bruise that was slowly appearing on her forehead. James did, however.

“You bruise so easily. Like porcelain. You ought to eat healthier - it’s probably from malnutrition.”

“I eat fine!”

“Right.” James lifted his wand to her forehead and muttered, “Growunco.” The bruise magically disappeared.

“I could’ve done that!” James sighed.

“Come on. Let’s just get this over with.”

Outside, waiting for Lily when she finished, was Sirius Black. The two were currently going out and had been for sometime. James threw Sirius a look as he left that said perfectly well, Why, Sirius? Sirius took no notice and turned back to Lily.

“Can we talk?” he asked.

Lily’s heart fell to about her toes. He is not going to say what I think he’s going to say, is he? We’ve been going out for almost a month and a half; that’s his record! He wouldn’t end it now, would he? I thought he liked me. But she just smiled and said, “sure.”

Sirius started walking towards the front doors, leading Lily.

“I know you know what this is about. Don’t stare at me like that. I can read every one of your expressions. I know what you’re thinking. And you’re right.”

“But Sirius-”

“Let me finish, please. This is just as hard for me as it is for you. I do like you a lot, Lily. But it’s puppy love. I know somebody who really loves you, though he doesn’t know it, and it’s just not fair for him. That’s why we have to break it off. I’m sorry. I won’t bother asking if we’ll still be friends because I know we will, even if you do hate me right now.” He leaned over and gave her a small peck on the cheek. “Bye.” And he left. Lily didn’t know where, she was too consumed with her own thoughts.

I guess heÂ’s right, but I donÂ’t care. And I wonÂ’t cry. I WONÂ’T! And so she sat down with her back to a tree and started to cry.

Back in the Common Room, a very unhappy James sat with a pair of typically blue eyes glaring at him. They belonged to a very angry girl named Lenna who was currently James PotterÂ’s girlfriend. Finally she spoke up.

“James Potter. I don’t like you spending time with that girl, Lily Evans. I see you and her flirting. Do you forget about me when you do it? Because I don’t appreciate it.”

“We do not flirt! We’re both prefects. I have to spend time with her. You can’t get mad over something I can’t control.”

“I can’t believe you! You always say that! You’re such a-a….”

“Single guy?”

“What?!”

“If you can’t accept me for who I am, and you can’t change me, I can’t be connected with you in any way.”

“YOU CAN’T BREAK UP WITH ME! I’M THE MOST POPULAR GIRL IN SCHOOL AND I’M THE MOST BEAUTIFUL!” The entire Common Room was staring at them by this time.

“You’re also the most modest. I can break up with you and I just did.” There was a silence that was only broken by breathing and then a light creak as the portrait opened. Lily Evans stepped in. She had tear streaks down her cheeks and Sirius felt a pang of guilt go through him. He wanted to run over and kiss her, but he couldn’t.

Lenna looked up at her and then got up. “You’re such a bitch! I hate you! It’s all your fault!” She stormed up to her bedroom, ignoring everyone else. Lily took one look at her and burst into tears again, running back out the portrait. Sirius got up and whispered something in James’ ear. James looked at Sirius understandingly, ran up to his dormitory, and then back out of the portrait with a piece of parchment and a long, silvery cloak.

Lily tore out of the castle in a flurry of tears and choked sobs. She ran and ran until she reached ‘her’ clearing. It was actually a clearing in the forest off to one side of the lake that was quite well hidden. She hadn’t told anybody about it, including Sirius. She sat there for a few minutes, sobbing softly. Suddenly, there was a small crack of a twig behind her. She whipped around, but no one was there. She turned back around slowly, albeit nervously. There was another crack and a footstep sound coming closer. This time, she jumped up, wand held tightly in her fist, eyes searching the clearing.

“Who’s there?” she called.

“It’s just me. Sit down. I won’t hurt you,” came a voice from nowhere. Lily didn’t move. She heard a sigh. “Calm down. Sirius sent me. He couldn’t come because he said you would break down even further.”

“Sirius sent you?” Then she sat down with a thump and burst out in tears again.

James sighed again. Why do girls have to look so sad when they cry?

Lily felt a pair of arms reach around her, though she still couldnÂ’t see them. Then she felt a body close to hers and a chest against her face. She sobbed unrestrainedly into it, not caring who it was. Her sobbing finally slowed to a stream of tears steadily going down each side of her face.

“Thanks,” she said softly.

“No problem.” The invisible arms unwrapped themselves from around her. “Feeling better now?”

“A little. Who are you?”

“You’d send me away if you knew. I wouldn’t mind, but Sirius would.” He saw tears well up in her eyes again at this, and was immediately remorseful. Even if it was Lily, he couldn’t stand watching, or making, a girl cry. “I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s okay.” She sniffed and looked down. There was an imprint in the grass where the person was laying with their arms behind their head. She looked slowly up to where their eyes would be. It was easier to look someone in the eyes if you couldn’t see them.

James gave a little gasp. Her gaze was fixed so strongly on his own, it scared him a bit. She had bright emerald eyes that seemed to bore into him. For a moment, he wasnÂ’t sure if he was invisible, but he was.

“Could you please tell me who you are?” she pleaded. She didn’t seem angry.

“Erm…no. Sorry.”

“All right, I guess. Either way it’s your choice. How did you know I was here?”

“My map. It has everyone on it. And no, I can’t show it to you. I’m on it too.”

“Your choice again.” She laid down next to him, staring up at the clouds. “I miss him so much already. He was so nice, and so funny. He kept up with chivalry. There’s no one like him. Except maybe James Potter.” James gave a little lurch at this. “But I can’t really stand him,” she went on. “I don’t know why he hates me. He’s not so bad, and I do trust him, but he’s impossible to get along with.”

Not so hard as you might think.

“Sirius said that somebody else was in love with me, but I can’t imagine anyone else but him. I guess it was only puppy love at this point.”

“I don’t think you can really fall in love at this age.”

“Age has nothing to do with it. It’s about finding the right person.”

“I wouldn’t know.”

“I’m sure. But hopefully you’ll find it. Otherwise, what’s the point of going on?”

“I suppose…but wasn’t I supposed to be comforting you?”

“You did. Thank you.”

“Am I free to go?”

“Dismissed,” she said with a giggle. He got up and took one last glance at her. She was sitting at the very edge of the water with her knees pulled up to her chin, her arms wrapped around them. Her long red hair was tumbling down her back and though he couldn’t see her, he knew her face was contorted in sadness. Any other time he would have been tempted to push her in, though the thought never even crossed his mind now.

“Sorry about Lenna,” said a soft voice next to Lily. She jumped, thinking for one terrible, yet wonderful moment that it was Sirius. It was James.

Lily was sitting in the formerly empty Common Room lit only by the dying fire. It was around 11:00 now.

“Please, please, please don’t talk to me,” she said. “I can hardly stand your voice, let alone your face at this point so it would be better for the both of us if you just didn’t talk to me.” He didn’t seem to be going anywhere so she got up and went to her dormitory.

Lily tossed and turned for quite a while before finally getting up and going back down to the Common Room. James was still there, so she crept out of the Portrait Hole silently and made her way down to her favorite tree.

It was a beautiful night with the almost Full Moon casting a silvery glow over everything. Then a voice spoke behind her.

“Lily? What are you doing here?” It was her invisible person.

“I could pose you the same question.”

“Right-o. Neither of us will mention it then.” She heard him sit down on the other side of the tree. For a moment, neither of them said anything.

Then Lily whispered, “Are you friends with Sirius?”

“You could say that.”

“So you’re probably one of his friends that don’t particularly like me.”

“Remus thinks you’re sweet.”

“That makes one.”

“Even if we’re not friends, I can’t stand to see a girl cry.”

“Couldn’t you tell me who you are?” But he was already gone.

The next morning, Lily awoke at around noon. She hadnÂ’t gone to sleep till the wee hours of the morning, though it didnÂ’t matter since it was a Saturday. The dormitory was empty, as was the Common Room. The Great Hall, however, was packed as it was lunchtime. Lily sat between her friends, though she hadnÂ’t any idea what they were talking about. The Marauders were across the table but Sirius and James were leaving as she sat down, most likely to play a prank. Neither of them noticed her quiet presence. Lily spent the rest of the day strolling around the grounds as if in a dream.

That night, she went back down to her tree, hoping for a visit from that certain someone who listened to her rants. Sure enough, just as the Sun was setting she heard a soft padding behind her. She turned around but there was a most curious sight. Coming up to her was a large, black, shaggy dog. It came up and nuzzled her hand with its muzzle.

Lily was surprised for a moment, but she patted it softly on the head. “You seem nice enough,” she said, giving it a hug. “Whose are you?”

“He’s mine, Lily,” came the now familiar voice from behind her. She didn’t bother turning around; she knew she wouldn’t see him.

“He’s awfully sweet.”

“More than you know. Or maybe not. Do me a favor, Lily.” She felt a soft hand taking her own, then pulling her slightly. “Go inside. I’ll explain later if I can. Just…stay inside, okay? Just in case.”

“I trust you enough, I suppose. Tell me who you are?” There was no answer. She sighed and went back up to the Common Room.

“You haven’t even told her who you are?” asked Sirius as they tore down the long passageway to the Shrieking Shack. They had changed back to their human forms now, so that they were able to talk. Peter (the rat in more than one way) had claimed he wasn’t feeling well so he had come only far enough to press the knot on the tree before turning back.

“You should talk. You were the one who was cuddling up to her.”

“As a dog! I couldn’t help it. She looked so sad.”

“Now you know how I feel. Even if I can’t stand her.”

“You should try. She’s really wonderful.”

“So I’ve noticed,” James muttered. Then, without stopping, he transformed into the great stag that he was and took off, faster than before. Sirius sighed, knowing it was no use to press the subject anymore. He too changed in mid-stride and took off as well.

When Lily got up to the Common Room, it was nearly empty. She had purposely taken a route that twisted through the school for a long time. It had taken about four hours to get to Gryffindor Tower. When she finally did make it, she went to her dormitory and got ready for bed. She sat on it for a while, staring out the window. Near dawn, a movement attracted her eye. She looked closer and saw the same shaggy dog as before prancing across the lawn. Though she knew it was in vain, her eyes searched for its unknown master. She thought she saw some impressions in the grass where he was standing, but she couldn’t be sure. Lily glanced down for a moment at her tangled hands and when she looked back outside, the dog was gone. She began to pace back and forth her dormitory in her agitation and unrest when one of the girls let out a grumble that sounded like, “Go ‘ack ta’ ‘ed.” Lily glared as she had been doing so often but didn’t lay down.

When James and Sirius got up to the Common Room, under the Invisibility Cloak, they found a certain girl lying on the couch, fast asleep.

“She looks like a goddess,” whispered Sirius, trying not to wake her. Indeed she did. Her red hair was fanned around her like a halo and the dawn light added to the firelight made her skin aglow with a bright fire that seemed to come from somewhere underneath or inside of her.

“Should we put her to bed?” asked James uncertainly.

“I suppose so. Wouldn’t want all of Gryffindor Tower staring at her. But you do it. If I touch her, I’ll break down worse than she did.”

“I don’t know if that’s possible.” Sirius took one last glance at her and climbed up to bed, leaving James with the Invisibility Cloak still on him alone with the angel child. He briefly considered taking a picture before he scooped her up and carried her away. He was surprised at how little she weighed. As he began to climb the stairs to the top dormitory, she woke up.

“Who are you?” she asked groggily. “I can’t see you.”

“It’s me. Go back to sleep.” She did as she was told.

James made it to the top and laid her gently in the only empty bed. She curled up and he left, thinking all the way down. For once, he didnÂ’t mind having to walk all the way to the top of the tower for his year.

The next night, Lily was again by her tree at sundown, waiting hopefully. She wasn’t disappointed. Within a few minutes came the familiar sound of quiet footsteps and a soft, “hello.”

“Will you tell me now why I had to go in yesterday?”

“Werewolves,” he said simply.

“There aren’t any werewolves at Hogwarts.” He said nothing. “There are? B-but Dumbledore would’ve told the prefects. We ought to be warned if there are people like that in our midst.”

“They’re only werewolves once a month,” said James hotly.

“Oh, I know. I wouldn’t mind if they were here. I just wish I had known earlier to stay inside on the Full Moon. Otherwise, they’re probably nice enough people.”

“They are,” he said quickly.

“I suppose you know one don’t you? You don’t have to tell me. Just answer me one thing…please. Is it Sirius? Because I’m not sure I could stand it if it was. If he never told me.”

“There are things even Sirius couldn’t tell you. But, no, it’s not him.”

“If you’re friends with Sirius then do I know you? Are you in Gryffindor? Are you even a student?”

“Yes. To all three questions. I may not tell the whole truth, but I won’t ever lie to you. That is the truth.”

“Why are you here? Why do you keep coming back every night?”

“Sirius told me to keep you happy. You mean more to him than anything in the world but he can’t comfort you himself. I don’t know why he chose me.”

“So you don’t even like me?”

“That’s not what I said.”

“Did you mean it?”

“I’m not sure,” replied James truthfully.

“Think about it. Will you meet me here every day? I like talking to you.”

“You wouldn’t if you knew who I was.”

“Tell me?”

“I’ll meet you in the Common Room if you’d like. It’s getting a little chilly lately.”

“That’ll be fine. Good night ‘till then.”

“’Night.” She heard him softly padding away and then, oddly enough, what sounded like hooves clacking on stone and then the gallop of a large horse-like animal, disappearing into the castle. She stayed for a few moments, watching the last few rays of Sun fade from the sky. A whoosh by her ear snapped her out of her reverie. The dog was back. It laid down next to her and put its head on her outstretched leg where it stayed, unmoving until she got up and went back to her dormitory. She looked out of her window at the lit up lake where she could still make out the dog still lying under the tree and sighed wistfully.

Lily woke the next morning, showered, dressed, and went to breakfast in a daze. She went through her classes mechanically, waiting anxiously for that night. She didnÂ’t even notice Sirius who was in almost every single one of her classes. He smiled internally, happy that she was preoccupied and not dwelling, like he was, on the past. James avoided her gaze at all costs.

At midnight that night, Lily crept down to the Common Room. She had gone to bed directly after dinner and homework in order to be able to stay up all night.

She heard his footsteps long before he got the bottom of the stairs. In the silence, she could hear everything: his breathing; her own heart beating; his almost silent footsteps; the fire crackling and dying in the hearth. She saw the light impression he made as he sat in the armchair opposite her. The first thing he said when he sat down was, “what do you think of the world?”

Lily was a bit taken aback, but she answered with her heart. “It is amazing, I suppose. But I’m not sure what I think of it. There are so many wonderful things, but there are just as many horrible points. I don’t know if it balances out.”

“It has to. There seems to be so much. Otherwise, what’s the point of going on?” Lily blushed at this statement. It was, after all, hers.

“I hope so. There is so much out there left to be done, and explored, and hoped for. There must be something worthy.”

“There is.”

“What?” asked Lily, almost afraid to ask.

“You’ll know when you find it.” They discussed this for a little while longer before everything started to be interrupted by yawns.

“We ought to play chess when we discuss this,” said James abruptly.

“Chess?”

“It’ll give us something to focus on. Are you willing?”

“Who are you?” James said nothing. Lily sighed. “I’ll bring my pieces.” She wasn’t sure if he had gone or not.

The next day in Herbology, James came over to her.

“Lily?” he asked tentatively.

“What?” She didn’t seem as snippy as usual towards him.

“You never gave me a chance to apologize before about Lenna. Whatever she said, it’s not your fault. I mean it.”

“I didn’t blame you. But thanks anyway.” Just then Professor Ivy came over and paired them up together for the next project. After she left, James stared at Lily.

“What?” she asked nervously.

“You didn’t complain.”

“Guess not. Come on James…er…Potter.” She walked off towards the supply table humming something quietly to herself.

What has gotten into her?

Neither of them liked Herbology very much, so, as they sat outside in the garden planting seeds of some plant that grew almost immediately, they tried to make idle chatter. Nothing very interesting, though, and they lost interest quickly enough.

James would wrestle a seed into the ground that was already reaching tentacles out to get him and Lily would fill it in. After a particularly vicious one, Lily sat back on her haunches and sighed. With a sudden spray of dirt, one last tentacle whipped up and grazed JamesÂ’ cheek. He sat back laughing at her, covered from head to toe in dirt.

“You think this is funny?”

“Of course. You should see yourself, Lily.” He burst out into laughter again. Lily got an evil look on her face.

“Is it still funny?” she said, stuffing dirt down the back of his robes and smearing it across his face.

“HEY! It itches,” he said squirming. Suddenly, he stopped and looked at her. Her wild, red hair was flared out and her emerald eyes still had that odd glint in them. There was mud streaked across her entire face and all over her clothing. She didn’t seem to mind. He was abruptly reminded of goddess-her.

Lily gazed fixedly back at James. His eyes were glinting in the same way she knew so well by now. There was a large scratch across his cheek that was still bleeding, but he was ignoring it. There was dirt on the front of his robes. Lily thought he looked wonderful in shades of mud.

They gazed at each other with such an intensity that Sirius, who was a few rows over looked up. He grinned, hoping for the very overdone cliché moment.

Their gaze was still locked in the intensity of the moment. Then with a sudden snap, they both realized at the same moment exactly where they were and exactly what had just happened. They burst out laughing, so hard that they were rolling around on the ground, getting even more mud everywhere.

Sirius smacked his forehead. Why canÂ’t they get it right? he thought furiously.

Lily was waiting again that night for her invisible friend. After a few minutes, she heard the footsteps on the stairs and then his voice.

“Ready to play?” A chess board suddenly appeared out of nowhere. A hand was putting it down. Then the hand disappeared and reappeared with one chess set. It was all very eerie. Lily nodded and set up her own pieces.

“I must warn you, I hardly ever play,” Lily said, “so I might not be very good.”

“We’ll see. I won’t go very hard on you.”

“Thanks.”

“You go first.” Lily moved a pawn forward.

“How was your day?” she asked as the hand mirrored her move.

“It was pretty good. Something very funny happened today.”

“D’you want to tell me?”

“You already know.”

“Do I?”

“Do I lie?” he asked, moving again. (A/N: they move, even when I don’t say so.)

“Need I answer that?”

“I guess not.”

“Your dog came to visit me again last night. Thought you ought to know.”

“I sent him down. You seemed in need of company.”

“Thanks. You seem to know me pretty well.”

“For all the time I’ve spent around you, I should.”

“Do you mind anymore?”

“Not really. You’re not so bad. As far as girls go.”

“Thanks…I think.”

“You’re welcome.”

“You seem awfully cordial. Are you sure you’re not Sirius?” He laughed.

“I know myself. I’m not Sirius. I promise.”

“Tell me something about yourself. Something important. Something that I don’t know.”

“Okay, I guess. Um…I’m a pureblood. My parents are all right. They’re both a bit too uptight about everything.”

“Not mine. They’re so happy that I’m a witch and they expect me to do great in school,” she said, capturing his knight.

“I know what you mean. I’m supposed to be perfect in every way. I can’t stand it. Sometimes I just want to quit and become a professional hobo. But I can’t. It’s always ‘do better’ and ‘make us proud’. And no matter what I do, it’s never good enough. I do try my best and I do fine, but it’s never good enough.”

“You seem to have as many problems as I do.” James flushed, though she couldn’t see that. “I have the exact same problems as you.”

“We seem a bit alike.”

“I suppose so.”

“I’m starting to actually enjoy these conversations.”

“Me too.” She glanced down at the chessboard littered with the remains of pieces. “Tell me who you are?” He said nothing. She sighed. “Checkmate.” Gathering up her pieces, she went to bed.

James sat there, staring at the pieces, though not really seeing them, until the first rays of dawn started to shine in through the windows.

“God, Sirius. It’s all your fault,” said James furiously.

“What is?”

“I think I’m falling in love with her.”

“Is that a bad thing?” Sirius asked as they hurtled down the hallways.

“She hates me!”

“She hates the you outside of the cloak. And she doesn’t hate you. She just can’t get along with you when she can see your face. I don’t know how I can get along with you when I see your face.” James shoved him aside. “If you told her who you are, I’m sure she wouldn’t mind you.”

“I hope so. I think I’m going to have to tell her soon. She asks every night who I am before she goes to bed. And it’s killing me to have to ignore her during the rest of the day.”

“So just tell her! It’s been like a month already. She has a right to know. You guys are the perfect couple. That’s why I broke up with her. So she could be with you. I knew you would be great together.”

“YOU WHAT?! Sirius! If you weren’t my best friend, I’d have to kill you. As it is I think I’m going to-” Their conversation was abruptly cut off as they made it to Transfiguration, just barely getting inside on time.

“You’re fidgety tonight. I can tell that without even seeing you,” said Lily.

“I guess you can read me as well as I can read you.”

“I guess so. What’s wrong?”

“In due time.”

“Tell me?” she asked. There was so much kindness and sympathy in her voice that James wanted to rip off his cloak right then and there (A/N: his Invisibility Cloak - geez - nasty minded people).

“You won’t run?”

“I wouldn’t mind even if you were a Slytherin at this point. You’re kind and nice and cordial and I really like you. It doesn’t matter who you are on the outside.” James sighed.

“When you put it that way, I can’t stand to have this cloak on.”

“Take it off.”

“I’m sort of afraid.”

“Still? I don’t care who you are. It’s just a little eerie to talk to someone who I can’t see.”

“I know. I can tell.” Suddenly his eyes lit up. “Come on.” Lily felt a flurry of cloth and then, suddenly, she couldn’t see her body. She felt herself being led out of the Common Room, then out of Gryffindor Tower and past the Great Hall and out of the castle until she was standing by the lake. The entire time she could feel his same presence next to her, and she was aware of him every moment; his warmth; his breath. This was the closest she had been to him since that first day that she had cried on his chest. She had a sudden urge to bury her face in his chest again, though not to cry, but she didn’t.

They were standing next to the lake again with the almost Full Moon high above them. Lily felt the cloak slip off of her.

“Are you ready?” he asked softly.

“Yes. Go on.”

“Here goes. Don’t run.” And abruptly he appeared. James Potter. The moon shone off of his hair, giving it an almost silver quality that lit up his face.

Lily gasped. “James?” He lowered his head.

“Is it - is it all right?”

“I’m not running.”

“You should be.”

“What? Why?”

“It’s perfect for running.” He took her hand and started sprinting around the lake with her in tow.

“James! Let me go!” She was laughing. The wind whipped her long red hair back as her long legs pounded against the ground.

They finally stopped, panting, and collapsed on the ground. When both were able to sit up, they did, though Lily was still giggling slightly. James looked at her soft skin thinking just how beautiful she looked. With her red hair and the bright moonshine on her, she looked almost as if she were on fire. Their gaze met and he smiled. She did too.

Come on, come on, thought Sirius with his fingers crossed. He was watching from his window in the dormitory at the two teenagers sitting on the ground next to the lake. Kiss already. James! You idiot! Just kiss her! ItÂ’s perfect! But he was not to get his wish. He watched as James pulled Lily off the ground with as much ease as if she were made of paper and then watched as they made their way back over to the Invisibility Cloak, strolling slowly around the lake. They disappeared under it and Sirius sighed.

When James made it back up to his dormitory, he found Sirius pacing back and forth first as a human, then a dog, then a human again, and so forth.

“Sirius, calm down!” James said, alarmed. Sirius never got this agitated.

“It was perfect! Why didn’t you just kiss her right then?”

“I - what?”

“You’re so hopelessly in love with her! Just kiss her already!” said Sirius.

“I couldn’t. She just found out who I was! That’s not like me to just kiss her out of the blue!”

“Make it you.”

“But, Sirius, I can’t.”

“Of course you can. Just do it. The two of you are driving me crazy. You’re perfect for each other. She’s in love with you! You’re obviously in love with her! Just kiss her already! That was perfect down there and you blew it! Just…make it special when you do.”

James lay awake in bed for a long time afterwards, thinking. IÂ’ll do it! he thought. I just have to find the right timeÂ…

On the other side of the tower, one other person was still awake. (A/N: LilyÂ’s best friend whoÂ’s really in love with James! Bwah hah hah hah hah. Just kidding.) Lily Evans sat awake thinking for a long time as the moon swelled above her. Tomorrow itÂ’ll be full. I wonÂ’t see him. James. I canÂ’t believe it. Am I in love with him? Or with the Invisible him? Are they different? They seem to be. IÂ’ll have to see. She laid back down with a small smile playing across her lips. James. Not only is he so much more than I thought, but heÂ’s incredibly hot too. And she was soon asleep.

“James? Can we talk?” James looked up into Lily’s wide, emerald eyes. He had been sitting on the couch in front of the Common Room fire, brooding. “I know you won’t be there tonight, so I figure we ought to now. We have to sometime. Please?”

She led him out of the Common Room and outside to their tree. She sat down opposite of him, staring into his eyes, back to the tree. For a moment, neither said anything. James felt very naked when he was visible. Lily opened her mouth uncertainly.

“Thank you for telling me. I still can’t believe it’s you. I sort of wish you had told me sooner, though. Will we keep meeting at night?”

“I hope so. I really like it when we do.”

“Me too.” Both were a bit nervous. Then Lily voiced something that had been bothering her for a while. “You’re still the same person without your Cloak, right?”

He smiled. “Of course.”

“Good.” They made small talk before making their way back up to the castle, though both their thoughts were elsewhere.

“Hold on, Sirius. I can’t change until we get to the passage and I can’t run as fast as you till then.” James tore through the halls with his cloak billowing out behind him. A few paces in front of him was a shaggy black dog running at full speed. Abruptly, the dog skidded to a halt, almost making James trip over it.

“What is it? Sirius, we have to go.” His best friend was once again a human.

“I smell something. And-” He changed back to a dog, sniffed the ground, then back to a human. “You’ll like it.” Then he was back to a dog and off running towards the front door again. James growled in annoyance, but as he turned the corner, it faded into a poorly hidden smile.

Lily was walking towards him, hands folded in front of her, looking like a princess out of some fairy tale story. When she saw him, she smiled back.

“I was just coming inside. Werewolves…you know. And you’re going to them aren’t you? I don’t control you, but be careful, won’t you?” She looked up into his deer eyes and he down into her emerald ones. Then, standing on tiptoe, she kissed him. It was all James could do not to carry her off right then. He leaned into her, hands around her waist, and kissed her back, full force. She wrapped her arms around his neck without breaking the kiss. It went on for what seemed ages to James, though they were wonderful ages…and probably only a few seconds.

When the kiss broke off, James felt a little giddy. “I - I have to be going…but I’ll see you at dawn.” She nodded. It took all the willpower he possessed (and a few nips from Sirius) to tear his eyes from hers and make his way out to the grounds.

As they slipped into the passageway, Sirius’ tail was wagging, and he was prancing everywhere. He popped back to his human form for a moment. “I TOLD you she was perfect for you. I TOLD YOU SO!”

“Shut up,” James said blushing. And then he was a stag, running off down the hallway, though with more spring in his step than usual.

As Lily made her way up to the Common Room, she couldnÂ’t help but smile.