Until The Very End

Chapter Ten: Leaving for the Season

James's PoV:

The weeks since Sirius's birthday had flown by. There was a full moon over Christmas and we had to plan for it. I never found the right opportunity to ask Lily to be my girlfriend officially. We just sorta fell into it. There wasn't any drama, no grand gesture to ask her to be my girlfriend. We just started calling each other boyfriend and girlfriend and everything was perfect. I still hadn't answered any of the questions she had asked me, and everytime she tried to get answers from me, I changed the subject or distracted her. I also hadn't asked her to the Potter Ball. It's a big fancy dinner party with ministry workers and pureblood families that I have to attend. Mum and Dad let Sirius and I bring our friends because they knew we'd get bored.

"Come on, James! We'll miss the train!" Lily called from downstairs as I packed the last of my things that I needed to bring home.

"I'm coming," I called down to her as I walked down the stairs to the common room where Lily was waiting.

"We've got to hurry. Everyone is waiting for us in the Entrance Hall," Lily said as she left the dorms. We both wished Mr. Scamander a Happy Christmas and sprinted off to join our friends.

*****************

"So, why were you late?" Marlene asked.

"James oversept and forgot to pack half of his stuff," Lily said without looking up from her book. Her head was on my shoulder while she read, and she looked really cute.

"I'm sorry! Remus and I had to patrol really late!" I defended.

"Mmhmm. Whatever you say, Potter," she said.

"Oh, so we're back to last names now, Evans?" I teased.

"Yup," she said popping the 'p' and turning the page in her book.

"Looks like there's trouble in paradise," Peter mumbled to Alice. She laughed. I playfully glared at Peter and he stuck his tongue out at me. We smiled at each other and I turned back to Lily. There was a knock on the compartment door.

"I'll get it," Lily said. She handed me her book and opened the compartment door. "What do you want? Unless you have a question about patrol, you shouldn't be near me," Lily said curtly.

"Lily," Snape, "I need to talk to you."

"She's busy, Snape," I answered.

"I wasn't asking you, Potter. I was asking Evans," Snape snapped.

"What do you want to talk to me about?" Lily asked him.

"Not here," he said.

"Then she's not going," I said. I put Lily's book down and stood behind her.

"I can make my own decisions, James. If something goes wrong, you'll know," Lily said. She followed Snape out of the compartment and into an empty one across the hall. I quickly grabbed my invisibility cloak and slid into their compartment.

"Lily, I'm so sorry about all of the stuff from this year. Friends?" Snape asked.

"Nope. You've lost all of your chances and I've given you, like, ten. Now, what did you want to talk to me about?" Lily said.

"Be careful around the Potters," Snape said.

"If you're trying to get me to break up with James, I won't. I love him."

"No, you're not listening to me. Potter Manor isn't safe. Stay away from the Potters."

"Why would I? James invited me over for a few days after Christmas. I'm going," Lily stated.