Ah, this one will be a little shorter! And I feel like I've written a thousand different ways of them getting together. So this is them telling everyone they're together. And it was requested. Also, thank you all so much for your lovely comments! So many of you said that my writing made you happy, and that makes me happy! I love you all. And if you ever need anyone for anything, just let me know and I'll be there. 💞

Lily and James were alone- finally, blissfully, alone. Marlene and Sirius had been down in the common room for what felt like hours, laughing and completing unfinished homework.

But finally, Marlene waved goodbye and Sirius trudged upstairs.

'Finally,' James breathed, and they were across the room and in each other's arms before the sound of the door closing had fully echoed around.

Kissing James was as easy as breathing. It was beautiful, and exciting, and made the tiny hairs on Lily's arms stick up.

It felt like coming home.

All too soon, their kiss ended, and James gripped Lily's hair, staring into her eyes. 'We have to tell them,' he said softly. 'We can't keep sneaking around like this. It's killing me.'

'I know,' Lily whispered. 'It's killing me too. I- I just needed a few weeks to... make sure this wasn't just a fling for you, I guess.'

A tiny flash of hurt passed through James' eyes. 'I'm not like that anymore,' he said carefully.

'I know.' Lily smiled slightly. 'I know. I guess I'm- I was- scared. Of how it's felt like some kind of beautiful dream, these past few weeks. And how if I told everyone it might stop being like that... Like it would stop being ours.'

He breathed out, and Lily could hear his heartbeat, they were so close. Or maybe it was her heartbeat, and she just couldn't tell the difference.

'You don't have to be afraid,' James said, and she believed him.

*****

James felt proud as he walked down the hallway, hand in hand with Lily. Proud.

Because she was his, and he was hers, and after all those years, he finally had managed to win over Lily Evans, could finally say she loved him just as much as he loved her.

However, that pride quickly turned to confusion as people started to rifle around in their bags, grumbling to friends.

'Um, what the hell is happening?' James asked out loud as one student passed another a Galleon. 'Is it Gambling Day or something?'

Sirius appeared behind them, a fistful of coins clutched in his hands. 'Not yet, my friends, but it may just become a tradition to gamble on this day, because everyone is cashing in their bets today!'

'Cashing in their bets?' Lily repeated, her tiny nose scrunched up. 'What do you mean?'

Sirius laughed, tossing his head back, and a few girls stopped to gaze at him appreciatively. 'Oh, your innocence makes me smile. Bets, dear Lily. As in, people betted on when you and James would get together.'

Even James had to admit that the expression on Lily's face was priceless.

Sirius merely laughed again, and strode off, presumably to collect the money he was owed.

***

When Flitwick saw James and Lily holding hands in Charms, he fell off his chair, folded his arms and left the lesson. Minerva McGonagall entered a few minutes later, took one glance at Lily and James, and handed Flitwick four Galleons.

'Mind if I take them to Dumbledore, Professor?' Professor McGonagall asked, and Flitwick sent them away with a wave of his hand.

The walk to Dumbledore's office was filled with Professor McGonagall's frustrated muttering. 'I knew I should have betted on earlier,' she told a baffled James.

'Erm,' James said in response.

As soon as they reached Dumbledore's office, he started to laugh. 'Finally got together, have they?' He chuckled. 'Ah. The money being exchanged right now must be brilliant. Now, Minerva, I believe you owe me... 10 Galleons, 4 Knuts.' He checked a piece of paper on his desk. 'No, 5 Knuts. My mistake.'

Lily and James watched in silence as the money exchanged hands.

Had the world gone mad?

Word count- 702.