This Is Not a Date

Chapter the First

James Potter was having a staring contest with a letter.

Tragically, the letter was winning.

It glared back at him ferociously, the precise lettering masking the doom he well knew it contained.

Mr James Potter, it said in beautiful black ink.

Probably Being Irresponsible and Gloating About It

His Parents´ Townhouse

London

Certain as he was of the doom he was about to face, he could only think of two people who would ever address a letter to him so rudely. His grandmother on his mother's side of the family had done so on numerous occasions, but as she had died eight months ago, that left only the most gloriously terrifying option.

The envelope smelt slightly of her—all lavender and vanilla. The exquisite penmanship had been memorised for years of staring longingly at her.

However, the decidedly malignant tone of the envelope made James fear for his testicles even through the mail. Her capacity for hatred towards him was truly astounding. Even the awkward truce they had come to the year before had clearly done little to dim her hatred.

Steeling himself for the worst, he retreated to his bedroom, closed the door, and slowly unfolded the envelope.

James—

He stopped reading to stare at that single word. "James?" he whispered aloud.

James— he read again, trying to shake the instinct that anything nice from her was yet another elaborate ruse of Padfoot's to get him punched.

James— he read for the third time and ploughed on fearfully.

I'm sure I was as shocked as you were upon discovering that you had been named Head Boy to my Head Girl. All shock aside, I hope that we will be able to avoid an unpleasant year by forgiving and forgetting the trials of our rather…tempestuous past.

That said, I am in London for the next three weeks, as my parents are in Majorca and I would rather eat a vat of live eels than be cooped up with my pernicious sister that entire time. Anyway, I've had a few thoughts regarding our newfound authority, and I would be glad to meet you at the Leaky Cauldron tomorrow at one for lunch and a brainstorming session of sorts.

Yours,

Lily Evans, Head Girl

P.S. THIS IS NOT A DATE!!!

James stared at the letter in a strange mix of glee and horror. There was no way this could really be from the goddess of his idolatry, but he knew that this was assuredly not one of Sirius's fakes. Despite the hostile tone she'd adopted, James couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope as regarded her affection towards him.

James stared off into space, caught up in the sublime fantasy of green-eyed, dark haired children running around him and Lily, getting lost in the grapefruit section of the supermarket.

"Harry…" he murmured, still utterly lost in thought.

"Yes, you are, you smelly arse. "King Kong" we call you when you can't hear us." Sirius paused for dramatic effect. "James Potter, King of the Apes."

James promptly failed at his vow of not punching Sirius more than once a week.

In the ensuing scuffle, the usual shouting fits commenced. Several mildly expensive items were broken, and the usual outrageous insults were traded between punches. However, spotting the envelope, Sirius quickly snatched it up.

"Who wrote?" he asked. "Anything interesting, your illustrious Head Boy-ness?" Sirius offered a deep, mocking bow.

"Toss off." James glared. "I need to go into Diagon Alley tomorrow afternoon."

Sirius looked bemused. "You already bought all your books, supplies, new robes, and a new broomstick as reward for being Head Boy. What d'you need so desperately?"

James blushed violently. "Well, Lily may have written asking to have lunch with me."

Sirius was sublimely indifferent. "Who gives a rat's arse? So she wants to have lunch. The bigger question is: are you going to bugger it up again by acting either a cocky bastard or a complete pansy? Take advantage of this opportunity. Just…don't run your hands through your hair, or she'll hex you before you've ordered drinks. Relax, and be something resembling yourself." With that, he hopped onto James's bed with spectacular grace. "How d'you think Moony and I started, you know…being together?"

"I always assumed there was a lot of firewhiskey involved." James ducked the pillow that Sirius threw and grinned at his best mate. "So, think I can manage to win the hand of the luminous Miss Evans?"

"Absolutely not, if you keep talking like that," responded Sirius cheekily, rolling over and going to sleep.

¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬

Lily Evans arrived early in the Leaky Cauldron. She'd been staying with the McKinnons, who lived but a few blocks from the famous pub. Marlene had gone ahead to shop while Lily sat nervously, fiddling with a note card in front of her that held her main points.

I. SMALL TALK

a. The Weather

b. How Our Summers Have Been

II. RESPONSIBILTY

a. No more blowing things up

b. No more hexing random midgets

c. No more marauding!!!

d. FULFILL YOUR BLOODY DUTIES!!

Lily frowned at the list. It seemed a bad sign that she had sworn before her third point (DUTIES). Sighing, she ordered a glass of white wine and waited.

At precisely one o'clock, James Potter came bounding through the door with the kind of loping grace years of athleticism had given him. He spotted her instantly and sat down, taking in the way her curves were accentuated by the light summer dress she wore. "Afternoon, Evans," he said with what he hoped was a casual smile. "How've you been?"

Lily shrugged stiffly. "My parents are on holiday so I've been staying with the McKinnons." She ran her finger around the edge of the glass slowly, waiting for him to say something so she could have a therapeutic shout.

He smiled. "That must be a laugh then, eh?"

"Quite," was her curt response. His teeth really are astoundingly white, she noticed, her brow furrowing as she hated herself for even thinking such things. And he looks marvellous when he smiles like that. Mentally slapping herself, she straightened up. "So how has your summer been?"

He shrugged. "Bit of good, bit of bad. Sirius moved in until he can afford an apartment, so that's been great. But my parents are very involved in the ministry, and it's been a bloody mess lately. All these murders…disappearances…and it's all the work of one untraceable madman and his band of deranged followers." He smiled wryly. "It all seems so far away when we're at school, but I come home and it's all my mum and dad ever talk about."

Lily was gaping at him. "Who are you and what have you done with James Potter?" she demanded. "The James Potter I know would have tried to put Amortentia in my wine or seduce me by leaping out of a cake or something."

James grinned again. "The cake thing is more of Sirius's gig, but if you really want me to put Amortentia in your wine, I'd be happy to oblige you as soon as I buy or make some."

Her glare deepened. "You wouldn't dare!" she hissed angrily.

He leaned forward. "Well, apparently you think I would," he countered.

Lily flushed, her high cheekbones colouring crimson. "Well, I, uh…given our past…"

"I thought you wanted to forget the past, Evans." He cut her off, raising an eyebrow.

She turned puce, and James tried not to flinch and cover his crotch. She's going to hex you…she's going to cut of your balls…she's going to feed you to the giant squid in pieces… A horrifying list of potential agony played through James's mind.

To his enormous surprise, she smiled through gritted teeth. "So I did." She cleared her throat and began reciting her noted out speech.

However, before she had gotten to Point Three, James interrupted. "Evans," he said quietly. "I realise I don't have the greatest record, but it seems to me that you're the one who can't forget it." She froze in surprise. He reached across the table and snatched the note card out of her hands. "Lily…" he said much quieter. "How are we going to work together for a year if you can't trust that I am responsible enough to do this? Even Dumbledore has enough faith in me to appoint me to this post. Will you be able to at least try to trust me?"

She nodded slowly. "Alright." She eyed him carefully. "You've changed," she commented lightly. "Not a year ago you would have been squirming in your seat this whole time. Two years ago you would have been flirting outrageously, acting like you owned the wizarding world."

James winced. "I've matured," he said earnestly. "A year like last year does that to a guy. I mean, I'm not going to pretend I'm a saint now or anything, but I think I've learned my limits."

Flashes of the last year replayed themselves; his grandmother's excruciating death, the students who'd been pulled out of class to be told that their parents or other loved ones had been brutally murdered, the endless whispers of torture and senseless destruction, and the very near accidental murder of one his classmates by his best friend's stupidity.

Lily looked at him, surprised. For the moment he'd been lost in thought, he'd looked far older than 17. His joie de vivre still existed, but it was thoroughly apparent that it had soldiered on through an obvious trail of pain. This was hardly what she'd been expecting from James Potter: Prankster Extraordinaire and Marauder.

She considered carefully. "Alright," she said. "The past is gone. Now d'you want to hear my ideas regarding next year?"

The next two hours passed in ferocious brainstorming and casual conversation. James managed to sustain his casual demeanour throughout the afternoon.

Well after three o'clock, Lily stood and announced that she needed to head back to the McKinnon's house. "It's been a lovely afternoon," she said with a genuine smile that made James's knees go weak.

"It has," he agreed, grinning back at her and thanking Merlin he didn't have to stand.

"I'll send you an owl if I have any more ideas about Halloween," she said, suddenly reluctant to leave.

He nodded. "That'd be great. Just let me know."

They lapsed into an awkward silence. Lily stared determinedly at the floor, trying not to make eye contact.

"Have a lovely afternoon. Goodbye…James." She disapparated quickly, leaving James sitting in surprise. What in hell was that? He thought, before disapparating himself.