A Stag and A Doe

Defence Against The Dark Arts. It would be fine, if Lily didn't have to sit next to Him. She was probably the only girl in the entire year who had successfully avoided dating him. Not only that, but she had generally tried to avoid the mere task of conversation with him and that had been quite a feat. Yes, there had been arguments, shouting, hexes and the occasional desire to cast an unforgivable but that hardly counted as conversation, did it?

The only problem was that for the first 6 years of her Hogwarts attendance he had been hell bent on getting into her pants. Of course he denied that that was all he wanted but Lily wouldn't fall for it. She was too smart to be taken in by charm, good looks, money and an amazing quiditch body…

At least, in the last 6 years she hadn't. But this year things had changed. Lily couldn't pretend that she'd ever been oblivious to his good looks; just that his personality and behaviour had always been more important to her and to her, they were everything that was wrong with society.

Now, however, he'd changed. Out of some temporary debilitating mind loss, Dumbledore had decided to make him Head Boy to her Head Girl. The weird thing was that it had matured him. He did his work on time, stopped sneaking out and playing stupid pranks with his little gang and, most importantly to Lily, he hadn't once asked her out since the end of their sixth year. As much as she would never admit it out loud, after getting to know him as they worked together, she was beginning to like him.

"It's not like you to be distracted, Evans… Thinking about me were you?" His voice cut into her thoughts and she coloured a little at his accuracy.

"In your dreams, Potter," she replied coolly. "I was thinking about writing home, that's all. What are we doing?"

"Pairing up and practising patronuses. This is one spell you are NOT going to master quicker than me, Lil. Not even by summoning the happiest memory you've ever had." Lily watched his trademark hair ruffle coupled with the challenging smirk as she tried to think up a clever response. Unfortunately the smirk seemed to be clouding her thoughts.

Slightly disturbed, she blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "Whatever Potter. Winning the quiditch cup isn't quite a happy enough memory to produce a corporeal patronus. Maybe if I'd actually agreed to go out with you once…"

"Whoa, watch what you're saying there Lils. You have been thinking about me haven't you? Upset I haven't asked you out in a while?" Now he added a single eyebrow raise to the hair-ruffling and smirking that seemed to be messing with Lily's brain. Still even that wasn't enough to stop her realising what she'd just said to James.

"N-no of course not!" She stammered quickly, blushing furiously. "Now stop trying to distract me and get on with the spell. Or don't you realise how important learning to cast a patronus is? It can save your soul you know, if you have one."

"Yeah I know." He replied quietly, his tone serious. "I cast one once before. Dementors out of the ministries control attacked my house about a year back and my dad didn't have his wand on him. I literally saved his soul, if he has one."

"Merlin James, I had no idea. That's, that's amazing. Casting a patronus like that without training. That's amazing magic. Your dad must have been so grateful."

"Yeah, something like that," he sneered, his tone and demeanour changing once again. "My dad was impressed with the magic, enough to tell me that I clearly wasn't applying myself enough at Hogwarts and to lecture me once again about the importance of education. Now come on. You need the practice, not everyone can be as skilled as I am at defensive magic."

"Fluke."

"Yeah? We'll see about that. Come on, cast together. On the count of 3…"

Lily looked at him; he was staring mischievously at her, daring her to beat him.

"Ready? 1…" They held their wands ready, eyes still locked.

"2," She took one more look before closing her eyes. His smirk had dissolved into a smile that truly lit up his handsome features. Focusing on this, Lily pursed her lips, letting happy memories of the last year flood into her mind. Sitting with James under the big oak tree in the last of the September sun planning out prefect patrols, receiving her head girl badge and the following family celebration, the first time James called her Lily, looking into his eyes late one night by the common room fire after a tough patrol…

"3." She opened her eyes. James was staring at her again, the same smile playing on his lips.

"Expecto Patronum!" They yelled simultaneously. Two sharp bursts silver light caught Lily's attention and she watched, awestruck, as they took shape.

"A doe." She whispered. "Amazing." Then turning to James she added, "First time. Looks like you're not the only one with…" He wasn't listening though he just stared straight into her eyes.

"A doe," he repeated. "A doe and a stag. Lily I…" And then he kissed her. In a classroom full of other students they had both managed to forget. A wolf whistle and a shout broke them apart. Lily could feel her cheeks glowing. She put a hand to her mouth, her eyes darting anywhere but his face.

"Prongs my boy, just when I think you've finally given up you pull a stunt like that. At least she couldn't say no this time, huh?"

"Yeah, Padfoot, couldn't say no," James mumbled. "Did you see my patronus? Did you see Lily's? A stag and a doe."

"Geez Prongs." It was the shortest thing Lily had ever heard him say and it was impossible that there was any double entendre or sarcasm wrapped up in it. At least, it seemed impossible to Lily. Her brain was so clouded now it was very possible that she had missed the rest of what Sirius said. Braving a glance up, she saw that his lips were still moving so obviously he was forming words.

This was ridiculous. She had lost her hearing and control over most of her other brain functions because of a kiss. And not just any kiss from any boy but a kiss from James Potter. He was insufferable, annoying immature and everything she hated.

Except that he wasn't insufferable, they had a good time together now. Like that day under the tree. He was still annoying, but in a way that excited and challenged her. And as for immaturity well, he was making a lot more sense than she was right now. Her patronus had been a doe and his was a stag. Sirius called him prongs. And he kissed her.

"A stag and a doe." She whispered. "A stag and a doe," she repeated louder. James was staring at her. Sirius was definitely silent now. Every member of the room seemed to be holding their breath, most of all Lily herself.

"Go out with me, Evans?" James suddenly murmured, neither blinking nor moving an inch.

"Ok." Lily replied, her voice shaky. "Maybe just once. Potter."

A.N. So what did you think? It's just a one shot for now but I'm considering writing it again from James's p.o.v if you'd like… let me know in your reviews :). I also might write their first date from the p.o.v of either character or write the event of one of the memories that helped Lily cast her patronus… If there is anything in that list you want to read tell me in your review or a pm and the most popular will get written first. So please review and tell me what you think. Constructive criticism too will only help me to improve my writing.