Wrinkling her nose in distaste, Lily picked up a single sock and tossed it away, clearing a space for her to daintily place her bum on the bed.

"You know," she said with a sigh. "One thing I'm not going to miss about Hogwarts is having to come into your dormitory."

James didn't look up from his trunk, but she knew he was smirking anyway. "Oh, Evans. You love coming into my dormitory and you know it."

"No, absolutely not!" she cried.

Stopping mid-action, James shot Lily a curious look.

"I am not letting you flirt with me in this environment. It'll just ruin it forever."

For a long time he just stared at her, mouth half open and brow furrowed.

She stared straight back at him.

"So what you're saying is," he began tentatively, "if I flirt with you now in this room it'll ruin flirting forever"

"Exactly."

James let out a breathy laugh and shook his head. "That doesn't make any sense you daft, daft woman."

"Of course it does!" she defended. "If you start trying it on with me at the same time as I'm trying to ignore the stench coming from your bed sheets, how is your charm ever going to work on me again? Every time you wink at me all I'll be able to see are your used socks."

Very quickly, he was off of the floor and over by his bed.

"What are you doing?" Lily asked, not trusting that twinkle in James' eyes as he grinned over her.

"Tell me, Evans," he said, bringing his head down very close to hers. "If I ruined flirting forever for you, would you have to leave me?"

"Immediately."

"Thank Merlin for that! I've been trying to get rid of you for ages."

She glared up at him. "Why don't you just chuck me then?"

"Wouldn't want to break your fragile little heart," he chuckled, leaning even closer to her. Lily found herself falling backwards until she was lying on her back. James dropped forwards so that his hands were either side of her head and his own head was directly above. "You're very sensitive you know."

"I suppose I might be a little upset," she conceded. "But only a little bit."

"Why only a little bit?"

"Because I'm a little bit in love with you," she breathed.

The words hung in the small space between them, wiping the smirk off of James' face and leaving him quite stunned. Then, as if someone had kicked him back to his senses, James' lips were on Lily's.

"Wait!" she giggled, pushing him away.

He groaned. "What now?"

Lily shot him a very serious look and whispered, as though she was worried someone might overhear, "I don't remember where I threw the sock."