CHAPTER 1: TWEEDLE-DEE AND TWEEDLE-DUM

After a hard day of double Potions and Herbology, Lily Evans curled up in front of the fire with a book while her shoes dried out from the ankle high snow as they hung on the hearth. It wasn't your ordinary day for Lily, whose favorite past time was stretching out under a large oak tree on school grounds with a Jane Austin novel or some other piece of writing that her fellow students wouldn't understand. She didn't mind, though; she'd rather be sitting in the common room getting warm than sitting under her tree getting frostbite on her arse. The only downfall was Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum as she so often referred to them, for when they weren't causing a ruckus and breaking the rules they were bothering her about her love life. She had lost several boyfriends this way, and who would have known that guys didn't like getting hexed every turn they made in the castle just because the hexer couldn't be a gentleman and get a date with her the old fashioned way: asking politely. It was as if he expected her to fall head over heels for him as all the other girls did, including the seventh years. But Tweedle-dee was not the kind of guy you let know he was attractive because if he doesn't already know it, he hides it well.

Just as Lily thought she was going to get a marauder-free day, though, Remus Lupin, a friend of Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum, sat down across from her and she knew that the two idiot twins wouldn't be far behind.

"Lily," came the calm, sweet, and yet strong voice of a charming looking Remus Lupin, "you may want to prepare yourself for Prince Charming 1 and 2."

"Ah, you must be mistaken," she said as loud as she could as she caught sight of the two charming wizards who otherwise looked inconspicuous. "All I see is Mr. 'Try-as-I-might-I-get-no-where' and his faithful companion 'If-I-had-a-brain-I'd-have-a-comeback'."

"Did you hear that, Prongs?" said the boy standing nearest her with sparkling and mischievous blue eyes as he gestured to the boy beside him. "She said you don't have a brain." Lily rolled her eyes at this and turned around in her chair to get as far away from them, without picking up and moving, as she could and opened her book again hoping this was the end to the conversation.

"Hello, Evans."

"Hello, Potter," she said without turning or looking up from her book. That wasn't the end of it, though, and she found the first boy who spoke was now leaning on her seat from behind brushing his fingers through her hair. He was a very handsome boy, she had to admit, with his smooth chin length flowing hair and soft features and yet sarcastic use of them, but his touch was none too soothing and in an instant she was out of the seat and into another one before the boy could draw breath.

"Evans, do you realize what you are reading? That's a textbook, and a Charms textbook no less. Are you feeling well?" Before he had the chance to check her temperature, however, her hands were already smacking his advances away.

"Leave her alone, Sirius," came the voice from the other boy standing near by. The voice was proud and yet merry and had a face to match. He was a tall boy and shockingly good-looking though lacking the other boys unnerving beauty. He was soft in features, but they were slightly obscured or heightened, depending upon your view on it, by a pair of glasses and unkempt brown hair. The true reason so many girls found him so attractive, though, was his unending charm and charisma that always found its way into his features as it did now; playing into a small smirk.

"People might think you like her, and by people I mean girls. You don't want to ruin your reputation, Padfoot." His smirk was now an outright grin as his friend backed away from her reluctantly and instead directed his attention at a black haired witch named Arabella Figg; sitting in the corner talking to some friends. She tried to avoid him, but eventually broke into a grin and giggled as he teased her whispering in her ear sweet nothings.

"It's amazing how he does that," said the same boy again as he sat down in the seat adjacent to Lily. Remus was now coughing uncomfortably from the other couch in front of the fire. He knew what was coming next, for he heard it all the time. Instead of sticking around he picked up his school bag and muttered something about homework and the library and left without the notice of either of the other two.

"What are you doing, Potter?" Lily asked without looking up from her book, but seeming rather smug about it.

"When are you going to call me James?"

"When hell freezes over, and pigs can fly," he began to open his mouth but she stopped him, "without magic. P.s., You didn't answer my question."

"What am I doing? Sitting."

"Well I can see that," she said, abandoning her book completely.

"I wasn't so sure you could see around that enormous book. Merlin, Evans, how much does that thing weigh?" he asked as she dropped it to the ground with a loud thunk.

"You would know if you ever cared to take yours to class."

"Oh, who needs textbooks, what are they good for anyway?"

"Um… learning," she added with a note of sarcasm and irritation. "You know there are starving kids in Ethiopia and you waste your parents money on textbooks you don't even use."

"Well, my parents have too much money, and they don't know any kids in Ethiopia." Lily stubborn to the point of insanity didn't laugh; in fact, she grimaced.

"Well either way, you are lucky to pass anything without a textbook."

"Who needs a textbook when there are tons of others in the class? I can just look at Remus' if I need any pointers."

"You are so cocky. You know, Remus won't be there for you next year when you take your N.E.W.T. s."

"Oh, don't stress so much over me." At this, she started to open her mouth but James continued, "Besides, whether you know it or not, I did get an 'Exceeds Expectations' on my Charms O.W.L. last year."

"Try 'Outstanding' and then we'll see where significance of a textbook comes in." As she spoke she indicated the book of Charms on the floor.

"Yeah, but everyone knows you best subject is Charms, and that's saying something considering you are the top in our year."

Her face reddened uncontrollably, but it was hardly visible in the firelight. She was beautiful now more than ever. She was in her element, the fire that was her hair and lips. James found himself envisioning himself rising from his seat and capturing her lips with his mouth and her hair with his fingers: a vision in which she didn't slap him immediately afterwards.

"Potter, what are you staring at?" Lily said waking him up from his daydream-his very good daydream.

"I was just thinking. I heard you were having trouble in transfiguration."

"I am not having trouble in-"

"Well not ordinary person trouble, obviously. This is you after all," and the blush rose again, "but… well I got an 'outstanding' on it last year. Undoubtedly my best subject, and favorite."

"What are you playing at, Potter?"

"We could tutor each other." The request that seemed very reasonable to James only seemed to kindle a fire within Lily that, if he said so himself, burned brighter than the fire crackling in the Gryffindor common room fireplace.

"I know what you are trying to do, Potter! I am not stupid!"

"I don't recall that ever crossing my mind."

"Oh, enough Potter," she said, striding across the room toward the girls' dormitory. "You're just trying to think of another clever way to ask me out again! I know you Potter, however much I wish I didn't! And don't think I didn't notice you hadn't asked me out once this year so far, not ONCE! I thought perhaps you had changed, however ridiculous that may seem, but now I see you are just the same old Potter with your scheming and plotting to get me to date you! Well guess what, it's not going to HAPPEN!"

"Evans, despite your superior brain power and better-thinking, you are embarrassing yourself. I never planned to ask you out. I honestly just need a tutor in Charms."

"What happened to Mr. 'Exceeds Expectations'? Have you lost your ground on that?"

"As you said yourself, Evans, you know me, and I always like to be the best."

"Too bad, you won't find that anywhere but on the Quidditch field," and with that she was scalling the steps.

"And in Trasfiguration! You forgot that one," he yelled to the retreating form of the beautiful girl. A loud slam was the only response he got and it echoed through the common room filled with several perturbed Gryffindors.

"Best at Transfiguration? You could dream, my friend," said Remus as he returned to the comfy chair he had occupied earlier.

"Moony, should I-" but before he got the question out Remus was holding up the heavy Charms book and gesturing for James to take it.

"Might return this to her."

"Thanks, Moony."

James was out of the room in a flash running up the stairs and knocking politely on the door to the sixth year girls' dormitory.

"Who is it?" came the muffled sound of Lily's beautiful voice.

"Delivery service."

In an instant the door was open and there stood Lily leaning on the door frame and looking rather put out.

"You know this book really is quite heavy." He tried with a failed attempt to convince her, but was James Potter was known for best was his ability to change his tactics at the last minute; otherwise he would have long ago been expelled from school for his bad behavior. This was, but a minor issue comparatively and so the words flowed as they always did with perfect grace and elegance.

"I'll read whatever you want. I'll even carry this preposterously large book to classes. Whatever you want."

"How much?" she said clearly having calmed down because her voice was not loud and booming anymore, and she stared at her feet.

"Will I read?" She nodded, "however much you tell me to." But before the words were out he already regretted them, for he saw the look of mild amusement on her face.

"All of it," she said as she raised her face to his, both eyes sparkling.

"What?"

"You have to read all of it."

"Half!"

"All of it."

"Evans, come on, be reasonable."

"You said my choice, so there it is. Then we'll be on the same level."

"You've read that much?"

"Of course I have! This is 'me' remember?" Now James was the one who blushed.

"So, we're on then?"

"I suppose, but you better keep up your end of the bargain." Her face was serious now, but his was happy and playful almost cracking her composure.

"I don't think I'd even dare not read the book."

"No, I mean, you have to help me with Transfiguration as well."

"Oh, so you do need help then?" now he was grinning in amusement at having won the fight that had occurred downstairs, but the celebration he took part in was stifled by her lack of annoyance at him being right, for being right is only fun when someone is bothered by it.

"Every little bit helps," she said with a sheepish grin.

"Well, I will, hold to the bargain that is, all of it."

"Good," he then turned to leave but at the sound of his name he wheeled back around to look at the beautiful Lily Evans. "Oh and Potter, tell any of your friends you're tutoring me, especially Black," she said as she got closer to his face leaving only inches between them making James' color flush out of him, "and I'll jinx you so bad you won't know it's coming."

This made him smile, though, which was the last thing she had expected, but she kept her stance that was only just in front of his face, "you don't have to threaten me, Evans, though I do find fire in a woman very attractive." He was smiling wider now, and Lily looked mortified as he looked from her eyes to her lips with that clever charm and charisma flowing making him almost undeniably undeniable.

"In your dreams, Potter."

"If only you knew."

A/N: This is one of my favorite stories that I have written. It's kind of clever, and funny, but mostly just sweet. Read it if you like James and Lily romance stories. It should be fun, if nothing else. Enjoy, and please review!