Disclaimer: Harry Potter does not belong to me. It is the brainchild of J. and Warner Bros has also done great stuff with it. I am just a fanfiction writer. Dialogue in the train scene is directly quoted from the books.

I twist in front of the mirror, suddenly nervous.

"Do I look okay?" I ask my best friend, Marlene.

"You look lovely," she assures me. "Anyway, I thought you were just giving Potter what he wants so he leaves you alone? So it doesn't really matter. Unless," she smirks, "you're developing feelings for him after all?"

"No," I say. But it comes out a little bit quicker and higher pitched than I wanted.

I sigh and go to the door and reluctantly turn the handle. I had thought that this would never happen.

I am going on a date with James Potter.

First Year…

"This is it! We're off to Hogwarts!"

Despite my sadness at Tuney's anger, I can't help a flicker of excitement at Sev's words, and as he starts to talk about the houses, I prepare to join in. But before I can ask what his preferred house is like, the boys on the other side interrupts.

"Who wants to be in Slytherin? I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?"

For the first time I look properly at him. He is slim, with messy black hair, expensive new robes and an air of cockiness that immediately makes me dislike him. Next to him is a boy with dark hair to his shoulders – he is handsome, but has the same arrogance. I immediately pin them as trouble makers.

The boys continue to argue. The messy-haired boy wants to be in something called Gryffindor. It sounds okay – for the brave – but Severus is disparaging.

"If you'd rather be brawny than brainy –"

"Where're you hoping to go, seeing as you're neither?" interrupts the other – Sirius, I think I heard him called.

The first laughs much too hard. I flush with anger.

"Come on, Severus, let's find another compartment." I grab my luggage and stalk out, Sev close behind.

"Oooooo…" the two boys mock. I slam the door, their laughter ringing in my ears.

Third Year…

I leap to my feet, cheering with the rest of the house. A Gryffindor victory against Hufflepuff! That puts us through to the Quidditch final against Ravenclaw!

"Come on Marlene, let's find Emmy to congratulate her." Emmeline Vance plays Chaser.

I pull my friend down out of the stands and we run onto the pitch to where the team was landing and pull Emmy into a hug as soon as her feet touch the ground. We aren't the only ones – around us the close friends of other players are doing the same.

We release her so she can join the team in a group hug, then we head up to the common room together. Knowing Potter and his friends, a party will soon be in full swing, with food and butterbeer stolen from the kitchens. I'm not going to complain.

Sure enough, before long, Potter and Black are staggering through the portrait hole laden with bottles, and other students rush to relieve them and set the food and drink on the tables. I press in, trying to reach past the mass of bodies to snag a butterbeer, cursing my height – or lack of it.

"Here, Evans." I glance round and see Potter holding one out to me.

"You haven't jinxed it, have you?" I ask, immediately suspicious.

"What? No! Marauder's honour." Seeing that I'm not completely convinced, he unscrews the cap and takes a gulp before handing it to me. "Happy?"

Since nothing seems to happen, I thank him and take it. The liquid immediately warms me.

"Oh, and Evans?" I look back up.

"Yeah?"

"Will you go out with me?"

I choke and try to catch the butterbeer before it can dribble down my top. I flush as I notice that the people around us have gone silent and are watching for my reaction. Several girls are glaring daggers at me – Potter is more popular than he deserves.

"P-pardon?" I stutter, wondering if I heard right.

"Go out with me, Lily." He ruffles his hair, making it just as messy as when he stepped off his broom not long ago.

"Sorry, Potter, but you're not really my type." I try to ignore the gasps from those who would kill to be in my place.

"Right." He ruffles his hair again, but this type it's more embarrassed than cocky. "Well… um… okay." He backs away awkwardly, turns, and leaves the common room. I can't help feeling a bit bad for him. But what really could I do? He's an arrogant bully and nothing he's ever done had given me the impression before that he might want to ask… that. Confused, I take my drink and find an armchair in front of one of the fires. I sit staring into the flames, lost in thought…

Fifth Year…

I storm away from the lake, vision blurred by tears. I hear Potter shouting after me, but I don't look back. Right now all I want is to be alone. With that in mind, I enter the school and climb to the Astronomy Tower, using back passages wherever possible, trying to avoid teachers and students.

I finally reach it and stare out for a bit, but then I see the group by the lake and turn away. I collapse on the floor and cry until I have no more tears left.

Hours later, the door creaks open and comforting arms wrap around me.

"I can't believe Severus called me that," I choke.

"I know, Lily, I know," Marlene answers sadly. She strokes my hair and holds me until I calm down. "You've missed dinner."

I shrug, not really caring. Right now I just feel exhausted.

"Come on, Lils." Marlene supports me and leads me to a bathroom so I can wash my face. Then, even though it's still early and we have Transfiguration tomorrow, we go to the dormitories. I feel numb, cold, the world still spinning but for me, now that I've lost my best friend...

And it's partly James Potter's fault.

Sixth Year…

The sunshine is enough to draw over half the school outside. Except for fifth and seventh years, exams are over. Marlene, Emmy, Mary and I race each other to the lake. Emmy just beats me, and the others aren't far behind.

Panting, we flop onto the grass. I lie down completely, staring up at the sky where there's not a cloud in sight.

"It's so hot!" I groan.

The other girls murmur agreement. Suddenly Marlene jumps to her feet and starts waving and shouting.

"Professor! Professor Kettleburn!"

I prop myself up on my elbows and look round. "What's wrong?"

She grins at me. "I have an idea. Hey, Professor!"

At last, she gets his attention and he comes over to us.

"Yes, Miss Mckinnon?"

"May we go swimming, sir?"

We catch on to the idea and stare at him with pleading eyes. Around us, other students hear and watch hopefully.

"You may, Miss Mckinnon." We all cheer and he smiles. "Please stay in the shallows and remember to watch out for Grindylow and other dangerous creatures."

I let the others pull me to my feet and we rush back up to our dormitories, joined by several others, though I notice that one group of first years was put off by the mention of dangerous creatures – they may not know what Grindylow are but they have heard of the Giant Squid.

We find our swimming costumes and change behind closed curtains. I pull on my mottled turquoise and white one-piece and help Mary plait her hair because she hates it getting in the way and tangled. I leave mine loose though – it's shorter, and I have to admit that it makes me feel like a mermaid when it floats around me in the water.

"Hurry up!" Emmy urges, her hand already on the door handle. I look back at her and gasp.

"You can't walk through the corridors like that!" Emmy is the most daring in a hot pink bikini.

She shrugs, but finds a towel and wraps it around herself. "Happy now, Miss Prefect?"

I roll my eyes, but nod, and find a sundress myself.

When we return to the lake, several students are already in the water, including – to my displeasure – the self-styled Marauders. They wolf-whistle as we reveal our costumes, and in revenge Marlene splashes them as we wade into the water. It's cold at first, but we're Gryffindors, so we're soon swimming full on. Emmy proposes a race, and none of us argue. The Marauders also join.

"Where to?" I ask.

"Out to Hagrid's boat and back," Emmy decides. When he realised how popular the idea was, Professor Kettleburn enlisted the young gamekeeper's help to patrol the waters. Hagrid's boat shows the limit of how far we are allowed to go. "Ready? Get set… Go!"

I power through the water, enjoying the cool pressure as it slips past my skin. I haven't been swimming for ages, but I used go all the time with Tuney, so now I'm able to stay in line with James and Sirius in the lead. By the time we reach the boat, Sirius has slipped behind, but James and I are still neck and neck.

He grins at me in that annoying way and I know I can't let him win. I try to find the reserves for another burst of speed.

Suddenly, I find myself dragged under. I kick and struggle enough to make my way back to the surface, but then I find myself attacked again. I let out a sharp scream before I am submerged again.

Grindylow. Okay, simple Revulsion Jinx. But with a sinking heart, I realise that I left my wand on the shore of the lake.

I flail and kick, trying to make it let go, but it has an iron kick, and now more are coming, and I'm getting light-headed, running out of oxygen, can't breathe…

Then I'm gasping for air as soon as my head breaks through the water, held up by strong arms.

Damn. It's Potter.

"Are you okay?" he asks, for once the arrogance gone – he actually sounds concerned.

"I'm fine," I say, and, grudgingly, "Thanks."

"You're welcome," he grins. "Though, you know, if you want to repay me…"

Mr Cocky is back.

"Potter!" I shriek, shoving him away. "For the last time, I am not going to go out with you!"

"Aw, come on, flower! Anyway, it won't be the last time."

I splash him in the face for that and strike out for the shore. I've no hope of catching up with Sirius or Emmeline now, but if I can beat Potter I'll be happy.

He follows, cursing under his breath, but I took him by surprise and I arrive back ahead of him. We splash about while we wait for Peter, the weakest swimmer. Emmy turns somersaults in the water, and Potter dives.

Suddenly, I feel a grip on my legs again dragging me under. Grindylow again? I thought this was too shallow.

Worse. It's James Potter, ducking me in revenge. He releases me before I can kick him – shame, really…

"That's it, James Potter!" I shout, annoyed, and splash him right in his laughing face.

I grin in satisfaction at his shocked expression, only then he retaliates. It catches Sirius as well, and soon everyone is dragged into a massive water fight.

Finally, we stagger out and flop down on our towels. I cast a quick drying charm before the evaporating water can make me cold.

"Lily, your ankle," Peter suddenly says.

"What about it?" I ask, glancing down. "Oh…"

It's red and blistered from where the Grindylow seized it. I touch it gingerly. "Ow!"

Potter rushes over.

"It's okay," I tell him, and grab my wand. "Episkey!"

"Charms don't work on Grindylow-inflicted injuries," he tells me. "Hey, Remus! Do you have that healing salve?"

My favourite Marauder looks up from the book he is reading – he refused to join us in the lake. He rummages in his school bag and produces a small box containing a carved wooden pot and bandages. I wonder why he has it, but I don't complain.

Potter applies the ointment as gently as possible, but even so, every touch is painful. I try to keep silent, but the occasional gasp escapes, at which he always apologises.

He bandages my ankle tightly. It is painful at first, but when it fades to a dull ache the pressure is comforting.

"All done," he tells me, looking up into my eyes. "It should be completely healed after three days."

"Thank you," I say, trying to curb my hatred and sound sincere. It must have worked, because he smiles, and not even in the usual arrogant way.

"When you two lovebirds are quite done..." Sirius drawls lazily. I blush angrily and glare at him, which only seems to amuse him more, and open my mouth to reply, but Mary pipes up before I can.

"What are your plans for the holidays, Lily?"

"I'm spending the first week with my parents, but we're moving house to Little Whinging. They told me last night, but it slipped my mind. So, long story short, I need somewhere to sleep. Sorry it's such short notice, but can any of you offer me a place for that fortnight?"

"My house is always open to visitors," Potter says. "Sirius spends the holidays there anyway now. Any of you can come."

I nod politely, but turn my gaze on Emmy and Marlene, sending them a clear message – I do not intend to spend two weeks with my nemesis. My best friends exchange a look.

"I'm spending a week in Australia then, sorry Lily," Marlene says.

"My house is too small, especially as my brother will be home from uni," Mary says. Like me, she is the only sorcerer in her family. Emmy just shrugs at me.

"At this rate you'll be stuck with me, Evans," Potter says, trying not to sound too please and failing.

I groan and put my face in my hands.

"Hey, the others can come too. Mary, Emmy, and Marlene when she gets back from France. There's loads of room."

"That might not be so bad…" I allow.

"We'll owl our parents tonight," my friends promise.

Within a few days the responses return. Everyone except Peter can come.

I am stuck for two weeks with James Potter.

A.N. - I hope you enjoyed it! I apologise for any mistakes - please point them out to me even if they're only small. I'll try to update soon but please bear with me. Review pretty please! Constructive criticism very welcome and I promise to take it into account. -Nightshade