Disclaimer: I would love to own the Harry Potter franchise, but alas, it does not belong to me.

For six years, Lily Evans had poured all her energy into hating James Potter. He was arrogant, he was persistent, he was a prankster. To Lily, rules were there for a reason. To James, they were just a suggestion. She hated his guts, and was satisfied with hating him.

Then right before Seventh Year, she got the letter telling her that she was Head Girl. She was thrilled till she found out that the Head Boy was James Potter himself. She screamed, she yelled, she scared the crap out of her parents, but she finally accepted that she would have to spend a lot of time with him.

He had changed. He was mature. His pranks were no longer mean-spirited. He was a gentleman. He hadn't asked her out since the end of Sixth Year. Lily was confused. She didn't like this change. He was attractive to her now. But Lily was too stubborn to admit her change of heart.

And so she sat by the fire one night. It was nearly two o'clock in the morning, but Lily hadn't slept a wink. She was in the Common Room, thinking about none other than James Potter.

"Evans?" Ah, there he was, the new gentleman himself.

"Hello, Potter."

"What are you doing down here? Do you know what time it is?"

"I'm fully aware that it is two o'clock in the morning, James."

"So why are you down here?" He sat down next to her.

"I was thinking," she replied. "Is that a crime?"

"No, of course not." He was silent. "Knut for your thoughts?"

"Oh, my thoughts are only worth a Knut?"

He laughed quietly. "Galleon, then."

"I was thinking about you." She felt her face heat up. Thank goodness it was dark.

"Me?"

"Yes, you prat."

"Why am I a prat? Haven't I been better this year?"

"That's just it! I don't like this change. I hated you, and that's how things were supposed to be. Then suddenly you come back all proper and nice, and I start swooning. Do you think I wanted to swoon over you? I didn't! I was fine with the way things were. Now I fancy you like mad and you wouldn't know that because I keep it hidden. And you stopped asking me out, so obviously you-"

She was cut off by his lips against hers. It wasn't a long kiss, but it was soft and sweet and everything she'd ever dreamed her first kiss would be like.

"I fancy you, Lily Evans. I always have, and I always will. You bring out the best in me and I want to be with you, I really do."

"Shut up and kiss me again," she said.

And he did.

The End