He stood there with the Quidditch Cup held aloft, pride swelling with every second. She stood apart from the cheering crowd, partially from her uncertainty that a prefect should join in and partially from her hatred of the one in the center of it all.
She turned to leave the common room and all the noise but hesitated at the doorway. He sat down the cup and ran after her.
"Lily, you can go on hating me—I don't care," James said slowly, "but I wanted you to know, I've changed. Just… Just go ask Severus."
And he was gone.