Disclaimer: All belongs to J.K Rowling!
Chapter 1: The Transfiguration Textbook
Friday; December 24, 1976
Friday nights are the absolute best. Most Hogwarts students decide to relax in the Common Room or enjoy supper in the Great Hall. You might even find a couple students occupying broom closets or cupboards.
However, under no circumstances will a student ever spend their Friday night in the library. Well, unless you're Lily Evans of course.
The Gryffindor redhead is seated comfortably in a corner table next to the window; giving her a beautiful view of the Whomping Willow tree covered in snow. She is covered up nicely with her school robe and a hot cup of coffee placed right by her.
Lily Evans is a muggleborn witch, meaning both her parents are not magical. She tends to study more than other students…and do better than them too.
So, on this particular night, Lily Evans has her face cramped inside her Transfiguration textbook. While others are celebrating the great Quidditch win (Gryffindor beating Hufflepuff by almost 200 points!), she's learning all about Human Transfiguration.
Most students pass by her and shrug it off, not caring that the redhead is studying on a Friday. However, James Potter is not "most students". The Quidditch captain is walking nonchalantly, with both hands in his pockets, towards the prefect. With a curious empty piece of parchment sticking out of his Quidditch robes, he casually walks in the library, heading towards Lily with a grin.
(1 hour before)
The Gryffindor Common room was packed. All Gryffindor students were proudly wearing their house colors; whether it is their scarf or their whole face painted. Small charms were flying around the room, setting a cheery mood to all who enter. Mugs filled with Butterbeer were dripping with fizz as students happily picked them up and cheered.
Gryffindor had just beat Hufflepuff in yet another Quidditch game, keeping them in the lead for the cup. So, of course, the Marauders decided to throw a party in their Common Room.
In the middle of the room, Exploding Snap was being played by Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, and Marlene McKinnon.
"I won!"
"If you call having five points less than me 'winning', then yes, you win." Peter Pettigrew grinned proudly, knowing he had obviously won the game due to the last 5 pairs of cards.
"Shut your mouth, Pettigrew. I clearly pointed my wand at the last pairing! It was a Dumbledore match", said Marlene, in an "as a matter of fact" tone.
The third player, Remus Lupin, sighed tiredly. "Well, if you two are done, I'd like to point out that it's a tie." Both Marlene and Peter glared competitively at each other before resuming the game.
In the corner you would find Sirius, surrounded by a couple 6th year girls, all of them grinning from ear to ear.
"So, that ladies, is how I set Filch's closet on fire," stated Sirius. "With a little help from my friend James of course. Where is he anyways?" Sirius scanned the room for his fellow Marauder, but eventually shrugged it off and continued talking to his "fan club".
Where is the Quidditch Captain, you ask?
He's on the top of the Astronomy Tower, snogging a pretty 5th year blonde. It was her way of "congratulating" him for winning, even though she was clearly a Hufflepuff. James didn't care; especially not when her tongue is down his throat and all he could taste was Butterbeer. However, they had been at it for hours. And quite frankly, he was a bit bored of her.
He politely excused himself to go to the loo for a moment. The girl frowned, but he quickly winked and left down the stairs.
He actually was going to go to the loo, but when he pulled out the Marauder's Map and saw Lily Evans' dot alone in the library, he couldn't resist. He turned around and headed towards his new destination, grinning happily.
(Present)
The three categories of Human Transfiguration that exist are…
"Evans!" Lily looked up to find that familiar mop of black hair and light hazel eyes.
"Potter," Lily said, nodding in acknowledgement. She looked him over, noticing this Quidditch robes. "Congrats on the Quidditch win." She then turned her head back into the book.
…Animagus, Metamorphmagus, and Werewolves…
"Thanks," he grabbed the chair across from her and sat down, pulling his feet up on the desk; balancing his weight with only two legs of the chair. She looked at him, quite annoyed that he's interrupting her studying. "So, tell me, Evans. Why is a pretty girl like you studying on a Friday night, rather than being up in the common room? You are a Gryffindor, aren't you?"
Lily sighed, putting her book down. "I'm trying to study for McGonagall's exam coming up. Not succeeding thanks to your endless blabbering." She grabbed her book once more, about to continue reading. "Now can you please just lea-"
"McGonagall's exam?" the other interrupted. "But that's not till the 14th of January! Who the bloody hell studies three weeks in advance?" Lily narrowed her eyes and scoffed at him,
"Well some of us need to be prepared ahead of time. I'm sorry that I don't study last minute like you!"
James scowled, rolling his eyes. "Actually, I always pass my Transfiguration exams, thank you."
"I know that. Everyone bloody does! You don't ever stop bragging about it, Potter!" He glared angrily at her and sat up on his chair, giving her a pointed look.
"At least I have something to brag about!"
Lily glared furiously at him before grabbing her bag and collecting her stuff, "Fine! Brag all you want! See if I care!" She huffed and started walking hastily for the door, book in hand. She made it just outside the library when she felt her book disappear off her fingers. She raised an eyebrow and looked back to find Potter leaning lazily against a wall, her book twirling between his fingers.
She pulled out her wand and jabbed it against his neck. "Give it here, Potter. That's the only copy of Transformation Though the Ages that the library owns and I need it." He smirked at her, twirling the book.
"I have a…proposition for you. And if you manage to complete it, you'll get your precious book back. Deal?" Just as Lily was going to reach out and take the book, James snapped his fingers and the book was gone.
Lily gasped and jabbed his throat once more, harder. "Potter! Give me my book! Bring it back!" Her face was flushed and her eyes were filled with anger, making James' grin even wider.
"I didn't know I made you this hot and bothered, Evans." But as Lily narrowed her eyes dangerously, he brought up a hand to his hair, ruffling it. "Listen; just hear me out, okay?"
The prefect lowered her wand, not losing his gaze, and crossed her arms against her chest. She impatiently tapped her foot against the floor. He relaxed a bit and began.
"The New Year is coming up. Next Saturday to be exact…"
"Obviously." She interrupted rudely. He quickly glared at her in a way of telling her to shut up, before continuing.
"As I was saying, 1977 is just around the corner. So, I was thinking that we make a list of things that we wanted to accomplish before this year ends." He smiled warmly, "Think of it as late resolutions for 1976, yeah?"
Lily dropped her hands and moved them to her hips. "Seriously? That's the most-"
"Brilliant idea ever, I know." He interrupted with a teasing grin. "Anyways, there's about a week till 1977, so it'll be two resolutions a day. Making it a total of 14 resolutions, yes? Good. Let's go write them." He grabbed her arm and pulled her along the hallway.
"Where are we going?" she asked skeptically.
"Astronomy Tower, of course." He said, obviously.
She tugged her arm out of his grasp, eyeing him warily, "It's not as if we're going to go for a nice moonlight snog!"
"So you prefer snogging inside, then?" He smirked at her, before continuing up the stairs to the tower. "Seriously, Evans, it's just a nice quiet place to…" He stopped walking, leading to Lily bumping onto his back.
"Bugger. What the hell, Potter?" She looked over his shoulder to find a 5th year blonde leaning against the railing, looking out. Just as she was going to question his odd behavior, he grabbed her hand and started pushing her right back down the stairs.
"Go, go, go. Bloody, hurry up Lily!" he whispered harshly. But before he could even make it down three steps, the blonde turned around.
"James! There you are! I was starting to think you had left me." The blonde, other known as Cassie Clearwater, frowned slightly while walking towards him. James quickly pushed Lily (a bit too rough, in her opinion), into the shadows, away from Cassie's sight.
"Oh. I would never do that you, er-, Cassie. I just, um…" but before he could make up an excuse, she planted her lips right onto of his.
Lily, who was standing in the shadows and in perfect view of this whole scene, nearly gagged. She sighed quietly instead, waiting for James to pull away, but instead he actually kissed back! You have got to be kidding me, she thought. She tugged on James' hand, bringing him to his senses. He hastily pulled away from Cassie, causing the girl to look at him strangely.
Cassie was going to ask what was wrong, when she noticed a flash of red hair behind James. "Lily Evans?"
Lily sighed and came out of the shadows that James had pushed her in. "In the flesh," she smiled awkwardly at Cassie, "How do you do?" Cassie, however, did not want to small talk. Instead she slapped James across the face, hard.
"You prat! Cheating on me for this tart! We are over, James Potter!" she screamed strictly.
James, while rubbing his hurt cheek, replied, "Er- Cassie, we weren't really dati-"
"Tart? I'm not a bloody tart!" Lily interrupted, "You're the stupid slag that would even snog this git in the first place!"
"Hey, I'm not a gi-"began James, but again was interrupted by Cassie's screaming.
"UGH!" Cassie pushed both of them out of the way, running down the stairs, mumbling something about "Pricks" and "Twats".
Meanwhile, silence fell between James and Lily for a couple moments before James spoke, ending the continuous silence.
"Sorry about that…she sort of congratulated me before I went to the library and,"
"By congratulated, you mean snogged," Lily said. James nodded and Lily chose to shrug in response. "Let's just do this resolution thing. The faster it's over, the faster I get my book back."
Lily hurried up the stairs and sat down by the railing. James summoned paper and pen with his wand and sat in front of Lily.
"Alright, 14 resolutions…must be difficult ones. Let's see…" James began to think of a couple ideas Lily could manage to do. Lily quickly spoke up,
"How about…drinking 5 cups of Pumpkin Juice for Breakfast?"
James snorted and looked at her disbelieving. "Really, Evans?" he began, "That's going to be your 1976 resolution? Don't be such a prude."
"I am not a prude, Potter. Sorry if I don't exactly categorize in your ideas of 'Mischief'." She glared at him tiredly, clearly wanting to go to sleep.
"Yeah, not everyone does," he stated. "Resolution 1: Shag someone." Lily gaped, shaking her head.
"Prude," James added, with a childish smirk.
"It's not being a prude, you slag. I can't just shag anyone!"
James nodded in an understanding fashion and just when Lily thought he actually agreed with her, he opened his mouth, "Shag me, I'm not anyone." He grinned devilishly, "Kidding, Kidding! Calm down, prude. Just, try to at least snog a bloke."
She sighed in defeat and nodded curtly, "Fine. And it doesn't have to be you, Potter."
James grinned and draped an arm around Lily's shoulder, "I didn't even know I was an option, Evans." Lily shrugged his hand off and glared at him; emerald green eyes shooting daggers. James had just noticed how beautiful she looked in the moonlight, even though she was glaring her heart out. His loving gaze must have been somewhat noticed, due to Lily's random shifting. She spoke up, breaking the gaze,
"Ride a dragon." James processed her words and cracked a huge grin,
"Much better resolution, prude! And I know just where to find some."
She nodded, not really caring where James got a dragon from…or how he will. She was already thinking of more things to add to the list when James spoke again, "Pranks! You're going to play a prank on…on Dumbledore!"
"Are you bloody insane?" she started, "It's Dumbledore, you twat. He's not stupid; he'll know it's me and I'll be expelled! That's almost as bad as failing that Transfiguration exam…"
"You need to get your priorities straightened out," muttered the Quidditch Captain. "Oh! I got another one! Sneak into the Slytherin Common Room and bewitched it Gryffindor colors!"
She sighed, throwing her head into her hands, "You're on a roll, slag. On a roll."
He nodded happily, at least she's noticed, he thought. "Alright, my bright ideas are down the drain. C'mon, ten more resolutions."
Lily frowned, thinking she'll never go to sleep. "Er- we could…"
"Plan a party!" James grinned brightly, "Yeah! Butter beer, exploding snap, food from the kitchens! It'll be great!"
Lily crossed her arms over her chest, giving him a judging look. "And where exactly will you get butter beer from?"
"The Three Broomsticks, of course," said James, quite obviously.
"It's not even a Hogsmeade weekend!"
"Doesn't mean I can't get in, Evans." He winked at her and began jotting down some of their ideas so far. "Alright, we got: snog someone ("preferably me", he muttered.), ride a dragon, prank on Dumbledore, Slytherin common room, and a party."
Lily nodded and decided to lie back against the railing, "Alright, nine more." She sighed, rubbing her eyes. "How about…go to the Shrieking Shack? I heard it's haunted."
James snorted, knowing that it wasn't. The only scary thing about the Shrieking Shack was Remus Lupin, once a month. He shook his head, "Nah. It's sort of boring, really."
Lily rolled her eyes, "How about Hogsmeade? When you sneak down to Hogsmeade for drinks, I'll go with you."
James considered it for a minute before nodding and adding it to the list. "Sounds good," he stated, before thinking of an idea that made him smirk. "How about you spend a night in the boys' dormitory?" Lily shook her head quickly, so he added, "C'mon, what's so bad about 6th year boys?"
"You're one of them. Sirius is too; I don't trust you guys."
James scowled and wrote it down, ignoring her yells of protest. "Anyways," he started, speaking over her, "we need seven more….hey! You hate Cassie, right?"
"The slag you just snogged?"
"Yeah, her. Well, how about you start a fight; like a catfight. Hair pulling and all that rubbish you girls do to each other when fighting. Yeah? Brilliant." He wrote it down quickly, before she could complain.
"Potter! I'm not going to beat up Cassie!" Lily objected.
"She called you a tart, if you have forgotten. And, what makes you so sure you'll win?" He challenged, with a humorous grin on his lips.
"Because she's a fifth year, meaning I know more spells than her…quite obviously."
James shook his head at her, "No wands, just hands."
"What? B-But…no!" she cried out.
"Is that a stutter I heard? Weren't you saying something about winning seconds ago, Evans?" He laughed playfully and raised his eyebrows in question.
Lily glared at him before saying, "Fine! You'll see!"
James chuckled at her and continued to think of ideas for their end-of-the-year resolutions. He sighed and laid back against the cement, looking into the night sky. This whole "resolution thing" was just a way to get Lily to actually talk to him more…maybe even consider his existence. Things however, weren't going so good. His thoughts got interrupted by her voice as she spoke, laying down next to him,
"Do you know where the kitchens are?" He gave her a look that said 'Of course I know where the kitchens are, I'm a bloody marauder.' She nodded and added, "That could be a resolution. Take me to the kitchens for dinner; I've never gone."
He shrugged and added it to the list, "I've got one. My parents always have this "end of the year dinner" at the Manor and I was thinking that maybe you could come." He smiled widely, "The Marauders are coming too. And usually a bunch of pureblood families go too…It'll be fun!"
She thought about it for a second, "Does that really count as a resolution?"
"Well…think about it as a resolution of meeting my parents, yeah?"
She sighed, "What an achievement; meeting James Potter's parents." The sarcasm dripped from her lips.
"I know, be grateful for that." He grinned and wrote it down as number ten and eleven on their list. "I'll count that as two, since it'll probably take the whole day."
Lily sat up, looking at the list. "Hey wait a minute, a whole day, we have school! Don't expect me to skip class, Potter, because I won't do it!"
"The dinner is tomorrow; Saturday. Don't get your wand in a knot." He rolled his eyes at her worries.
"Tomorrow? But I have nothing to wear!"
He smiled, "My mum will help you with that. She has a bunch of dresses; and she's always wanted a daughter…"
Lily nodded slowly, lying back down. She couldn't help but be a bit excited to be going to the Potter's house. She's always heard stories about how great it was, from Remus. But of course she wasn't going to show her excitement. Especially not to Potter; his head is big enough already.
"Forbidden forest," James said, interrupting her thoughts. "We'll go at night."
Lily wrinkled her nose, nodding. She's heard scary stories about that forest, but she didn't really believe any. James, on the other hand, was amazed that not even a drop of fear was shown by Lily Evans. He could've kissed her right there. At the end he just managed to grin proudly. "Brilliant. Hey do you know how to cast a Patronus Charm?"
Lily shook her head, "That's advanced magic. Don't we learn in seventh year?"
"I'll show you how; I learned how to produce one when in my third year", due to Lily's questioning look he added, "My parents taught me."
"Oh."
He nodded, somewhat awkwardly. "One more and we're done, Evans." Lily sighed, nodding along.
"Just put anything," she groaned.
He grinned and started writing something down as number 14. Lily looked over at the list and found, scribbled with messy handwriting: Go out on a date with James Potter. She looked up at his happy grin and saw a bit of hope in his eyes, which was soon gone when he noticed her waving her wand, vanishing the words.
"Hey! That was a great resolution!" he argued.
She scoffed, "More like a fantasy, Potter."
He rolled his eyes and snatched the paper out of her hands, writing something over the vanished words. He handed it back to her, grin in place. She carefully read the new words: Take a bath with James Potter in the Prefect's bathroom on the fourth floor. However, all she managed to show was narrowing eyes before James interrupted her,
"With bathing suits. It'll be like going to the beach, Evans!"
Lily sighed, getting up from her position on the floor, "In the middle of winter. Alright, whatever. We're done, yes? Brilliant, I can go to bed." She started for the stairs, when James grabbed her arm. "What is it Potter?" She said, quite annoyed.
"Tomorrow is the party at the Manor…so, meet the Marauders and I in the Common Room around nine?" Lily nodded and he released her arm. "Goodnight, prude."
"Night slag," she called out, and briefly hurried down the stairs to bed. James smiled slightly and sighed, returning to his Quidditch party.
"Prongs!" called out Sirius, one hand holding a mug with Butterbeer and the other a good looking blonde. "Where have you been, mate? This here is Veronica," he added, with a devilish smirk appearing on his lips. He grabbed her by the waist and started pulling her out of the Common Room, "Don't wait up!"
James snorted and moved over to the couch, lazily grabbing his own mug of Butterbeer. He sighed tiredly, leaning back against the couch and closing his eyes.
Meanwhile, Lily Evans had just made it to her dorm. She dropped her bag on the side of her bed and collapsed on her mattress. Sweet sleep. Of course, it was interrupted by a loud giggle.
"Lily!" Marlene called out, "I just saw you walk into the common room and about two minutes later, James walked in…mind telling me which broom closet not to go into?" she smiled at the droopy redhead.
Lily turned over to face the blonde, "Not in a million years, Mar." Lily quickly explained the whole resolution thing James was making her do in order to get her Transfiguration book back.
"Oh Lily, someone is going to have an amazing week! Don't mind me; I'll just be snogging Caradoc Dearborn's brains out." She shrugged, smiling, and skipped into the bathroom.
Lily closed her eyes tiredly and fell back into bed, peacefully falling asleep.
Author's Note: My first Lily/James story! Please review to make any corrections or to just comment on the story! I'll probably update soon. I've already started chapter two dealing with the whole Potter Manor and meeting the parents (:
Much thanks, Rachel.