"Lily come on," He laughed running ahead of her, his hand stretched out behind him hazel eyes sparkling wickedly.

She reached for his hand, and his strong fingers wrapped themselves protectively around hers, as he pulled her through the trees laughing. The sun was setting low behind the hills and the grounds of the castle were bathed in a golden/red glow. James stepped trough the trees watching her all the while, his hazel eyes drawn to her sparkling green irises.

James stopped, as they stood surrounded by thousands of old oak and sycamore tress bathed in the glowing golden light, he thought she looked excruciatingly beautiful, but then again that wasn't uncommon for Lily Evans. Her vivid hair, was loose and cascaded in brilliant waves down her shoulders to the middle of her back, her green eyes danced amongst the trees.

James gently pulled her towards him; she smiled shyly, stepping over the crawling tree roots. He combed the loose strands of titan red hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering on her check. He leaned towards her, all the while his eyes studying her face intently, but he didn't find what he was fearfully looking for, her face showed not a hint of hesitation.

When his lips touched hers everything in the world fell into place. Lily could have screamed, upon realising that this was what she had been missing for the last 6 years, she lifted her arms wrapping them tightly around his neck and he smiled against her lips, running his tongue feather light across her bottom lip making her knees go weak and then….

Lily Evans sat bolt right up in her bed. "Damn it." She moaned raking a hand through her long auburn locks, her lips tingled and she rolled over into her pillow to smother her frustrated scream. Her horrible morning ritual was becoming more and more frequent, her entire summer had been plagued with dreams of James Potter, his beautiful hazel eyes staring right into her soul, and then she would wake up with a start and try to convince herself she was not in love with James Potter. Admittedly though it was getting harder every day.

You shouldn't be thinking this Lily; you can't be thinking this I mean its James Potter for crying out loud.

Lily thought desperately as she freed herself from the tangled mess of blankets spread out around her. At this point however it was far to late for Lily's desperate thoughts.

Its only another two days lily, two days and you'll be back at school, you can see how much of prat potter really is..

She stomped across the hall to the bathroom, fresh clothes scrunched in her fist.

Yes Lily two days, until you will be back on the platform, two days and his smile will make your knees go completely weak.

"No!" Lily groaned slamming the door to the bathroom hoping that her insane thoughts would stay outside as well.

Lily Evans watched her reflection in the foggy mirror, her eyes were wide and sparkled bright green even through the steamy haze that filled the bathroom.

Do you love him Lily?

Yes.

Wait No!

Maybe

Arghh I don't know.

You might want to figure that out sometime soon then.

And how do you suggest I accomplish that,

I don't know, I'm you aren't I go call Marly or Hestia and stop arguing with yourself, it's the first sign of insanity.

"Yes and so is fancying James P-Potter" Lily muttered as she half stomped down stairs.

"Lily was that you coming down the stairs? I could have sworn it was a heard of elephants." Harry Evans grinned at his youngest daughter, he green eyes sparkled as she looked up at him, and he was caught of guard for just a moment looking at the extraordinary young woman she had grown into.

"Hi Daddy." She smiled at her father, both father and daughter knew however that the smile in question, didn't reach her eyes.

Some 239 kilometres away one James Daniel Potter awoke with a start, like most nights his dreams had been plagued by Lily Evans, her vibrant red head and sparkling green eyes haunted him.

Because in James Potters dreams he very rarely managed to get the girl, his most recent and particularly frequent dream pictured Lily in a white dress, her eyes alight with wonder and a smile that could start a dead mans heart gracing her perfect lips. James dream was of Lily Evans wedding day, the Groom was as always the same tall faceless man, who was aiding Lily in the complete and utter destruction of James heart.

"It was just a dream Prongs." Sirius said for the umpteenth time that morning becoming desperate to console his best friend.

"Yeah, but eventually it will be a reality wont it." James groaned wincing at the thought.

"James mate, you've got a whole year, you've got the freaking badge for crying out loud and better yet this time Lily actually cares about you." A small smile flickered across James' lips as he thought of the silver badge sitting by his bedside.

Sirius grinned when he sore the smile tugging at his brothers frown. He loved Lily like a sister but sometimes he wanted to hex her to Merlin and back, because for a smart girl she could be incredibly daft.

Sixth year had been undoubtedly a big change for the Marauders, Little-Lily-Evans, who was not so little anymore had finally given up on her supposed loathing of James. As a result of which Sirius, Remus, Peter, Marly and Hesita couldn't have been happy with the arrangement meaning that none of them had to endure neither Lily nor James' ridiculousness any longer.

"Only 2 more days Prongs." Sirius said watching his brothers' smile broaden.

" It'll be weird not living with you mate." James said solemnly but he couldn't hide the grin plastered across his face.

"Yeah mate I am sure you are completely devastated to be living in the Heads dorm with Evans and not the 3 of us." Sirius laughed jumping up from his seat, James following him outside to continue yesterdays quidditch match.

"Yeah, your right Pads, I'm not gonna miss you at all." James joked. It was with a heavy heart however that he pushed away from the springy summer grass realising that this time it truly was his last shot with Lily.

"LILY IT'S TIME TO GO!" Violet Evans called to her daughter, it was the first of September and Violet and Harry were not ready to say goodbye to their youngest child.

"Coming Mum!" Lily yelled latching Elsie's cage and sending her things down the stairs by themselves, revelling just slightly in the lift of the trace from her now 17-year-old self.

"Take a good look Els' who knows when we'll be coming back here," Lily murmured to herself looking around her now very plain bedroom.

She had spent all of her holidays at Hogwarts during 6th year, spending time with her very reckless Marauders. Her comradeship with the 4 boys had grown substantially over the previous year; they had gone from mutual enmity to close friends. The major reason for this was although unbeknownst to him, undeniably the fault of James. Lily was astounded at how he had changed over the course of the summer after 5th year, both physically and mentally. He had grown out his inky black hair so that it was much shaggier; he had filled out into a true chasers build, his shoulders were broader and he had been a good head taller to. Lily knew from multiple warm days out by the giant lake with Marly Hesita and the Marauder's that he had filled out substantially in the abs department as well.

The major change to James Potter however was the shedding of his more prat-ish behaviourisms. He no longer cursed anyone who walked past, his pranks had become much less frequent, and when they did occur were much better humoured and had not lead to anyone's hospitalisation. Most importantly to Lily however was his behaviour towards her, they were James and Lily now not Potter and Evan's, he had reframed from humiliating her in anyway for the entire year, and his incessant date proposals had died of almost completely. It was this sweet and wonderful side of James that Lily had gotten to know over 6th year and who had been the cause of her dreams over the summer. The James that had pulled her into his warm arms so tightly as they left Kings Cross Station for the summer. And it was the James who had been writing to lily every week for the last 3 months, that she was trying to deny her feelings for.

Lily was filled with a mixture of dread and elation as she pulled up to Kings Cross with her parents at a quarter to 11. After 6 years of experience she handled her truck and Else's cage with ease, positioning it properly onto a trolley and pushing through the crowds with her parents towards platforms 9 and 10.

"Well Lily-pad." Harry smiled sadly at his little girl.

"I love you Daddy." She whispered throwing her arms around him he smoothed her hair down like he had when she was young and tried to keep the lump from rising in his throat as he held his daughter close.

"Write to me ok, Bud." He asked his daughter quickly, as he had done for the last 6 years.

"Always Dad." She winked at him before embracing her mother.

"Oh Lily-flower, I'm so proud of you, you have truly grown into a wonderful girl." Violet kissed her daughters forehead, holding her close wishing time would slow just for a moment.

"Come on love, its time for Lils to go." Harry said gently hating having to interrupt their goodbye.

"Yes, yes I suppose it is, I love you lily." Her mother sniffled and smiled at lily before whispering into her ear.

"Maybe you could bring James home for Christmas, we would love to meet him."

"W-what." Lily spluttered looking at her mothers piercing blue eyes.

"Oh Lily love, I've known for years, mothers intuition and all." She whispered tapping the side of her nose.

"Go on Lily its 5 too." Her father reminded her as Lily tried to scrape her jaw of the ground.

"Bye." Lily called looking back at her parents as she walked quickly through the barrier her head still spinning from her mothers words.