Chapter 1

"You have got to be yanking my wand," Sirius exclaimed, earning a few odd glances from fellow Gryffindors during lunch in the Great Hall.

James grinned as he ruffled his already messy black hair. His hazel eyes sparkled behind his wire-rimmed glasses. "I'm telling you Padfoot, Lily initiated conversation right before Charms started. She was smiling and laughing…" he sighed. "Her laugh…"

Sirius shook his head at his love-struck best friend. "C'mon Prongs, pull it together. First of all, though, I'm happy for you. It's nice you're becoming friends. But second, what makes you think she won't go right back to hating you?" He shoveled a forkful of steak-and-kidney pudding into his wide mouth.

"I dunno, it just feels different. I mean, when you walked in, late, of course-"

"Hey, hey, Double Charms is rough! Being late is practically necessary to get through that!" Sirius gestured to the large stack of homework they had been assigned.

"Anyway, you had to have noticed us laughing together. It was great!"

"What was great?" asked Remus. He was closely followed by Peter, both were carrying their Charms homework.

"Oh, Prongs has just been going on and on about Lily Evans, as usual." Sirius smirked.

Remus sat down next to Sirius. Peter went over to sit next to James on the other side of the table.

"She was probably just in a good mood from the Christmas holidays," continued Sirius. He flipped lazily through his Charms notes-copied, of course, from Remus.

Remus snickered. "Yeah, seems suspicious Prongs. She probably is dating someone else. Perhaps, Snivellus?"

James narrowed his eyes. He knew Remus was only trying to rile him up. But the fact Lily and Severus Snape used to be so close made those jokes hurt more than they should. James decided not to answer and ignored the looks Peter, Remus and Sirius shot at each other. After another swig of pumpkin juice, James abruptly got up and left the table. He grabbed his books and stalked off, though was still able to hear Peter say, "C'mon, you know sensitive he can be."

James snorted. Peter Pettigrew was calling James Potter sensitive? James almost went back to berate him, but before he could do so, Lily Evans stopped him.

Immediately, his mood changed. The sight of the striking red-haired Gryffindor always made James feel weak at the knees.

"Hey James? Do you have a minute?" she asked, looking very much like the happy girl she had been in Charms less than half an hour ago.

"I've got plenty of minutes if you need them Lily," James said.

Lily rolled her eyes, but still led him out of the Great Hall. They stopped right outside the massive wooden doors.

"I wanted to thank you for that Christmas gift. It was… thoughtful," Lily said, fiddling with her bag.

James felt warm inside, like he was flowing. "Well, I'm glad you appreciate it. If you go out with me, there'll be more gifts like that." Some of James' obnoxious ego was breaking through.

Lily's expression switched suddenly. "James, after the gift and card you sent, I assumed we could become friends. I guess not," she said coolly.

With a final glare, Lily walked away, leaving James more confused than ever.