Summary: From this time on, any students caught having sex on the school premises will be expelled immediately. No questions asked. Do I make myself clear? L/J 7th year. R 'n R :-)

Disclaimer: Everything belongs to the one and only J. K. Rowling. All hail.

A/N: Hi there. Anyone recognise the summary? This fic was originally posted early this year, and was removed some time in May. Why was it removed, you ask? Someone reported me for plagiarism. I'm going to say this once, and once only; I have never and never will steal anyone else's work. Ever. Never ever. If you happen to think otherwise, please e-mail me with the name of the story I have 'copied' and I promise I'll get back to you ASAP.

As it stands there has been editing, additions and general re-plotting abound. So, if you have read this before, perhaps you'll ever so graciously read it again?

… … … … …

This Time

Chapter One: Still Dating Diggory

On the platform of nine and three quarters, heading back a final time to their last year of schooling, Lily Evans and James Potter had congratulated each other on their Head Girl and Boy positions respectively.

She had smiled, insincere but as always polite. It was not that she loathed the young man before her, far from it for in fact she had often enjoyed his company when he was not trying to impress her, but James Potter was one to be very wary of indeed.

She would not let him ever get the better of her.

And he had smiled back; hope and resolve blazing through.

This would be the year, he knew it. He could feel it, he could breathe it, he could taste it upon the tip on his tongue. Deliciouses, lustrous, overpowering in it's attraction.

This was their fate, their destiny.

This would be the year he would get Lily Evans, or die trying.

This time, it would all be different.

… … … … …

November, 1976.

… … … … …

She was uncomfortable. Amos ran his sweaty hand under her shirt, awkwardly fumbling with her bra strap. His tongue darted in and out of her mouth like a frog catching flies. Making out with your boyfriend in a broom closet isn't the most ideal of places. Especially when your boyfriend is Amos Diggory and, unfortunate for his charm and good looks, Amos was a terrible kisser. And not much better at Quidditch either, as it had turned out. The thought of the afternoons match brought a grin to Lily's lips.

Amos frowned at this, drawing his face away from hers, and leaned back on the upside-down bucket from which they sat. 'What is it, Lily?' He moved his hand against her cheek, brushing away her frazzled hair, and in the process managed to knock over a bottle of brilliant green toilet cleaner, quickly leaking ooze all over his shoes.

'I'm sorry, Diggory.' Lily bit her lip, ignored the spill and reaching behind to redo her bra. She really should have been kinder, for Hufflepuff had not met such a sore blow in three hundred years. But still, she had agreed to come to meet him in hopes that he could have be cheered up, and the party in the Gryffindor common room was sure to be lasting all night and longer. Lily put her hand to her mouth, forcing out a long fake yawn. 'It's getting quite late…' She widened her eyes at her watch innocently. 'I really should be going…'

Amos's annoyance turned briefly to despair and Lily immediately felt guilty. There would be no warm welcome awaiting him in the Hufflepuff dorms, that was for sure. 'I thought we might find a room somewhere… and get more comfortable?' With grass in his hair, mud-coated Quidditch robes and foul smelling shoes, Lily Evans did not feel the least bit tempted.

'Maybe another night…' Lily trailed away, already standing. She quite liked Diggory, on the whole. They had after all been going out for a year now. But, despite all this, he definitely was not the one she wanted to loose her virginity to. 'I'll see you tomorrow at breakfast.' She gave him a last apologetic peck on the lips and turned to make her way back to the Gryffindor tower.

The sight of fat little Peter Pettigrew slumped against a wall four corridors on stopped Lily dead in her tracks.

'Peter!' She called out, taking a quick look out for his three friends, whom Peter was more often then not trailing. 'What are you doing here?'

Peter stood up straight, pointing a thick pudgy finger stupidly at the painting hanging opposite him. Lily stared at it, a canvas bowl of fruit wrapped in an ornate frame presented back. Was this the entrance to the Hufflepuff dormitory? 'What are you doing here?' She repeated, this time a little more angrily.

'I forgot how to open it,' he glared at her sulkily before mumbling, 'and the others had already gone in.'

'Gone in?' That was all she needed. Those lousy marauder's causing more trouble, as per usual. They couldn't simply be good sports about smothering Hufflepuff in the first match of the year, no. Now they would be lording it over them, rubbing their noses in it, the arrogant pricks that they were. Lily wouldn't stand for it- if only for Diggory and her reputation as his long suffering girlfriend. She would stop whatever nonsense they were up to and wipe that cocky grin off of Potter's face.

An act of which undeniably she would take great satisfaction in doing.

As if hearing her thoughts the portrait swung open and James Potter, Remus Lupin and Sirius Black appeared. There were no arrogant smirks, no gloating countenance. And the cocky grin only caught on Potter's face when his hazel eyes locked with Lily's emerald.

'What are you doing here, Potter?' Lily folded her arms across her chest, glancing quickly at the bulging boxes of cakes, butterbeer, lollies and other assortments the three were balancing with much difficulty.

'We were just popping into the kitchens for more food,' James explained quickly, giving her that smile -that fucking smile- the one she knew far too well. 'You know, the celebration party? For our magnificent victory? Six hundred and forty to ten?' His voice choked with glee on the last words.

'Oh…' Lily trailed off. Sirius rolled his eyes, shaking his dark tangled hair and threw her a challenging look. James pushed his two boxes into Peters' hands and swung his arm casually around Lily's shoulders, steering them both ahead of the group.

'And what are you doing all the way down here, Miss Lily?' James used his other arm to mess his hair.

She heard Sirius snort from behind them.

'I wonder…' Remus muttered softly.

Lily looked James over, surveying his scarlet Quidditch robes with "Captain" embroidered on the back, so different from the state in which Diggory's were in. It hardly looked like James had been on a broomstick at all. Except for his hair, of course. But then again, the mess of dark locks did hang as they always did: all over the place. 'Did you see the match?' James asked, only the smallest hint of arrogance audible in his voice.

'Yes, I did.' He tightened the grip on her shoulder. 'You did very well James,' she elaborated as he obviously wished.

'Thankyou.' They made their way past the great hall and began climbing a staircase. 'And how is Diggory holding up?' It was smug, conceited. Just as she most hated.

'Alright.' There was a time when Lily would have pushed his shoulder away and continued on her own, or simply given him detention. Those were the times when she almost hated James Tosser-Potter. Although Lily still thought of him as a egotistical, self-satisfied prick most times, when he had thought she wasn't looking the muggleborn had seen a definite show of improvement in him most recently. Perhaps he'd grown a brain and turned a corner… She might actually admit to liking his company. Sometimes. Just maybe.

That is, if he acted to her like he did with everyone else, instead of the constant need to impress her.

It was because Lily was so caught up in these thoughts she didn't realise James had led her into an empty Transfiguration room, his friends grudgingly continuing on their way without them.

'What are we doing in here, Potter?' She raised her eyebrows at him.

He leaned back against the door, blocking the only exit. Lily met his sparkling eyes, a dangerous smile fixed onto his face.

'James?'

'Why wont you go out with me, Lily?' He casually folded his arms across his broad chest, trying and failing to look uncaring.

'I'm going out with Diggory,' Lily answered flatly, frustrated. How many times had they been over this the past month? Hundreds, thousand perhaps. She sat down on top of a desk, facing him in the dark, his silhouette unreadable.

'But you don't even like him.'

'And how would you know that?'

'Why do you call him Diggory, instead of Amos then? Not exactly the most passionate referral to your lover, is it? Diggy, perhaps,' James snorted. 'But you know what- Piggy suits him even better.'

'Shut up!' Lily said, a little louder then either of them expected. 'We're not lovers anyway!' Oh my God. Did she really just basically admit she was a virgin to James Potter? Who'd had more girls then anyone could count?

'Really?' James licked his lips, looking most happy at this news, which only infuriated Lily more then ever.

She moved off the desk, determined to get past James and go to bed, the raging party long forgotten. 'I don't want to talk to you any more, Potter- not that I ever did in the first place!'

Stomping right up to where he stood she made to grab at the door, but he caught her wrist, entwining their fingers. She was surprised to feel the dampness on his palm- could it be possible that James Potter was nervous?

Slowly -and Lily decided, most nervously- James lifted his other hand to her cheek, gently pressing his lips to hers.

She pushed out of his hold and he moved away from the door, a most saddened expression on his face. That's when it hit her. Diggory had been disappointed and frustrated, for what reasons she knew exactly. He just wanted to get laid. Sure, he liked her; but when it came down to it that was all he was really looking for. And was James sad? Upset? Was that really hurt in his eyes?

This stumped her.

She stopped, her hand held over the handle. Leaning back against the door, as James had just been doing, she once again met his eyes.

Happiness visibly lightened over his features. He took a step closer so their bodies were touching, placing an arm loosely around her waist. He leaned in again, and this time his kiss wasn't practiced, but passionate. And this time she didn't pull back. She reached both arms up around his neck, smoothing out the infamous hair. He pushed against her slowly, so that they were both leaning all their weight on the door, tightly pressed together. His kisses slowly moving from her lips, down her neck, pausing on her collar bone.

He stopped for a moment, resting her head on his chest. 'Will you go out with me, Lily?'

This time she smiled, kissing him back quickly on the lips. The answer was out of her mouth before she could properly think.

'No.'

… … … … …

On the Sunday after a Quidditch match it was usual for most students not to surface until well past noon. However, the seventh years had their N.E.W.T.S to study for and a bright Sunday morning could not be wasted.

Having missed her at breakfast, James hadn't had a chance to talk to Lily since they had parted the night before and not entirely on the best of terms. Now gathered in the library, the marauder's were sitting a mere two tables away from where Lily was with a friend.

And James had sat, for the past half-hour, staring fixedly at Lily without blinking.

'Will you give it a rest, Prongs?' Sirius moaned. 'I'm bored.'

Remus looked up from his Charms essay, rather irritated at the pair of them. 'Well you have plenty of work you could be doing.'

Sirius laughed, sounding remarkably similar to a barking dog. 'I'm not that bored.'

James finally looked away, his plan ready to be put into practice, taking his wand slowly from his robes. Pointing it at his Transfiguration book he whispered 'Invisibella.' Instantly the book vanished from sight.

Sirius raised an eyebrow, having watched his friends actions with mildly increasing interest. 'Damn,' James said loudly. 'I can't find my transfig book!' With a grin at Sirius, James stood up.

'Oh, you can borrow mine.' Peter held his book up to James.

Sirius snorted and James pretended not to have heard, quickly making his way to Lily's table, where the two females still remained oblivious to his movements.

James sat himself down next to Lily, shuffling his chair as close as he dared. 'Hullo Lily, Fiona.' He winked at Fi, Lily's best friend. She smiled back at him uncertainly.

'I seem to have lost my transfig book,' James explained and half turned in his seat so he was facing the red head. 'Could I borrow yours?'

'Sure,' Lily replied, her eyes not leaving the scroll she was busily scribbling on.

'Cool.' Lily still didn't look at him, so instead James turned his attention to Fi, just then seeing the obstacle he had not thought out. She watched him under her lashes with wary blue eyes, her white blond hair pulled in a tight ponytail.

He wished she'd go away so he could talk to Lily privately- surely the Head Girl would not appreciate him retelling events and declarations of the night before in front of Fiona. Finding a scrap bit of paper and quill sitting unused next to Lily, he quickly scribbled a note to Sirius.

Her name's Fi, ask her out or something- whatever, just keep her away for five minutes. Thanks.

'Hey Fi?'

Fi looked up from the Divination book she had been reading.

'My leg really hurts from yesterdays match,' James put a pained look on his face. 'Could you just give this note to Sirius for me?'

She frowned, clearly suspecting something. But what girl could resist an excuse to talk to Sirius Black, the most handsome man in school? 'Sure.' She quickly got up, grabbing the note, and hurried away.

Only when Fi was out of ear shot did Lily finally put her quill down. 'That is my best friend and if Sirius does anything nasty, or is even the slightest bit rude, I am holding you completely responsible.'

James put his hands up in mock surrender. 'Ok.'

'Why are you here?'

'Don't you want to talk to me?' James looked slightly put off.

Lily turned back to her scroll, ignoring him once more. 'I have a lot of work to be doing as I'm sure you do too, despite that you have not lifted more than that quill since you arrived here.'

'Did I imagineus snogging last night, or did it really happen?'

'Snogging!' Lily whispered fiercely. 'As I remember it…'

'I've been thinking about that, actually,' James interrupted, snatched up her scroll and moving it far out of her reach, 'dreaming of it all night in fact. And I think you -Lily Evans- I think you liked it, despite all later protests.'

'I did not,' Lily denied, her eyes flaring.

'You kissed me!'

'No, you kissed me!'

'Only after you kissed me first,' James bit back, but then had to think. 'Actually, secondly after I kissed you…'

Lily glared daggers at him. 'It doesn't matter anyway! In case you have forgotten James, I am still dating Diggory.'

'What! Haven't you broken it off yet?'

Lily took a deep breath, hastily restraining herself from ripping his head off. No, she had been mistaken, Lily thought. He had not changed in the slightest. 'Why would I? You can't just break up with someone you've been dating for a year like that,' Lily snapped her fingers under his nose. 'God, could you be any more dense? How Dumbledore ever made you Head Boy-'

James moved his hand under the table to rest on her thigh. 'Are you serious?'

Lily smiled, in spite of herself. 'Stop it.'

James snorted. 'Just tell him you're in love with me, then it'll be off and we can go out straight away.'

'I am not in love with you.'

'Ahem,' Fi coughed, sitting back down opposite them. James was sure her cheeks were a bit brighter then before.

'Alright Fi?' He gave her his most charming smile.

'Sirius just asked me out,' she said quietly like she could hardly believe it herself, growing still more red all the while. James' gut twisted at her words, and his face flushed just as vibrant as Fiona's. The thought that Sirius had only asked her out as a game made him feel a little guilty. Still, he reasoned, all was in his ultimate plan to win over Lily Evans, no matter to the consequences.

'That's great,' James replied, his voice cracking. He turned slowly to Lily, who wasn't looking at all happy with this most recent turn of events. 'Hey, maybe we could go on a double date. What do you say, Lily?'

'I'm not dating you, James.'

'Oh. Right.'

… … … … …

A/N: Thanks for reading. The summary is taken from the second chapter, so if you're still interested, review and perhaps I'll post it faster… Love it? Hate it? Let me know :-)

xxoo