Lily struggled to keep her eyes open. Sat alone at a library workbench, she turned to look out the high, arched window beside her. She could faintly distinguish where one dense cloud began and another ended, though it was nearly black outside this hour. Hogwarts thick walls were keeping her well protected from what Lily knew was sure to be the windiest January night.

Most students had turned in as it was but their second week back from the Christmas holiday, but here Lily was working on a theoretical Transfiguration essay long after dinner. Not only was already she neck deep in their NEWT coursework, but being back the past ten days to find all her friends alive and intact had taken another toll on Lily.

Soon to graduate from Hogwarts, the seventh-years hadn't spared a single moment, day or night, cherishing each other's company. Sirius led the laughs, Marlene the most dramatic stories. Peter already had a detention, and Emmeline a Slytherin, a Hufflepuff, and a Ravenclaw boy's precious time in a broom closet. Remus and Dorcas, though quiet, slayed with their occasional yet sharp remarks; and Alice and Frank, sensible as they were, were source of witty banter and even more significant news.

But even these eight whom she loved so much had gone to bed before midnight tonight, as unlike her and James, they did not have the responsibility of Heads. James would be meeting her here soon for midnight rounds, right after he checked in on a Gryffindor fourth-year in the hospital wing.

With only a dying lantern to illuminate her parchment, Lily tried her best to focus again on her essay.

If only James was here, she couldn't help but think.

He was a natural at Transfiguration, and not only the practical bit. James himself manifested the physicality of it. It was like his mind could seamlessly make sense of the concepts, how Transfiguration happened, and to hear him explain it and see his brain work aloud like that was magic in itself to Lily.

James, eyes closed, Lily's mind wandered off once more.

She had been thinking about him a lot lately, and not just because they happened to be together almost every minute of every day this year.

Last year, they'd become friends. Her sharing her fears, him his secrets. And somehow that ended in him kissing her senseless on the Quidditch pitch in front of the whole school when he won the Cup as Captain their sixth year. In the last few weeks of that school year, amidst flushed cheeks and only-slightly awkward bumps in the hallway or hand brushes on the Great Hall table, they didn't mention it. In fact, the kiss had been almost forgotten over the summer when James greeted her on the Hogwarts Express this year with a, "Had a good holiday, Evans?"

Almost. For now, Lily wanted nothing more than to kiss James again.

His fingers, when they drummed impatiently against the wooden table as he finished the last of his homework; his hands, as they clasped behind Sirius's shoulders in excitement; his chest, which, with him being nearly a foot taller than her, Lily found herself running into a few more times than was accidental; his arms, on blatant display of their chiseled glory in the cutoff vest he wore to practice... Lily wanted those fingers wrapped in her hair, those hands behind her neck, herself in those arms, on that chest.

James probably wanted the same, she thought. But for Lily, it was more than a physical attraction. He was intelligent, but also surprisingly caring. What he'd done for Remus and Sirius, and how he behaved with the underclassmen, the teachers, and the way he'd ask after their friends' families, often remembering details others would have long forgotten... That he both gave respect and commanded it, Lily knew she was done for.

But she was afraid. Afraid to give this companionship, this chemistry, another more permanent name. In the war brewing outside these walls, she could lose him. And for that, she wasn't ready.

"Thinking about me, Evans?"

Lily shrieked. James had appeared from beneath his Invisibility Cloak to be sitting right next to her.

"How many times have I told you to stop doing that?!" Lily smacked him.

"Well, at least you're up now, aren't you?"

"How long have you been sitting there?"

"Why? Was there something you didn't want me seeing?"

Lily playfully hit his arm again.

"OW!"

"Shh," she whispered, unconsciously drawing her head closer to his. "Madam Pince will hear!"

Lily was now definitely awake and, truth be told, delighted he was here now, and not just for the company in the despair that was the Hogwarts library this late at night. She was delighted it was him, full of joy and mischief, bringing her light no matter what state of mind she was in.

James was straddling the bench and leaning down over Lily and her unfinished essay. They were so close that Lily could see a bit behind his glasses and definitely feel the heat from his sudden presence.

Eyebrows raised and a slight smile playing at her lips, she continued in a whisper, "Well, you're on time."

"You wouldn't have been done with this even if I had come earlier," he said quickly but not hurtfully, sliding the essay towards him and beginning to read. "And besides, Creevey is an idiot. He's still going to be in the hospital wing for another week, and I can't have my Seeker out during the first sessions of term so I brought him some—"

"James..." Lily said slowly. She was always berating him for using insults casually, and either he was getting conditioned or he wanted to be better for her, so he jumped back in:

"Sorry, he's not an idiot. Well, he should have thought about the team before getting into a duel with Avery. But anyways, I sneaked in one of my dad's healing potions, and that should speed up the recovery time."

Lily knew better than to mention that Madam Promfrey's healing prowess was second to none because when it came to beating Slytherin at Quidditch, James would leave no stone unturned. James started writing where Lily had left off, occasionally sucking the end of the Sugar Quill before dipping it ink.

"Are you doing that on purpose?" she said.

"What? Finishing your homework?" James replied, now furiously sketching a figure beneath the text.

"No, sucking on my Sugar Quill."

Lily's mouth had been there minutes before, and she was sure James knew this.

"Given that this is the closest I'm going to get..." he trailed off, not looking up.

Lily might have thought, What? No! You can kiss me right now, James, but she was too busy, her head now resting on a propped arm, watching him work.

He was so perfect—broad shoulders, soft skin, that serious look—and just inches away. They were so comfortable with each other by now, sharing their food, their space, that it was like any other time, but Lily was very aware that her and James were this close alone for one of the first.

She sat there for what seemed like minutes, her heartbeat slowly gathering speed and her breath quickening, watching his dark eyes flit across the page. Twice he ran his hands through the front of his hair, but it didn't make much difference as it settled back both times in his characteristic bed head formation almost immediately. Lily wanted herself to reach out and run her own fingers through James's hair, when

"AHEM!" James faked coughed, loud enough to break Lily from her trance but quiet enough to still be a whisper.

Lily choked on her own breath and started coughing.

James immediately put down the Sugar Quill and started rubbing her back.

"Accio water!"

A thermos with Hogwarts seal imprinted on the side appeared from the kitchens, and with his free hand, James unscrewed the lid and offered Lily the warm water.

As soon as Lily's fit subsided, James pepped up like normal, "Now, I know that I can have that effect on the ladies, but Evans, I thought you were impervious to my charms."

"It's not 'cause of—" Lily began to argue but was hushed by James.

"Not your fault, love. I'm just that good. Now that your essay is finally done, let's finish rounds? I'm shattered."

"Thanks James," she said sincerely, but then added sarcastically, "What would I do without you?"

Now it was James's turn to watch Lily as she gathered her belongings. The long hours did show on her face, but James found her as beautiful as she was coming down into the Common Room bright and early in the mornings. He was always joking with her because maybe he didn't know how to be serious yet. James didn't know if he was even capable of being as reliable, as responsible as she deserved. Still, he tried his best the ways he knew how.

Lily unfastened her heavy robes to reveal leggings and a dark green cardigan and pulled out a band that had been holding up her hair all day. Grabbing her packed school bag, she draped the robes over her arm.

"I was getting stuffy," she stated casually. "Ready?"

James nodded. "Give me that. I'm not holding anything."

He took her miserably heavy bag from her and despite her initial politeness, she gave in. James motioned with his arm for her to lead the way out of the library.

As they walked, her just a bit ahead, he smiled inside at how elegantly her hair fell down her back, unmarred by a long day of lectures and leadership. In the dim light of the lantern he held up, James could also more clearly see her petite build now that she wasn't donning her robes. Chest high, chin up, straight back, Lily gracefully walked them to the exit.

Though he wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around her from behind, he dare not disturb the peace they already had. It had taken a decent while to build their comfortable friendship. He would protect her and care for her visibly, but he could only love her from a distance until he knew that was what she wanted too.

Stepping in front of her, James went to open the large doors that led to the rest of Hogwarts corridors. But the knob didn't move.

James shook it once more and tried the one on the other side. Frustrated, "It's locked."

"What? Let me try!"

Lily repeated James's motions to no avail.

James had now pulled out his wand, "Alohamora."

The pair heard a clicking noise but when Lily went for the doorknobs again, they refused to budge.

"What? We can't be locked in. Madam Pince knew I was in here!"

"The door was open when I just came," said James, slowly. "Maybe I'll try Sirius."

Lily knew of the mirrors James and Sirius used to communicate, but her heart first sunk and then soared when Sirius, who was probably snoring steadfastly, failed to answer.

A night with James?

James, who it hadn't hit yet that he might be spending the night wit s, his lifelong dream finally coming true, started banging on the door.

"Shh! Filch will hear you and give us detentions, forget we're Heads!"

Lily reached out and grabbed James's wrist to stop him. As he met her green eyes, James's voice caught in his throat. One thing was clear:

James Potter and Lily Evans, one time enemies and now sexually tense best friends, would be spending the night alone.