AN: I started this story a couple of years ago with the idea of a funny, sweet romance where the characters are all in a happy safe bubble at Hogwarts. Every time I came back to it, it somehow got darker with more references to the oncoming war and has turned into something far more serious than intended. The story that it has become is much longer, more detailed and better than my original plan, but it was written over a long span of time and completely out of order, so I'm not entirely sure that the whole thing makes sense as one story. I hope you like it anyway – please review and let me know what you think!

Also I acknowledge JK Rowling as the rightful queen of the world, and owner of everything in this story.

I was walking quickly along the corridors towards charms class, aware that I only had a few minutes before class started thanks to my detour to stop a fifth year Slytherin from dropping green slime on first years from other houses. I swore as I rounded a corner and bumped into a suit of armour I was positive had not been in that corridor yesterday. It clattered, but didn't fall as I righted it, cringing at the loud noise.

"That was lucky, Evans," James Potter's voice said behind me, obviously trying to cover up a laugh.

"Thanks for the input, Potter," I rolled my eyes. It was day four of the first term of our seventh year and Potter and I had seen a lot of each other so far, what with our new roles as Head students. However, I hadn't really had a chance to look at him in our meetings so far; now that I was watching him walk towards me it was impossible to avoid. He was taller, I noticed, but still gangly with wild hair.

"Any time, Evans," he grinned, running his hand through his hair in a familiar gesture.

"Why do I feel like you had something to do with that suit of armour walking itself into the middle of the corridor?" I asked him, half joking, half frustrated as he reached me and we started to walk together towards charms.

"I'm really not sure Evans, maybe because of your general opinion about me. However, you might notice that the suit of armour has legs and is actually capable of walking itself around."

"Sure Potter," I shot back. "That must be why I see the suits of armour wandering the corridors constantly."

I looked at him out of the corner of my eye in time to see him grin and ruffle his hair again in that maddening way of his. "Must be. So how was your summer, Evans? I haven't really asked what with all this Head business going on."

I was somewhat surprised by the civil topic of conversation, but I went with it. "Summer was fine I suppose, just the usual really. Glad to be back though." My heart twinged as I thought of the loneliness I had felt at times over the holidays. Despite the fact that it had been over a year since Severus and I were really friends, it had still been odd not having him around to talk to back home. To make matters worse, Petunia had been particularly hard to handle this Summer, swanning around with her new, pompous and infuriatingly dull boyfriend. I shook myself out of my thoughts, realising I was being a bit rude by not continuing the conversation. "How was your summer, anyway?"

"Yeah quite good. Look Evans, there's something I wanted to say while I've got you alone," he stopped and turned to face me in a small alcove before we turned into the corridor where the charms classroom was located. I stopped and looked up at him, my mind suddenly flashing back to a very similar situation we had been in around about this time last year. It had been our second day back from holidays and Potter had caught me alone on my way to the Great Hall after class, with that same serious, worried look on his face and his hands fiddling with his hair.

"Evans, I'm sorry for, you know, what happened at the end of last year," he had said, his voice low but firm, referring to that awful day that they had been bullying Snape and which had ended my friendship with him when he lashed out at me with that horrible word. I had stared at Potter in surprise, not expecting that from him at all, and he went on. "I mean, I'm not sorry for hexing Snape because really, what he said to you was despicable." Anger crossed his face. "But I know you don't need anyone to fight your battles for you, and I know you hate it when I treat him like that, so I am sorry, to you. I didn't mean to interfere or to upset you, and I know I acted like a jerk so I'm sorry."

He had stared at me intently until I muttered; "It's ok Potter. I appreciate that you hate the word as much as I do." He had broken into a huge grin and I hadn't been able to help smiling back. That day had been, I realised now in hindsight, the beginning of a tentative peace between the two of us. It broke now and then into bickering or sometimes full on arguing, and sometimes he still looked at me like I was – well, just in a way I didn't want him to look at me. As if he couldn't take his eyes away. But for the most part, we got along fairly well for our sixth year and I had to admit, I didn't mind his company half as much as I used to.

I pulled myself out of my memory to the present and focused on Potter. He was watching me as he ran his hands through his hair, biting his bottom lip. "I just wanted to say – I know you're probably worried about my being made Head Boy, but I promise I'm going to try really hard not to screw it up." He paused, drawing in a breath and staring at me intensely. I knew I was meant to react but had no idea what to say so I just stared back at him, until he spoke again. "I wasn't expecting to be chosen; I don't think anyone expected it to be me really, but I'm glad Dumbledore has that kind of faith in me and I plan to live up to his expectations."

"Well, thanks Potter. I have to admit I didn't see it coming either, but it's nice to hear that you're taking this seriously," I told him. "And I know you haven't been a prefect before so there will be a lot of things that are new to you – more so than they are to me, I mean, so I'll try to help you out wherever I can. As Dumbledore said to us in our meeting the other day, we're a team now." I was getting uncomfortable with the close proximity and the eye contact so I moved out of the alcove and continued towards Charms, Potter falling into step alongside me.

"I – that's great. Really, thanks a lot Evans, I'm sure I'll be taking you up on that now and then. And for what it's worth, I think we'll be a great team." I looked at him out of the corner of my eye and saw that he was he still grinning.

"Anytime, Potter," I told him as we reached the classroom and walked away from each other to our respective seats. That conversation left me in a good mood that lasted the rest of the day.