A/N: so, here's the complete chapter. Sorry it took so long. FYI: I won't be sticking 100 to J.K. Rowling's version of Lily/James and their lives. I'll stick as close as I can without having to obsessively check every single Harry Potter book, though. :) Thanks a million to HGHPlove4ever15 and MsDateman for reviewing & adding me/this story to their favorite lists. I love y'all and really appreciate everyone waiting for me to actually finish the chapter!!

"Failing? I've never failed anything! Ever! I cannot be failing Calculus... It's not even a Wizarding class!" Lily Evans stomped around her room, clutching the devastating test in her hand. "This cannot be happening to me... My life is officially over." Lily flopped onto her bed, admitting defeat.

Lily's two best friends (and roommates), Mandy and Christy, glanced at each other, then looked back at Lily.

"Well," said Mandy matter-of-factly. "are you gonna get a tutor or what?"

Lily sighed dramatically. "Do I have a choice?"

Christy honestly replied, "Not really..." After receiving a glare from Lily, she quickly revised, "But you do have a choice in tutors!"

Lily's face brightened slightly as she sat up. "I guess that will be fun. Maybe I can get a cute guy who will fall madly in love with me while helping me pass Calculus!"

Mandy quickly popped her bubble. "Well, actually, Christy was wrong. The only acceptable Calculus tutor is James Potter."

Lily's face darkened surprisingly quickly. "James Potter? That pranking, bullying toe-rag? Why is he the only 'acceptable' tutor?"

Christy chimed in before Lily could take all of her anger out on Mandy. "Oh, my bad. I forgot that little detail. The only other Calculus tutor is Mikey Prume, and he's 11."

Lily flopped back down again. "Just my luck. Out of all the possible subjects to fail at, I fail at the one that only James Potter tutors! My life sucks."

Mandy and Christy sympathized with her for two minutes before returning back to business. "So, are you gonna ask him?"

Grudgingly, Lily muttered, "I guess so. I'll ask him at dinner."

Trying to console her, Mandy mentioned, "You know, James has gotten a lot better. You should give him a second chance."

Lily scoffed. "Yeah, right. As if he could change. Whatever. I'll just suck it up and ask him later."

James Potter was sitting by the lake, playing with his stolen Snitch. Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew (the rest of the Marauders) sat next to him.

"How much do you bet that I can get that girl to give me her number by dinnertime?" asked Sirius, pointing across the lake.

Remus rolled his eyes. "Isn't that getting old, Sirius? Girls are more than conquests, you know."

Sirius laughed. "Sure. And McGonagall's gonna wear pink tomorrow. Besides, it's not my fault. Girls are naturally attracted to my amazing good looks and stunning personality."

James had to snort. "If you mean 'ridiculous' and 'stupid' by 'amazing' and 'stunning'."

Sirius retorted, "Don't be jealous. Just because your dream girl doesn't acknowledge your existence beyond telling you to shut up..."

James had no response. Luckily, Remus intervened. "C'mon, guys. Let's just go down to dinner now."

"Yes! Food!" Sirius shouted. James had to agree.

Entering the dining room, the Marauders sat down at the Gryffindor table, discussing the various merits of the secret passageways at Hogwarts.

"The one on the third floor is useless--everyone knows about it, including Filch," said Remus.

"Yeah, but it's pretty cozy if you want to go somewhere." Sirius waggled his eyebrows. "With girls."

"Here's a thought," said James. "Why don't you try taking a girl somewhere nice? Then maybe she'll go on more than one date with you."

Sirius thought about this for a second. "Nah. Not worth my time."

Remus sighed and shook his head. "Typical."

Suddenly, Remus turned to James and said, "Look natural and nice."

"Huh?" James only succeeded in looking completely confused.

"Hey James," said Lily. "Ummm... do you think I could talk to you for a sec?" As Sirius snickered, Lily glared at him and added, "In private?"

James nearly fell over trying to get out of his chair as quickly as he could. "S-s-sure," he stuttered.

Once they found an empty classroom, Lily turned to James. "Okay. This is kinda embarrassing, so I'm just gonna tell you straight out. No laughing, okay?"

Lily took a deep breath. "I'm failing Calculus, and I need a tutor."

James nodded slowly. "And you want me to tutor you?"

Lily looked up and rolled her eyes, her face red. "No, Potter. I brought you to this empty classroom and told you that I was failing Calculus and needed a tutor just so someone could sympathize with me... Of course I want you to tutor me!"

James held his hands up in a sign of surrender. "Okay, okay! My bad. I'm just shocked you want anything to do with me. You realize that I'm going to have to be near you to tutor you?"

Lily sighed. "Yes. I understand."

"Okay," said James. "Just making sure you understand what you're getting into." He flashed her his signature crooked grin. "You know, I only tutor people I like... What makes you so sure I'm gonna tutor you?"

"POTTER!"

"Okay, okay, okay. Just kidding. Do you wanna meet tomorrow at 8 in the common room?"

"Ummm... 8 sounds good, but do you mind if we meet in McGonagall's classroom? I talked her into letting me use it." Lily blushed. "I think this would work out better if we met in a... quieter place."

James couldn't help making one last joke. "Scandalous. Asking me to tutor you just to get me alone..."

Lily's green eyes flashed, and she walked out the door. "I'm not even gonna bother responding to that," she said on her way out.

James only grinned. This was gonna be good.