-I own none of this, that right and privilege lies with J.K. Rowling-

-I write because I enjoy it, please no nasty comments. Constructive criticism and random Hello's are welcome-

The Flower, the Snake, and the Stag

Chapter 1

If anyone had told her three years ago that she'd be in love with James Potter, Lily would have died of laughter. James was an arrogant Toe-rag. But the key word in the sentence had been "was" in the past tense. He'd seemed to soften that day by the lake, after Snape had called her that hateful name. Lily had gone into the castle up to Gryffindor tower and straight to her bed. She'd pulled the curtains closed and cried, but she hadn't slept.

Alice had come up to see her, but Lily didn't want company so she'd left again. Later Mary came in, she didn't want to disturb but Snape had been damned annoying.

"That Snape boy's outside the portrait hole Lily." He said softly. Lily stayed where she was, not even opening her curtains.

"He said he's going to sleep down there unless you go out and see him."

"Mary if you go out again tell him to piss off for me could you?"

"He said he came to apologise." Mary clarified

"In that case if you see him tell him to piss off and that I don't accept."

Mary knew when she was not wanted she left, leaving Lily alone with her tears.

Lily crept down to the common room after everyone else had gone to bed; she curled up on a sofa and watched the dying fire. Then the arm chair in front of her turned and Lily saw what had been hidden from her before, James was sitting there, he looked at her. She looked back; James got up and sat next to her. Lily didn't mind, it was nice to have someone close, a friend almost. James put his hand on hers; she looked up at him and was lost in his eyes. How had she never before noticed how beautiful his eyes were?

"Potter, um… I just wanted to thank you, you know for what you did earlier. At the lake."

"Evans don't, you know I don't like the bloke but he's your mate, I wasn't going to let him treat you that way was I?"

"Was." Lily said lamely

"What?" He asked

"You said 'He's your mate.' But he was my friend, not is."

"Does that mean I can hex him for it?" James asked, hopeful.

"No, James don't you don't need a detention on my account." Lily saw his strange expression, was it joy and disappointment? "What is it?" she asked

"You called me James; you always call me 'Potter' or 'Arrogant Toe-Rag.' "

"Oh, don't bring that up please." Lily pleaded "but you did deserve it."

"But why did you call me James?"

"Because you're my friend, I think, and I'm glad you're here tonight/"

"You are? Honestly, I thought you'd prefer Remus to be here with you."

"No, I mean, I like Remus and all but…"

"But what?"

"Oh I don't know I'm just glad it's you alright?"

"So you don't hate me then?"

"Oh, James. No, how could I?"

"I thought I was annoying you, asking you out all the time."

That's when Lily realised that all her hatred before that was her pre-school instincts getting the better of her. Teasing the boy she liked as it were. That it was her saying she cared for him as well. She melted, Lily leaned against his shoulder. "It annoyed me at first," she said wishing he'd ask her again, now when she'd have a different answer for him."

"So it wouldn't be too horrid of me to ask you out again? I've only asked you once today you know"

"I know James," she almost giggled, "I don't think it would fall under 'horrid' if you did."

He took her hands in his, "Lily would you go out with me?" He asked pleading with his eyes. Now it could have been the late hour, or the shock of her recent realisation but what she replied was,

"You called me Lily? Why?"

"I asked my question first Lily."

'You're not just joking around?" the look on his face was all the answer she needed. "Yes, Yes James I will." He looked shocked, she guessed after hearing her say "No" every other day he would when she finally said 'yes' "And my question?" Lily pressed.

James took a breath "because I love you, I called you Lily because I love you." She hugged him, pressed himself close to him, unable to speak, trying to tell him she felt the same. James understood; he lifted her chin in his hand, so gently.

Lily knew what he wanted but she didn't know "Why?" she whispered

"Why what?"

'Why me I'm nothing special, I'm muggle born, a book worm and I can barely fly. But you, you're James Potter, pure blood, a Marauder, Chaser, you're Prongs. You see I don't even have a nickname."

"Don't ever let me hear you say you're not special ever again. Lily, you are the most beautiful, intelligent and good hearted person that I'll ever know." This time she let him kiss her, she kissed him back, she liked it.

Lily leaned her hear against James' chest and a few more tears leaked out. Severus had been her best friend for as long as she could remember; now she didn't even have a best friend. But she did have James.

"I am sorry Lily;" He said suddenly "You really did love him didn't you?" He meant it as a rhetorical question but she answered him anyway.

"Yes, James he was my best friend, of course I loved him." It was painful for her to use the past tense, and it was just as painful for James to hear that she'd love him first.

They stayed up long into the night talking over the past few years. Talking of unimportant things, the important ones would come later.

-Thank You All For Reading-

-Comments Appreciated-

-Love Always-

-Lily-