A/N: I do not own these characters. Though I do wish I had my own James Potter

James thoughts.

Lily's thoughts.

"…and we've had a wonderful year so far. May the New Year be just as wonderful. Tuck in!"

The headmaster returned to his seat just as the food appeared on the tables. All of the eight students he had addressed happily dug in and quickly filled their plates.

Lily looked around the Great Hall. It seemed so lifeless for Hogwarts. Barren was the castle. Many of the staff members had left the castle for the holidays. And there were barely any students. All that was left were two first year Gryffindors, three Ravenclaws, two Hufflepuffs and Lily.

Everyone had gone home for the holidays. Lily had opted to stay at school for the sole reason of avoiding her sister. Petunia had made it perfectly clear that Lily being home over the holidays was going to ruin it for her. Lily was pretty sure that if she had gone home for the holidays Petunia would have found a way to leave the house and spend the hols with her boyfriend Vernon or someone. She didn't want to do that to her parents, so despite their slight hurt at her announcement of where she'd be during the holidays, she stuck with her decision to make it easier on everyone and just stay at school. By herself. For two weeks. All. Alone.

Well except for the other seven students that chose to stay at Hogwarts, and less than a handful of the professors. Her best friend Alice had offered to stay back with her, but Lily told her to go. She knew Alice had plans with her family, and to hang out with Frank Longbottom, who had graduated the year above them and whom Alice was dating.

So she had spent the first week of the hols roaming the empty corridors of Hogwarts by herself. Holing herself up in the heads dorms, grateful Potter had gone home for holidays, she spent hours reading books in front of the fireplace. She'd curl up on the couch and let the time pass by easily, wearing comfortable clothes if not pyjamas, a blanket tucked securely around her.

She was comfortable on her own. Perfectly happy. Or so she told herself.

It was New Year's Eve and she was by herself.

It's better than being with Petunia.

She helped herself to some mashed potatoes and a piece of roast chicken, then pulled the trashy romance novel she had been reading from her bag and placed it on the empty stretch of table beside her.

The only other people at the table were the two first years, but they were too afraid of the head girl to sit too close, only making quiet requests for salt and butter.

With one hand she turned to her page and held the book open, the other she used to feed herself broccoli.

"Yes!" a loud voice whooped. "We didn't miss dinner!"

"Whoa," another commented, "this place really is…dead."

Where is she…? Ah. There's my Lilyflower.

Lily tuned out the voice mindlessly and returned to her reading.

She was nudged. "Hey Lily."

She looked up to see the grinning face of James Potter. She jumped and immediately moved back on the bench and away from him. . She didn't even bother to correct him on his use of her first name.

We are not on a first name basis.

"What are you doing here, Potter?" she demanded. "You went home for the holidays."

"We did," Sirius agreed. "But then Prongs here," he jabbed a thumb in his friend's direction, "missed his Lily, so we had to come back here."

'His' Lily? No way in hell.

"Your Lily?" she repeated, raising her eyebrows at him.

James smirked as he shook his head at her and lied. "That's not what I said. However, we did hear that you were alone here for Christmas and it would just be pitiful to be by yourself on New Year's."

Lily looked about the hall and then turned her attention back to the two boys beside her. "Do I look like the only one here then?"

"Yes." He winked. "Or maybe that's just me."

Merlin.

"How did you two get here? You're not to come back for another week." She paused in consideration. "In fact, you're not allowed to be back for another week," she added.

"Dad was working through the hols, and then one of Mum's friend's passed a couple of days ago. She had to go for the funeral and such," Sirius explained. Lily was used to hearing him refer to James' family as his own. They were like brothers as they said. And from what everyone else said Lily had gathered that James' parents had done something like adopted Sirius. "Anyway," he continued, "they owled Dumbledore yesterday and got a portkey sent over. Brought us here."

"Brilliant," Lily remarked sarcastically.

"We thought so," James grinned.

The two of them heaped piles of food onto their plates and stuffed their mouths full. Lily rolled her eyes and went back to her book, sliding further down the table and away from them. She could still hear their discussion about the upcoming quidditch matches in the background of her reading, but she blocked it out the best she could.

A few moments later she felt the presence of a person sidle up next to her and again she looked up to see James' grinning face. Always grinning. Always smirking.

Always so damn conceited.

"What're you reading?" he questioned.

Despite the harmlessness of the question she snapped at him. "None of your business."

"Harsh, Evans," Sirius said.

Shut up Black.

It was just a question.

In a short burst of frustration he had towards the girl he loved he plucked the book from under her hand and read the title himself.

"A Secret Love," he read aloud. He looked at the roses crawling up the front cover.

Sirius leaned over to get a look. "Oh Merlin." His bark-like laughter rang out through the hall in the silence and the few professors there were glanced over. "Sounds kinky."

Lily shot him a glare as James flipped through the yellowed pages of the book.

Why did I choose now to accept one of Alice's romance novels?

He froze and flipped back a few of the pages. His hazel eyes widened behind his spectacles and he ran a hand through his unruly dark hair.

Whoa. Just what exactly do these girls read?

He skimmed a few pages and then closed the book. He held it up and waved it a bit. "I wouldn't call this quality but it's most certainly entertaining." He shot Lily an impish look. "They write stuff like this for blokes?"

She snatched it from his hand and slammed her cutlery down on the table. "Git," she spat. She grabbed her bag and swung it over her shoulder, threw the book into it and then stormed out of the hall.

Crap, Prongs. You messed up. This was not the plan. Now she's all cross with you again.

The students watched their head girl march out of the Great Hall, head held high and strides fast and purposeful. She went straight to the head dormitories and dropped her stuff off. She pulled the romance novel from her bag and frowned at it as though it had offended her. She dropped it on the floor and kicked it under her bed.

Stupid Potter. Why did he have to show up? I would have been perfectly fine to spend the rest of the holidays by myself. But no, he and Black had to show up. The arrogant arses.

Figuring that James would probably show up to their shared dormitories soon, she pulled on a navy blue jumper and grabbed her jacket. She tugged on her black boots and headed back out to the corridor.

She stepped outside into the cold, frigid air and looked up at the flurries falling around her. It hadn't snowed for Christmas but at least it'd be a white New Year's Eve.

Lily pulled her mittens and hat from the sleeve of her coat and put it on. She buttoned it up and tied the belt, then slipped on her mittens and wore her hat.

She smiled at the snowflakes and then began to walk across the white grounds, heading towards the lake. She wrapped her arms around herself to keep warm and pulled her hat farther down over her ears.

Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes

Silver white winters that melt into springs

These are a few of my favourite things…

Lily hummed along as she walked, looking at the leafless trees in pity. As much as she loved the snow and winter she liked spring better. She liked when life was blooming and everything was waking up. She found it refreshing in a way.

She got around to the lake and watched the snow melt into the water. The lake hadn't frozen over; just thin sheets of ice on the surface and around the edges. If she wasn't so terrified of accidently falling into the freezing water, she would have broken the ice herself, just for the fun of it. Something about the crack the thin ice made when it broke was satisfying to her.

She walked along the side of the lake for a good while before turning and heading towards the quidditch pitch.

She was wandering across the pitch when she heard yelling. Loud and boisterous, it sounded as if it was only a short distance away.

Where is that…Nobody else is here…

Confused, Lily looked up. Just in time to see a quaffle coming directly her way. It seemed to be just an inch from her head when she got a hold of it and held it in her mitten-clad hands.

Ah shite.

"What do you think you two are doing?" Lily shrilled.

James swooped down to land beside her. "Playing quidditch," he told her innocently. "Or something like it anyway. We've only got the quaffle in the air. Or did. Sorry about that."

Sirius came to hover beside the pair.

"Did you get permission to use the pitch?" she asked.

Sirius chuckled. "Evans, darling, do you really think that's the kind of people we are?"

The kind who break the rules or the kind who don't care that they break the rules? Frankly, I think you're both.

"What kind would that be?"

"The kind who actually care whether or not they have 'permission'," he laughed.

Black, you are a lost cause.

Lily turned to James. "Well?"

He shrugged in response. "Nobody told us we couldn't."

How did you get the head boy badge?

She threw her hands up. "So of course that means that you can!"

"Well Prongs," Sirius said, "I think it does, don't you?"

Shut up, Padfoot. I'm supposed to be impressing Lily. Not upsetting her.

"Look Lily," James said, "no harm, right? It's New Year's Eve, have a little fun." He took in her set expression. "Hey, you want to join us?"

Do I want to join them? Hell no.

She voiced her thoughts and Sirius shrugged and flew back up to the goal posts. James tilted his head at her and raised an eyebrow. "You sure? You could make it your New Year's resolution," he cajoled, "try something new."

"You think I've never flown before?" she asked.

"Other than your lesson in first year? Yes."

Why anyone would ever want to go so far up is beyond me.

"I'll have you know that I have flown before, even by your definition, and I hated it. So no, I don't want to join you," she told him haughtily.

Yes you do.

"Wait here, I'll get you a broom," James told her.

What?

"No!" she protested. "What part of what I just said didn't pass through your thick skull?"

"Oh," he said, "would you rather share a broom with me? I'd be happy to—"

"I don't want to fly, Potter."

What am I still doing here?

"Hop on." James swung his leg over his broom and moved closer to Lily. "Come on."

"No," she said. Lily turned to walk away and James caught her hand in his. "Let. Me. Go," she ordered. She pulled her hand away but he still held on to her mitten.

He looked at it with interest. On the mitten it read 'Love Lily' in pink embroidery. He tucked it into his own coat pocket and kicked off to hover a couple feet off the ground.

Isn't that the truth.

"Give me my mitten!" she demanded. "Potter! Now!"

"Come get it," he laughed.

"Prongs!" Sirius yelled. "Are we playing or not? Get the quaffle up here!"

Oh alright.

"Sorry," James apologized as he bumped the quaffle from Lily's arm and then tossed it up to his best mate.

Lily glared daggers at him. "My mitten," she held out a hand expectantly. He gave her a pointed look. "Please?" she asked begrudgingly.

"Like I said," he smirked, "come get it."

Come on Lily. You know you want to.

Her jaw set as she sighed and then went towards him. He pulled the broom up and rose another few feet and turned as she reached for his pocket.

She went to walk around to his other side and he turned the broom again.

Really?

She shook her head disapprovingly at his antics and then reached across him to the pocket that contained her mitten.

Give me that…

Here…we…go.

Just as her fingers brushed the soft material of her mitten, she was lifted off the ground.

James' arm circled around her waist and lifted her up, pulling her to sit on his broom. Lily let out a loud squeak.

What the hell does he think he's doing?

He immediately flew up higher, once his one arm was safely around her waist and the other was securely on the broom and her other side. She instinctively grabbed his torso, one hand gripping his collar and the other grabbing the front of his jacket.

Not a bad idea Prongs. Not bad at all.

"What the hell Potter?" she yelled. "Put me down!"

"Hmmm, no," he said. "I think I kind of like this."

"Potter!"

"Lily!" he returned.

"Put me down." It was half a demand and half a plea.

James chuckled and Lily felt his chest vibrate beneath her hand. He felt a tiny bit bad that he was frightening her so much. "It's alright," he said, "I promise I won't let you fall."

She let go of him and glared. "Put. Me. Down."

"No, I don't think so."

"Then…then I'll…"

James Potter, what would you be afraid of?

She looked him square in the eyes and said, "If you don't take me back so my feet land safely on the ground then I'll get myself there. I will jump off this broom if I have to."

She wasn't even sure if she was serious. Looking at the ground below, about twenty feet below, her stomach twisted.

She wouldn't. She…no.

Despite his assurance to himself that she was bluffing his arm tightened around her waist. She would have swatted it away if she hadn't been fearing for her own life and general safety.

"Jamesie!" Sirius barked. "Have we given up on quidditch, then? You're back to stalking and harassing Evans?"

"I don't stalk her!" James yelled.

"Yes you do," Lily muttered.

"I'm just...devoted to her," he said, to Sirius Lily guessed, though it seemed like he was speaking directly to her instead.

In love with you, really.

I believe 'obsessed with' is the right term.

"Alright," Sirius relented, "I'm going to lap around the castle or something. And then I'm going inside to see if there are any hot girls left in the school. See you both later. Maybe."

Other than Lily? Don't know how much luck you'll have mate. And don't even think about coming near Lily.

Damn it. At least with Black here I couldn't say I was alone with Potter.

"Can I have my mitten back?" she asked tightly.

"Go ahead," he told her, moving his arm slightly so she could get to his pocket.

She pulled the mitten from his jacket and slipped it on her hand, getting a little more comfortable on the broom.

"Thank you. Now would you please return me to the ground?"

I guess. Wait. An opportunity like this doesn't come around every day. I have Lily Evans here, willing to do just about anything to get off this broom.

He raised the broom higher. "Sure."

"Thank—"

"On one condition," he interrupted. "You spend the rest of New Year's Eve with me."

She paused to think about it.

There must be another way to get off of this broom. Without hurting myself. I mean…

"No," she said.

"Alright," he grinned. "Then do you mind if we go a little higher? Maybe race Sirius around the castle? I think it'd be loads of fun, don't you?"

She shot him a look. "No. If you don't get me off of this broom safely within the next two minutes I'll tell Professor Dumbledore."

"Really, Lily?" James asked. "You think I'm afraid of getting in trouble? Of all the things I've done this doesn't even rank in the top fifty. And those are only the legal things."

Only the legal things?

"Potter, you will put me down now if you want to be part of the New Year." She brushed the flying wisps of her red hair out of her eyes as she huffed.

She's adorable when she's angry.

"I'll put you down if you promise to spend the rest of…well the rest of this year with me." He smiled at her, "Please?"

He turned the broom and began to take them at a slow pace around the pitch.

Fine.

"Fine," she said.

Really?

How much harm could he do in the few hours?

Hm. What else could I get out of this?

"And you'll kiss me at midnight," he added.

"What? No!" she exclaimed. "You said one condition."

"Well you can either change that to two, wrap it up as one, or spend the rest of the night on this broom with me. Take your pick."

"I think I'd sooner avada myself than kiss you, Potter."

"And you should probably call me James as well. I'd like that."

Her face scrunched up in disgust at him. "Not a chance."

"Shall we fly over the lake then?" he suggested.

I. Hate. You.

"Fine. I'll spend the rest of New Year's Eve with you. And I'll consider that second part," she told him.

He thought about this for a moment. There was a good chance she wouldn't kiss him. A huge chance really. But, then again, he had nearly four hours to convince her otherwise.

"I'll take it," he agreed. "Now hold on tight, we're headed down."

A/N: Thanks for reading!

Just a quick note that the song "My Favourite Things" was briefly mentioned in this chapter. It's from "The Sound of Music" and I do not own it.

There will be another chapter or two to come. I hope you enjoyed this.

Please review.

Anyways,

Scarlett