She loved to watch him when she knew he didn't notice. It was fast becoming her favourite hobby. She loved how animated he was, how much he laughed, really laughed, even in these dark times. She even enjoyed when he grabbed Sirius Black's head, and rubbed his hair into a mess resembling his own, he was a true friend, and she loved that about him, too.
"If you stare at him one more moment, I'm calling him over so you can tell him how much you love him."
That certainly awoke her from her reverie. No-one was supposed to notice that!
"Hush, Mary, you know I just love the lake, it's not my fault that cretin is in the way."
"Oh I know you fancy James! Just admit it, ask him to Hogsmeade, and I'll shut up about this whole kerfuffle!"
Lily shook her head, "Oh ok, then. I fancy James Potter."
"You do!?"
"And pigs might fly…"
"Well in this school they might!"
Lily laughed, knowing that there wasn't much time before the words simply burst out of her. Until then, however, she would enjoy the last few rays of sunshine before the winter of her seventh year at Hogwarts arrived, watching him, anticipating their future.