It was September first and Lily Evans was starting her final year at Hogwarts, only this year was special because Professor Dumbledore had chosen her to be head girl. Her friends were in a compartment near the front waiting for her to return after meeting the head boy, who she guessed would be Remus Lupin. He had been a prefect with her in the previous years and she doubted Dumbledore would pick someone else for head boy. Opening the door to the final compartment, Lily Evans received the biggest shock of her life. Instead of seeing Lupin before her she found none other than the famous James Potter.

"Potter, you know this compartment is for the head boy and girl only. Where's Remus?"

James Potter had short black hair that stuck up in the back, and when he wanted to show off he would spike it up more, thinking it made him look cool. Quidditch player extraordinaire Potter just smiled brightly and patted the seat next to him.

"Ahh Evans you finally arrived! Remus will not be joining us today, its just us head boy and girl as you stated."

"Potter I am serious this is not funny."

He just grinned charmingly (thought she would never admit Potter was charming!) "My dear Lily I would never play a joke on you." As he said this, Potter pulled out his own head boy badge.

Lily just stared at him as if she had never seen anything like him in her life. James on the other hand could not believe his good luck, this job had not been on the top of his list of things to do, but if he was spending time with Evans there was nothing to complain about now.

"It seems we shall be spending a lot of time together Evans, isn't this exciting?" James leaned back with his hands behind his head and giving her a wink. As always the self confident Potter was showing off and Lily would have none of it.

"I can't believe Dumbledore appointed you head boy! Well let me tell you James Potter, I will not have you ruining my year!"

James pulled his hands from behind his head and frowned slightly "Come on Lily, I was just teasing you. I swear I will not do anything" at this he grinned once more "too bad." Lily narrowed her emerald eyes and left the compartment. The rest of the marauders joined James a few moments later. They had passed Lily on the way here and heard most of the story.

"Oh James, please stop drooling all over the place it does not become you," laughed Remus as James spoke of the conversation between him and Lily.

"I am going to win her over this year if it's the last thing I do. It's my last chance and we will be spending a lot of time together. Plus, I have been nice to Snivellus.recently.."

Sirius laughed, "The year started today mate! But don't worry the marauders will help you"

"All right we see Lily next at lunch right? Well it's about time she realize I am not the conceited Potter she once knew."

When Lunch finally came around James was as nervous as a bowstring. Its just talking to Lily he told himself, nothing hard. She was just a girl after all! Ok so maybe she was a little more than that but she was the girl he had liked since the beginning of 5th year, which had of course hated him since 5th year and wanted nothing to do with him. The gaggle of girls who were sitting around her finally rose up to leave their area, leaving Lily all alone with a single piece of parchment.

"Wish me luck guys" and with that James rose and moved towards her.
As her friends left, Lily caught Potter coming towards her in the corner of her eyes. Oh would that boy ever give up! Its funny Potter was a very popular topic of conversation between her friends recently. They also made comment about how he had really matured since 5th year, when he attacked Snape. Trying to help Snape she had yelled some foul things at James, and Snape in turn had just called her a "Filthy Mud blood". Truth be told, it was quite funny, but she had felt bad for Snape. That was until he started making fun of her, well after that she refused to look or pay attention to either Snape or James. Unfortunately for her, James continued to ask her out and try to get her attention. When she brought that up all of her friends had replies for that- "You don't even like Snape!" they had said "and plus James has really grown up since then I mean when was the last time you had seen him hex-"

"Hello Lily, can I sit down?" The voice brought her from her daydreaming and looked up to find James Potter looking down at the seat beside her in question. She blinked looking up at him with a sort of vacant expression for a moment and then shook herself out of it.

"Why would you want to sit with me when Sirius and Remus are just down the table?" She looked over to the other pair just in time to see them lower their eyes back to their food and pretend to talk quietly with each other, which gave her the feeling that James was planning something.

"Because I could never pass up the chance of talking to Lily Evans, and plus " leaning over her whisper quietly "Your prettier then they ever will be" Unwillingly she began to blush her cheeks turning as red as her hair. Why was she blushing? James Potter always did this kind of sweet-talking to girls. She was now not any different then any of those other mindless idiots that were always flocking to him. Even now a few were giving her dirty looks.

"Sure Potter, you can sit." Had he seen that right? Was Lily Evans actually blushing because of something he said? Well he had to admit she did look good, even blushing and embarrassed. He had watched her for years, well two years actually, and had loved watching her laugh. If his plan worked, he couldn't wait for the day when she would laugh because of something he said. When she said he could sit he felt like jumping for joy, but of course he politely took the seat next to her. She closed her book feeling his eyes on her and waiting for him to state what he wanted. After a few moments of silence she looked up to meet his eyes.

"Well Potter? You have come over here to talk to me because." Her voice wasn't rude at all but it wasn't particularly friendly either, if anything it was cautious. James started and blinked before talking again. He had almost forgotten that he was just staring at her.

"I just.wanted to uh- say that" He took a deep breath "That I am sorry for what happened in 5th year. You know, with Snape." Now it was Lily's turn to be shocked, had James Potter the Popular Quidditch player apologized to her for attacking his hated enemy Snape? She blinked looking at him with a blank face as a wide, charming smile spread across his face.

"You know Lily I am not as conceited as you think I am. Though my broom has been flying a lot better, I do hope that means my head had deflated just a little?"

"I-I guess so," She stated weakly not really knowing what to say to the smiling James in front of her.

"Do you guess you can forgive me or that I am slightly less conceited?" There was no doubting he had changed but was this change real or just another plan to get her to go out with him. She decided that maybe she would play along, at least now her friends could not yell at her for giving him a hard time. Also, it was nice that Potter gave her attention though she would never; never tell him or anyone else that. There was no mistaking his charm and wit.

"Maybe a little of both Potter. It's a good thing the Gryfindor captain can fly we do want to keep the Quidditch cup after all. And it's nice to know its safe to walk along the halls without a chance of Potter and his friends hexing you eh?" Now it was her turn to laugh as James blanched. He was in shock, she was joking with him! Miss Lily Evans was laughing and joking with him, James Potter. He was walking on air at this moment. He couldn't believe his luck it was as if someone would have to pinch him to make sure this was real.

"Me?" he asked with fake innocence. "I would never do such a thing!" "Oh no Potter your perfect, an angel" She chuckled again as she started to put some papers into her somewhat overstuffed bag. Most of the papers were for her N.E.W.T charms class while some other random classes. This was her 7th and final year and still she was working her hardest and it was only the 2nd day and already she had quite a bit of homework. At least she had the rest of today off from classes.

"Leaving me already Lily? And when I had hope that you would actually spend some of the afternoon with me.." He gave her the most charming and sweet smile to date after saying that and she shook her head.

"Nice try Pot-"

"You know Lily you could try calling me James" His voice in that same charming tone as he tried to get her to call him by his first name "I mean we are kind of on good terms now aren't we?" he said hopefully

"We might be." At that point one of Lily's best friends had come to the door of the great hall and was looking for her. She waved and then looked just as shocked to find James sitting beside her. Lily waved back and held up a finger to signal one minute.

Lily finished putting the final paper away and turned to James "I am sorry but I really do have to go." She began to rise and James did the same. She turned away from him and then back to face him "It was nice of you to come over to talk.James.I guess I will. see you later. We should think of a time to meet and discuss plans for this year." She smiled briefly and then turned to walk towards her friends who glancing at James curiously but giggling. As she walked away James fell back into the seat in a daze, she had never called him James. Just James. He watched her receding figure move out of the great hall and even caught her glancing back at him once and their eyes met for a brief moment before she turned to her friend once more.

"Prongs! I can't believe it, you got through to Lily Evens! Mate that was brilliant" Sirius laughed as both him and Remus came over.

"That was the longest you two have ever spoken without her screaming bloody murder at you! How did you do it!"

James explaining everything word for word because he knew that this was a day he would never forget. She had actually laughed, joked and smiled at him!

"Padfoot, Moony today is the best day of my life"

Cordelia looked at Lily wide-eyed.

"He apologized?"

"I was just as shocked as you. He said he was sorry for the Snape incident in 5th year when that wretched Snape called me a mud blood remember?"

"Of course I remember! You were angry with James for months because of that. He has had a crush on you since the beginning of that year."

"Yah but since that incident he had only stared at me, he never tried to talk to me unless he had to."

"Well until today at least." Then Cordelia smiled "What if he asks you again this year. Lily you will have to say yes! He is one of the most popular guys and you are quite popular yourself. Plus even you have to admit he is very charming."

"I don t have to admit anything!" Lily retorted slightly heatedly. And then her voice calmed considerably "But he is" She said the last part with a soft sigh.

"So you do like him!!" Cordelia smiled brightly

"I never said that! I said he was charming" Cordelia just rolled her eyes.