Characters: Lily Evans, James Potter
Summary: James Potter is… likable?
Pairings: James x Lily
Author's Note: You have to know she had this sort of reaction. You see, my theory is that Sirius's "prank" against Snape occurred not long after the memory Harry witnessed in "Snape's Worst Memory" (He did note that Lupin seemed a bit pale and that this might be a sign of the full moon approaching). While Sirius obviously learned nothing from this "prank" (probably just how not to get caught), the shock probably forced James to sober up and grow up. Lily wouldn't have noticed immediately, but she would have once they got back to school for sixth year.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Shortly after starting back at Hogwarts for her sixth year, Lily Evans is greeted to an honestly and truly nasty shock. Something has happened that she honestly thought would never occur, something she honestly thought she would live and die a long, full life without ever seeing.

James Potter… is not being a pig-headed prat.

Lily is still having a hard time wrapping her mind around this mind-blowing development when she's lying in bed after the feast in the Great Hall, listening to Marlene McKinnon's soft breathing next to her and trying to get to sleep herself.

Now, this is just too bizarre.

When she accidentally (purely on accident, Lily will always maintain) runs headlong into James in the hallway, he doesn't greet her with his usual overdone, utterly sleazy attempts at debonair suavity. Instead, all James does is smile a little bit, say hello, welcomes her back, exchanges pleasantries with Remus and asks her if she's seen Sirius; the aforementioned teenage delinquent has run off somewhere and he's running the risk of being locked out of the Common Room.

Lily tells James that she saw Sirius on the third floor, nods, and leaves, leading the wide-eyed little First Years behind her up to the Common Room with Remus as usual.

She has so much trouble getting over the shock of how different James seems that Remus has to give the password to the Fat Lady.

Lily has to wonder what on Earth brought this on. Was that even the same person? Has James perhaps been replaced by someone dosing themselves with Polyjuice Potion?

Or, perhaps, has the notorious Gryffindor Seeker finally decided to grow up?

Lying flat on her back in her comfortable poster bed, hearing shuffling around beyond (it's probably Mary Macdonald getting up for some water again; she has a cold) the curtains, Lily frowns, and contemplates.

She's finally coming to grips with the fact.

James Potter is different. It was only a split-second meeting but she could see the way in which he was different written all over him. More mature, less obnoxious. Considerably less obnoxious.

James Potter is… (Lily rolls the word over and over again silently on her tongue, wondering if it is applicable to James and then finally decides she may as well use it), dare she says it… likable.

This, of course, changes the entire landscape of Lily's life. Entirely.

And, Lily admits a little blushingly, Potter's not that bad looking when he isn't constantly running his hand through his hair or trying (unsuccessfully) to flirt or be a (she shudders) Casanova.

Maybe.

Just a little bit.

All in all, this is easily the most shocking first day back Lily's ever had. Even first year couldn't top this.

Lily snorts, remembering a man named Xenophilius Lovegood whom she met in Hogsmeade third year. If she's not careful, she'll start seeing Lovegood's Crumple-Horned Snorcacks crawling around on her bedsheets.