And now I say goodbye to the way I used to be
There is no room for question
Cause your name sets me free
Yesterday's troubles harm me
Today's are creeping in
So let go of the world around me
Cause your love is all I need
I want you for always
I hear your name in every word I say
I'm a fool and it's ok
I hear your name in everything I say

"Lily."

The name on his tongue is almost as amazing as the way her red hair whips around her shoulders when she turns on her heel to look for him. She walks backwards a few steps to keep up with her friends before she realizes who it was that called her name. His heart stops when she does. Dorcus and Marlene glance back and say something to Lily before leaving them alone. Bless them.

Her smile is heartbreaking but her eyes are what undo him. They were smiling at him, too. She leaves the corridor to join him in the empty courtyard where the others were going to meet him in a few minutes. His name tumbles from her lips and he nearly falls down with it. The weight of the year hits him like a sack of bricks (happy, ecstatic, amazing bricks).

A year ago, that happy 'James' would have been a reluctant 'Potter.' She would have kept walking with her friends. She wouldn't have hugged him.

Her tiny arms around his neck knock the breath from his lungs. She hugs him tightly, balancing on her tiptoes to keep her cheek pressed closed to his.

It's their first hug.

He doesn't waste any time winding his arms around her back, burning the feel of her body into his memory. She smells sweet, like autumn leaves even though the world is green and warm with spring. He adds that to his mental checklist of things he loves about her.

"I can't believe this is it," she whispers directly into his ear. His knees nearly; buckle at her hot breath and trembling voice. Her arms squeeze tighter and he's pretty sure her feet are no longer touching the ground.

"Don't tell me you're sad to be leaving," he teases, though in truth he's just as sad to be leaving.

"I'm going to miss everyone."

He pretends her 'everyone' is 'you.' She sniffles and hiccups and it takes him a second to realize she's crying.

"Hey, hey, hey," he admonishes lightly and swings her side to side a little. "It's only three months. We still have another year to look forward to."

Lily presses her face into his neck and lets out a shaky sigh. James can feel the wetness from her eyes seeping into his collar. He can't help but smile because he thinks she's being silly.

"I'm going to miss everyone," she repeats and this time he's sure she means to say 'you.'

"Lily, Lils, Lils," he murmurs, face pressing into her hair. "We all passed out Apparation tests with flying colors. I doubt a day is going to go by when I don't come bother you."

He realizes a second to late that he said 'I' instead of 'someone.' Lily just holds on tighter and laughs a little. The sound shoots him up to cloud nine.

"It's been a good year, James," she says and makes to pull away. As if he's going to let her. James hoists her up swiftly, earning a surprised shriek in his ear and a pair of legs wrapped around his waist in self-preservation. Her scream turns into a laugh, warm and so Lily that he's not sure he's ever going to let go.

"It's been a great year," he corrects. He sways back and forth to a song only he can hear. Lily rests her head on his shoulder, arms draping lazily behind him. He's sure she's thinking about all the differences in him brought upon by their fight the previous May. He couldn't blame her- he was thinking about the changes in her since then. The worries weighing on her shoulders and in her eyes were set off by her increased ease to smile. They balanced each other now that she wasn't repulsed by his bullying and he wasn't resentful of her former friendship.

"Do we have to go?" she sighs. James struggles to see his watch without her noticing.

"I don't see why not but I can't guarantee Hogwart's will be all that entertaining with just the two of us." That was a lie. He could spend years just holding her hand. At the entrance of the courtyard Sirius, Remus, and Peter appear. Sirius makes a wide gesture with his hands that looked like it was supposed to be congratulatory. James tries to give them a meaningful look along the lines of 'Get the hell out of here before I hex you.'

"I have someone to answer to, don't I?" Lilly's voice is tired and resigned and her breath on his neck makes his hair stand up. James can't stop her from dropping her legs and pulling herself from t he most amazing hug he has ever experienced. The two of them together walk back towards the corridor to meet his friends. Sirius sweeps Lily up into an easy hug, twirling her about a little. He wipes at her cheek with his thumb when she finally pries herself away.

"Gonna miss me that much, eh, Evans?" he teases. James smiles when Lily swats his arm away.

"Prat," is all she says. They leave the castle together, making ridiculous summer promises.

Pages: 3
Words: 934
Blanket Disclaimer: I don't even own the milk in my fridge…
Song: Every Word I Say- Hanson
Notes: I really like this one.
Also yes, I'm madly in love with Hanson. Have been since I was 6 heh

This is intended to become a series of one-shots inspired by different songs, mostly from James' point of view. They're not exactly connected, but they're in the same story line and they're in order- I just don't have the attention span for a real story