A story about Lily and James relationship! It'll stretch out across the whole 7th year at Hogwarts! Tell me if you like it!

Disclaimer: I own nothing in the story!

It had been a summery day at the end of his 6th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry that James Potter had first seen Lily Evans' Patronus Charm. She had always been terribly clever when it came to Charms; always outshining her fellow classmates and becoming the pride and joy of Professor Flitwick. So it was no wonder that when Professor Flitwick announced on the last day of class that the students were free to practice Charms of their own choosing, Lily chose the most difficult one she could muster.

"Expecto Patronum!"

Students turned their heads to watch as a silvery doe erupted from Lily's wand and loped gracefully around the room. James, who had been boredly levitating Severus Snape's wand out of Snape's reaching hands, abruptly turned to watch the commotion.

James stared open-mouthed at the doe. Indeed he had expected Lily to be able to produce such a difficult charm. It was not this that shocked him. It was, rather, the form her Patronus took. James had expected something a bit more vicious, like a saber-toothed tiger. Or, he didn't know, a wolverine maybe? At least something that better fit the feisty red-head's personality. Not the gentle thing that was now prancing in front of him.

James had lately been giving up on winning Lily Evans' heart. He tried so hard to impress her, but he was always pushed aside as an arrogant, self-absorbed bully. James knew his friends had sensed his more somber mood of late, and he had been trying furiously to cover it up. It was, however, becoming increasingly hard to hide his disappointment at his failure.

The doe halted in front of James and stared at him with her deep, shimmering eyes. They looked at him with kindness and wisdom, and James felt as though they could see right through the fake happy he had been playing. The doe then whipped around and James watched as the doe took a flying leap into the air and evaporated in a whirl of silvery light.

Professor Flitwick and the students applauded. The Slytherin students merely scowled and looked away, although if anyone had bothered to look at Severus Snape they would have noted the look of glowing admiration he cast in Lily's direction. Lily smiled graciously at her admirers. James regained his composure and smirked at Lily, who raised her eyebrow and flicked a long tendril of red hair behind her back.

"Not bad Evans, not bad at all!" James remarked.

"Oh please!" said Lily, an annoyed look on her face. "Like YOU can produce a Patronus!"

James turned. She was right. Lily was the only student in their year that could produce a Charm as difficult as that, although she would never boast about it except to James, whom she had a special dislike for.

James faced her again and made a smart remark that only infuriated her more and the two continued to quarrel. Neither noticed how close they had gotten during their argument in attempts to frighten the other into backing down and James was quite surprised to find himself staring straight into her large, sparkling green eyes. A jolt ran through his body as he looked into them and was reminded of the doe's eyes. The same soft expression was there, though slightly marred by her annoyance and anger with him. Still, he could see the gentleness deep within them. A smile slowly crept up his face as realized something.

Lily looked rather taken aback by his grin and was still struggling to find words when Remus Lupin, a member of James' little group of friends called the Marauders, appeared.

"Great job Lily!" said Remus nicely. Remus was a pale boy with kind blue eyes and sandy hair, and, much to James dismay, the only member of the Marauders that Lily actually liked. Lily smiled at Remus.

"Thanks Remus! Your Color Changing Charm was excellent too!" Lily said brightly. "I saw it from across the room." She added.

Lily chatted with Remus a few moments before giving James a final glare and joining a group of her chattering friends. James cocked his head and responded with another curious smile Lily could not decipher. He then turned to face his best friend of 6 years, Sirius Black, who was at the moment a particularly lovely shade of turquoise.

"What are YOU so bloody happy about?" Sirius asked huffily as he tried to change his skin back to normal color.

James seemed not to hear him and continued to grin broadly.

"Oy!" Sirius called. "Prongs!" James again ignored him and Sirius shrugged, returning his eyes to his vibrant skin. He muttered some words under his breath and his skin turned brilliant fuchsia. Sirius swore.

"Moony!" he yelled in exasperation. "Fix me!"

Remus chuckled and lifted the charm.

"I don't know why I always have to be your little guinea pig." Sirius said, pouting. He perked up considerably, however, as he saw a girl from Lily's group of friends eyeing him flirtily.

Sirius then turned his attention back to James, whom was being prodded by Remus with his wand.

"What's with him?" Remus inquired; his facing showing mild concern. "I've never seen him happy after being insulted by Lily. Actually, I haven't seen him this happy in awhile."

Sirius gave any airy laugh and rolled up the sleeves of his robes.

"Observe." Sirius stated as he folded his hands and bowed his head as though he were praying.

"JAMES THE SNITCH IS GETTING AWAY!" Sirius yelled, exploding from his previous pose.

James' head immediately snapped up and his eyes were now clear and focused. He scanned the room as he readied his hands for the catch. Remus laughed and Sirius looked very pleased at the results. James realized where he was and chuckled good-naturedly.

"What's up then, Prongs?" Sirius demanded.

James shook his head, and his friends, seeing James was all right, brushed off his strange behavior. As class ended, the three walked out of class for the final time that year and were joined by their smallest friend Peter, who had not managed to scrape an O.W.L in Charms and could not be in the class. Sirius, Remus, and Peter were all excitedly discussing summer plans, while James remained quiet. He was thinking about what had happened in Charms.

'Patronus Charms reflect the conjurer's personality in some way.' He thought. 'That must mean that she has a gentle, kind side in her somewhere. And her eyes! I saw it in her eyes. That same kindness as in the doe's.' James mind was working furiously. His ambition had been rekindled.

'Now all I have to do is find it in her.'

He had one more year. James knew he could do it. He knew he could make Lily like him and make her his. He was a stag for Merlin's sake! And he was going to get his doe.