The most appealing thing about James Potter, Lily decided, was the way he walked. Confidently with his head held high no matter the occasion, as if nothing and no-one could ever bother him.
No, it was his hair. The very same hair that used to be the bane of Lily's existence was now something she caught herself thinking about in the strangest of moments. James had passed the phase of intentionally messing up his hair, yet it stayed adorably untidy regardless.
No, it was the effortless way he soared on his broomstick as he scored yet another goal for Gryffindor, commanding his seamless team to victory after victory. (Throwing that Quaffle around must give a guy delicious arm muscles.)
No, it was how delicately he held a quill in his hands, despite how boisterous he may seem. Lily had often wondered what those hands would feel like in hers, and how that light touch would make her feel.
No, it was his unwavering loyalty to his friends. Lily prided herself on her observation skills, and she knew all about Remus' lycanthropy (she refused to admit the idea had been planted in her head by Severus). Once, she had thought of James, Sirius' and Peter's adventures as Animagi as awfully reckless, and another way of proving how clever they were. Now, she felt admiration for the risk they were taking to help their friend.
No, it was his carefully played down intelligence which earned him respect from the teachers, even though they should dislike him for all the mischief he caused.
No, it was his smirk, and the way the corners of his mouth turned upwards when something amused him.
No, it was the look in his eyes as he'd broken up with Amelia Bones. Apologetic, yet resolute. Lily shouldn't have witnessed it and she was ashamed to say it filled her with hope that maybe, just maybe…
No, it was his laugh, filled with mirth and the way it seemed to light up a room with its contagiousness.
No, it was that he was no longer the bully he once had been. No longer hexing people just because he could. (But, thought Lily, was it only the bullying side of James that had harboured feelings for her?)
No, it was the Head Boy badge gleaming on his chest now, as though a reminder of these changes. Though, did James Potter: Head Boy feel the same about Lily as he did when he was doodling her name on spare bits of parchment that she burnt in front of him when they were fifteen?
No, it was his eyebrows, the way one raised slightly whenever someone said something he found strange, or amusing.
No, it was the valiant way he talked about his anti-Voldemort stance and the way he had never, even in his bullying days, treated Lily – or anyone of her birth – less because of her blood status.
No, no, no. The most appealing thing about James Potter was the shocked look on his face as Lily asked him out; the way he had smirked (as if to say "About time!") and placed his hands on the small of her back before pulling her close.
Oh, the most appealing thing about James Potter was definitely the feel of his lips on hers.