Disclaimer: This story is not owned by, part of or associated with J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros, Scholastic or Bloomsbury. The characters, setting, classes, themes, etc. are the intellectual property of J.K. Rowling. I own nothing.

Chapter One:

Lily Evans sat hunched over on one of the squashy scarlet armchairs in the Gryffindor common room. "Chaldean… what? How is anyone supposed to be able to remember… honestly, not even in the proper… oh, that's how it… I had wondered…" she muttered to herself as she pored over a hefty edition of Numerology and Grammatica, pausing in her perusal only occasionally to jot down a note on the contents of the thick tome. Completely intent on her studies, she didn't even notice the audible footsteps of her self-declared enemy as he made his way down the wooden steps that led to the boys' dormitory.

"Lily? What are you still doing up?" came the deep voice of James Potter, startling Lily out of her reverie.

"Potter! Don't… it's not nice to sneak up behind people like that!" Lily's startled tone gave way to a harsh bite. "Even if kindness isn't a practice you approve of, which I presume you don't after how cruel and spiteful you were to Sev today, just because I'm aware that he's actually a decent person and you're just a wanker… well, you shouldn't sneak up on people like… ugh. Well, if you're going to stay down here, I'll just go to my dormitory."

"No, no, Evans, I didn't mean to interrupt you. I just couldn't sleep. Go back to your, well, whatever it was you were doing." Ignoring the jab directed at him by means of his earlier spat with Lily's best friend, a Slytherin, he caught sight of her textbook and, running his hand through his already disheveled hair, continued "Arithmancy! Go back to your Arithmancy, if that's what you do in your spare time…."

"Sorry, Potter, just the sight of you puts me off of, well, anything and everything I happen to be doing."

"Aww, Lily-flower, you wound me!" smirked James, putting his hand over his heart. "But, in all seriousness, Evans, term's hardly started, we don't have any classes yet, and you're studying Arithmancy? Professor Vector gives enough work that you shouldn't need to study without it being required." James had decided in third year to take Arithmancy for the sole reason that Lily Evans was taking it.

"Don't call me 'Lily-flower'. And some of us actually care about our O.W.L.s and, by extension, our futures, Potter. I'm going to bed now and I suggest you do the same. Wouldn't want your disgusting face to get any worse. Might damage your overinflated ego, although I'm not quite sure if that's within the realm of possibility." Came Lily's biting rebuff. James smirked again and said, "But you know you love me, my disgusting face, and even my overinflated ego… go out with me, Evans?"

"If I've told you once, I've told you a million times, Potter. Never! Rather the Giant Squid than you!"

"Aaah, you know you want me, Evans."

"You bloody prat, James Potter, I wouldn't go near you except to hex you if just being within a three-meter radius of you would save the entire Wizarding World from You-Know-Who!" As she huffed and spun on her heel, flouncing up the girls' stairs with her auburn mane swinging in the wind, she didn't notice the crushed and lifeless look that swept over the dark-haired teenage wizard's face for the faintest of seconds; if she had, maybe she wouldn't have said what she did just then: "I hope you drown in the Black Lake, Potter, I hope you wander into the Forbidden Forest and get torn apart by every ruddy creature in there! Twice! You… insufferable git, you… I hate you!"

Long after Lily had reached the girls' dormitories, James stood there, mouth pressed tightly together in a line so thin that Professor McGonagall would have been proud. Looking closely, one could always through his stoic façade to the despondent turmoil brewing beneath his wide hazel eyes- the problem was, hardly anyone ever bothered to look closely. It took nearly an hour for James to finally ascend the spiral steps to his dormitory, and when he did, one could see it was with heavy heart at the thought of another year of the same- defeat at the hands of the most vulnerable and imperceptible of his very few Achilles' heels, Lily Evans.

Author's Note: I'm sure you've heard this a million times already, but this is my first fic, so if it sucks, don't hate me. Read and review, flames welcome, but only if you think I really deserve them. N8) I'll try to update at least once every two weeks, whether or not anyone cares. -Sophia