Lily Evans. His eyes trailed from the black board to her deliciously shinny, ginger hair. He sighed as McGonagall called. "Potter!" In her usual, sharp, authoritive tone.

"Professor?" He looked towards the front of the classroom, nervously running a hand through his tangled, jet black hair.

"Please stop pinning after Miss Evans and pay attention to my class."She said. He blushed and looked down. Instantly laughs were stifled around the classroom. Lily shot him a glance over her shoulder, she looked embarrassed and upset. His cheeks reddened as he looked away. Sirius, beside him, was laughing uncontrollably and even Remus and Peter couldn't contain themselves.

James shot his best friend a stern glance and Sirius stopped laughing, the others followed suit.

Sirius must have decided he couldn't help himself he grinned at Professor McGonagall. "Good one professor!" He grinned his appreciation.

"Thank you very much Mister Black." She smiled sternly at him, her voice layered in sarcasm. "Now that's quite enough boys, focus now please." She smiled ever so slightly at The Marauders, she'd never admit it but she secretly thought they were excellent pupils and rather funny.

Sirius laughed once more noticing this small smile on his teachers' lips. "That's enough Black." She said sternly.

Sirius gulped, trying not to laugh, his laugh always set James off too and as he said "Sorry Professor." And winked at their stunned head of house, neither boy could control themselves, they roared with laughter.

"Potter. Black. See me after class." She said coolly, before turning back to the black board to continue with the lesson; as she turned away she hid a smile.

"She won't give us detention." Sirius said in a self assured manner. "I mean we've got our first match of the season this weekend. And it's against Slytherin. I mean come on there's no way we're getting detention this week!" He said to James, as they slowly packed their books away.

"Mmm..." James half-heartedly agreed, not really listening as he packed his books without looking- too busy watching Lily leave the classroom with her friends.

"OI." Sirius whacked him round the head with a heavy textbook.

"Ouch." James tutted clutching his head. "What was that for?" He whined.

"Focus man." Sirius tutted. "Get over her already. Just accept it. She's not into you."

James flared angry; he turned to his best friend. "Shut up Black," He said annoyed. "I tell you, by the end of this year, she'll be my girlfriend!"

Sirius laughed. "Jamie, you've been saying that for the last five years. Now you're in your sixth year don't you think it's time you moved on?" Although James didn't release Sirius was actually quite concerned for his friend. "I mean- you're Quidditch Captain, prefect, model student, charming, good looking." Sirius winked. "So move on. Get over her." He said it matter of fact tone, as though it were that easy.

James was about to snap a retort when McGonagall called from the front of the room. "Boys, I understand, what busy lives you must lead," Her tone again sarcastic- a tone her voice so often adopted addressing these particular boys. "What with Quidditch, girls and mischievous antics...However if you could find time to pay attention in my lessons..."

"Sorry Professor." They grumbled.

"So... I should give you detention." She said wearily.

"But please professor-!" Sirius began.

"However," McGonagall cut him off, raising her hand. "I am willing to let it slide this time, in light of the oncoming match- But," She looked directly at James. "Potter, I expect to see you and the rest of the team out training every night this week, do you hear me?"

"Yes professor. I will...-!" James began.

"Thanks Professor!" Sirius called as he dragged his best friend out of the classroom, by his bag strap, before their head of house could change her mind about those detentions.

They ate lunch in The Great Hall. It was a peaceful autumn day, the start of a new school year, and the sun was still out, so not too cold, therefore The Marauders took up their usual spot under what had become, over the years, their tree. It was perfectly positioned in the midst of all the friendship groups, but private enough that people didn't just come strolling over to join them.

James was leaning against the tree trunk, positioned so as that he could clearly see Lily Evans; as she sat in a group with her friends by the lake. Sirius and Remus- with a book propped open on his lap- were arguing about what to do for their first little trip of the new school year as Lupin's 'Furry little problem' was coming up pretty fast. Peter was scribbling on a long piece of parchment, obviously doing homework he'd long since forgotten about over the summer and that was already late due in.

James stared at Lily, ignoring his friends bickering, daydreaming about her finally realising she was in love with him too. His breathe caught as Evan's flicked a stray strand of her hair out of her face. "Urgh." He groaned. "I love her."

"You say that every lunch." Remus reminded him, looking up from his book.

"And you say that every lunch." James said bitterly.

Sirius nodded. "Well, he's right Jamie."

James frowned and looked at his friends. "Well I do- love her."

"Go tell her then." Sirius joked.

"Fine then," James huffed full of bravado. He stood up, straightened his robes, loosened his tie, titled his glasses and tried to tame his wild hair.

"He's not gonna do it." Sirius laughed watching him, he nudged Remus.

"No, surely not?" Remus replied.

Peter laughed nervously, intrigued, watching his hero eagerly.

"Watch me!" James said and swaggered off down the grassy slope without a backwards glance.

It wasn't till he was half way there, he started to get nervous, What in the name of Merlin's baggy y fronts was he doing? He could not just go down there and tell her he loved her. His palms had gone sweaty, he gulped and from behind him he heard Sirius calling him, offering him an escape. But he couldn't take it. Sirius was right. He had to get it over with, finally.

"Look who's coming your way." James heard one of Lily's friends giggle as he came within range of their group.

Lily looked up and saw him coming. "Oh," She standing up, hastily checking her watch and grabbing her bag. "I promised I'd go speak to Slughorn about potions!" She lied wildly.

James watched her, wondering what she had against him, what he'd ever done to make her treat him this way. He changed his course, following her retreating back towards to castle.

"Evans!" He called. She ignored him. "Evans!" He tried again. "LILY EVANS!" He yelled, when she continued to ignore him.

"WHAT?" She stopped and turned round glaring at him. Their raised voices drew attention from other students. "What do you want Potter?" She asked coolly.

"Hey Evans!" James said slightly out of breathe, trying hard not to blush under her gaze.

"What do you want Potter?" She repeated loudly.

He couldn't chicken out now, he realised as he gazed at her, knowing that not only were his friends and Lily's friends watching but what felt like half the school were watching too. He moved closer to her, so that no one else would hear their conversation, to his surprise she didn't move away.

"I love you Lily Evans, and it's about time you knew it." He said simply.

For moment she just stared then her face fell, her expression contorted. "That's a cruel joke to play James Potter!" She snarled, close to tears. She was clearly very upset. James was confused, he didn't understand.

"Joke? There's no joke I mean it Evans. I really do!" He said quietly but fiercely. He couldn't believe it, he'd just stood there, in front of all these people and told her he loved her and she still didn't believe him. What could he do to make her realise how much he cared for her? Then it came to him, it was time.

He took a step towards her, deciding and then without thinking about the thirty or more so students watching them, he drew her closer pulling her by the waist. She was staring at him. "Potter-!" She began but as his hand cupped her cheek, he heard her breath catch. He leaned closer to her.

"Shut up Evans!" He whispered; not for the first time in his life had he used that phrase but as he leaned closer towards her and gently grazed her lips with his own, it was definitely the first time in his life that he'd ever kissed her.

His inside were dancing, he was on fire! His head swam with happiness, Finally! Finally!

He didn't notice the shocked gasps of their audience, or the proceeding absolute silence as people watched in disbelief- he was too caught up in the moment. He pulled her closer, one hand on her waist, one on her cheek. He pressed his lips to hers, his heart pounding triumphantly in his chest. He teased her playfully with his lips, she responded by biting at his lower lip; he almost moaned in excitement and joy. Both his hands now grasped at her waist trying in earnest to pull her closer still; he heard her bag fall to the ground.

She tangled her fingers through his messy hair, and kissed him more passionately than he'd ever been kissed in his life. A shiver of pleasure ran through his body, their lips moved together, in sync and he yearned for this moment to never end...