A/N: Hi guys! So this is my first time writing a fanfiction..ever. This is just the introduction/first chapter, so there's not much James/Lily action yet, but I promise to have more! I really, really hope you like it! Thank you, and please review! x

Lily sat on her bed, contemplating the fact that once she returned to Hogwarts, that was it. It was her seventh and final year at Hogwarts. She had spent majority of her teenage years there, and now it was coming to a close, a pang of sadness hit her. Of course, she was insanely excited to be returning; it was the one place where Lily had truly felt at home.

Although she was at "home" then, it wasn't the same. Lily couldn't have a straight conversation with Petunia anymore without her muttering "freak" under her breath, and even though her parents were proud to have a witch in the family, she knew that they sometimes wished she were "normal".

She heard a knock on my door.

"Lily, that freak from Spinner's End is here, he says he needs to talk to you," came a voice from behind her door. As the person pushed the door open, it revealed her older sister, Petunia. She wore a sneer clearly indicating her distaste for Lily.

"Oh, well, could you tell him to leave?" Lily said, rolling her eyes. She knew exactly whom Petunia was talking about.

"Ew, no. Mum answered the door, she just told me to tell you." Petunia sneered.

"Ugh, okay," Lily sighed, and went downstairs to the front door.

Cowering at the door was a lanky, sallow boy with greasy hair and a large, hook nose, which was really the only feature that stood out on his face. When he saw Lily walking towards him, his face lit up.

"Lily!" He began.

"What do you want, Sev? I told you not to come here anymore!" She hissed, not acknowledging his greeting.

"But, Lily…I want to – I mean, I just – sorry!" He stuttered. Lily rolled her eyes.

"Why do you even bother? I said we're through." And with that, she proceeded to slam the door shut, only to realise it wouldn't close because he had stuck his foot out. She opened it again, to see his eyes watering with pain.

"Just leave, Severus. I'm done with you, go play with your little Death Eater friends." Lily snapped.

"But Lily! It slipped out! I was…confused and upset! Please!" He protested.

"It was over a year and a half ago, get over it. It doesn't change anything, sorry Sev." She closed the door and walked back up to her bedroom, peering through the window. Sure enough, he was standing in the driveway, scuffing his shoes as he kicked the gravel, probably hoping she would run through the front door into his arms. Lily sighed.

Ever since she had saved him from the deeply admired, yet toerag bully, James Potter, their friendship had finished, all because he had called her a Mudblood, and from the constant presence of his creepy Death Eater wannabe cronies.

Lily flopped down on her bed, groaning. She was due for a visit to Diagon Alley, but her best friend Alice still had not send her an owl confirming their trip. Just as the thought occurred to her, a tapping came from the window. Lily sat up, and to her surprise, a tawny barn owl with a letter in its beak was fluttering about. She hastily opened the window and took the letter from the owl.

Dear Lily,

It has been too long!
How have you been?
Sorry I wasn't able to owl you as much this Summer, I've been very busy, my family went to France, it was beautiful by the way, and I just didn't get the chance.
Oh! Guess what?
You know how I've had that massive insane crush on Frank Longbottom? Well, I was in Diagon Alley and happened to bump into him, and he asked me out!
I am so, so happy!
Speaking of Diagon Alley, I hope we're still good for our trip tomorrow? I need to buy my books and I need some new robes.

All my love,
Alice

Xox

Lily sighed in relief. She had been dying to get out of the house, but since all her friends had gone away for the Summer, she had been cooped up at home.

Dear Alice,

I am so happy for you! You and Frank had it coming – such a perfect match!
Severus Snape has been bothering me all Summer, he wants to become friends again, but I still refuse to forgive him. He thinks I'm being rash since it's been almost two years, but I digress.
I can't wait for tomorrow, I'll meet you in the Leaky Cauldron around 11 if that's okay?

Love,
Lily

Xxx

With that, Lily attached the letter to the owl and sent it out the window.

She gazed at her trunk; she was almost finished packing, but it was so draining that she always ended up procrastinating and doing something else once she began again. She looked at the full-length mirror behind her trunk.

Lily had grown a considerable amount, though it wasn't very noticeable for most, she just had a way of picking up the little things. Her fiery red hair had grown well past her chest in the Summer, and thanks to the sun, she had collected more freckles than she could count along her cheeks and nose.

She let out another sigh. She was happy with her appearance, but sometimes wished that it wasn't used to others' advantages. Others like James Potter.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

The next day, Lily arrived at the Leaky Cauldron at 11 on the dot – she didn't like being tardy, an infamous "Lily Evans" trait of hers. She peered around the dingy café, looking for her best friend, Alice. Lily squinted in the poor light and finally her eyes found a small, round-faced girl with a pixie short hair cut, grinning at her.

"Alice!" Lily squealed, as she ran towards her.

"Lily! Lovely Lily, how have you been?" She said, equally as delighted.

"Good, I suppose...a little bored, but yeah, great! How are you? How was France? Oh, you must tell me EVERYTHING about you and Frank!"

Alice blushed a deep red and giggled.

"I've been great! Well, I told you I went to France. It was fabulous! Mum and Dad just sprung it on me, but I was so excited anyway…and Frank, well," She giggled again. "I came to Diagon Alley a week ago, and I was at Florean Fortescue's by myself, and then…there he was… " She sighed, reminiscing. "I don't really remember what happened next, he said I looked lovely, and then he payed for my ice cream and somewhere in between, yeah. He asked me!" Alice giggled mercilessly. Lily shook her head knowingly, Alice had been insanely in love with Frank from fourth year, but she was awfully shy at the worst of times, but Lily was happy for her.

"What were you saying in your letter about Severus?" Alice inquired, once her giggling fit was over.

"Oh God. All Summer he has been coming over or stalking me in the park asking for forgiveness. He doesn't get it, I'm not interested!" Lily said, trying to hide the annoyance in her voice.

"Hm…I feel bad for him." Said Alice.

"What?" Lily said, shocked. Alice rolled her eyes.

"You never know who was watching him on that day, do you? He may have been feeling pressured or something. He loves you, Lily. His Death Eater mates probably would've given him hell if you gave him a hug and asked if he was all right. He is Slytherin, you're Gryffindor, it's practically against nature." Alice replied.

"Yeah, well he didn't have a problem calling anyone else a Mu- you know. I don't care." Lily responded defiantly. But a little voice in the back of her head was telling her to stop fighting it. She shook her head to forget about it.

The girls stepped out of the Leaky Cauldron and into Diagon Alley. Lily closed her eyes and breathed in. This was definitely where she belonged.

"Alice, I need some books from Flourish and Blotts, so I'm going to go in there if that's alright with you." Lily said.

"Ooh, I need some stuff from there as well! I'll come!" Alice replied.

So they made their way to Flourish and Blotts, Diagon Alley's local store for all things printed on paper.

"Bloody hell, how many books do we need this year?" Alice said, almost collapsing under the weight of the six new books they had each purchased.

"Well, it is seventh year, Alice, it's going to be full on and – argh!" Just as Lily replied to Alice, she tripped over her foot, dropping the six leather-bound books.

"Oh, shoot!" Lily cried. "Ugh, they're so heavy – ugh! Alice, can you give me a hand?"

Lily scrambled to pick up the books, but discovered she couldn't stand up once she was holding them all, due to their insane weight.

"Allow me," Came a voice from above. A pair of muscular, tan arms reached down and took each book, one by one, out of her grip, and into his.

"Thank you so much! I'm so clumsy and I-I was-" Lily began.

"And you are also extremely cute when you're stressed." Said the voice. She looked up, to see none other than James Potter.

Lily's stomach did a somersault.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Her gratitude instantly turned to loathing.

"What are you doing here, Potter?" She said coldly.

"Hey, no need to be feisty, I'm just helping a friend out!" He replied.

"I am not your friend, and in case you were wondering," Lily sneered, "your help was unneeded!"

James scoffed. "Right, that's why it looked like you were about to collapse under the weight of these books…a likely story!"

"Ugh! Is it too much to ask to -" She began.

"When you lovebirds are finished bickering, I'll be outside." Alice interrupted, with a smirk.

"We are not lovebirds!" Lily screeched. Alice raised an eyebrow and stepped out, leaving Lily as flushed as the red of her hair.

She turned to look at James, who was grinning at her while waggling his eyebrows.

He had grown a considerable amount, Lily barely reached his shoulder, or maybe it was just because she was short. She could tell he had spent most of his Summer out playing Quidditch because of his unbelievable tan, and the muscles that had resurfaced. His untidy black hair fell over his hazel eyes, which were also eyeing her up and down.

"Looking good, Evans," James said, winking, as he noticed that she too was looking at him.

"Shut it, Potter." Lily said, grabbing the books from him and marching out of the store.

"Oh, I do look forward to the day when you'll share that name!" He called out after her.

Lily stopped short and whirled around to face him.

"What is wrong with you? Can you not go a day without talking about my relationship status and how it doesn't match up with yours? Ugh!" She scolded, marching towards him and giving him the meanest look I could muster.

A look of shock briefly appeared on his face, before it broke out into that typical grin of his once more.

"Ah, Evans, you really are too attractive for your own good." He said, as he tucked a loose strand of hair that had fallen over her eyes behind her ear. Lily jerked back forcefully, only for him to chuckle knowingly, then with a wink and a ruffle of his hair, he turned and walked down the street with his signature swagger.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

"I cannot believe him! First he thinks that he can walk all over me with his so-called "charm", then he has the nerve to say I'll be marrying him!" Lily cried.

"You know, for someone who loathes him, you sure do talk about him a lot." Alice chuckled.

Alice and Lily were sitting in Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, taking in the hustle and bustle of Diagon Alley. Lily studied her ice cream more intently than necessary, to hide the fact that she had blushed from Alice's comment.

Once she had recovered, she started on Alice again.

"But honestly, why me? He's been at me since, what? Third year? And he has been such a bloody nuisance since first year!"

"Maybe you are just 'too attractive for your own good'," Alice giggled.

"I was not attractive when I was thirteen..." Lily mumbled, but Alice had already stopped paying attention.

"Frank!" She exclaimed. She put down her ice cream and ran into the open arms of a tall, dark-haired, slightly dorky-looking boy. He twirled her around then planted a kiss on her lips. Alice giggled and blushed a deep red. Lily rolled her eyes and resumed stabbing her ice cream, so that it resembled a colourful blob.

"Someone's not in a good mood," Frank joked, noting Lily's attitude.
"Well, hello to you too, Frank." She said, trying to stay mad, but her anger was already disappearing. Frank had a certain charm about him that always put everyone in a good mood.
"So how have you ladies been?" Frank asked, as Alice snuggled up to him in an almost sickly adorable way.
"Hmmph…fine…I guess." Lily said grumpily.
"What's gotten you so upset?" Frank said, but with a brief glance at Alice, he grinned. "Oh, Potter, of course. What's he done this time?"
"The usual; his dumb belief that I'll fall deeply in love with him and marry him instantly and-"

"And have beautiful babies and grow old together and give each other backrubs and kisses as you gaze lovingly at the sunset?" Frank interrupted, fighting laughter as Alice giggled into his chest.

"No! Well, not this time, at least." Lily grumbled.

"Ahh well, he'll come round soon. He's only been in love with you, for what? 4? 5 years? Boys take longer to mature, after all." Frank said.

"Well, why can't he be like you? You're not an arse about everything like he and his 'Marauder' friends are. It just frustrates me. If he'd only deflate his ego, then I'd at least give him a go at being friends with him! I don't know…"

Alright, so that's the end of the first chapter/introduction! I hope you enjoyed it! The next chapter will be up as soon as I'm done with it (which should be pretty soon), so yeah :) Please review!