Lily Evans was decidedly not going to let James Potter know that he had somehow, someway finally wrangled his way into her heart. It was absolutely formidable. She had too much work to focus on and she wasn't interested in being his greatest conquest and consequently greatest heartbreak. She just wouldn't do that. So when he openly flirted with Edith Simmons in potions on Monday she wasn't even mad.

"Lily," Remus said quietly from his desk beside her, "You might find it in your favor to stop staring at James."

"I don't know what you're talking about Remus. I'm just working on this potion Slughorn assigned." She hissed back.

"Ah come on Evans, give it a rest. The only bloke dumb enough to miss that you're mad for James, is James." Sirius said eavesdropping on her conversation with Remus.

"If you two don't shut your mouths I'll hex you in places that should not be talked about in public." She said, her face turning red.

The boys chuckled but agreed to leave her alone for the time being. Class progressed and Edith eventually returned to her desk on the Ravenclaw side of the room, the traitor. Lily spared another glance at James. His sleeves were rolled up to the elbow, exposing his muscular arms, and his jaw was clenched as he tried to read the potions instructions. Lily was furious about how good he managed to look. Her heart went wild at the sight of him mess up his hair in frustration and look as serious as she had ever seen him. When he looked up and found her glaring at him he sent her a little wink. When class finally ended she was the first one out and practically sprinted towards Gryffindor tower.

"Oi, Evans!" she heard a voice call from behind her. She knew that voice anywhere.

"What do you want Potter?" she managed with as much acid in her voice as possible in the empty corridor.

He finally caught up with her, looking like his normal messy self, and leaned up against the wall to survey her. She tired to maintain eye contact but had to look away when their gazes met.

"I just wanted to know what's wrong. You looked bloody mad in potions." He shrugged.

"I'm just feeling a little sick, that's all." She lied through her teeth at him.

She knew he could see right through her. Her crush on him, which was much more than a crush, was becoming more obvious day by day to the entire Hogwarts population. James was the only one who failed to notice. By the looks of his grin, maybe he had caught on.

"Oh really? And why is that?" he teased her with a knowing smirk.

"You're a rotten person, James Potter." Lily said with tears in her eyes.

He was humiliating her. She had finally come around to him and he had to make a joke out of it. Lily turned away quickly and took a step away when she felt him grab her hand and pull her towards him. She spun around and fancied herself merely inches from his face. She hated how happy it made her.

"I'm only teasing Evans. Sirius and Remus offered a few choice words for me and let me know I was being an ass, again." He said not unkindly.

"You're being a right git, you know that?" Lily sniffled.

"You love it." James teased her and when Lily didn't object his eyes grew wide.

She watched it all click in his head. He had enjoyed teasing her, knowing it upset her, but didn't think anything real would come out of it. His eyes softened at her upset face and he used his thumb to wipe the few tears that escaped.

"Come off it Evans, I didn't really upset you did I?" he asked softly and she turned her face away.

"I understand if you w-want to see other people. I just wish I had known before-"

And then before she knew how it happened James Potter was finally kissing her and Merlin, it was worth the wait.