James Potter stared at his Hogwarts letter. He couldn't believe his eyes. How could he have been made Head Boy? He thought back over his previous years at Hogwarts. Sure, he was very smart, and he was the top of his transfiguration class and second to Lily in all of his other classes.

However, no one would ever describe him as rule-abiding. James and Sirius had the record for the most detentions ever in Hogwarts history. James knew that he could handle it though, so he let his mind wander to Lily Evans.

At that precise moment Sirius bounded into the room. He saw James sitting on his bed completely engulfed in thought. Figuring it had something to do with Evans; he promptly decided to interrupt James' thoughts.

Sirius laughed, sounding more like a canine than a human and called, "Oi! Prongs! Guess who's made quidditch captain! That's right, me! Oh, and guess who isn't Head Boy. Remus just flooed over to say he didn't get the badge. I wonder who did."

James was silent for a moment, seemingly deep in thought. Then he looked at his friend and said, "I know who did."

"You do? Well fess up."

"I'm Head Boy." Sirius's eyes went wide, and he stared at his friend in disbelief. Ascertaining from his friend's look that he was telling the truth, Sirius fell over and hit the floor with a dull thud. James laughed and went to reenervate his friend.

Sirius jumped up and bellowed, "Traitor!"

"It's not like I asked for this, Padfoot."

"Well isn't this perfect? Now you're going to stop being fun. And with that swatty nosed Lily as Head Girl you'll be ruined in no time." Sirius scrunched up his nose, as if at a foul smell when he mentioned Lily's name. Even though Sirius didn't think the girl was a bad person, he hated the effect she had on James. "Though, I suppose that being Head Boy would give you a chance to win her over. Might show her that you're more responsible now."

"What about Lily?"

"She's Head Girl! Remus said so when he flooed over."

But James didn't hear the last part of Sirius's explanation. As soon as he heard Lily was head Girl he bolted from the room. He ran downstairs to the fireplace, stepped inside and went to Moony's.

"James? What are you doing here?"

"Is it true that Lily's Head Girl?"

"Yes, but why does it matter. It's not like you're…" Remus paused, deep in thought. Then looking at his friend, he cautiously asked, "James, are you Head Boy?" James nodded his head slowly. "Bloody hell mate."

"I know Moony…"

"Lily is going to fly off the broomstick."

"Yes, I know. But she's not going to find out until first day."

"Prongs, she's already asked me to find out who is."

"Well, tell her that you couldn't find out. I don't care what you say but don't tell her it's me. This is my last chance Moony. I only have one year, maybe even less, to win her over."

"I know mate. I won't tell her, I solemnly swear Prongs."

…

Meanwhile, Lily Evans was sitting on her bed looking out her window waiting for an owl. She stared around the room she had inhabited since her childhood. The light blue walls and other pastel colors in her room were very calming. She needed calm because she was waiting for important information.

Lily glanced at her watch again for what must've been the hundredth time that morning. I really hope that Remus is Head Boy, she thought to herself. Of course, it would have to be a former prefect, so I'm sure I'll be comfortable with them. At least there's no possibility of Potter being Head. Although, I have to admit that he did seem to grow up last year. That boy will never cease to confuse me. I can't even tell what I think anymore. Finally, an owl flew in the window. Lily quickly opened and scanned the letter.

Lily, Congratulation on being Head Girl. I always knew you would get it. I'm not Head Boy, and I haven't been able to find out who is. I hope the rest of your summer goes well. See you September 1st.

Remus

Lily sat deep in thought for a moment. She was upset that Remus wasn't Head Boy. The two had become very close in fifth year, through performing their prefect duties. They were really good friends, and had the upmost respect for each other. However, Lily could not handle Remus' friends, the Marauders.

It was common knowledge at Hogwarts that Lily hated James Bloody Potter. When James started asking her out on Hogsmeade visits in third year, Lily had promised herself that she would never say yes or fall for him. Her refusal somehow seemed to encourage him though.

In fourth year alone he had asked her out at least twenty-seven times, she had lost count after that. Every time was extremely creative and different though. From bewitching the candles in the great hall to spell it out to asking at the end of a quidditch game, while still astride his broom.

She thought back to sixth year. Even she had to admit that James had grown up. After the lake incident in fifth year, he had completely changed. He'd stopped hexing Slytherins for amusement and had even toned down the pranks. She knew that it was for her benefit, and she had to admit that it did have some affect on her.

Lily walked over to her desk and picked up the parchment that contained the essay she'd been assigned over the summer for charms. Each student was supposed to write an essay listing the best qualities of another student in their class. It would be read privately by the other student so that they could feel encouraged while studying for the NEWTs.

Unfortunately, Lily had been assigned to write about James Potter. She was still furious at him. Because Professor Flitwick had let people pick their partners on their own, and James name was before hers, he had chosen her. So far, Lily's parchment was blank. She sat down determined to write it.

"James Potter is…" Lily sat for a moment, deep in thought. It wasn't easy for her to list any of James' good qualities because she didn't stare at him every second of every day, like he did her. Picking up her quill she wrote:

"Good at Quidditch

Good looking" Both were obvious answers, and it almost pained her to say that James was good looking. She was so used to denying her attraction for the man. But she loved the way that his messy black hair stood up and was completely uncontrollable.

She loved the way that his hazel eyes sparkled with amusement when he played a prank, or how when he stared at her, she could read the warmth in his eyes. Lily knew that she could fall for those gorgeous eyes. But she knew that he only liked her because she was the unattainable, the girl that would add the most prestige as a notch on his headboard.

This was what truly scared her. She had always thought that James was going after her to fulfill some sort of bet or something. That as soon as she said yes, he would laugh in her face and go to collect his money. Surely there could be nothing in it for him at this point. It had been six years! But Lily was so afraid of getting her heartbroken that she wasn't taking chances. And she hated him, for making her feel this way, and for questioning herself; not to mention all of the pranks the egotistical git had pulled on her.

Snapping out of her reverie, Lily looked down at her pitiful list. She tried to think of good memories of James to write down. Suddenly, memories flooded back to her, causing her to go into an almost flashback state.

She remembered the time when he had protected her from being cursed by the Slytherins. All of the times that he had stood up for Peter, and made the poor, shy boy feel like he had friends for the first time in his life. Remus had told her how supportive James and Sirius had been of the fact that he was a werewolf. She really admired them for that because it was a rather scary thing to find out about a good friend.

Lily put her quill back on the parchment and started to write. The words simply started to flow, and she didn't even have to think about what she was writing. When she reached the end of the parchment, she read over what she had written.

The very last line said, "I fancy James Potter." Lily gasped and spent several minutes staring at what she had written. She picked up her quill to cross it out as she remembered the millions of reasons she should stay away.

One day in sixthyear transfiguration, Lily looked up from her extensive notes, on how to replace human ears with those from a rabbit, for just long enough to notice James absentmindedly flying his charmed paper plane around the Slytherins' heads. Without looking away from the board, Professor McGonagall sharply asked James to demonstrate the Lapauris spell. Swishing his wand towards Sirius, James sighed "lepus auris." To everyone's surprise, Sirius now sported rabbit ears and he promptly hit the floor, his hands grasping his fluffy white ears. The rest of the class broke out into giggles at the ridiculous sight of a man with rabbit ears passed out on the floor. As Sirius' many fan girls rushed to his aid, James smiled and went back to flying his airplane.

Lily couldn't believe that he had had the nerve to show her up in class! It was already frustrating that he had better marks in transfiguration, but this was just insulting! And how could he stand there as his friend passed out! Granted, Sirius did pass out a lot, but James still could've done something! Still fuming, Lily put her quill down so as not to smash the tip against her desk and began thinking about one of the few times she'd actually been scared for James.

Lily was headed down to the dungeons to make her rounds during the end of fifth year when she was stopped by the ringing chants of "Fight, fight, Fight, fight!"After regaining her composure, Lily marched over to the scene only to be surprised once more. James was in the middle of a circle of Slytherins, with his wand raised, facing Van Yaxley, an intimidating sixth year. James snarled something under his breath and shot a red light towards the older boy. It was countered by a silent spell and James hit the floor writhing in pain. Everyone knew from his reaction that he was under the effects of the Cruciatus curse. Isabella Rinaldi, famous for her stunning spells, jumped in front of James and yelled "Stupefy!" The sheer force knocked Yaxley backwards, giving the rushing professors a chance to break up the surrounding crowd, grab Van, and take him to the headmaster's office.

Lily was still in disbelief that someone could be stupid enough to try and take on the entire Slytherin house single-handedly. Why the bloody hell would James fight a sixth year? It was as if he wanted to fight and was ready for the unforgivable curse. She couldn't believe he was so stupid! Lily laid further back against her pillow and thought about how James first got on her bad side.

Seven years ago, Lily was enjoying her very first breakfast at Hogwarts, mentally making a note to thank whoever had made such delicious pancakes, when she saw a smaller bespectacled boy running her way. She turned to greet this boy, recognizing him as one of her fellow first-year Gryffindor students. Before she could get out even a simple "hello," James yanked her ponytail, stuck out his tongue, yelled "carrot top!" and ran away. Lily turned the brightest shade of pink, turned her back on the aisle, and stared at her food hoping nobody had noticed. To her dismay, everyone within a few seats had heard and the entire first-year population began to sing, "Potter loves Evans," and laugh at the top of their lungs. Mortified, Lily got up and ran to the bathroom crying.

Lily remembered how embarrassed she'd been, how she blushed and cried every time she heard it, and how the other kids sang that song as if it was their meal-time prayer for an entire week, which is considerably long given the attention span of an eleven year old. Lily regripped her quill, with more assurance this time, and crossed out her last comment with a vengeance.