Disclaimer: All things Harry Potter belong to J.K. Rowling

Prologue

This is the story of two people trying to find their places in life; the story of true love at its finest. It's the story of two people who made a difference in their world…James Potter and Lily Evans.

It all started very innocently, platonically even. James was simply fighting with Lily about his latest prank when it happened. As he paused to take a breath, he noticed the sparks her emerald eyes were emitting, the fire in her coppery hair, and the way her body trembled as she reprimanded him.

In that one instant, James fell hopelessly in love. James had had silly crushes and infatuations before, but never had he felt as he did now. Now he felt as if Lily Evans was the single most wonderful being on earth, and if he couldn't have her he'd simply die.

That one moment changed everything for James, everything for Lily, and their life together.

From that moment, their fate was set.

The Beginning

"What is your problem, James?" Lily hissed, her eyes narrowed into slits.

James tried to answer with a good comeback, but all he could do was stutter.

"Do you think it's funny to see Snape walking around with his hair dyed bright green?" she demanded.

James felt relieved. This question, at least, he could answer.

"Yes," he answered immediately. Wasn't it obvious? Anyone would think it was funny to see Snivellus walking about with strands of oily putrid green hair hanging in front of his face. Except for Lily, it appeared. Had the right answer been no? he wondered briefly.

"You disgust me," Lily said firmly. "Ten points off Gryffindor and a detention." She spun around on her heel and walked off, leaving James to stare after her like a gaping idiot.

He had always slightly fancied Lily before. Every guy with hormones did; Lily's thick red hair and extraordinary green eyes were too much to resist. But never, ever had James felt the way he did now.

He felt as if he would do anything to win Lily's favor, even if it meant walking to Hell and back.

Still dazed from the sudden arrival of new feelings, he sat down heavily on one of the nearby couches in the Gryffindor common room. Six years of Hogwarts hadn't managed to dull his appreciation for the homey atmosphere it provided. The couches and chairs situated around the cheerfully flickering fire were perfect for draping one's self in…which James frequently did.

"Hey, mate, what's up?" a cheery voice asked from behind him. James turned his body around so he was facing the speaker. It was his friend Sirius Black.

"Not much, Padfoot," he said in a faint voice. The two boys had known each other since the beginning of their Hogwarts days, and shared nearly everything. They had collided in their eagerness to board the Hogwarts Express that wonderful first day, gotten into a fight, had just as quickly got over it, and had been inseparable ever since.

"I saw Evans was going at you again," Sirius teased, winking at him. "Ever since that girl became a prefect she hasn't been any fun."

"Sirius?"

"Yeah?" Sirius appeared puzzled by the strange tone of James's voice.

"I have a problem," James said with a sigh.

"Ooh…" A delighted look spread across Sirius' face. "You're having gi-irl problems, aren't you?"

James felt his face flush a radiant shade of red, and he shook his head at Sirius.

"Not so loud!" he whispered. "I don't want the whole school to know!"

"Oh, c'mon, tell old Padfoot your problems, and I'll tell you how to solve them," Sirius urged.

"Come up to our room with me, and then I will," James instructed. The two friends walked up the stairs of the Gryffindor tower until they reached the sixth year boys' dorm.

"So…is it Lily?" Sirius asked in excitement. He loved girls, and he loved giving his friends wild ideas on how to get them.

"How did you know?" James asked with a groan. "Am I that obvious?"

"Oh no," Sirius hurriedly assured him. "It's only the way you were staring at her arse as she walked out of the room." He let out a wicked cackle as James shoved him over. He flopped down onto his bed, pulling James down next to him.

"Ok, now, Lily's a serious girl," Sirius said, getting down to business. He had had his own brief fling with Lily the previous year, although that hadn't lasted long. The two had parted amicably, deciding that they were better suited as friends.

"Serious girls like being courted, so you have to send her flowers, jewelry, and the like. Then, make sure she notices what a gallant sort of fellow you are. She'll be falling for you in no time flat," he boasted confidently.

"Are you sure?" James asked doubtfully. Sirius appeared horrified by the distrustful attitude towards his advice.

"Me? You're questioning me? I am only the handsomest, most popular most…" Sirius was interrupted when James shoved him over once again.

"I get the picture, Sirius. You better be right on this…" Sirius smiled at him innocently, his black hair falling across his eyes in a way James could never get his own to do.

"Of course I'm right," he said. "Trust me on this one."

The next day Lily was sitting at the long Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, eating her breakfast with her friends. Her peaceful morning was interrupted when a barn owl carrying a mixed bouquet of colorful daisies and wild roses perched on the table next to her.

Taking the flowers cautiously, she read the note attached.

Lily, my apologies for the trouble I caused you yesterday. Yours, James

Her face turned bright red and she looked down the long table to where James and his friends sat. James was attempting to nonchalantly stare at his slices of bacon, but it was fairly obvious he was really watching Lily's reaction.

"Oooh…Lily, who are they from?" Alice Lancaster asked in excitement.

"Nobody!" Lily snapped. Her friend's face creased in confusion at Lily's harsh words.

"I'm sorry, Alice, I didn't mean to snap at you. I'm just…irritated, to say the least. I'll tell you about it later, ok?" Alice nodded in acquiescence, a confused but supportive smile on her face.

Once she made sure James was watching, Lily grabbed the eclectic blossoms and thrust them into the hands of a little first year Gryffindor.

"Here, throw these away for me, will you? They simply smell terribly of mold." The boy looked bewildered, but he took the flowers and headed off to do what she asked. And over at the other end of the table, James's face was an awful shade of red that more than matched Lily's own.

Lily felt a sense of perverse pleasure at seeing James's embarrassment, although she didn't know why. In general, Lily was a kind person who tried never to hurt other people's feelings, no matter who they might be.

But when it came to James Potter…something about that boy simply got under her skin and made her itch like no other could.

Author's Note - this one isn't a one-shot, in fact, it's turning out to be incredibly long. It seems that way at least! I hope to update this once a week, but I'll be waiting to see if anyone reads it first...so please, review, and tell me what you think of it. A huge amount of thank you's goes out to my beta...you're awesome Sierra!