This one is dedicated (yes, I've started dedicating so review and you might be next) is to Lacewings for reading just about everything I've written. Also to my little sister, whose birthday was last week. Happy birthday – for then.

The Epic Journey: Lily and James

Chapter 2: Early Morning Reflections Part I

James leant against the staircase wall, weary head in hands. It was just before seven on a Sunday. He groaned inwardly. No reasonable person was awake at this hour. Even his fellow Marauders. Rule Twelve: No Marauder shall be forced out of his bed before nine on Sundays, no exceptions. Remus, though normally the most studious of them and therefore most inclined to spend late nights and early mornings in study, did not wake early on Sunday mornings. Sirius and Peter simply rolled over or - in Sirius case - rolled of the bed and onto the floor, snoring loudly. James supposed it was the dog in him.

The reason for James' early, if dishevelled appearance was a certain red haired, green eyed, fiery tempered girl he suspected was still by the fire. He bit back a grin as he imaged her reaction. Miss Lily Evans, Head Girl, Teacher's Pet Extraordinaire, asleep in the Common Room. How did he know she was there? It was a sixth sense. He always knew where Lily was, simply because that was instinctively where his heart told him to go.

He had reached the last few steps and could finally see her outline against the burning coals. It was quite slender and so detailed; he could see the wisps of her hair illuminated in the dying light. Her forehead was just touching the page of her open book, her head rested on her arm. Her face was amazingly serene compared to the look of fierce hatred that she usually reserved for him. He sighed as he crept towards her, walking more confidently when he saw what a deep sleeper she was.

Gingerly, he leant over and slid the book out from under her, lifting her up so that her upper body was resting on his chest, her head sitting in between his neck and shoulder. Bending down, he scooped her up bridal style. Suddenly, she snuffled in her sleep and James froze, fearing she was awake, waiting to curse him into next week. Instead, she buried her head closer into the jumper he had hastily thrown over his pyjamas.

Her face was even more beautiful when she was asleep, he decided, slowly inching towards to couch so as to hold her in his arms just that little bit longer. Something about her seemed almost luminescent but then, he smiled. She always seemed like that. No way would he mention such a thing to his friends; it would merely earn him many weeks of teasing and Sirius shading his eyes every time Lily came near, yelling 'Too bright, too bright!'.

Gently – and rather gingerly, he admitted in the safety of his own mind – he set her down on the sofa, pulling across some cushions with one hand to make her more comfortable. Pulling off his jumper, he transfigured it into a thick blanket and laid it over her slumbering form. Turning 'round, he put her books back in her bag and rested it against a nearby table leg, so that she could see it when she woke up.

Of its own accord, his hand reached out to hover above her soft red hair, but he regretfully pulled it back, knowing she would kill him if she found out. Well, maybe not kill him but permanently maim him with some well aimed hexes. Unaware that he was smiling, he retreated back to the safety of his own dormitory, leaving Lily too a little more rest.

When Lily awoke, she was unusually warm and comfortable. Barely opening her eyes, she saw the blurry red and gold of the Gryffindor Common Room. She was just about to sink back into unconsciousness when she suddenly realized what she had done. She could just remember reading something about Wulfic the Wise' comments but then her head had drooped and she had fallen instantly asleep. Sitting bolt upright, she rubbed her eyes and threw off the thick blanket covering her. She stopped. Where had that come from? And why was she on a sofa? She fingered the blanket absentmindedly, lost in thought. Who would have done it? Her friends would have just woken her up so it could be… No, James wouldn't be that nice, he and his little friends, the Marauders, would probably prank…

She leapt up, jumping away from the blanket, hands out stretched in front of her as a last act of defence. Nothing happened. She began too feel rather silly. Bending down cautiously, she grabbed her school bag and rushed up the dormitory stairs, hoping she could get a few more minutes of sleep in her own bed. She didn't notice the slight blush adorning her cheeks, nor the small smile for no reason, so nobody said anything but Lily Evans had something to cheer about.

Lily didn't see James until lunch the next day when he sidled up to her as she lent over to pick up her drink.

She glanced up into his impossibly handsome face, back looked away quickly, for fear of staring. His words jolted her back into reality.

"Head duties, Lily."

"What? Oh, yes, of course. Ten o'clock."

"Meet you in the Common Room?"

She thought about, that would save time but…

"Fine." He gave her a small smile and walked purposely back to his seat further down the Gryffindor table. She watched him go, than looked back at her friends who had been observing the brief exchange. Simultaneously, they all raised their eyebrows.

"What?"

"Oh, nothing," Alice said hurriedly. A knowing smirk spread across her features. Lily leaned across the table, the level of mischief twinkling in her eyes worthy of a Marauder.

"If you do anything, my friend, I have to words for you. Frank. Longbottom." In turn, Alice's eyes widened.

"You wouldn't."

Lily gave her an evil grin. "Oh, believe me, I would."

"Fine, I won't do anything. But I still want to."

They spent the rest of the meal in companionable silence, the only sounds coming from the boisterous students around them.

"Lily?"

She spun around to see James standing on the last step to the boys' dormitories. He, too, was still wearing his school robes, his tie slightly askew. He came towards her and she steeled herself to ignore him for the rest of the evening. She realized too late that she was staring.

"What?"

"Um, your tie, James."

"Oh."
She raised her eyebrows at him and reached out, tweaking his tie, her hand accidentally brushing against his chest, as their eyes met. Hurriedly, she asked,

"Shall we go then?"

"Fine."

What was going on? One minute he was perfectly amiable and the next he was the epitome of cold… No, James Potter seemed to live to annoy her, her rejection meant nothing to him. But he's been better this year, said a traitorous voice in the back of her. Shut up! She yelled at it and continued on her rant. She was just an entertainment to his and his little friends. Well, Remus was alright – a prefect – but he just sat there doing nothing. Pettigrew (or rat boy as she secretly called him) trailed after Potter and Black like they were heroes, basking in attention. It was just pathetic. The traitorous voice piped up again; can you really judge people on whether or not they are a prefect? That's just ridiculous, she was being unreasonable – she shouldn't judge. She ignored it.

Sighing, she looked up to see James – no, Potter – Potter standing by the open portrait hole, waiting for her.

"Thanks," she mumbled as she stepped into the chilly corridor, pulling her robes tighter around her. She headed forward straight away, not waiting for her companion to catch up with her.

A/N: To anybody who took the time to read my first attempt at a chapter and particularly to those who reviewed, thankyou once again. Sorry this was so late but my writers block came back to haunt me. Along with some evil plot bunnies (holds up bandaged hand) – can someone please explain to me how they keep getting into my house? Anyway, here are review replies – what they're fun:

LILLYandJAMESareCUTE: Thankyou (bows) thankyou. (Wipes away a tear of happiness) I do my best.

Radio Eyes: Glad you liked it.

Lacewings: I dedicated this one to you, so thankyou once again.

Finally, the next instalment of this will be up quicker than this one, as I have a bit more free time and several overflowing notebooks of ideas.

Elizabeth