Alright, chapter two is up! Thank you a million times over to those who've favourited and followed and reviewed and given out advice, it really means the world to me!

Enjoy! x

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Lily Evans. Lily Marie Evans.

She was kindness personified, always managing to find the good in people (even Snivellus, which was honestly quite a feat). She was very, very smart; excelling particularly in Potions and Charms. She had an insane love for Quidditch, attending every game and cheering enthusiastically for her (their) house, decked out in red and gold.

Lily Evans fit his criteria.

But she was also very short; just barely reaching his shoulder. She was vibrant red hair and brilliant green eyes. She didn't have a calm personality, even with all her kindness. She was fiery-tempered, arguing with him almost every other day in a formidable clash of wills. She was a Muggleborn witch, born to Mr and Mrs Evans of Cokeworth. And he knew she would never consent to being just a gossipy journalist or just a lowly secretary; she wanted to be in the middle of action, to be helping the rebellion in whatever way she was able to.

Lily Evans didn't fit his criteria.


They wouldn't be the perfect couple, would they? Their relationship wouldn't be argument-free and most definitely wouldn't be without bumps. There was a thin line between love and hate after all.

But they had other things in common; things more important than just Quidditch (though the popular wizarding sport held a very high priority in James' mind, second to only the lovely Lily). She and James shared an intensely burning inner fire, standing up unashamedly for what they thought was right and occasionally colliding in a flurry of fire and heat and anger and passion, but that was okay because the bonds between people only came out stronger after being exposed to scorching fire and Merlin knew how heated their relationship was. James and Lily's ties to one another were strong; they had been put through white-hot flames several times over, getting beaten and weathered and never breaking.

They were meant-to-be, soulmates, companions for life; and they both knew it.

James hid it with bravado; mockingly asking Evans out in as ridiculous a manner as he could and then letting her catch him snogging another girl (just another slag - not her, never her) back in the common room later that night. It hurt, seeing the momentary flash of something in her eyes before she bantered back with him, giving it as good as she got. He loved that about her.

Lily hid behind her sharp-as-nails wit; choosing to fight with pointed words every time she was goaded into yet another argument with Potter and making sarcastic comments when she found him 'busy' with that other girl (slut!). She had been dishing out this and that about the insolent boy so often that she herself nearly forgot, nearly gave into her illusion before remembering and feeling that familiar flash of heat go through her whenever she thought of James.

With them, it was back-and-forth-back-and-forth; like two rabid dogs fighting and snapping and growling at one another, taking it in turns to lunge and land scratches and bites on their opponent. The thing was, they weren't being forced into an arena to grapple; no, no, far from it. It was their choice to assault each other with their words and their actions and everything in-between.

All their friends knew it too; after all, why would their best mates spend so much time shouting and tearing themselves apart at the seams when all their problems could be resolved by them simply ignoring each other? They were addicted to one another. Neither of them cared or maybe even noticed, and had no problems indulging in their fix, even if it meant harm to themselves (Potter you're a troll dropping, you know that? - well you're no better you cunt, Evans!) or the object of their affections.


Meanwhile, very slowly, almost unnoticeably; straight blonde hair and ocean-blue eyes morphed into vibrant red hair and brilliant green eyes. Tall, reaching just below his forehead shrunk to short, the top of her head barely getting to his shoulder. The lovely (boring!) calm personality became vivacious and lively. Fiery. A quiet, hopeful will you marry me? changed abruptly to hey Evans, want to have a wedding with me?, complete with a jokingly cocky smirk that would contrast highly with loving hazel eyes. She would understand though. She'd get the joke. He hoped to Merlin that the answer was yes when the time came.

Suddenly, he noticed that she'd become his dream girl.

James Potter's previous ideals didn't crash and burn like he previously thought; they had slipped one by one from his mind and he only noticed when all he could think of was fire and Lily and those bright, infectious smiles that could light up his entire world and Lily goddammit.

It took them near to seven years to finally reach the calm that they knew was inevitable in their relationship (and it wasn't really all too calm but they were okay with that). It was, after all, who they were. They loved just as they fought; with a burning, fierce, undying passion.

This was a fire that would never go out, a fire that they could trust to burn steadily for as long as they lived.

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My sincerest apologies, but I'm afraid I'm quite addicted to reviews. ;) Constructive criticism much appreciated!

Next chapter should be out pretty soon - a week at most, I promise! x