(A/N: I'm looking for a beta so if you are accepting now, please PM me! Constructive criticism is the best kind of criticism!)

Lily felt a thrill of excitement shoot through her body as she walked confidently towards what, to every Muggle in the crowded train station, was simply a wall. But to Lily Evans and every witch or wizard who went to Hogwarts, the barrier between platform nine and ten in King's Cross Station means so very much more. This wall is the sole entrance to Platform 9 ¾, where the Hogwarts Express waits to take her and many others back to the place that was becoming more of a home to her than where she had spent the first 11 years of her life. Marlene had responded to her plea for help fairly quickly, telling her to buck up and jinx him strait into the hospital wing whenever she felt the need. He deserved it for being a 'slimy, disgusting, snake', or so Marlene said. Lily felt this was a bit much, considering she was a prefect and would never do that because it's something Potter would do, but she appreciated it all the same.

Lily moved faster still, and suddenly she was out of the overly crowded muggle station and onto platform 9 ¾. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a long, blonde mane of hair. A smile appeared on her face as she walked up behind her best friend. "Mar! How have you been? How was-" Lily said, but that was all she could get out before Marlene whipped around, her hair catching Lily in the face and her words blocking out hers.

"Lily!" Marlene all but screamed, pulling the girl into a bone-crushing hug. Lily wrapped her arms around her back, and they held to that for a moment, before jumping apart excitedly.

"How have you been? How was your summer? Snog anyone exciting? I wouldn't be surprised, you look amazing!" Lily gushed, words falling from her mouth like leaves from a tree in late autumn.

Marlene just rolled her eyes, spinning on her heel. "I'll tell you later, let's find the girls."

"Sure. I reckon they'll be on the train? But, maybe if we're lucky, Alice is off somewhere snogging Frank. It's only a matter of time before they figure themselves out, hey? What you think?" The blonde's only response was a knowing smile. Infuriating, if you asked Lily. "What? Mar, tell me!"

"Oh, it's nothing Lil. Just… are you sure you aren't speaking of yourself and a certain black-haired marauder?"

"Marlene! I would never think of Sirius in such a way! After all, we all know you're crazy for him! A bit hard not to notice, if I do say so myself." Lily smirked, but Marlene kept her cool, and didn't falter.

"Not Sirius. I mean James, and you know that."

"Mar, I'm not having this conversation again. What do I have to do to convince you that I don't, and never will, fancy Potter?" Lily spat out the last word.

"Talking about me again, are you?" Speak of the devil, thought Lily.

"You wish. I'll see you later, we're going to find a compartment." Lily said, turning around and walking away. Be nice! Don't let him get to you, it's a waste of energy, she told herself.

"I'm working on it." She heard Marlene mutter to James as she marched off.

_James_ _

Merlin, she's gorgeous. James thought as he watched the girl walk towards the train.

"Oi! Prongs! Remember me?" Sirius called in James' ear.

"Sorry. I was just… distracted."

"I noticed. You're staring at the spot where Miss Evans was just a moment ago. We know you love her, we know you think she's the most gorgeous thing to walk this universe, but hell mate, no need to be so bloody... public." Sirius sniggered.

"S'alright, seeing as we are all well informed that you are head-over-heels for her best mate. Plus, she is the most gorgeous thing to walk this universe. Have you seen the girl? Bloody stunning! Then again, you obviously only have eyes for Mar." James replied coolly.

"But- I- No- You-," Just then, they arrived at the compartment they sat in every year. They paused, having heard shrieks and giggles. Uncertainly, James reached forward and pried the door open. Inside, her found a tangle of arms, and his eyes immediately zoned in on a shock of red hair. Evidently, Lily and Marlene had just found their friends and fallen to the floor in a (failed) attempt at a group hug. He chuckled quietly and sat down, propping his legs up on the opposite side.

The sounds started to quiet, the girls untangling themselves, taking care not to rip anyones' muggle clothes. Mary was standing first, straightening her tie and sitting between Peter and Remus. Marlene stood next, pushing James' feet off of the seat next to Sirius and taking it for herself. Alice and Emmeline stand together, taking the two seats on his left. Later, James will claim that his heart stopped when he realized. There was one seat left, to his right, next to the window.

Lily stood, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear and sitting next to him without complaint, to everyone's shock. What changed? 'Oh no-What do I say? I always tease, what do I do? Don't say something stupid, don't say something stupid, PLEASE don't say something stupid! And good Godric, BREATHE!' After this mini self pep-talk, James composed himself, constantly reminding himself not to say something stupid. But, despite his precautions, all that came out was, "Gorgeous, you are. Alright, Evans?" Once the sixteen year old realized what he'd just said, he was left to inwardly curse himself and wait for the explosion that was sure to follow.

So, when Lily simply laughed, a sound James never wanted to stop, and said, "Never been better. You?" James just stared at her, mouth hanging open like in a cartoon, thinking, 'Did Lily Evans, THE Lily Evans, the girl that absolutely hates me, just not scream her head off at me?! Am I dreaming?' "Potter? Are you okay?" Lily asked again, "And close your mouth." With this, she reached up and gently pushed his jaw upwards, her fingers feather-soft on his skin. His heart beat faster, louder, and he was sure that she could hear it. He gulped. 'This woman will be the end of me…'

_Lily_

Lily carefully pushed his jaw up until his lips sealed, not wanting to seem harsh. That went… well enough. I think. I'm not sure how long I can go without yelling at him though. He can be quite stupid.

"I-Uh-You-I'm-Why-Uhhhh." James replied, if you can call that a reply. "What I mean to say Evans is that I'm doing well, thanks, and you are… well… you-you're bloody gorgeous. I know I just said it, but hell Evans, you really are. Just in case you didn't know."

At this, Lily felt a blush creeping up her neck. Curse of a redhead. She blushed way too easily. Always had. "Uhmmmmm. Thanks. Thank you, I mean. You too. Uhhh, no. Not what I meant. Well yes, obviously, but-," She stopped talking when a hand was pressed to her mouth, a well-known gesture for 'Shut the hell up, now'. You too?! What the hell was that? She turned to Sirius, a 'thank you' ready on her lips. She didn't understand why he helped her, of all people but… she would take what she could get. "Uh, thanks Black." And why the hell can't I speak?

"Anytime Evans. Seriously though, I've got to talk to you later. Don't let me forget." He was smirking.

"Okay?" She said, nervous as to what the wizard had to say. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? You got eleven OWLs, and you're the brightest witch in the year! You are fully capable of creating full sentences!

"Evans, 'you too'? What, now you think that good ol' Prongsie here is 'bloody gorgeous' as well? Merlin, I always thought that I was the gorgeous one." Sirius pouted, before changing the subject, "Anyways, how many OWLs you guys get? I got 9. Outstanding in Transfiguration, Defense, Muggle Studies, and Potions, Exceeds Expectations on Charms, History of Magic, Astronomy, Care of Magical Creatures, and Runes. Acceptable in Divination, and Arithmancy."

"Igotelevenowlsoutstandingineverythingbuttransfiguration," mumbled the witch.

"Uh, Evans, could you say that again please? Separate your words this time, if you can." James asked.

Deep breath. It isn't embarrassing. It's a good thing. You're incredibly smart. Just SAY it. "I got eleven owls. Outstanding in everything but transfiguration." She said, loud and clear. Potter whistled quietly.

"Hell Evans, you beat me again." He says.

"Well…" She giggled, her nerves quelled once more, "Of course I did! What did you get?"

"Uhhh… I- well don't act too surprised. I do study, contrary to popular belief. I got ten OWLs. Outstanding in all but Charms and Acceptable in Runes. The Runes section was bloody difficult."

"Wow. Great job! Honestly, I didn't think you had it in you." she said, truly surprised. She glanced at the watch on his wrist and yelped, cutting off Marlene, who'd just begun to recite her test scores.

"What's wrong?" Asked James, seemingly genuinely concerned.

"REMUS!" Lily practically screeched, "We're late! We're five minutes late to the prefect meeting! Come on!" Lily yelled as she grabbed him by the wrist and dragged him out of the compartment, taking off down the corridor.

_James_

James just sat there, stunned, because Lily Evans, Lily bloody Evans, just had an actual conversation with him, and-mistake or not-said 'you too' when he called her gorgeous… and she didn't even yell at him for calling her so, as she usually did. No, she blushed. Lily Evans. He'd made Lily Evans blush.

"Hell. Congrats, Prongs!" exclaimed Sirius, "You've had your first-ever civilized conversation with Evans after six years of knowing her!"

"Just so you know, she's only being nice because she decided she isn't letting your stupid game get to her this year." Marlene said.

"What game? What are you talking about?" He asked, confused.

"The one where you ask her out for kicks all the time." Marlene elaborated.

"I swear, I have no clue what you're talking about." James said, seemingly sincere. Marlene quickly grew angry, because she absolutely hated it when people play dumb.

"The one where you chase her just because she doesn't melt when you look at her like every other idiotic girl in this goddamned school. Grow up!" Everyone jumped, surprised by Marlene's sudden outburst, "God, James, you really screw with her. She doesn't need you to protect her! She spent far too much time crying over you last year! You need to stop trying to impress her, stop asking her out so much, and overall stop being a bloody PRAT! Then, maybe she'll just consider being your friend! But as of right now, she hates you! I could see it in her eyes just now when you two were talking, it took so much willpower for her not to yell at you!" Marlene screeched, "And James, I love you, I've known you my entire life, but I swear if you make her cry once this year, you will regret the day you were born. I may not look much a fright, but you and I both know that I'm a bloody good dueler and I know how to throw a hex. Do not make her cry this year. Give it up. She's a human, not a goddamn object for you to play around with. She is not going out on a date with you! When are you going to get that through your impossibly thick skull? It's a crush. You think you love her. You have no idea what you mean by that. You'll get over it. And when you do, she'll be the one abandoned, and I am NOT letting that happen to her. So please do us all a favor, and get over it. Get over your bruised ego, and pick your over-inflated head up off the ground." She finished, her tone deadly silent.

"Mar. This isn't-," James began, but she cut him off, her rant starting all over again.

"No. Don't you dare 'Mar' me right now. She is my best friend-more like my sister, and if you hurt her again, in any way, I will hex you straight in to a week-long hospital stay. I love her, I have been friends with her since first year, and I hate seeing her upset." She said.

But before she could start another sentence, James decided that it was his turn to yell. Marlene shouldn't have said anything. Not when she had no clue what he feltfor Lily. "So do I! I hate seeing her upset, and I hate knowing that I caused it! I never meant to hurt her, and I am more sorry than you could ever understand! She isn't just a game to me! Maybe in the beginning she was, because to my idiot eleven year-old brain she was just a very, very, pretty girl! Trust me I'm not saying that she isn't now, but now she is so much more! Then, end of third year, she got hot. Then, fourth year, I realized that she wasn't just hot, she was bloody gorgeous. I also realized that she wasn't just any other girl, because I fancied her! Fifth year! I realized that this stupid crush wasn't going away, so I named it as an infatuation! Finally, by Christmas break, I realized that she has more pull over me than anyone else, because I fell for her! I love her, okay! I never want to make her cry again, and please if I do, go right ahead and hex me! If I make the woman I love cry, then I bloody well deserve it! I don't chase her because I never got her to say yes and that hurt my ego, I chase her because I never got her to say yes and that hurts my heart! I only asked her like I did because I wanted to prove to her that I am worthy of her, I wanted to impress her! So no, she isn't just 'a goddamn object'. She is a human, and a bloody amazing one at that! I never showed how hurt I was, not to anyone, when she turned me down time and time again because I was James bloody Potter, and showing any remorse at something so stupid is weak! And I am a Lion, I am not weak. That girl has a stronger hold on me than anyone. If she tells me to jump, I say how high. If she says run, I run faster than I ever have. Because I love her. She's it for me, and somewhere deep inside me I think I always knew that it was only her. It's bloody pathetic, but it's true, and don't stop to think for a second that even if I'm not asking her out, I will ever stop chasing her. I will never stop chasing after Lily Evans, and I will never stop loving her. Understood?" James concluded, barely believing that he just confessed everything that he felt for this girl. His chest heaved as he looked around the compartment, everyone sitting impeccably still, mouths hanging open.

"I-Yes. And I take it that you would appreciate if we didn't mention this to her?"

"Please."

"I wouldn't dream of it. And James?"

"Yeah?"

"I reckon she loves you too, somewhere deep down, even if she doesn't know it yet."

"You really think so?"

"Yeah, James. Yeah, I do."

"Oh… well… probably not, but thanks anyways."

"No problem. And you know that me and the girls are always here for you, right?"

"Yeah, I reckon I do." And, as he said this, he realized how much truth there was behind his words. James realized that never before had he been so grateful that the compartments are partially soundproof, or Lily would have heard ever last word.

_Lily_

"Okay. Now that we got that over with, let's head back. We have patrols second to last," she said with a sigh. Even though she loved being a Prefect, the start-of-term train meetings were always incredibly dull.

"Sounds good to me." Remus replied, and they headed down the hall towards their compartment. Lily knocked before entering, because without the two peacekeepers there, who knew what they could be doing. They walked in to see everyone staring at James. She wondered why, before deciding that she'd find out eventually.

Lily re-took her seat next to James subconsciously, missing the look of surprise and awe on his face. "So… what'd we miss? Anything interesting?" Asked Lily, ever the curious one.

"No," James replied, his voice strangled. She didn't believe him. Just this once, thought Lily, I can let it go. And however much will power it may have taken, she did.

_James_

His breath hitched when she entered the compartment, and his heart raced. He wanted to kiss her so badly in that moment, but he knew that it would ruin whatever peace they had. When she sat next to him, even with Remus' seat open, his heart skipped a beat. So when she asked if they'd missed anything it took everything in him to say no. Her brow furrowed for a moment, and damn it that's not adorable, before she looked up at him, green eyes locked onto hazel, and said, "Okay." He was surprised that she hadn't pressed the issue, but he was astonished by what came next. "Truth or dare, Potter?"

"Dare." He responded, almost as a reflex. Lily smiled wickedly, and he decided that that smile might just be scarier than her glare.

"That there, was a terrible idea. Lily's dares are a force of nature-something we've all come to fear." Alice said, her demeanor serious.

"Try me." He challenged

"I have to do patrols now, but when I get back… be ready." Lily stood, mischief sparkling in her eyes and her mind already at work.

(After patrols)

He was nervous. He would never admit it to anyone, but everyone who'd played truth or dare with Lily assured him that he was in deep shit. So when the compartment door opened, his shoulders tensed and his back straightened. But it was Remus, not Lily. James looked around, confused. "Where's Evans?" he asked.

Now it was Remus who was confused. "She said she was heading back ten minutes ago… I said I'd wait. She should definitely be back by now." Just then, Lily burst in and fell to her best mate, tears falling from her eyes. She sobbed, and James felt as though someone was twisting a knife in his chest. Marlene immediately wrapped her arms around her friend, murmuring soothing words to her. James had never felt so helpless. He decided that it was his least favorite feeling. He wanted to be able to be there for her. He needed to help her.

He didn't see Alice, worry clouding her brown eyes. Or Emmeline, who looked like she was about to kill someone, protective as she was. He moved to Lily, knowing it was stupid, but knowing that he had to do something. The Gryffindor was terrified that she would push him away, but he knew that she might not, and that made the risk worth it. He stood there, unsure. James searched Marlene's eyes, looking for something. What, he wasn't sure. But when she nodded, the tiniest of movements, he knew what to do.

He reached out to her, held her shoulders. "Lily. Lily, talk to me. What's wrong."

"S- Sev. I mi- miss him. He w- wanted to t-talk. I said n-no" The witch cried. Sirius looked on with disbelief, but it was lost to James. James bristled. He had nerve… yet another sob brought him back to the situation at hand. James hesitated for only a moment before enveloping the woman he loved in his arms. He'd thought she would pull away from him, so when he felt her hands fist in his shirt, her tears soak his shirt… he thought, for the first time, that maybe, just maybe he had a chance.

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