2.

Carlotta was right. James was the luckiest bastard on earth. Two months ago he had watched Lily Evans disappear through the barrier at Kings Cross, believing quite honestly that that was the last he would ever see of his first true love. It would have been much more pleasant had that love had been returned at some point or another, but alas, James Potter had never managed to solve the mystery that was Lily Evans during her time at school.

One year above him and Head Girl, some said he must have nerves of steel trying to woo the most popular girl at Hogwarts. But James had never looked at it like that; she was a pretty girl and he wanted her - there was nothing so simple. Apart from the fact that she didn't exactly want him in return. He had tried to sway her, oh he had definitely tried, and in her seventh year there had been moments where James could have sworn she was finally coming round, but she was awfully stubborn.

Somehow this only made James want her more. In many ways she was like Carlotta like that, but James had never found himself fancying Carlotta Jacobs. No, Lily Evans was the only girl for him. Well, Lily Evans and the seventeen girls he had dated since the start of fifth year. James didn't see the harm in exploring his options while waiting for his true love to realise she was in fact head over heels for him. Yes, it always came back to Lily. If only she had come to him.

And now, she had.

James rolled onto his bed, thoroughly stuffed after the welcoming feast and perfectly content after spending half of it staring at the new Professor. "I tell you lads, this is going to be my year."

Remus quirked an eyebrow from the windowsill as he skimmed though his new textbooks. "I thought you said this was going to be anything but your year," he muttered, referring back to their conversation on the train. "I thought you said that being made Head boy was going to ruin your reputation forever and you'd never get any girls to fancy you."

Sirius snorted. "He won't."

James threw a pillow at him. He missed.

"This change in attitude wouldn't happen to have something to do with our delightful new Professor, would it?" Remus asked knowingly.

A contented sigh was James's only reply.

"I wouldn't get your hopes up."

James furrowed his brow, rolling his side to face his friend by the window. "And why not?"

Remus carefully closed his book, adding it to the small stack by his side. "Because she's your teacher."

James scoffed, turning back to face the ceiling with his arms folded under his head. "So what?"

He could just imagine Remus rolling his eyes. "So she's out of bounds."

"Say's you."

There was a short pause before Remus replied again. "She won't date you. I'm sure she understands the rules even if you don't. And let's not forget about moral standards; I bet she's got a few more of those too."

Sirius let out a low whistle.

James could not be perturbed. "It's not like I'm trying to win over McGonagall; Evans is eighteen – she's no different from any other girl in this school, 'cept now she has a special desk at the front of the class." Remus was clever when it came to people and the fact that he didn't have high hopes in this matter probably meant that it was in fact doomed for failure. James didn't like it and was determined to persuade him otherwise.

Remus released a deep breath. "Her age doesn't matter. For what it's worth, you might as well pursue McGonagall."

Sirius sniggered. "You'd probably be better off; at least she likes you." He narrowly dodged another pillow.

"Say what you like," James muttered coolly. "If you two can't see what an opportunity lady luck had presented me with, then that's your loss."

Sirius smirked. "I didn't realise you were fanciful."

"Sod off."

"I think you can do it Prongs."

James reached out to close the hangings around his bed with a sigh. "Thanks Peter."