James stared after the retreating head of red hair and sat down in shock. What had just happened? Lily, the one who refused to call him James, had burst in, put them on first name terms, and had she actually acted flustered around him? He smirked. Seventh year would definitely be going well.

He came out of his reverie and stood, blowing a long breath. Just then, Remus came in. "James, where've you been? We've been waiting for you!"

James clapped a hand to his forehead. "Shoot! Sorry, Moony, I forgot. I – I was just -."

"Daydreaming of Lily?" Remus asked slyly.

"Well, kind of. I'll tell you later. Come on." James pushed past him and out of the door. "Let's go!" Remus sighed, shook his head, and followed James out the door.

They were met at the door of the compartment by an impatient Sirius. "Prongs mate! Where've you been? The lunch cart's been through already, we saved you some -." He bounded back into the compartment.

James entered, and his jaw dropped open. "Padfoot! What did you do, buy the whole trolley?" The compartment was stuffed with food. Peter was crammed in a corner and squeaked, "Hi, James!"

James laughed. "Guys, I have to tell you what happened at the meeting…" He proceeded to tell them all that had happened.

Sirius let out a wolf-whistle. "Prongs, you finally have her! The girl of your dreams!"

Even Remus agreed with Sirius. "That doesn't sound like acting, Prongs…maybe she doesn't hate you, but I wouldn't get your hopes up." Practical Remus. Still, James couldn't help but feel like he was floating on air.

"You know what you have to do now, mate?" said Sirius, suddenly…serious.

"What?" asked a curious James.

"You have to earn her trust," said Sirius wisely. "You know, show her you mean well."

James pondered that for a moment. "You know what, Padfoot mate; I think you're actually right!"

Sirius grinned cockily. "I'm always right."

James shook his head. "I think I'll take your advice, but first I need to eat!"

"Hear, hear!" cried Sirius, and they began to demolish their mountain of food.

Lily ran into her compartment out of breath. Her friends stopped and stared.

"Lily? Is anything wrong?" Leah Grayson asked worriedly. Her eyes searched Lily's. Leah was another of Lily's best friends, along with Becky Johnson, Alice Cullen, and of course, Erika and Katie.

"I'm fine," answered Lily. "Really."

Becky looked at her skeptically too. She was Lily's longest friend, thought she loved them all equally. "You found out who the new Head Boy is, didn't you?" asked Erika sagely.

"Yeah, James, why?" Lily asked, trying to shake them off.

They stared at her. "Since when are you and James Potter on first name terms?" asked Alice, confused.

Lily blushed. I HATE my blush, she decided.

Suddenly Katie seemed to figure something out. "Oh my God! Oh my God! You like James!"

"I do not!" said Lily hotly, but she blushed even redder.

"She does! She's blushing!" cried Leah.

"Oh yeah?" countered Lily. "Well, what about you and Remus, Katie?"

Now it was Katie's turn to blush. She muttered something no one could understand.

Lily turned to Leah. "Or you and – dare I say – Black?"

Leah gasped, "I do NOT!"

Lily just smirked. She turned to Becky and Erika. "I'm leaving you two alone for now," she said, "but I need to talk to a Miss Alice Cullen about a certain Frank Longbottom…" Alice's eyes widened.

Lily settled back in her chair. "I'm done now."

Erika, obviously trying to lighten the mood, said, "I know! Let's play Truth or Dare!" The others agreed, even a reluctant Lily. "I'll go first," said Erika, but just then they were interrupted by the door swinging open.

There stood the Marauders.

"Hey, ladies," Sirius said, stepping in first. "Mind if we join you?"

"Yes," they said in unison. Leah stayed silent, twirling her hair around one finger.

Sirius sat next to Leah, and the rest of the Marauders filed in, James sitting across from Lily, who was between Alice and Becky.

"We were just going to play Truth or Dare," said Erika, ignoring Lily's glare.

"Capital!" joked Sirius. "I love a good dare."

"Anyway, like I was saying before we were so RUDELY interrupted," Erika continued, "I'll start." She looked at Remus. "Remus, Truth…or Dare?"

"Dare," he answered confidently.

"Alright…I dare you to…kiss Katie!" Erika finished dramatically.

Remus looked taken aback for a moment, then leaned over and kissed Katie swiftly. "There," he said. "My turn…er, Peter, Truth or Dare?"

"Truth," Peter answered.

"Is it true you still sleep with a teddy?"

Everyone cracked up. Peter mumbled, "No…my turn. James, Truth or Dare?"

"Dare, of course." Lily held her breath.

Peter appeared to think, and then he said, "I dare you to kiss Lily for ten seconds."

James and Lily stared at each other, jaws dropped. Then James leaned forward and kissed her.

Lily forgot to be disgusted and that her friends were watching. She lost herself until she heard, "Time!" and pulled away.

Everyone was grinning at them. "What?" Lily and James asked in unison.

Alice, who had been the time keeper, grinned devilishly. "That was a full minute, you two – not just ten seconds."

Lily gaped at her friend. "Why didn't you say something?" she exploded.

Gosh, she's pretty when she's mad, James thought. Oh whoops, pay attention.

"We figured if you didn't like James, you'd resurface exactly after ten seconds," Becky explained.

"I think you both just proved you like one another," Remus grinned.

James glanced at Lily. Her cheeks were on fire.

"I…I…we need to talk, James," Lily floundered. She grabbed his hand and led him out of the compartment, slamming the door.

James looked at her solemnly, though she could see that he wanted that kiss to mean something. "James…this is really hard for me," Lily began. "I've trained myself to hate you for awhile now – and now I just don't know what I feel…though it's not hate. I promise that. I just need time."

The train was beginning to slow; they must be at the station. Lily looked at James desperately. "Can we just be friends – call a truce? Until I figure myself out?"

James nodded. "I understand." He really had matured, Lily thought guiltily. She felt bad, but she really needed to figure stuff out.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Lily?" asked James.

Hazel eyes met green as he said, "I'll wait for you."