James stood with his wand pointed at a shaking Severus Snape. "I didnt do anything to her."Severus said. "Dont lie to me Snape."James answered.Lilly skidded arounda corner and saw the two. "James!"She yelled and ran over to him."He didnt do it."She said.James looked down at her. "He didnt do it, I was in our Common Room,he cant get in."She added."And its not that big of a deal."Lilly said, pushing James wand arm back down to his side. "Why are you defending Snape?"James asked, looking back up at Severus, who looked just as stumped as James. "Because, you only punish people if theyve done something wrong."Lilly said. "But your talking about Severus."He said, pointing at Snape. "I understand that, but he didnt do anything, if your going to jynx him, at lest have a good reason when you have to explain it to McGonagle. Im not defending him..."Lilly said, making the smirk on Snapes face disappear."Im keeping you from making a fool of yourself."She finished, then James looked around and saw Professor McGonagle standing in a doorway.Lilly smiled and walked away.James glared at Severus, then ran after Lilly. She was walking rather quickly down to the Great Hall.He grabbed her arm and spun her around. "Do you realise how much trouble you kept me out of?"He asked, a huge smile on his face.Lilly shook her head."McGonagle said that if I jynxed Snape in front of her again, I would be expelled." James said. Lilly didnt say anything.James hugged her. He finally let her go and Lilly's cheeks were bright red.He took a step back."Uhh..sorry."He said.Lilly smiled. "Its ok."Lilly said.She shifted her bag on her shoulder and just looked up at him. Someone came around the corner and Lilly saw, just over James' shoulder, Severus and a couple other Slytherins standing there watching them.James turned and saw them. "Well Potter, you got lucky that your little girlfriend was there, or youd be expelled."Severus said, a grin creeping onto his face. Lilly crossed her arms and glared at him."Oh Im sorry Evans, did I offend you?"He asked, laughing.James stepped in front of her. "Leave her out of this."James said, blocking Lilly from veiw.Lilly put a hand on his shoulder. "Dont do anything.McGonagle could be anywhere."She wispered into his ear.He nodded.The Slytherins pulled out their wands, but James didnt. "Whats wrong Potter? Too afraid of getting expelled?"One of the Slytherins asked.James growled and reached for his wand but Lilly pushed his hand away from his pocket. "No."She hissed. A slytherin stepped around a corner behind Lilly and she turned around. The taller boy walked towards her,reaching for his wand.Lilly stepped forward and jump kicked his hand away from his pocket.He shook his hand in pain."Dont think about it."Lilly said, kicking his other hand away.He lunged at her and she dodged, he hit the wall. Severus, along with the rest of the slythins, except the one who was after Lilly, had their wands pointing at James.Lilly pulled out her wand and pointed it at the slytherins."Petrificus Totalous!" She said and several of the Slytherins were frozen solid. Snape looked at them, the only one not frozen. The Slytherin who had chased her ran at her, but she didnt see him and he tackled her, one hand grabbing her hand with the wand in it. Severus smiled. LIlly kicked the Slytherin in the stomach, but he still didnt let go.He yanked the wand from her hand and threw it to Severus, who caught it easily. Lilly kicked him in the stomach again.This time he let go of her hand and clutched his stomach.She rolled away and jumped up.She looked over her shoulder and saw a step of stairs. "Lilly!"James yelled. Lilly turned, just as the Slytherin rammed into her, sending her rolling down the stairs. James turned and ran down the stairs after her, Snape and the slytherin ran back to the Slytherin Common Room. Lilly layed in a heap at the bottom of the stairs.James jumped down the last three stairs and dropped to his knees next to her.He rolled her onto her back.She opened her eyes, squinting in the light.He touched a cut on her cheek and she flinched.Blood was running down her cheek from the cut. She reached for her wand, but remembered that Severus had it. "I'll get it back for you."James said, frowning. "Why are you being so nice to me this year?"Lilly asked, wiping some of the blood off on the sleeve of her robes.James didnt know what to say. Tell her the truth, that youve always loved her. One voice in his head said. She'll hate you if you do.Said another.Besides, Lilly has never shown interest in you. THe one girl at Hogwarts who didnt blush or giggle at the sight of you. "SHUT UP!"James yelled. Lilly blinked."Sorry..not you"He said quickly and Lilly looked even more confused. Nice going Jamsie. Now she thinks your a freak.A third voice said. James shook his head. "James are you-" "POTTER!? EVANS?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"McGonagle screeched. Lilly and James jumped and stood up. "I fell down the stairs."Lilly said quickly. "How is it you fell?"McGonagle asked. "Uhh...clumsy?"Lilly asked.Ha! Clumsy?!? Thats a laugh.Youve only took dance classes for 3 years and are a champion iceskater. "Very well, be a little more careful next time."McGonagle said, then turned on her heal and left. "Clumsy eh?"James asked.Lilly smiled. "First thing that came to mind."She explained.James nodded.Lilly looked down at her watch."Ive got a library book to return."She said and turned towards the library. Walking quickly, she went to the library.James ran after her and walked next to her. After she returned the book, James pulled her out of the library.