On cold winter days it wasn't unusual for Hogwarts ground's to be empty from the laughter and activities of students. Today was no exception. The trees leaves were thinning and falling to the dying grass. It had been raining the night before so the air was damp and cool clinging to exposed skin. Small patches of mud stuck out of the dry grass blades. The only spot of vibrant color came from underneath one tree. Two friends. Two best friends actually, had come outside to escape the stuffy atmosphere of the school.

Long since forgotten were their assignments, their books and parchment's set aside neatly because of the certain neat red head. Now Lily had her head nestled comfortably into James side and he sat propped against the tree, his one arm stretched back and bent to support his head. Both were covered with blankets that Lily's mother had knitted her a few summers ago.

People in the castle wouldn't notice them so far off and to most it wouldn't even occur possible that people were crazy enough to go outside in such miserable weather. The sky was gray and murky, almost scary looking.

"Puddlemere United or the Harpies?" Lily asked curiously.

"Holyhead Harpies? Are you kidding me Freckles? Even the Chudley Cannons are better than them!"

"Hah!" Lily snorted, "you're just saying that because their women!"

"i have nothing against female quidditch players. McKinnon plays on my team doesn't she?" James sniffed offended.

Lily rolled her eyes and fumbled along the ground for her discarded wand. When her thin fingers finally clasped the familiar wood she cast another warming charm around them.

She heard the rustling of the Bertie Botts every flavor jelly beans bag in his lap, then the very obvious loud and obnoxious chewing began quickly after.

Lily slapped his leg playfully and with a grin he relented and chewed with a closed mouth.

Resting on his strong body, she looked up through the branches and into the gray sky. She loved their afternoons like this. When it was just the two of them, talking about everything and yet nothing. She wouldn't trade these times for anything.

His golden hand obscured her vision as it came in front of her. A little brown jelly bean was pinched between his thumb and and index finger. Lily beamed up at him appreciatively and opened her mouth. The bean fall between her pink lips and melted into her mouth. She groaned. Caramel. Her favorite.

They sat quietly. Appreciating one another's silent company.

"So, who's hotter? Sarah Michelle or Gwen Avery?" Lily finally asked. James snorted, "can I pick neither."

"Nope," Lily popped her 'P' loudly and grinned up into his dazzling face.

"I really don't find them appealing at all."

This time it was Lily's turn to snort, rather unladylike James thought with amusement, "come on Potter. Don't lie to me. Every male in this damn school fantasizes about atleast one of them. Their like supermodels. Have you heard my theory about them having induced illegal Veela blood?"

James arched an eyebrow and with obvious effort kept from laughing at her serious face.

He sighed, "fine." A crease between his eyebrows marred the godlike beauty of his features as he thought. Finally, after a lot of impatient pokes in the side from a certain red head, he said, "Sarah's tits with Avery's legs and arse. But put a bag over both their heads and tape their mouths shut. I'd fuck that."

"JAMES!" Lily cried half mortified half hysterical. She writhed in giggles and he shrugged and ate more jelly beans.

"come on, don't girls do that?" he asked interested.

"what? Dismantle body parts and put them on other boys?" Lily asked incredulously and tried to get her giggles under control.

"Hmm, well I guess you've never done it then. Go on. Give it a go."

"WHAT? NO."

"not much of a Gryffinor are you?" James mocked. Lily sighed and sent him a whithering look, "oh shut up Potter. I'll do it. But not because of your silly Gryffindor bravery jibes. Those stopped working after third year."

His doubtful glance made her stick out her tongue childishly. James chuckled, the vibrations sending chills down Lily's spine.

She cleared her throat, "Diggory's bum and Longbottoms abs. Happy now?"

"Pretty much," James smirked, "glad I taught you something new today lils. Though I didn't think you had a problem with Diggory's abs considering how you watch him at quidditch practice."

Lily's face turned pink and she couldn't splutter out a good response.

"I never expected you too fancy Amos. Honestly, Freckles you could do better."

"That was ages ago," Lily mumbled.
"you were staring at him two days ago Lily." He stated factually.

"I'm allowed to appreciate a blokes six pack," Lily snapped, "that doesn't mean I still fancy him."

"yeah? When did you stop liking him?" Hogwarts' golden boy inquired curiously. He sat up a little straighter.

Lily sat up and folded her arms around her legs. She propped her chin onto her knees and quirked her head to the side.

"a few months ago actually," Lily muttered, her cheeks reddening. Two weeks after Emma and him started dating.

"You never told me that," he said.

Lily rolled her eyes in exasperation, "why on earth would I tell you that James. I tell those sorts of things to Emma."

He laughed. A carefree husky laugh that sent even the most smart and level headed girls into a mindless fog.

"yeah I guess you're right. Sometimes I forget you aren't just one of the guys."

Lily forced a choked laugh past her lips, "yeah. Haha. Same. Sometimes I feel like asking you for a tampon." LIE, Lily's mind screamed.

"uggh, gross." James face transformed into a disgusted face that sent Lily laughing in stitches.

"sorry, sorry. Too much information."

"yeah, just a bit Freckles."

Lily shook her head with a large smile and leaned over to snatch a lemon flavored bean from the bag still safely perched in his lap. Her hair fell over her shoulder like a lava curtain. She popped the bean into her mouth and looked up when James twisted a lock of fiery hair around his finger. He stared at it. A mesmerized glaze covered his hazel eyes and he turned his finger every which way to see the different red colors in her hair. Lily giggled at his face and he looked down at her lazily.

"what are you doing?"

He shrugged and pulled her down so that her back was flush against his.

"Playing with your hair," he muttered. His hot breath whispered across her head. He gently massaged her head and combed her hair.

"it's really soft," he declared, "i need to borrow your conditioner."

Lily laughed and couldn't stop laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation. James Potter, Womanizer and all around heartthrob of Hogwarts, Quidditch legend, the prankster, ego filled, billionaire was playing with her hair!

"Are you laughing at me?" he asked incredulously. His strong hands had no trouble flipping her over so that she was facing him. Her legs straddling his waist. The jelly beans fell to the floor, forgotten by the two teens.

"N-n-n-o," Lily spluttered through her laughter.

He grinned, "no one laughs at me Miss Evans. You should know that."

"I'm not, I'm not," she said quickly and tried scooting away from him. The dangerously mischievous glint of his eyes was scaring her, "I'm not James." She clamped her mouth shut, the edges of her lips twitching up.

"Oh I think you are, maybe I should teach you a listen Freckles."
"James," Lily warned and her large emerald eyes pleaded for mercy as his hands suddenly attacked her stomach.

"NOOOOOO!" She screamed but it was pointless. She had to endure her punishment. So they rolled on the floor. His hands mercilessly attacked every part of her that he could find and she convulsed with uncontrollable laughter.

"st- stop!" Lily gasped and he finally ceased, collapsing next to her with huge guffaws of laughter. She rolled her eyes and took huge gulps of air to steady her frantically beating heart.. not to mention her lunges that so dearly needed oxygen.

"JAMES! POTTER!" she shrieked angrily and punched his arm. This only succeeded in making him laugh harder. Lily sighed and settled back into the ground. The grass was prickly and damp, altogether uncomfortable but Lily couldn't bring herself to mind when she was watching her love laugh and act so carefree. She considered herself a very privileged person to be able to see this side of him. Very few people did. Many wished they could.

James propped up on one elbow and twirled another lock of hair between his fingers.

"What is WITH you and my hair," Lily said, her voice laced with fake irritation that he ignored.

"i was just wondering..." he mused, "if I set your hair on fire, could we tell the difference?"

Lily gasped and slapped his hand away. She retracted from him as far as possible and stroked her hair protectively.

"You most certainly would see a difference!" Lily shouted, "for one I'd be screaming."

"Yeah? Wanna test that theory Evans?"

"You wouldn't..." Lily trailed off uncertainly.

"Just need my wand. It wouldn't even be dangerous Lil. It'd just be a charm. You know, to see how it would look."

Lily's face paled and she glanced at their bags a few feet away.

"Come on Freckles? Just a little experiment. Completely safe- HEY!" Lily bolted for their bags. She flung them around her shoulders and didn't pause to look behind her before she made a sprint for the castle.

"Stay away from me Potter!" she exclaimed shrilly. His loud laughter trailed after her. She looked back only once to see that he was easily keeping up. She huffed angrily. He was teasing her. Stupid quidditch practice. It didn't matter that she used every ounce of energy in her body to run, he was steadily behind her jogging.

She turned abruptly and he almost crashed into her small frame. She shoved the bag into his arms and snapped, "i hate you and I hate you're muscles."

"That's not a very nice thing to say Freckles, some people would get offended."

"Some people don't have a head the size of a quidditch pitch." Lily fired back at him before stomping off. Her breathe was coming hard from the exercise, some of the only exercise she'd done all week. She really should start running.

"you're not very fit Freckles. Sorry." James stated seriously. His long legs overtaking her strides easily so that he came to walk beside her.

"I am in perfect physical shape thank-you very much," Lily replied haughtily.

"You know sometimes you really do remind me of that prissy little book worm prude you used to be... oh wait! You still are!" James laughed goodnaturedly at his own joke.

"haha, hilarious James," Lily rolled her eyes.

"Aww come on Lil, I'm sorry." James grabbed her forearm and pulled her to a stop. There was no point in fighting him in physical strength. He was giving her his sad eyes. No point fighting those either.

His attractiveness really wasn't fair. People weren't supposed to look as good-looking as him.

Lily sighed and smiled, "don't you have a date with Emma tonight?"

"SHIT!" Lily folded her arms and bit back a smile that he'd forgotten. Instead she planted a disappointed look along her pretty face.

"You better get going then Potter."

He ran his hands through his hair, "she's going to be pissed."

"just say we had heads stuff that ran late," Lily shrugged.

James laughed, "aren't you supposed to be running to her and telling her every little bad thing I do."

"ha, lucky for you I don't or she'd have dumped your sorry arse ages ago."

"bye Lil."

"bye."

He turned and began the walk down the hall.

"James."

"yeah Lil?"
"You're like a bestfriend to me.. you know that right?"
James scratched the back of his neck with a worried face, "Uh.. well that's awkward cause you see I already have three bestmates Lily. Don't know if you've heard of us? The marauders.. pretty great group of blokes.."

"James.." Lily laughed.

"yeah, yeah. You're my bestfriend too, blah blah. Mushy girly stuff."

Lily smiled, "get outta here Potter before I have to fix more of your messes."

He grinned and then he was gone. Running down the hall in haste. He was already pretty late for his date.

Lily walked down the halls quietly. Her tiny feet made soft thuds on the ground. Images of the perfect afternoon flew before her eyes and then she was infront of the Gryffindor common room entrance. She didn't feel like going to the heads dorm just yet. The boy she was interested in finding would usually be found in a side room, dark corner or broom closet but tonight she hoped he was taking a break from his numerous girlfriends.

"Lily dear," the fatlady exclaimed happily, "how are you pretty girl?"

"wonderful thanks," Lily smiled up at her old friend. Once when she was in first year she'd forgotten the password and had to sit outside half the night until Proffesor Mconogall found her. The fatlady and her had bonded in those few hours so that Lily found herself calling her a friend.

"That Potter boy isn't causing you any trouble is he?" the fatlady asked.

"Oh no," Lily smiled, "these days I quite like his company."

"humf," she looked unconvinced, "well just you tell me if he is Lily dear. I'll sort him out for you."
"i will." Lily assured her, "fubblewish."

"come visit me more dear. I told Dumbledore not to give you a new dorm. So selfish of him to take one of my favorite students," she shook her head and swung open to reveal the warm and inviting room Lily had spent her childhood in. She stepped onto the bright Gryffindor carpets. Just as she had hoped Sirius Black was indeed in the common room.

"YES! TAKE THAT REMUS!" Sirius bellowed. He jumped to his feet and proceeded to dance around the disgruntled werewolf-boy.

"lucky," Remus muttered.

"LUCK! Bah! I beat you!" Sirius mocked and fell back into his seat.

"hello boys," Lily greeted and sat her bum on Sirius's arm rest, "having fun?"

"Hey Lily," Remus smiled.
"Lily Bean!" Sirius exploded and she jumped, startled. A few of the younger students looked over curiously but the older kids, who more used to the marauders, continued on with whatever they were doing.

"Did you and Jamsie have fun?" Sirius winked.
"uh-ha," Lily laughed and shoved his shoulder.
"and where is my bestmate now?" Sirius asked and looked around, "first he ditches us for some stupid red head," Lily rolled her eyes, "and now he's still not here?"

"Emma and him have a date."

"ughh," Sirius complained, "Emma this, Emma that. It's all he talks about. Blah blah blah. You'd think he had better taste."

"Padfoot," Remus growled in warning.

Lily felt like someone had shoved a hot piece of coal down her throat and it landed on her heart. He talked about Emma that much?

"Seriously Moony. He should go out with Lily, you two would be a perfect couple. At least than I wouldn't have to gag every time I looked at him with his girlfriend."

"That's because you and Lily are friends. Maybe if you made an effort with Emma you would like her. I know it would mean a lot to Prongs," Remus stated diplomatically.

Much too hysterical laughter burst from Lily and she gasped, "James! And Me! Haha, that's a laugh Sirius. Where do you come up with these things Black! Potter and I would NEVER work. Hahahaha."

"whatever," Sirius mumbled, "i still think you'd make a good match. I think I know my bestmate okay? And Emma isn't right for him."
Remus rolled his eyes and held up a deck of card, "would you like to play Lily?"

Sweet Remus, always diffusing awkward situations.
"sure," Lily smiled softly but suddenly she didn't feel much like playing. She felt like crawling into a ball and going to sleep. Maybe in her dreams she could forget about him.. or better, maybe in her dreams she could actually have him.