I've always wanted to write a story about Lily figuring out the resemblance of her Patronus to James's. This is sloppy in my opinion but I just really wanted to post it, so here it is!


Lily Evans excelled at every subject at Hogwarts, she received nothing less then Outstanding's in every single one of her subjects. Which is why it was so surprising that she was unable to produce the proper spell in Defense Against the Dark Arts.

The whole class stood there in awe as she thought desperately to herself about the happiest she had ever been.

Family? No, Petunia only ever referred to her as 'freak' these days and her parents took to fawning over Petunia's new boyfriend too much to notice Lily anymore.

School? No, as much as it was an accomplishment to do so well, it was more expected so it became less sweet when the end product arrived.

Sports? Absolutely not. No details of first year flying required.

Friends? Lily glanced over at Mary who was glaring angrily in the direction of Sirius Black, who was in turn flirting shamelessly with their fellow roommate Rebecca. Lily had been in the middle of the whole Mary-versus-Rebecca-for-Sirius-Black fight for almost 3 weeks now. And she was sick and tired of it. Then her eyes sought Alice Pruett, but the girl was looking instead at her current (since 4th year) boyfriend Frank Longbottom. Lily couldn't remember the last time she spent any real time with Alice. Then there was Severus. Lily hadn't spoken to the git in nearly 2 years. And that wasn't long enough, he was positively insufferable.

Love Life? Ha. Unless you call being flirted with by James Potter a relationship that would produce happy memories real, then she was shit out of luck. But even that had gone to hell. Lily didn't know what had happened, one day he's flirting and asking her out and she's rolling her eyes and breezing past him without difficulty, the next he's moved on.

Moved on.

That's right, nearly 6 years he was 'in love with her' and suddenly he's not interested. Sure he still speaks to her but he hasn't asked her out in nearly 6 months, and as much as she hates to admit it, its infuriating her.

She bloody misses him.

Well shit.

There you go, Lily-dependable-friendly-kind-never-falling-for-James-Potter's-stupid-charm-Evans has admitted it to herself.

She fancies James Potter.

She snaps out of her trance to see every students eyes on her, she cant help the blush that rises to her cheeks at being caught not being able to do something, and she attempts to divert her eyes and sulk into the background.

Then the professor swoops in, "Would anyone like to try the Patronus Charm? Its very difficult mind you and don't be too disappointed when you cant do it at first. Anyone?"

"Well gee Professor, now that your filled me with encouragement" Sirius drawled stepping up slightly.

He got a chorus of giggles from the girls in the class and a low chuckle from the sane population.

He raised his wand and said almost lazily, "Expecto Patronum" out of his wand a spurt of light, then a gigantic shaggy black dog leapt out and trotted, or flouted really, over to the Professor, who couldn't quite keep his mouth closed.

Then he a very Sirius fashion the dog ran up to the nearest pretty girl and ran circles around her, the girl happened to be Rebecca. Even his freaking Patrunus had charm because Rebecca grinned and looked up at Sirius who only made one comment, "He has good taste" then offered her a wink and the dog disappeared.

Merlin, Mary is going to be unpleasant tonight. Lily thought.

The Professor had now regained his thoughts, "20 points to Gryffindor, and splendid Mr. Black, how splendid. Anyone else?"

Remus volunteered next, producing another large creature, but he waved it off before Lily had a good look at what it was.

"Take another 20 points for Gryffindor! Just splendid, anyone else?"

James was talking in hushed tones with Sirius, pointing frantically out the window and making gestures about something or other. Lily couldn't help but notice when he moved his hands a lot his glasses would slide down his face and he only ever corrected the left side, leaving them slightly lopsided. It was adorable.

"I'll do it" every head turned, Peter Pettigrew. Never thought to see that say when Peter actually did something in class, who knew he could even actually do magic?

He produced a rat, given it was larger then a normal rat it was also hairy and slightly disgusting. The girls in the class moved and squealed disgusted with the rat.

Lily was infuriated, she needed to be able to do this, she concentrated and turned away from the class, facing a wall she conjured as many happy memories as she could and cast the spell over and over again.

"Don't work yourself too hard Evans" Sirius called slyly as he sauntered over, "Professor wanted me to help you out. He knew what a difficult time you were having so you…"

Lily whirled on him and shot him her best death glare, then furiously took to trying the spell again.

This time when Lily cast the charm she got a wisp of silver that lasted longer then most in the class, discounting the 3 boys who seemed to master the spell instantly.

"Hey Prongsie" Sirius called, breaking Lily's concentration and thus killing her Patronus, "Come' ere mate"

"I told you to stop calling me Prongsie, it really wasn't that funny" James (holy shit how long as he been James not Potter?) said sullenly as he strode over to where Lily was determinedly ignoring both Sirius and now Jam-POTTER.

"Oh mate it really was that funny. Good thing you ditched her quick, her disgusting pet names were only the tip of the ice burg, how did you stand the snogging, honestly-"

"Can it Padfoot" James said rolling his eyes, well Merlin, they were talking about some girl that he was seeing evidently, Lily felt like she was enduring many horrible tortures all at once.

"What are you doing over here?" he said randomly, glancing around the area and skipping over Lily completely.

"Watching Evans fail" Sirius remarked slowly, "It feels good" he said evenly.

Lily whirled around, "Would you two kindly shut the bloody hell up before I Hex you?"

James sparred her a grin/smirk that had her weak at the knees before she turned away to blush to herself.

Lily shut her eyes tightly and conjured up her memories of any happy time in her life and calmly yelled, "Expecto Patronum!"

And the silver wisp shot out at full force, carefully taking the form of a glorious silver doe in the middle of the room, every single eye in the class was on her doe.

Lily was thrilled, not only had she finally done it, but her Patrunus was magnificent. Her doe was beautiful and majestic, strong and feminine. It was Lily through and through and she could not have picked a better Patronus to embody her!

The only thing that took away from the experience was Sirius's hysterical laugher, "Prongs! Mate, its just freaking rich!" that broke her concentration and she lost the doe.

She turned to him with a glare on her face but stopped when she saw Peter's mouth open as he tugged James's sleeve, Remus smirking and Sirius doubled over. James was slack jawed.

"What? Didn't think that I could do it? Actually Potter I haven't seen your Patrunus yet" she goaded, her hands on her hips.

James brought his hands up to his hair and ruffled, a nervous habit that used to irk her that now only wet her panties, and he mumbled, "Yeah…"

"Go on then Prongs, lets have it" Sirius said gleefully, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow in anticipation at Lily.

The whole class was waiting for the infamous and idolized James Potter to demonstrate his Patrunus, but he only had eyes for Lily in that second and it made her feel more then special.

"Naw, I cant" he muttered weakly, and even as she let the grin slide onto her face Lily knew he was lying and it bothered her more than anything that he wouldn't show them.

Sirius gaped at him, "Come off it Potter, show them, show her"

Even Remus was urging him to demonstrate his surely perfect Patronus.

Shakily James raised his wand and the whole class grinned in anticipation, what would his Patronus be, something strong and manly, confident and brave. But what?

He glanced at Lily and then back into nothingness, "Expecto Patronum" he said quietly and out of his wand burst the brightest silver light yet, when lily blinked away the darkness fogging her vision she made out the antlers then the head, then the rest of the body of a…. stag?

She was first struck with its beauty and elegance, then she realized the resemblance to her own Patronus.

Impossible.

Im-freaking-possible.

Her eyes grew wide as the murmurs of the class grew and her eyes flew to James Potter, he looked sheepishly at her and she blushed again.

Well shit. Maybe they were perfect for each other.