This chapter is dedicated to OliveTreeHugger. Thanks for being the first to review!

The next morning dawned crisp and cool with a few light clouds, perfect weather for Quidditch. Or so James said. Lily made her way to the pitch with Mariel and Alex at her side, the prospect of seeing James on a broomstick a very exciting one, indeed.

"Merlin, Lily! Slow down! James will still be there when we get down to the pitch!" said Alex.

"It's not James I want to see," said Lily, even though her face was turning red, "I want to watch Nate and Avery play. I've never seen them, and you haven't, either!"

"Sure, Lily," said Mariel. "You know, if you do fancy James, you can just tell us. We won't make fun of you or anything. He really is a good guy now. I don't know, I guess he's changed from last year." she finished. Lily just looked straight ahead.

She fancied James Potter.

What had the world come to?

JAMES POV

This is gonna be one helluva tryout. I can't wait to see what Nate and Avery have to bring to the table. It's a good thing they play the positions they do, otherwise I would be extremely worried about filling the team. Looking around at the comforting feel of the Quidditch pitch, I can't help but keep a sense of giddy anxiety at bay. I really hope that Lily comes down to watch tryouts. After she kissed me last night (alright, it was hardly even a kiss, but I'll take ANYTHING), I can hardly wait to see her again. I look down through the stands, searching for the flash of red hair that belongs to Lily Evans.

And… there she is.

She looks up at me with her hand shielding her eyes and waves. My stomach does a few backflips.

Tonight on patrol, I'll tell her how I feel, one more time. But tonight…it'll be different. I know it.

NORMAL POV

While the tryouts went on, Lily harbored a sense of disbelief. How did it happen that she had been at Hogwarts for SIX YEARS, and yet had never once come to a match? Lily shook her head, then looked up to see Nate make a spectacular save and James smile. Her heart fluttered. It looks like he just filled the position of keeper.

"Did you see how great he was! When he made that third save, I thought I would about die! He'll go professional, I tell you-" Mariel cut Alex off before she could finish.

"Why don't you two just get a room then, hmmm?" joked Mariel. Alex narrowed her eyes, clearly under the impression that jokes of that nature weren't funny. "Kidding, Lex! Jeez! He's a great guy, to be sure. If you do like him, none of us would be complaining." Lily nodded in agreement. The girls were chatting so animatedly that they didn't notice Nate come into the stands. He looked very windswept and rugged, and generally very attractive, which Alex clearly noticed. He took a seat next to her.

"Hello, kind lady! How nice of you to come and observe our humble Quidditch tryout!" Alex giggled and elbowed him in the stomach.

"Thanks for being so chivalrous." She added, then shivered. "I think I'm going to head back to the castle, guys. I'm getting a little cold." Mariel and Lily opened their mouths to reply, but before they could, Nate said-

"Here, I'll give you a ride."

"Ok." whispered Alex. Nate climbed onto his broomstick, held out his hand for Alex's, who, blushing, took it, climbed on behind him, and sighed. Nate, looking very happy, kicked off from the ground and headed back to the castle. The remaining two girls watched them until they disappeared.

"I wonder if we'll get back to the common room tonight and Alex will FINALLY have a boyfriend." said Lily. Mariel shrugged.

"Who knows? This is ALEX we're talking about here," she added with an eye roll, "Merlin knows there are plenty of suitors for the lovely Alexandra." The girls smirked, and then together turned to the sky as Avery made goal after goal against James who, albeit poorly, put up a valiant show protecting the hoops. Once this final tryout was over, with Avery getting the remaining chasing position, Mariel walked back to the castle with Sirius. Lily, on the other hand, had told Mariel to go along without her, as she wanted to wait for James.

James was congratulating the players on a good tryout and packing up the supplies when Lily came down to the field to talk to him.

"Hi James. That was a great tryout today, huh?" said Lily nonchalantly. James smiled and ruffled his hair, which for some reason didn't annoy Lily half as much as it used to.

"Yeah, we're shaping up to have a great team this year," he said. "Have you ever flown before?"

"No," Lily said, with a smile. "I've never had the opportunity. I was sick during our lessons in first year." James looked a little nervous, but smiled all the while.

"Do you want to fly to the castle with me?" James said quietly.

"I'd love to." James could barely hear Lily's reply.

James clambered onto his broomstick roughly, sitting Lily in front of him.

"You ready?" Lily gave only a miniscule nod in response. She closed her eyes, and all of a sudden, she could feel the wind rushing through her hair as she and James flew high above the Hogwarts grounds.

James had never felt this happy while on a broomstick before, which was saying something. He leaned forward slightly to smell Lily's hair. She smelled of flowers and oranges, and once James smelled it, he was addicted.

Lily was happy. In control of the broom, with James sitting behind her, holding her in his arms, there was no other place she'd rather be.

They reached the massive castle doors, which lay propped open on this beautiful day, and Lily landed the broom with help from James.

"Thanks for the ride, James," said Lily, "I can't remember the last time I've had so much fun."

"No problem, Lily," he said and smiled, "You can ride my broomstick anytime!" He ruffled his hair, and Lily smiled. These mannerisms, to her, were now what made James, well, James.

"Thanks for the offer, wise guy. I may just take you up on it one day!" laughed Lily.

As she entered the castle, unaware of the messy haired boy who now wore a goofy grin on his face standing behind her, Lily had never felt more happy. Patrolling tonight was definitely going to be fun…

Not the greatest chapter, honestly... please review, any criticism is greatly appreciated! Thank you!