The fourth in the Reflection series, starring Lily Evans and James Potter. Please read and review!

Summary: Fourth in the Reflection series. James' head has swelled tremendously over the years to five times too large, and now in fourth year, he has started asking Lily out.

Disclaimer: I don't think I have enough money to hire a trained assassin…I'm stuck with writing this for fun, not profits.

4. Fourth Time Is A Charm

"Why won't she go out with me?"

James Potter, fourth year, was sitting in his dormitory, talking to his three best friends, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew.

Peter shrugged, and went back to eating some of Honeydukes' finest chocolate.

Remus ignored him.

Sirius shrugged. "Dunno, mate. I mean, you're popular – there's even a James Potter Fan Club!"

"Perhaps she doesn't like you because of your ridiculous flirting and showing-off around the fan club," Remus suggested.

Sirius scoffed. "Come on, Remus. Get real."

"Think about it. This is Lily Evans we're talking about, not some brazen bimbo only out for a snog session in the broom closet," Remus told them.

"Well, why don't we examine that concept?" Sirius interrupted with a posh accent. "Remus, you analyse everything. You can help us."

"What about me?" Peter asked, dumping his chocolate on the floor.

"Er –" Sirius began.

"Why don't you go grab the map from James' trunk and find Evans?" Remus proposed.

As Peter looked for it, the other three sat in a circle.

"Right, James. Tell us what happened on the other three times you've asked Lily out," Remus continued.

"And don't leave anything out," Sirius warned. "We need to hear all your bigheaded comments, too."

James sighed, and glared at his friends.

"Fine."

James was walking across the common room, towards Lily, who was doing her homework at one of the little round tables.

"Hey, Evans. Am I dead?"

"What are you on about, Potter?"

"I must be dead, 'cause this is heaven!"

"I can send you up there for a nice, long visit if you like, Potter."

Remus winced. Sirius was rolling around on the floor in hysterical laughter.

"That – that – has got – to be the most – hilarious – pick up line – ever!" Sirius said between gasps.

"James, mate. That was bad," Remus said. "Tell me the next try was better!"

Lily was in the library, in her favourite spot since first year, the back left corner. James knew exactly where to find her.

And find her, he did.

"Wow, Evans! You must be a hell of a thief because you stole my heart from across the room."

"I'll be sure to give it back. I think it's in my trunk, in about twenty pieces."

"You mean you really had it?"

"I was using it as a dart board."

James grinned. "She said she'd be sure to give it back! That means she had it!"

"But…she was using it as a dart board," Sirius pointed out.

"A tiny, insignificant detail," James said dismissively.

Lily Evans. Chocoholic. In Great Hall. Sitting. Eating chocolate cake. James Potter. Quidditch extraordinaire. In hallway. Walking. Looking for Lily.

"Hey Lily Marie Evans."

"Potter, you know my name?"

"Don't you?"

"Get away from me."

"Wouldn't we look great on a wedding cake together?"

SPLAT!

"Evans! Why'd you throw the cake at me?"

"To see if you looked great on it."

James sighed. "She'll never go out with me."

"Well, mate, you know what they say!" Sirius said cheerfully. "Fourth time's a charm!"

"I thought that was third," Peter said, confused.

"Shut up. Now, we have to fix all the mistakes you made, so that this time, Lily will want to go out with you," Remus said.

"Yeah," Sirius agreed. "Stop acting like a cocky git. And use this pick-up line. It worked for me last Saturday!"

---

Lily Evans was late. Late for breakfast, and, at this rate, she'd be late for her first class too. The morning couldn't be much worse.

Enter James Potter.

"Hey, Evans."

"Potter, why exactly are you belittling my existence just now?"

"Wow, your eyes are blue, like the ocean."

"Blue, you say?"

"Yeah, and baby, I'm lost at sea."

"Potter, my eyes are green. Why would I go out with you? You don't know anything about me!"

James grinned cockily.

Lily glared. "Honestly, not while I'm about to eat. Ask me when I've got easy access to toilets," she snapped, and then turned abruptly and continued into the Great Hall.

James grinned again. "Did you hear that? She told me to ask her again!"

Sirius was laughing again. "You fell for it! Blue eyes!"

James glared at him. "Thanks, Sirius. Knew I could count on you," he muttered.

"Er – James? You know Lily said that she wanted easy access to toilets when you ask her out?" Remus said hesitantly.

"Yeah, so she could go and gossip with her friends about how the handsome and popular James Potter asked her out!" James exclaimed arrogantly.

Remus winced. "If you keep up that way, she'll never come within a ten-foot radius of you! She meant that she wanted a place to vomit when you ask her."

James momentarily deflated. "No, she didn't. She was blinded by my astounding wit and good looks. She's just in denial."

Remus threw up his hands and followed Lily into the Great Hall.

---

Later in Transfiguration, Lily chanced a look at James, just to see if her message had sunk in. Remus had hinted to her not to get her hopes up.

James found his eyes regularly wandering during Transfiguration, first lesson, over to the redheaded beauty two rows ahead. She tilted her head slightly, and suddenly her vivid green eyes met his hazel ones.

James grinned arrogantly, gave her a quick wink and ruffled up his already messy black hair. Lily scowled.

Lily thought back to the previous three times she had been asked to Hogsmeade – or a broom closet – by James Potter.

How could someone become such an arrogant berk, with an ego the size of Britain, before they turned fourteen? He dared to think that Lily would date someone for a day or two, only to be dumped soon after because some 'requirements' weren't met, or because he got bored?

Lily was scowling fiercely at her parchment, and had unknowingly stabbed three holes in her parchment in her rage.

"Miss. Evans? Do you think you would be able to inform the class how inanimate objects are transfigured into animals?" McGonagall's voice buzzed irritatingly around Lily's head.

"Miss. Evans!" her sharp voice cut through fury, Lily discovered.

"Erm, yes, Professor?"

"Can you answer the question?"

Lily's eyes widened. She peeked at the board. It held diagrams of turning matches into needles. Not helpful.

"Uh – well – no, Professor," Lily stammered.

"I thought as much. Miss. Evans, surely you haven't forgotten that anyone who does not pay attention in my class will not only have a greater chance at failing, but will also write the chapter out?" McGonagall asked.

Lily sighed. "No, Professor."

"You would do well to remember it in future. Hand in pages 241-257 to me by Wednesday evening."

"You're lucky, Evans," James whispered to her. "When we get in trouble, we have to hand in twenty pages to her by the end of lunch!"

Lily turned back to face the board, shaking, resolutely determining not to speak to Potter for as long as they both lived.

It was Potter's fault! He did this – it all led back to him in the end! He was the one who asked her out this morning, making her even later. He was the one who's always so dumb! He was the one who winked and ruffled his hair like an egotistical prick!

As Lily ranted in her head her memories of James from last year, his love for his parents and dependability to his friends were forgotten.

Note: the pick-up lines were from a 'cheesy pick-up line' website. Not mine. I made up Lily's comments after, though.

I can't believe the rate that I've been updating! I hate to say it, but a fair few good things come to an end. Sad, isn't it? The next chapter is turning out to be longer than I expected, so it might take a few days.

Please review!

-L