Disclaimer: I don't own anything. It is all J.K. Rowling's. Do not sue.
When Lily awoke, the first thing she noticed was the slight weight in her hair. As her eyes opened, she came face to face with a sleeping James. Her first reaction was to reach for her wand and jinx his brains out but remembering what he had done for her the night before, she stopped herself. As she watched him, his eyes fluttered open and he sat up, ruffling his hair.
"Good morning, Evans." James' deep tenor voice vibrated in her chest and her heart fluttered. "I hope I didn't scare you. You just fell asleep and I didn't want to leave you alone in case he tried something else." James yawned and stretched, arching his back which cracked audibly.
"Thank you." Lily propped herself up on her elbows and made to sit up.
"Wait. Hold on, you can't sit up, not yet." James flung out an arm and pushed her back down. "Remember, you don't have any clothes on and I don't think you'd like it too much if I saw- you know." Lily was touched. Considering how long James had been trying to catch her attentions, he was really being thoughtful about her feelings. And he was right; she wouldn't have liked it if he saw her in only her birthday suit.
"Ok, I'm standing up now. Close your eyes. No peeking. If I catch you, James Potter, I won't be afraid to turn you into a toad." She flung back the bedclothes once she'd made sure he couldn't see a thing. As she stood, she peeked at him just in case and he'd actually turned his back on her. She hurried to her closet, grabbed a fresh suit and closed the door to the bathroom, where she threw on a skirt, shirt and her robes, almost falling over herself in her haste.
"Hey Evans, you'd better hurry up. We're already late to breakfast." James called. Almost frantically, she got herself ready and stepped out. James stared at her a moment before coming to his senses.
"Um, I'm going to head on down so we don't arrive at the same time, ok? Besides, it'll give you some time to get your things together." He picked up his bookbag, turned and disappeared. She threw her books into her bag, snatched up her wand and raced down the corridor after him.
In the hallway before she stepped into the Great Hall, she slowed down and forced herself to breathe deeply so as to appear calm, cool, and collected. With a look of supreme indifference, she walked to the nearest available seat and sat down regally where the Marauders were deep in conversation.
"Where were you last night? You said you were going to look for Lily to ask her to help you with your homework and never came back." Sirius demanded.
"Oh, well, I- uh, that is to say, I-" James stammered, glancing around desperately as if looking for an answer in the dishes laden with food.
"Were you WITH someone last night? And you happened to fall asleep with them?" Remus said pointedly, his dark brown eyes twinkled with amusement.
"NO! Well, I WAS with someone but we, um, didn't DO anything, if you know what I mean." James gulped nervously.
"I don't believe I do." Sirius smiled sweetly at his friend, not noticing the loving sighs coming from a small group of fifth year girls sitting a little to his left. Girls tended to do that when he grinned.
"We didn't shag, that's what I mean."
"With whom did you not shag, then? Who was so unattractive that you wouldn't even think of doing anything with?" Remus jumped in again. James squirmed uncomfortably in his seat.
"Well, well, well. Look who's joined us." Sirius had just noticed Lily and his attentions were immediately diverted. With a small, inaudible sight of relief, James helped himself to the food set before him and promptly stuffed his face full.
"Shut up." She glared at him from across the table as she helped herself to a bit of porridge, bacon and some eggs. On her right, James was tucking avidly into a plate of eggs, fried tomatoes, and sausages.
"Oh, Evans. You hate us with a burning passion. Just admit it already. So why don't you go sit with your other little friends and hate us from a distance?" Sirius' voice was practically dripping with honey and his smile was more of a smirk.
"Back off, Sirius." James warned, trying to look and sound as stern as Professor McGonagall but as his mouth was full of sausage and egg, it didn't have quite the effect he'd hoped. His friends gaped at him. "You don't want to be on the receiving end of her wand, believe me." He lowered his voice conspiratorially, swallowing with great effort, and his friends leaned in. "Besides, she's on her you-know-what. And we all know how that makes all girls a bit testy." He winked at them and grinned at her. Then, to everyone's surprise but James, she smiled back, just a little one but one nonetheless.
"Whoa. I know the painters make all girls a bit mad but Lily's gone a little funny in the head. I mean, smile at James?" Sirius raised his eyebrows, looking quite bemused.
"What'd you do, James? Because whatever it is, I'm sure it's bound to cause your expulsion. You didn't hex her or jinx her or anything right? Maybe cast the Imperius Curse on her? Because it's forbidden, you know." Remus' expression of seriousness belied the amusement in his voice.
"You prats, no, I didn't do anything. Maybe it's really the painters. They've made her a little crazy, don't you think?" James laughed, joining in on the joke.
"I have not gone funny in the head!" Lily snapped, elbowing James in the ribs and pulling out her wand with the other. "And what's this, about the painters and decorators in? They are not, if you care to know and you're all bloody stupid if you think Potter here would know whether they were or not."
"You still hate us, don't you?" Sirius asked.
"I hate the lot of you but Remus." Lily replied snobbily. "And Remus, nothing personal, but you really don't do anything to control those braggarts which makes you the most irresponsible prefect I have ever met."
"Why thank you, I shall strive to achieve a higher level of irresponsibility of which you speak so highly of." Remus nodded his head contritely causing the stifled giggles of his friends to grow even louder.
"Plus, I can't even BEGIN to imagine why Dumbledore even toyed with the idea, much less acted upon it, of making you Head Boy, Potter. You are an egotistical prat who really would get better grades if he only applied himself to his studies rather than bullying people." Lily rounded on James, keeping up the pretense that she still hated James. She'd only meant it as a joke but was shocked to see his face go rather stony as soon as the words were out of her mouth.
"Well, thank you for your kind words, Miss Evans. I'll remember that the next time I do patrols with you or skive off my classes to have a little fun. Of course, even with that thought in mind, I'm just a great bullying toerag, right? You know what? I just remembered that I left my books in my dormitory. If you'll excuse me, I'll be going to fetch it." James' face was unexpressive and his voice was flat but his eyes looked wounded. Without another word, he shoved his chair back, slung his bag on his shoulder, rose, and strode from the Hall. Lily stared after him as did his friends.
"What's the matter with him?" Peter squeaked, "He's never gotten that upset over something you've said before."
"No, no he hasn't and I think I know why." Lily mumbled to herself.
"What's that?" Sirius asked sharply, rounding on her. "What did you just say?"
"I didn't say anything." Lily answered defensively though her face was turning red. "I didn't say anything."
"He's never gotten so obviously upset before. What's going on between you guys? First you sit down next to him and then he tells US to leave you alone and then you smile back at him. Has everyone gone mad or is it just me?" Sirius glared at her and she returned his look back at him.
"No one's gone mad, Sirius." She stood and swept from the room.
"Then what's going on?" Remus muttered as Sirius gawped at her retreating figure.
"Did she just call me Sirius?" He spluttered, returning to his breakfast.
"I do believe she did, mate." Remus clapped him hard on the shoulder. "She must be getting really fond of you." Sirius just stared about him with a dazed, somewhat bemused expression.
A/N: Alrighty then, tell me what you think. Oh, and to those who have already reviewed, thank you! I was in a horrible mood and then I read your reviews and they just made my day. Thanks, again.