Update: I think I fixed the text problems, but if it's still unreadable, let me know!

A/N: Sorry for another slightly late update. Things are pretty busy with the end of the semester and holiday travel and whatnot, but I am going to do my very best to stick to my promise of weekly updates! Please keep the reviews, favorites, and follows coming! They make my day each time I get one! Also, still keeping my fingers crossed for some fan art to put on the cover/on my profile. I love fan art but am tragically unartistic myself.

September 9th, 1977

Lily massaged her temples and stared stubbornly at her arithmancy problem set, willing it to magically become intelligible. Barely a week into term and all ready these N.E.W.T's were kicking her butt. James had been right; she was crazy for taking six N.E.W.T. courses and an elective when most seventh-years only attempted four or five courses in total. She hated when James was right.

And once upon a time, she was good at math, she thought to herself miserably, remembering her mother pinning her perfect multiplication timed tests to the refrigerator during her last year of Muggle schooling. What would her father say? He was a math a teacher, after all, and now Lily was in danger of failing the only subject she'd come into Hogwarts with a bit of an edge on back when numbers made sense to her. She consulted the numerology chart again, but it provided no further clarity.

"There you are!" called a voice from behind. "I should have known you'd be here." Lily was sitting in the very corner of the library where she, Dorcas, and Marlene had first met one day in their first year when they were all having minor panic attacks over a particularly difficult Transfiguration essay McGonagall had assigned. Since then, it had become 'their spot'.

"Hello, Marlene," said Lily, not looking up from her parchment as she scratched out an error she had made in the second line. She would essentially have to start all over, she realized with a groan of frustration.

"Why are you in the library on a Friday afternoon? You have all weekend to do that homework!" said Marlene as she took the chair beside her.

"Not exactly," sighed Lily. "I have patrol tonight, and you forget that we'll be in Hogsmeade all day tomorrow, because James just had to have a back-to-school weekend of debauchery for all the seventh-years, even though it's our asses on the line if anyone takes the call to revelry too seriously, and Sunday morning we're supposed to meet with Professor McGonagall to begin planning the Halloween feast even though Halloween is over a month away, and Sunday afternoon is the first…"

"Okay, okay, I get the picture," Marlene said, halting Lily's tirade. "Well, you missed lunch, so I brought you a sandwich." She handed Lily a napkin stuffed with a sandwich and a handful of chips.

Lily smiled gratefully and popped a chip in her mouth, turning back to her homework.

"Oh, and Stella dropped a letter off for you," Marlene said, pulling a crumpled envelop out of her pocket.

"Thanks," said Lily through a mouthful of turkey. She wiped her fingers on her skirt and accepted the white envelop. She knew it must be from her parents, because it wasn't parchment.

Marlene watched her open the letter as she stole a chip.

Lily read, "Dear Lily, I am writing to you with a couple pieces of wonderful news. The results are back, and your father's cancer has not spread, in fact, it appears to be in remission!" Lily clapped her hand to her mouth, tears springing in her eyes.

"Oh no! What happened?!" asked Marlene, jumping out of her chair and putting an arm around Lily's shoulders. "Is your dad alright?"

"He's wonderful," said Lily beaming through the tears. "The cancer is in remission."

"I don't know what that means, but it sounds good!" said Marlene, giving her a tight hug.

"It is!" Lily read on excitedly as Marlene sat back down.

"The doctor can't explain it, but he's optimistic that your father will begin to return to his old strength soon. Of course, we still need to be cautious and manage his medications carefully, but this really is the best outcome we could have hoped for. And we've had even more reason to celebrate as we have just received news that Petunia is engaged!" Lily let out a squeal of surprise and dismay.

"What now?" Marlene asked anxiously. Lily held up a finger to indicate that she wasn't done reading.

"To that man she met at the office. Vernon Dursley's his name. Your father and I were a little surprised, considering we hadn't met him yet and they'd only been seeing each for a few months, but she seems very happy, and so are we. We're meeting him next week, and we hope you will be able to come home some weekend in the next month or so to meet him too. The ceremony is coming up quickly as they've already decided on a date. The Friday after Christmas, so the wedding shouldn't disrupt your studies at all.

I hope your classes are going well. And your Head Girl work. How's that Head Boy doing, by the way? What was his name? James, I think. We love you and miss you! Love, Mum."

Lily placed the letter back down on the table. She looked out the window in contemplation. Petunia. Engaged. She didn't know what to make of that information. She felt like she should be happy for her, but somehow she couldn't quite bring herself to feel…anything, really. At least her father was doing so much better. One less stressor weighing her down in her in her rapidly complicating life.

"Everything alright?" said Marlene finally, when Lily had seemed to relax a little.

"I think so. My sister's engaged, which is probably good for her; although knowing her tastes, I don't have high expectations for her fiancé."

Marlene laughed. "Yes, I imagine he's bit of tool," she agreed. She had met Petunia a couple of summers ago, and it had not gone especially well. It was Petunia's first encounter with a witch or wizard who had been one hundred percent raised in the magical world, and there were more than a few communication problems and misunderstandings, to say the least.

"Oh, he's definitely a tool. She did meet him a drill company, after all," said Lily matter-of-factly.

Marlene cackled. "Come on," she said, taking Lily's hand. "You deserve a break. Come watch me put some prospective chasers through the ringer. Ravenclaw tryouts start in half an hour."

Lily looked back to her homework, which was a mess of arrows and scratched out numbers and question marks. She decided perhaps a break from it really would be the best thing. Usually when something didn't make sense, she just had to turn off her brain for a while, and then when she came back to it, it would all magically come together. And besides, she did have a free period between Transfiguration and Arithmancy on Monday.

"Oh, all right," she said, allowing Marlene to pull her to her feet and lead her to the Quidditch pitch.

"Good luck!" Lily called as Marlene peeled off toward the locker rooms.

"Thanks," said Marlene out of the side her mouth, because she was holding a scrunchie between her lips while she pulled her tight little ringlets back into a bun.

Lily began the arduous hike up the steps to the student seating. She was short of breath by the time she reached the top. She seriously needed to start running, she thought to herself. Maybe there was some kind of magical treadmill up with that exercise equipment in the Head Wing. She moved to take a seat, but then she caught sight of Dorcas, who was sitting over on the edge of the Hufflepuff section with a picnic basket by her side.

Dorcas saw Lily at the same moment that Lily saw her and waved her over happily.

"Oh good, Marlene found you," said Dorcas as Lily lowed herself onto the bench. She offered Lily an apple, but Lily waved it away.

"No thanks, just had a sandwich up in the library."

"But I have chocolate," said Dorcas in a singsong voice, as she held out a handful of chocolate covered nuts.

"Oh, if you insist," Lily sighed as if it was a big imposition before stuffing the candy the candy in her mouth.

"How'd Hufflepuff auditions go?" asked Lily through a mouthful of chocolate.

"I think they prefer to call them 'tryouts'. And they're just finishing up now. Benjy did pretty well, but I'm not sure if it was enough. He said he's been practicing all summer, though," said Dorcas. Benjy had been trying out for the Hufflepuff Quidditch team every year since second year, and he was decent, but there was always someone just a little bit better. "He went for keeper instead of chaser this time."

"You and Benjy have been spending a lot of time together lately," said Lily with a raised eyebrow.

Dorcas's eyes twinkled but she said nothing.

"Oh, here come the Ravenclaws!" said Lily, pointing across the field where a throng of blue-robed figures had emerged. Lily could just make out Marlene toward the front of the pack. She began leading her prospective new teammates in a series of stretches.

The Hufflepuffs were packing up by the goal posts at the other end of the pitch. The Hufflepuff captain, Andrew Mullins, made his way over to the Ravenclaws and shook Dirk Cresswell's hand. They stood and chatted for a few moments before Mullins waved to the Hufflepuffs to clear the field and left toward the locker room.

The Ravenclaws took to the air and began tossing the Quaffle around experimentally. Lily and Dorcas watched for a little while, cheering loudly when Marlene made an especially difficult catch, but their attention soon wandered.

"Oh! I haven't told you yet. I got a letter from my mum. Dad's doing way better. It's in remission!" said Lily.

"Oh, Lily, that's so wonderful," smiled Dorcas, giving her a tight hug. Unlike Marlene, Dorcas was able to fully grasp the importance of that information. Wizards had no cancers, and thus no motivation to understand or cure them, a fact Dorcas hoped to one day rectify when she became a healer.

"And that wasn't all the news. Guess who's engaged?" asked Lily when they'd broken the hug.

Dorcas furrowed her eyebrows. "It can't be…"

"Petunia!" Lily finished her sentence.

"No! Really? How do you feel about that?"

"Honestly? I don't really feel much of anything. Does that make me a terrible person?"

"A terrible person? No. A terrible sister? Maybe…" teased Dorcas.

"I know, I am," said Lily miserably, helping herself to some more chocolate.

"Oh, I was just kidding. Oh look! It's Benjy!" she waved at the boy that had just appeared at the top of the stairs, and he joined them merrily.

"How'd it go?" asked Dorcas.

"Not bad! I made the team! Well, sort of…" he said, pushing a strand of sweaty brown hair out of his eyes.

"What do you mean?" asked Dorcas.

"Well, I'm first reserve. But Mullins is pretty confident that I'll get some playing time this season. Doesn't want Hatcher—he got the main spot—to get too tired out before the Cup."

"That's assuming you make the Cup," reminded Lily. Dorcas and Benjy looked at her in horror.

"Of course Hufflepuff will make the cup!" said Benjy with conviction.

"Right, sorry. I never should have doubted you. But Ravenclaw is looking pretty good too," she said with a nod toward the field. Marlene was leading two students, a third-year boy and sixth-year girl, in a tight formation around the field. The Quaffle was almost invisible as they passed it back and forth to each other rapidly, never missing a beat.

Benjy watched wide-eyed.

"Here, have some Gillywater," said Dorcas, pressing a bottle into Benjy's hand.

"Cheers," he said in a disheartened tone, not taking his eyes from the pitch.

The three chasers landed gracefully, having concluded their run with a particularly impressive goal by the third-year. That last group appeared to have decided things, because Dirk had begun rounding up the equipment.

"Oh, it's the Slytherins now. Should we head back to the castle?" Dorcas asked, beginning to pack up the basket. There was no friendly conversation between Rosier and Cresswell during this exchange.

"No, I think I want to stay and wait for Gryffindor. I have to patrol with James tonight anyway, so we can just leave together from here. But you can go if you'd like," said Lily.

"No, it's alright, I can wait. Benjy?"

"I'd better run. Want to get that essay for Slughorn drafted tonight since tomorrow's a Hogsmeade day. That reminds me, we still on for a drinks at The Three Broomsticks?"

Dorcas looked down shyly and nodded.

Benjy beamed. "Great!" he said, grabbing his bag full of equipment. "Well, I'll meet you by the Great Hall tomorrow. Around eleven?"

"Sure, sounds good," said Dorcas, smiling back.

Lily had the tact to wait for Benjy to get out of earshot before she squealed happily.

"Oo, look at you. First week back, and you already have a hot date lined up," she said, nudging Dorcas in the side.

"Oh, shut up. It's just Benjy. He was probably just asking me as a friend," said Dorcas, shoving Lily's arm away.

"A likely story," scoffed Lily. Dorcas bit her lip to hide her grin.

"What are your plans for Hogsmeade tomorrow?" asked Dorcas, trying to deflect the attention from herself.

"Oh, I'm supposed to go with Potter," said Lily, watching Rosier and Avery send the Bludger hurtling back and forth.

"You finally said 'yes'?!" cried Dorcas in disbelief.

"What?" asked Lily, looking back at her friend in puzzlement. "Oh no, not like that! We're on duty. Got to make sure everything goes smoothly, especially since this is the first special trip we've organized."

"A likely story," said Dorcas, turning Lily's own words against her.

"What's a likely story," came a hoarse voice from behind them.

"Marlene!" said Dorcas and Lily together.

"You looked amazing out there!" Dorcas complimented.

"You really did. Looks like you found some good recruits," said Lily.

"Yeah, Jamilda Shafiq is pretty incredible. I wonder why she never went out for the team before. And that Shaklebolt kid is huge for a third-year. Should be quite the powerhouse," said Marlene, gladly accepting the Gillywater Dorcas handed her.

"Shafiq? Is she that tall girl? With the dark skin and long black hair? Really pretty?" asked Dorcas.

"That's the one! Don't think she's quite as tall as me, though. But definitely very attractive," agreed Marlene.

"Careful," chided Lily, "it's bad form to crush on teammates."

"Well, you do it," accused Marlene.

"What are you talking about? I don't play Quidditch."

"No, but you've clearly fancied James ever since that day in Diagon Alley. Maybe even earlier. And you two work together, that's way worse."

"I do not fancy Potter," defended Lily.

"There he is now," said Marlene, pointing to the field. Lily looked around, but it was just the Slytherins still. "See, you're desperate to see him."

She hit Marlene's thigh and instantly regretted it. When would she learn that her hand was no match for Marlene's muscles? Marlene just laughed and took a slug of Gillywater.

"That's not all," said Dorcas. "She's going to Hogsmeade with him tomorrow."

Marlene wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

"It's just business," Lily pouted, turning her back to her friends.

"Oh, okay, sorry for picking on you. Come here, I'll braid your hair for you if you want," Dorcas offered as a way to make up for her teasing.

Lily eagerly sat on the ground before Dorcas, who began combing through her hair slowly with her fingers. Lily loved that sensation. Dorcas was an excellent hairdresser. Got it from her mother, who did it professionally. And she was so gentle. Much better than Lily's own mother, who used to bring her to tears yanking her uncooperative locks into place.

"Me next!" said Marlene, pulling at the knotted scrunchie in her hair.

"Not until you've had a shower," said Dorcas, wrinkling her nose.

Lily, needing to keep her head in position for Dorcas, couldn't help fixing her eyes on the pitch before her. She watched Snape, Slytherin's reserve Seeker, dart around after the practice Snitch, catching it every so often and then letting it go, giving it a ten second head start before pursing it again.

She was so distracted by this that when Marlene screamed behind her, Lily had no idea why. Next thing she knew, Dorcas was forcibly shoving her head behind the row of seats in front of them. A Bludger came hurtling through and clipped Dorcas on the shoulder, which was exactly where Lily's face had been a second ago.

Dorcas let out a cry of pain as Marlene stood up furiously, wand raised. There was a shout from the pitch, where the Gryffindor players and hopefuls had just arrived, and two red figures came zooming toward them on broomstick. However, Rosier reached them before James and Sirius.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" asked Marlene, a dangerous edge to her voice.

"Sorry, got away from me," shrugged Rosier.

"Ten points from Slytherin, for viciously unsportsmanlike conduct," said Lily, getting to her feet angrily.

"Finally found your backbone, have you?" asked Rosier with a sickening grin at her. "Good. That will make it so much more fun to break it."

"Are you threatening the Head Girl?" ask James, pulling up on the scene. "Because I wouldn't recommend that. She can do a Bat-Bogey Hex that will have you scared of your own nose for weeks."

"Not to mention the power to put you in detention for the rest of your miserable life. Or at least, the rest of the year," added Sirius.

"You okay Dorcas?" asked James with concern.

Dorcas was gritting her teeth as Marlene wrestled her shoulder back into its socket, but she still managed to nod and say, "Yeah, I'll be fine."

"Well, at least we don't have to worry about the Slytherins being competitive this year, if that's what's become of their Beater's aim," said Sirius.

"Oh, I'd say his aim was pretty good," said Avery, who had just ridden up to them. "Almost had two for one there."

Lily's nostrils flared and her hand twitched for her wand, but she resisted. She needed to be an example, she reminded herself.

"Yes, if I were a filthy mudblood, I'd be too scared to come to any matches this year. Never know when the Bludger might…slip," Rosier agreed.

Lily had been hearing that word with increasing frequency over the last three years, but it never got any easier to stomach. She shoved her fists into her pockets to resist the urge to hex him into oblivion. Sirius and Marlene, however, both looked more than happy to follow through, but James cleared his throat, putting a stop their movement.

"Rosier, I think you better leave before you dig your grave any deeper. You're overtime, and Gryffindors have the pitch now," he said, pointing to the big clock by the empty scoreboard.

Rosier snarled, but seemingly acquiesced, as he and Avery flew back toward their teammates on the ground.

"Are you sure you're all right?" he asked Dorcas one more time.

"Yeah, I'm good," said Dorcas, moving her arm around tentatively. "Should have a nice bruise though."

"Come on, we should get you to the Hospital Wing for a pain tonic," said Marlene, helping Dorcas to her feet. "You coming Lily?"

"Yeah," she said to Marlene before turning back to James. "Meet you in the entrance hall for patrol later?" she asked.

"Can't wait," grinned James. He and Sirius turned back to the pitch when suddenly another Bludger came from nowhere, hitting James squarely in the back. He lurched forward but managed to fall into a roll and thus escape being dislodged from his broom.

Rosier stood by the equipment box in the center of the field, Beater bat in hand. "Oops!" he called to them.

Sirius growled, and made to pull his broom around, but James, who had just righted himself, held up his hand. "Not worth it, Padfoot. Take it out on him in the next match."

Sirius hesitated and then nodded, and he and James continued back to their end of the pitch, where some very confused underclassmen were waiting anxiously for the tryouts to begin.

Lily watched them speed away in awe. She turned to Dorcas and Marlene, who were also looking a bit nonplussed. "Did James Potter just take the high road?"

Dorcas and Marlene nodded, still speechless.

"Wow," said Lily with a smile.

"See, told ya you fancied him," said Marlene victoriously, finally drawn out of her state of shock.

"I do not," huffed Lily. "I'm just a little impressed, is all."

Dorcas and Marlene shared a knowing look.

"Will you two quit it? Let's go, I hate making the walk back to the castle after dark."

The sun was indeed beginning to set as the three girls began the long descent back to solid ground.

An hour later, Marlene and Lily were helping a drowsy Dorcas back to Hufflepuff Common Room. The pain tonic had worked wonders on her shoulder, but had also put her in a bit of a stupor. They dropped her by the stack of barrels that concealed the entrance, and she assured them that she could make it to bed from there. Marlene and Lily looked at her dubiously as she stumbled through the portal on her own.

"Hello, Dorcas! Need a hand," called one of her housemates from inside, and Lily and Marlene relaxed.

"Good lot, those Hufflepuffs," said Marlene.

"Yeah, I kind of wanted to be a Hufflepuff. Guess I'm not nice enough or something. Sorting Hat said my destiny was in Gryffindor or some bollocks like that," said Lily.

"I think you're plenty nice! Although do you do have a bit of a propensity for swearing. And telling people off. And holding grudges. And…"

"Are you quite finished?" said Lily in exasperation. They had reached the main foyer.

"But you're also smart. And loyal. And courageous. And you have one of the best hearts of anyone I know," said Marlene smiling.

Lily blushed furiously.

"And you look adorable when your face matches your hair," Marlene laughed.

"She does, doesn't she?" said James, who had just come in through the front door. "Better get going McKinnon, curfew is in half an hour."

Marlene winked at him. "I'll leave you two to it, then."

Lily looked at her pleadingly, as though begging her not to leave her alone with him, but Marlene just wriggled her fingers in that taunting wave of hers, and bounded up the stairs to Ravenclaw tower.

James fell into step beside Lily and they silently began their patrol.

"How'd tryouts go?" Lily asked, silently thanking Dorcas for correcting her earlier. James would have never let her hear the end of it if she'd called them auditions.

"Pretty good. It'll be rough breaking in a new chaser. Sirius and I had been playing with Felix since our second year, his third. We had good chemistry. He's got a trial run with the Montrose Magpies for fall training, by the way"

"Is that good?" asked Lily.

James laughed. "That's very good. Anyway, I think Hopkins, the new guy, will be all right. And I have high hopes for our new Seeker, Chase."

"A Seeker named Chase? Won't that get confusing?" asked Lily.

James knit his brow. "I hadn't thought of that. I don't think it will be too much of a problem. Besides, she can really fly."

"She?" asked Lily.

"Jealous are we?" he asked with a smirk.

"No, I just didn't think you thought girls could fly. It's been all boys on the Gryffindor team since I've been here."

"Don't be stupid. Of course girls can fly. Marlene is one of the best Chasers I've ever seen. Has a shot at the Holyhead Harpies, she does. I just think you can't fly."

Lily scowled at him, but had no room to object. She really was terrible on a broomstick.

"That's an attractive look," drawled a voice from the shadows. Rosier stepped from behind the statue where he had been leaning.

"And what would you know about being attractive, Rosier?" asked James.

"What are you doing out, Rosier? Curfew is in ten minutes," said Lily, not giving Rosier a chance to reply to James's goading question.

"What makes you think mudbloods like yourself have a right to walk these halls when I don't?" he asked.

"You really need to stop using that word," warned James.

"Who's going to stop me? Pathetic blood-traitors like you? Don't you know you bring shame on all of us Pure Bloods when you associate with this trash?"

There was a loud bang, and Rosier stumbled back as large bats began swooping out of his nose.

"I did warn you," said James, laughing.

"I ought to tell Slughorn!" said Rosier, trying unsuccessfully to block his nostrils with his hands. "Using magic in the corridors on innocent students ought to call your Head Girlship into question."

"Yes, but then you would have to admit to everyone that a Muggle-born got the better of you. Do you think your reputation can handle it? Your minions might dethrone you," said Lily slyly as she stowed her wand.

Rosier glared at her so murderously that James inconspicuously reached for his wand to defend against the impending attack, but ultimately Rosier just walked away muttering, a stream of bats trailing behind him.

"Good one," said James, clearly impressed. "Although Filch will be furious. He hates mopping up bat poo. Which I guess is more of a bonus than a drawback, really."

Lily shrugged. "Been wanting to do that all day. Kind of glad he gave me an excuse, actually."

"Nice. Never knew you could be so vindictive, Evans. It's a good color on you."

Lily bowed. "All these years hanging around you, it was bound to wear off."

James laughed and put his arm around her, steering her back down the corridor. "Come on, we have to finish our watch."

"Why do you think Rosier was out anyway?" Lily asked while debating if she should shrug off his arm or not.

"Probably heard you mention the patrol to me earlier and thought he could get the jump on us or something," said James unconcernedly.

"Yeah, maybe," said Lily, unconvinced. If he'd wanted to get the jump on them, why hadn't he just jinxed them from behind the statue?

They continued in amicable silence for a while until a loud rumbling echoed in the empty corridor.

Lily blushed.

"Good lord. Was that your stomach?"

"Yeah, I guess I never really got a proper meal today," she said, looking at her treacherous stomach in embarrassment. She'd only had half a sandwich, a handful of chips, and some chocolate covered nuts all day and now it was almost eleven o'clock.

"Why didn't you say so? Come on!" he grabbed her hand

"Where are we going? We still have another hour of patrol!"

"Not when you're starving to death, we don't!"

"I'm hardly starving," said Lily, but she allowed him to drag her to the Head Wing.

"Go, on, then. Say the password," he gloated.

Lily gave him a sardonic look and flatly said, "I love James Potter".

They entered and James flopped down onto a pile of pillows. "There you go, order some food," he said, gesturing toward the painting.

"Won't the cooks be sleeping?" asked Lily.

"Nah, there's always some Elves on duty," said James.

"Elves?"

"Yeah, whole kitchen is overrun with House Elves. Who'd you think did all the real work around here?

"You've seen the kitchens?" asked Lily, torn between academic curiosity and skepticism that kitchen visits were technically allowed. But, who was she kidding, really? She had just hexed another student, so clearly she was coming around to the idea that some rules are meant to be broken.

"Oh, yeah, Sirius and I nip down there all time. We're growing boys, you know. Although we don't really have to anymore, I guess," he gestured to the painting again. Lily had forgotten she was supposed to be ordering something.

"Are you sure they won't be asleep?"

"Nah, they do most of their work at night. They'll be falling over themselves to help you."

That idea didn't quite sit well with Lily, but her stomach gave another insistent grumble.

"Oh, okay, calm down," she said to her stomach, causing James to laugh. "Do you think they can make pizza?"

"Undoubtedly."

"Pizza!" Lily said into the painting.

Nothing happened.

"See, told you they were sleeping," she said in disappointment.

"Give 'em a minute," said James. "They wouldn't just have a spare pizza lying around in the middle of the night, would they?"

Sure enough, a couple of minutes later, a steaming hot pizza appeared on the marble table.

"Bring me a piece, will you?" asked James from where he was lounging on the pillows.

Lily rolled her eyes, but grabbed the whole platter and joined him on the ground, handing him a slice.

"James?" Lily asked a little while later, setting down the crust of her third slice.

"Yeah," James responded, not opening his eyes. He had been lying peacefully with his eyes closed since he finished his half of the pizza five minutes ago.

"Can I ask you something?"

"You mean something besides what you just did?"

"Yes."

"Shoot."

"Why didn't you attack Rosier? Earlier on the Quidditch Pitch, I mean."

James opened his eyes and looked thoughtful. "I don't know really. Just didn't seem worth it, I guess. I didn't want to play into his hand, you know?"

"Yeah, I think I do," said Lily. This was a level of maturity she had not yet seen from James Potter. "Want my last piece?"

James sprung up and snatched the final piece from the platter.

"You could say 'thank you'," she said as she watched him devour it in three bites.

"I could," he agreed.

She shoved his shoulder. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"Looks who's talking," he said.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I've only been asking you out at least once a day for the last four years and you have yet to give me a chance. I would call that fairly impossible."

"And you would think you'd take the hint."

"Oh, I did. I'm done. Haven't you noticed? I haven't asked you out once since term started. Even with a Hogsmeade day tomorrow and everything."

Lily hadn't noticed. "I guess you're right. So you've finally given up then?" She was surprised by the ball of disappointment currently rolling around in her stomach at that thought.

"Nope, I'm just not worried about it anymore. When two people are meant to be together, it will happen eventually. No need to force early."

Lily laughed. "And what makes you think we're supposed to be together?"

"Destiny," he said simply, resting his head back in his hands.

Lily shivered. Just a couple of hours ago she had been telling Marlene what the Sorting hat said to her seven years ago. "Your destiny is in Gryffindor."

She was still mulling over the significance of this coincidence, or lack there of, as she slipped off to sleep.