I woke up feeling relaxed. I was very warm yet still comfortable. I went to stretch my legs out, to find that I was blocked by something. My eyes snapped open. I was spooning with James Potter. I quickly rolled away, pushing his arm off from around my waist. He looked so peaceful in his sleep, yet odd because of the lack of glasses.

His eyes fluttered open, and I blushed because I was caught staring. "Good morning," he said. If I had less control, I would have dropped my panties right then and there. Potter's gruff, sleep-filled voice was the sexiest thing I'd ever heard. It made my heart go wild and my abdomen tingle.

"Morning," I whispered. He smiled, and closed his eyes again. I got up and grabbed some clothes. I went to the bathroom and took a shower. When I was dressed and ready, I walked into my room to find it empty. There was a note on my pillow, and my bed was made up.

"My parents are coming home very soon, and I'd rather not let them know their Jamie slept in a girl's bed last night. Hope to see you soon. Love you, Lils."

And that was the last time I heard from James that summer. I visited often with my friends, who hadn't heard from him or Sirius. Jessy took it the hardest; they were like brothers to her. Although, I'm fairly certain she wanted Sirius as more than a friend…

"Of course not," she would mumble, with a blush.

Too soon, Hogwarts letters arrived. I was pleasantly surprised with my Head Girl badge. You will have full use of the Heads' dormitories, but your bed will remain in place if you wish to stay in Gryffindor Tower. I grinned widely. Having my own dorm? This would be awesome. I had talked to last year's Head Girl, and she told me that it was a large, lavish bedroom with a master bathroom attached. It also had a sitting room with a couple couches, a fireplace, and a large desk. There was a door off to the side that led to the Head Boy's room, but unless unlocked from each side you couldn't access it. It was guarded by a gargoyle, and you could set your password, as long as the teachers knew it. The gargoyle could talk; it announced who was at your door and if you wanted them to be let in or not. You could hear his voice even in the shower. He could rely messages to the visitors, too. It was a very neat piece of magic.

Soon September first arrived. I was more relieved than ever to forcefully shut my trunk, hearing the satisfying click of the lock, and, for the first time, using a spell to carry it down the stairs for me. My dad dropped me off outside the train station, and I found my way to platform 9 ¾. I waited as Alice said a teary goodbye to her parents, and to her older brother who would, for the first time in seven years, not be on the train. I looked as Mary gave hugs and kisses to her parents. Jessy gave an awkward hug to a strict looking woman I knew to be her mother, standing next to a younger Ravenclaw girl.

"To our compartment, ladies?" It was almost sad. We made our way to the compartment that we had shared since our first year. No matter who joined us, it had been us four.

I disappeared to the Prefect's meeting, and made it under an hour. When I arrived back, the girls were impressed. "That's what happens when I'm Head Girl," I informed them. Last year the meeting was almost the whole train ride. Uh.

"Remember when Severus sat with us?" Jessy giggled. "He totally disapproved of our Graffiti." We laughed at the memory of his scandalized face as we chipped at the walls.

"And, if they did the same spell as every year," I said dramatically, "our beautiful artwork should be…" I waved my wand, doing a powerful counter-disappearing spell, "here." We grinned as the walls of the compartment showed the extent of our vandalism.

"If they want to outsmart our Lily, they've got to learn some new spells to clean up," Alice giggled.

"Let's be glad they didn't," Mary said. I agreed.

The walls held our initials, showing Gryffindor pride, us hating on the Marauders, everything we thought we should pass on as our legacy. I carved "Lily, Head Girl," into the wall with my wand tip. We scratched, burned, and inked the walls.

When we were done, we admired our work. "And let's hope some day, a student accidentally reveals our work. They will know a story about four girls, living the dream, going to a magical school," Alice stated. We all got teary; it was the last time we would be on the Hogwarts Express on a September first.

And our door burst open, revealing a gasping Sirius Black. "What?" Jessy asked, more confused than anything as he slammed our door and drew the blinds.

"Just…hiding," Sirius panted. "James…was…on…this side," he said, finally catching his breath as he slumped between Jessy and Mary.

"As in, this side of the train?" Jessy asked.

"Yeah, I was hoping he'd make it." As Sirius said it, the door burst open, and James quickly slammed it behind him. He nonverbally shot a couple spells at the doors and windows.

"Glad to see you," he panted at Sirius.

"And you."

James sunk into the space between Alice and I. "What did you do?" I asked skeptically.

"Well, that prat Andrew Higgens from Ravenclaw got Head Boy," he said.

"So we thought we'd give him a welcome to remember," Sirius grinned.

"Do I want to know?" I asked.

"Probably not, so you won't give me detention." Potter grinned at me.

"And you aren't worried about the hundreds of points I could dock?" I asked.

He looked a bit surprised, and eyed for the first time my Head Girl badge. "Ah, Lily, what an honor. Congratulations."

I huffed. He laughed. "What is this all?" Sirius asked, looking around at our 'art'.

*Jessy

"And she still says she hates you," I sighed. I was looking at Lily, who had fallen asleep, squishing James against Alice. Alice sighed and sat on the floor, eating her sweets. James leaned against the wall, and Lily's head made its way to his knees. He sucked in a breath as her head moved, almost nestling into his lap.

"Having troubles, Prongs?" Sirius asked from beside me.

"Not at all," James said with a slightly strained voice.

Miraculously, Lily stayed asleep the whole ride, through games of exploding snap and our jellybean war. We heard banging on our compartment door, but whoever it was couldn't get in. "Impenatratable spells," James explained. He glanced down; Lily had one arm wrapped around his thigh, forcing his leg to spread out on the seat next to her, and her head rested on his other thigh.

"I wonder what she would say if she woke up right now," Alice giggled. "Does anyone have a camera?"

James looked longingly down at her. I swore he muttered something like, "If only."

"She'll come around," I promised with an encouraging smile.

"It hurts," he said. He sounded so broken, so un-James-like, in that moment. I wanted to give him a hug. Lily was the one who could break down an overly confident man into a sad, longing mess.

"Give us a month," Mary promised.

*Lily

I woke up to laughing, specifically my pillow shaking with restraining laughter. I knew that sound. "James, stop moving," I mumbled against him. "I'm trying to sleep." Then several voices laughed. "Shut up," I grouched.

"Lily, get off your lazy arse, we're here," Mary said. I assumed it was her who poked me.

"Mmm, sleep," I mumbled. If I had been any more awake, I'd have been to embarrassed to do anything but jump up and run away. But I was tired… I nestled my head into my 'pillow'.

"Lily." Someone woke me up again.

"If you don't wake up, we'll start our trip back to London again," Potter said. "I will carry you," he threatened.

I held my arms out, straight up. My pillow left me, and my head thumped against the seat. I groaned, and suddenly I was lifted up, bridal style, and Potter started walking. I breathed in his wonderful smell, resting my head in the hallow of his neck. And I started to wake up. Everyone was glancing at us oddly. I was sure the sixth years would have a rumor about us before the feast even started. "You know, you're starting a habit of sleeping with me," James said.

"Don't get used to it," I told him.

"But I think I am," he laughed.

"Come to me in my dreams, and then

By day I shall be well again.

For then the night will more than pay

The hopeless longing of the day." James whispered. I looked up, but he was staring straight forward.

"James…"

"Hurry up, you two, this is the last carriage, and it's leaving!" Without a word, James set me down in a seat and threw himself into excited conversation with Sirius.

"I know it seems futile to remind some of you," Dumbledore said, "But the Forbidden Forrest is off limits, hence its name." He stared at Sirius and James with a twinkle in his eye. "We have fallen into dark times. Be safe, and have a wonderful school year."

"Lily, let's go check out your new dorm," Mary said excitedly. I watched as the sixth year prefects rounded up the first-years and led them to Gryffindor Tower.

"That's right, Lily gets the Head Girl chambers," Sirius said.

"And with a ever-so-shaggable Head Boy just a door knock away," Alice teased. "I heard some stories about last year's heads…" Mary coughed and kicked Alice under the table. I laughed at her expression, though I didn't know it was from the murderous look on James' face.

"Let's go see it," Jessy said, tugging on my arm. I grinned, and we wondered off, finding the gargoyle.

"Lily Evans," It said.

"Yes," I replied, though it wasn't really a question.

"Congratulations on your new post. You can set your password now." I thought, and whispered it into the gargoyle's ear.

"Very well. You may enter." We walked into the room, and I gasped at the beauty. It was lavishly furnished, and beautiful.

"Impressive, as always," I heard from the doorway. "Nice to see you again, Jake." I whipped my head around to see Sirius, Remus, and Potter.

"Master Black," the gargoyle said neutrally.

"You've been up here?" I asked accusingly.

"Of course," Sirius said as if it were obvious. "I'm not sure when you'll learn, Evans, but many ladies beg for my presence. Even the ones you would least expect give in to me." He smirked. I was opening my mouth to make a smart remark when there was a knock. I turned and eyed the door that it came from. I walked over and yanked the door open.

"Oh, hi," I said to Andrew. "I didn't actually think that we would have a door connecting rooms."

"Of course, I had to test the theory," he said with a smile. His deep voice was slow and calming. I invited him in, and in turn I got to see his rooms.

Eventually we said goodnight, and my friends left. I took a long luxurious bath in my new, oversized bathtub. At least it wasn't the size of a swimming pool, like the Prefects shared. That would be a little too much. I waved my wand and my body instantly dried. I rummaged around in my trunk for a sports bra or something I could wear to bed. I stopped when I found Potter's practice shirt. I put it on over my old sports bra and a pair of very short, stretchy shorts that were acceptable to wear in public my second year. I breathed in the smell; it was wonderful.

I unpacked my trunk into the huge wardrobe, placing my books, quills, and spare parchment on my desk. I hung pictures of my friends and I on the walls and packed my bag for the next day. I had just ran and jumped into my massive, pillow covered bed when Jake's voice interrupted my plans. "You have a guest, shall I let them in?"

Curious, I said, "Yes please," without thinking. I walked into my sitting room and was shocked to see Potter standing near the door. "What are you doing here?" I asked, confused.

"You're wearing my shirt," he said with a smile. I had forgot.

"Er, yeah. I forgot all my pajamas at home, and I had brought this to give back. I figured I could give it to you once my parents mailed my things," I lied.

His face fell slightly. "Oh. Sure."

"So," I prompted.

It was impossible to tell what he was thinking. He looked like he was struggling for words. And finally, "Please tell me you aren't going to hook up with Higgens."

"What?" Whatever I was expecting, it wasn't that.

"Please, Lily," James strode forward and grabbed my hand. "Please, please tell me you won't do anything with him."

"I don't see how that's any of your business." He looked like I slapped him across the face.

"Lily," he whispered. "I…I don't know how many times I have to say it. I care for you. I love you." He rubbed small circles on my hand with his thumb.

"James." I was angry. "We had a good thing going on," I said. "A nice friendship. Why are you trying to ruin it?"

"I can't be friends with you. And you have to admit you like me as more." His plea was almost desperate.

"But I don't." I shook my head. "I'm sorry, but to me you'll always be the boy who tormented my youth." He stepped closer, and my knees hit a couch as I backed away. James pushed me back, and I fell into a laying position. He lay on top of me, pressing himself on my body. Not heavily, but enough for me to really feel him. His head bent closer to mine, to where I was sure he was going to kiss me. I turned my head, just to be safe.

"And you're not thinking anything sexual right now?" he whispered, his lips brushing my jawbone.

"No." If only my answer wasn't a lie.

"Lily." I could almost hear his heart breaking, and it stirred something inside me. As he walked quickly to the door, I longed for him to be on top of me once again…

"Wait, James." I sat up. He stopped in his tracks, turning to look at me. I noticed, with shock, the tears on his face. And then I knew it: he really did love me. All those years, I thought he had been playing some prank on me, just so no other male would come near me. But the evidence of heartbreak was etched all over his face.

"Yes?" he whispered.

"I wore your shirt because I'm in love with the smell," I confessed. "It's your scent. Nothing in the world smells better than it.

" "Lils-"

"No, Jamie, listen." I took a deep breath. "I never thought you were serious. I thought it was a prank, to get no other guy near me. You were mean to others, so arrogant that insults simply bounced off you. You didn't listen to anyone, and you were a horrible git."

"I tried to change for you," he said softly, "but you didn't notice."

"But I have," I said. My heart was beating a million times a minute and my stomach had a bad case of the butterflies. "You've changed over the last year. You're no longer that boy, Potter. You're a man."

He slowly grinned. "So all it took was the final stages of puberty…"

"Shut up."

With a smirk, he walked back to me. "And now that you've said yes to me, I have nothing more to do than love you for forever." James leaned forward and brushed his lips softly against mine. He pulled back and looked at me.

"I'm not going to hit you," I promised.

"Finally." James kissed me with more force, and I willingly opened my mouth to his prodding tongue. The butterflies in my stomach magnified to live bolts of electricity. I felt alive. My hands pushed open his robes, and he let them fall. We fell back onto the couch, and I buried my hands in his impossibly messy hair. I pulled my mouth away for air, and as James kissed my neck, I started to play with it, trying to shape it. "What are you doing?" he mumbled against my throat.

"I've wanted to do this for years," I told him as I gave him a combover. Which, of course, didn't stay.

"You're finally willingly snogging me, and yet you're most content playing with my hair?"

"Jamie," I said simply. Moving my hands down to either side of his head, I brought his face to mine. "Jamie," I whispered against his lips.

"You're the only one who ever calls me that, did you know?" he said, his voice deep and sexy. I kissed him again.

"And you're the only one who calls me Lils," I replied.

And I woke up.