Fleetingly, James hoped that he had not accidentally injured Sirius when he pushed him out of the way. Only Sirius would find it amusing to try and keep James from meeting Lily in the common room, and James had roundly cursed both Padfoot and his two other best mates as they laughed at him. Skidding to a halt at the base of the stairs, James self-consciously tried to tame his unruly hair precisely at the moment Lily came down the stairs from the girls' dorm.
Bracing himself for a sarcastic comment about his vanity, James was stunned when she smiled at him and tried to straighten his hair, murmuring, "It really won't stay down on its own, will it?"
"Not really, no," James answered, thankful beyond words that he didn't trip over his own tongue as Evans slid her fingers through his hair.
"It suits you though," Lily replied and then jerked her hand back as if burned.
Ignoring the brief stab of pain her reaction caused, James gestured towards the portrait door, asking, "Shall we? Filtch likes to double check me when I'm going to Hogsmeade so we might want to get a good spot in line."
"I can't imagine why he would be suspicious of James Potter." Lily smirked as she picked her way through the common room.
"I know," James gasped in a nearly realistic voice, "it's as if he doesn't trust me."
Evans gave a delightful laugh as she pushed open the portrait and stepped out into the corridor. A few passing students who had obviously not heard that the two of them were going to Hogsmeade together looked rather startled by the pair, much to Lily's amusement.
The news that the two of them were going to Hogsmeade together, even as friends, had swept through the school like Dragon Pox, and for the first couple of days, speculation as to the reason ran rampant. The Slytherins had even gone so far has to suggest that James's parents had purchased Lily from her parents for his upcoming seventeenth birthday.
It would have no doubt got even further out of hand, but Lily, aided by Mary, Marlene, and Alice, had swept through the school letting everyone know it was just a friendly trip and nothing more. James had to admire the efficiency with which the girls ruthlessly stomped out the rumors even as he wished they didn't have to.
When Lily's laugher died out, they made their way to castle doors where a surlier than usual Mr. Filtch stood waiting with the ever present Mrs. Norris. True to form, Filtch questioned James as if he had seen James's face on a Ministry wanted poster. Finally Lily intervened with the cantankerous caretaker and promised that James was not up to any mischief.
Grudgingly, Filch sent them on their way, and the two strode down the path that led to Hogsmeade, laughing about the foibles of their friends and the likelihood that Remus and Marlene might get caught in a compromising situation before the day was over.
As soon as they entered the village, James paused to ask, "Where would you like to go first?"
"If it's alright, I need to go to Scrivenshaft's and then to Dogweed and Deathcap's to replenish my potions supplies. After that I'm all yours."
James couldn't not contain his grin at the way she phrased the last part of her statement, to which Lily rolled her eyes and cut off any smart remark he had planned. "In your dreams, Potter."
"That's certainly true," James admitted and grinned when Evans flushed scarlet. "Come on, let's get started before being seen loitering with me ruins your reputation."
Setting off for the quill shop, the two traded barbs about who was worse for whose reputation. In the end, James was forced to concede that Lily's was likely taking the greater hit. During the exchange, James once again noted how quickly Lily thought on her feet, leading him to ask, "Evans, what are you planning on doing after school?"
Lily paused in the doorway to Scrivenshaft's and looked over her shoulder at James. "I'm not sure, something to do with Potions I'd imagine. Why?"
"Just wondering, although whatever you do you'll be brilliant at it I'm sure."
Lily didn't respond until they were inside the shop and no longer blocking the door. "I'm not sure what to do with a James Potter who's thoughtful and sweet."
With herculean effort, James resisted suggesting what she could do with him and smiled at the confusion in her eyes. "Don't worry, I'm sure to say something wrong soon enough, right?"
Before Lily could answer though, James moved over to the rack holding the quills and held up a graceful eagle feather chased in silver. "What do you think, Evans? Says it never runs out of ink."
"A bit rich for me, James. Maybe you should get it instead."
"Oh no," James countered with a shake of his head. "You said I could pay for everything and you'd forgive me for all of the mental stunts I've pulled."
"I meant a butterbeer and maybe some chocolate from Honeydukes, not my school supplies."
"Then you should have been more specific, Lily, but since you weren't, I'm going to pay for everything and no scrimping."
When it appeared Lily was going to continue resisting, James moved closer to her and lowered his voice before speaking, "Come on Lily, I owe you, and frankly I'll feel a lot better if you let me do this."
"Just this once?" Lily asked in a tone that brooked no argument.
"Agreed," James accepted instantly before linking one arm with hers and pulling her over to look at the fanciest quills. Nearly an hour later, they had made their way from Scrivenshaft's to the potion shop, and James was nearly staggering under the weight of many parcels. Briefly, he longed to be at Zonko's with his mates, but Lily was smiling in a way he rarely ever saw and he had learned more than a handful of helpful suggestions regarding his own potions supplies. Finally Lily double checked that she had not forgot anything and suggested they go to the Three Broomsticks before continuing on. James instantly agreed and eagerly followed her to the cozy pub.
Students crowded the pub and James was certain they were not going to be able to find a table when a familiar voice called out his name. Looking around the crowd, James did not see who could have been calling for him and then he heard it again.
"Potter, over here!"
This time he saw Rosier, the Slytherin Chaser, who sitting with a few fourth and fifth years in one corner of the pub, waving them over.
The dark-haired girl stood as they approached and grinned at him. "Mad, isn't it?"
"Always is." James grinned back and ruffled his hair absently.
"Thought you might want the table," Rosier continued. "We're off to Honeydukes so it'll be empty and that tosser Diggory has been eying it for a while. So you get a table and I get to stick it to Diggory."
Sticking it to Diggory had long been a favorite past-time of James's, and he smiled in admiration at the Slytherin's guile. "You're all right for a Slytherin, Rosier."
"You're not too bad for a Gryffindor yourself, Potter," Rosier retorted and then gestured to her mates who got up and made their way towards the door. Before she joined them, she flashed James another grin. "Good luck in your next match, see if you can't beat those swotty Ravenclaws."
"I'll see what I can do," James answered as Rosier made her way to join her mates by the door.
James's grin slid off his face when he got a good look at Lily's, which was totally devoid of humor. "Something amiss, Evans?"
"Just surprised you have Slytherin friends, is all."
"Let's call it a mutual respect for how we play the game. Rosier has talent; she might even get good enough to play professionally, if that was even an option."
Lily looked very confused by his last statement and he felt compelled to add, "Rosier is from a very old pureblood family and when she finishes school, she'll be expected to be the perfect pureblood housewife, not jaunting across the country playing Quidditch."
"That's not fair," Lily growled. "She has just as much right to play Quidditch as any man."
"I was under the impression you thought Quidditch was a waste of time."
Lily's look of indignation was priceless and he smothered a laugh as she launched into her retort, "Just because I don't think it's important enough to talk about nonstop or worth skipping lessons for doesn't mean I don't have as much House pride as everyone else, and I quite enjoy the Gryffindor matches, if you must know."
Lily's words fired James's imagination and in his mind's eye he could see pink-cheeked Lily wearing a Gryffindor jersey emblazoned along the back with his name, waving a Gryffindor banner. So appealing was the image that James barely heard Lily clear her throat and he flushed scarlet at being caught daydreaming.
"Do I want to know what caused you to make that face, Potter?" Lily asked, one eyebrow arched sharply.
"Probably not," James answered honestly. "Why don't I see if I can get Rosie's attention so we can get something to drink?"
"Rosie?" Lily murmured as James stood to get someone's attention.
Moments later, a grinning James plopped back down into his seat as a very curvy barmaid slipped between the tables and made her way over to them, flashing James a very friendly smile that elicited a frown from Lily.
"It's been very boring around here since school started back, Jamie," Rosmerta teased. "I guess I got used to you and Sirius trying to get me to serve you Firewhisky all summer."
"I'll be of age in a couple of weeks," James grinned.
"When you turn seventeen, come see me, and I'll buy you the first drink myself."
"Will do," he answered easily before looking back to Lily, "Butterbeer alright?"
When Lily nodded, he pulled out a Galleon and handed it to Rosmerta, flashing her another smile. "Two butterbeers please, Rosie, and a couple of bags of crisps from the stash behind the bar if you please."
"Whatever you want, Jamie." Rosie grinned and sashayed away with a sway to her hips that had broken lesser men.
"You two seem friendly."
The ice in her Lily's voice was impossible to miss and James wondered exactly where this was coming from. Of all the people in the world who could get upset about his doing a little harmless flirting, Evans was the absolute last. Still he had brought her here and he should pay her more attention than anyone else.
"She's friendly with everyone," James answered easily. "An unfriendly barmaid doesn't make a lot of money."
"Do all barmaids call you Jamie?" Lily shot back sarcastically.
Her lack of understanding combined with the acerbic tone of her voice made James laugh out loud. When Lily looked like she was going to storm off in indignation, James waved his hands frantically while trying to stop laughing. Finally he caught his breath and managed to choke out, "She calls me Jamie because she heard Sirius call me that this summer. Sirius only does it because it annoys me when my mum calls me that and he's been laughing about getting Rosie to call me that all year."
"Oh," Lily exhaled. "Well it does suit you."
"Don't you dare, Evans," James warned.
"Oh really?" Lily countered, obviously challenged.
"Yes really. The only way you get to call me Jamie is after a sogging session."
The second the words were out of his mouth, James wished desperately for a way to call them back. He hadn't meant them really; he only wanted to tease Evans a little more and he waited, flushed, for her outburst. To his surprise, she giggled delightfully and pointed at his face with glee.
"Merlin, Potter, you look like I was going to throw a wobbly."
Relieved but feeling the need to defend himself, James folded his arms in front of him before responding, "Well it's not like you haven't got angry before when the subject of snogging came up."
"Well, you were an insufferable toerag then, or at least I thought you were."
"Why haven't you really dated anyone from school?"
James had no idea what possessed him to ask that question. It was a matter of some debate at Hogwarts why Lily Evans never seemed to have serious or long lasting relationships. Some people thought it was because she didn't think anyone was good enough to go out with, her continued refusal of James being much of the supporting evidence. Others believed Lily was more interested in school than having it off with some boy. But Evans had never seemed overly uptight nor had she seemed to think she was above the other students, just him.
Evans, for her part, opened and closed her mouth wordlessly, resembling nothing so much a redheaded goldfish clearly wrong-footed. After several moments of staring at him incredulously, Evans grinned wickedly and upped the stakes considerably.
"I'll answer that very personal question," Evans offered with emphasis on the word personal, "if you'll answer one as well."
Never one to back down from a challenge, James shot back, "Done, as long as it's about me and not other people as well."
Lily hesitated while Rosie brought them their butterbeers and James's crips and thanked James more than was strictly necessary for his generous tip. Once the gregarious barmaid was out of earshot, Lily ceased frowning and answered James.
"Deal," Lily accepted immediately. "You know I have had a few boyfriends for a week or two here at school but mostly I've only dated when I go home for the summer. I can't explain it, but I always feel uncomfortable with a magical boyfriend, even though I have to hide my being a witch from Muggles. It's very hard to fit in either way, but I was a Muggle longer than I've been a witch so it's a bit easier to fit in with them."
Whatever response James had been expecting, that was not it. The Lily Evans he had been chasing for years was not concerned about fitting in with anyone and he said so.
"Come on, Evans," he began incredulously, "since when have you been concerned about what other people thought about you?"
"You try spending almost six years where half of your house mates don't trust you because your best friend is Slytherin. Even Mary, Alice, and Marlene would give me sideways looks when I would come back from studying with Severus, like I might have been tainted somehow."
Evans looked very uncomfortable and leaned forward so she could whisper "It's also very hard to go on a date with someone who makes references to the Wizarding world that you don't get."
"What about the Muggle-born blokes?"
"None of them ever caught my attention," Lily admitted before scowling. "That didn't sound very good at all."
"Can't help who you're attracted to," James quipped before wincing as the weight of his years of pining for Lily settled on his chest.
Luckily, Lily gave him a grin. "So now that you know why I haven't ever had a proper boyfriend at school, are you ready to answer my question?"
James glanced around at the nearby tables and frowned at their proximity before turning back to Evans "Tell you what, Lily. If we can go somewhere there's less chance being overheard, I'll answer two questions."
"Like where?"
"Follow me?" James asked as he got to his feet.
To his surprise, Lily took his hand without hesitation and let him lead her out of the crowded pub and down one of the many side streets that led to the cottages surrounding High Street and through the cozy environs to the outskirts of town and up into the hills that sat above the town. Finally they arrived at their destination, and James lifted his wand and began the wand movement for a warming spell when Lily's hand grasped his wrist lightly. When he looked over at her, Lily was smiling apologetically but her grip remained firm.
"Maybe I should cast the charm?" she suggested.
Sheepishly, James was forced to concede the wisdom of her suggestion and he watched with admiration the fluid movement of her wand as she charmed the area to a pleasing temperature.
"Nice work,' he noted as he sat down facing towards the town.
Lily neatly sat on the bottom of her cloak before responding to his comment. "Thanks, the view up here is beautiful."
"It's better at night," James noted. "The lights from the houses are like stars."
"How do you know what it looks like at night?" Lily asked as her mesmerizing green eyes seemed to be looking right through him.
"Sometimes we sneak out to celebrate something," James answered defensively. "Going to report us?"
For the first time that day, Lily looked truly displeased with something he had said and he wished he could take back his snide comment, but Lily answered first.
"Just because I'm a prefect doesn't mean I report everything I see," Lily spat. "Besides I'd have to see it to report it anyway."
The jovial mood of the trip seemed to have vanished and James cast about for a way to have Lily laughing just as she had been moments before. It seemed that though Lily had often been angry with him or upset about something he or the other marauders had done he was no longer able to laugh her anger off and instead it made him feel slightly queasy.
"Want to come up here one night?"
This was obviously not what Evans had expected, and her skepticism was obvious. "Just how do you get out of the castle so easily?"
"Is that one of your questions?" James queried.
"No."
"You'll have to come with me to see how I do it then, won't you?"
"We'll see," Lily answered cautiously. "Now I'm going to ask my first question and though it's not a question you have an answer for, I hope you'll agree. Will you show me your Amimagus form?"
"Though that's not much of a question, I think I can oblige," James answered, getting to his feet and concentrating on the image of Prongs. He felt the now familiar pickling as his body blurred and twisted until he stood on four legs and tossed his rack proudly.
Evans had leapt to her feet, open mouth in amazement, and began circling him while she exclaimed in delight. This might have been the first time since that meeting on the train that James felt proud of a reaction he had gotten from Lily. When she absentmindedly ran one hand along the soft fur on his back, James shivered in delight. So taken by his Amimagus form, she continued to pet him like a fairy tale unicorn, and Lily's face shone with happiness.
Minutes passed before she blushed and squeaked out, "You can change back now if you want, James."
Moving away from Lily to return to his normal form, James sketched a self-conscious bow when he was finished and noted that the delight had not yet faded from Lily's eyes. Immediately he vowed that he would see Lily Evans happy as much as was in his power.
"Ready to ask your second question?"
To his surprise, Lily declined and asked, "Can I save it for later?"
James looked at her quizzically but agreed instantly. "Of course you can."
Lily beamed at his answer and James found that he didn't care why she wanted to wait to ask her question if she was going to smile at him like that. So lost in his musing was James that he jumped when Lily touched his arm lightly.
"Is it alright if we go back to the castle?" she asked with a lilt to her voice that suggested she had asked the question before.
"Oh, of course," James answered.
With a courtesy that would have made his mother proud, James helped Lily down the sloping hills while she quizzed him about the Transfiguration theory behind human transformation. So immersed in the discussion were the pair that in what seemed like the blink of an eye, they stood in front of the Fat Lady's portrait. Politely, James helped Lily up the step as the door swung open and they paused in the entryway of the half full common room.
Unable to, for once, think of a clever jest upon which to end the evening, James nearly jumped out of his skin when Evans leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, her own face flaming scarlet, before she murmured, "Thank you for a lovely day," just loud enough to hear and then raced up the stairs towards the girls' dormitory. It took James more than a moment to calm the hammering of his heartbeat and then he was aware that every eye in the common was now fixed on him.