Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

~Lily~ Hogsmeade with Potter

This is probably a bad idea. Her and Potter alone? All day? She barely held herself together a few weeks ago when they were alone together in the library. She shouldn't have agreed to it. And don't be mistakened, Lily Evans most definitely did not like James Potter. No way. She and him were just friends. He just happened to be quite a bit more attractive than the rest of her friends.

"Just friends, oh please?" Marlene exclaimed that day, "The two of you went from his unrequited love to being buddy-buddy quite fast!"

"Well his love is still unrequited. I've simply seen a new side of Potter, that's all," Lily said. She had to admit that he was a very loyal guy. He saved Mary from Mulciber, he's defended countless Muggleborns from harassment, he became an Animagi for Remus, he defended me from Snape, he saved Sirius, and he said he wouldn't ask me out anymore.

"I don't know, Lils. I think you're warming up to him pretty fast," Marlene said with a grin.

"We're friends," Lily insisted.

"Hey there Evans, you ready?" James asked as he jumped over the banister that came from the boy's Dormitory. He was followed by Sirius, both were budled up in Gryffindor scarves. Her heart fluttered at the sight of them, she didn't know why. Perhaps she was just nervous to be hanging out with him.

"Yeah, is Sirius coming with us?" Lily said. James looked behind him at his friend then back to her.

"Is that alright. I figured since it wasn't a date I could bring him along," James said innocently.

"Brilliant, let's go on then," Lily said being the first out of the portrait hole. "Bye Marlene."

"Bye Lily," Marlene said in a singsongy voice.

"Oi Padfoot, did you have to push me, mate?" James said as he got up off the ground.

"Accident," Sirius responded smirking. James frowned at him.

"So where are we going first?" Lily asked.

"3 Broomsticks, of course!" Sirius said excited. He was practically hopping as we travelled the winding path to get there.

"He fancies Madam Rosmerta," James whispers to her. But he's a rather bad whisperer seeing as Sirius could hear every word.

"Wrong. I fancy Marlene," Sirius shouted back. James and Lily turned to him in shock.

"What!?" James and Lily chorus. Sirius' eyes widen and he flushes. Sirius was not a feelings type of guy. He was more of a one night stand guy.

"I fancy snogging her, is all I mean," he recovered quickly. Lily slapped him on the back of his head jokingly, "That is my friend you're talking about, Black!"

"I'm no Black, not anymore," Sirius said quiet all of the sudden. Lily realized that that was the second time in two weeks she had refered to him as Black.

"I'm sorry," Lily said. She leant in and gave Sirius a long hug. When she pulled apart she saw James standing there with his arms open.

"No hug for me, Evans?" James said playfully.

"I only hug people I like," Lily punched his arm lightly.

"Hear that, Prongs? She likes me better than you!" Sirius shouted gleefully.

"She likes everyone better than me. Thought we had established that," James said only half joking.

"Well she did agree to go to Hogsmeade with you," Sirius said.

"And thank God that I wasn't stuck alone with him," Lily teased again.

"Well, love, I'm afraid you will be," Sirius said with a wink, "I only came along to help Prongs grab some firewhiskey."

"Firewhiskey!? How do you plan on managing that one?" Lily asked.

"Surprise, love," Sirius said grinning. Lily hit him again.

"This is illegal in so many way," Lily sighed. They were about to break into a pub and 'borrow'(according to them) some firewhiskey, as minors! But she knew this was nothing compared to their other endeavors. Only five minutes later they were back outside with a bottle of firewhiskey and a basket of food.

"You are lucky I don't deduct points for this," Lily joked.

"Oh yeah?" James replied, "I think you're enjoying yourself too much. Besides you are an accomplice."

"How do you figure?" Lily asked.

"You are carrying the firewhiskey," James pointed out.

"I guess it's a good thing I'm not going to turn you in," Lily said.

"Well I better head off. Minnie McG won't be forgiving if I kept her waiting," Sirius said and he was gone. Sashaying back to the castle with his usual confidence and elegance.

"Minnie?" Lily asked.

"McGonagall," James said.

"What does he have detention with her or something?" Lily asked.

"No they have tea every weekend," James explained, "Just so he has an adult in his life that he can trust."

Suddenly James began running towards the Whomping Willow, not giving her time to digest what he just said. Lily's heart stopped. She thought he was going to die, the tree was about to hit him, with it's huge branches swinging at such high velocity.

"James!" Lily screamed. James reached the trunk of the tree and it stopped swinging. The branches hovered in the air, in a way that she had never seen. Had he levitated all the branches? He turned to her and smirked. She stomped over to him.

"You are a right twit, Potter! You could've died," Lily screamed. She felt like crying or laughing, she didn't know. "Remember what happened to Davey Gudgeons!"

"I'm fine, Lily," he said smiling, he grabbed her hands. His rough calloused hands over her soft ones. He had a crooked smile, but it was gentle and caring. Lily could feel her anger melting away. "Besides Gudgeons is the only tosser who got hurt, the rest of us were in good form playing that game."

"How did you stop it?" Lily asked curiously. James pulled her over to the tree, still holding her hand.

"See this knot, when you press it it freezes. Now follow me," James said. He slid into a tunnel beside the tree and Lily went in behind him.

"Where are we?" Lily asked as they resurfaced into a worn down wooden building. It's windows were all boarded up and scratches were all over the walls and floors.

"The inside of the Shrieking Shack. You don't believe in ghosts, do you?" James asked smirking. He took out his cloak and laid it down like a blanket. He began uncorking the Firewhiskey.

"You're joking right?" Lily laughs, "The castle is full of ghosts!"

"Oh yeah, I forgot," James said grinning.

"Don't let Sir Nicholas hear that. Or Myrtle for that matter. I hear she has a crush on you," Lily said with a pointed look.

"You mean Nearly Headless Nick and Moaning Myrtle!" James exclaimed, "Don't tell me you've befriended the ghosts?"

"Myrtle isn't as bad as you'd think. She's just lonely and honestly I find it crazy that she was murdered in the bathroom and everyone treats it as a minor inconvenience!" Lily said.

"I never thought about it that way. Who did her in?" James asked.

"Rumour has it that an acromantula was raised in the castle and Myrtle was it's victim," Lily said unsure, "But that's mostly speculation though."

"Alright enough history, let's play a game," James said loudly.

"What game?"

"Spin the bottle?" James said hopefully, but Lily playfully punched him. She had been finding ways to touch him all afternoon and he had been doing the same. He'd grab her hand if she was walking too slow, Lily wiped the snow off his robes when they got inside. He twirled her hair and she cleant off his glasses. It was all very easy and natural, not for a moment was it awkward as it was with other guys.

"With just the two of us! Funny," Lily said.

But James only shrugged, "A guy has to try. How about Truth or Dare?"

"Alright, Truth or Dare?" Lily asked taking her scarf off.

"Dare!" he said grinning.

"I dare you to... hmm I dare you to do a handstand," Lily said giggling. He stood up shaking his head and laughing. "You always could turn the dare down."

"Are you crazy? A Marauder never turns down a dare," James said.

"Then proceed at your own risk," Lily warned.

"If I break my neck, you'll have to answer to Madam Pomfrey," James joked. He shook his arms to stretch them and did an odd sort of cartwheel/handstand hybrid. Lily couldn't help but laugh as he fell right into her. She tried to catch him but he was too heavy, so they fell to the floor together.

"Get off me you git!" Lily told him as she laughed. He rolled off of her.

"Alright my turn. Truth or Dare?" James asked.

"Truth."

"That's weak, Evans. Can't handle a challenge, can you?" James shook his head at her.

"Fine, dare."

"I dare you to tell me a secret," James said challenging her.

"That is exactly what the purpose of Truth is in this game!" Lily said exasperated.

"Whatever. Now tell me a secret and make it juicy," James demanded.

"Fine. I um- I had a crush on Remus in second year," Lily said chagrined. Then James began to laugh so hard. He doubled over and made Lily giggle a bit too.

"Stop laughing at me, you wanker," Lily complained. She punched James' arm as he began to tear up from laughing so hard.

"Would you stop punching me. I'm going to bruise," James said, "but I can't believe you fancied Moony."

"Don't go telling him," Lily begged.

"Well do you still fancy him?" James asked. She shook her head. He continued unblushingly, "Then it's no big deal. Everyone knows I fancy you and Sirius and Marlene have their weird thing, and Peter fancies Mary-"

"Peter likes Mary!" Lily exclaimed.

"Rats," James said, "Shouldn't have said that. Not that he'd ever make a move on her."

"Like you said, it's no big deal. It's only a crush, it's not like you are in love," Lily said, but James got very quiet. His expression turned solemn and serious. "Have you ever been in love?" Lily asked quietly. She wasn't sure how she wanted him to answer. She watched James' rough hands bring the bottle to his soft looking lips.

"Yes," He said, his eyes full with intensity. The room felt empty without the laughter that had just filled it.

"Really? With who?" Lily asked. She watched James shake his head slowly, he looked sad. And Lily couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy for the girl who had won James' heart.

"You can tell me," Lily said slowly. She reached for his hand to hold, she wanted to feel his skin. She would never had done so when sober, but here she was.

"I really shouldn't say," James said slowly. His voice cracked from it's usual deep tone.

"C'mon James. Who?" Lily insisted. She entwined his fingers in hers. After a very long silence he finally spoke, "Promise you won't be mad?" Lily nodded, no longer giggling. His jaw clenched and a struggle played out on his face.

"I'm in love with you," James said staring into her eyes, as serious as he was on the train when he said he wouldn't ask her out anymore. His eyes were wide and full of hope. Lily dropped his hands, staring into his hazel eyes, framed by wire rimmed glasses. But his eyes were more sad than hopeful now. And her hands had never felt so empty before.

"With me?" Lily said processing it all. Her mouth was hanging open and the alcohol wasn't doing her any favours.

"Forget I said anything. I'm daft as a bush, I'm sorry. I dunno what I was thinking. Merlin, I'm sorry," James rambled.

"Shut up, James!"

"What?" he asked weakly.

"How could you be in love with me? Why? We've never even kissed or-" Lily said frustrated. She was standing up now walking in circles.

"Are you seriously asking me why? I could write a bloody book. You don't understand how hard it is for me to just live my life knowing you hate me. You are so stupidly perfect. It's hard most days, seeing you. Watching you laughing at another bloke's jokes. Or ignoring me, not that I blame you. I've always been a prat. And I'm sorry. Dammit Lily, I'm sorry," James said pulling at his hair. His voice strained and spilling raw emotion.

"Stop, just stop talking! You can't be in love with me. We are 16 and barely friends. We've-we've hated each other for the last five years. You can't tell me you love me!" Lily screeched. She spun on her heels and began to turn away. James grabbed her wrist spinning her back around, facing him. They were close together, too close. Lily was suddenly out of breath as she stared into his intense eyes. Eyes that held back tears. She flung her wrist from his grip.

"I have never hated you, never. And I don't expect you to love me back and I meant it when I said that I wouldn't ask you out anymore. Just give me a chance as your friend, please." James begged. She felt chills go down her spine.

"I need space. Just give me space," Lily said with an unsure voice. Lily ran out the door for good now, leaving James in an empty room. Lily wanted to feel bad but it was all too much for her.

~James~ Square 1 was Torture

"Can someone tell me what this potion is?" Slughorn asked. He stared at the back of Lily's head as her hand piped up.

"That is Amortentia," Lily said dreamily, "The strongest love potion in the world. It is supposed to smell like the things that attract you the most. For example, I smell old books, flowers, and morning dew." James perked up and began smelling the potion himself. He closed his eyes as he let the scent overtake him. He smelt broom polish, wood smoke, and vanilla mixed with strawberry. James' eyes went wide as he realized that vanilla and strawberry was Lily's scent.

"Have you got something to say Mr. Potter?" Slughorn asked nicely.

"No I was... just getting caught up in the smell," James said.

"Understandable, but if you don't mind me asking... What is it that you smell?"

"Wood smoke, broom polish, and... and," James caught Lily's eyes for the first time in weeks. She seemed tired and hoping he wouldn't continue, "That's it I think." James said with his gaze not leaving Lily's, earning him snickers from the Slytherin table. He couldn't look away and seemingly neither could she. He missed her and her strawberry smelling hair and vanilla perfume.

"Would you like to tell me what you smell, Mr. Snape?" Slughorn asked, shutting his snickers down.

"I smell potion's fumes, vanilla, and something fruity," Snape mumbled causing James to almost gasp. But no one else thought much of Snape's answer, not even Lily.

"Very well, how about you Mr. Cattermole?" Slughorn asked the Hufflepuff.

"I smell laundrey detergent, lemons, and a fresh rain," the Hufflepuff boy said.

"Interesting," Slughorn said.

"What do you smell, sir?" James asked charmingly.

"Well, I smell fresh ink, pineapple, and oak mead," Slughorn said with a chuckle, "An odd pairing, wouldn't you say."

"I reckon mine is just as odd, sir," James added.

"Right you are," his teacher said smiling. He spotted Lily out of the corner of his eye again, she had looked at him for a half a second. He tried to hide the hurt from showing but he couldn't. He had scared her off and now she wanted nothing to do with him. Their relationship was back to square one. James hated square one.

James needed to be see Lily. But she wouldn't talk to him for weeks now. They had finally became friends and then he had to ruin it. He hadn't even known he was in love with Lily until that day. Because that day they were finally truly friends and he saw another side of her. And that was when he knew that they couldn't be just friends. He didn't want to be friends. He wanted to talk to her, to get her to listen, but she needed space. But he needed to set things right, but he didn't want to invade her space. James pulled out the Marauder's Map, searching for Lily's name. Her lonely black dot wandered down the halls. Not going anywhere in particular, from the looks of it. He knew he couldn't be there to protect her if she wouldn't let him, but either way he could still look over her. And that was his plan. He didn't actually expect for anything to happen. But then her dot was no longer alone. She was surrounded by three other dots. Three names that couldn't mean anything good.

James sprinted down the halls, faster than he knew he could go. As he ran closer to the dungeons he heard crashes and bangs ricocheting through the halls. Worry coursed through his veins and he drew his wand. He heard Lily shriek then a male grunt. He turned the last corner and rushed to Lily's side. He saw Mulciber and Regulus Black firing cursed and hexes at Lily. Avery accompanied them unconscious on the floor. Lily had taken several curses as well as her opponents.

"Stupefy!" James yelled. Mulciber barely dodged the curse and began to target James as well. Lily and James fought side by side firing spell after spell. Lily produced charms they hadn't even began to cover in class and James used every spell he knew. Every curse that Sirius taught him.

"Expulso!"

"Expelliarmus!"

"Crucio!" Mulciber yelled pointed at Lily. James jumped in front of the spell, hoping that he'd intercept it. Not thinking for a second that he'd be facing the torture himself, because it didn't matter as long as Lily was safe. He felt his body lurch in pain. As if his spine melted and his nerves screamed in pain. He couldn't feel his body slam to the ground or hear his heart wrenching screams. He could only feel the pain. He could see black spots dancing over his eyes so he couldn't see Lily Evans charge at Mulciber like a raging storm. In her fury she was stronger than them all. She fired curse after curse, leaving Mulciber trying to block her spells but his shield charm was no match. Regulus stood back in the shadows, allowing the events to unfold, shaken and torn between the two sides.

James saw Lily's concerned eyes hovering over him, in what seemed like only a moment later. She was shouting at him, her face twisted in pain at seeing him in such a state, but her voice was muffled. She was trying to move his sluggish body, but he was heavy. She heaved and pulled, but a semi-conscious 16 year old boy was difficult to move.

"My pocket," James croaked, but he knew Lily probably couldn't understand through his groans. "My pocket."

"Your pocket?" Lily said understanding. She stopped pulling him and began searching his pockets. She pulled out a blank piece of parchment and a dusty mirror.

"That's the mirror you used in Diagon Alley," Lily said looking shocked, but James wasn't sure if it was from their recent duel or his mirror. Either way, James nodded.

"Sirius!" James said as clearly as he could. Lily looked startled as Sirius' face appeared in a mirror.

"What's going on?" Sirius asked concerned.

"We're by the dungeons. We need help!" Lily said choking up a bit. Sirius dropped his mirror and came running, ending the connection. James stared at Lily's face. Her concerned features made his heart swell.

"You're hurt," James said worried. Lily gave a weak smile beside herself, as she crashed onto the floor beside him.

"I'll be ok," she said softly running her fingers through his messy hair. He adored the way it felt and thought she looked beautiful even with the blood splattered on her face. He reached a tentative hand up to touch her face. He wanted to wipe the blood from under her eye. When they touched, a spark of electricity shot through him, and he saw her sad smile turn to surprise. He didn't let that stop him from caressing her cheek.

"I can't believe he'd use an Unforgiveable," Lily said with a lone tear streaking down her cheek. James sat up, dizzily, but upright nontheless.

"I just can't believe I let him get away with it," James said softly.

She looked back at him with pride, "Don't worry, I didn't." She told him about how the three Slytherins attacked her.

"Sirius always knew that him and his brother were on different sides of the road, but I think he always had a little bit of hope," James told her. "I can't imagine what it's like."

"I can."

"What?" James asked confused. How could Lily Evans be in a similar situation as Sirius?

"My sister, she's a muggle. She thinks that I am, well all wizards really, are freaks. I'm not so sure about how she feels now, because just before school started we sort of made up," Lily said shakily, "My dad thinks it's because she isn't a wizard. Jealousy, I suppose. But I'm not so sure, I think it's a lot deeper than that. Maybe I just hope it is deeper than jealousy, because that is no excuse to shut out your sister."

"I-I had no idea," James said with wide eyes. He had such a sheltered life compared to all of his friends. Sirius is disowned from his family, Remus is a werewolf, Lily is discriminated on both sides, Peter's dad was dead, and Marlene's mother was dead.

"Yeah, well hopefully me and her are past it all," Lily said cheerfully, "Oh look, there's Sirius!"

"Oi! What the in the name of Merlin happened to you two?" Sirius yelled. He saw James looking pale and shaky and Lily covered in blood. James and Lily looked at each other and he said, "I saw that Lily was being attacked so I went to go help. When I got there, Avery was knocked out and the others were still fighting her. I jumped in and we held our own for awhile, but Mulciber got me with the Cruciartus Curse. I don't really know what happened after that."

"I was so... angry I started cursing Mulciber. And he couldn't do anything but a shield charm, which I broke. I hit him with the toenail growing hex-" Lily vented.

"Snape's hex," James growled causing Lily to shoot him a dirty look.

"Yes, Snape did mess around with spell theory, but it was useful although silly. Anyway Reg- I mean the other attacker pulled Avery out of the way and Mulciber followed quickly," Lily faltered.

"Regulus was there!?" Sirius shouted, his face reddening, "Did he hurt you? If he hurt you, I'll bloody kill him!" He looked furious and unstable at the same time.

"He didn't hurt us," James intervened quickly, "Lily said that he stopped fighting after I was hurt." Sirius didn't stop looking angry, just less worked up. James was used to diffusing potential outbursts from Sirius, and vice versa.

"Snape and his cronies have been sinking their bleeding claws into him. I- I-"

"You aren't going to do anything," James said, "No fighting or hexing, because they won't stop and won't hesitate using Unforgivables."

"But he's my brother!"

"And your brother, no matter how much he hesitates, he still goes ahead with their ideals. You know he's always been obsessed with You-Know-Who. Even after you've offered him several ways out, he still goes on with it. He's almost fifteen after all, he's making his own choices," James said.

"Yeah, yeah I know he is," Sirius ceded.

"I think I'm alright now," James told them. He tried to stand, only for his knees to buckle under him and his vision swimming. Sirius caught him and held him upright. He saw Lily's face twist in pain again, she looked at him with such pity that he became determined. He pushed Sirius' arm off of him, standing on his own, barely managing.

"I'm going to head over to Dumbledore's office and tell him-" Lily began to say.

"NO," James and Sirius warned together. Sirius shook his head as James continued, "Rule 14: Never tell Dumbledore."

"Rule 14?" Lily said amused. The boys nodded, "The Marauder's Rules. Very important stuff."

"The purpose?"

"To keep our secrets safe, of course," Sirius interjected.

"You might need to revise your rules then," Lily said before walking away. Her dark red hair flowing behind her, in a careless yet stunning manner. After James finished watching her round the corridor he turned to Sirius, "What do you reckon she meant by that?"

"Dunno, but we'd better get you back to the Common Room," Sirius told him before following Lily.

Hey there. How'd you like James' half-drunken love confession and Lily's refusal?