Discalimer: All characters belong to J.K Rowling and the wizarding world.

Chapter 18 (James Potter)

I think I'm in love

Thursday 10th February 1972

James was sitting in History of Magic that day, paying absolutely no attention to Professor Binns and focusing absolutely all his attention on Lily Evans. He loved the way her deep red hair fell casually down her back, and when she turned slightly, he could see her beautiful bright green eyes.

"James." whispered Sirius. But he didn't here him. He carried on gawking at Lily and admiring the dusting of freckles on her cheeks.

"Ouch." James hissed as he felt Sirius hit him over the head with a book. "What was that for?"

"You haven't written a single thing the whole lesson and we've got five minutes left."

"Wow okay, okay, don't go all Lupin on me." he joked, rubbing his head. Remus raised an eyebrow.

"All Lupin?" he smirked.

"Yeah you're a nag sometimes mate, although it does get the work done."

"Glad to hear it."

James was glad when they were finally dismissed from the final lesson of the day. He was sick of Professor Binns going on and on about things that were highly uninteresting. They went up to the common room and took one of the tables by the window, as the fireplace seats were taken up by Lily, Marlene, Mary, Zoe, Alice and Dorcas. He looked over there, and Marlene and Mary started to giggle as he ruffled his hair. Sadly Lily only scowled and proceeded to finish her homework. James sighed and put his chin on the desk looking defeated.

"What's up with you Jamsie." Remus asked.

"He's love sick." mocked Sirius.

"I'm not." he mumbled.

"You so are, just because it's Valentines Day in four days, you're being sulky because you've failed to win her over."

"I'm not sulky." he argued.

"Then why do you look so miserable." said Remus, but James just sighed. Maybe he really was love sick.

"James?" said Remus.

"Mhmm."

"Why don't you send her a Valentine message." James and Sirius started to laugh.

"What?" Remus said in a quizzical tone.

"You're so romantic Remus." Sirius chuckled.

"I doubt it." he said starting to grin. "You could send it anonymously, and then she might not try to hex you for once."

James considered this. It was a pretty good idea. He could sit relatively close to her, and see what she says, if anything. But there was just one problem.

"I don't know how to write- well- lovey stuff." he said.

"Me neither." frowned Sirius.

"Lord you two are hopeless." Remus exclaimed.

"Why don't you write one if it's so easy." said James.

"But that won't help you with Lily, will it."

Sunday 13th February 1972

James and spent the whole day trying to write a poem, and all he could manage was six lines.

"What's that you got there Jamsie." Sirius chimed, grabbing the poem.

"Oi, give it back."

"Oh how touching James." he mocked. He cleared his throat and proceeded to read out loud, while James frowned on his bed. It was a mocking sing-song voice which he usually laughed at, although not when it was his writing.

"All I can think today

Is what I could really say

To a girl so sweet and true.

Your eyes are like emeralds

No other eyes they resemble

Their beauty is defined by you."

"Wow James, you're a bit of a poet aren't you?" Remus was crying with laughter but not as much as Sirius and Peter.

James had gone very red and snatched the poem back.

"It's not funny."

"It so is." both Remus and Sirius said at the same time.

"Right." he stood up "I'm going to post this." and he left the dormitory, with their ringing laughter in his ears. He rushed off to the Owlery and found a handsome brown Owl.

"I want you to deliver this letter at breakfast, can you do that?"

The owl blinked and he took that as a yes.

He walked back slowly in the frosty February air, tempted to run back to the letter and sign it with his name. He really did like Lily, she was fiery but good-natured. He wished that he could just have a conversation with her, without it turning into an argument.

Monday 14th February 1972

James woke up nice and early that morning. He got dressed into his school robes, tried to make his unruly hair behave with no success, and waited for the others to get ready in the Common Room.

Finally they walked down to breakfast. Just as James was tucking into a slice of jam Toast, letters started to be dropped. Unsurprisingly, Sirius was showered by maybe seven or eight letters in varying shades of pink and red.

"Anyone want a card, got enough for two each." Sirius said quite arrogantly.

"Lucky you Sirius." Remus said a little bitterly.

"Why, who were you hoping to get one from."

"Nobody." he said absentmindedly. And then Remus jumped in shock when a letter landed on his head. Remus opened it and laughed looking over to Lily.

"Cheers Lily." he called, still laughing.

"Pleasure." she called back waving.

James scowled. "Remus what-"

"Oh calm down James, it's just a friendly card. Guess she didn't want me to feel unwanted compared to the 12 year-old Casanova over here." he laughed, nodding his head towards towards Sirius, who was lazily opening cards and pushing them aside casulally.

"Well what can I say, I'm handsome, charming, intelligent-"

"Arrogant, lazy, foolish-" James listed. "Do I need to carry on." They sniggered and carried on eating breakfast. James watched Lily out the corner of his eye. She had two letters. One in a green envelope and the other was his. She laughed at the green one and then opened the red. Her cheeks started to go red and she gave a small smile.

"Who's that from Lily?" asked Mary.

"No idea."

"Can I read it." Marlene asked trying to peer at the words.

"No, it's- hey Dorcas!" Lily said as Dorcas grabbed the letter and read it quietly to the other girls. Lily was blushing madly, her face almost as red as her hair.

"Oh how romantic."

"You've got a secret admirer Lils."

"I wish someone would write me a poem." The girls carried on talking about their romantic wishes all the way to Transfiguration. James did a little jig in his mind. She liked it, she blushed! Maybe I'm not a hopeless romantic! He thought to himself with flutters in his tummy.