Disclaimer: HP world and characters belong to JKR and WB and Bloomsbury publishing.

Synopsis: 15-year-old Lily Evans is bright, vivacious and a dedicated loyal friend and James F. Potter is becoming the bane of her life, distracting her in class, boasting in the common room and jumping out at her from behind statues at any opportunity he gets. But after their joint interaction with her best friend Severus Snape things at Hogwarts really start to change… For five years James and his friends have ruled the roost at Hogwarts, despite their extra-curricular activities James is intelligent, charming and arrogant. Until Lily Evans sets him his biggest challenge yet: HER. ****** Love me until the end of Time

Prologue I killed my best friend. And this is how I did it.

\/\/\/\/\ Chapter 1 James' Worst Memory Summer 1976

Time was unkind. As each minute slipped into the next everyone in the Great Hall fell silent when Professor Flitwick emerged from a side door. Accompanied by no one the minute professor stood on a three legged stool and peered over his crescent moon spectacles at all of his anxious, nervous students. Though some were not nearly half as nervous as they should have been.

For the last half an hour James Potter's time had been occupied with anything except the precise thing that should have been demanding his full attention. He was sat farthest away from the front of the Great Hall. Several long rows of mahogany desks filled the room, each one occupied by a fifth year Hogwarts student anxiously awaiting to sit their last DADA OWL exam.

'The exam will last two hours,' Flitwick explained excitedly. He nearly toppled off his chair. 'No cheating, you have all been issued with standard non-cheat quills. You may begin,'

Dropping his gaze from the back of Lily Evans' head James looked down at his paper.

DADA OWL

His attention wandered every few seconds, whenever a chair scraped on the stone floor or someone dropped their quill. Studying the questions closely James bit the quill between his teeth and after reading each question carefully began to write, annoyed at his untidy sprawl he tried to neaten it up. But after an hour of writing James felt his hand begin to cramp and he returned to the spidery quick sprawl he was more accustomed too. James paused, he smiled at the last question and with a subtle furtive glance at three tables across of him he hoped Remus recognised 'all the signs'.

10. Identify the 5 signs of a werewolf

He listed each individual one, with enough detail he hoped the examiner who would mark his paper would presume he himself transformed once a month into a fully-fledged werewolf. Leaving out the obvious parts where once a month he would transform, just not into a wolf - he wrote quickly eager to return to his less academic thoughts. Straightening up he put down his quill and pulled the roll of parchment towards him so as to reread what he had written.

Yawning James rumpled his hair making it even messier than it had been, quickly glancing up at Professor Flitwick he then turned round to stare at the boy four seats behind him, a wide grin spreading across his face he saw Sirius was already finished, easing in his chair. Sirius gave James the thumbs up and then James turned back round hearing the approaching precise footsteps of Professor Flitwick. James stared back at his paper for a few seconds then drew his attention back to Lily's auburn hair two seats in front of him, she was straightening up now and her hair looked longer.

Satisfied enough he had answered all questions to the impeccable best of his abilities, he strung out a spare bit of parchment he began doodling. Tracing the letters L.E over and over again, his quill tip flourishing each letter he added a small golden snitch floating above the letters. Smiling he inked the snitch round and round almost piercing through the parchment when he heard Professor Flitwick call out.

'Quills down, please!' he squeaked. 'That means you too Stebbins! Please remain seated while I collect your parchment! Accio!' Over a hundred rolls of parchment zoomed into the air and into Professor Flitwick's outstretched arms, knocking him backwards off his feet. Several people laughed. A couple of students at the front desks got up, took hold of Professor Flitwick beneath the elbows and lifted him back to his feet. 'Thank you…thank you' panted Professor Flitwick. 'Very well everybody, you're free to go!'

James hastily scribbled out L.E he had been embellishing and jumped to his feet stuffing the quill and exam paper into his bag, which he slung over his back, and stood waiting for Sirius to join him. 'That was easier than the last one,' James said to Sirius as they moved through the emerging throng of students. 'How'd you find it?'

'Sitting on the desk,' quipped Sirius, turning to Remus he asked. 'Did you like question ten, Moony?'

'Loved it,' said Remus briskly. 'Give five signs that identify the werewolf. Excellent question' '

D'you think you managed to get all the signs?' said James in tones of mock concern. 'Think I did,' said Remus seriously, as they joined the crowd thronging around the front doors eager to get out into the sunlit grounds. 'One: he's sitting on my chair. Two: he's wearing my clothes, Three: his name's Remus Lupin.'

'Pity you couldn't pick up extra marks eh' Sirius said.

Wormtail was the only one who didn't laugh. 'I got the snout shape, the pupils of the eyes and the tufted tail,' he said anxiously. 'But I couldn't think what else – '

'How thick are you, Wormtail?' said James impatiently 'you run around with a werewolf once a month – '

'Keep your voice down,' implored Remus.

The crowd of students were moving out into the grounds through the open doors, James kept an eye on Lily never allowing her to leave his line of sight. He was starting to wonder if she even thought about him- she had been oddly quiet the last few weeks, not even the slightest hint or whiff of an insult.

'Do you think we could go down to the lake; I have a feeling – '

'You mean a certain redheaded type of feeling, Prongs?' Sirius groaned not oblivious to where James was looking. 'Well, I suppose…'

'Oh, she's there is she,' James said pretending, and failing to sound like he didn't care. 'Come on,' Sirius chuckled 'no point deliberating it Moony, you know we haven't got anything better to do till tonight so?' James threw Sirius a half stern half amused look.

'Do you have any better ideas, Padfoot on how to spend the next glorious 6 hours?' 'Narh, fresh out 'm 'fraid,' Sirius said. He stretched his long limbs high above his head. 'Bored actually, so if you want spend the afternoon blushing around Evans and it happens to be by the lake in the sunshine I won't disagree with the plans,'

Moving outside James felt the sun on his skin, resisting the urge to sling his robe around his waist he undid his tie instead and stuffed it in his pocket. Eagerly anticipating the moment, he would talk to Lily, he had been unaware up until now of the presence of Severus Snape who had come to rest near a dark clump of trees. James came to rest by a large beech tree that wasn't too far from the lake, the top tips of the branches were casting little shadows across the gleaming surface of the water. Sirius sat down first, his long body stretching out and propped up on his shoulders with his sleeves rolled up to the elbow.

Remus had pulled out a book, crossing his legs and started to read, Peter sat nearest to James practically sitting on his lap and with a swift look from Sirius Peter shifted into his own patch of grass. 'We could always study for the exam tomorrow and it might be wise if you got some practice in Sirius.

'Potions never has been your strongest suit,' Remus said.

'Oh please,' grumbled Sirius then looking at the Transfiguration book in Remus' hand said 'and you think you need to study that? You're in the company of the three finest most accomplished transfguring wizards the world has ever seen,'

'I can't always remember facts as well as you, Padfoot. We don't all have your brilliant memory,' Remus said slightly enviously turning the pages of his text book. Sirius was looking haughty and bored, but very handsomely so. James was playing with a snitch, letting it zoom further and further away, almost escaping but always grabbed it at the last second. Peter was watching him with his mouth open. Every time James made a particularly difficult catch, Peter gasped and applauded. James looked over to the lake hoping the Lily, rather than Peter, was going to be impressed. He heard her laughter, it was so clear and crystal and rose higher above the other girls. James wish he was sitting closer so he could see Lily's smile, she really had got to him in the last few weeks. He couldn't shake her far from his thoughts for longer than two salamander seconds.

'Put that away, will you,' said Sirius finally, as James made a fine catch and Peter let out a small cheer, 'before Wormtail wets himself with excitement,' Peter turned slightly pink.

'If it bothers you,' he said, attempting to stuff the Snitch back in his pocket. When it came to Lily James couldn't help himself, admitting a mild defeat knowing she wasn't even the slightest bit interested in what he was doing he had put the snitch away, despite Sirius assuming he was the only one for who James would stop showing off for.

'I'm bored,' said Sirius suddenly. 'Wish it was full moon,'

'You might,' said Remus darkly from behind his book. 'We've still got Transfiguration, if you're bored you could test me. Here…' and he held out his book. But Sirius snorted.

'I don't need to look at that rubbish. I know it all.'

James was too busy watching Severus who had come to rest by the clump of bushes, but was now standing up making a move towards the girls by the noticed him striding across the lake, and he was not oblivious to what Severus was about to do. He was going to try and beat James to Lily, beat him in asking her to the Frankincense Dance at the end of the year. Although James knew Severus had little hope in winning Lily's affections, it was quite common knowledge that Lily Evans had expressed no interest in dating. After she had knocked back Roger Wood- the Head Boy only last week, but James was hopeful and he didn't want Lily on the back foot when he himself asked her. And any excuse to wind Snape up was not an opportunity James felt he could miss after their last little encounter had ended 1-0 to Snape.

'This'll liven you up Padfoot,' said James quietly. 'Look who it is….' Sirius's head turned. He became very still, like a dog that had scented a rabbit. 'Excellent,' he said softly. 'Snivellus.'

Peter and Remus remained sitting, James and Sirius had stood up edging out of the shade of the beech tree towards Severus slowly. Remus was intent on reading his book, though his eyes were no longer moving and a feint frown line had appeared between his eyebrows. Peter was looking from Sirius and James to Snape with a look of avid anticipation on his face.

'All right, Snivellus?' said James loudly, half hoping the girls by the lake would turn around. He wanted to show Lily how mature he was, but it wasn't going to plan already. The girls by the lakes edge had stopped laughing and out of the corner of his eye James could see Lily's hair glinting golden in the sunlight, it was still and her back was upright and stiff, like a doe caught in a clearing. Contemplating retreating (which wasn't often in his nature) James had little time before- Snape reacted so fast it was as though he had been expecting an attack:dropping his bag, he plunged his hand inside his robes and his wand was halfway into the air when James shouted,

'Expelliarmus!'

Snape's wand flew twelve feet into the air and fell with a little thud in the grass behind him. Sirius let out a bark of laughter. 'Impedimenta!' Sirius said, pointing his wand at Snape, who was knocked off his feet halfway through a dive towards his own fallen wand. A few girls from the water edge had moved to take a closer look, but James noticed Lily wasn't one of them, the girls looked entertained grins on their faces. Other students had started milling around too, some with apprehensive looks on their faces watching the scene unfold. Snape lay panting on the ground.

James and Sirius advanced on him, wands raised. James glancing over his shoulder at the girls by the water, Lily was still not moving but he couldn't hear her talking or laughing either and suspected she was listening. Peter was on his feet now, watching hungrily, edging around Remus to get a better view.

'How'd the exam go, Snivelly?' said James. 'I was watching him, his nose was touching the parchment,' said Sirius viciously. 'There'll be great grease marks all over it, they won't be able to read a word.' Several people watching laughed, including the girls who had edged closer and were thoroughly enjoying themselves. James, buoyed by their interest laughed, cajoling Snape even more. Peter sniggered shrilly. Snape was trying to get up, but the jinx was still operating on him; he was struggling, as though bound by invisible ropes.

'You-wait,' he panted, staring up at James with an expression of purest loathing, 'you- wait!'

'Wait for what?' Sirius said coolly 'what're you going to do, Snivelly, wipe your nose on us?' Snape swore ferociously, hexes and spells leaving his mouth but with his wand ten feet away nothing happened. James laughed at him, he really was pathetic and nothing was pleasing James more than to see Severus squirm.

'Wash out your mouth,' James said coldly. 'Scourgify!' Pink bubbles steamed from Snape's mouth at once: the froth covering his lips and he began to splutter.

'LEAVE HIM ALONE,' James and Sirius looked around. James' free hand immediately jumped to his hair, rumpling it more than was necessary. James' eye's fell first on the dark auburn waves bouncing around Lily's shoulders, her green almond shaped eyes flashing angrily in his imminent direction. Noticing her flushed pale cheeks', he was almost close enough to her that he could feel the heat rising in her cheeks.

'All right, Evans?' said James, and the tone of his voice was suddenly pleasant more mature, deeper. He felt colour rise in his cheeks. 'Leave him alone,' repeated Lily. James was acutely aware of the disgust and loathing she was now displaying towards him and it was nearly enough to stop him tormenting Snape, almost.

'What's he done to you?'

'Well,' said James appearing to deliberate the point. 'It's more the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean….' Many of the surrounding students laughed.

'Erin.' Lily said a low growl in her voice addressing a dark haired witch who was giggling. 'That is not helping the situation,' and Lily threw a warning look at Erin. 'You think you're so funny,' Lily said coldly, 'but you're just an arrogant bullying toe-rag Potter, for the last time I said leave him alone!'

'Oh Evans, don't make me hex you,' James snorted. With an added visceral in his tone he said loudly, loud enough that Lily couldn't ignore his request. 'If you go out with me- I mean- go to the dance with me and I'll think about never laying a wand on Snape again.'

'A date with you?' Lily spluttered, she looked round to Marlene and Erin, then her eyes flew back to James 'you must have me confused with someone who gives a shit about you,'

'Oh, swearing as bad as Snivellus, Evans. Now we know where he picked up his fowl habits,' Sirius mocked.

'I think you forget Black, I only lower my vocabulary skills to your level so you don't get lost in the conversation,' Lily quipped.

'So Evans- that date –'James interjected, trying to turn the conversation back to the original point.

'I wouldn't go out with you if it was a choice between you and the giant squid,' said Lily, her attention back on James.

'Bad luck, Prongs,' said Sirius briskly, and turned back to Snape. 'OI!' Snape directed his wand at James and a nasty gash appeared in the side of James' face, splattering his robes with blood. James whirled around: a second flash of light later, Snape was hanging upside down in the air. His pants around his ankles showing his pallid pale legs and grungy, yellowing underwear.

James laughed. Lily looked murderous. Her eyes narrowed as her gaze fell on Severus who was glaring at her even now, despite her efforts to help him.

'Stop it, he doesn't deserve that. Put him down, now,' James ignored her, egged on by Sirius he spun Snape round in the air. Snape was swearing again and sending out hex words. Lily, whose furious expression had twitched for an instant as though she was going to smile, said 'let him down, Potter!'

'Certainly,' said James and he jerked his wand upwards; Snape fell into a crumpled heap on the ground. Disentangling himself from his robes he got quickly to his feet, wand up, but Sirius shouted.

'Petrifcous Totalis!' and Snape keeled over as rigid as a board.

'Did I not make myself clear, I said LEAVE HIM ALONE, POTTER!' Lily shouted, she had her own wand out now. James and Sirius eyed it warily.

'Go to the dance with me Lily, go out with me and I promise not to lay a wand on old Snotypants for oh at least a whole week,'

'How admirable of you, you don't give up do you? Humiliating him- you think that'll actually work?' Lily scoffed at him, her wand pulsating. 'You have to stop it NOW, POTTER!'

'Evans, don't make me hex you,' James said earnestly. He knew this was flying farther and farther away from the ideal scenario he had imagined or planned in his head. But eyeing her wand nervously he said 'come on Evans,'

'Take the curse of him then,' Her fierce glare and the sparks flying from her wand were not the only reasons for James' compliance. He saw the familiar outline of Hagrid moving across the grounds toward them.

James sighed deeply, then turned to Snape and muttered the counter-curse. 'There you go, you're lucky Snape,' James said 'lucky for you Evans was here to save your skin as always – 'he added sharing a knowing look with Sirius. James watched Snape flinch, his dark hollow eyes flickered towards Lily then back to James and Sirius.

Gripping his wand tightly James still had it aimed straight at Snape. 'I don't need help,' Snape growled then swallowing a lump in his throat added 'why would I need help from little Mudbloods like her!'

James watched Lily's expression change in a second, her anger no longer pointed in his direction all the colour had drained from her flushed cheeks, draining out of her like a spilled goblet of pumpkin juice. Blinking and an expressionless smirk now on her face she said to Snape.

'Fine' she said coolly 'I won't even bother with you anymore. And you know I would consider letting your mother know about how dirty your pants are, but then I remember she cares more about where the next drink is coming from than she does you,'

'What did you say,' said Severus sternly but with a feint note of surprise in his voice, he clearly did not expect this, his cold eyes on Lily.

Her bottom lip trembling she added 'You're just as pathetic as he is Snivellus - the half- blood Prince' Lily snapped. "Do you know how ridiculous you sound? You know what I have a fabulous idea." Pausing she looked at James. "Why don't the two of you go to the dance together? I think you'd be perfect for one another!"

'Better to be a halfblood than to throw yourself in with that lot, mudbloods all together…' Severus retorted jerking his head at Erin and Marlene. Lily glowered at him, her wand raised and she looked like she was ready to hex him but appeared to change her mind and lowered her wand. James looked at Lily stunned. Sirius exchanged a mild look of shock with Remus who was now paying attention to the disturbance. Peter was still expectantly watching with excitement. Severus breathed a small sigh of relief but was still rooted to the spot.

'You need to apologise, right now,' James roared at Snape 'apologise to Evans!' 'Oh, no you don't,' Lily said crossly closing her eyes 'I don't want you to make him apologise' she shouted rounding on James. 'You're almost as bad as he is!' 'What?' yelped James 'I would never call you a you know what!' 'Messing up your hair because you think it looks cool to look like you've just got off a broomstick. Showing off with that darn snitch, trying to get girls to talk to you. You think you impress people when in fact people are really starting to see you for what you are- a bully James! I'm surprised your broomstick can get off the ground with that head on it!' You make me sick!' 'Right,' James said through gritted teeth. He grinned at those more subservient to his antics. 'Who wants to see me take off Snivelly's pants again?' Lily spun back around her wand out and aiming it at the beech tree behind James and glaring at him with deepest loathing for a second she looked to him then Severus, as if contemplating her next move or which wizard to hex first. 'Oppugno,'Lily shouted and several hundreds of leaves tore from the tree heading for James, he dropped his wand, thrashing his outstretched arm and head. James raised his arms trying to shield himself, but he was scratched and shredded. Straggling and flailing his hair out of his eyes Severus grabbed his bag and his wand rushing past Lily not even attempting to glance in her direction.

'Reducto,' Sirius reacted a flash of blue light surrounding James and the leaves dropped around him.

'Shit, Evans,' James said. Lily was still standing there and started to lower her wand. James was looking mildly impressed at her then glancing at his arm said 'that actually did some damage,'

'I warned you, Rotter,' growled Lily, her cheeks glowing red 'you didn't listen – ' James laughed at her. 'Something funny?' Lily snapped. He couldn't help himself, he smirked.

'Didn't know you had a pet name for me,' 'Oh-ugh-what?' Lily spat staring at him a mixture of revulsion and confusion.

'Never!' 'Come on Lily, you just can't admit it to yourself can you?' She blinked. 'Admit what?'

'You don't totally hate me,' His smile widened revealing a toothy grin. Sirius rolled his eyes, Remus had yet to even acknowledge the disturbance openly. Lily tutted loudly and ignoring the giggles and curious glances that followed her she marched away.

'See, I knew it." James chortled. 'She's wavering, I can tell." He boasted to Sirius who appeared not to share James' sudden enthusiasm. 'Prongs watch out-'

'Furnunuculus!' And James fell backwards falling on top of Remus. Sirius went to their aid. Peter jumped, scurrying back he hid behind Remus and Sirius who helped James to his feet. All over James' face tiny pimples had begun to appear. The pustules began to burst in quick succession. James huffed and snorted, stamping his feet looking like he was about to charge down a stampeded. His face was covered in a stinky, green mucus. Lily beamed proudly, her nose high in the air she turned on her heel. Sirius helped James to his feet, Remus looked ruffled but mumbled. 'I'm fine, I'll clean him up, Padfoot. You suck at healing charms, no offence.' Giving Sirius a green light to chase after Lily.

'Oh no you don't Evans.' Sirius snarled moving toward her. 'Who taught you that, eh? One of you little snake friends?"

'Move out of my way Black. No doubt Rotter needs you in the next five seconds.' Sirius was undeterred, running alongside matching her stride for stride. 'Wow… still jealous, you are honestly still not over that...'

Erin whispered softly, not even aware if he had heard her because he rarely noticed her. 'Sirius, I'd stop if I were you.'

'Some pretty dark magic for you Evans. Care to share with me where you learnt that little ditty of a spell?' Lily's pace quickened. His lips tightly curled Sirius withdrew his wand firmly pointing it at Lily's retreating back.

'Nocure Impetus' in quick succession sharply pointed arrows, dipped in a bright red substance flew at Lily's head. Both Lily and Marlene spun round hearing those words, and it was Marlene who defended first and a white shield charm surrounded them. Taking aim Lily charmed every arrow into red flower petals with a direct flourish of her wand and they floated to the ground harmlessly. 'This is done.' Lily said finitely. 'And you want to know where I learnt my dark magic...'

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