Disclaimer: I realized I probably should do a disclaimer for each chapter so... well, if I was J.K. Rowling, I wouldn't be here fangirling over how amazing of an author she is.

A/N: Just wanted to let y'all know that this story is just about their seventh year at Hogwarts - my other one titled 'Of Love Letters and Hatred' is a more detailed account of all seven of their years at Hogwarts.


Professor Slughorn cleared his throat for the fourteenth time that class. "Ah, well, I've assigned each of you partners, with whom you will work with for the duration of this year." Reading off of a piece of parchment, Slughorn bellowed:

"Marlene McKinnon and Remus Lupin!

Sirius Black and Alice Longbottom!

Julius Nott and Amelia Roberts!" Lily zoned out for a while, before coming back to reality at -

"Lily Evans and Peter Pettigrew!" Oh, thank God, not with Potter, she silently thanked God for her good fortune. James ended up being paired with a young Irish witch by the name of Mary Kennedy, who wouldn't stop flirting in one way or the other.

"All right! Review time! I will give you fifteen minutes to make a proper Amortentia potion. Everything you need is on the table up front." As Mary went to fetch the ingredients, James made his way over to talk to Slughorn.

"Ah, James, my boy, how can I help you?"

"You see, sir, my partner and I simply can't get along, she's very distracting, so I would like to request switching places with Peter." Slughorn contemplated this for a while before a small smile started to spread across his face.

"Young love," he said, shaking his head. "All right, m'boy, it wouldn't hurt."

"Thank you, sir." James tried to hide the huge smile threatening to form on his face.

"Ahem. Would Mr. Pettigrew please switch with Mr. Potter here, please? Thank you." James and Peter switched spots. Lily had a murderous look on her face.

"I swear, Potter, if you mess something up I will poison this and then make you drink it." she said, teeth gritted.

"Calm down. I'm not as stupid as you think I am." James reached for the knife.

"Shut up, Potter." They finished their potion in silence.

Later that day, Lily and James again found themselves in the presence of one another.

"Miss Evans, Potter, stay after class for a moment, please," McGonagall said after a Transfiguration class, in which Alice's paper clip had been turned into a rat before she could Transfigure it into a pumpkin.

"I swear, Professor, I didn't do it, it was Nott -"

"Potter-"

"It wasn't me, Professor, believe me, Nott did it-"

"POTTER!" McGonagall silenced him. "That is not what I'm getting at! Now listen." She leaned forward, hands clasped together. A suspecting silence fell over the room.

"Miss Evans, I want you to tutor Potter."

"What?" Lily cried out indignantly. "You want me - me - to tutor him? He acts like he knows everything, struts around Hogwarts as if he owns the place, and you want to me to tutor him?" McGonagall's face softened.

"Lily, you may not like this, but you're just helping your fellow students. Would you have tutored... say, Mr. Lupin, if he needed help?"

"Yes," Lily said without a second of thought, and James's heart sank a little.

"Then you will not have any problem helping his best friend?" McGonagall looked at her expectantly. She couldn't say no, not when her teacher was relying on her.

"All right," she grumbled. "I'll do it."

"Thank you, Miss Evans." McGonagall returned to her firm, domineering stance. "I'll leave you and Potter alone to discuss timings, then." She left.

Leaving Lily and her worst enemy in a room. Alone. Now Lily remembered the way James had murmured her name earlier in the morning - tenderly, softly, full of desire and need. The very thought of it made her stomach churn.

"I-I can find someone else, you know, if you wouldn't like tutoring me. You don't have to do this, Lily." Had he just called her Lily? What had happened in a few minutes that had changed a six-year history of surname calling?

"No, I'll do it. I'm Head Girl either way, and I really should start being more exemplary."

"You make me feel ashamed."

"And why is that, Potter?" James raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow at her.

"When you're Head Boy and you have to have the Head Girl tutor you in your favorite subject, it is indeed quite shameful." Lily's mouth hung open at his words. James? James Potter, Head Boy? Merlin, what was Dumbledore thinking? How did she not know this earlier?

"I. Um. Okay." Lily made to walk back to her desk, but James caught her wrist.

"Do help me, Lily, I'm terrible at Transfiguration, and even Remus doesn't help much. Please." He looked desperate, a messy mop of black hair framing his beautiful face, his sharp jawline...

Is he a violinist? I could see him playing the violin...

Lily mentally slapped herself. It wasn't everyday you started having second thoughts about hating your enemy.

No, she wanted to say. Instead, "Okay. When would you prefer?" came out of her mouth, and for the next hour they sat discussing schedules, James always watching her, trying to comprehend her.

"Evans," he called to her as she turned to leave. "When are your rounds?"

"Tuesdays and Thursdays," she replied. "Why? When are yours?" James didn't say anything, just grinned and left the room. Frowning, Lily flipped through her schedule book, to where she'd marked the days she'd have to do rounds.

Rounds with Potter was written there in bright green ink.

It was a very irate Lily who stalked off to the Gryffindor common room to write a Charms essay.


Well, hope you liked it! I'm trying to get chapters done quickly before school starts, so that's why I've posted three in succession. Thanks for reading, stay tuned for chapter four!

-Vis