Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. I'm not JKR. End of story.
A/N: This took me a while, please let me know if anything's inaccurate and do take the time to review! I'd appreciate your responses! :)
"I'm not even going to ask why you two are walking into the common room together," Sirius stared at Lily and James as they climbed through the portrait hole and into the Gryffindor common room. "I'm also not going to ask why Evans is wearing a sweatshirt that says "Potter" across the back of it."
"You do realize you're technically asking, right?" Lily grumbled.
"Yes! Quidditch practice ended an hour ago! What have you two been doing?" Sirius looked from Lily to James, taking in their amused expressions. "Oh, darn it, I should have checked the Room of Requirement."
"SIRIUS ORION BLACK!" Lily threw a pillow at his head, and indeed, her aim was perfect. "What made you think I would ever do something like that with Potter? Or with anyone, for that matter?"
"I wouldn't object," said James, picking up a quill. "If Evans is interested, then so am I." Lily turned bright red, the same color as her hair.
"Fine," she said stiffly. "Do the Potions essay yourself." She grabbed her bag off the floor and ran up the stairs to her room. James looked dismayed.
"I only meant that as a joke," he said quietly. "Lately Lily seems to be taking everything I say personally."
"Don't you think that's a sign that she may have developed feelings for you?" Sirius questioned. "Come on, Prongs, you've changed a lot since sixth year. You used to ask her out every other day and now you're nothing more than dropping hints in hopes that she'll take notice and actually consider you. And if you haven't realized, we haven't been pranking anyone lately because you're not coming up with ideas because you're in love with Evans." Sirius crossed his arms triumphantly. "Also, did you notice she's still wearing your sweatshirt?"
"Padfoot, just shut up."
"I'm 99.9% sure she at least fancies you, James. That 0.1% is just the element of surprise Lily brings into everything."
"She still thinks I'm an arrogant, bullying toerag."
"So? You were. You're Head Boy this year, and you'll be working with her. This is a perfectly good chance to show her you've changed, James, so don't go ruining it!" Sirius sighed. "Come on. Don't give up. Don't be like me, James. You can do better."
"The important thing right now is not me trying to get Lily to love me. The important thing is that I desperately need help with this Potions essay and Lily is the only one here who's good enough to help."
"I can lend you my notes," Remus said, approaching them. Sirius laughed.
"No, I think Prongs wants help from a certain redhead. C'mon, Moony," The two walked away with smug smiles. James groaned.
"Now how the hell am I supposed to get her to come down here?" James lay down on the sofa, tired and exasperated - but still determined. It didn't matter how long it took, it didn't even matter if Lily would never look at him that way. He would always love her.
"What did Lily do, Potter?" Marlene sat down on the sofa opposite James, followed by Alice.
"I don't know, maybe I said something and meant it as a joke but she took it seriously and ran off to her room in the middle of helping me with a Potions essay."
"Do you want us to get her?" Alice asked, then shook her head, smiling. "Why did I even ask that? Of course you want us to get her, so I'll go do that." Marlene made to stand, but Alice pushed her back down. "I'll take care of this. I don't think Lily's in a good mood right now."
"Does she ever mention me?" James asked once Alice disappeared out of sight. Marlene sighed.
"I mean, she does, quite a lot, but it's hard to tell if it's in a good way or not. The one thing I do know, is that whenever either one of us says something suggestive," -here Marlene wiggled her eyebrows at James- "she turns the color of her hair and refuses to look at us in the eye. But I don't know if that's embarrassed blushing or happy blushing." James closed his eyes.
"Here she comes," Marlene whispered, walking over to Alice and dragging her upstairs, leaving the two Heads alone.
"What do you want, Potter?"
"We're back to surname calling now?"
"Do you want to finish your Potions essay or not?" James nodded. Lily sat down, quill, ink, and parchment in her hands. "The thing about Polyjuice is..."
The two spent the whole night in the common room: Lily helping James understand the point of the essay, and James actually writing it.
"Oh my, Marlene, will you look at that?" said Alice, when they descended into the common room at around half past one. Both girls stared in astonishment at the sight before them.
James Potter was asleep on the sofa in front of the fireplace. And next to him, fiery hair spread out and head on his chest, and still wearing a scarlet and gold sweatshirt with "Potter" across the back, lay Lily Evans.
Awwwwww, so cute! I just love Jily so much. Anyway, thanks for reading and stay tuned for chapter seven!
-Vis
