A/N: This is just a Jily one shot! Feel free to comment though. LILY POV

Year 1:

I was sitting at the Gryffindor Table with my best friend, Severus. He was talking about the potions assignment that was due next week. I was trying to listen but I had other things on my mind, The Marauders.

They were the meanest kids in Hogwarts. They would always pick on Severus. But the worst one of them all was James Potter. He'd pick on all of the Slytherins and even kids in other houses. And there was nothing I could do.

Suddenly a voice caught me out of my thoughts. I looked up and none other but James Potter was standing on a table halfway across the room. He was staring straight at me. I knew he was going to make fun of Severus. But when he opened his mouth he said the opposite.

"Attention, attention! I have an announcement!" He proclaimed, "I have a crush on the prettiest girl in school, Lily Evans."

My mouth literally dropped. My head was racing a million miles a minute. My palms were sweating more than a downpour. I could not believe what I was hearing.

"Lily," James said pulling me out of my thoughts, "I love you! I love you, Lily!"

I walked over to him, Severus close behind. James grinned a stupid smile and leaned in to give me a hug. I was about to when instead I slapped him in the face and shoved him aside.

Year 2:

I had to admit I was becoming friends with Remus. He was the most sensible out of James, Sirius, and Peter. From what he told me he never wanted to pull the pranks James and the others did. I wondered why Remus was even friends with them if he didn't like their doing but I'd find out soon enough.

I was walking with Remus to Charms when someone tapped my shoulder. When I turned sure enough, Potter was behind me with a bouquet of wild flowers. Would that boy ever stop! He was so smug bringing me those flowers. As if it would make up for what he has done to Severus. But I decided to give him a chance to talk.

"What do you want, James?" I said, the annoyance clear in my voice.

"Lily, I know you hate me but would you please go on a date with me?" He said rudely, holding the flowers up.

I took the flowers from him, he smirked. Then I threw them on the floor and stomped on them. James looked bewildered at my behavior. Sirius appeared out of nowhere and patted him on the back as if to say good prank.

I walked off, but I looked back to noticed Remus helping James pick up the flowers. Remus noticed me and shook his head disapprovingly. I didn't care, all that mattered was that I finally taught him a lesson.

Year 3:

I was sitting on a couch in the Gryffindor Common Room. I was reading Hogwarts A History and enjoying it very much. It was peaceful in the Common Room that day, with kids playing Wizard Chess, quietly chatting, or doing homework. But as intelligent people know, all peacefulness must come to an end. Especially when the Marauder's are involved.

A moment later the door opened and Peter and Sirius walked in with muggle clothes that reminded me of biker gangs. Then James strutted in more smug than ever with his sunglasses and leather jacket. He made his way over to me and took the sunglasses off.

"Potter," I greeted coldly.

He stared into my eyes for a moment and then said, "Evans, I never noticed how intoxicating your green eyes are."

I rolled my eyes. Such a typical response from a typical boy.

"What are you even doing here?" I demanded.

"I came here to tell you that I love you," he stated.

A bunch of girls awed. They all started chatting up a storm about James and how sweet he was and how we'd make such a cute couple. I wanted to scream. I didn't want his love I wanted him to understand what he was doing to all those innocent students. So I had to give him a taste of his own medicine.

"James! If you think I will ever love you then you are just a dumb prat!" I yelled for everyone to hear.

James looked stunned. I was happy that I had finally stood up to him and made my point. He had no right treating anyone like that.

Year 4.

I was sitting alone in a tree next to the Great Lake. It was my favorite tree that I'd ever known. The way the branches were curved just right that I could sit comfortably. How the leaves seemed as if they would blow away anytime a wind blew in. It was my safe place.

I was just about to pack up my things and leave when I heard voices. I had always been curious so I decided to wait and listen. But to my surprise it was the Marauder's. I stayed silent.

"Prongs do you really think she'll ever say yes?" A voice I recognized as Sirius asked.

James nodded, "I know she will!"

How could he be so smug? He didn't know if I would or wouldn't. He had no right saying that he knew exactly what I'd say or do.

"You two need to calm down and give Lily some time. You can't force this on her," Remus advised.

"Maybe you should tell her something nice," innocent Peter said.

James smiled. "That sounds like a good idea, Wormtail!"

Sirius clapped him on the back. Remus looked over and noticed James looking a little down. I had never seen that side of James but apparently Remus had because he gestured for the other boys to start walking back towards the school.

James stared out at the lake. He then whispered something barely audible but I heard it.

"I love you, Lily," he whispered softly.

He started to walk back. The boys were waiting only twenty feet away. Sirius patted him on the back and Remus and Peter said some words of encouragement. There were a lot of things I disliked about the Marauder's but I had to admit, they were amazing friends.

Year 5:

I ran off in tears after I heard Severus's words. He had no right speaking to me like that. Especially after all I had done for him. I took sanctuary in my tree. It was a place I felt safe and loved. I was sitting at the bottom edge crying when I heard footsteps behind me. I turned around to see James. I was too devastated to care.

"Hey Lily," he said as he sat down next to me.

I looked at him as if he was the reason for every problem in my life.

"I get it," he said smugly, or was it sadly. At that point I didn't have time to think. I just turned my head in the other direction.

I felt a warm hand on my shoulder. Then James lied his head down next to it. Usually I would have slugged him by now but this time I didn't have the strength. So instead I broke down sobbing.

"Shh, it will be okay," whispered James. He gave my hand a squeeze and looked me in the eyes with a slight smile.

How had I never noticed this side of James before? I don't know. Maybe he had never acted so nice before, or maybe he always had. I didn't want to get my hopes up so I assumed that this was the first time he ever had acted nice.

"Lily," James whispered, "I love you."

I smiled a little and laid my head to rest on his chest. He pulled me closer to him and held me as if he'd never let go.

After that I started to see James a little differently, but I still didn't like his pranks. But maybe with time that would change too. Maybe all it takes is a little bit of acceptance and anything is possible.

It was the last week at Hogwarts and I was roaming the halls. On my way through I saw James, Sirius, and Remus sitting in a corner. They were talking about Quidditch. I tried to get past without them noticing but that didn't work.

"Hey Lily," James said with a blush creeping up his face.

I scowled at him. Sirius laughed and exclaimed, "She hates you, Prongs!"

I smiled when my face was out of view. James was kind of cute and I was staring to see a different view of him.

"Nah, she doesn't," James whispered.

And for the first time I didn't interpret it as a smug response.

Year 6:

I had a confession, James was growing on me. He was sweet and kind and rarely did harmful pranks anymore, he was also really handsome. Although I didn't want to admit that last part. In fact, I had come to the conclusion that I had a crush on him. I know it sounds silly and childish but it was true.

I was on Prefect Duty with Remus that night and I decided to spill everything to him.

"I don't know what to say," Remus told me.

I smiled sadly. I thought if anyone could help it would be Remus.

"Except," he said and turned to me, "when you thought that James was being smug did you ever think that maybe it was hopefulness or a coverup for his nervousness?"

I pondered it for a moment and had flashbacks of all the times James had ever proclaimed his love for me. Now that I thought about it he was never smug. And if I thought about it even more he looked nervous every time I'd walk past. And the times he said that I would love him someday, like what Remus had said that was hopefulness. I backed into the wall at my newfound revelation.

Remus came over to where I was leaning and said, "One more thing, all those mean pranks he did were on kids who were bullies."

I thought about it and Remus was right he only ever pranked mean kids and none of them were younger than us. But a new thought popped up.

"But why did he prank Severus?" I questioned Remus.

"He pranked him because he knew what laid in Severus's heart. He knew he would betray you some day. And while I can't justify all of his pranks I can say most of the time he only did what needed to be done," Remus told me.

Remus helped me to my feet and the rest of the night all I could think about was James.

It was the last day at Hogwarts and I had to tell James how I felt. I was becoming nervous around him and I could not go a full summer without him knowing.

"Lily!" A voice knew to be James's called.

James appeared next to me. He turned me to face him and I couldn't look him in the eye.

"Lily," James said softly, "I know what you're going to say but please listen, I love-"

I cut him off with a passionate kiss. He put on hand on my waist, pulling me closer. He wrapped the other hand in my hair, entangling it in his fingers. I threw my arms around his neck as if it were the last time I'd ever see him. I didn't know how long we had been kissing, maybe a second, maybe minutes or hours, but I never wanted it to stop.

I pulled back to look at him. We smiled at each other shyly and he then pulled me in again. We had been kissing only a minute when we heard clapping and hollering. We turned our heads to see Sirius, Remus, and Peter applauding wildly.

We turned bright red, "How long have you been here?" James asked.

"About the whole time," Sirius answered with a knowing smirk. "Go on, get back to it. We are not here."

We leaned in and heard whoops coming from three of the four Marauder's. The fourth one was the boy I had fallen in love with, then and there.

Year 7:

James had his arm protectively wrapped around my waist as we walked to the Head Boy and Girl's room to pack up our things. When we got inside I sat on my bed and started crying.

"What is it Lil?" James asked sweetly.

I looked around the room as if to search for the right words to say.

"It's just that I'm going to miss Hogwarts so much," I confessed and buried my face in my hands.

A finger slowly tilted my chin to look up at James. He leaned in for a kiss and softly, our lips met.

"It will be okay. We never know what awaits us," James said holding out his hand.

I took it and with our trunks in hand we left Hogwarts for the last time as students.

The train came to a stop at Kings Cross Station. I looked out the window and saw many parents waiting for their children to leave the train. I thought about all the times James and I shared at Hogwarts. I wondered if we had kids would they love Hogwarts as much as we did. Would they join the Quidditch team like James? Look for justice like me? Would they find love like we both did? I had all of those questions and more.

I was about to tell James that we should get off but when I looked up he wasn't there. I got up and frantically searched for him, calling his name. Where did he go? I left the train and I turned around to see him behind me... and on one knee.

"Lily," he started, "I have loved you since we were eleven. I didn't know it then but you are the best thing that has ever happened to me! I love you! Would you please marry me?"

I started to tear up. I looked at him you could see the love in his eyes. All that mattered was him, not the dozens of people watching us, just him. Just James.

I threw my arms around him and in between the cries I was able to choke out, "Yes! I love you James!"

I kissed him passionately with all of my love. He twirled me around with our lips still connected. I didn't even hear the roars of applause. When we broke apart we looked at the crowd and there were the Marauder's. Sirius was giving James a thumbs up. Remus was smiling happily. And Peter was punching the air. I took the scene in. It was beautiful. I turned my face to look at the best part of the scene, James.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Most of it is canon the only kind of off thing is the fact that Lily started growing feelings a bit earlier. Anyway, what did you think?