A/N: This is an entire arc of shortish dribbles. I posted them all as one instead of individual chapters because I think it makes for easier reading. Enjoy!

Rule Books Are Made for Kindling.

The nice thing about the end of sixth year was that they only had ordinary exams. All around James and his friends, the fifth years were frantically cramming for their OWLs and the seventh years were even more desperately trying to remember every single thing they'd ever learned in preparation for their NEWTs. Sixth year was nearly a lark, in comparison.

Not that the girls seemed to feel the same way though. Lily, Marlene, Dorcas and Mary were working as hard as ever, making color-coded study guides, planning extra revising sessions, and just generally being Not That Fun to be around even as the spring storms eased up and the weather outside slowly became more sunny than not. Only Sirius seemed to be having any sort of success at all.

"It's only because you're actually shagging Marlene, that she'll go off with you," grumbled James. Sirius grinned the grin of a bloke who was regularly having his physical needs met.

"Did I tell you we've worked out a way to study at the same time? Every question one of us gets right means another piece of clothing comes off."

"You may have mentioned that once or twice," said Remus dryly. "I just hope neither of you find the need to strip in the middle of the exam."

James snorted. "I think the cleaning spells Flitwick intends us to demonstrate involve tough potions, not anything else you might spill, Pads." Sirius made a rude gesture.

"And how are things going with we're just friends Evans, Prongs? Have you grown a pair and finally asked her out?"

"Like you said, we're just friends," said James irritably. "And right now she's studying too much for me to even think about making it more."

"So combine them like I did." Sirius leaned forward. "You know she has trouble with Transfiguration and it's your best subject. Offer to help her study, and then you can sneak her off under your cloak and 'accidentally' transfigure her shirt into something . . . not a shirt."

James shook his head "Do you know how many rules that would be breaking?"

Sirius shrugged. "Rule books are made for kindling, aren't they? Especially these days." He gave James a pointed look. "Since when did you care about that kind of thing anyway?"

"Since he realized Lily cared about it of course." Remus didn't even look up from the DADA book he was reviewing. "Anyone want to quiz me on the differences and similarities between Redcaps and Hinkypunks?"

"Peter, help Remus. I've got to get my mate James here sorted." Sirius's tone boded no argument. So while Peter dutifully began questioning Remus, Sirius came and sat on James' bed.

"Marlene needed convincing too, you know."

James gave him an incredulous look. "Convincing to do what, snog? She jumped into your lap in the common room at the Valentines Party?" James ran his hand through his hair. He'd talked to Lily half the night at that party. Talked, and nothing more, while they'd laughed at the antics of their best friends. Now Sirius shook his head.

"She needed convincing not to take her studying so seriously; it's actually helping her focus, taking little breaks with me. You should try it."

"You and Marlene were already fooling around; it's totally different." Sirius shrugged.

"It doesn't have to be."

His conversation with Sirius was still on his mind when James went down to the common room later. As expected, Marlene was nowhere to be found and James couldn't help but feel a bit jealous, wondering what she and Sirius were getting up to. Lily was sitting at the same table she'd been at all day, a rather frustrated look on her face. She was surrounded by books, parchment, and a collection of small metal and wooden boxes, several of which looked misshapen or otherwise worse for the wear. He dropped into the chair opposite.

"All right there, Evans?" Lily gave him a withering look.

"Does it look like I'm all right?" She gestured at the array of objects in front of her. "By now these are all supposed to be glass vases with delicately carved bases made of the original material. So far the best I've been able to do is make this one vaguely cup-shaped." She pointed at a wooden lump that might have held a bit of water if one was not very thirsty. "I've been working at it for three hours and I just can't get the spells to work!" She threw down her wand in frustration.

James pointed his own wand at one of the metal boxes and carefully said the spell until a graceful bud vase with silvery trim rose in front of them. Lily glared at it. "How the hell did you do that?"

James stifled a grin. Lily didn't get grumpy very often and it was undeniably adorable. He grabbed her hand. "You're overthinking it, and thinking too small. Come on." He gave her arm a tug.

Lily gave him a curious look but got up slowly anyway. "Where are we going - it's almost curfew." She looked around the emptying common room.

"But it's not yet. Besides," - James patted the pocket of his robes - "I've got a way to avoid Filch and Remus is patrolling."

"Fine. But if I lose the rest of the night studying . . ."

"Then those boxes will thank me for it," finished James with a cheeky grin. "Face it, Evans, you weren't making a lot of progress alone." He pushed open the portrait hold. "And you have to admit, I'm good at Transfiguration."

That last bit seemed to convince her, and Lily followed James down the corridor until he stopped in front of an empty classroom.

"We'll work on bigger objects," he announced briskly. "You don't have to be as precise." He pointed his wand at one of the desks and said the spell and it turned into a large glass cauldron with a wooden base.

"You make it look really easy," Lily said. She attempted the same spell and ended up with a perfectly formed vase - but all still made of wood. "Damn," she said dejectedly. "I'm going to fail this exam."

"Don't think so much about it being glass," said James. "That's what I had to get over too. "Think more about the vase itself and the glass will follow." He came up behind her and pointed. Lily turned her head slightly, listening intently. James took that as a good sign and put his hand around her wand wrist. "Empty your mind of everything but a beaker, like we use in potions," he said softly. Carefully he turned her hand in the right direction while she said the spell and a moment later there was a large glass vial sitting on the desk where one of Filch's forgotten cleaning buckets had just been. Lily whooped in delight. "I did it! Thank you, James!" She took a step backwards into the circle of his arms.

Without really thinking about it, James turned her to face him. "Go out with me then, we'd be great together." Lily's eyebrows knit together.

"James . . ." she began. He knew that tone, and normally he would have backed off and returned firmly to that place where he and Lily had become friends. He'd learned not to push, to over-flirt, to be a cocky prat.

But the conversation with Sirius was still half on his mind and Lily's body was wholly close to his, and he was probably joking - probably - when he said, "how about one kiss for each item you transfigure? Sort of a reward system?"

It may have worked for Sirius, but Marlene wasn't Lily, and it was obviously the wrong thing to say. Lily stepped huffily away from him, her delighted expression from having transfigured the vase slipping off her face. "Is that why you brought me here then? To fool around? We could have practiced in the common room, you know."

"No!" James took a step back. "I promise it wasn't, it was really to help you with Transfiguration." It he'd stopped there, all might have been saved. But James couldn't resist the need to over-explain, and try to put most of the blame on his best friend. "I mean, Sirius and I may have been joking about transfiguring your shirt earlier, but only because he and Marlene . . ." He stopped. Lily didn't look angry; that might have been better. Instead she just looked frustrated.

"I can't believe you still joke . . .I thought you were past that, James. I thought . . ." She stopped and looked at her watch. "I can just make it back before curfew. You've got your cloak, right?" Without waiting for an answer, Lily headed for the door. Just before leaving she stopped again.

"Thanks for the help with Transfiguration. I think I can take it from here."

And then she was gone. James sat heavily on one of the desks. He might have entered the room as Lily's friend but now he had no idea where things stood, and no idea how to get them back.

You know it's not too late to call the whole thing off

"Prongs? Mate?" Sirius snapped his fingers in front of his best friend's face. "What's it say? Dumbledore finally decide to kick you out for bad behavior?" Sirius looked at the big school barn owl that was still sitting patiently on the chair in James' bedroom. "Of course, I'd have gotten a letter too then." He gave the owl a treat and it hooted and flew out the window. "So what is it?"

"A mistake." James finally found his voice. "A mistake or a prank of some sort." He looked swiftly at Sirius. "If this was your idea, it's not funny. Not if you included Evans in it."

Sirius looked genuinely confused; James could see that. He shook his head and then shook out the letter, not believing it even as the weight dropped into his hand: a large silver badge surrounded by a gryffin, snake, badger and raven with an H engraved across the middle. Sirius whistled.

"Stealing Lupin's mail now?" He peered over James' shoulder. "Who's Head Girl?"

James shook his head. "It's not . . . " He stopped, the words sounding ridiculous even to him. "Lily's Head Girl," he said instead. That made sense, at least. "She'll be brilliant."

"She will," Sirius agreed. "And it'll be brilliant, having two Gryffindors as Heads; I don't think they do that very often." He rubbed his hands together. "We'll not have to worry about detentions, that's for sure. What do you say we sneak into Hogsmeade the first night have a huge back-to-school party?"

James shook his head. "I don't think I can." Before he could say more, the fireplace flared green.

"So it's true then? You really got it?"

Maybe it was the crackle of the fire that made Lily's voice sound that way but James was certain he heard a sort of disappointed shock in her tone. Her face, floating in the flames, was carefully neutral though. He gave a short nod.

Sirius looked back and forth between Lily and James. "Wait, it's not Remus?" He shook his head. "Dumbledore made you Head Boy?" He barked a laugh. "Forget what I said about sneaking out then."

James ignored this. "I didn't ask for it, I swear," he said to Lily. "I don't know what Dumbledore was thinking."

Lily looked as though she wanted to agree, but instead just sighed. "I know, James. I guess . . . we'll talk later in the summer, okay? Figure things out."

Now James knew he wasn't imagining Lily's disappointment. "Yeah, okay," he said. "We'll talk later."

As soon as Lily's face disappeared from the flames, James fell heavily onto his bed. "Bloody hell."

Sirius sat backwards in James' desk chair. "I take it you're not happy with this great honor? It means you'll get a lot of time alone with Evans, you know."

"I know that, and what's worse, I think Lily assumes I somehow convinced Dumbledore to make me Head for just that reason." He ran his hand through his hair.

"And did you? Cause if you did, it would be brilliant." Sirius raised his eyebrows.

"No!" said James vehemently. "I have no idea why he made me Head. Quidditch captain would have made a lot more sense."

Sirius shrugged. "Who knows how the man's mind works? I don't understand half of what he says. But you know, it's not too late to call the whole thing off. Tell him thank you but no thank you. And then we can get back to planning the best back to school secret party Hogwarts has ever seen."

James shook his head. He knew he was completely unqualified for the position, and that Lily was probably furious she'd have to work with him all year, but he refused to quit. Somehow he knew Lily would be even more disappointed in him if he did so. "No, I'm staying. And I swear I'm going to show Lily I can take it seriously and that I have no intention of being anything but her friend." Just saying the words made him feel a bit better.

Dare I ask why you're so well behaved?

The murmurs started as soon as he got on the train. James had always loved the Hogwarts Express but until this year, he'd garnered attention on his own terms. Now he felt like the badge had taken on a life of its own, and was all people could see when they looked at him.

Sirius rolled his eyes. "You're not that important, Prongs. If anything, people are feeling sorry for Lily."

James both appreciated and hated how accurate Sirius was. He glanced out into the corridor. "Don't say anything when Remus gets here," he said quickly. It had been on his mind ever since the letter had arrived, that he really needed to reach out to his friend, but to do what? Apologize? He'd feel like a prat. Beg Remus to take his place? More likely, but even so there was still a part of James that didn't want to admit he was over his head. So instead he'd stayed quiet, figuring that the words might come better in person. But now that the moment was here, he was still at a loss.

"Say anything to me about what?" As if summoned, Remus was at the door to their compartment. He had calm alertness about him that James associated with being two weeks past and before full moons. Without waiting for an answer he sat down next to James. "This is about being Head, isn't it?"

Now James felt like more of an ass for not having said something first. "You'd be much better at it," he blurted out. Sirius glanced at him sharply but it was too late to take the words back. But Remus just looked bemused.

"But I wouldn't. In fact, I told Dumbledore at the end of Sixth Year not to even consider me." He gave a rueful smile. "And he told me he wasn't; we both know I'd make a lousy Head."

"Dumbledore actually said that?" Sirius leaned forward in his seat. "Seems rather rude."

"Especially because you're probably the best prefect there is. Aside from Lily." Remus' tale wasn't making James feel any better.

"Exactly." Lupin snapped his fingers. "I'm a good prefect because I follow the rules well. Most of the time." He gave a small smirk. "But we all know I'm not a leader."

The car was silent; neither Sirius nor James could deny the truth of that and they wouldn't patronize their friend to say otherwise. After a moment Remus nodded. "But James, you are. People look up to you, and that's half the battle won right there."

"But people also know I'm a colossal rule-breaker. They might follow me to a party where I've snuck in the Firewhiskey but not for something important. They're going to expect me to mess up." James wouldn't have been so honest with anyone else; if Peter had been there he wouldn't have said anything.

"Actually, I get it, sort of," Sirius mused. "Everyone knows how you feel about Lily; I expect Dumbledore thinks that you'll balance each other out, or that will be enough to keep you in line." He peered at James. "Won't it?"

"Hell yes." James ran his hand through his hair. "Of course it will. But I still think I'm going to be pants at it all."

Sirius shrugged. "So say no then; tell them to pick someone else." He paused. "I'm sure Snivellus would jump at the chance."

"I didn't say I was quitting," James said quickly. Sirius smirked and sat back in his seat.

"That's what I thought."

It was this conversation that was on his mind when James entered the carriage at the front of the train twenty minutes before the prefects meeting to find Lily already there, writing busily on a parchment full of notes. She looked up in surprise.

"You're early."

James stifled the urge to say something like I knew I'd get you alone this way. Last year's James would have done so. But last year's James would be likely to fall on his face - or his arse - if he kept acting like that. Instead he shrugged. "So are you."

"I wanted to write down some thoughts before the first meeting," she said, gesturing at the parchment. "To make sure I don't forget any of the important bits about what the prefects are expected to do this first day. And get some volunteers from the older prefects to do rounds these first few nights until I make up a schedule."

"Until we make up a schedule," James corrected her. "I want to help with all that."

Lily wrinkled her nose and only a small part of James took note of the fact that it was rather adorable. The rest of him was trying to stifle the sinking feeling that he'd been right, and that Lily wished she'd been paired with literally anyone else besides him. He rushed to explain.

"I know I've not done this before but I'm not such a prat to let you get stuck with all the work while I just . . ." he broke off.

"Charm everyone into following you?" Lily spoke without malice. "Dare I ask why you're being so well behaved?"

"It's not like before," said James hurriedly. "Not like when I was helping you with Transfiguration last year." He plucked the quill out of her hand. "I'm Head too, you know."

"So you are." Lily pushed the parchment across the desk. "And . . . thank you."

McGonagall's Looking For You

James swatted irritably at the fly that would not seem to leave him alone. No matter what charm he used or spell he uttered, the blasted thing kept landing on his head, his shoulder, his cheek, and even his nose. He tried to bat it away and it turned into a puff of smoke that stung his eyes. He rubbed at them.

"Oi, are you awake or do I need to sting you again? McGonagall's looking for you."

James looked blearily at his best mate. "Huh?" His neck was stiff from sleeping sideways in his desk chair. "McGonagall?"

"It certainly looked like her." Sirius came into the room and sat on the edge of his bed. "You were supposed to have a meeting?"

James looked at his watch and swore. "There are problems with some of the Fifth Year prefects; we were each to interview a couple and get their stories." He jumped out of his chair and began pulling on his jumper.

Sirius raised his eyebrows. "And you forgot?"

"Yes," said James distractedly. Where the hell was his shoe? "I mean, no. I did the interviews." He found the shoe and shoved his foot into it, almost falling over in his haste. "Slytherins throwing their weight around, pureblood nonsense, you know." The other shoe was on now and James scrabbled across his desk for the parchment he needed. "I even wrote everything up yesterday, before . . ." He glared at Sirius. "I knew that mead was a bad idea."

"Accio James' parchment," said Sirius calmly. The document whizzed into his hand and he neatly rolled it up. "You didn't have to drink any."

James grabbed the notes. "She's going to kill me. I was supposed to be there half an hour ago."

"It would be bad form for a professor to kill a student," said Sirius mildly. "More likely you'll get detention, or lines maybe."

James didn't even bother with a reply. The trip to the Gryffindor head's office seemed to take ages, even using every shortcut he knew. He burst in without knocking, completely out of breath. "Here," he panted, shoving the parchment at Lily. He tried to calm his racing heart. "It's all there. My notes," he finally said.

Lily was looking at him with concern. "Sit down before you pass out; did you sprint the entire way here?"

James stayed standing. "It's all there; take a look. I interviewed them all like you asked; Mulciber, Parkinson, and their friend, the one whose father called Dumbledore when he wasn't made prefect. Foster. Kieren Foster." He flicked his wand at the parchment and it unrolled across the desk.

"Well, it certainly is thorough." Professor McGonagall peered at James' notes.

"Very thorough," agreed Lily. "Maybe next time don't forget to write down the time of our meeting too." She raised her eyebrows expectantly.

"I didn't . . ." James sputtered, then stopped. Admitting he'd fallen asleep after a night drinking contraband mead wasn't any better than forgetting. "Sorry," he muttered.

"It's okay," said Lily. She sounded like she meant it, which made James feel even worse. "You'll have to tell me what you found later though, because we've got Potions now." She looked more critically at James. "Did you forget your books too?"

Again, James had no good answer. "Tell Slughorn I'll be late," he muttered.

I have no clue what's bothering you, can you at least give me a hint?

James managed to get through his classes and mostly avoid Lily for the next two days. He didn't ignore her, per se, but he didn't seek her out, either. Normally they might chat on the way from Potions to Charms, or sit next to each other at a meal to discuss Heads' business (the "Head cases," Sirius had taken to calling them). But now he stayed back to ask Professor Slughorn a question and made sure to sit between Sirius and Remus at lunch. He thought Lily might have given him an odd look when he packaged up some dinner to take back to his room but she didn't say anything, although Sirius may have muttered "head case" under his breath.

In the quiet of the dormitory, James tore through his homework as quickly as possible and was arranging the chairs in the classroom where they had prefects' meetings when Lily arrived.

"The meeting's at eight, you know." Her lips quirked. "Did you forget to write it down?"

"I know," said James. He let a touch of petulance creep into his voice. "And you like us to get here early to plan the agenda."

"This is earlier than usual," laughed Lily. She waved a piece of parchment. "And no worries; I took care of the agenda already."

"Of course you did," muttered James. He pushed a chair into place rather harder than necessary.

Lily ignored this. "The important thing to stress at this meeting is that prefects are absolutely not allowed to sneak their friends - or their relatives - out past curfew."

James knew this already; he'd been the one to talk to the younger Muliciber and Parkinson siblings about their after-hours activities.

"It's not going to do any good," he pointed out. Indeed, it had been blatantly obvious that both of the Fifth Years were lying when they promised not to let their older brothers take advantage again. "We should put a charm on the door to the Slytherin common room to catch non-prefects who leave after curfew."

"We'd have to put one on all the common rooms, and where would that leave your mates?" said Lily pointedly. "Besides, McGonagall wants us to start conservatively."

Which he would have known if he hadn't missed the meeting. Lily didn't have to say the words for James to hear them, loud and clear. He shoved another chair.

"Hey." Lily pushed aside a chair of her own and then grabbed James' arm. "Can you please look at me?"

Even if he hadn't been trying to mask the shiver from Lily's touch, James would have complied. He turned around. "What is it now?" he asked tiredly.

"I have no clue what's bothering you so can you at least give me a hint?" Lily's hand fluttered between them and for a wild minute James thought she'd been about to touch his cheek. The look on her face deflated the rest of his anger.

"It's nothing, just me being stupid." He reached for another chair.

"It's not nothing; you've been avoiding me for two days." This time Lily did touch his cheek, until he finally looked her in the eye. "What did I do?"

James shook his head. "It's what I did, or actually, what I didn't, do." Outside the classroom he could hear the beginning chatter of prefects starting to approach. "I missed the meeting with McGonagall because I'd been drinking with the blokes; I didn't help you plan the agenda for tonight." He gave her an aggrieved look. "Let's face it, I'm a terrible Head."

Surprise registered on Lily's face and James realized belatedly that he hadn't told her about the mead. "James, you aren't . . ." She stopped as the door to the classroom pushed open and prefects began streaming in. "We'll talk about this later," she said under her breath. "For now . . ."

"I know," James said quickly. "Don't worry about me."

Come on, I know a shortcut

By the time he and Lily talked, James had a better story. Sirius had gotten him pissed by doubling his drinks when he'd really intended to drink hardly at all and then had been taking the mickey about James being scared to cross McGonagall. He'd been joking, he explained, when he said he was a terrible Head, and even managed to fake enough confidence that Lily bought his explanation. She rolled her eyes at the thought that James would ever worry about McGonagall and dryly suggested that he keep a better eye on his drink, next time.

"I will," James promised, and he meant it. If he still felt like a fraud some of the time, being Head Boy, at least he didn't think most people could tell. He and Lily went back to chatting between classes and taking turns lecturing the fifth year Slytherin prefects who, not surprisingly, were still acting up.

"And they were the best of the lot for Dumbledore to choose from," James grumbled to Lily. They were doing Sunday night rounds together, which was traditionally a job for the co-Heads. Sundays always took longer because so many things seemed to end up out of place and out of sorts after the weekend. He followed her to the staircase that led down towards the dungeons. "I know they know who hexed all those doorways up to Ravenclaw Tower, no matter what they say." It had taken James and Remus and two Hufflepuff prefects over an hour to cancel the hexes and free the Ravenclaws, who'd been forced to hop, dance, and skip up and down the corridors while the Slytherins roundly denied having any idea what had happened.

"I could ask Severus to keep them in line," said Lily hesitantly. "It's his duty as a senior prefect." James gave her an incredulous look.

"Do you really think he would?" He didn't say anything else. Despite the fact that Snape's friendship with Lily finally seemed to have cooled for good, James knew she was still sensitive about him. After a minute she sighed.

"Probably not; their older brothers are his friends."

"I don't trust any of them." On this issue James refused to be stifled. "If they wait until they graduate to formally join the Death Eaters I'll eat my socks." Unspoken was the fact that the Slytherins had begun causing plenty of damage and injury already.

"If you don't pass out from the smell first," Lily pointed out. A small smile played around her lips.

James tried not to stare too hard at them. He knocked his hip against hers, glad they were back to joking comfortably. "I'd protest, but I suspect you're right," he agreed. He gestured to his left. "We should check the potions' storerooms," he said. "I'm pretty sure some of the cursed doorways were done by sprinkling mild poisons on them; the itching one was likely made with thistlethorn powder.". He pulled open the door, looked around for a moment, and then pointed. "Yes, see that? One of the containers has been opened and some of the powder removed; the purplish residue is from where it spilled."

Lily walked closer and peered at the shelves of bottles and beakers and cans. "Wow, I wouldn't have seen that. How did you know so quickly?"

James grinned. "Many, many hours helping restock my dad's storeroom; most potioneers keep their ingredients organized in the same general way." He took her arm and gently pulled her backwards away from the powder. "Careful, it's easily airborne." He said a spell and the residue disappeared. "We can tell Dumbledore, but I guess there's no way to prove it was the Slytherins; plenty of students are in and out of this closet. Now, if they'd broken into the cabinet where Slughorn keeps the more dangerous ingredients I'd be more concerned."

This time when Lily put her hand on his arm, James couldn't mask his shiver. She had a satisfied look on her face he didn't quite understand. "What is it?" he asked. He couldn't bring himself to step away.

"I'm just hoping you realize how much you deserve to be Head Boy," she said softly. When James opened his mouth to protest, she held up her hand. "I know it's been bothering you ever since you missed the meeting with McGonagall."

James' denial died on his lips. "It has been," he admitted. "And before that too; I couldn't figure out why Dumbledore made me Head Boy and not Quidditch captain."

"Quidditch captain wouldn't have challenged you enough." Lily spoke so confidently that James was momentarily surprised.

"You really think . . ," he began. Then he nodded. "I could still be much more of a prat, if I was Quidditch captain." Briefly he considered that Dumbledore might have actually known what he was doing. Lily shook her head.

"You were growing out of being a prat even before you became Head Boy," she argued. "But it's helped you grow into your potential." She blushed suddenly and took her hand off James' arm.

He thought he understood. "I'm sorry about Transfiguration last year. I really do know better."

"I know," Lily nodded. "Although . . . " she stopped, and the red climbed further up her cheeks.

James filed this information away for later. If he was going to continue to prove how un-prat like he was now, he couldn't be jumping to make a move the first time the girl he fancied blushed around him. This time he touched Lily's arm. "We need to get back," he said. "Come on, I know a shortcut."

Don't be scared, I'm right here

"You look like hell, Potter." Lily slid into the seat next to James and pulled the Charms essay he'd been trying to work on towards her.

"Way to make a bloke feel good, Evans," he retorted. And then, because she wasn't wrong, he shrugged. "I feel like hell. Got to get three more inches done before rounds, though." He yawned while Lily read over his parchment.

"See here?" she pointed at the middle of his essay. "If you add a bit about potential side effects from misdirected charms, and give some examples, I think you'll have enough."

James forced his sluggish brain to think. "Like spells that tamper with people's emotions?" They'd spent the last week in class discussing the dangers of charms gone awry, and emotional manipulation was one of the topics James particularly remembered. Lily nodded.

"That's a good one." She flicked her wand and the paragraphs in the middle of James' essay separated to make space for the additional sentences. He gave her a tired smile.

"Three inches exactly, I bet."

She smirked. "Wouldn't want you to write any extra words you don't need." Her expression grew more serious. "Why don't I ask Liam or Kate to do rounds with me tonight?" she asked, naming the two Seventh Year Hufflepuff prefects. James shook his head.

"It's Sunday." He picked up his quill and began to write, trying to stifle another yawn.

"And you're exhausted." Lily lightly rubbed her hand up his back. "How late were you out last night?"

James froze. "I wasn't out last night." The lie sounded obvious but he was too tired to say anything else. Indeed, Lily gave a small huff of impatience.

"I know it was a full moon last night," she said quietly. "And I know you all stay awake, waiting until he's . . . back."

It wasn't exactly right, but close enough. James rubbed at his eyes. "Did he tell you?"

Lily shook her head. "I figured it out myself. Last year." Her hand started moving across his back again. "He doesn't know I know."

James resisted the urge to lean into Lily's touch. They'd only recently become casually comfortable like that, and while he thought nothing of things like throwing his legs over hers and joking about stretching out on the sofa, he knew that's as far as it could go.

"Sev. . .Severus knows too, I'm pretty sure." Lily's voice had the careful tone she took on the rare occasions they had to talk about Snape. James nodded.

"I know." He couldn't - or more precisely, wouldn't - tell Lily about his role in the prank Sirius had almost pulled their fifth year but he wasn't surprised that the Slytherin had figured it out. He still couldn't believe Snape hadn't said anything and suspected Dumbledore might have gotten involved. "I'm doing rounds with you," he said firmly.

He was pleased that Lily gave in easily, helping him roll up his parchment and send his books and things back to Gryffindor Tower as curfew began so they could start their patrol right away. At first, he mostly just followed her lead, still fighting the drowsiness that came from spending the night awake and in the company of a werewolf. He and Sirius had talked about it, that being in their animal forms didn't make them any less tired afterwards, and maybe even more so, although they really had no way to compare. Several times Lily put her hand on his back or arm to guide him, and James would realize he'd nearly been drifting off on his feet. He gave her a sheepish smile.

"I guess I'm more out of it than I thought."

Lily smiled back. "It's quiet tonight; we can probably head back."

As much as James always looked forward to and enjoyed these moments alone with Lily, this time he agreed. Sirius and the others had likely been asleep for hours now and would be much more alert in the morning.

They had just rounded the corner that would take them past the kitchens when James saw something out of the corner of his eye. He whipped around. "Did you see. . . " he began, then rubbed his eyes before staring down the corridor.

"See what?" Lily peered in the same direction.

"I don't . . . it's probably nothing." Still, James didn't move to turn back around. If the direction he was staring hadn't led towards the Slytherin common room he likely would have assumed his tired eyes were playing tricks on him. But he was suddenly more alert, and something made him stay still. A moment later Lily sucked in her breath.

"What is that?"

James noted in satisfaction that she also already had her wand out. "I don't know," he muttered. "It looks like a Patronus, but . . . not." For instead of being silvery and cloudlike, the figure floating across the corridor was black and seemed to be made of smoke.

"It's a snake," Lily whispered. It dissolved into the wall a moment later. Neither of them moved for a moment. James knew he should send a message to McGonagall or Dumbledore, but he still made a lot of noise casting his Patronus and didn't want to alert whoever was creating the snakes.

"I want to check it out," he said quietly. "I mean, we should check it out, if you want to." He realized Lily had moved very close to him. "Is that okay? I don't think . . ." He shook his head. "I was about to say that I don't think it's dangerous, but I really don't know." As they watched, another snake floated by from the other direction. This one was bigger than the last, and the smoke had flecks of gray in it.

"They're sending messages back and forth," said Lily. She shivered, and without thinking about it, James put his arm around her.

"You're right." He'd never heard of this form of communication, even in DADA, but he knew instinctively that's what it was. Another snake floated past, and James swore. "That's an exterior wall it's going through. And the other way is towards the Slytherin common room." He gave Lily a swift look. "I can contact Dumbledore; I don't know who they're talking to outside." He squeezed her to him for a moment. "I know I should say something like 'don't be scared, I'm right here,' but that wouldn't be honest."

Lily leaned into him. "Thank you." She took a deep breath and stepped away, taking a defensive stance. "I'm ready."

They had been talking quietly, but apparently not quietly enough; the next snake that floated past turned suddenly in their direction. It lunged at them, and even though James knew it wasn't solid, when it opened its mouth he acted on instinct, shooting the strongest blasting spell he knew. The snake blew apart into dozens of smaller snakes that swirled around him and Lily like a malodorous cloud that stung wherever it touched bare skin.

Lily choked out her own blasting spell a moment later and then gasped Eneff . . .eneff . . .before dissolving into a fit of coughing. Barely able to breathe himself, James pulled Lily against his chest and began backing them away down the corridor. As soon as the air cleared enough he cast a Bubble Head charm around each of them and said the spell Lily had been attempting. His Enefflo was only strong enough to keep the black cloud from surrounding them again until Lily caught her breath and added her own blowing spell to his. Together they pushed the snakes back towards the walls they'd first come through when suddenly there was a shout and a number of robed figures burst out from the direction of the Slytherin common room.

"What the . . ." one of them began, and then, "Oh fuck, the Heads!"

James pulled Lily to him again and threw up his shield charm in time to deflect the Stunning spell one of them shot. It would have been a terribly unfair fight - there were at least six Slytherins and all were Sixth and Seventh Years James knew - but for the fact that most of them ran right through the black cloud as they appeared in the corridor. He took advantage of their coughing and disorientation to make sure he identified them all - several more arrived a few moments later - and just as James realized that it was time to contact Dumbledore, the man was there.

With a quick flick of his wand the black smoke and snakes disappeared and the torches on the walls grew brighter, illuminating the space with more light.

"Do you or Miss Evans need the Hospital Wing?" The Headmaster had obviously performed a spell to keep the other students in place; they were in an unmoving knot about ten feet away. James looked down at Lily, who hadn't made any effort to move out of the circle of his arms.

"Are you okay?" he asked gently. She was staring down the corridor with a devastated look on her face and he knew without asking that Lily had recognized Snape among the group. She nodded mutely and then turned her face back into his chest. James tightened his embrace.

"We're fine, sir. And I know we'll need to talk to you but . . . can it wait until tomorrow?" Now that the adrenaline was fading, James' earlier exhaustion came roaring back. Dumbledore nodded.

"I, and several of the other professors need to have a discussion, it seems, with Slytherin House." He directed his gaze down the corridor to where the students were mumbling to each other; Dumbledore's methods were much more delicate than a freezing charm. "As well as with a number of recent and not-so-recent graduates, who have been detained outside the gates." He twirled his wand lightly between his fingertips. "Quite an interesting method of sending messages they've developed; I'll be interested to study it further." A bit of black smoke puffed out of the end of his wand and the muttering grew louder. "Miss Evans, I trust that you will see Mr. Potter safely back to Gryffindor Tower? I daresay he may otherwise end up asleep in the Great Hall."

"I'll make sure he gets there." Even though the haze of fatigue, James thought Lily sounded a bit amused. He pulled himself upright, determined not to let the Slytherins see any weakness, and discovered that he'd not been leaning against a wall as he'd thought, but her. She tugged at his arm. "Let's go, Potter, before I have to levitate you."

He let himself be led away and even managed to carry on a conversation with Lily as they walked. Granted, they talked about the weather and how late it was but he was pretty sure he was mostly making sense.

At the bottom of the steps up to the boys' dormitory, Lily stopped, and James assumed she was confident that he'd be able to make it the rest of the way himself. He turned in her direction, intending to say good night.

"Would it be too weird if I stayed with you? Just for tonight?"

For a moment James wasn't sure what he'd heard. He shook his head, trying to wake himself up. "You want to . . . what?"

Lily grimaced. "Forget I asked; it was a dumb idea." She started to pull away.

Enough cobwebs cleared that James was able to catch Lily's hand before she got too far. "Tell me, Lils."

She was quiet for a long moment. "I just . . . I didn't want to be alone." She looked him square in the face. "I don't want to be alone."

James didn't need to ask why. "I won't try anything, I promise." An enormous yawn broke across his face.

A small small played across Lily's lips. "I know."

It was important that she understood. "Even if I wasn't so tired." They were walking up the stairs now, holding hands. Lily squeezed his.

"I know that too. Not yet."

I've been waiting. For what? For you.

Something had shifted between them. James tried not to notice it too much, but it was getting rather noticeable.

He feared he was beginning to obsess, actually.

This was nothing like all those years when he'd been a prat, teasing Lily mercilessly and asking her out whenever he had the chance. No wonder she'd thought him a toe-rag.

Now he didn't have to seek her out, didn't have to invent reasons to talk to her, didn't have to tell himself that "negative attention was still attention." She was there, easily, and it should have been enough. But it wasn't.

What was enough was his ability not to push, now. He told himself to enjoy Lily's company, their growing friendship, and her presence. He listened to himself, most of the time. Patient and trying not to hope. Even though Lily's 'not yet' was seared into his brain, James refused to do anything about it. She'd stayed over the night of the Slytherin attack, and that was it. They'd both slept, deeply and comfortably, and woken up late enough that James' roommates had all gone and she'd been able to leave with no one the wiser.

James hadn't even told Sirius.

And then it was Sunday again, and time for rounds.

Lily was pensive; James could see that right away. Her gaze was fixed as they walked and she answered James' questions completely, but without embellishment. A month ago he would have been worried about what he'd done wrong.

He knew better now, and when he quietly took Lily's hand she threaded their fingers together without saying anything. They walked like that for several minutes, avoiding by silent agreement the pathway that would take them by the Slytherin common room. Instead, James turned them towards the kitchen, tickled the painting of the pear, and accepted two warm slices of treacle tart from one of the house elves. He presented one to Lily with a flourish. Her eyes lit up.

"My favorite!" The first real smile James had seen that night crossed her features. He grinned back.

"I know; why do you think I asked for it?"

Something flashed in Lily's eyes but it was gone so quickly James thought he'd imagined it. She took a bite of the tart and groaned with appreciation. "Thanks. I know you prefer chocolate."

He shrugged. "But you don't, and I like treacle too." They walked in companionable silence and when they'd finished eating it was Lily who took his hand.

The air felt heavy on James' skin. Lily's hand in his felt like the only real thing in the world and when he pulled them to a stop she didn't seem surprised.

He stepped closer, certain she could hear his heart beating. Still he waited. Lily drew in a ragged breath.

"I've . . . I've been waiting," she said finally.

James touched her jaw, tilted her head up. "For what, Evans?"

Her mouth quirked at his use of her name. "For you, of course."

"For us," he corrected her.

Later, he couldn't say which one of them started the kiss, only that he was certain neither of them wanted it to end. Kissing Lily was nothing like James had imagined, of course. It was heated, but gentle, and unlike in his ridiculous teenaged fantasies from Fifth and even Sixth Year, it didn't morph almost immediately into their shedding their robes. Instead, James cradled the back of Lily's head in his palm and deepened the kiss, and it was all he needed.

"What are we going to tell everyone?" They were walking back - finally - stopping as often as they wanted whenever one of them leaned in for another kiss. It was very late.

James grimaced. "It's possible they already know." Swiftly, he explained to her about the enchanted map he and his friends had made. "He wanted to keep an eye on the Slytherins while we patrolled." He squeezed Lily's hand. "I'm sorry; I completely forgot about it until just now."

Lily sighed. "Normally I'd have been grateful to know Sirius was keeping an extra eye on things." She gave James a sidelong glance. "He's going to be impossible, isn't he?"

"Quite," James agreed. "And I can't even take the mickey about Marlene because he doesn't care who knows." He stuttered to a stop. "I mean, I don't care who knows about us either, unless it causes you trouble. He gave Lily a sudden, panicked look. "Do you think this means Dumbledore won't let us patrol together anymore?"

"I won't let him," said Lily calmly. James believed her. He nodded.

"Okay then."

But Gryffindor Tower was remarkably quiet when they returned; it was that late. Lily looked at the staircase to the boys' dormitory.

"Can I . . ." she began, just as James asked, "Do you want to . . .?" They stopped, grinning stupidly at each other.

"Yes, please," Lily said. "Even if Sirius is lying in wait."

He wasn't though; the curtains around all three beds were closed tight. James snorted.

"Marlene's here. No other reason they'd all three be shut up like that. He walked to his trunk and threw Lily a pajama shirt. "Make as much noise as you want; I promise they've all set silencing charms to keep from hearing anything."

"This will make for an interesting tomorrow," said Lily dryly. "Give me just a moment in the loo then, okay?"

Only when she'd disappeared to change and James was putting on his own pajamas did he stop to actually consider what was about to happen. Not much, if he was honest with himself. Hell, he and Lily had only just kissed for the first time an hour ago. And indeed, when she returned from the bathroom, looking scrubbed and pretty and in his own pajamas, James could see that she was nervous. He kissed her lightly.

"Just to be able to fall asleep next to you, that's all." Lily relaxed.

"Since you don't remember that from last time, yes." She swatted James lightly on the arm. "Go brush your teeth; I'll be waiting."

And then they were together in his bed and James wasn't half asleep this time. They pulled the hangings shut and set a silencing charm and it felt like the most natural thing in the world for Lily to cuddle into his side and share his pillow. They talked about everything and nothing and kissed in between, and it was nearly perfect.

"If only we didn't have class tomorrow," Lily grumbled. James thought it was rather adorable to hear her pout; she rarely did so. "My Mondays are always so tiring." She gave him a sly look. "Although I suppose I shouldn't complain this time."

"You shouldn't," James agreed. He rolled to his side and hitched his leg over her hip. "But if you'd rather go back to your dorm to sleep, I won't stop you."

"Prat," said Lily with a laugh. "We'll just have to keep each other awake in class tomorrow."

"It's a deal," said James.