A/N: Just to let you know, this story is MY point of view on what happened, and, thankfully, in my fic, the Marauders are most definitely NOT players. For more, read the summary.

Disclaimer: I don't own any characters (besides OC's), spells (except my own), or anything else you may recognize.

Chapter 1: An Angel of Content

Lily Evans took one last look around the sixth year girls' dormitory, scanning the room for any forgotten items. She would be boarding the Hogwarts Express in just under an hour, bound home for summer holidays.

"You know, Delia, I think I dread it more and more each year; leaving this place, I mean. I could live here my entire life, and be completely satisfied," Lily said to her fellow sixth-year Gryffindor, and best friend of six years, Delia O'Riley.

"Of course you could. You just happen to be at the top of almost every class, and homework for you is a breeze! I, on the other hand, am ecstatic at the idea of two months of McGonagall-free vacation! Who could ask for more?" Delia said melodramatically.

Lily only smiled at her reply.

"You know, Lily, I'd say you've got it pretty well made here. All the teachers love you, you're a bloomin' prefect, and face it, Lily, you're pretty high up on the 'Hogwarts List of Most Beautiful People'," Delia continued, taking a seat on here trunk.

Lily blushed slightly. She never seemed to notice that on many occasions, half the male population of Hogwarts made it a point to notice her.

Lily was short, slim, and beautifully so. She was around five feet three inches tall, and had long, thick, wavy red hair. Her eyes were a deep bottle-green, and by far her best feature.

"I guess that's all well, Delia, but face it. How many real friends do I have? I can count them on one hand. I just, you know, need to feel … wanted." Suddenly realizing she had voiced her thoughts, she stopped. She could see the hurt on Delia's face. "I'm sorry, I wasn't undermining your worth as a friend, I just feel … incomplete, I guess." An awkward silence engulfed the two.

After a moment, Lily heaved up her truck and headed for the door. She couldn't help but notice how tired she felt. "So, are you coming?" Lily called back.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The train was packed with people scurrying to find compartments.

"Let's hurry and find a compartment, I really don't feel all that well; I need to sit down, I think, "Lily stated.

After a few more minutes of searching, the girls remained unsuccessful. Lily's trunk was a huge weight on herself, even if she was dragging it. She felt very weak, and all of a sudden felt very dizzy. She blacked out for a second, all the while unbeknownst to Delia.

Someone grabbed Lily around the waist, and took her truck from her. Lily leaned against him for support, grateful for the help, although she passed out seconds later.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Hey! Sirius!" James called. "A little help, please?"

"Whoa, what do we have here?" Sirius Black smirked. "James Potter, saving a damsel in distress. Perfect little hero you make, James. You know, you ought to consider-"

Sirius, just shut up and take this trunk," James snapped.

"Where to, my putrid king?" Sirius asked sarcastically. "Oh yeah, you might want to explain to her what's going on, she seems a tad worried," Sirius said, pointing to a now-shocked Delia.

"In our compartment, Sirius." James turned to Delia and smiled weakly. "Everything's fine, Delia. I'll just take her over to our compartment, and let her sleep. Oy! Remus!" James suddenly called over his shoulder. Remus Lupin popped out from around a corner and looked at James inquisitively. "Grab Delia's trunk, will you? She and Lily, here," he said, gesturing to the unconscious Lily, still cradled in his grip, "will be joining us."

Without asking any questions, Remus hoisted up Delia's trunk and began heading for their compartment. Delia sighed, utterly confused, and followed.

James looked down at Lily Evans, fellow Gryffindor prefect; perfect, beautiful Lily Evans, and followed suit, carrying Lily protectively to their compartment.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Lily awoke with a splitting headache half an hour later, and bolted upright. She soon regretted it. She lay back down, and realized what, or whom, she had been sleeping on.

"Ah, our Sleeping Beauty has awakened," James said the moment he noticed.

Lily sat up again, more slowly, and looked around, taking in her surroundings. "How did we end up here?" she asked no one in particular.

"Well, you uh, you sort of passed out, in my arms," James said sheepishly.

Lily's eyes narrowed slightly. "How did I end up there?" she inquired rather angrily. Her face was slightly flushed. She quickly stood up.

"Whoa, sit down! You're feverish!" The place in James's lap where Lily had previously lain was hot to prove it. "Lie back down, get some sleep, and hopefully you'll feel better when you wake up." James said this quietly, but surely, as if her 'feeling better' was the most important aspect of his life.

Lily sat down, but made no moves indicating any intent to sleep. "Potter, don't think for one-"

James cut her off. "Lily, lie down. Please."

"Since when were we on a first name basis?" Lily grumbled, rather annoyed. But all the same, she did lie down; though on the other end of the seat, much to James's dismay. It seemed only seconds later when Lily's breaths became deep and even, signaling that she was asleep.

"Is she always like this?" Sirius quietly asked Delia a few moments later.

"She, well, she's, I don't really know how to explain Lily, but she doesn't make friends all that easy. She's rather protective of herself, I guess you could say," Delia answered.

"Sounds like a real shrew to me, if I ever heard of one," Peter Pettigrew spat out.

James shot Peter a death glare that shut him up right away.

James glanced over at Lily, sleeping soundly. Lily Evans. James had had a crush on Lily since his second year. Just one look at her reminded him why. To James, she was perfection. She was beautiful, smart, innocent, and pure. Sleeping, she looked like an angel from heaven, sent to shade his heart with a feeling of content.

Maybe he would do it next year. Maybe, just maybe, he would befriend her, and poor out his heart to this girl, this angel, explaining everything he'd every felt for her. He wanted to tell her, but feared, above all, Rejection. He didn't know if he could stand hearing, from Lily, that one word. That one word that holds so much power, it changes lives every day. He didn't think he could bear hearing one simple 'No' from his angel. His angel. Funny how he referred to her as His Angel.

Sighing, James settled into a comfortable position, and slowly drifted off to sleep.

A/N: well, that's the first chapter. Review! Tell me what needs fixed, what needs to be done better, give me SUGGESTIONS! Btw, the next chapter should be out in a couple of days. I have it written, but I'm still working out the fine points. Remember, REVIEW! :) and I know it's short, but they'll get longer, I promise!