Authors Note:  I am soooooooo sorry it took so long for me to post this.  In my area we've had so many storms.  Whether it be snow, rain, or wind storms, my power kept being knocked out.  I haven't been able to get onto the internet so I haven't been able to put this up.  I have however, made this chapter longer then what it was and I started on the next.  Hopefully I'll be able to post that in a day or two.  Happy Reading!

I wouldn't talk to Danielle for the rest of the week.  I had planned on giving her the silent treatment for a couple of more days, but unfortunately Cassy and Victoria devised a plan so that the two of us would have to speak.  When we went into Potions this morning, the two of them sat together.  This forced Danielle and I to sit together, otherwise we would have to work with one of the Slytherins or one of the Marauders.  Both of those options were dismal, at least for me.  Danielle wouldn't have minded working with any of the Marauders, but thankfully she sat by me.  If she hadn't, Potter would've been sitting here annoying me to no end.

When Professor Greenwich came into the class room, she looked to be in a horrible mood.   Her normally bright eyes looked cold as steel.  Her hair was in a high tight pony tail that made her eyebrows raise up in a most intimidating way.  She walked briskly to the front of the class and stood in front of her desk.  With her fingertips pressed together she started, "We're beginning a new potion today.  I'll be assigning your partners, and I don't want to hear anything of it.  As I call you're names, go to the table I assign to you."  She walked over the first table in the head of the class, "Snape and Lestrange."  She moved to the next table, "Pettigrew and Thompson."  She went down to the next row; two Slytherins were paired together and Danielle and Victoria were paired.  Great!  I hope I get Remus.  I can't deal with Potter, or Black!  Professor Greenwich moved on, "Lupin and…" please say me, please say Evans, "Black.  Taylor and Marcus.  In the back row, Abbot and Edwards, Evans and Potter." 

I put all of my books into my cauldron and moved to my new seat next to Potter grudgingly.  Potter however had a smile as big as the Cheshire Cat as he strutted over.

"Hullo Partner!  I was hoping I'd get you Flower!"

I clenched my jaw, "Call me Flower again, and I'll-"

"You'll what?  Hex me?"  He looked at me with such intensity, I was getting uncomfortable.  "You've been telling me for years that you'd hex me.  Yet you haven't, not even once."

"There's a first for everything Potter."

"Agreed, that there is.  But see Evans, I know you're a brilliant witch, and as many curses as you may know, I know them as well.  Most people would fear being at the receiving end of your wand, but I know every counter spell there is, and then some."  He smiled, "I also know, that you'll never hex me.  You'd be stooping to my level if you did, wouldn't you?"

I glared daggers at him, "I didn't say I'd hex you, I know far too many other things I could do to you.  But either way, it doesn't matter.  Just don't call me Flower, or Love, or any other pet name you might come up with.  My name is Lily or Evans, that's it."

He kept staring at me, but didn't say anything.  Finally he looked away and turned towards the board.  My eyes followed.  The instructions for what we had to do were written up there.  I took out a piece of parchment and started writing them down while James just watched me.  "You have very nice handwriting."

I turned my head to face him, "Don't you think you should be writing the instructions as well?  After all, I'm not doing all the work."

"I wouldn't dream, ha, catch the irony?  We're doing a dream potion, and I said I wouldn't dream?"  I just blinked.  "Right, well, as I was saying, I wouldn't dream of having you work by yourself.  But as far as the instructions go, I think you're doing very well on them.  We are two of the top students, I'm sure we don't need two sets of the same thing."

I sighed, "Fine!  Then you can start chopping up the roots!"

"Anything you say me dear."

***

All of our ingredients were ready, now all we had to do was put them in the cauldron, but that would take sometime.  We had to complete the potion over the next two weeks.  In the mean time, we were supposed to research all about the Dark Dream Draft Potion, also known as the Triple D, and write a 3 foot report about it.  I really didn't mind having to write the report, but then I noticed that the instructions clearly stated that the report was to be worked on in partners.  In other words, I have to work with Potter on the report and on the potion!  That's a whole two weeks with him! 

Once the bell rang, I got all of my things together and went outside.  I waited for Cassy, Danielle, Victoria at the door.  They were some of the last to come out, the Marauders followed them out. 

Potter draped his arm around my shoulders, "So Evans, when shall we get together?"

I shrugged his arm off of me, "Pardon?"

"When shall we get together?  You know, to work on our project?  Or anything else you might have in mind."

"You truly do disgust me."

"If that's what you want to call it.   Anyway, back to our report, we could start tonight."

"I have a prefect meeting to attend tonight."

"Oh right, I forgot.  Well let's see then, I have practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and you have to patrol on Wednesdays.  Hmm, that only leaves Friday."

"I'm not spending my Friday night with you!"

Potter had a slightly crestfallen look on his face, "You could be stuck with worse you know."

I couldn't help to roll my eyes, "Yeah?  Like who?"

"Snivellus!"

"I wouldn't be stuck with Snape.  Greenwich doesn't integrate houses."

"Yeah, well, it doesn't matter anyway.  You're stuck with me either way.  So, it's Friday or the weekend.  Which ever one you prefer is fine with me."

He was right.  I was stuck with him.  I had to work with him.  "Fine.  Friday night, in the library, at 7:00 sharp.  If you're not there, I'll leave.  I won't stick around waiting."  With that I quickened my pace, as did Cassy, Victoria, and Danielle.

***

 Friday afternoon I tried to convince Danielle and Victoria to come to the library with me later on that evening.  Cassy already had plans with Andrew.  Victoria said no right away as I knew she would.  She hated the library.  Danielle, however, jumped at the chance.

"I'd love to come!"  Her eyes became wide and started dancing with mischief.

I narrowed my eyes, "But you like the library even less then Victoria."

A small crept to her face and she shrugged her shoulders.  "I know, but it'll be good for me!  I could after all use the study time.  Have to keep my grades up so I could stay on the team right?"  She was of course referring to the Gryffindor Quidditch team; she's a chaser, and a bloody good one at that.  

"I suppose.  We'll go up to the library after diner.  Sound good to you?"

Danielle shook her head yes.  "Yeah, and as I'm studying, I'll keep an eye out for you and James."

My eyes grew wide, "What?  Why?  What are you talking about?"

"I'll keep an eye out for you two.  You know, just incase you guys decide to go to the back somewhere and have a snog."

"Merlin!  DD, you're just as bad as he is sometimes!  How many times do I have to tell you that I don't like him?"

"Oh come off it Lils!  I mean, can you honestly say that you're not attracted to him in the least bit?  You've never thought about snogging him?"

"YES!  I've never thought about snogging him and I'm not attracted to him in the least bit!"

"You're lying!  You're nostrils are flaring, whenever you lie, they flare!"

"I am NOT!  I don't like him!"

Cassy interjected, "Lils, not disagree with you or anything, but if you don't like him, then why do you always get so worked up about him?"

I gritted my teeth, "I'm not sure!  But I know it's not because I fancy him!  I don't!"

Cassy nodded her head, "Okay, so-"

"If you don't fancy him," Danielle interrupted, "then who do you like?  There has to be someone, you're sixteen for Merlin's sake!  I mean, all girls our age fancy someone, its human nature.  It's like a law or something!  A divine right if you will!"

Victoria raised her eyebrow, "Okay, DD, calm down a little, you're starting to scare me."

Danielle rolled her eyes, "Oh shut it Victoria!  But seriously guys, how many boys have you heard Lils talk about, and not just talk about, but has actually shown any kind of interest in?  I can only think of one, James."  I opened my mouth, but Danielle started to speak again, "Don't say anything Lils.  I didn't say you fancied him; I only said that you've shown an interest in him.  It might not be a good one, but it's an interest all the same.  Lils, I know you've been on dates to Hogsmeade and everything, but you've never really dated anyone.  You're sixteen years old, and you've never had an actual boyfriend!"

"All I was going to say before was who I fancy!  You didn't have to go through that whole speech of yours!"

Danielle smiled awkwardly, "Oh, sorry then.  Who do you fancy if not James?"

"Jason." I said simply.

All three of their faces looked taken aback.  Victoria spoke first, "Jason?  Jason Garret?  The one in Ravenclaw, our year?"

I shook my head, "No, Jason Peterman."

Danielle's jaw dropped, "Jason Peterman!  The head boy!?"

"Yeah, the head boy.  Why, what's wrong with him?"

"He's the head boy, that's what's wrong with him!  He would never break the rules and go sneaking around to snog or anything with you!"

I rolled my eyes, "Just because he's head boy doesn't mean he won't break rules!  The heads have some privileges, and they have leeway with certain things.  They have a later curfew and they know nearly all the passwords in the castle.  There's bound to be a room where he would go for some alone time."

"Maybe, but I don't think he'd break the rules.  And besides, you wouldn't either!"

"Yes I would.  I wouldn't mind sneaking around every now and then if I had someone that I really wanted to sneak around with."

The three of them looked surprised.  I was even surprised; I can't believe I said that.

***

That night the four of us went down to diner as usual.  I noticed however that Potter hadn't shown up yet.  I was curious as to where he was, but I didn't want to ask any of his cronies.  Instead I kept glancing over at them to see when he arrived.  Fortunately, he didn't show up at all.  I hoped that I could be so lucky tonight at the library, hopefully he wouldn't show.

When 6:30 came, Danielle and I left the Great Hall.  We went up to Gryffindor Tower to get our things and then headed to the library.  We got there ten minutes before 7:00.  Danielle and I sat opposite a table that had books scattered all over it.  I stared at the door, waiting to see if Potter would turn up on time.  I kept checking my watch to see what time it was.  One minute after seven, I would leave if he wasn't here. 

"Oh, you're early!"  I heard from behind me.

I knew who it was, but I turned around anyway.  "You're already here!"

Potter walked over to the table with all the books on it, "I've been here since diner."  I raised my eyebrows and he spoke again.  "I didn't want to be late, so I came early.  I started getting information too."  He gestured to all the books as he spoke.

I was lost for words, so I just stood up and walked over to the table where he was.  I sat down and grabbed a book.  I saw Potter do the same out of the corner of my eye.  We sat there reading and making notes for the next hour in silence.  It was actually a bit scary to see James Potter quite for that long, but very serene mind you.  The silence was broken when Madam Pince came over to the table.

"I have to go do something; I'll be about a half hour.  Can I trust you, Ms. Evans, to keep Mr. Potter in line?"

Lily gave a small smile, "Yes, of course.  But we won't be much longer."

"Okay, then please make sure these books get cleaned up before you go."

"Yes ma'am."

Madam Pince turned to leave, but stopped just before the door.  "And Mr. Potter, if anything shall happen here, you will not like your detention."  With that, she left.

Potter gave a short laugh, "So you think you can keep me in line, eh Evans?"

"Yes, I believe so." I said flatly looking into his eyes.

His mouth curved into a smile and eyes were alight with mischief, "We'll just have to see about that."

"Oh come off it Potter, you've been good all night.  You don't want to ruin it, do you?"

"I might."

"You wouldn't like what I'd do to you.  Isn't that right, Dani-" I turned to look at Danielle, but she wasn't there, "elle?"   I turned back towards Potter, "Where is she?  Where'd she go?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "Maybe she left."

"She wouldn't leave without telling me."  With that I stood up and started to look for her around the shelves.  Potter stood up and walked the opposite direction of me.

A minute later, I felt a tap on my shoulder.  I jumped and turned around.  It was Potter, of course.  "Don't do that!  You're going to give me a heart attack one of these days!"

"Oh, sorry, I just thought you might like to know that I found Danielle."  When he mentioned her name, a grin appeared on his face.  He turned around and started to walk towards the back of the library.  I followed, curious as to what Danielle was doing that made Potter smirk the way he did.

When we turned the corner, I saw Danielle and some Ravenclaw boy snogging, quite heavily I might add, on one the chairs in the corner.  My mouth dropped, "I could use the studying my arse!"

Danielle pulled away from the boy. She stood up and faced me, shocked, "Lils!  You're, umm, you're done gathering you're, umm, you're information already?!"

"I can't believe you!  You said you wanted to study!  Here I find you snogging!  In the library no less!  You could at least go up to the astronomy tower or something!"

"Yeah, that would have been better, but-"

"It doesn't matter.  Just, both of you leave before Madam Pince gets back.  I don't want to have to explain anything."

"Okay, I'll meet you back in the common room then?"  I nodded my head and Danielle and the Ravenclaw boy left the library. 

Potter and I went back to the table.  I started straightening out the books and my papers.  However, Potter continued to write on his notes page.  "We really should get going, don't you think?  Madam Pince will be back soon, and we told her that we'd be leaving soon."

"I just want to finish this quickly.  I'll be done in a minute.  You can go on without me."

"Alright then, just when you get back to the common room, give me your notes and we'll keep everything together."

He looked up at me and gave an apprehensive smile, "I didn't take any notes."

"What do you mean you didn't take any notes?  We were sitting here for an hour, I saw you!"

"I wasn't taking notes.  I read stuff, but I didn't take anything down."

I pointed to what he was writing on, "Then what is that?"

He looked down and took it off the table quickly, too quickly if you ask me.  "Oh, it's, it's nothing."

I felt the corners of my mouth turn upwards, "It has to be something!  Come on, let me see it!"

He looked at me curiously, "Why do you want to know?"

"Because you've been writing at it for an hour, it's bound to be something good!"

"Curiosity killed that cat Evans!"  He said smiling.

I walked to the other side of the table and faced him, "Too bad I'm not a cat.  I'm a flower," I grabbed the parchment out of his hands and turned around, "remember?"  I saw the first few words, but then he grabbed it back out of my hands.

I looked at him incredulously, but he just smiled.  "Have you forgotten that I'm a seeker?"  He wiggled his fingers, "I have very fast hands." 

"Oh now I'm even more curious.  Just let me see it."  I tried to grab it out of his hands, but he held it above his head where I couldn't reach and shook his head no.  So I pouted.  "Please?"  Oh dear lord!  Am I flirting with him?  No, no, of course not.

He smiled slightly, "Only if you give me a kiss."

I stepped back and looked at him as though I was thinking about it.  I wasn't going to kiss him, but I was going to make him think I was going to.  After a few moments, I walked closer to him and smiled.  I kissed my fingertips pressed them gently on his lips and then withdrew my hand.  "That's the only kiss you'll get from me."

Potter continued to smile and look into my eyes.  I think that's the only intense thing he's capable of.  When he looks into your eyes, you can't look away.  It's as if you're frozen and can't move any part of your body, especially your eyes.  Then very softly, he spoke, "Can I ask you something?"  I wanted to look away and roll my eyes, but I couldn't, I was transfixed on his eyes.  I guess he noticed that I wanted to say, and he knew what it was.  Before I was able to speak, he started again.  "Don't worry; I'm not going to ask you out, nothing of the sorts actually."

I found my voice, but still unable to break our eye contact, "What is it then?"

"You know how beautiful you are right?"  I made a face, but said nothing.  "Do you know how many of the guys in this castle dream of you at night?"  I was taken aback by that and I felt my face flush furiously.  "Well, I was wondering, if the girls dream about me as much as the boys dream about you."

Is he fucking serious!  How can one person be so damn conceited?!  "How many girls dream about me?" My God!

I forced a smile, one I hoped looked real, and kept looking at him.  I stepped a little closer to him and grabbed his tie gently in my hands to pull him closer.  His eyes grew wide for a moment.  We were really close now.  If I had been a couple of inches taller, our noses would almost be touching.  I looked up to his face, and he looked down at mine, while I talked, "A lot of girls dream about you.  I mean, why wouldn't they?  You're a dream in yourself to some of them.  You're good looking, you're smart, and you can even be nice sometimes."  We kept staring into each others eyes.  I could tell that he wasn't sure what to do, I think it's the only time I saw him unsure of himself.  Just as the thought left my head, he started to lean in closer to me.  He was going to kiss me.  Just as his lips were near mine, I turned my head and he stopped.  He pulled back and looked at me.  The look he had on his face was priceless.  He wasn't sure to be shocked or really pissed off, it was brilliant.  "You didn't let me finish what I was saying.  Although you're a dream to some, you're a nightmare to the rest!  Do me favor James, get over yourself will you?"  With that I pressed his tie into his chest and grabbed my things from the table.  I left him standing in the middle of the library in bewilderment. 

A/N:  so what do you think?  I hope you all like it.  Once again, I'm soooooo sorry it took so long.  As always... please review…..good or bad.