Disclaimer: do I really have to write this? JK Rowling owns all this stuff, except Sara I think. R&R kids!

All that everyone ever knows are their experiences. We may pretend to be wise and knowing, but we can never be sure and we can never escape the scope of those experiences that shape who we are and where we will go. Will we be an auror, a healer, a professor or an unspeakable? Could we fall in love? Would we allow ourselves to fall in love or be loved? Will we be patient and willing to wait for those who will nurture us and urge us to learn to our potential?

This is the story of Lily and James Potter and how they learned to love and how they experienced life and consequently, love.

Chapter 1: new beginnings

God, who is that girl? She has red hair that shines like no one deserves to look at it, and eyes that look like emeralds. The way she moves is so full of grace and certainty…look at me, messy black hair and round glasses hiding my chocolate eyes, I do not deserve her…

"Oy! Prongs! Earth to Prongs!" yelled Sirius

"Oh, who's that girl? The one will the hair, and those eyes?"

"Lily Evans, one of the most eligible bachlorettes in this school. Sorry, Prongs, but its widely known that Lily doesn't date. No one's ever been able to get it out of her why not," Sirius replied

"Oh…wanna go talk to her with me? I know the girl talking to her, Arabella."

"Sure, why not. Just don't pull tricks James…what am I saying??? Shes looks ripe for pranks, eh Prongs?"

"No, shes off limits Sirius," James said, turning red.

Just then, Remus walked in with his girlfriend Sara on his arm. Sara was a true blond with a sparkling personality and bright blue eyes that seemed only to light up for Remus alone. Remus had sandy blond hair and stunning blue-grey eyes that had wisdom hidden in them that few 17 year olds could claim. Both were grinning widely and everyone in the common room glanced over and were reminded that they were in love, engaged to be married after 7th year (or before if they could organize it in time).

James was secretly envious of what Remus had. He wanted to love and to hold onto someone forever knowing that something was not uncertain, that there was something that was forever. His money could be gone as soon as he said Nimbus 210 and his family was always gone working for 'The Order' which he knew nothing about. School was temporary and Sirius…well he was Sirius. Sirius was there for the long haul, as was Remus…

Just then James saw Sara head over to sit with Lily and every thought stopped as he looked at her and was consumed with her beauty and perfection. He got up and startled Sirius, who was apparently in the middle of a story. He didn't care. He headed for the group of armchairs in the corner…

"Hey ladies, whats up?" he said to Sara, Lily, and Bella.

Bella replied, "Hey Potter, nothing at all, just in the middle of a startling amount of girl talk that would make you probably want to run screaming."

"You're probably right…and whats the name of this beauty sitting next to me?" he asked Lily

"Lily Evans, and you must be the famous James Potter: quidditch star, top of our year gunna be head boy, and boyfriend extraordinaire."

"So, gorgeous…will you go out with me then, if I'm boyfriend extraordinaire?" he said, giving her a smile that would melt any girl's heart.

"I think I'll have to take a pass, I don't even know you!" She traded a glance with Sara and Sara cut in saying, "Hey, don't we have that Arithmancy assignment to do?"

"Lily, do you want to write that with me? I haven't done it either." James asked

"Sure, lets go to the library…see ya later guys!" Lily replied. Her friends looked utterly surprised that she had just skipped off with a boy…after all she had gone through with her family, they were surprised she would open up at all. Sara and Bella traded glances before heading over to the remaining Marauders and starting up a game of Exploding Snap.

Meanwhile, heading to the library, Lily and James were involved in a heated discussion on Animigus and what the best animal would be to transform into.

"Definitely the stag…I don't care what you say. Its big enough and beautiful, all silvery white with antlers worth their weight in gold. It would be a big enough animal to stop the best of em. Adventures here we come!" James argued.

"Whoa there James. Way to be graphic! Well we're on some of the same page…I believe that the best animal to transform into would be a doe…so pristine and silent an animal. All seems to be spoken through their eyes. I think its amazing. All my life I have dreamed about doing these things. Every day is like an adventure, everything is a door that wasn't even on my horizon before I came to Hogwarts. I mean you've been around it your whole life. Flying on broomsticks before you could walk, I bet. Your parents probably scolded you with wand in hand…but for me everything is new, everything makes me thankful that I'm a witch."

James was amazed. He had never met a girl like her before. Someone who could make him feel so intimidated and interested all at once. Someone who made him want to kiss her senseless, yet respect her and her wishes. He realized they had stopped in the middle of the corridor and he was staring at her like there was no one else in the world.

"James? You ok?" Lily said, waving her hand in his face."

"Oh, yeah, sorry. You know, you're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen…" Lily blushed, making her more beautiful in james' opinion. She started shaking her head, James said, "look, I know you don't date, and I respect that, but I can't stay away from you. At least let me be your friend. Please?" He looked at her with his heart written in his wide eyes, and Lily could see that he was for true.

"Friends." Was all that Lily said. She turned and continued to the library.

In the common room, Remus and Sara had gotten into a mock argument about Sirius cheating while playing Exploding Snap. They were fighting, getting closer and closer together. Bella and Sirius were looking on.

"They always do this, I don't see the point. Just openly snog! We all know whats going to happen! They could speed it up a little," said Bella.

Sirius seemed not to hear her, he was staring at her and wondering if he had seen anyone so beautiful. Bella had raven black hair that flowed halfway down her back in soft curls and blue eyes that sparkled constantly. Her mouth always curved in a soft smile that made you think you were missing a joke. She was perhaps the only one coming close to matching James and Sirius' detention records. "Yeah…they always do that. You know? I bet we could challenge them in a snog-off…we'd win. We'd make a better couple than those two…" Sirius said dazedly, then he seemed to realize what he said, yet didn't know how to fix it.

"um…yeah…right…be a better couple than Sara and Remus? Is it possible? Mr and Mrs Perfect? ……..but we would make quite a sexy couple…" Sirius gaped at her, trying to think of a response. "I have to go to bed…" Bella said, then whispered in his ear, "we'll have to put the snog-off till later sweetie…" punctuating the comment with a seductive kiss on the cheek.

Sirius couldn't believe it. He was known for having occasional flings with blond Hufflepuffs…but nothing like this. Nothing that could make him hot and cold at the same time, someone who could make his blood bubble and his mind whirl. Bella Black, he thought absently…that sounded nice…he sighed and collapsed on the couch, and realized he was falling, and falling hard. Remus and Sara ignored him, and were caught up in their world, one of mind-blowing love and compatibility, and of course, snogging.

R&R!!!!!!!