Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and the related characters, terms, etc., I only accept credit and/or responsibility for the plot that you do not recognise. So... yeah.

Summary: James Potter and Lily Evans were married and had a prodigy of a son named Harry James Potter. That is for certain. What happened before then, and to whom Lily's love was promised before an accident tied her to James is left totally up to yours truly. Enjoy.

Chapter: Prelude

Thanks To: My beta-reader, Julie. Thanks...

"We Can't Forget."

Lily Evans sat at her usual table in the Hogwarts library surrounded by mountains of dusty books. She had been sitting in the same seat for hours searching for one elusive charm for her independent project. She had spent hours and had yet to find out anything remotely interesting. Sighing loudly, she flung her weight backwards, causing her chair to tip precariously on its back legs.

"You oughtn't do that, you'll break the chair" came a voice from behind her as strong hands brought the chair back into its proper position.

"I know what I ought and ought not do, thank you very much," Lily said sharply, turning to face whomever she was talking to.

"That's no way to talk to your best friend," replied Remus casually, slipping into the chair adjacent to hers. He pushed a stack of books aside and looked into Lily's beet red face.

"I didn't know it was you," she said quietly, tucking a few wayward strands of hair behind her ear. "If I had known, I would have been sure to use more colourful vocabulary."

"I wanted to, er, talk to you about something," began Remus after a pregnant pause, "are you busy?"

"It depends on how important what you have to say is."

"It can wait then," said Remus quickly, standing up and pushing in his chair.

"I wasn't serious," whispered Lily, fooling around with the same strands of hair.

"Well, in that case," he sat, "We've been friends for a long time Lily, and I, well..." Lily, sensing the nature of the conversation, put her quill down and laid her hand on Remus'. "We've known each other for six years and we've been good friends since the Sorting and, well, I want to take things to a, er, more advanced level..."

Lily blushed. "Do you want to be my boyfriend Remus? Is that what you're asking me?" she asked, squeezing his hand.

It was Remus' turn to redden. "I didn't mean to take things that quickly... I just wanted to take you with me into Hogsmeade," he said hurriedly, "I wouldn't want to rush you."

"Rush me?!" she asked incredulously, "Remus, you sexy fool you," he had turned nearly purple at this point, "I've been waiting for you to ask me for months, years even," she said, speaking as loudly as possible without being accosted by the librarian.

"Oh," said Remus quietly, leaning back in his chair. "I didn't know. But if that means you want to be my girlfriend, then that's fine with me too," he smiled.

"Only if you let me kiss you, I've been waiting to for ages," she said, batting her eyelashes at him.

Remus brought his chair back down and leaned in close to her. "Kiss you like this?" he asked, his lips only just brushing hers and he spoke. Lily nodded before she leaned in to kiss her new boyfriend in a way that could only be described as ferocious.

"Right," said Remus dumbly as Lily pulled away from him and went back to flipping through her book. "I'm going to go now."

Lily smiled as she watched Remus leave the library. She'd been wanting to kiss him since their fourth year and she had to admit to herself that she was quite pleased with the results.

Peter Pettigrew stood outside the library, waiting for Remus to emerge. Although moments earlier he'd been a subdued and calm looking young man, when Remus came into his line of vision Peter best resembled an excited puppy. "Was she in there? Did you ask her? Did she say yes? What did you do?" he rambled.

Remus just nodded.

Peter squealed. "Don't tell James though, I heard him talking earlier, I think he still likes her..."

Remus stopped. "James still likes Lily?" Peter stopped beside Remus and nodded. Remus' face contorted into a wolfish snarl and he steered Peter towards the wall where he kept Peter still with his hands on his shoulders. "You knew this?" Peter nodded. "Did you not think to tell me?"

"No?"

"Great, that's just bloody great..."

Author Note: Yes well, I've been harbouring this idea for ages and this is all that I've managed to squeeze out for the time being. There will, of course, be more... but consider this the baguette passed around with Camembert before the main course... Then we'll all be happy and you'll review? Right? *cheers*