Summary: James and Lily Potter are shadows of Harry's past. Mere echoes. Everyone's favorite characters that aren't really there. But once, they were so full of life and love that it's hard to believe they're gone.  James and Lily have their own story to tell. Discover the true roots of Harry Potter. Go back…to The Beginning.

Disclaimer: I do not own or have any exclusive rights to the Harry Potter world, its characters or its charm. I do however, have a deep love for them…and have chosen to express that love in this story. Hope you enjoy.

The Beginning

By Rebecca

Hidden Talents, Hidden Passions

James spent the afternoon, distracted to say the least, intrigued to say the most. Usually, he'd spend the night of his victories celebrating in the common room with stolen dining hall food, compliments of Remus and Peter. Not that he didn't party of course, but he couldn't rid his mind of the image of Lily, fleeing the stadium, his eyes still locked on her auburn hair, plowing through the herd of red and gold clad classmates. He hadn't seen her since and it bothered him that he was so disappointed. Why had she left so quickly… why did he care?

                "Great dive today Prongs," Peter slapped him on the back.

                "Thanks," he said as a red head girl walked in with a few friends chatting away. It wasn't Lily. James shook his head…violently.

"Hey," he felt a hand on his shoulder.

                He spun around and all thoughts of Lily ceased. "Remus," he said quietly, examining his now very pale companion.

                Remus gave a weak smile, "I'm heading up…not feeling so well."

                James nodded, "It's not tonight though is it?"

                Lupin shook his head, "Day after tomorrow…but I can feel it coming."

                Again, a nod. "We'll be there." Lupin glanced at Sirius who had been watching and headed upstairs. James turned and sighed. Sirius nodded in agreement.

                The rest of the night was a fairly routine Gryffindor party. James gave up and all but forgot about Lily. She was probably in the Ravenclaw common room whispering sweet nothings in Amos Diggory's ear. He, Sirius and Peter headed up around midnight and sank into a satisfied slumber on a full stomach of Berty Bot's Every Flavor Beans and Butterbeer.

                Lily had in fact spent most of the evening with Amos in the Ravenclaw common room, flushing out the confusing thoughts invading her mind. She didn't even understand the feelings of guilt welling up inside her. After all, what had she done? Gone to her house's Quidditch match and cheered on her team. Nothing wrong with that, right?

                Right, she told herself. But as she sat in the deep purple couch of the common room, across from her fiancée busily attending to his potions homework, James Potter's deep blue eyes haunted her.

                She didn't return to the common room until well after the party was over. She headed straight up to bed and fell into a deep sleep…dreaming of Quidditch.

……………..

                The next day, Lily felt much better. Convinced she'd simply been drawn into the excitement of the crowd, she headed to her classes completely refreshed. She was even looking forward to the meeting she'd scheduled tonight with James about the Hogs Meade trip the following weekend. That night, James walked into the common room right on schedule (which for James was 20 minutes late) and plopped down on the maroon sofa.

                Lily looked up and smiled, unprepared for the kind grin she received back. She dropped her eyes immediately to her paper again and took a deep breath. Get grip Evans! You've seen blue eyes before!

"How was your day, Lily?" James asked cheerily.

                She looked up, completely recovered and smiled once more, "Fair. You?"

                "Excellent actually," he straightened up, "I have something for you." Lily's brow crinkled as she watched him reach into his satchel and pull out a tiny gold snitch. "Here," he handed it to her.

                She took it cautiously, "What's this for?"

                "Well, I think that partially belongs to you. Not for you, Lil, I wouldn't have seen it."

                Lily felt her face grow warm. "Oh, I'm sure you would've caught it regardless."

                But James shook his head, "Please, I want you to have it."

                She rolled the tiny ball over in her hands and tucked it into her own pouch. "Thank you," James nodded and leaned back in the sofa. "You flew wonderfully yesterday," she said softly.

                "Heh, thanks. It's loads of fun."

                She nodded. "It looks like you love it up there."

                 "No place I'd rather be," James grinned. "Flying is my favorite thing in the world." Lily just nodded, "Why? Don't you like flying?"

                Lily's head sprang back as her eyes grew wide. "Me? No, no no no. Absolutely not. I'm so glad I'm a 7th year. McGonagall said they might make flying lessons a requirement next year.

                James leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees, a look of shock on his face. "You mean you've never flown before?"

                Lily shook her head as James slapped his thighs and stood up. "That's it. Meeting's over. Come on."

                "No James, Really I-"

                Nope nope, come on. I'm teaching you to fly."

                "James! no-" but he was a bit too strong for her, pulling her instantly to her feet…and a little to close for comfort.

                "Look. I'll make you a deal. Come to the pitch with me now…and I'll cancel the prank the Marauders are planning for the winter ball. Ok?"

                Lily stood astonished. James Potter give up a prank? She thought for a minute, chewing her bottom lip… Surely that was worth hovering a few feet off the ground for, wasn't it?

                "All right then," she said, shutting her notebook as she grabbed her robes and scarf.

                "Excellent," James grinned. He ran upstairs and retrieved two brooms, returning instantly as he tossed one to her. "You can borrow Padfoot's. He won't mind." The two headed for the field.           

"Lily, the broom came right to you when you called for it. You're a natural. Just push off from the ground!" James called from above her. They'd been out there for over an hour, and the most Lily had done was mount the broom.

                "James! I'm going to fall off!"

                He swooped down and hovered next to her, stifling a chuckle. Lily's tiny hands had an iron-clad grip on Sirius's broomstick and she wasn't even in the air.

                "That's it. I'm gonna have to take extreme measures." Lily's head shot up at him. Extreme Measures was not a phrase you wanted to hear from James Potter. He took out his wand before she could protest and chanted, "Accio Lily!"

                Lily shrieked as she and the broomstick were raised slowly to James' level. She was only 3 feet off the ground but she was practically screaming. "James! Please let me down!"

                But James just grinned as he carefully guided her up with him until they'd completely cleared the ground. Lily gulped as she held the handle even tighter and wrapped her legs around the broom. She looked as if she'd seen a basilisk. Pale as Lupin and frozen as a statue, Lily was petrified.

                "Lily," he said softly. As if afraid she'd fall if she even lifted a finger, Lily slowly and carefully raised her eyes to his. He was hovering closely, eyes locked into hers and it took her a moment to realize that James also had a firm grip on her broomstick. "I've been doing this a long time," he said softly, the wind sifting through his black wavy hair. "I'm not gonna let you fall."

                Lily straightened up, mesmerized for a moment by his intense gaze. She looked down at his hand, steadying her broom. She managed a nervous nod and he let go.

                "Ah!" she let out a small cry as her broom wobbled but she gained control and steadied herself as James moved to hover slightly below her.

                "That's it, you've got it. Now just push off."

                "H-how?"

                "Your mind wills the broom Lily. You've always been in control. Just fly forward. I'm right behind you."

                She nodded again and took a deep breath. Her heart was fluttering as she leaned into the broom, and sailed across the green.

                "Oh bloody hell!" she cried without thinking as she held on for dear life, her eyes shut tightly. She heard James laugh out loud at her sudden outburst and she blushed furiously. She felt the wind whipping against her cold cheeks and into her hair, but her eyes remained shut. She didn't know how long, but she couldn't deny that the feeling of soaring, was unlike anything she'd ever felt before…utterly breath-taking. When she finally opened her eyes, it was because she felt a warm hand close over hers on her broom. James had latched on again.

                "Lily, open your eyes," he said. She could hear him smile as she looked up. "Look," he held out his palm, presenting the field. She twisted around on the broom and gasped. She had traveled the entire length of the pitch. She whipped back around, beaming as he smiled with equal intensity.

                "James!" she cried.

                "Like I said, you're a natural."

                They didn't' stay out much longer. It was getting dark. Just long enough for Lily to fly back and forth a couple more times. The last time, she kept her eyes open…and she felt wonderful. When they finally touched down, Lily did something she never thought she'd do. She leaned forward and hugged him. It was only for a split second. James was too shocked to even react before she pulled back, but she didn't regret it. "Thank you James," she smiled, picking up her broom as she turned and started toward the castle.

                James struggled to suppress the electric thrill running up and down his spine as he reeled from her gentle touch. James had been hugged by girls before of course. His favorite had been Alice Howard, his date to the holiday ball 5th year …until now. He sped after her to catch up, filled with an unexplainable desire to not let this night end. "Hey, we could keep going you know. Exploit a little 7th year privileges…it's not that late. Try your hand at greater heights?"

                Lily shook her head, packing up her satchel, "Sorry, I think I've had enough for one day. Besides, I was supposed to meet Amos 10 minutes ago. He'll get…worried if I don't show." She didn't see his face fall at the mention of Diggory, which was good because she stopped, suddenly hesitant and turned to face him. "I wouldn't mind…you know…doing this again though. If you know, Sirius doesn't mind me stealing his broom once and a while."

                James brightened up, "Great! Potter the flight trainer at your service," he clicked his heels together like a London guard, saluting in a way that made Lily struggle to figure out what it was about him that she'd hated so much in the beginning of the year. She honestly couldn't remember.

                "How 'bout tomorrow night? Amos has practice."

                "Tomorrow? Sure!-" but James stopped and sucked in a breath, "Uh wait…can't tomorrow night. Got…plans." Damn, he thought.

                Lily eyed him skeptically, "Oh…um ok."

                "S-sorry. It's a…Marauder thing. But how 'bout Friday? No homework. Free as a bird…no pun intended."

                "James Potter worries about homework?" she chuckled.

                "Course not. I was talking about you."

                "Ah. I see. All right, Friday night then."

                James gave a steady nod. "It's a date."