Chapter 2: A Match Made in Heaven

Lily sighed as she dotted the final I on her Transfiguration essay. Finally, her homework for the night was done. Instinctively, she looked around for the Marauders—but only James Potter was in the common room. Having no real choice, she approached him.

"Potter!"

James jumped in surprise. Lily glanced down at the Muggle Studies essay he was writing. There was now a long, jagged black line across the words.

"Oh, sorry, I must've scared you."

"It's nothing, Evans." With an easy smile, James whipped out his wand and erased the line. "So what brings you to my side?"

Lily had leaned over his shoulder and was inspecting the essay. "You need a little help?"

The smell of Lily's shampoo was starting to make his head all foggy. "No, it's alright."

"Really, I'd love to help you. It's not like I've got anything else to do." Lily pulled up a chair.

Wordlessly, James pushed the parchment towards her.

"I appreciated you not joining in that testosterone-filled conversation earlier," Lily mentioned as she fixed an error in his work.

James flushed. "Thought it might be indelicate to talk like that in front of you."

"Well, thanks, Potter." She made another correction, then looked up and smiled. "I'm glad you're not so conceited anymore."

James felt as though his tongue had been tied in knots. "Er, me too."

Lily read over his essay. "Looks quite good, Potter. I think you'll snag an Outstanding."

"Don't I always?" James joked. Then he regretted it. What if Lily thought his head was swelling again?

But Lily just laughed. "You've got a really smart brain. It's good that you're using it." She looked at him earnestly. "What do you want to be after you graduate, Potter?"

"An Auror, maybe. Or at the very least, a Healer. How about you?"

"Actually, I don't know."

"Excuse me? You don't know? You? I've always seen you as the type of person who everything planned out for her life already."

"Surprise, surprise. It's just that—I'm so interested in so many things that I no longer know where I ought to be."

James was trying not to faint from immense joy. Lily was sharing stuff with him. Lily Evans was sharing with James Potter! But before James could give his wise advice, Sirius and Remus clambered through the portrait hole, followed by some of Lily's friends. Lily was instantly sucked into her group. She smiled apologetically at James before continuing to chat with the other girls.

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"Seriously!"

James nodded. "Not lying."

"You're succeeding, Jamesie! I knew she would starting warming to you soon!" Remus cheered.

"When do you go out on your first date?" Sirius asked eagerly.

James's smile shrank a bit. "I didn't say anything about a date yet."

"Oh."

"But the important thing is that your relationship with her is improving," Remus spoke up enthusiastically.

James nodded. "I guess. These things take time to develop."

"Quite a bit of time," Sirius agreed.

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Lily was combing through her long red hair before she went to bed. She still could not believe that she had spent nearly half an hour talking to James Potter. And hadn't gotten absolutely furious. Weeks ago, that would've been unthinkable for her.

Potter's matured a lot, she reflected. He actually seems humble and sweet and gentlemanly. And it is a little nice to know that he's doing it for me.

It was no secret to Lily (or anyone in Hogwarts, for the matter) that James liked her. It made her the envy of practically every girl in Hogwarts. But Lily had hated it. She did not want to be linked to such an arrogant, unbearable, heartless cretin.

But look at what's happened to him. He's revealed himself to be a pretty good guy when you come right down to it, Lily thought as she continued to stare at herself in the mirror. And seeing that he became this because he wanted me to like him—it's...touching.

Lily used her comb to knock her head.

"What on earth am I thinking?" she growled. "Wake up, Lily Evans! Repeat after me: James Potter is not worth your time!"

AN: Thanks for giving me such encouragement! To my reviewers:

lizbennett- Thanks. And don't worry, I won't. :)

Hogwarts-fanatic91- Thanks! I like that line too. And as for the whole Professor-Binns thing, he's already dead here, but let's just say things were different back in the Marauders' era. And I'd love to check out your stories! :)

Alcapacien- Nice to see you again! :) And thanks for liking the chapter

tropical-london- Thanks! I'm glad you thought they were in character. :)

Nastytoiletknome- Wow, thanks so much! I'm touched. :)

madame-knight- Thanks! I'm glad you thought it was a nice start. :) And thanks for the compliment. I was really worried that I wouldn't be able to pull off humor--I've mostly written drama stuff--but you've helped bolster my confidence.

Hope you guys enjoy this one!