Disclaimer: Jo Rowling owns everything. (Though I wish I had a James...)

Chapter Seven

Nancy and Lily were now studying in the library. Normally, Nancy would be the one to zone out and Lily would be the one to bring her back to reality. But today, on this day in mid-October, Lily was the one spacing out. She couldn't help but look out the at the gorgeous day outside, the cool breeze blowing through the open library windows, a beautiful invitation to the clear blue sky... and yet, in her mind, all she could see was a seventeen year-old boy with messy hair flying by.

Lily unnoticeably shook her head and tried to focus, but ever since her conversation with Remus a few days earlier, she'd had a nagging guilt in her heart, the pain of rejection in those beautiful eyes of his had haunted her. She had give him credit, though. After she had so rudely snubbed him, the very next morning he still greeted her with his routinely 'Good Morning, Lily flower!' And of course, it was flattering, but-

"Lily. Focus!" Nancy said, tickling her ear with the end of her quill feather.

"Sorry, Nance." Lily said with a giggle.

"I don't blame you for dozing off. I still don't understand why your taking this Muggle Studies class. You bloody live with them!"

"I told you, I want to get it from a wizard's point of view."

"Well, if you ever had questions about the similarities of the wizarding world and the muggle world, you could've asked me. We'd just compare lives!"

"Whatever." Lily said, turning back to her book.

"Ok, well, I have to go meet Matt." Nancy said, as she gathered her books and stood.

"Whoa! Where are you going? Who's Matt?" Lily asked suddenly.

"Matt? The cute guy in Muggle Studies? Lils, I told you we were going out last night. Jeez, you never listen." Nancy said good-naturedly.

"I'm sorry, Nancy. Really, I am. I just haven't had a good start with school, is all."

"Don't I know it! After all the interaction you've had with Mr. Potter, you might think..." she paused, then smiled with a wink. "Oh, I'm going to scoot, Lily. Speak of the devil, he's around the corner, looking in our direction and I know he'll want you all to himself!" Then she turned and ran off snickering.

"Nancy, get back here!" Lily hissed as James Potter appeared from behind a bookshelf with a smirking grin and headed towards her.

"She's going to pay for that," Lily muttered.

---

James picked up a book with a title "The Death of a Werewolf." He smiled lightly and thought, Don't let Moony see this book. He looked through the space that he had taken the book from and saw Nancy and Lily. He did a double take, and then sighed.

Heartless wench, he thought, as he placed the book back and carefully looked around the corner of the bookcase at Lily. She was staring out the window, her dazzling green eyes dazed and wistful. James sighed again, running a hand through hismessy dark hair as he let his gaze settle on her. Why did she despise him so? Surely most women would be flattered with all the attention he gave her, but it only served to more fully annoy her. Why was that?

Suddenly, Nancy stood from their table made way to leave. Perfect. Now I can get back at her for turning me down last week. After Nancy left, James started walking towards her with an impish grin. Lily suddenly looked up. Aw, there was the scowl. The ever-cute, ever-familiar scowl that could only belong to Lily Evans. With her narrowed eyes and pursed lips... yes, she was so adorable when she looked at him angrily.

"Hiya, Lily." he said quietly, sliding into the seat across the table from her. "How's the studying going?"

"Fine. Yours?" she said nonchalantly.

"Much better, now that I'm talking to you."

She looked up ready to smirk at him again, but she just couldn't be mad at the charming face and eyes that had preoccupied her so.

With a small smile she said, "Smooth, Potter. Very Smooth." Then she turned back to her book.

"Well, considering out seven year love-hate relationship, I do have a few pent up compliments."

The way this conversation was heading caught Lily by surprise, and she looked up. "Oh, really?" she said curiously.

"Well, for starters, your hand is always the first in the air in any class so your extreme intelligence in unquestionable." She nodded in acceptance. "You have a spit-fire attitude always on the ready, which I am most of the time the recipient of. Not all the time charming, but endearing none the less."

James watched as a light blush rose to her cheeks and a grin broke out. James' heart started pounding in his chest and his breath caught. There it was. A true, genuine smile from Lily Evans. He had always assumed that Lily was beautiful all the time, even adorable when she was angry. But never had she directed such a smile at him, and it sent his pulse racing. She radiated a gorgeous humility that he knew she had all along, though never witnessed before.

She looked back at him and as her blush faded, James realized he had been staring.

"And then, of course, you have those dazzling emerald green eyes that are so easy to get lost in." he said, not trying to hide the adoration in his voice. He reached his hand across the table and gently brushed a strand of stray hair from her eyes, allowing himself to get lost...

Before he could get too far, though, she blinked and turned back to her book with a smile that she just couldn't lose.

"Well, Potter, you certainly have a way with the ladies." she said.

James stood from the chair and gathered his books, fearing that he might've let too much slip already to the girl who tormented his dreams.

"All except one." he said pointedly. She looked up at him and her smile fell. He smiled hopefully at her thoughtful face, then turned to leave.

"Potter, wait a minute." he turned.

This is odd, he thought. "Yes, Lily flower?"

She rolled her eyes but with a light smile. "Listen, I heard that you weren't doing to well in Potions."

"Word gets around - what are you going to do?" he said good-naturedly.

"What I'm trying to say is, if you ever need any help, you know, studying or doing homework or what not, you can pull me aside in the common room and I could help you."

James' eyes opened wide. "Really?"

"Sure."

"Well, I might have to take you up on that. Thanks, Lily." Then he winked and disappeared around the corner.

Lily smiled and raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Hmmmmm." she said thoughtfully. Then she turned and attempted to return to her studying.

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A/N: Thanks for all the reviews! I love you guys sooo much. Just hearing from you makes me want to post more all the time! -huggles-

-curses all previous typos-

Also, just so you know, I live in Florida. We're in the basic path of Hurricane Ivan (Ivan the Great - lol!) and if i don't post for a few days, just know that our power is probably out (and might be for a while) or I'm dead.

Only joking. I'll be fine. And I'll post when I can.

Enjoy the chapter. Please review! -grin-