Lily yawned. The two had been traipsing back and forth down their corridor for a good hour now and had caught no one out of bed. The better part of it had been in silence.

"So Evans," James said leaning against the corridor wall, looking down at her. He looked so enticing at that moment that Lily found years of hostility towards him melting away. "What are you going to do when you get out of this place?" he asked.

Lily blushed, "I was thinking of staying a Hogwarts."

"What an earth for!" James exclaimed as if she was crazy.

"To teach," she said quietly, "I know it's not as dangerous and exciting as being an Auror," she said sarcastingly. Everyone knew James dream was to be an Auror like his parents were, "but it's what I want to do." James smiled at her.

"I think that's awesome. My future children can learn off you," Lily grinned, "Well our future children."

Lily sighed, "You see Potter you nearly had a nice comment but you chose to crash and burn."

James laughed, "It's my nature Evans." He said holding his arms wide helplessly. Lily rolled her eyes.

"C'mon let's head to bed there's no point in staying here for another ten minutes," she yawned, "I'm so tired."

"Don't need to be carried romantically into bed or anything?" James asked as they walked back. Lily looked at him painfully as they reached their portrait hole and climbed through.

"James, why can't you just be yourself for once?" she sighed throwing her arms in the air and going into her room with out saying good night. James jumped when she slammed the door but was more taken back by the fact that for the first time in their life she had called him James. Seconds later Lily wrenched open her door again.

"Why can't you just be real? I don't even know who you are behind all the smart Alec comments and sarcasm!" she erupted.

James just stared at her bewildered, "You called me James."

Lily opened her mouth expecting to have to retaliate, and closed it again in wonder.

"I can't believe you called me James." He was still shaking his head.

Lily leaned up against her door way as he turned, hypnotized, and went to his enter his room.

"Hey James," she began softy and he looked up at her. "Good night," she said smiling.

James placed a hand on his doorknob and smiled to himself. Then he looked to her.

"Night." he said still dazed.

Lily's smile widened and she shut her door and leaned up against it. What had preempted that out burst she had no idea; but the image of James Potter stunned with disbelief at her merely murmuring his name was in her mind. Lily felt a warmth rush over her and she happily changed into her pajamas and hopped into her queen size bed.

James lay in the next room staring at the roof. I can't believe she called me James! He thought to himself again.

"All these years she's called me Potter. Maybe she does like me." he whispered to himself and turned his head to look out at the starry night. He didn't want to get his hopes up but finally he had received a true smile from Lily; and he blamed it happily for the reason he lay in bed knowing sleep would be impossible.

Lily lay in a similar predicament. James' face running through her mind constantly. She had seen him vulnerable finally. After all these years that was the one thing she had wanted from him. She had wanted to see James naked to all his hang-ups and personality. She wanted the real James Potter. Funny thing was that after only a minute of seeing his vulnerability; sarcastic, arrogant, 'look at me' James Potter didn't seem so unattractive anymore.

The next morning Lily rose and got ready for the first day back at school. As she dressed she smiled thinking that James would be dressing in the next room.

When she was ready she went into James' room to ask him if he wanted to walk down to the Hall for breakfast with her. Surprisingly the room was empty. Lily frowned then remembered it was first day of school and he would be in the Hall setting up the start of term prank. She turned to leave and noticed a book open on James bed.

Knowing it was snooping Lily stepped over to the bed and picked up the book, it was James diary. The pages were blank; Lily brought out her wand and said.

"James Potter,"

James handwriting appeared on the page: Lily Evans is not permitted to read this by Mr. Potter, however you may read his last entry as he was mighty pleased with you.

James diary entry appeared on the page.

I can't believe it! Lily called my James! I keep sitting here and running the moment over and over in my head. She was mad but she's beautiful when she's mad; come to think of it she's beautiful anytime. I wonder if this means she likes me? Don't want to get my hopes up as do not want to 'crash and burn'. Can't figure out how to make her like me, or be likeable for her-I love her so much. Even Sirius can't help with this! I wish she would fall in love with me.

I can't believe she called me James!

Lily laughed happily when she finished the entry and placed the diary back on the bed. Then she headed down to breakfast. She'd never known James had been that smitten with her, or that his affection was actually true affection and that he didn't just love her because she was a challenge.

When she entered the Great Hall she came upon a scene of pure catastrophe. People were attempting to sit on chairs, which at the very moment the person was about to sit down slid out from under them; leaving them flat on their bottom on the floor. The dishes and spoons were magically dancing the tango with each other on the table and members of various houses were running around the Hall chased by fist waving knives and forks. Teachers were also running all over the hall throwing spells at the cutlery, crockery and chairs.

The Marauders and their fellow Gryffindors were seated at their table howling with laughter. Lily walked up to them and put her hands on their hips.

"Good Morning sunshine!" Hannah called out between giggles. James, Sirius, Remus and Peter all gave her triumphant grins.

"So, couldn't help ourselves could we?" she asked eyebrows raised.

Sirius laughed as a fork lodged itself in their hated Potions teacher Professor Slughorn's leg, "C'mon Lily it's our last year. What did you honestly expect?"

Lily looked to James who grinned even widely at her. "What did you guys do?" she exasperated.

"Charmed the knives and forks to believe they were angry tribesman and charmed the dishes and spoons into thinking they were world class ball room dancers. The chairs are a secret." Peter explained trying to suppress as laugh.

"Put it right," she commanded to the Marauders as a spoon dipped it's dancing partner, a plate, in front of her. They scowled at her. "C'mon don't make me take points of Gryffindor."

Reluctantly they waved their wands whispering incantations and the chaos stopped. People stopped running and were left breathlessly heaving all over the hall. Cutlery, crockery and chairs the like all came to a stand still and with a wave of her wand McGonagull had the Hall look decent again.

"Have a seat Lillikins," Felicity patted the seat beside her. Lily looked at it warily and then sat down between Felicity and James. Their breakfasts magically appeared and the boys dug in as if nothing happened. People all over were cautiously sitting down and staring at their plates in wonder.

"Don't tell me you wouldn't have laughed it you weren't Head Girl." James teased her.

"You're Head Boy and you let it happen!" Lily exclaimed.

"Head Boy second Evans! Marauder first!" Remus piped up. Lily narrowed her eyes at him.

"And you're a prefect! You boys are bad influences!" she exclaimed, "Even if you are funny." Lily added quietly. James put an arm around her.

"Ah men she accepts us!" he announced giving her a tight squeeze. Lily squirmed her way out his grasp.

"Honestly trying to eat my breakfast here." Hannah said rolling her eyes, "Flirt with her somewhere else Potter."

Lily felt herself go red. James who had been looking at her noticed. He also noticed her increased interest in her porridge. He smiled to himself again. For once she hadn't shot back with a remark to a comment involving a romantic link between the two of them. Content James went back to his toast, chewing thoughtfully.

"Man you're ugly when you concentrate," Sirius remarked looking at him. The others laughed.

"Man you're ugly full stop," James retaliated throwing a crust at him. Sirius threw one back. "Oh its on," James challenged.

Before they knew it the girls were in the middle of a raging food fight.

"Guys! Stop!" they shrieked hiding under their cloaks. Somehow Lily whipped out her wand

"Ricktusempra!" Lily called out and Sirius, James, Remus and Peter were reduced to giggling bodies rolling on the floor.

"Evans! The tickling charm how could you!" Sirius said between laughs.

"Stop it, it's not funny!" James called out but Lily and the other girls laughed.

"This isn't ma-TURE!" Remus yelled with a jolt of laughter.

"Oh but neither is throwing food," Hannah said giggling and raising her feet so Remus didn't hit them as he squirmed. The girls looked to each other and went to finish their breakfasts. They ate the rest sitting placidly while the boys rolled below them. When the post arrived they looked down to the ground.

"Think we should help them?" Lily asked screwing up her nose. Carol nodded.

"McGonagull might take points off." She said laughing. Lily flicked her wand and a few moments later the boys returned to their seats.

"Learnt your lesson?" Lily asked as hundreds of owls swooped down on the tables with letters, packages and newspapers.

"You wait Evans we'll get you back three fold." Sirius threatened.

"Good luck Sirius. She's the smartest witch at this school, and we're consequently all behind her you won't be doing anything." Hannah said opening the mail a small barn owl had brought her.

"Oh you just wait Hannah O'Reilly Sirius Black has your number." Sirius said.

"Funny that, you said you lost it," Hannah said teasingly, "That's the second time you've brought up our little fluctuation this year, not reminiscing are you?"

"Reminiscing? Oh Sirius if we get caught, Oh Sirius don't do that, Oh Sirius I love you." Sirius goaded leaning over the table to her. "Yeah it was really hot," he said sarcastingly.

The other's laughed as Hannah leaned over and slapped his forehead.

"That would have to be the only thing that happened the whole time we were-" Sirius shielded himself from another blow.

When the post had finished the teachers handed out their timetables and breakfast was over. The group walked back Gryffindor Tower.

"Argh, we have Arithmacy first," Hannah whined looking at Lily's timetable.

"See if you had of just kept doing Muggle Studies this wouldn't be a problem." James pointed at her knowingly.

"Muggle Studies? Lily and I are Muggles what could we possibly learn?"

"How to treat your superiors perhaps," Sirius said ducking a punch this time.

"Sirius Black I swear before the end of the year is out I will put bricks on your feet and throw you into the lake to the mercy of the Giant Squid."

Lily laughed as they split to grab their books. They all left the Common Room together and headed to their classes. Hannah, Felicity and Lily said goodbye to the others at the Charms corridor.

"See you my sweet," Sirius said putting a cheek out to be kissed by Hannah.

"You'll be seeing red in a moment." Hannah threatened out of the corner of her mouth. James came up behind her as the others walked past.

"See you at lunch," he whispered, "Lily."

Lily turned to look at him, but he had walked off and looked back only once to see her standing there a look of bewilderment on her face. When he was out of sight Lily's face broke into a grin and she followed Hannah and Felicity.

"What was that about?" Felicity asked. Lily just looked to her.

"Yeah what is that grin for?" Hannah asked elbowing her.

"James just called me Lily." She twirled herself happily.

"You just called him James!" the other two exclaimed.

"Oh Lily," Felicity moaned, "You named the puppy."

"I what?"

"You named the puppy, you've become informal with him, you're on a first name basis!" Felicity said excitedly. Lily rolled her eyes as they walked into their class and took seats to the side of the room. "I can't believe you called him James!" Felicity went on.

"I called him it last night, when I was angry at him it sort of slipped out. He was dumbfounded and then this morning…" Lily trailed off not knowing whether to go into the part about the diary.

"What?" Hannah asked seriously.

And so Lily told them about James utter disbelief the night before and his diary entry. The girls gushed in all the right places.

"See Lily what have we been telling you for the past year! James Potter is a changed man in the name of love!" Felicity squealed receiving an angry stare from their teacher. They settled down with their work after that.

Half way through the lesson Hannah whispered quietly to Lily, "You've fallen for him haven't you."

Lily tensed up feeling suddenly defensive, "I don't know, I think so-" she stammered back waiting for Felicity and Hannah to swoon over her. But they simply smiled.

"That's cool Lil," they said appreciatory, "really cool." Lily smiled at them gratefully; Arithmacy was somehow so much more enjoyable when she was happy.

Their next class was Transfiguration with the Ravenclaws and McGonagull. When they entered Chad Gehrig waved to them. Lily gave him a smile and a small wave whereas Felicity gave him an ecstatic wave.

The room was much like a lecture theatre set in a semi circle with rows and different levels. At one end two great oak doors opened out to the corridor while at the other was a large blackboard behind the teacher's desk.

"We'll be mopping up her drool next," Hannah muttered as they slid into seats, half way down the room and in the row in front of the Marauders. Lily laughed and McGonagull who when they had entered was nowhere to be seen, bustled through the doors her wispy hair coming out of her bun at all angles.

"Those Slytherins!" she was cursing.

"Oh I agree Professor dreadful lot," Sirius piped up.

"Sirius Black I am not in the mood for any of your shenanigans after this morning!" McGonagull snapped back, raising her wand and flicking it at the board. Chalked writing immediately appeared detailing the theory for their class.

"What ever do you mean Professor?" James asked innocently.

"Don't think for one second that you were going to get away with what happened at breakfast this morning!"

Sirius opened his eyes disgusted, "Professor, how could you accuse us of such an uproar!"

Professor McGonagull pursed her lips; "You got one of the top marks in charms last year Black! You will serve detention tonight." she said and James and the others laughed. "Don't think you're getting out of it Potter. You, Remus and Peter will also be joining him!" she said then instructed them to copy what was on the board.

"Now this year we will be attempting human transfigurations in preparation for your NEWTs a the end of the year. We will begin by transfiguring others into similar organisms such as mammals." McGonagull said raising her wand and transfiguring Sirius into a pig.

"Oh the likeness," Hannah whispered to Lily who snuffed a laugh as McGonagull transfigured Sirius back. McGonagull then instructed them to split into pairs and attempt to transfigure their partners into mammals.

The class was a dismal one; the only people able to reach a full transfiguration were the Marauders and Lily. Twice Hannah transfigured Lily into something crossed with a horse and a tiger. The only highlight being when Remus transfigured James into a beautiful stag and Sirius was transfigured by Peter into a large black dog and the two chased each other around the room, daring to bound over McGonagull's desk.

The minutes dragged on until the class finished and McGonagull dismissed them with a mountain of homework. As the girls left with the Marauders McGonagull called out to them giving them their instructions for their detentions.

"Next time you pull a stunt like this morning boys, don't make it half obvious and prey on everyone but the Gryffindor table." she sighed but James caught her giving them the smallest of smiles.

"Already done Professor!" Sirius said saluting her. "I can't believe she gave us all detentions tonight!" Sirius exclaimed once they were in the corridor.

"Well you guys did deserve it," Felicity pointed out, "The Hall was pretty chaotic this morning."

"First day as Head Boy and you've already got a detention, that's got to be a record," Peter started laughing at James.

"A record? More like your record Wormtail, you're first detention isn't it?"

"Oh a virgin now, a grown man he will be tonight." Remus piped up laughing.

"Always able to wriggled my way out," Peter boasted proudly.

"That's why we call you Wormtail," James said laughing.

Unlike breakfast, lunch was far more uneventful. The enchanted ceiling showed that outside the weather was as dismal as the night before with rain and clouds rumbling overhead as they ate a cooked lunch.

During their break Felicity, Carol and Hannah spent their time discussing who had literally magically changed looks wise over the summer break, with minimal input from Lily who was pouring over the Charms homework Flitwick had set them over the holidays.

"You didn't honestly do that?" James asked her leaning over her shoulder. Lily turned to him shocked.

"Of course I did! James this year we have our NEWTs they determine our future career choices." There was a loud clang as Sirius dropped his cutlery.

"Huh?" Lily and James looked at him confused. "Evans you just called James…James!" he spluttered.

"Well noted Sirius," said Hannah sarcastingly, "Cleary old news," she said waving a hand at him.

"What is this world coming to!" Sirius exclaimed. "McGonagull giving us detention. Evans and Prongs on first name basis! This place is going to the dogs!" he finished as the others laughed at his melodramatic outburst.