"So I heard you're still alive."

James' head snapped up at the sound of the voice, excited, yet not sure if he had imagined it.

"I might be slightly crestfallen at the fact, except that would require my actually caring."

James' eyes lit up and a smile burst onto his face as he shoved away the book he was reading and turned to face his visitor. "LILY! Hi!"

Lily looked genuinely surprised at the greeting. "Who are you and what have you done with James Potter?" She asked, eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"Er...come again?"

"Did you get brain damage, Potter?"

James cocked his head, frowning slightly. "I'm still waiting to find out on that, actually. Why?"

Lily blushed slightly. "Sorry." She said contritely, the harsh edge in her voice which always appeared when she talked to James abated considerably. "It's just that I'm just a bit shocked at my welcome. A "Hi Lily"? What happened to the usual 'so, want to go out with me, Evans?'"

James smirked at her. "I decided to try for a new angle today. Figured a nice, warm, greeting might be the way to your heart. It's a theory I'm trying out anyway."

"Just how badly did you hurt your head, exactly?"

"I took a good hit, why?"

"Because you would never have actually greeted me like a sane human being instead of a chauvinistic pig before this instance."

"Oh, don't fret, I'll ask you out later. I'm waiting for the perfect moment."

Lily gave a halting laugh. "Well save your breath, the answer is still going to be 'no'."

"I'll take my chances, thanks."

A sort of half-smile passed over Lily's face. "As you wish, I suppose. Though I am surprised that your fragile male ego has not taken a bigger hit from the constant rebukes. Don't you ever get tired of being turned down, Potter?"

"Nope. You'll change your mind eventually. And come now, if I can call you 'Lily' you can call me by something other than my surname, too. Give a little to get a little, Lil."

"Lily is fine, but don't ever call me 'Lil' again, James."

"I'll try and remember that, Lily. The nickname just sounded better with the rhythm of the sentence. And Sirius calls you 'Lil' all the time, why can't I?"

"Because Sirius is a special case. Even knocking him unconscious—repeatedly—has yet to get it into his head that I don't like that nickname. Speaking of which, where is your second-in-command?"

James raised an eyebrow at her and nodded towards the bed next to him, where Sirius lay still and staring at the ceiling. Lily jumped slightly.

"I didn't even realize he was there!" She peered at him curiously. "Why is he so quiet? And calm? How badly was he hurt?"

James glanced over at him unconcernedly. "Oh, that. Yeah, I reckon Pomfrey cast the Full Body Bind on him."

"But that's—she's not allowed—teachers can't use magic on students!" Lily sputtered, looking scandalized, as if everything in the world no longer made any sense.

"I think Dumbledore gave her permission." James responded nonchalantly, shrugging slightly. "That's what it sounded like."

"Why aren't you more upset?"

"Well it's disappointing not to have someone to talk to, but I couldn't talk to him before that either, so it's really much the same. Except now he isn't poking me every two seconds in order to gesticulate wildly and incomprehensibly, while I nod and pretend to understand what he means. Poor Padfoot, he always was horrible at charades." James explained a bit forlornly, casting a pitying look in Sirius' direction. He reached over and patted Sirius on the top of the head affectionately—like one might pet a dog. "Besides, you're here now, O Prettiest of Flowers." He exclaimed suddenly, eyes lighting up.

Lily snorted. "I really am starting think you addled your brain—well, worse than it was before."

"We shall see, won't we?" James responded challengingly. "So what really brings you here? Is it my charming smile? My beautiful eyes? My pleasing manner? No, wait, let me guess, it must be my ruggedly handsome good looks!"

Lily actually laughed, surprising—and pleasing—James greatly. "Ruggedly handsome? Come now, to be "ruggedly handsome" one would first have to be handsome. And furthermore, since when have you ever been rugged? When in your life?"

"Oh ouch! I happen to be very rugged, Miss Evans. Everyone says so."

"And by "everyone", I'm assuming you mean Sirius?"

"No, actually. Sirius usually just laughs and gives me a funny look."

"Then who says that?"

"Everyone else ever."

"I'm sure." Lily responded sarcastically. "You do realize, however, that one would have to go through puberty first, wouldn't they?"

"Hey now. I'm sixteen, of course I've gone through puberty."

"You could have fooled me."

James rolled his eyes at her. "Ah, Lily, you just do not understand the complexity of man."

"So you're a man now, all of a sudden?"

"Yes. And before you start giggling again like a schoolgirl," James delighted for an instant at the little flash of annoyance which flickered across her face. She hadn't thrown anything yet, or hit him, which meant that maybe his odds were improving.

"I don't—" She began, but James interrupted her.

"Why was it that you stopped by, if it wasn't my rugged handsomeness—which I doubt. Could THE Lily Evans actually have exhibited concern for her supposed arch nemesis James Potter?"

"Could you please stop referring to yourself in the third person? It's very off-putting, and definitely not the style of "alluring sexiness" I'm sure you were going for."

"You find me alluringly sexy?" James asked eagerly.

Lily laughed. "No, that's just how I heard your little fanclub refer to that annoying little technique you do."

"Which one, the official or unofficial fanclub?"

Lily gaped at him. "You're serious? You actually have a real fanclub?"

"Two of them. An official one and unofficial one. I just said that. Really Lily, and I thought you were clever."

"You have—no wait, let me guess: it's Sirius' doing."

"Well we created the official one together. We collect dues and such. It was actually quite a brilliant idea. The unofficial one sprang up from it."

"What are the na—no, never mind, I don't really care."

"You know, if you want to join, I'm sure Padfoot and I could get you a discount."

"No thanks."

"OK, but I would recommend getting in on it now, we have a feeling the—"

"No." Lily said flatly, cutting him off.

"Fine. Your prerogative. Join the unofficial one, but you won't get the autographed—"

"I'm not going to join a James Potter Fanclub!" Lily cried out, stamping her foot in exasperation.

"Actually, it's the Potter and Black Joint Coalition of Sexiness." James corrected her.

Lily shook her head in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding me."

"Well "The James Potter Fanclub" would be a pretty uncreative name, don't you think?"

Lily rolled her eyes. "As much as I loved this stroll down Idiocy Lane, I have to get going. Here." She proffered him a stack of books she had brought into the hospital wing.

James took the books, frown lines creasing his face. "What're these for?"

"Professor McGonagall told me to give you and Sirius the homework assignments she would be assigning for the week, along with the assignments for your other classes. So you won't be unprepared upon your return to the general student populace—a grandiose event which you will mark by great fanfare, I'm sure."

James blinked. "You came here to bring me homework." He said slowly, the realization sinking in. She hadn't come to see him. He felt his stomach clench.

"Yes." Lily replied matter-of-factly. "Don't ask me why McGonagall chose me to bring it, for I know not why either."

"That's the only reason you came?"

Lily shrugged. "Well I guess it was nice to see you are alright. It wasn't horrible visiting anyway."

"Well, I'm glad it wasn't horrible to visit me in my time of suffering." He remarked, wryly.

Lily rolled her eyes again. "Oh stop it. You don't look like you're suffering horribly."

James lay back against his pillow, and closed his eyes. "Here comes another wave of pain…just hold on, it will only be a minute…I'll just brace myself…"

"Look, I suppose I'm glad you didn't die or anything. We actually got to have a civil conversation. And, honestly, you're just as melodramatic as Sirius sometimes. More so, I'd wager."

"Does it turn you on?"

Lily laughed outright, shaking her head, as she turned away to leave, not even dignifying that with an answer. "Goodbye, James."

As she walked away, James called out, "Lily, will you go out with me?"

"Goodbye, James." She said again, without turned around, waving absently in his direction.

"Lily, will you go out with me?" James repeated.

Lily paused at the doorway, turning back to face him. "Do you ever take a hint and give up?"

"No! I'm persistent! C'mon, Lily, go out with me!" James persisted.

"No!" Lily called back over her shoulder, before bursting into laughter once more.

James grinned as he watched her leave, hearing her laughter echo down the hall. She wants me.

A/N: Sorry it took so long for the update! I had vacation immediately followed my next semester of college so things have been pretty crazy! It won't take that long for the next update, I assure you.