Summary- With only three chances to prove yourself, how would you go about it? How can you make someone realize that you're the one they need?

Disclaimer- I own none of the characters which I am borrowing!

Second shot

Dear Diary,

Tomorrow's task for James will be very interesting to find out. I want to know that I'm not going out with the bullying toe rag from 4th year. As I said I want someone caring someone who will look out for others and not just themselves.

Wish me luck

Lily xxx

The next morning Lily stumbled down the stairs from her dormitory arms full of books. Of course her diary was still on their common room table where James had put it back exactly as she had left it.

"Hey Evans!" James called, "need a hand over there?"

"Lily glanced over to the sofa where he was sitting.

"No I'm good thanks." She smiled. As she reached to go through the tapestry entrance all of the 17 books she had been holding tumbled to the floor.

"Well let me help you anyway." James replied smugly as he bent over and helped Lily pick her books up. "What do you need so many for anyway?"

"Oh, I promised professor McGonagall I would help her by tutoring a few owl students of hers." James had a sudden idea.

"Oh well would you like some help? I mean I'm not to shabby at transfiguration and, you know I don't have much on. I have a free just like you." He asked almost hopefully Lily noticed. Lily smirked inwardly, he was passing these tests with flying colours, lets see if he could manage a day of them.

"Really? That would be great James I didn't fancy it alone."

"Yeah the world is always a little nicer with someone by your side." James agreed. "But it's funny, I always got the impression you would rather be alone then that someone be me."

"Lily looked up at him and smiled. "Maybe some people change." She said slyly and together they moved down to the transfiguration room where they spent the next hour tutoring the fifth years.

Surprisingly Lily had a really good time. It was worrying her, she was beginning to really take to James.

James however wasn't done proving how helpful and caring he was. He still had a few tricks up his sleeve.

After lunch James pulled a third year to the side.

"Hey kid." He said. "do me a favour and stay here for a bit. When a red head with a Gryffindor tie and the head girl badge comes along, run past me and trip over. Let me help you up and be really grateful for it. Help me and I'll give you a bag of dung bombs."

"Throw in some every flavour beans and I will." The kid replied.

"Deal!"

Sure enough when Lily walked past the kid went flying down the hall like a bat outta hell. Suddenly he lost his footing and he along with all his belongings went flying.

"Oh Merlin!" James exclaimed. "Are you alright?" he asked jumping towards the kid and beginning to pick up his stuff.

"Actually my leg hurts." He faked.

"Here let me help you to the hospital wing." James replied taking the boys weight on his hurt side.

Lily watched slightly impressed as the two boys limped past.

As they got round the corner however they let go of each other and smirked.

"Thanks kid. You ill get your stuff by owl at dinner, do us a favour and read the note out loud."

"Sure, geez you must really want to snog that girl bad to do all this for her."

"You have no idea!" James replied.

During charms James helped professor Flitwick with the demonstration when no one else would.

And at dinner the hall was full of cheerful banter until a single owl came swooping through the hall catching everyone's attention. It landed in front of a Ravenclaw first year. The boy noisily opened an envelope which had been stuck on top of a big wrapped box. He read the note aloud.

"Dear Patrick, Hope you are feeling better and that you leg is ok. I've sent you something to cheer you up. James Potter" The boy quickly unwrapped the box. "COOL SOME DUNG BOMBS AND SOME EVERY FLAVOUR BEANS!" Lily turned to James who was blushing slightly and, Sirius, peter and Remus were giving him odd looks.

"what he was hurt ok." She heard James exclaim when the hall became a bit noisier.

"Dear Diary,

Today James passed my second test, I never realised how caring he was before. It's strange really, maybe I was just to quick judging him and how I thought he was all the time to take a step back and see the real him? Oh well I will make sure I'm on look out from now on. See if this nice guy thing lasts and isn't a one off thing. Anyway tomorrow's task is the most important of all. I want to be told the truth. I want him to be honest with me and I want to find out why he likes me so much.

Love Lily."