Summary: It all started with a simple love letter, for James Potter, from a lovely admirer. Love letters led to friendships; friendships led to confusion; and finally confusion, slowly led to love. With just three meaningful words, it brought joy to young Potter's heart: Love, An Admirer.

Disclaimer: Anything familiar isn't mine, and unfortunately belongs to the oh-so-brilliant JK Rowling, whom I salute to. This story has nothing to do with Can't Hardly Wait. The scene mentioned just miraculously resembled it. ) Creations of mine are : Piper Valentine, Fiona Caldwell, Jemima Richards, Emily Hart, Dennis Front, Walter Reese, Winston Reese, Marie Lodge, Yvonne West, Gerald Wills, Kurt Randall, Isabelle Frall, the Fairy and the Portrait Holder Society.


Love, An Admirer

Chapter 2: Situations Gone Awry

Dear James,

This is probably the umpteenth anonymous love letter you've received. But hey, it's worth a try, isn't it? My name, I shall never, ever, reveal. But as that isn't of importance, I would like to reveal that the main purpose of me writing this letter is to tell you... Well, that you are simply liked.

Stupid, I know - writing a letter to someone as famous and popular as you. Someone who is capable of having girls fall at his feet with the snap of a finger. Someone who could practically date anyone he wanted to. I really don't know how to put it in other words, though.

First, a brief history about your anonymous admirer:- I attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and was sorted to either Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff or Slytherin – and most importantly, I am a member of the opposite sex; a fact that I hope comforts you. However, one clue I CAN give you is that I'm a sixth year too. It may be pointless, but it does narrow down the search options, now doesn't it?

Next, about you: I've liked you from afar for the past two years, and have finally gathered the courage, to actually write a letter to you – expressing the feelings I've been suppressing inside for as long as I can remember. Do excuse me if I have exceeded the cliché quota. No, I'm not a stalker, nor am I one of your crazy mindless fans who kill to get their hands on any of your belongings - though I wouldn't mind. Just kidding – really.

It must be really tough being a Gryffindor's Quidditch Captain, (and a wicked Chaser to boot!) a prefect, a candidate for next year's head boy, and a normal boy all in one. I shamefully admit that I do not know how you cope with your life, and yet, manage to keep up your grades, and heck, you're even the top student in the whole of Sixth Year! Not only that, but you still have time to joke with your friends (the ever so famous Marauders) remain level-headed and maintain a very good reputation. Alas, that is only one of the many reasons I adore you...

There are plenty reasons (excuses, really) why I can never seem to remove you from my thoughts and these are the very few I can think of from the top of my head: The way you smile cheekily when you've accomplished something that usually results your notorious (and very well-planned) pranks; the way your eyes twinkle when you laugh; the glow of euphoria you emit when you're flying; the way your eyebrows crease when you're thinking of the strategy for the next quidditch game and, basically, James; you.

And I hope you are the person I think you are - someone who takes interest in girls' for their inner beauty and personality, and not for their appealing physique.

As I mentioned before, I'll never reveal my true identity, as I think it useless. I'd rather not take the risk of humiliation if you find out who I am and if you think this is all rubbish, you'd probably laugh at me. However if you do appreciate this letter, it would be my foolishness to blame.

Before I end this letter, I hope that you'll be able to forgive me (even if you don't know who I am) if I had ever offended you in any way.

Love,

An Admirer.

James' mouth formed an O as he completed reading the letter. He reread it twice just to make sure he was reading what he thought he was. He couldn't believe that someone as sweet as this ever existed. This girl - whoever she was - was undoubtedly an angel. She was right at certain points: her descriptions of him were without a doubt accurate, the way he managed time to sort out his busy academic, co-curricular and normal life, and yet manage to come out on top.

She was also right when she said that this was probably his umpteenth anonymous love letter. Among all of them, this was by far the most interesting one he'd ever read. She seemed to know many things about him – and she was successful in picking out the right choice of words to be used and laid out in a pleasant manner.

All the recent ones were dull and boring, where else this letter really revealed the admirer's true personality. From James' perspective, she had a sense of humour, witty, brilliant and was straight forward (if you don't count the whole name-mystery thing, of course). In fact, he'd probably even feel comfortable around her - if he was ever going to find out who she was.

Suddenly, he remembered the Transfiguration class he was late for. Rather ironic that he was going to be late when he had tricked the redhead into thinking she was late. James swore silently and rushed off to the Transfiguration Classroom, bringing his books and the letter along with him. James Potter was determined to find out who this anonymous admirer of his was, even if it cost him an arm and leg.

(Twenty minutes earlier)

Lily Evans panted as she ran a swift corner to reach the Transfiguration Classroom. She barged into the classroom, unaware of her surroundings and shouted, 'I'm so sorry, Professor!'

Taking in proper breathing intervals, Lily had expected to see her fellow Sixth Year classmates looking at her and a Professor McGonagall tapping her feet, but instead, found Professor McGonagall writing on the blackboard, and instead of Sixth Year classmates, she saw ...

'Seventh years?' Lily gulped silently.

'Miss Evans! What is the meaning of this?' Professor McGonagall demanded.

'Oh, I'm ever so sorry, Professor. Someone,' she said through gritted teeth, 'told me that I was late and I panicked. I'm so sorry for interrupting your class, Professor McGonagall. I think I may have lost track of time,' Lily said, giggling nervously.

Professor McGonagall shook her head and continued, 'This is very odd behaviour – even more so, coming from you! And you're far from late, Miss Evans. In fact - you're ten minutes early! Don't you know sixth years have a ten minute break before Transfiguration for me to prepare the day's lesson?'

'Yes, Professor – it must have been a slip of the mind. Do forgive me, professor. I think, I'd better leave now,' Lily reasoned, feeling sick all of a sudden after receiving humorous looks from the senior class.

'Yes, yes. And do you mind closing the door after you leave?' Professor inquired.

As Lily walked out of the classroom all flushed, she swore she heard Professor McGonagall muttering, 'Ah. Teenagers these days. Suffering from short-term memory so early...'

Lily Evans was fuming and was very angry with James Potter. Struggling to push out the image of a (charmingly) cheeky James Potter laughing at her naivety from her mind, Lily resumed hating his guts for embarrassing her. That stupid prick! Who the hell does he think he is? He doesn't deserve a bloody admirer – the letter is better off burnt into ashes!

Stomping all the way to the Common Room, she bumped into a grinning Jemima and a blushing Fiona. Lily was obviously not in her best moods, and so ignored and walked briskly past them

Jemima realizing something was wrong, pulled Lily to a halt. 'Whoa there, Lily! What's wrong, honey?'

'What's wrong? What's wrong! I'll tell you what's wrong! The stupid, moronic James Potter – that's what's wrong! He's mental, all right! He has nothing better to do but to make my life miserable! If I was a brain surgeon, Jem, I'd operate his brain this instant and prove to you that a few screws in that psychopathic mind of his are lose! Do yoou know what that prick did? DO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE INSUFFERABLE PRICK DID? He said that I was late for Transfiguration! I panicked of course, and I burst into the classroom, and suddenly, I see SEVENTH YEARS all around me! Not First Years or Second Years, Jem, but OUR SENIORS! I was flushed with fever alright! If you had seen me, I bet you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a witch and a tomato!'

Despite the commotion Lily was causing in front of the Portrait of the Fat Lady, all the drama that was beginning to ensue did not match to the drama that was about to follow... On the other hand, Jemima and Fiona were stifling a giggle. 'So now why are you headed to the Common Room?'

'Why? I'll tell you why! I'm going to burn this -' Lily rummaged through her bag to find quills, schoolbooks, inkpots, a packet of Bertie Botts' Every Flavour Beans, last month's issue of The Quibbler, a sneak-o-scope... but not an envelope in sight. 'Wait a minute.' Lily paled for a moment. Soon afterher head was in the bag, and the frantic search began for the missing envelope.

Lily's eyes grew as round as saucers, and sprinted to the Charms Classroom immediately, determined to find the sacred letter, leaving Jemima and Fiona completely clueless.

'Fiona, now I know we have a mental best friend,' murmured Jemima softly, chuckling. 'First Jemmiona, and now invisible letters! Honestly!'

As Lily Evans arrived at the Charms Classroom, she saw James Potter at his desk, reading. He looked so focused and... Snap out of it Lily! Remember, you're here to find the letter to reduce it to ashes; not to admire how sexy he looks when concentrating!

Her eyes scanned the desks and the floor from outside the room for any sign of the letter. Suddenly, her gaze landed on James again. He'd never look this serious, before. What on earth could he be concentrating on? A white dirty envelope on James' desk caught her eye. Funny, why does that look so familiar? Lily started to panic, not enjoying the sensation at all. Her emerald eyes slowly traveled to the piece of paper James was reading, and it wasn't a book he was holding... Nor was it a magazine. He was holding a piece of paper – a crinkled piece of paper with designed corners. It looked ever so familiar... Silly Lily, isn't it so ironic that the letter James is reading looks exactly like…

THE LETTER YOU WROTE FOR JAMES!

Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no! Think Lily, think! Thank Merlin you didn't write your name on it, Lily hyperventilated. Now, go back to Jemima and Fiona, apologize to them for being rude. And then, act as though the letter never existed and that you never liked James Potter, said the little voice inside her head.

I do not like him anymore! She thought, as if having a debate with the little voice.

Honey, you do realise that you're talking to yourself? And that I'm the little voice in your head that knows every single thing that goes on in here? replied her conscience.

Sigh, I guess I'm still head over heels for him... SNAP OUT OF IT! You're going mental, Lily. You're actually talking to yourself!

Lily shook her head, and returned to Jemima and Fiona. Apologizing using the silliest reasons, Lily carried on a normal conversation about Jeremy and Fiona, pushing out every possible thought of the letter. Making it a point to stand quietly behind the pillar to avoid recognition as the seventh years filed out, she went inside.

Ten minutes later, James made a rather discreet entrane and tiptoed as quietly as he could into the classroom not wiping the dopey grin off his face. Luckily for him, Professor McGonagall was too busy writing an incantation on the blackboard to notice him.

As soon as Transfiguration was over ('Remember, class! Practice your wand-eye coordination!), one-by-one, students left the class to head to Potions. And since Lily was merely two seats away, she seized the opportunity to smack him, which rudely interrupted James' train of thoughts.

'Ow!' he yelped.

'That serves you right, James Potter! That's for being a prick!' Lily smacked him again. 'That's for embarrassing me!' And just as Lily was about to smack him again, Sirius caught her by the hand.

'Whoa there, Lily! As much as I'd like to happily watch you abuse my best friend, may I know what the reason is this time?'

'Because your friend here is a prick!' Lily said defensively, trying to wriggle free of Sirius' grasp.

'Ohhh, it's the prick factor today is it? Very well then – you may continue,' said Sirius reluctantly, letting go of Lily's hand.

'Hey, hey!' James protested. 'I'm sorry, all right,' he laughed. 'I didn't mean to anger you. Maybe irritate you...' But quickly added, 'But not to upset you.'

'He-llo? The class was full of seventh years! SEVENTH YEARS! Imagine how embarrassed I felt!' Lily exclaimed.

'Look, I'm sorry, okay? And I mean it. Besides, if it'll make you feel any better, I'll postpone the Quidditch Practice to tomorrow, okay?'

'Yes, I guess I would be happy...' She said, biting her lip. 'But that doesn't change the fact that I've blacklisted you!' she continued, wiggling her finger at him disapprovingly. Trying her best to resist James' to-die­-for puppy eyes, Lily rolled her eyes and smiled faintly. 'Just a reminder, James - its seven o'clock in the library.'

'Very well, Lee.'

'Oh, so it's Lee, now is it?' Lily raised an eyebrow.

'It just suits you well, dahling!' James said with a wink.

'Oh sod it!' Lily yelled haughtily and left in a huff to find Jemima and Fiona.

'Don't forget our study date tonight!' he shouted after her. 'Sirius -'

'Yes, Prongs ol' buddy?'

'Cancel tonight's Quidditch practice. Postpone it till tomorrow, would you? Anything to stop that redhead from beating me up,' said James, shaking his head in a chuckle.

'Whatever floats your boat, Prongs. Good luck tonight!' Sirius called over his shoulder as he walked off, finding another teenage heart to win over.

Thanks:

aharrypotter1fan, MARYAM, pinkyN, The Marauder's Map, Peppermint, axania chic, aaand (blank space)

myrAh