"One, two, three. One, two, three…" said Professor McGonagall, clapping her hands in time to the music and the beat. James and Lily were having quite a hard time. They would put their hands in the wrong places, or they would completely fall over. James had already broken his glasses twice from falling over (he quickly repaired them with repairo). Lily's hair was now all messed up, from moving around so much. Her cheeks were flushed. She wasn't used to failing at something, and failing in front of Potter was particularly frustrating.

"OUCH! POTTER! You've stepped on my foot again! Nice job," Lily said sarcastically, hopping around on one foot.

James snorted. "I guess we're even, then. After all the times you've stepped on my feet!"

"At least I am making an effort at this, Potter. You could obviously care less if we make fools of ourselves in front of everyone."

"I don't care what people say as long as I'm with you, Evans," James grinned, taking a stab at the "flattering approach," as Sirius had called it the night before.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Nice try, Potter. Let's just…keep practicing, alright? And do try not to step on my feet, alright?"

"I could say the same to you, Evans," James replied, clutching her waist once more. Unfortunately for him, McGonagall was supervising, so he couldn't get any closer to Lily than two feet. Lily reluctantly wrapped her arms around his shoulders, grimacing, as if he was carrying a contagious virus.

"Miss Evans! Please wipe that disgusted look off your face, and be respectful! You will NOT make fools of Gryffindor House." Lily sighed, trying her best to look happy. Actually, she was quite a bit happy, in James' arms. She had no clue why…perhaps Paige had overdosed her on the cheering charms they had reviewed again earlier that day.

"Yeah, Evans. I'm not that gross, am I?" James grinned. Lily rolled her eyes, scowling. She was counting down the minutes to 7:00, when their first lesson ended. It was now 6:55. Only five more minutes! YES! She thought.

"POSTURE! Imagine a string is tied to your back, and it is pulling you up! Very well done, Mr. Potter! You could take a few tips from him, Miss Evans. HEAD UP, MISS EVANS! Mr. Potter, wipe that smirk off your face. It is not flattering," said McGonagall. James had just given Lily a gloating look, after she stumbled once again. She hid her face in embarrassment.

"What did I say, Miss Evans? HEAD UP! Mr. Potter, don't puff out your chest like that. It makes you look like an arrogant balloon." Lily snickered, and James scowled at her.

"Head up, Evans! You heard the woman!" He said, trying to regain his confidence. "I mean, naturally, you won't be as talented as me, but 'do try not to step on my feet, alright?'" he quoted Lily. She scowled at him, her eyes narrowed into tiny slits. James grinned. She's so cute when she's angry, he thought.

"No, no, Miss Evans! You let Mr. Potter lead! Women do NOT LEAD!" Lily blushed, turning a bright crimson. James sniggered.

"Yeah, Evans! Leave the leading to me! After all, I am a true leader," he winked. Lily rolled her eyes, and concentrated on the dance steps, looking down at her feet.

"MISS EVANS! LOOK UP! POSTURE! EYE CONTACT! Goodness, that is not it at all, Miss Evans! Allow me to show you," sighed McGonagall. She brushed Lily aside and wrapped her arms around James' neck. He put his hands up in the air, and looked at her waist, horrified. He turned a pale color, and nervously ruffled his hair.

"Erm…can't you just dance with her, Professor?" he asked, disgusted. Lily giggled.

"No, Potter. Then she will not see how it is supposed to be done! Now GRAB MY WAIST! NOW!" she yelled. James gave Lily a reproachful look, but did as he was told. He grabbed McGonagalls waist, however lightly, as if she was going to transform into a dementor any second now. He stepped away from her as far as possible, and gulped. Lily pointed at him and snickered, a malicious smile on her face. James glared at her, and blushed. There is NO WAY any of the guys are gonna hear about this, he thought. This would make a man want to commit suicide!

"One, two, three. One, two, three," chanted McGonagall, keeping eye contact with James, who looked quite frightened. Lily looked at him concern. He was looking quite pale, the only exception being his cheeks, which were a vivid crimson. She cleared her throat.

"Um…professor? I think I've got it now," she said. "But we're out of time, unfortunately. Thursday, same time, Professor?"

McGonagall sighed but nodded her head. James instantly dropped his hands off of her waist and backed away as far as possible, trying, but not succeeding, to look casual. Lily laughed.

"Potter, come on. We'd better get going." She said, trying to regain her composure.

He scowled at her. "Fine."

They marched off together, in the direction of their common room, both silent.

"I can't wait to tell Paige and Whitney about that," Lily said, referring to the "McGonagall incident." "Then, naturally, I'll have to tell your friends, because, well, it will be absolutely hilarious, and mortifying for you. Which should be amusing."

James stared at her, wide eyed in shock. "You wouldn't!"

Lily grinned evilly. "Oh yes, I would, Potter."

"Well, if you do, I will just have to tell the whole school that you kissed me back in fifth year."

It was now Lily's turn to gasp. She had made James swear to keep that incident a secret. "DON'T YOU DARE, POTTER!"

James smirked. "I think I dare. That is, only if you tell people about that little incident back in McGonagall's classroom."

Lily sighed. "Fine. I won't tell anyone. Promise," she said reluctantly.

James smiled. "Good. Ah, those were the days, in fifth year. Wish you would still kiss me like you did then…damn you're a good kisser, you know that?"

Lily giggled, and blushed. "Thanks, Jam-Potter. I still can't believe I liked you in fifth year. I was so naïve."

"I recall you liking that kiss, thank you."

"I was young…what do you expect?"

"Shove off, Evans. I know you liked it. You practically melted in my arms. Luckily I was able to save you from falling into the lake, what with my quidditch muscles and all," James grinned.

"Fine. I liked it, alright? Are you happy now? But that doesn't mean I would like it now. DON'T YOU DARE KISS ME, POTTER!" she added quickly, seeing the expression on his face. He scowled. "And as for your muscles…well, let's not go there," she blushed.

He snickered. "Oooh, you do love me after all," he smiled. "I knew you'd come around Evans."

She scowled. "JUST BECAUSE I THINK YOU'RE HOT DOESN'T MEAN I LIKE YOU, ALRIGHT POTTER? UGH!"

James stared at her in alarm. "Erm…" he said, speechless for the first time in his life. He cleared his throat, and ruffled his hair casually. "You…you…think I'm…erm…hot?"

Lily turned pale (besides her cheeks, which were alarmingly red). "Oh. My. God. OH MY GOD!" she shrieked, still in disbelief about what she had just revealed. James stared at her, both very confused, and very alarmed. He never liked it when girls got super girly. It tended to frighten him.

"Erm…Evans? That's alright, I mean, I think you're hot too…which should be obvious…that I think you're hot I mean…but it's obvious you're hot, too…" he rambled, not quite sure what to do.

She remained rooted to the floor. Suddenly, she shook her head, as if clearing her head, and ran to the common room as fast as she could.

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"How did lessons go, Prongs?" asked Sirius casually.

"They were…erm…uneventful," James lied, sitting on the couch beside Sirius in Gryffindor common room, his eyes glazed over.

Sirius eyed him suspiciously. "Something's up," he said. "Tell us. NOW."

"No, Padfoot! Sometimes you just have to keep things to yourself…and, well, this is one of those things."

Sirius stared at James in alarm. "You are maturing! I was afraid of this!" he started pacing the common room, deep in thought. "This calls for an intervention. Everyone, come round. JAMES POTTER! ARE YOU IN THERE? YOU CANNOT DO THIS TO US! WE'RE THE MARAUDERS! DOOOOOO NOOOOTTTT MAAATUUURRREEE," said Sirius, in a hypnotic voice. James laughed.

"Aren't you late for your most recent snog session, Padfoot?" he asked.

Sirius looked at his watch, and gulped. "DAMN IT! WE'LL FINISH THIS LATER, PRONGS!" He quickly ran out of the room.

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Dear Journal,

OH. MY. GOD. OH MY GOD OH MY GOD! I CAN'T BELIEVE I SAID THAT OUT LOUD! I said JAMES POTTER was hot…right in front of him! And he heard me! This is absolutely horrible. It will inflate his already large head. He'll spread it around school, and then Andrew will definitely not give me a chance. I am so stupid. I can't believe I did that. It was slightly funny, though. Potter just stood there, in shock, not knowing what to do. I wonder what Potter will say to me next time I see him. I dread that moment. I am now sitting on my bed, with the door locked, so Potter doesn't try to get in. I heard him coming in a while ago…mumbling things like, "strange. Hot. Me. She thinks…why? Was she serious? Couldn't be. Must be joke. Tired. Need rest. This can't be happening. In a dream. Go to bed, James." Ha ha ha! I'm still mortified, though.

Dancing went alright, I suppose. We stepped on each other's feet a fair amount of times. What's strange is I actually enjoyed dancing with Potter. The only reasonable explanation for this is that Whitney overdosed my Cheering Charm today in charms. Why else would I be happy about dancing with Potter?

Still no word from my parents…Head Rounds start very soon. Potter and I have to go patrolling Hogwarts' campus. Together, unfortunately. I am too tired to write anything else. I'll write later.

Lily Evans