"Hey, Evans. I have to admit, that was a good one you pulled on me the other day, with the toad," James grinned, catching up to Lily in the hallway.

Lily smiled confidently. "Thank you, Potter. I think so too. I just loved the look on your face. You two will make a great couple, you know," she grinned.

James rolled his eyes. "Not nearly as good as we could be together."

Lily snorted. "Come off it, Potter."

"I will not. You know we're supposed to be together, Evans. I mean, we were both made Heads! That's fate," James winked.

"I suppose I know what's coming next…"

"Of course. Go out with me?"

"No. Now goodbye, nice talking to you, hope to not see you soon." Lily walked at a faster pace, trying to get away from James. James sped up, now walking beside her again. She groaned, but smiled.

"Why won't you ever go out with me, Evans?" he asked her seriously.

"Um…are you sure you want to hear this, Potter?" she asked him nervously.

"Absolutely. Lay it on me."

Lily sighed. "Well…erm…you're really arrogant, you're a bully, you make trouble for no apparent reason. And, well, I just don't like you that way. We're just friends, at the most."

James' face fell, but he nodded, trying not to show any emotion. "Right. Sure. Just friends. Okay. Um…yeah. Well, I'll just go now, leave you alone." He quickly walked away from Lily, his head down, a disappointed expression on his face.

"Potter? Potter, wait! Please, don't be angry! I didn't mean to upset you, really!" Lily called after him, feeling horrible. He turned back to look at her, his face broken with many emotions. He just shook his head solemnly, and turned forward again, not giving Lily another glance.

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"PRONGS! STOP IT, RIGHT NOW! I hate seeing you like this! Go back to your old self! I liked you a lot better that way. Want to throw Peter the rat around the room a few times? That used to make you feel better!" Sirius said anxiously, looking at James with concern. James just shook his head, staring into the Gryffindor Common Room fire. He didn't want to go to his own common room, and find Lily there. He had to think about things first. What's the point of even loving her if she thinks all we'll ever be is just friends? At the MOST. Love sucks. You can't even get over that person, because you LOVE them.

"Prongs?" It was Moony. James turned his head to face him. "Erm…listen, Lily will come round sooner or later. You just have to take it slow. Don't rush into things!"

James looked up at his friends, who were all gazing at him concernedly. Even Peter knew what was going on. James grinned at them. "Thanks for all the support, but I think I have to think about things before I make any decisions." He nodded to them appreciatively, and walked out of the portrait hole, making his way reluctantly to the Head Common Room. He stepped into the common room, and was surprised to find Lily sitting on a couch, doing her homework. She looked up suddenly, and a nervous expression passed over her face when she saw that it was James.

"Oh, erm, Potter! Hello…erm…" Lily looked down at the floor, not sure what to say. James took a deep breath, and decided to sit down opposite her, and wait for what she was trying to say.

"Er…just doing my homework, here…potions…that babbling beverage essay…" James grinned at her awkwardness, and nodded. He suddenly remembered why he would always love Lily. He couldn't quite label what it was about her – but he knew his love for her would last forever. Lily seemed quite relieved James wasn't angry with her. "So…er…you're not angry with me, are you, Potter? No that I wouldn't mind it, if it meant you would stop asking me out," she added, trying not to sound too concerned.

James smiled at her warmly. "I could never be mad at you, Evans. For long, anyway."

Lily still looked uncomfortable. "Ok. Then are we…er…frien-I mean, peers? Not, like, enemies, or anything?"

"Sure. You could call us peers. I definitely don't want to be your enemy. You know a mean bogey hex."

"You're not so bad at hexes yourself, Potter." She smiled at him, and he returned the grin. They sat there for a while, each sitting directly across from the other, each staring at the other.

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Dear Journal,

Today, Potter asked me out as usual, and I said no (again, as usual). But then he asked me why I wouldn't go out with him. I was a little nervous about telling him, because I knew it would make him sad. I hate making anyone sad, or making them angry with me. I feel horrible whenever I do. So I told him why I wouldn't go out with him, and he looked crushed. He just walked away from me, really depressed. Then, later on, when I was doing my homework in the common room, he just came over and sat by me, staring at me for the longest time. I asked him if he was still mad at me, and he said no. I was really relieved. I didn't want him to be mad at me – even if he is just Potter.

Lily