"This is the match, everyone. The match that will decide who goes on to play for the quidditch cup. Slytherin versus Gryffindor," announced Dean Collins, a seventh-year Gryffindor. "Of course, we all know who is going to win-"

"DEAN COLLINS!" shrieked Professor McGonagall. "We do not want to hear your personal opinions!"

"Sorry, professor! Alright, back to the game then? There's Potter coming out onto the field, followed by Black. If you'll look up into the stands you'll see many signs made by the ladies to express their love for Potter and Black. Look there! PLEA, formerly known as 'Potter's Loyal Emphatic Adorers' has teamed up with JALWNBAC, known as 'James and Lily Will Never Be A Couple,' to create a huge banner. What does it say? Ah, yes. I should have known. It says, 'Touch James And Die.' Nice, ladies, nice-"

Lily hurriedly walked up the stands with Paige and Whitney, looking for a place to sit. She finally found a spot near Remus and Peter. She quickly scanned the quidditch pitch, looking for James. At last, she found him and caught his eye. They smiled at each other for a brief moment, Lily mouthing 'good luck' to James. James grinned, not wanting to break eye contact with Lily. Soon Sirius was tugging on his shirt, signifying that the game was about to begin. James winked at Lily, and waved, before turning around and mounting his broom.

Whitney eyed Lily curiously. "What's going on with you and James, Lily?" She asked suspiciously.

Lily blushed as Paige, Remus, and Peter turned to look at her. "Nothing. Honest. Why do you think that something is going on?"

Remus raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Because there is something going on."

Lily's eyes widened. "No there's NOT! Whatever gave you that idea?"

"Oh, I dunno. Maybe it was the staring. Or the blushing. Or the giggling. Or the waving and note writing," Paige grinned.

Lily scowled. "What are you talking about? Let's just watch the match, alright?"

Peter, Remus, Whitney, and Paige turned to the pitch with expressions of triumph on their faces. Lily pouted and crossed her shoulders, purposely avoiding staring at James.

"Alright. Hooch just about to blow the whistle…and they're off! Potter passes to Jacobs, who passes to Muller. Muller is flying off towards the Slytherin goalposts – SCORES! 10-0 for Gryffindor!" Dean announced over the cheers of the anxious Gryffindors. "Smith in possession of the quaffle. He passes to Malfoy who passes Thornton. Thornton makes his way to the Gryffindor goalposts – NICE SAVE BY SIRIUS BLACK! I say, I've always liked him. Nice fellow, really he is. Very misunderstood-"

"DEAN! BACK TO THE GAME!"

"Sorry, professor! Honestly. Potter back in possession of the quaffle. He passes to Jacobs again. Jacobs shoots – saved by Goyle. Wood and MacNair searching for the snitch…Muller's got the quaffle. He passes to Potter, who – POTTER SCORES! 20-0 FOR GRYFFINDOR!"

Lily applauded and cheered loudly, jumping up and down. She caught James' eye and grinned. James gave her an amused look, sparks of curiosity in his eyes. He waved at her, smiling, then turned back to the game, very aware of the strange looks his teammates were giving him. WHAT is going on with Potter and Evans? They thought. They're not supposed to wave and smile at one another!

"Malfoy's got the quaffle. Passes to Thornton. Thornton shoots – DAMN IT! 20-10, Gryffindor in the lead. Muller passes to Jacobs. Jacobs is speeding off towards the Slytherin goalposts…SHIT! Interception by Malfoy. Malfoy passes to Smith. Smith passes to Thornton…OOH! Nice bludger work by Prewitt from Gryffindor! Potter's in possession now. He swerves under Malfoy, dodges Thornton, and BLOODY HELL! He did a 360 past Smith! A bit of a show off, aren't you, Potter? Still wickedly awesome though, mate. He shoots off towards the slytherin goalposts, shoots, SCORES! 30-10 FOR GRYFFINDOR!"

James looked over at Lily again, catching her staring at him. To his amusement, she quickly looked away, blushing, biting her lip. He smiled and headed back into the game.

"Smith passes to Thornton, who passes to Malfoy- WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT, MALFOY? THAT'S CHEATING, DAMN IT, CHEATING! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING, EH? YOU LITTLE-"

"DEAN! Not another word!" exclaimed McGonagall.

"Right," Dean said, clearing his throat, his teeth still clenched. "After that horrible act of cheating that was NEVER CALLED, its 30-20, Gryffindor in the lead. Wood and Macnair still searching for the snitch. Jacobs passes to Potter. Potter zooms off towards the Slytherin goalposts. He shoots – MY GOD! CRABBE, WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR, HUH? HAVE YOU NO PRIDE, MAN? HAVE YOU NO MORALS? What was that, Crabbe? Did you just say you didn't do anything? DID YOU? That's it. Someone go kick his ass. Right now. WHAT DO YOU MEAN, I'M MAKING A BIG DEAL OUT OF NOTHING? You're going to wish you never said that! You nearly knocked Potter off his broom with that bludger work! STOP SMIRKING, IDIOT, THAT'S NOT A GOOD THING! Oh Lord. There they go. PLEA and JALWNBAC are trooping onto the field, wands at the ready. I guess they were serious about that sign, eh? Potter is trying to fend them off, flying in protective circles around Crabbe. Nice man, that Potter. Always does the right thing, and he is quite entertaining – MY GOD! THEY'VE ATTACKED CRABBE! BLOODY HELL! Potter is looking quite pale – I'll bet this isn't how he wanted the game to go, eh? OH MY GOD! MORE GIRLS ARE FLOODING ONTO THE FIELD! THEY'RE BECOMING A MOB! SOMEONE DO SOMETHING, QUICK! PROFESSOR AREN'T YOU GOING TO DO SOME – POTTER! NO! DON'T DO IT! He's flying headfirst into the mob! YOU'RE NOT COMING OUT ALIVE, MAN, DON'T DO IT! Oh. I get it now. Nice idea, Potter. Smart guy, he is. Always helped me with DADA…well, Potter scared them off. They ran back onto the stands when they saw him flying at them…you'd think it would have had the opposite effect…anyway, the game continues, Flint entering the game substituting as Crabbe, seeing as the scary fangirls turned him into a half camel, half moose…erm…thing. Potter seems quite alright. Malfoy has the quaffle. He passes to Smith, who – SHIT! 30-30! Oh, wait – Potter's got the quaffle. He's got that scary, defiant look in his eye, you know, the one he always has when he's about to do a prank – he shoots – SCORES, THANK GOD! 40-30 FOR GRYFFINDOR! Potter is on a roll today, eh? Smith's got the quaffle, passes to Thornton – NICE SAVE BY BLACK! Malfoy's got the quaffle again, that greedy git. He's speeding off towards the goalposts – NICE BLUDGER WORK BY PREWITT! Very nice, Prewitt, I applaud you-"

"DEAN!"

"God, professor, you didn't have to hit me on the head, did you? I'm going to have to report you to Dumbledore, now-"

"SHUT UP AND GET BACK TO THE GAME ALREADY!"

"I have an announcement for the male members of the faculty. Anyone willing to take McG out on a date? Because she desperately needs a boyfriend-"

"DEAN!"

"Ok, that's it. Now I HAVE to report you to Dumbledore. Two slaps on the head in the span of two minutes? That's abuse, professor-"

"GET ON WITH THE GAME!"

"Lord, is this job complicated. Okay, Muller's got the quaffle. Passes to Jacobs. Passes to Potter, who passes back to Muller. What is with all the passing, guys? Trying to be gentlemen, are you? Muller passes back to Jacobs. He shoots – SCORES! 50-30 FOR GRYFFINDOR! Thornton in possession of the quaffle. He tears of towards the Gryffindor goalposts – WAIT! WAIT FOR IT! I do believe – YES! WOOD HAS CAUGHT THE GOLDEN SNITCH! GRYFFINDOR WINS AND GOES ON TO THE FINAL MATCH!"

Lily ran onto the quidditch pitch ecstatically, Paige, Whitney, Paige, and Remus following eagerly to greet James and Sirius. Upon seeing Sirius, Paige immediately lept towards him. They started snogging passionately, causing an awkward moment between the rest. Remus, Whitney, and Peter congratulated James enthusiastically.

Lily cleared her throat and walked closer to James, grinning. "Great job, James. You scored most of Gryffindor's goals. I guess you really are a good quidditch player," she said teasingly.

"Thanks, Lily. I'm glad you've finally seen that about me," James said just as jokingly, beaming down at Lily.

They stared at each other, hovering awkwardly, each not knowing what to do in the predicament. Then, suddenly, Lily stuck out her hand to James, blushing. Surprised, James shook her hand amusedly. They both stared at their hands joined together and tried to ignore the tingling sensation they had gotten.

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Dear Journal,

Its official. I am a complete idiot. Now EVERYONE KNOWS. Because all I did was SHAKE HIS HAND. I could have, you know, hugged him, or something! But NO! I had to SHAKE HIS HAND!

Wait. Now everyone knows WHAT?

There is NOTHING TO KNOW! NOTHING! I HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE!

Oh Lord. He's coming into the common room. He's going to see me writing in this damn journal again. And I'll look like a total freak.

BUT I DON'T CARE WHAT HE THINKS, SO WHAT AM I TALKING ABOUT?

I just need to calm down. I must be getting influenza or something – that's what is making me so…strange.

YAY! HE'S SITTING NEXT TO ME!

WHAT AM I TALKING ABOUT, YAY? WHY AM I HAPPY ABOUT THIS?

Oh my God. He just did that cute thing with his hair – you know, how he always messes it up. God, I love his hair.

NO I DON'T, NO I DON'T!

But look at him! He is SO CUTE!

NO HE IS NOT!

Oh my God. He did the hair thing again. I'm melting…

No, I'm not. I must remain calm and collective. Because I do NOT like James Potter. No way. No, I do not. James Potter plus Me equals NEVER.

Right.

Then why am I getting this fluttery sensation?

Ah! He's staring at me! And SMIRKING! OH MY GOD! WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

He probably thinks I am such a freak for writing in a journal. That's what the smirk is for. I don't blame him, actually.

Or maybe it is a good smirk? Like a "hey, how YOU doin?" kind of smirk?

Is it a hey smirk or a freak smirk? HOW DO YOU TELL THEM APART?

OH MY GOD HE JUST TALKED TO ME! EEEEEEE!

Why am I so happy?

James: Hey. (!)

Me: hey.

James: erm…how are things?

Me: Things are fine. How're your things? OH MY GOD. I MEAN – how are YOU doing?

James: (laughing, raising eyebrow at me) I'm OK. It's great we're going to the final quidditch match.

Me: Oh. Yeah. That. Yeah, um, good job today. You were really…erm…good.

James: thanks.

Me: yeah.

James: er…

Me: um…

James: So.

Me: So. How is your Charms essay coming? You know, the one we bet on?

James: Better than yours is going, I assure you.

Me: Please. You are so going to lose.

James: I don't think so. I AM Head Boy, you know.

Me: Well, I'm Head Girl!

James: Boys are smarter than girls. (sticks tongue out teasingly)

Me: (giggles). Oh, my God, James. Going back to second grade, are we?

James: (edges away from me) YOU HAVE COOTIES!

Me: (laughing)

James: (coming back, closer than before)

Me: (clears throat uncomfortably)

James: You're STILL writing in that damn journal of yours?

Me: um, yes. Maybe.

James: And you're writing down this conversation, aren't you?

Me: maybe.

James: Well, it sounds to me like you're starting to fall for me, Ms. Evans.

Me: please. Don't flatter yourself.

James: I'm not stupid, you know. I can put it all together.

Me: Put WHAT all together?

James: the staring, the blushing, the first name usage, the HAND SHAKE.

Me: OH MY GOD.

James: AHA!

Me: er…what?

James: YOU DO LIKE ME! AHA!

Me: You say 'aha' too much.

James: don't try to change the subject.

Me: I wasn't. Because there is no subject to change.

James: Oh yes, there is. YOU like me!

Me: I DO NOT!

James: You so do.

Me: I do not.

James: You do not

Me: I so do – HEY!

James: HA!

Me: Oh my God. That doesn't count. You tricked me!

James: But it is TRUE, isn't it? (pounds fist on table, smirking. Nice smirk.)

Me: NO!

James: okay, okay. So you don't like me.

Me: thank you.

James: So if you don't like me, why are you writing down all of our conversations?

Me: because…because they're entertaining.

James: ok then.

Me: (biting lip, resisting urge to tell him he looks SO cute when he's smirking and ruffling his hair)

James: er…

Me: um…

James: well this is awkward.

Me: how 'bout those Chudley Cannons? (joking)

James: (surprised) you know the Chudley Cannons?

Me: er…well…no. I was just…um, joking. That was what you said earlier this year, you know, on the train?

James: (smirking) You remember everything I've said, don't you?

Me: NO!

James: okay okay. Just teasing. You are terribly fun to tease, you know that?

Me: Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

James: A good thing. A very good thing. (EEEEEEEE! WAIT! WHY AM I EEEEEE-ING?)

Me: Oh. Well, thanks.

James: sure. (smiles and looks into my eyes)

Me: (blushing awkwardly) um. Right. Well, I should go to bed now. Erm…stuff to do in the morning. Important stuff. Stuff I need to sleep in for. Right. Okay then. 'Night!

James: (amused) er…k. Good night.

I AM SUCH AN IDIOT!

Wait, no I'm not.

Because I don't care what James thinks.

Because I don't like him.

No, I don't.

I do NOT LIKE JAMES POTTER.

Right.