Disclaimer: Though I strongly wish I were, I am not, and never will be, J.K. Rowling. I'm just a fan with a creative streak, who very much wishes she COULD own James Potter…. ;-) Chloe belongs to a classmate… we came up with the basics of a MWPP-era story a long time ago.

Enjoy!

Bang. A suit of armor in the hallway collapsed into a heap of metal as Lily stormed past, furious. How dare she even… who does she think she is? Sparks shot out of the tip of her wand unintentionally. She glared at them, the sight somehow making her even angrier, and made as if to fling her wand down the hallway before thinking better of it and pushing it into a pocket of her robes with a forced calm. The moment it was gone, she slammed her fist into the wall, and another suit of armor gave way to her furious glare. She whipped out her wand again and waved it at the heap of metal, attempting to repair it, but only managing to melt it. She growled in fury, attempting to throw her wand again, when she felt her arm caught behind her and her wand pried forcefully from her hand.

"Now, now, now, we can't have that, can we?" a boy's voice said casually. She spun around, fist raised to punch, and looked into the grinning face of James Potter.

"You!" she shouted, attempting to slap him, but again he caught her hand.

"Really, Miss Evans, you ought to take your anger out in more productive ways, it might do you some good." He gestured towards the demolished heaps of metal lining the hallway. "I didn't know you had such an apathy for war relics." Lily glared at him, to angry to speak. Pretending not to notice, James casually placed a hand on her shoulder and held her wand out for her. She grabbed it and immediately tried to hex him, but his shield charm was faster, blocking the spell and sending it sideways across the hallway, where it shattered yet another suit of armor. He whistled through his teeth. "Shame," he muttered. "That was a nice looking one, too."

He was distracted from his regretful surveyal by a shout as Argus Filch, the caretaker, came running down the hallway. "You two!" he shouted, eyes bulging almost out of their sockets. James heard Lily swear violently behind him, but didn't have time to be surprised. "Come with me. Now!"

Lily's expression had changed rapidly from anger to panic. James hesitated. She looked like she was moments from loosing her mind completely….

A loud explosion was heard on the floor above them, and bright green light seemed to radiate through the floor. Filch's eyes bugged out, if possible, even further, and he snarled like an angry cat. "You two wait right here!" he growled, before turning and storming off.

"Quickly!" James muttered the moment he was out of sight, grabbing Lily's hand and pulling her down the hallway and through a wall hanging. The passageway beyond was dark and narrow, and he lit his wand as he pulled her along, hurrying to get out of sight of the entrance. He thought he heard a shout of rage somewhere above them, and quickened his pace. It had to be here somewhere…. There! He leapt into a little niche in the bare stone wall, pulling Lily swiftly after him, just as they heard footsteps start along the corridor. James raised his wand and cast a silvery screen around them, stretching several feet around them on every side. Seconds later, Filch ran past, glancing in their direction but not registering anything more than unnaturally dark shadows. Once he was gone, James heaved a sigh of relief. Lily wrenched her hand from his.

"Would you please explain to me what you just did upstairs?" she demanded shrilly.

James looked stupefied. "What do you mean?"

"The green light… the explosion…." Lily waved her hand, gesturing wildly. "You could've damaged something, or hurt someone…"

James' jaw dropped. "I just sprung your rear end out of detention, Evans! You should be thanking me, not telling me off for a little harmless…"

"I deserved detention for what I did!" Lily shot back. "But of course you wouldn't see that! You're just a filthy, rule-breaking git!" She turned to storm away, only to be stopped by the silvery shield. "Let me out," she demanded.

"Why were you mad, Lily?" James asked calmly. Lily blinked. After all she had just said, James Potter could address her this matter-of-factly?

"Why do you care?" she snapped. "You're just a filthy, selfish…"

"I'm just trying to help." She glared at him. He looked sincere enough, but who knew….

"And why, may I ask, do you suddenly care at all about how I feel?"

"Because I care about you."

"Don't give me that crap!" Lily shouted. "You're just out to serve your own needs, as usual. You just…" She stopped, looking down.

"Yes?" asked James, quietly. He sounded hurt.

"Let me out!" Lily turned around and tried once more the get through the shimmery protective charm. She head James sigh.

"Very well." The wall flickered once, then vanished. She stepped out into the passage, only to leap back.

"Where are ye', you filthy little rule breakers?" Filch's voice echoed dangerously in the stone passage.

James looked at Lily, feigning surprise. "Back so soon? I thought you were convinced that I'm just a filthy, selfish git?" Filch's footsteps were drawing closer, but he didn't seem to notice.

"James, cast the shield!" Lily implored. "Please!"

James remained motionless. "I thought I'm just out to serve myself?"

She could now see the light of Filch's lantern preceeding him down the hallway. The panic rose in her chest. "Look, I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean it… I was just… mad, okay? I'm sorry!" James reached into a pocket of his robes, pulling on something. Any moment now, she knew, Filch would sweep around the corner and see them. "Do something! Please!"

James leapt forward suddenly, pulling her close to him and throwing something over them both. Panic rose inside of her as she attempted to break away, but he was too strong.

"Would you hold still?" he hissed in her ear. "It's hard enough to stay hidden under thins thing without you hissing like a captured cat!"

"Wha… o…!" The realization hit her just as James clapped a hand over her mouth and Filch came into view again. He held up his lantern and glanced into their niche, searching every corner. Apparently satisfied that they weren't there, he stormed off, cursing under his breath. Lily heaved a sigh of relief, starting to move away, but James' arms tightened.

"Wait," he whispered. "Mrs. Norris."

Lily stopped and nodded. Of course… the caretaker's cat had an uncanny habit of following him around, and of somehow reporting students' doings back to her master. Being seen by her was nearly as bad as being caught by Filch.

As she stood there, Lily suddenly realized how awkward her position was. She was standing close to James, his arms around her waist, her body pressed close to his so they could both fit under the invisibility cloak. But what surprised her most of all was her reaction to it. Instead of feeling uncomfortable, she found herself enjoying it. She felt… safe, somehow, protected by those strong quidditch player's arms. He wouldn't let anything happen to her….

"I think we're safe." James released her and pulled off the cloak, but she didn't move. He looked at her, confused. She looked up at him, staring into his eyes. Something seemed to be falling into place….

"Lily?" James sounded confused. She stepped back suddenly, snapping out of it.

"Sorry," she said curtly. "Thanks for helping me out… it's nice to see you've deflated your head a bit." She turned around and walked off.