Okay, let's actually try to think of a plot for this one...

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Chapter 2

Lily had barely noticed it; two months had already passed. Her last year at Hogwarts wasn't turning out to be as bad as she had imagined. The Heads had not been given any large events to plan yet. She and James, though they saw each other far more than Lily liked, were both so busy with duties and their studies that they barely had time to throw nasty remarks at each other. And, despite having to share a dormitory with him, Lily could honestly say that James Potter wasn't the most difficult person to live with.

"Morning, Evans." The two were each just coming down their respective staircases.

"Hello, Potter. Did you get the owl? McGonnagal wants us after lunch today."

"Right. D'you know what it's about?"

"No idea. We'll find out, though." Lily made her way to the doorway, but James got there first.

"After you, Sunshine," he said brightly, pushing the statue open for her.

Lily smiled sarcastically and gave him a look with narrowed eyes, "I suppose there's a mad axeman waiting for the first person who comes out; otherwise you wouldn't be so gleeful. After all, it's highly unlikely that you'd ever do anything so gentlemanly-like."

Lily stalked past him, wearing a superior and regal look. James winced; she always had a way of having the last laugh. Shaking his head, he disappeared through the doorway after her.

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Professor McGonnagal looked over the rim of her eyeglasses and surveyed the approaching Heads.

"Afternoon, you two. Please sit down, there's something I would like to discuss with you."

Lily and James glanced apprehensively at each other and took their seats in the straight-backed wooden chairs in front of the professor's desk. A bright midday sun streamed through the windows behind her desk, lighting up specks of dust floating in the air.

Professor McGonnagal leaned forward, "Now, this year Hogwarts shall be putting on a dance in the Winter. Creatively, it is be named the Winter Ball and will be opened to fourth years and above. As you no doubt know, the organizing of a...ahem...social event of such magnitude will require much planning and deliberation." Professor McGonnagal looked as though so much energy put into a merely 'social' event was energy well wasted. She cleared her throat, "This task I shall leave to you two; I have no doubt in your abilities, especially in Mr. Potter's in thinking of creative themes and activities. Starting from now, you have approximately two and a half months, which should be amply time. I would suggest," and here she put on her steeliest stare, "that you two put any...personal differences of opinion behind you since you will be working so closely together. That is part of the reason the Heads share a common dormitory, so that they will not be disturbed in these planning sessions. Are there any questions?"

Her eyes flickered between Lily and James' faces. Lily wore a look of deep horror, and was staring blankly back at her. James, on the other hand, had a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

"No questions? Alright then, that is all. You are dismissed."

Lily nodded blankly and rose to leave, mumbling a vague "Thank you, Professor" as she went.

Once out in the corridor, James turned to her and said, "Well, isn't that something? Hogwarts doesn't put on a winter social very often, I mean it's not like there's much of an occasion. Quite lucky we are to be here in such a rare time." He leaned forward and smiled, "So, Evans, when shall we meet up to discuss this thing? Tonight alright with you? 9 o'clock in the common room then? I'll be waiting," he added in a lower voice, and swept past her, walking away with a slight bounce in his step.

Lily glowered at his retreating back, she knew the year was passing far too smoothly to be true.

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James was in a surprising good mood at lunch.

Sirius leaned over, "So Prongs, tell us, how are things going within the bureaucracy?"

James grinned wryly, "Very well, actually. And, although no definite progress has been made presently, I do have a meeting with a very distinguished chief officer tonight in our common room." He winked, hardly able to suppress his glee, "There's to be a Winter Ball this year, you see, and McGonnagal's delegated the planning to us. I just fear I won't be able to concentrate properly on the planning for the, erm, other distractions around the place."

He and Sirius burst out in the peals of laughter while Remus Lupin looked on disapprovingly, "Really James, you are Head Boy. Do try to act it."

"Oh come on Moony! Don't be so proper, what's the harm in a little fun? Besides, it's not like I'm really going to try anything stupid."

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Evening came much too quickly for Lily's liking. Before she knew it, she was trundling tiredly back up to the common room, intent on a nice long bath before falling quickly asleep. She had almost forgotten all about her meeting with James that night.

She reached the statue entrance and mumbled the password, entered and was promptly startled out of her tired stupor by an enthusiastic, "Evans! I thought you'd never come."

Lily jumped, clutching her chest, "What! Oh Potter, don't do that! You scared the shit out of me! Don't pop out like that alright?"

James shrugged, "Fair enough. Now let's get cracking, we've got some major planning to do."

"Planning? Oh right, the ball," Lily sighed, clearly not wanting to do any sort of planning whatsoever. "Alright, let's get this over with. Shall we draw up a calendar of what needs to happen when?"

"I've got it all set out: parchment, quills, ink. I saved you a spot here next to me," he patted the carpeted floor next to him, "Come on."

Too tired to think of a remark to throw back at him, Lily sighed resignedly and walked over to him in front of the fire, "Good, let's start."

She plopped down on a cushion next to him and began discussing all of what they needed to do. Before either of them realized, several hours had passed and it was well into the morning before Lily glanced at her watch.

"Oh James! It's two in the morning! I think we should call it a night."

James stared at her strangely, "What did you say?"

Lily looked at him exasperatedly. Really this was no time to jest. "I said, that it's two in the bloody morning and we should get to bed."

"No no, I heard that part. It's just...well, you called me 'James'. You only ever call me 'Potter'."

Lily blinked, taken aback. "What? Oh. Do I really?"

"Yes, and I only call you 'Evans'. I don't really know why we only address each other by our surnames. It's quite weird." He looked at her intensely, "I think I prefer you calling me 'James' though. I like it much better," he paused, "Lily."

Suddenly, the atmosphere between them had changed drastically. The firelight danced in Lily's eyes as she lifted her eyes up to meet James'.

"Wha - ," Lily started to say, but she was silenced when James quickly put up a finger to her lips.

"Shh. Don't say anything. Don't move. The light is perfect. You look beautiful."

Her breath quickening, Lily didn't know what to do. They were not three inches apart. James decided to act on an impulsive decision, and leaned forward slightly. Their lips made contact. Relaxing, Lily sighed silently into his lips, leaning into him more as she deepened the kiss. James, wrapping his arms around her, gently pushed her backward onto the thick rug. Lily's fingers found their way into James' tousled hair and made it even messier. After what seemed an eternity, they broke apart.

Lily opened her eyes, "James. James Potter."

"Just 'James'. Nix the 'Potter', I don't like it." He leaned in again, but Lily quickly sat up and evaded him.

"Wait a minute. What exactly just happened there?"

James looked up at her, propped up on one elbow, "Well, I think, I could be wrong, but I think we just kissed. And I also think, and I'm probably right about this one, we both enjoyed it immensely."

"Well yes, physically that's certainly what happened, but, what really happened? Because, in case I've been living somewhere else all these years, we sort of, well, hate each other. Don't we?"

James chuckled, "Lily, I don't hate you. In fact I can't remember a time when I haven't been in love with you."

Lily snorted, "What? You? James Potter, Hogwarts' Resident Womanizer and Egomaniac? I don't think you could honestly say you've ever really been in love. Girls are just objects of desire for you. Each girl you win is simply another added to your ever-growing trophy collection. Am I right?"

James frowned. "No, you're not. Look Lily, it may not have been blatantly evident, but ask around, it's always been you for me. Always. The other girls are simply what you described, objects of lust...nothing more."

Lily suddenly stood up and looked disgusted, "There you see? You do treat girls as trophies!" She gave a small laugh and paced around, "I don't believe you. Why can't you respect people enough to treat them correctly? Why must you always prance around and show off?" She shook her head, "This is why I hate you."

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