Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize. All characters belong to a woman with a great imagination and determination, capable of creating this world that is the center of so many stories.

Chapter 7 – Lily's Change

"Amber?" Lily said, walking in. She looked around and realized that Amber had left. James came down his stairs, his hair still remotely wet and, for once, not sticking in all directions.

"I asked her to leave," he said, sitting on the sofa.

"Why? Was she a problem?"

"Does the fact that she tried to get me to have sex with her count as a problem?" James asked, looking at Lily with a mildly annoyed expression on his face.

"She did? Are you sure?"

"Yes. She didn't last five minutes after you left."

"And you asked her to leave? That's it?"

James gave her an inquisitive look. "Why are you so concerned if we did anything, Evans?"

Lily caught herself and started again in her cold, sharp tones. "Because, Potter, I want to know if it's safe to use the couches in this room."

James smiled. "You're lying, Evans. Here, I'll put your mind at rest. Nothing happened."

"I am not lying, Potter! Maybe you're lying because you're sore she turned you down."

James sprang forward in his seat. "You can't mean that, Evans!"

A knock was heard on the door leading to the Gryffindor Common Room. James leaned back in his seat again as Lily got up to answer it. Amber stood there, trembling, clutching to a book.

"Here, Lily," she said, holding the book out. "This is yours. I accidentally took it in my hurry to get out."

Lily glanced back at James, who was looking at her expectantly. "Why were you in a hurry?" she asked, looking at Amber again.

"I…I didn't want to stay here anymore. Not if it meant James would hit on me again…sorry, Lily. Thanks for all your help. I only waited this long to give it back so you can be in the room."

"Thanks, Amber. I'm sorry James scared you," Lily said, taking the book and frowning as she looked at James. She then turned to Amber and smiled. "Have a nice night, okay?"

"Right. Bye, Lily."

"Bye," Lily said and shut the door. You stupid idiot, she thought. How could you even expect that Potter could stay in the same room with someone like Amber and not make a pass on her? How could you have hoped-

"Everything alright, Evans?" James asked, interrupting her thoughts. Instead of answering, she replaced the Transfiguration book in the library and sat down, leaning back casually.

"That was Amber at the door," Lily said nonchalantly. "She said she accidentally took one of our books because she was in a hurry to get out. Seems you were making her uncomfortable."

"I was making her uncomfortable? Evans, I was in a towel and she came onto me!"

"Oh, right, because no girl can resist the Potter charm," Lily said, rolling her eyes.

"Only you, Evans. Only you," James replied, staring straight at her.

"Well, look, in all evidence I have to say her story seems a bit more reasonable."

"Are you saying I'll sleep with any girl I can, Evans?"

"I wouldn't be surprised if you did," Lily said coldly.

"Well, I think it's really hard to have sex and be a virgin at the same time," James confessed, more to prove his point than anything. He realized too late that he had just told Lily Evans the one thing no one else knew about him.

"You…"

"Yes, I am. Amber came onto me. She changed her appearance into something she thought I would like."

He's a virgin, Lily thought. Oh, damn, why the bloody hell am I happy about that? "Really?" she said out loud. "And what might that be?"

"Red hair and green eyes. It was when she started talking about things she shouldn't have that I sent her away."

Lily conscientiously put a hand to her hair and felt a soft curl. He doesn't like red hair, she thought. He doesn't like green eyes either. And I'm sad about that? What the hell is wrong with me? "Well, I guess I'll give you the benefit of the doubt," Lily said, as an attempt to end all conversations for the evening. James nodded.

"Thank you. And please don't invite her here again if I'm in the same tower as her."

"Right. Well, I'm going to take a shower," Lily announced, more to tell herself what she was doing next than to let James know.

"You do that, Evans," James said casually. "I'll be working on my essay here," he added, leaning over a paper on the table and referencing a book. Lily shrugged it off and went upstairs, getting her towel. She walked in and locked the door, loudly enchanting it. "A bit paranoid, aren't we, Evans?" James called from the couch. When no reply came, he could practically see her frown at him. His head was buzzing with thoughts. She was worried, he thought happily. She was actually worried about what I did. I could practically see her smile when I said I was a virgin. And…before, when she was ready to leave…the look she had in her eyes…it was…it was…

"Potter, have you even touched your essay since I went in?" Lily asked. He lifted his eyes to see her hair messy and curls all over the place, the towel wrapped tightly around her, and a faint smile on her lips. The smile vanished. "What? Look, I know my hair is a bit on the unruly side at the moment, but I just thought I should let you know before I went to bed that I-"

"Love me?" James said, realizing the look in her eyes earlier that night.

"What?" Lily asked, taken aback. "What? No, Potter, I do not even remotely like you. It's ten thirty, that's what I meant to say. That essay isn't due until next Tuesday, you should get some sleep."

James took the paper and stuffed it in a bag next to his book and stood up, swinging the bag on his shoulder. He smiled as he walked over by Lily, who eyed him with caution. "Well, goodnight Lily-flower," James said and gave her a kiss on the cheek, and then ran for it.

What did he just do? Lily thought. Then she remembered herself and spun around on her heel, yelling up at him just as he reached the top step, "James Potter! You better bloody hope you're the first one up, because if I have my way you'll be walking the halls purple tomorrow!"

"But Evans, purple really brings out my eyes," James said and grinned as he shut the door. Lily stomped over to her room and shut the door, enchanting it. Only then did she raise a cautious hand to her cheek, touching the spot where he kissed it. She went to bed, another faint smile on her face.