A/N so, yeah, this has taken FOREVER. The reasons being a) really bad writers' block, and b) the half of this chapter I had written, I decided that I didn't like after all, so I had to rethink this whole scene and how it was going to work (this was hard to do w/school, hw, and HORRID STUPID writers' block. Ok, just so peeps know, there is NO PETER PETTIGREW in this story.

If Things Were Different

Part Two

"Hi Remus!" said Lily Evans.

"Hey Lils. Can we talk?"

"Sure."

"Alone?"

"uhhh…ok… where?"

"Outside?"

"kay then"

The pair walked in silence to the front doors of Hogwarts, then down to the lake, and around to the far side. Suddenly Remus turned to Lily and looked her straight in the eye.

"ok Lily. Please hear me out. I need to say this, for the sake of all the Mauraders."

"I'll listen Remus."

"Right then. Lily, have you noticed how James has been, well, different this year?"

"Yeah, sort of. He's not asking me out every other day."

"Umm.. well.. that's the bulk of it, yeah. But he's also been toning down on the pranks, sticking to work a bit more. Have you seen any of that? Because………..He did it all for you."

"Wha…..huh…wait…woah… umm, where's this coming from. That can't be true Remus. Tell me it isn't"

"But it IS true Lils. If only you'd look twice at him. He's really changed for you ya know. It was all for you. He doesn't even really talk about you around Sirius and me anymore. It used to all be Lily this and Lily that. But now he's just silent most of the time. He really cares about you Lily, and it hurts him to think that you don't even know it. Please tell him that you know he cares instead of just brushing everything he says off without a second glance."

"Alright Remus. I'll try."

Later that day, Lily was sitting in the common room reading, when suddenly James appeared at the boy's staircase and came over to sit opposite her.

"Lily," he said, "why did you always say 'no?'"

She looked him straight in the eyes, "Because, James, you never seemed to really care. To me it looked like you just thought of me as a prize, and I'm not James. I'm not a prize. I can't be bought or sold. I'm a person, and you only ever seemed to think of me as just another girl. I'm not just another girl, James. I'm Lily, the one and only Lily Evans."

"I know that Lily, I always have, and I'll never forget it." He looked in her eyes as he said this, and it was then that she knew he was speaking the truth, and always had been. "Lily," he said softly, not breaking his gaze, "will you go out with me?"

That was the first time that Lily had ever felt the sincerity in his voice. Even though she knew what she would say, it still hurt to actually say it.

"I can't," she said gently with tears falling down her face, "If things were different. Oh James, I'm so despretly sorry."

With that, she fled from the room. When she got up to her dorm, she fell on her bed sobbing. She'd never known that he'd really cared. Even after what Remus had said, she hadn't really known until he'd looked her in the eyes and told her so. And now, when it really mattered most, her pride had ruined everything. Why did she have to be Lily Evans? The untouchable Lily Evans? Why?

When she fled the room, James just stood there looking after her for a while. The he turned and left. At least she understands now. I know she does. It was in her eyes. There was a piece in there, longing to say 'yes,' but she's Lily, and that's just who Lily is. I'd never want her to change really. Perhaps there's a tiny bit of hope for me. I'll wait a while longer. Maybe she'll come 'round.

At least I know she knows…At least I know she knows…At least I know she knows.

A/N ok, I wasn't AT ALL happy with that chapter, so I'll probably revise it at some point. It's better than it was, but it's still not great. Sorry if it's not up to standard:( I left it so I could keep it going, so I might do that, but I'm not sure. If you guys out there want me to, go head and let me know. P.S. PLEASE hit that little purply-blue button down there and REVIEW. Last time I got 94 hits, but only 3, count 'em 3 reviews! I can count to 3 on one hand, to count to 94, I'd need 20 people. Push the button and "Go ahead…..Make my day"