A/N: Wow, only two reviews, how touching you guys. Thought you'd want to know why James stopped acting like an idiot, but I could be wrong. I'll jeep writing anyway, just cuz I love this story line. So, review please if you read this because this story is lonely. To the two people who reviewed this chapter, this chapter is dedicated to you: Fairy Love and Whiskeygurl007

Disclaimer: Yeah, I don't own anyone unless you don't recognize them!

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It was the first time James had ever realized he had crossed some invisible line, and he, for some unbeknownst reason to even himself, wanted to apologize. After Claire and Tanya had followed Lily up the stairs, he waited for about an hour, thinking of some way to get up the girls' staircase. He walked over to the steps and he could feel the eyes of Wormtail, Moony, and Padfoot on him. He turned to look at them and held a finger over his lips as a sign for them to be quiet. He transformed into a stag and trotted up the stairs as quietly as he possibly could.

Lily was too angry to fall asleep. About an hour after she got up there, Tanya and Claire and the rest of the girls in her dorm had already drifted off and were dozing heavily. Lily just sat on the edge of her bed, fully clothed and not tired, but undeniably angry. She was raging a war in her head. Part of what had happened she wasn't sure about it, but every instinct in her mind told her that she hated James. As she sat there, arguing with herself, she heard steps coming up the staircase. Weird, everyone was already up there. She pulled her wand from her pocket and walked towards the door.

James heard footsteps approaching the door and changed back into human form, leaning casually against the wall. The door flung open and Lily was pointing her wand directly at him.

"How did you get up here with the alarm and everything?" she asked suspiciously.

"That's for me to know and you not to find out," said James coolly, leaning inside the dorm to see inside. "Wow, your dorms are way nicer than ours, but you guys probably try to keep it cleaner."

"Shut up and stop with the small talk, what do you want, Potter?" she asked angrily. "I still am mad at you."

"Which is why I came to apologize, Evans," he said kindly pushing her wand down with his index finger. Lily was struck dumb. He had never apologized, he had never admitted to regretting something before…what was different now?

"Why?" she asked suspiciously.

"Because I realized that…maybe what I did might have been wrong, way overstepping the line that I usually go to which is simply asking you out. I actually tried something and I am truly sorry for that." He was whispering and although he would deny that he never wanted anyone else to hear, it was true and Lily could tell.

"So, you really mean it?" she asked, her eyes softening the slightest touch.

"Yes, Evans, I truly mean it. Do you want to come talk…maybe we can figure out why we're always hating each other." After he had admitted he was sorry, Lily, for some strange reason, wasn't mad at him anymore.

"I guess," she said, putting her wand back into her pocket and walking back into her dorm for a second. "I'll be down in a second, I just need to get a drink."

'Perfect' thought James, changing into a stag and trotting back down the steps triumphantly. Lily was down in a few seconds with Claire on her heels whispering words they could only catch in phrases like 'I can't believe you're doing this.' Lily shook her head and went to sit on one of the single-person chairs while James took the couch across from her. Claire sat next to Remus on the floor and Sirius and Peter were watching anxiously form the table in the corner.

"So, what do you want to talk about, Potter?" asked Claire spitefully.

"Claire, calm down, he apologized, remember?" asked Lily, trying to defend James.

"Did Lily just stick up for James?" asked Peter, honest shock in his voice.

"I think so, Wormtail…I think so," said Sirius, the same tone covering his voice.

"Oh be quiet, both of you," said Lily angrily, blushing.

"Sorry, Evans," said Sirius sarcastically.

"So, Evans, why do we hate each other?" asked James, looking to her with curiosity in his eyes.

"Well, should I go first with why I hate you?"

"Why not."

"Well, you hex any boy who gets closer to me than like three feet and punch anyone who gets closer than that. You are constantly asking me out and it really does get on my nerves, and the pranks just to get my attention drive me crazy, and what's with the last name basis?" she urged angrily. James flinched, his charming smile faltering slightly, but he kept it in place. He pursed his lips and thought about it for a moment.

"Well…I only hex and punch the guys who go near you because I am an arrogant, jealous ass. I ask you out because I think you are too beautiful for words and your personality is even better…and I think you like it sometimes. The pranks are for the reason of getting your attention and I want your attention for the things I just said. The last name basis is your own fault, you called me Potter first. Now the reasons I hate you are these: You say no when I ask you out and you ignore me, and you've recently found a way to cause me physical pain by hitting me."

"Well, you deserved it," she said angrily.

"I admit, I did deserve it. But what of the other things?"

"I say no because you play pranks and hex people and because of all the reasons I said earlier for disliking you. I ignore you only because if I don't speak to you, you can't ask me out. It's a vicious circle, you realize this?"

"Yes, I did a long time ago."

"Lily," Claire whined drowsily. "Please can we go to sleep now?"

"You go up, I think I'll be fine now," said Lily softly. Claire stood up, her nightgown dragging on the ground. Lily noticed Sirius's eyes linger on her for more than they should have for two people who thought they hated each other.

"So, what's the solution then?" asked James.

"I have no idea," sighed Lily, shaking her head.

"I do," said Remus from the corner. "Be friends." Lily and James both shook their heads furiously. Being friends would mean Lily would have to call him by his first name and they would have to have civilized conversation. Being friends would mean that James could never date her and he would end up miserable. "Fine, be acquaintances."

"Okay," said Lily softly. "But here are the rules, I can still call you Potter if I want to or it slips and I don't want you asking me out anymore or playing pranks. We can have conversations and talk to each other like civilized adults, but that's it."

"Here's mine, you cannot ignore me, and I won't ask you out, promise. We have to get along and no more hitting me. I promise I won't stand between you and boys again either. Oh, and I can call you Lily even if you call me Potter. Deal?"

"Deal," said Lily.

"So, my name is James Potter, and you are?" he asked playfully. If they were starting over, they had to truly start over.

"Lily Evans, nice to meet you, James," she answered, her face flushing.

"Well, Lily, I think we could make great acquaintances," said James, the playful grin not leaving his face.

"I agree," said Lily, a smile creeping slowly onto her lips. Oh, but one other thing, no more coming up the stairs unless you tell me how you do it."

"I have no idea what you're talking about, we just met after all," said James, still as playful as ever. He was good at evading questions that he didn't want to answer. Lily raised her eyebrows. A silent conversation went between Sirius, Remus, and maybe Peter if he was actually paying attention.

"Well, Prongsie, I think it's time we went upstairs and went to sleep. It's like one in the morning and we have classes tomorrow. I want as much sleep as I can get," said Sirius, standing up.

"Right, mate, and never call me Prongsie again," said James, standing up off the couch. He walked over to Lily and extended his hand. "It was nice meeting you, Lily." Lily took his hand and shook it.

"You too, Potter," she said before standing up and climbing her own staircase. Sirius let out a bark of laughter before climbing the stairs himself. When the four boys got up there, they changed and began talking.

"How long do you think this'll last?" asked Sirius with his mischievous grin.

"Not long," said James, unsure of his own bet. "I won't be able to not ask her out and not prank her, you guys know that. She'll have difficulty ignoring me, and that'll be the end of that deal right there."

"Give yourselves some credit, you two just had a civilized conversation without killing one another," said Remus.

"That's true, but I still think it won't last long, mates," said James.

"You don't want it to last, admit it," said Remus angrily.

"Okay, fine. I can't stand not trying to get her attention, it's in my nature and it's also in my nature to ask her out. It's a thing of pride, Moony, she's the only girl who's ever turned me down."

"Oh, and id has nothing to do with the fact that you like her," said Remus.

"I don't like her…not in that way," said James spitefully. Sirius and Remus looked at him incredulously. "Oh, sod off." He pulled his blankets over his head and tried to fall asleep, the same things running through his mind. He would never admit that he actually liked Lily Evans, that everything he had said was the truth, and nothing could change that, nothing would make him admit to the fact that those penetrating eyes had penetrated him. Not even Sirius, Remus, and Peter could know, it would be too embarrassing. James Potter did not have crushes; it just wasn't something that happened to him. Of course, everyone said that Sirius Black didn't have crushes and he was always staring at Claire when she wasn't looking and doing that thing guys do…pretending to hate her so that it would hide the fact that he liked her. Poor Sirius, Claire really hated him for it too. Sirius didn't know that James and Remus knew about his crush, and they were too afraid to tell him about how obvious it was.

When Lily got to class the next morning at Defense Against the Dark Arts, she sat in her usual seat between Claire and Tanya, James sat directly behind her in his usual seat, Sirius and Remus on either side of him and Peter next to Sirius. Lily felt something hit the back of her head lightly and picked up the small folded piece of paper that fell onto her notebook. She opened it up.

Lily will you go out with me?

The Ever Important, James

Needless to say that Lily was infuriated and she picked up the note, writing no in big, bold letters and threw the note at James, casting a weighing charm that made it a touch heavier. It hit James in the forehead and knocked him backwards off his chair. Lily turned around, an innocent expression on her face.

"Watch out for those chairs, they can slip if you lean back too far," she said sweetly. Tanya and Claire looked at each other, biting back the laughter that was about to erupt form their mouths. James scrambled to his feet, glaring at Lily. She smiled back triumphantly and the teacher had turned around by now and everyone was staring at the now embarrassed James.

"Mr. Potter, please sit down," urged their teacher. James cringed and picked up his chair and sat back in it.

"Mate, what was that about?" asked Sirius. A few girls sighed softly and Sirius looked around the room and winked. Claire rolled her eyes and picked up her quill, taking notes as the teacher continued his lecture.

"Evans threw some enchanted paper at me and it knocked me off the chair," answered James, picking the note up off the ground. He read it and glared at Lily again.

"Prongs," said Remus angrily. "What ever happened to the whole acquaintance thing?" James ignored him and wrote something on the paper, casting a weighing charm on it himself and chucked it at Lily. It hit her in the back of the head, hard, and she picked it up off the floor and read it.

This means war, Evans.

She glared at him again and wrote Fine in large letters at the bottom. She threw the paper at James and it hit him in the eye this time. He read it and glared back at her again. She pretended not to notice and listened to the teacher talking. When they got out of class, Lily told Tanya and Claire what had happened.

"That prat!" shouted Claire.

"That's aggravating," said Tanya. "What are you going to do…what does he mean war? I'm scared, Lily."

"Me too, but don't repeat that. I think it might be a silent treatment thing…he wants to see who can hold out the longest, maybe…and he'll probably be trying to get me fight back every step of the way…this is gonna suck," said Lily angrily. James walked past, his shoulder knocking into Lily and her books falling to the ground. She glared at his back as Remus and Sirius, SIRIUS! both turned around and came to help her pick them up.

"Sorry about him," said Sirius kindly. "Don't tell him about this, okay, ladies?" he asked, handing Lily the last of her books.

"He'd kill us he knew we wanted you to get back at him. So, this is what's going on…James wants you two to start pranking each other like mad and you probably won't be talking to each other the entire time," explained Remus, helping Lily off her knees and onto her feet.

"So, you're gonna need some expert help," finished Sirius.

"What's in it for you?" asked Lily suspiciously.

"Well, for one thing, we want to see Prongs get a taste of his own medicine. I have to say, Evans, it's pretty funny watching you get pranked, but James is going the wrong way to make you like him and we want him to realize that," said Sirius.

"So, you'll help us?" asked Claire, seeing Sirius in a slightly different light, but her voice was still spiteful.

"Of course, Martin, why wouldn't we?" asked Sirius, just as spitefully.

"I don't trust them," said Claire angrily.

"Remus is one of our best friends, Claire, calm down," said Tanya, shaking her head and sighing.

"Okay," sighed Lily. "So, you'll help me find out what he's doing?"

"Ah, that we cannot do. Marauder code says not to reveal any sort of prank being instituted to the enemy of any Marauder. But, we can help you come up with a few creative things for your own pranks, okay?" asked Sirius.

"Deal," said Lily, extending her hand. "On one condition, you promise not to tell James what we do and such, just in case your loyalties may change."

"Deal, Evans," said Sirius, shaking her hand.

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A/N: And now the fun begins…haha, this story is going to rock so much it'll be hilarious. Okay, I cannot wait to write the next chapter. I should have it out by next weekend, so read and review and I love you guys who actually do that!