Happy Wednesday lovelies!

This chapter has been a long time coming, and you have NO idea how excited I am to share it. Hopefully you all like it as much as I do! Seriously, I am as giddy as a little girl right now.

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Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling, and only the story line and any OC's belong to me x

I dedicate this chapter to the lovely Magicalalice xoxo

Friday, December 2nd, 1977

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Head Girl and Boy Dorms

Valerian root's sedative qualities are essential when brewing a Draught of Living Death as—Lily's quill halted in its tracks as she heard footsteps from the entrance to their common room.

Lily neatly placed the quill beside her parchment, plucked her wand from its spot on the ground beside her, and murmured, "tempus."

White numbers flashed in the air in front of her; it was nearly midnight. Lily placed her wand on the coffee table next to her quill. She fidgeted with the baby blue blanket covering her legs and gathered around her hips.

The fire roared in the hearth opposite her, and the flames danced in her eyes as James Potter strolled into their living room.

Sweat glistened on his skin, his hairline soaked, his glasses askew. The bag slung over his shoulder rattled with his Quidditch kit as he adjusted it. James shot her a radiant smile as he dropped the bag on the ground.

James had stripped out of most of his Quidditch gear, and he was left in: a flowy, cotton, long-sleeved white undershirt—it was damp with sweat—and grass-stained white trousers that were tucked into knee-high brown, scuffed, leather boots. A wand holster was strapped to his left thigh; his initials were embroidered in golden letters along the leather strap by the buckle.

"Hey," James greeted, hands on his hips.

"Had a good practice?" Lily asked cavalierly, toying with the blanket's fringe that rested on her midsection.

"Yea…really good actually. Draco has us running drills and practicing as often as we can. We've been champions for the entire time we've been at Hogwarts, we aren't prepared to lose now."

James gestured at the array of parchment and texts before her on the coffee table. "Burning the midnight oil I see."

Lily smiled tiredly, rubbing at her temple. "I'm just doing a more in depth review of all our NEWT potions. A few of them are tricky, and I want to make sure my fundamentals are solid for each one."

"Potions? Evans that is the last subject you have to worry about. Brewing comes as easily to you as breathing," James said, crouching down to sling his bag back over his shoulder. Lily blinked rapidly, her eyelashes ready to take flight. James's compliment oozed genuity, and he'd stated it as if it was an undeniable fact. James straightened out, and rumpled his hair as a pensive look played on his features.

"Evans?"

"Yes?" Lily asked, clearing her throat as she met his eye.

"I'm going to take a shower, but if you're still awake afterwards would you mind helping me figure out Amortentia?"

Lily's mouth was as dry as the desert, but she managed to choke out, "of course. I'd love to."

"You sure? If it's too much of a bother, I'll just ask Draco tomorrow."

"Don't be silly. I don't mind at all," Lily said amiably. Her palms were clammy, and she had an urge to itch the heel of her left palm; so she did. Lily busied her hands by skillfully tying her hair back in a high ponytail.

James's aura beamed with white hot light, casting an enchanting glow about his person. A few more words passed by and forth, and the boy then set off for his room. Minutes later, the sound of his shower lulled Lily into a daze.

Unknowingly she was tracing the outline of her bottom lip, her vision blurred until she was only aware of the vague edges of the parchment before her.

It wasn't an unusual situation: the two had taken to studying together this year as they shared many of the same subjects, and they both kept odd hours between all of their various responsibilities. Lily had lost track of the nights the pair had fallen asleep in their common room after a rigorous study session.

Lily's affections for James had only grown by leaps and bounds during their cohabitation over the past few months. He was remarkably brilliant, but in spite of his natural intelligence he was dutiful in his studies and put in hours of work; from the outside looking in when they were younger, she'd just assumed he'd always slacked off and his intelligence was all that saved him.

Although, he did spend a great deal of time in the library to study for his OWLs with the other boys, Lily thought absently.

After a tedious day, sometimes the last thing she wished to do was write a foot long essay or even crack open a book, but on more than one occasion James was an encouraging presence that made the thick bog of schoolwork thin until it was like smooth sailing down a gentle stream.

"You okay, Evans?" James asked. His deep voice was like rich, robust red wine and it jolted her from her thoughts. Her toes curled under her blanket. His hair was still damp, hanging onto his forehead, and curling in different directions. Loose, black pyjama bottoms hung low on his hips. James tugged the waistband up, exposing the hard planes of his abdomen for a brief moment as his shirt shifted with the motion. Lily averted her gaze hurriedly.

"Hmm?" Lily hummed, biting her bottom lip as he came to sit beside her. He fiddled with the wide collar of his plain white shirt.

"You alright? You look a little out of it," James said, the concern in his voice was apparent, and he scooted closer to her. His bare feet were a breath away from her thigh, his knees pulled to his chest, his arms wrapped around them.

Lily nodded fervently. Her mouth got her into trouble more oft than not when she got anxious, so she decided the best course of action was not to say anything. James's woodsy, earthy smell tinged with fresh soap cradled her in its heady grip; vines of his scent wound around her, tying knots in her skin and squeezing her heart. It was as if she was in a forest, full of sunlight that was peeking through the tree canopies.

It took less than fifteen minutes to explain why brewing Amortentia in anything other than a gold cauldron would lead the brew to become volatile and unpredictable. James had borrowed her quill and a spare bit of parchment, and attentively jotted down notes as she spoke.

"Brewing it in a pewter cauldron would cause the potion to explode," Lily said, tucking her hair behind her ears nervously. James finished off his last sentence, and turned his attentions to her; intently staring into her eyes.

"Anything else I need to know before next week's class?" James asked, discarding the appropriated quill and parchment. James severed their gaze, and his hands fiddled with the fringed edge of her blanket just shy of her leg.

Lily's breath hitched in her throat. She forcibly kept her breathing steady as she replied, "no. I think that's it."

"Thanks, Evans." A smile misted onto his face, his glasses halfway down the bridge of his nose, and his eyes flicked upwards to meet hers once more. There was a boyish glee held in his hazel orbs.

Lily straightened up, hands folded in her lap. "Although, you know it smells different for everyone…according to what attracts them." Lily had a sneaking suspicion of what it might smell like to her, the earthy undertones wafting off James fogging up her mind.

"So cinnamon and leather because of Sirius," James joked, the corners of his eyes crinkling.

"You are ridiculous," Lily said, shaking her head in disbelief. "The pair of you are conjoined at the hip, so I wouldn't be surprised."

James nodded, "admit it, Evans. You enjoy having us around."

Lily snorted. "I wouldn't use the word enjoy. Tolerate would be better." Her traitorous heart was thumping in her chest, so hard that she feared it would burst from her diaphragm. James fixed her with a searing look that stole her breath away.

Much to her surprise, James tenderly gripped her chin with his thumb and forefinger. "Not even a little bit?"

Lily's body moved of its own accord: her hands cradled his face, and she caught a glimpse of James's shock before she crashed their lips together. As far as first kisses go, it wasn't the best; their teeth clinked together, and it was so brief that Lily doesn't even have a chance to close her eyes.

She retracted herself hastily, clutching her hands to her chest. "I am so sorry."

"What just happened?" James asked, astonishment exploding from the wizard. He brushed his hand across his bottom lip.

"I just tried to kiss you, you toe-rag!" Lily flushed violent red, and immediately covered her face with her hands.

Lily wanted the floor to split open and swallow here right then and there.

James's larger, warm hands pried her hands away with delicate care. He'd gotten closer, his face was inches away. "How about we try that again?" Lily's heart skipped a beat, and she swallowed thickly as she gave an imperceptible nod.

It was a cautious dance as Lily edged closer once more, as if she was approaching a small animal of prey. Their lips were a breath away, and they stayed like that for a moment. Lily's eyes fluttered shut, and she pressed her lips to his.

James's hands twined into her crimson locks, his fingers brushing across her scalp and sending tingles down her spine. He tasted like cherries and dark chocolate, and she wondered why she'd never kissed him before. A small piece inside of her clicked into place; it felt right kissing James.

It was slow as they set a rhythm, as they gave and took, and sailed through uncharted waters.

They broke away only to steal quick sips of air. Lily's hands were fisted in James's shirt, pulling him impossibly closer to her.

Lily purred when James nipped at her bottom lip, and their kiss came to a natural end. Lily pressed her forehead against James's.

Lily tried to move closer to James, but her limbs were tangled in her blanket. With a laugh, the pair freed her from her confines. They adjusted their position so her legs were on either side of him, and she was settled between his legs.

James was tracing lazy patterns on her arm, a dreamy expression playing across his face.

What do I do now? Does this mean he likes me, or am I going to be a conquest of some kind? No, he doesn't like like me…does he?

Doubt crept into her mind, the words were into the world before she'd even gotten a taste of them. "Potter—James, what do you want?"

"What do you mean?" James dropped his head onto her shoulder, arms loosely thrown around her.

"What do you want from me?" Lily asked, she fingered the hair at his nape.

"I don't follow," James replied, voice muffled.

"Do you want me? Not as a quick shag or—"

"A quick shag?"James's voice was eerily calm, and he stiffly straightened out, hands folded over his chest.

"Yes, I don't sleep around, I haven't—"

"I don't sleep around either, Evans," James said bluntly, hard lines drew down his body, the softness from earlier had crumbled and left only ruin.

Lily mentally berated herself. Why did I open my bloody mouth? There had been pure bliss for a fleeting moment, and she'd gone and mucked everything up.

James shifted as if to remove her entirely from his person, but Lily swiftly grabbed a hold of his shoulder and neck. She couldn't let him leave without attempting to explain herself.

"Bollocks. I've ruined it all haven't I? I didn't mean—I like you. More than I care to admit, and I want this to be more." The careful regard James had towards her melted into unbridled shock and that spurned her onwards.

Lily thumb sneakily rubbed along the length of his neck as she continued, "does that make sense? I don't want this to be casual and nonchalant, I want…I want you."

Lily's mouth was bone dry, and she averted her eyes to the coffee table beside them with their notes and materials. She locked onto her quill, the dark feather gleaming in the warm light emitting from the fireplace.

I think I made it worse. Idiot. Should have just kept my mouth shut from the beginning. We never should have stopped kissing. Can we go back to kissing? Lily's panic set as James's silence bore down on her.

James sharply barked out a laugh, and it startled Lily. Shivers ran along her spine. I've made an absolute fool of myself, I just know it. Of course he doesn't—

James's hands were on her face, which forced her to look at him. He scotched forward. Wonder permeated the air around him.

"Lily Evans. You are kidding me right? I'm in love with you. I have been for years." The words were smooth, easy and genuine. He hadn't hesitated. Lily was gobsmacked. James Potter loved her.

James must have seen her blank face as a sign of rejection, and with wide eyes he made to drop his hands. Lily caught his wrists, holding them in place.

"Years?"

"I asked you out with numerous lilies on the Quidditch pitch in third year."

"That was years ago, and then you dated Mary…and then the thing with Kira—"

"And you dated David Miller, and went on multiple dates with several other blokes," James countered.

James's tongue played with one of his canines. He opened his mouth and closed it several times before he quietly said, "besides, Mary broke up with me because even though I loved her…I was in love with you."

"What?" A cold dose of reality slapped her across the face. Lily properly digested the new information—chewing on it warily—and noticed that James was fidgeting fretfully. "You're in love with me," Lily repeated, her voice densely packed onto the walls of her throat. James nodded dumbly.

Lily surged forward—the force caused them to fall backwards onto the ground—and she found herself straddling James's hips. His hands were on her waist. She laid down so their fronts were skimming each other, and she propped herself up by her forearms on either side of his head.

"Um. Evans?" James croaked out, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed audibly.

Lily brushed her nose against his cheek, trailing small kisses across his skin. He shuddered beneath her, his fingers digging into her flesh. Her lips sought out his, and she languidly kissed him. One of her hands toyed with his ear.

James Potter loved her.

Lily lost herself in their kiss. Lily didn't tell him then, but she realised she'd probably been in love with him for years too; she'd just never dared to let herself admit it.