For the Quidditch League Fanfiction Competition, Quarterfinals

Position: Seeker

Team: Chudley Cannons

Prompt: Write about someone [James Potter] being comfortable in their own skin.

For Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry,

Assignment #7, Transfiguration, Task #2: Untransfiguration - Write about someone trying to undo/make right a mistake.

Note: This is a bit of an AU

Word count: 2127

Loads of thanks to .13, FiretheCanon, hannahsoapy and insertcleverandwittytitlehere for being wonderful betas!

True Colours

1974

"Hey, James, I heard you got a new Cleansweep Seven Hundred over the summer. Is that right?"

There was a gasp. "What? The Cleansweep 700 that everyone's been going crazy about?"

"That's so cool! Will you give us a ride, James, please?"

"You better keep an eye on that broom, mate," Sirius chuckled. The two of them were making their way to the Gryffindor Common Room, only to be bombarded by enthusiastic second years.

"You're right," said James. To his relief, a professor with beady grey eyes James vaguely recognised as Professor Spindle, the Muggle Studies teacher. She looked annoyed at the crowd, then shook her head and began to shuffle the younger students into the nearest classroom.

"Good riddance," said Sirius, as he and James resumed their walk down the corridor. "You're still thinking of trying out for Chaser, aren't you?"

"Of course," said James, grinning. "I've wanted to be on the team since first year, and I wouldn't want to waste such a good broom, would I?"

"I guess not," Sirius replied. "Have they put up the schedule, then?"

"Next Friday. The Chaser tryouts are after lunch."

"Is Evans going to try out, too?" Sirius then asked, a knowing twinkle in his eye.

James rolled his own. "She isn't; I know that for sure," he said. "But I only hope Snivellus won't. Things are bad enough as it is, and I don't think Lily would like it if we try to kill each other during matches."

"He'd better not, then," replied Sirius wisely. "But this is going to be a good chance for you to get Evans to go out with you, eh, James? Show her how you're better than old Snape?"

The bespectacled boy grinned mischievously, but then his eyes widened. Lily Evans had just appeared round the corner, talking to a couple of girls James recognised as Mary and Alice.

"Er — hi, Lily," James stuttered. Lily looked surprised but smiled at him nevertheless. The other two girls giggled, which made Sirius roll his eyes, but James thought his day was off to a pretty good start.

"GRYFFINDOR WINS TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY TO EIGHTY!"

The Gryffindors, most of them draped in bright scarlet and gold scarves, rosettes and hats, leapt to their feet and hollered at the top of their voices. James Potter gave a whoop of joy as he hopped off his broom and was engulfed in a large hug by his teammates. Sirius, Remus and Peter came down from the stands to join in.

James felt almost dizzy with happiness. He'd won his first Quidditch match, and against Slytherin at that! He had to see Lily and ask her if she'd liked the game.

Ten minutes later, he had extricated himself from his house and teammates. The stands were almost vacant, as most of the students had gone to the Common Room for a small celebration of sorts. Lily must have gone as well.

Only, he walked into the Great Hall to find her standing with Snape in the doorway. She was speaking softly, and Snape looked upset about something.

Of course, James thought bitterly, Snape's House just lost, didn't it? Lily's comforting him instead of celebrating the victory of her own House.

It was all very trivial, he knew, but some part of his mind had thought Lily would be waiting for him in the Common Room. She'd beam at him and tell him how impressed she was by his Chasing ability, and that she was very proud of him. Of course, he should've known that was preposterous.

"What did Evans say?" was the first thing Sirius asked when James plopped himself down in the armchair next to the fireplace.

"She was talking to Snape," James deadpanned, his expression completely unlike any of his Housemates'.

"Lily Evans?" asked Peter, obviously unaware of the situation. "What about her?"

Sirius snorted. "James fancies her," he said.

Peter looked from him to James curiously. "Since when?"

"End of last year," replied James morosely, picking at a loose bit of yarn sticking out of his jumper.

"Well, tough luck," said Peter. "I think Snape fancies her, too. He always looks like a lost puppy when she's not around."

"Snape's nothing but a pesky little slimeball," Sirius said. "But don't you worry, mate. Evans is going to realise that soon enough. Besides, you're obviously far better than Snivellus."

1975

You're obviously far better than Snivellus.

Sirius' words had stuck in James' mind. And Sirius had been right. James was better — better-looking, good at Quidditch and smarter. He only needed to make the effort and prove that to Lily.

The only problem was, his efforts seemed to be going wrong somewhere, because everyone but Lily knew that he was the coolest boy in the school now. Since last year, nobody dared cross him, and everyone was absolutely in awe of his Quidditch and flying skills. He would walk out of the changing rooms in his gear, holding his Cleansweep, and everyone would be cheering his name louder than they did when he was on the pitch. He would sit near the Black Lake with Sirius, Remus and Peter, and girls would keep sneaking covetous glances at him.

And on one of his trips to Quality Quidditch Supplies last year, he'd gotten himself a Snitch. He wasn't a Seeker, but everyone seemed to think it was wonderful to see him play around with it. James did not mind one bit the additional admiration it brought him. Even though he knew deep, deep down that it was incredibly weird trying to be someone he was not. He had never been like this.

But, oh well, the change in his attitude didn't hurt anybody. And it could even make Lily fancy him.

Only the girl in question remained completely indifferent.

He would make sure to run his fingers through his hair every time she was around to look as though he'd just gotten off a broom, and fiddle with his Snitch even more, and compliment her every chance he got. She'd give him a blank, uninterested look and sometimes a courteous, "thank you, Potter," and walk away.

"Don't worry, she'll come around in no time," his friends would say every time she walked past them without so much as a backward glance.

Lily was heartbroken when Snape called her a Mudblood. Clearly, that was what he thought of her. A filthy Muggle-born, not unlike the ones his Death Eater wannabe friends liked to bother and make fun of. She had no idea why he'd hung around with her for so long, why he'd even approached her the first time in that playground six years ago. She'd given up her relationship with her sister — probably for life — for a disgusting person like him.

Even if he came back to say he hadn't meant to call her that, she wouldn't forgive him. After all, he called others of her kind Mudbloods, so she couldn't be any different, could she?

"Evans?"

Lily looked up with a start to find James in his Quidditch robes, standing some distance away from her. Like usual lately, his hair looked messy and flyaway, and Lily rather thought she'd never wanted anyone's company less.

"I'd like to be left alone right now, Potter," she said curtly, wiping her eyes and looking away. He scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Listen, I'm sorry about — "

"You don't need to apologise," Lily replied carelessly, thinking something more along the lines of 'I don't want an apology from an arrogant toerag like you.' "I'd like it if you let me be, Potter."

"Are you s—?"

"Honestly, yes."

James looked as though he wanted to say more, but he shrugged and disappeared around the corner. Lily sighed in relief and hugged her knees to her chest.

"Lily still won't talk to you?" A fellow Gryffindor, Dorcas Meadowes, asked a few days after the incident. They both had just had practice with the Gryffindor team, and now they were returning to the Common Room together.

James sighed and shook his head.

"She was probably upset because Snape called her — that word, I think," Dorcas said

"I've tried talking to her," James replied. "She's been like this the whole year. Like she can't stand the sight of me."

"I'm sure it's not like that. She's always liked you — more or less. She even said she thought you were 'wonderful' in Defence that one time in third year, remember? We were all there."

"Yeah, but she's changed now. She hates me."

Dorcas was quiet for a while, then she said, "Well, you've changed, too."

James blinked in surprise and looked at his friend in puzzlement. Dorcas just shrugged.

"What do you mean?" James asked.

"Well, you've become sort of — strange. Like I've seen you ruffle your hair when there are girls around or play around with that Snitch of yours. You weren't like that before. It's like you're trying very hard to look cool and attractive. It is working, but not in the way I think you'd want it to."

Dorcas had a wary look in her eyes, anxious that James would be annoyed with her. But James knew she was right. He had taken Sirius' words far too seriously, and in his mission to prove himself 'far better than Snivellus' and impress Lily, he'd stopped being himself and driven her away.

"You're right," James said. "I've botched everything up, haven't I?"

"Well, there's still time," Dorcas said with a small, encouraging smile. "Lily's been really down lately, she could use a good friend."

James considered her words.

"Thanks, Dorcas," he said, nodding earnestly.

Lily was surprised, albeit pleasantly so, at the stark change in James' behaviour over the next month. Somehow, he had stopped flexing his Quidditch skills. It was like he had gone back to his old self. He was no more a pretentious, overconfident brat, but the mostly sweet boy Lily had known previously. He still had his flaws, of course, like calling Snape 'Snivellus', but Lily honestly could not bring herself to care about it anymore.

So when he approached her some days later with a sheepish look on his face and apologies pouring forth, Lily had to give in.

"It's all right, James," she had said warmly, squeezing his hand. "And I'm being completely honest. I forgive you."

"Er, thanks," he'd muttered.

Lily knew he had fancied her for a long time now. Everyone seemed to know about it. Her Housemates even asked her every now and then if he'd asked her out yet. Although Lily didn't know if she fancied him back, she'd wondered about it as well.

A few days before they were set to go home for the summer, she asked James.

"Why haven't you asked me out yet?"

James' neck and ears had turned pink, but he did not stutter.

"I don't think it's time yet," he replied. "I need you to be sure that you can trust me completely. That I won't let you down like I did this year by being an utter brat. There's still time, isn't there?"

Lily could only blink.

1977

James didn't ask her out until a year and a half later, the evening before their first Hogsmeade trip of their seventh year.

She was studying in the Common Room by herself when James came back from Quidditch practice, looking adorably dishevelled — but not in the snobbish way anymore.

"He-llo, Lily," he said cheerily, sitting down next to her.

"Hi," said Lily, her stomach doing weird somersaults at the smile he was giving her. "How was practice?"

"The usual," James replied, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

"It's Hogsmeade weekend tomorrow," James then said.

Lily frowned. "Yes, and?"

James looked flustered, and he scratched the back of his neck.

"I was thinking," he said, "if you want to go with me? You know, like, on a date?"

Lily's eyes widened as she stared at him.

"Are you asking me out?"

James chuckled nervously.

"Er, yeah."

Lily giggled at the look on his face and threw her arms around him.

James had been nothing but wonderful to her ever since the end of their fifth year. He'd gone back to being himself and she liked him so much more that way. She remembered what he'd said — that he wanted her to be sure that he wouldn't go back to being a prat. And she was sure now. Moreover, she had begun to realise that having James as her friend was lovely, but she'd wouldn't mind it one bit if he asked to be more. In fact, she was sure she fancied him back.

"Of course I'll go with you."