Late. Again. Fuck.

Pitter-patter went the misty Monday morning, the light drizzle immersing the rest of the castle and I in a sleepy, subdued spell. Well, mostly me.

As my vision slowly came into focus, I glanced lazily at the bedside clock mid-yawn, soon mid-panic attack.

9:14.

Crap.

I was late.

Again.

Whose genius idea was it to have Potions first thing Monday morning anyways? I thought as I threw myself out of bed in a panic.

Fuck.

Today was Felix Felicis day- the prize I'd been daydreaming and salivating over since last week's announcement. First to brew a working Polyjuice winning- I was determined to be the victor.

Well.

Had been.

I bounded out of bed knocking over the stupid clock in the process. Rubbish thing anyway, never waking me up in the mornings. I don't even know why I bother.

Okay okay okay.

No time no time no time.

Catching a glimpse of my hair in the mirror I groaned in horror as I saw the crimson halo framing my face. A flock of birds must have nested in the greasy mess over the night because bloody hell this was untameable. I spent a minute I didn't have mourning and running my fingers through the greasy mess attempting to flatten the offending sight to no avail.

9:16.

Okay, it's fine Lily.

Breathe, I reminded myself, every 6th year was a mess right now...

Right?

No one would notice that I was on 3rd-day, that's a lie, 4th-day hair and in class in my pajamas…

Right?

Well, at least my robe with it's broken and missing buttons would mostly cover it up…

Right?

As I haphazardly clawed my hair back into as much of a bun that I could manage, bird's nest and all, my feet were shoved into some old furry boots and a bit of deodorant rubbed on. Yes I know there's a spell but this is quicker.

What was next...

Right. Class.

I would need books for class. A concept, I know.

Ooh, the homework too.

Yes.

Have I mentioned I'm first in my class?

Books books books.

Desk?

I scattered some loose parchment around, knocking over a full bottle of ink. Staining my hands, papers, desk, shorts, and carpet. No time to fix any of that now though.

Shit.

But no, no textbook or 11 inches on the properties of a Bezoar.

Bag? Where the hell was my bag.

Bollocks. This was not my day.

9:18.

"Oh, fuck me," I violently shouted as I dropped down on my knees, finally remembering how I'd fallen asleep reading up on the Felix Felices potion, books, and bag scattered on my bed, now underneath.

I coughed, swallowing a cloud of dust that emerged from roughly removing my leather bag, several textbooks, and random spirals of parchment from its company of lost socks and forgotten Honeydukes wrappers from underneath my bed.

Hey, chocolate frogs are my weakness. Let a girl have a vice.

Quickly shoving everything into my bag, ignoring seams I heard popping in protest to my assault, I grabbed a crumpled robe from the pile of clothes shoved underneath my desk and ran out of my dorm. I'd conveniently forgotten that the ankle-length robe had stains from last night's stew splattered on the front.

Oh well.

Halfway down the hallway, my alarm started blaring its monotone ringing. "Now the little shit decides to work, for fuck's sake," I cursed under my breath as I shot an 'Expulso' back at the offending object. This time I wouldn't let Alice fix it.

I practically jumped down the stairs and sprinted out of the portrait entrance ignoring the Fat Lady's shills of contempt, the common room mostly empty with students either in class or still asleep.

Those lucky bastards, not having to suffer through the horror that is 9 AM NEWT potions.

Dashing through the hallways I caught sight of my fellow prefect and friend Remus, casually strolling in the hallway flipping through a novel as he always did.

Too casual actually for someone soaked to the bone and leaving a trail of water behind him and his squeaking shoes.

We both sent each other quizzical looks, our questions not needing vocalization.

"Started pouring outside during practice," he said shrugging. Practice being those infamously brutal 5-8:30 AM trainings Potter subjected his team to 4 days a week. I would never understand what sort of loyalty Potter-inspired where both Remus and Peter would watch practices nearly every morning. Rain, cold, wind, heat, hail, the boys were always there.

"Class. Bloody alarm didn't work again" I wheezed out, red-faced and sweaty.

I needed to get in shape, geez. This was embarrassing. Two minutes in and I was already winded.

"Hey maybe if you didn't blow it up every morning it might still ring?" Remus offered as I passed him. I turned my head to the side, jokingly sticking my tongue out at him, as all very mature 16-year-olds do by the way, as he turned back to his book, chuckling and shaking his head.

"Nice shorts by the way" he called out once I was far enough to not retaliate with a friendly jab or jinx. Close enough, however, to see the very kind hand gesture I thrust in response.

But by god, I had to agree. This was a bad look. Especially for a prefect. I should be respectable. A role model. Not some scraggly delinquent with a grease mop on her head, wrinkled and stained robes barely covering spaceship shorts, and a massive Beatles T-shirt adorned with holes from the wear and tear of everyday wear.

Who even wore shorts in October anyways.

Did I mention these were the robes missing several buttons and had a tear at the bottom?

So much for hiding my pajamas.

Now add onto that mess of a vision, walking into class 30 minutes late. More time for self-chastising later though. It's a good thing Slughorn adored me. Minnie would've gone mad.

I looked out into the courtyard and already saw the streams and rain puddles forming from the drizzle turned downpour.

Drat.

I had a choice. Take an extra ten minutes walking the long way- potentially get stuck on the stairs for thirty minutes again and have Potter taunt me and act like a knight in shining fucking armor again, don't ask how a 6th year still doesn't know how to navigate the stairs I am directionally challenged- to avoid the rain or just bear through it for four and get to class earlier.

9:25.

Damn, why did the Potions dungeons have to be on the opposite side of the castle.

I mean, it couldn't get any worse right?

Wrong.

Very.

Wrong.

Pulling up the hood of my robes I stomped out into the downpour and immediately knew I'd made a mistake. The raindrops soaked through the robes in a matter of seconds- so much for it being semi-waterproof. What the hell was magic for if not making these robes waterproof, there was no excuse, but I grumbled on as my legs and robe splattered with mud and grime.

Oh yeah, fur boots? Not the move by the way.

And so I trekked on, mumbling about waterproofing various items and the futility of magic to myself. You know. Like a crazy person.

A quarter way, however, the tapping of the raindrops suddenly stopped falling against my cloaked head despite the rain falling as hard and rapid as ever. Did Merlin and the Founders up above in whatever the wizard version of heaven- Valhalla, no that was Norse, Mount Ol- no that's Greek- you know what I mean though. Had they answered my prayers? Was I suddenly waterproof? Wrinkling my forehead in confusion, I looked up at the new red shadow leaning over me.

I immediately wished I hadn't.

James fucking Potter in all of his glory, looking down from his seat on his broom, hovering above me and giving me that infuriating half-grin with those infuriating dancing hazel eyes. At least his infuriating hand wasn't up infuriatingly tangled in those infuriating brown curls of his in that infuriating way he always does. It's almost as if there was an infuriating permanent Sticking Charm so that whenever we infuriatingly saw each other, his infuriating hand had to infuriatingly fly up and infuriatingly attach itself in his infuriatingly messy- not infuriatingly glorious or infuriatingly gorgeous in any way infuriating shape or form I don't know what you're talking about, how dare you accuse me and put words in my mouth, thank you very much- mop. Infuriating.

Of course in my most dreary and desperate of states, he shows up, bright red umbrella in hand no doubt, ready to save the day. Seriously, this guy has some sort of knight in shining armor complex. It's almost like he had a 'Lily-is-in-a-fucking-embarrassing-situation-that-she-would-prefer-no-one-much-less-a-greasy-toerag-such-as-yourself-to-come-running-where-yes-she-might-appear-like-she-needs-some-help-but-certainly-not-from-your-big-headed-self-thank-you-very-much-so-please-stay-away' sensor.

So yes. Hero Potter, to my rescue. Again.

Whoopee.

Lucky me.

And, might the painfully conscious part of my subconscious add, looking unfairly good in his drenched quidditch uniform and robe which I won't go into further detail about because whatever you're imagining multiply it by 10 and he still looks better.

I, on the other hand, looked like a shaved Niffler. No wait, let's take a moment to actually picture that. My sniffling nose from the cold rain paired with the wrinkled expression of displeasure on my face, the 'Potter face' as Marly referred to it, only adding to the lovely effect.

A Greek sculpture and a shaved Niffler.

What a pair.

How lovely.

Neither of us said a word for a few moments and I couldn't decide whether this was a blissful silence- as was any moment when Potter wasn't jabbing on at me- or an uncomfortable pause- - as was any moment when Potter wasn't jabbing on at me.

Leaning more towards highly awkward and uncomfortable.

I finally lowered my eyes from the top of the umbrella to meet Potter's bespeckled gaze. A gaze that sparkled and pierced my soul with the pure adoration and passion that I was determined to unwaveringly hold back with an expression of nonchalance.

But by god.

He just had that way you know? You know, that way of making a girl feel like she was the only person in the world? That he would do anything for her? Do anything to make her happy?

Take her for long walks on the beach with a picnic set-up along the way, candles, and rose petals scattered about on a plaid blanket.

Sit and rub her shoulder while she cried about everything from how that bitch Bellatrix Lestrange was spreading another nasty rumor to a two-hour rant about how m- her favorite pair of shorts had ripped.

Waking up next to her in the mornings and kissing my forehead- I mean, her forehead, saying she looked beautiful even with morning breath and a crimson mop engulfing my head.

Brewing me cinnamon hot chocolate and presenting me baskets of Honeydukes chocolate while I was on my period.

Giving me his Quidditch jersey to wear during the games where he zipped and glided through the players scoring goal after goal for Gryffindor. With a celebratory kiss following on the field as he dipped me back getting sweat and flecks of dirt all over me. It's cheesy but it's cute and it's my fucking dream okay, leave me alone.

Trying his hardest to always make me laugh and giggle around him from cracking jokes about anything and everything, to making absurd faces out of the blue.

Making my family and friends love him more than they love me, charming them as he did to the ends of the earth, all in an effort to understand and be a part of my world.

Coming up from behind when I'm walking in the hallway cramming in some last-minute reading, kissing me on the cheek and engulfing me in his strong, tanned, perfectly musc-

"Nice spaceships Evans."

...

And this is why we don't daydream about James Potter ladies. He always disappoints- as expected.

"Not today Potter," I said, rolling my eyes and proceeding to walk from underneath the temporary refuge of the cherry red umbrella.

"Lily Evans, what in Merlin's beard are you even doing out here?" Potter incredulously asked, eyes dancing with mirth.

"It was- crowded inside," I sniffed, wiping some rain off my face to quickly glare up at Potter.

"Crowded? During a class period when the halls are empty?"

"Yes," I maintained, holding my ground strong, a Potter continued to fly behind me, holding the umbrella over me which, at this point, I wouldn't protest.

"It isn't because of the stairs is it?"

I scoffed and crossed my arms in response, sometimes it literally felt like he was reading my mind and I hated him all the more for it. "Of course not."

"Of course not," he mockingly agreed.

"I didn't need your help by the way," I retorted before I could help myself, still unsettled by how atypically kind he was last week and the feeling he'd left me with.

Late for class- I know this is starting to sound like a pattern but I'm really not that bad- I took the shortcut behind the tapestry and in my haste forgot to jump the trick step that Alice always forgot. You see it's usually not that bad as you either have the strength to just pull yourself out, have friends around to help pull you out, or your wand to magic your way out of it.

Now here was the problem.

My arms would honestly be better compared to noodles than as a vehicle to pull me out of these steps. So option one? A no go.

I was rushing to class several minutes late using a shortcut only Gryffindors knew about in an area no one really came to unless they were going to and from the common room. Now, seeing that classes had only just started and were continuous until dinnertime and then again no one really used this passageway too often, there probably wouldn't be anyone coming anytime soon. Existential and slightly morbid? Perhaps. True and valid? Undeniably so. So option two? Maybe after I'm already dead and gone they'll stumble upon my remains here.

So three, my wand which had clattered a few steps back along with my assortment of other books and papers currently still fluttering down the steps, seemed to be my only remaining choice.

And so I tried, in vain, reaching back for my wand letting out several frustrated grunts in the process and just when I thought I was close, I knocked it back another step. So option three? Shattered.

Stupidly, as initially I was only stuck up to my calf, I started wriggling around trying to get out and only succeeded in sinking it further into my mid-thigh. And so to console myself, I slammed my palms on the staircase like a toddler throwing a tantrum and spewed a few colorful swears, specifically addressed to Godric for doing this to me, and then sat there, one leg stuck, just waiting for something to happen. I even contemplated just shuffling about a bit more until I suffocated and ended my misery.

I even started crying at one point. Not about my leg but about how embarrassing it would be for some random person to find me and thinking about the worst-case scenarios. Crying, which I quickly stopped when I heard the rustling of the tapestry being pushed aside. Thank god I was saved.

Not.

In came Potter and some girl, a Ravenclaw from her tie. This would be just my luck, wouldn't it. No, I'd rather stay stuck in this staircase than have Potter save the day again. I promised last month's seventeenth Potter rescue mission, as he'd reminded me, would be the last and I meant it. So I crouched down and tried to conceal myself on the winding staircase as best as possible which was really no use as if anyone took a second to look up my sorry ass would be completely visible.

"Look, Penny, I really think you have the wrong idea here, I'm not-"

"Oh shut up Potter, kiss me," the blond aggressively demanded, pushing her body up against Potter's on the wall.

Oh my god. I could feel my face heating up. This was quite possibly the worst fucking moment of my life. Not me sitting here about to watch this fuckery. No no no.

"I really don't-"

"Fine then," she giggled, and yanked Potter's gangly frame down, and, from what I could see, swallowed his face.

I physically fought to keep the snort in as I watched him struggle to try to escape. Oh Godric, was that her tongue, why was it out- Jesus what no.

Potter, who had been previously struggling with his hands up and eyes widened in shock, broke her grip on his neck and stood back up again, a trail of their combined spit trailing from his lips. Again, the snort and now throw up had to be physically contained.

She, apparently, had not received the message that I, even from back here, had clearly received and giggled saying, "James, that was so hot. I knew you'd be a good kisser."

"Penny, I hate to-" he started as Penny's hands flew to his belt buckled, and started to rapidly undo it which is where my listening and viewing of this encounter ended as I shoved my fingers in my ears and looked away in horror.

I really was about to watch two horny bastards- well one horny person and one bastard- fuck in a staircase. As if this couldn't get any worse.

I had to say something, I couldn't just sit here, no.

"What the fuck?" I suddenly heard her screech out of the blue which I rapidly turned back to look at. Safe to say, they were definitely not fucking. Coast was clear.

"I'm really sorry but I'm just not into this sort of thing."

"Are you calling me a whore?"

"What? No! No, you're, you're great. I- I bad. I'm bad I mean."

"I like bad," she seductively said pushing up against him again which he sidestepped out of, and said, "No, Penny, I'm sorry. It's just not a good time."

"Later tonight then?"

"Look, Penny, you're so pretty and I'm sure any other guy would totally take you up on that but I still have feelings for someone else."

"Reyna," Penny grumbled out.

"N-, um yes Reyna," Potter mumbled out.

"Is it not Reyna?" Penny said having caught onto Potter's stumble.

"No of course it's her, who else."

"Well, it could still be that prefect-"

"No-"

"-but anyways, you dumped Reyna. Why do you still have feelings for her?"

"It's complicated."

"Well I'm not," she coyly said, running her fingers up his arm which he slightly grimaced at in response. In my physical shudder at the sheer cringiness of this conversation, my foot slipped, making a loud squeak against the stone. Fuck, I was done for now.

Potter's eyes flew up and only met with mine for a moment before winking and grabbing Penny as she was turning around asking, "What was that so-?" He hesitated for a second and kissed her to stop her which she eagerly reciprocated. After a few minutes of painful smacking and way too much visible tongue- on Penny's part, Potter detached himself and said, straightening his clothes, "Look I really have to go to class Penny."

"Okay," she giggled out, and shouted back, "See you later, Jamsie," before leaving the way she came in with a look of pure joy on her face.

At this point, my face was buried in my hands, already knowing what was coming. Number eighteen.

"Jesus Evans," Potter exclaimed as he approached me. "Do you know how hard I've been trying to get her off my back for the past few days? You've mucked it all up now haven't you."

"I didn't ask you to kiss her," I exasperatedly retorted.

"Oh, so I should've just had her turn around and find you sitting there watching us?"

"I- are you going to help me or not Potter," I snapped, looking up at him now towering over me.

He just chuckled and, ignoring my outstretched hand, gripped me from under my armpits and with ease practically lifted me from the staircase."Thanks," I mumbled before nearly stumbling to my death as my entire left leg was asleep and cramping.

Which again, Potter caught me from. "Nineteen," we both said in unison, him with a shit-eating grin and mine with the enthusiasm of Professor Binns' 6th-year sex ed week last month. Yeah I know, ask me about it some other time.

He helped me sit down and watched as I winced in pain- cramps are no joke, especially when they're full leg.

"Ah fuck," I groaned.

"What what what," he asked, still gripping onto my arm, voice full of worry.

All animosity was forgotten as my calf muscle seized up and sent waves of immense pain throughout me. "My calf, cramp, Godric fucking hell."

"Oh this happens sometimes after Quidditch practice after the other Chasers and I try out some new formations and drills-"

"I swear to Godric Potter if you say one more word about Quidditch I'll fucking strangle you."

"Right, sorry, hmm try to walk on it?"

"Are you mad, I almost just died."

"Well maybe just sit and let it pass?"

"Helpful, really helpful Potter."

"Oh wait no, this helps," he announced and before I knew it, he rolled my knee-length socks down and started massaging my convulsing calf.

"Potter, what the-" I started protesting as it only made me seize up even more, but even after a moment I could feel it slowly relaxing.

Pain or shame I contemplated.

And, coward I was, I chose shame and let Potter keep doing whatever he was doing, gasping in pain ever so often and stiffly nodding every time he asked if I was okay.

"Well, if this isn't some kinky bullshit," I heard an unfortunately familiar voice interject.

"Sirius, you're being rude," a fortunately familiar voice chastised.

"Nice one Prongs," the last of the bunch squeaked.

"Boys," I gritted through a fake smile.

"Lily," they responded in unison in a similarly false cheerful tone.

"Skipping class I see," I asked.

"Participating in foreplay and skipping class I see," Sirius retorted back, causing me to immediately pull my leg back, almost completely better now and my face to flame up even more.

"In a public area too," Peter added.

"Aren't you supposed to be a Prefect as well?" Sirius asked

"An example?"

"A role model?"

"What about the kids," Remus also chimed in with a grin, before adding in a quick, "Sorry Lily, had to."

"Don't ever apologize for a good punch at prissy prefect Moony," Sirius solemnly told him.

"Right," Remus said with an eye roll.

"Well, I'd love to stick around, exchange pleasantries, let Jamie here continue this new journey you've embarked on but we have solemn matters of business, swear we're up to all good here Evans."

"You mean no good," Peter added in with a squeak.

"Idiots, I hang around idiots," Remus muttered, looking at me for help.

"Well, catch you later then," James quickly said, dashing after his friends.

"Thanks," I hesitantly said, just as he opened the tapestry to leave.

He turned around and stared at me in shock for a bit, this was the first time I'd actually thanked him for saving me like a damsel in distress.

"Anytime," he simply said with a warm grin, continuing his gaze unwaveringly.

Sirius popped his head back in and scowled at Potter then teasing, "Right, well once you two have finished eye fucking each other, we've really got to go."

"Asshole," I heard Potter exclaim as he was yanked out from the tapestry and Sirius yelp in pain, "You're such an asshole."

"Language," a wry voice responded farther in the distance.

"How kind of our resident prefect to remind us. Thank you Moony. You make suc-," Sirius began responding before the boys were too far away for me to hear them anymore.

And so here I was today, in the present, at number twenty.

"Of course not," he repeated at my claim that I didn't need help that day.

"Are you following me or something?" I quickly demanded, my eyes narrowed.

"Stopped that years back."

"Oh, so you just happened to be out here in the rain, with an umbrella in tow."

"Flying in the rain helps me think," he simply shrugged back.

"Right, that's surprising-"

"The flying or the thinking?"

"The thinking has never been obvious to me."

"I'm not the one walking in a downpour without an umbrella here."

"This was very thought out."

"Not well obviously. Furry boots?" he asked, gesturing down at my sodden footwear.

"I- touche Potter."

"The umbrella then?"

In response, he just grinned and slightly shook the umbrella turning it back into his wand then back again before much rain hit me.

Show off. I could barely change a beetle into a button and there he was transfiguring his wand with ease. Out of all of my subjects, Transfiguration was the singular thing that I could not wrap my mind around.

I huffed and stomped on faster, blushing in slight embarrassment. Why in the world did James Potter always have to see me like this? Of all the times he had to see me scantily clad- not that I ever wanted him to see me scantily clad- it had to be this way. Not that I cared either of course.

"Ah come on Evans, I'm just trying to lighten the mood," he said whilst flashing his trademark grin at me. The grin that would have left any other girl giggling and defenseless- not Lily Evans though. I wouldn't fall for his tricks.

"Potter, I don't have time for your shoddy attempts at banter or flirting, I'm about to be 30 minutes late to class." I snarled out, hoping that would be enough to get him off my back.

"Aw old Sluggy won't mind, you're his star."

"Well, I'll have you know- aw fuck it," I groaned as I felt a rush of water run into my fur boot as I stepped into a sinkhole.

Damn sinkholes, damn rain, and damn Potter for distracting me. I had to walk on.

Squelch, squelch, squelch. I winced at the offending sounds of my boots but I had to carry on.

Halfway to go.

Suddenly James Potter flew in front of me, his broomstick tilted down and level with my chest as he extended his free hand towards me saying, "Come on."

"What the fuck Potter," I said as I attempted to sidestep him.

"Come on Evans, I know how much you want to win that Felix Felices. With Sluggy's pace he's probably almost done droning on about the potions properties and people are getting started," he urgently said shaking his arm, gesturing for me to get on.

The angel and devil appeared on either side of my shoulder as they always did in my Potter interactions.

A: Are you really going to do this? Get on Potter's broomstick?

D: You wish you were really getting on that Broomstick.

A & L: Shut up.

D: Just telling the truth here, don't shoot the messenger. Kill the host.

L: Yeah you're right, I should just go jump in the Great Lake and end this.

A: You know, that James Potter isn't half-bad anymore.

D: Fucking finally!

L: Oh god, not you too.

A: I'm just saying. He's really grown Lily, saved you twenty times now too.

D: Yes Lilyflower, why don't you properly thank the man.

L: Oh fuck me, bloody hell.

D: Good practice dear. Try a bit more sensual and you're golden.

"Evans?" James asked, waving a hand in front of my face.

"We never speak of this," I mumbled grumpily as I took his hand and hopped onto the broom behind him as he transfigured the bright umbrella back into his wand.

James Potter, on the other hand, was grinning ear to ear. One of his life's goals, 'get Lily Evans up on a broom with me,' was finally accomplished. Well, it was only for a minute to get to the other side of the courtyard, but still. It was a start. After 6 years of ignoring, fighting, and rejections, this was a victorious moment for him. One that he would spend hours retelling to his mates in their dorms later in the evening until they pummeled him to silence with pillows.

I tensely put my bag in between us and gingerly placed one arm around his waist.

"You might want to hold on tighter than that Evans, this is a new model it's-"

"I know, I heard about how fast and amazing and 'Oh my god Sirius it's my most prized possession I have to go polish it again.'"

"I do not-" he protested, turning back to look at me.

"Do so, and also time is ticking."

"Not until you hold on tighter, safety precaution Evans."

"More like your perverted desires Potter."

"More like I saw you in Flying class first year and had to bring you down from that tower you refused to-"

"Stop stop stop, no don't remind me, fine, I get it. I'm a shit flyer," I shouted, beet red at the very thought of that event. I wrapped both arms around his waist and scooted a bit closer, still not touching, mind you, "Happy now?"

"Very," he smugly said, his smirk audible.

"You bas-" I began before we were off and I immediately ate my words as I tightened my grip making it vicelike and essentially made us into one mass with how closely I clung to him.

Who the hell thought flying broomsticks was a good idea, this was my own personalized torture.

Hyperventilating slightly, Potter's distinctive smell mixed with… oranges? Helped calm me a bit as I buried my face into his back so I didn't have to see the blurring ground beneath us.

"Hey Lily, you can let go of me now," he suddenly said, voice full of mirth.

I slowly opened my eyes to see that we were already under the awning of the staircase directly leading to the potions classroom and quickly released my grip on him and scooted back.

He didn't say a word but I could practically read his thoughts, perverted and smug.

Embarrassed and late, but mostly embarrassed I jumped off too quickly and like the broomstick version of sealegs- broomlegs?- immediately collapsed and now was wet and muddy. Lovely.

He jumped right off his broom, landing perfectly I might add, just to rub it in my face of course, and offered his hand which I waved off after seeing his body shaking from laughter he was failing to conceal.

Without looking at Potter's face or saying a word, I quickly stumbled into the hallway, and before going down the steps, awkwardly turned back around to say thank you only to be met with a face full of thick black and red fabric.

Recovering from the shock and spluttering ready to give Potter an earful, I looked and saw that he'd just thrown me a red jumper and robes.

"I-," I started ready to decline the kind gesture and hand the robes back, but he just shook his head and said, "You're shaking in those ridiculous fur boots of yours Evans, you know how cold the dungeon is."

I opened and then proceeded to close my mouth, not knowing what to say.

He gave me a smile, atypical of his confident, cocky smirk, but an almost shy grin, and looked like he wanted to say something but flew off shaking his head instead.

After standing there for a few moments, speechless. Did James Potter do something kind for me? No tricks, no pranks? This didn't have tickling powder sprinkled all over it right? Love potion? Jinxed? Cursed?

They were in fact, still warm and dry, Potter must have his bag charmed, and smelled just like him. I quickly changed in a near broom cupboard and got dressed in the ridiculously oversized but cozy getup and tried my best to roll up the pants legs that were several inches too long.

6'3 and muscled did not translate well into clothing 5'7 and puny.

I marched down the stairs, only nearly tripping twice over the unraveling sweatpants, not noticing that I was missing something crucial.

Not from Future Lily: A critical mistake bitch.

I opened the door to the Potions dungeons and was met with the gaze of all 32 students and Slughorn. I could feel Severus' eyes boring into me, demanding answers from me but, after last year, he wasn't party to my life. He'd have to continue on wondering. Sirius' eyes widened and he snorted, his lips twitching ready to relay some snide comment when I took my place behind him.

"Ah, my star pupil, Lily, such a re-" Professor Slughorn began, but I didn't hear much else as I took my seat next to Alice.

Alice, as sweet as she was, still examined at my curious appearance and whispered whilst sliding her notes over for me to copy and cauldron to share, "Should I even ask?"

"Evans, a bit early in the morning for that isn't it?" Black whispered, leaning back so that his chair was resting on my table.

"Oh sod off," I retorted, pushing him back into his place much to his and Peter's amusement.

Turning back to Alice, "It's a long st-" I breathed out, but the long story turned short as all eyes turned to the entrance once again as one bespeckled Gryffindor stood there awkwardly, my bag in hand.

Most inaccurately made the connection of my being 30 minutes late, messy hair, wearing what was obviously boy's clothing, and now a breathless James Potter with my bag in hand, with the obvious.

The room fell into hushed murmurs but I still caught a few key phrases repeated over and over again, "Merlin, they're finally shagging" and "That bitch" being the most prominent.

I wasn't sure what was more offensive.

After scanning the room and finally finding me in the 3rd row, he walked towards me with his typical Potter stride of confidence with a grin and greeted Slughorn with a quick, "Professor" and a nod of the head. He mouthed something to an incredulous Black and Peter who were looking between Potter and I like two aliens. I groaned and lowered my head in shame.

Slughorn, ever the power-loving suck-up, bless him, beamed at the Potion Prodigy turned Head Auror's son and jubilantly exclaimed, "Oh dear James, how wonderful to see you again," and noticing my getting up to meet Potter halfway for my bad said, "and how kind of you James to deliver your bag, Ms. Evans."

The Potion Prodigy part we'd discovered in year 4 much to Potter's chagrin and Black's delight and was still a running joke to this day.

Hearing no response from me, as I glowered at James, he continued beaming "Ms. Evans, perhaps you should invite Mr. Potter to our next gathering as you two seem to have grown so fond of each other," lost in his dreams of getting the ever more influential Fleamont Potter in his pocket, perhaps some free Slezeaky's as well, unaware of how untrue his words were.

"Oh sure Professor," I said through gritted teeth, not even aware of what I was agreeing to, forcing a bright smile and avoiding Potter's gaze as he handed me my bag, slightly brushing up against my hand.

"You left it o-" he began whispering before I hissed back under my breath, very aware of all the looks, "Yeah I know, I know, please just go." Potter nodded and as he walked back out, sent a roguish grin my way making my heart go into flutters again and Severus snap his quill in half.

It almost made this whole mortifying experience worth it. Almost.

Heart flutters that quickly subsided when I reminded myself that this was all just a new act for Potter.

His kindness and maturity, strange and as genuine as it seemed, wouldn't last for much longer. He'd be back to pantsing Slytherins and turning hallways into swamps in no time.

I was not, nope, I'm not even going to say it.

All I knew was that my life was going to be significantly more interesting from this point on.

AN: Author's Note: Hey all! This is my first go at writing fanfic, first go at creative writing really. So I'd really appreciate any feedback- criticism, praise- anything you throw at my way! I'm just trying to create a lighthearted Jily fic since they're my favorite type to read haha. Hope y'all enjoy!