A/N: Hi all! long time, no write.
Anything you don't recognize is created by me!
DISCLAIMER: I still love Harry Potter, but I recognize it's flaws, I will do my best to avoid such stereotyping and implicit prejudice in my own work. I do not share the opinions of the original author, She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Her opinions are based in hatred and ignorance. If you think as she does, kindly fuck off.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter. I got a bout of inspiration after watching approx. 100 marauders supercuts/music video edits on youtube.
If you're ever curious how I imagine these characters please let me know! I'd love to share how I'm seeing them. Some of my "fancasts" are pretty standard, and some aren't

The next chapter will be returning to Nora's POV!
I hope you all stick around!

Lily

It was slow at first. The way Lily's feelings changed. With each passing day she found herself far less annoyed and more amused. Then that amusement shifted. It wasn't quite excitement, but she would look forward to seeing him-even at a distance. She looked forward to their rounds, when it was just the two of them going through the dark castle. She had begun to relax around him, enjoying his company. She wasn't sure why, but she also found herself holding back from telling her friends. She was sure they would tease her but ultimately support her feelings-whatever they were. Regardless, she kept them to herself, kept him to herself.

James had been a constant in her life since day one at Hogwarts. They'd first met on the train all those years ago and she'd found herself disliking him rather instantly. As time went on she only seemed to find more and more reasons to dislike him. While his constant bullying of Severus had been the primary point of tension for years, there were other things. He was annoyingly clever. Where others had to work and study, he simply did. He was a natural at magic and despite never seeing him actually do his homework, he always seemed to get top marks. It was a constant effort on Lily's part to remain top of her class. Everything seemed to come so easy to him. It certainly didn't help that he was handsome and charming, it seemed almost as if the world were built to his benefit.

The first time he'd asked her out she nearly choked. Quite literally, she'd been drinking some juice when he sauntered over and asked her. She had a sore throat for a week after. Lily had avoided him as much as she possibly could after that. She had no idea whether or not he was serious. Between nearly dying and Severus' reaction to the whole thing, she wanted it to never happen again. But it did. It began to happen more frequently, and in increasingly inappropriate moments. Every time he did, she quickly dismissed it. Lily had no interest in dating him (so she told herself) or even entertaining the thought. She didn't like him, but things changed.

Lily found herself now spending time with him in between classes and during their Head duties. He'd offered to help her with her Transfiguration, even as he hastily insisted she didn't need it. She offered to look over his Quidditch plays, helping to suss out the weak points where the other team could get an advantage. She found him funny and smart, not that he hadn't always been but now she wasn't irritated by it. Lily felt determined to keep her feelings strictly professional, or friendly, at least. Every time she found her mind wandering, it was put to rest by a small voice in the back of her mind.

Was he trying to make me look like a fool?

"You alright? Lily?" A hand suddenly waved in front of her face, startling her from her thoughts. Lily looked around her quickly, gathering her bearings.

"Yeah?" Her eyes landed on Dorcas, who was sitting across from her. Dorcas gave her a pointed look and gestured to their homework.

"It was your idea to study." Dorcas chuckled. "I would have been just as happy doing nothing."

"Sorry, I'm just feeling a bit out of it." She shifted in her seat and picked up her quill, trying to remember what she'd been writing.

"When was the last time you took a break?"

"Who has time for that?" Lily scoffed, returning to her Ancient Runes translation.

"You have to take a break every now and then. Otherwise you're going to burn out, and then you'll probably die...that would really suck."

"I'm not going to die!" Lily looked across the table, trying to keep her voice down to avoid the anger of Madam Pince.

Dorcas just shook her head and flipped the page of the textbook she was reading. As she refocused, Lily couldn't help but study her. Her friendship with Dorcas had not blossomed as naturally or easily as her friendship with Marlene and Alice. Dorcas had always had a sort of quiet fury about her, her eyes intense and curious. It seemed she could undo a person with just a look. Lily, even at age eleven, has found her intimidating. Dorcas had seemed much older when they first met. Once Marlene had broken down her walls, Lily quickly attempted to befriend her but Dorcas held back from her. They toed the line of friendship and acquaintances until part way through fourth year. Though Marlene was by and large Dorcas' best friend, she and Lily were close. They understood each other in a way the rest of the girls didn't. They had family troubles around the fact they were witches. Mary, also a Muggle-born, was cherished by her family. They found it thrilling. While Lily's parents loved and supported her, they did not understand her and as for her sister...well, it was complicated. Dorcas understood that. And though she had never liked Severus, Dorcas understood her friendship with him the most of anyone.

"Lily? You're staring at me."

"Sorry."

"Come on," Dorcas shut her book. "We're taking a break."

"I can't, I've still got so much-"

"No arguments." Dorcas got to her feet and gave Lily a threatening look. With a deep sigh, she obliged, following Dorcas out of the library. They headed out into the cool autumn air. It was nearly Halloween and it seemed all the warm days were officially behind them.

Despite the chill, the fresh air did her good. They walked through the courtyard, coming to a thick wall that overlooked a rather steep cliff, giving a rather amazing view of the grounds. Dorcas causally climbed atop the wall, dangling her feet over the edge. Not one for heights, Lily simply leaned against the wall, looking around the courtyard. They were quiet for a moment, listening to a bird that flew overhead.

"So, what's on your mind?" Dorcas asked suddenly, her tone just slightly too casual.

"Nothing-" Lily paused and looked down at her hands. "Nothing, just thinking about things, you know?"

"Sure." Dorcas looked down for a moment before shifting so she could see Lily, one leg still hanging over the edge. "What kinds of things?

"Things like…" Lily fished for a cover, but her brain seemed to betray her. She came up with no viable excuse. She knew she couldn't pass it off as school work or Head duties, Dorcas would see right through that. With a sigh she admitted, "James Potter." Lily peeked over at her friend, expecting her to be laughing or rolling her eyes or...instead, Dorcas simply nodded and looked at her with her intense eyes.

"I figured as much."

"You did?"

"You're not the most subtle person, Lily." This time she did smile, but there was no ridicule or judgement behind it.

"I don't like him." Lily said defiantly.

"Yes you do." Dorcas said calmly. "There's nothing wrong with it, you know."

"I feel like such an idiot-a hypocrite." Lily sighed. "He was always such a bully, just because he could be. The way he treated Sev-Snape...there was no reason for it, no excuse."

"What he did was wrong and nothing changes that...but he's grown up a lot. He's not that same arrogant kid." Dorcas hesitated before saying, "I think he was jealous."

"Jealous of what?"

"Snape. I mean, think about it. Snape was your best friend for years and Potter has always liked you...Snape got to hang out with you and know you...I think Potter was just jealous because he couldn't figure out why you liked Snape." Dorcas shrugged. "I don't think it helped that Snape kept spreading rumors around, insisting something was off with Lupin."

"He saved Severus' life, you know?" Lily frowned. " Sev always said Potter was just trying to save his own skin, but…whatever happened was serious."

"He asked me once why you hated him so much."

"Who, Potter?"

"Yeah, it was sometime last year. He was helping me with some Transfiguration work...He has been a complete ass on more than one occasion, but I think...he's not so bad."

Lily smiled slightly, "I think you're right."

"Is that such a bad thing?" Dorcas' eyes hadn't left her face. "I know you, Lily, and I know that you need to hear this. It is okay for you like James Potter. It always has been."

Lily looked at her hands, digesting those words. "I keep thinking...I don't know, it's stupid really."

"Tell me."

"It just feels like I'm betraying Severus, by admitting I like James. He was always so...angry and jealous of him. He hated that James was a star quidditch player, that he was popular, and talented. And, Sev had every right to hate James for how he treated him but...I think it drove him crazy because, maybe, he knew I'd always had a crush on James. I never admitted it to anyone, not even myself but, even when I hated him, I liked him. I felt-feel so guilty for feeling this way." She sucked in a sharp breath and blinked quickly, trying to prevent any tears from falling.

"How you feel is not a betrayal. You always stood up for Snape and now...you aren't even friends. I know that doesn't make you feel any better, but you were a good friend to him, despite everything."

Lily just shook her head, trying to clear her eyes. She let out a breathy laugh, "God, for all I know James doesn't even like me! I might be making a big deal over nothing."

"Are you joking?" Dorcas nudged her playfully. "The boy's only been asking you out every chance he got for, what? Two, three years?" After a moment of laughter, they let silence come back around them.

They stayed like that for a while, enjoying the fresh air and each other's company. After some time, the air grew too cold for them and they hurried back into the castle, just in time for dinner.