It wasn't until the sorting ceremony that James saw Lily for the first time; he'd been so absorbed in his new friends and the castle that he hadn't really looked around at his fellow pupils until they were the centre of the whole school's attention. One of the first Gryffindors—after Sirius, who had beamed with delight over his new house—to be sorted, Lily had walked steadily towards the stool and had only been sat for a couple of seconds before the hat reached its decision.

"Peter, do you know who this Lily Evans is?" James whispered.

Peter Pettigrew had joined them on the train. About ten minutes after they'd left King's Cross, a small, weaselly boy had approached their carriage and asked for asylum. Apparently those onboard were not as forgiving to those not especially gifted in the looks or height departments. The boys had taken pity on him and he'd slotted in with the others nicely, although so far he seemed a little on the weak side character-wise.

Now, though, he shook his head. "Sorry, James. I don't know many people really, but the name doesn't ring a bell."

James hummed in thought, unable to drag his gaze away from the red hair now bobbing down the aisles to find an empty seat at the cheering Gryffindor table. Soon, all four of the boys from the train were clustered around the table and chewing ravenously.

"I don't know, James," both Sirius and Remus had said in answer to the same question.

"Why do you want to know, anyway?" Peter had asked after James had sighed in frustration.

Sirius snorted and replied for him. "Because he's been here five minutes and he's already got a crush!"

"I do not!" James protested, throwing a sausage roll at his new friend. It only annoyed him more when Sirius caught it in his mouth with a massive grin and swallowed it in one.

"Firstly, Sirius, that was disgusting to watch and I'm so upset we're friends now," Sirius beamed proudly at Remus, who rolled his eyes but couldn't help smiling. "Secondly, James, maybe get to know her first?"

"Ooh yeah, maybe she's a total cow," added Sirius helpfully.

James opened his mouth in protestation but nothing came out.

"I'm sure she's great," inserted Peter.

"Thank you, Peter," James responded, glaring at the other two. "I'm sure she's just as lovely as her face."

"There is a danger you might have blown one sighting a little out of proportion," Remus warned.

"There's a danger you're starting to sound like a little bitch!" retorted James.

"Now, now," interjected Sirius in a soothing, motherly tone. "Far be it from me to stop a potential fight but we've only just met and I feel like black eyes on the first night isn't very sporting."

Remus nodded in agreement. "I'm sorry, James. I'm sure she's great."

"Hmph."

"James."

"I'm sorry too. You're right, obviously. I should be careful," James sighed.

"Oh! This is going to be a wonderful friendship!" Sirius gushed as though he were a mother hen.

Peter laughed and Remus and James joined in, the latter rewarding Sirius with a playful slap of the back of the head.

Lily's evening was going significantly more downhill than the boys'. She had met up with Severus on the train and they'd spent a happy day talking about all the things they hoped Hogwarts would be. Once they'd actually reached the castle, it was clear that it was everything they'd talked of and more.

The part Lily hadn't liked started when she'd been next up to take to the stool. She could feel the eyes on her, and the sudden voice of the hat in her mind hadn't helped. When it shouted GRYFFINDOR, however, she almost wanted to cry. She would have been quite alright if the ground had swallowed her up. She searched for Sev's face in the line and her heart almost broke to see the look on his face; all mangled, like he'd been run over by something heavy. She was ushered away by the professor, the cheers and her overwhelming urge to weep copiously.

The Gryffindor table had been full of excitement and joy and she tried to get involved when the other girls her age were laughing and making jokes—and friends—but it was so hard. It was like trying to keep your eyes open after a long, long day, and she was tired too.

I'll still get to see him, she thought.

But not tonight. Tonight she had been steered out of the Great Hall and up the ever-changing, never-ending staircases to a portrait of a fat lady in a red dress. She was too tired and wrapped up in herself to notice the password, the other girls helping her up the tower staircase or what she was doing as she readied herself for bed.

First thing the next morning, the Gryffindors and Slytherins shared a Charms class. Once everyone had found their way to the room, Professor Flitwick let them sit where they wished on the benches. He introduced them to their first project; learning the lumos spell so that it cast light to at least ten feet.

"Get into partners," he chirped. "And off you go!"

Five minutes later, Professor Flitwick had squeaked in astonishment.

"Miss Evans has done it! Ten points to Gryffindor, Miss Evans." Sirius and Remus had to stop themselves laughing at the look on James' face. "Now if you could assist Mr. Snape?"

The redhead nodded eagerly and beamed at her partner. He was gaunt, tall and thin with even thinner hair that parted in curtains and settled at his collar.

"His nose looks like an eagle's beak," announced James, as he turned back to Sirius' ready wand.

"They probably don't even know each other," Remus reasoned. He neglected to mention that Lily and her partner already looked very comfortable with each other.

"Also, I told you so!" James declared with a triumphant smirk.

Remus chuckled gently and held up his hands in defeat. "She's smart, I'll give you that."

Across the room, an ecstatic Lily was grinning ear-to-ear at Severus.

"I did it! Did you see?"

"Yes, Lily, well done. I was just saying that it's not right, you being in those colours," Severus almost spat the last few words.

"I know, but I couldn't help it. I was miserable all of last night, but there's nothing we can do about it now. Raise your wand a little higher," she added, demonstrating the correct technique.

"You won't leave me, will you?" he asked, following her movements.

She dropped her arm and looked at him in shock. "Leave you? Of course not, stupid! We're friends!"

He smiled and tried again, this time producing a spark. Lily exclaimed and encouraged him on; she could have no idea that her comment had struck him in the heart so violently he felt as though he'd been electrocuted. It was her who had showed him electricity, and he could only imagine that this was it.

Forty minutes later, the class was dismissed and given their first homework task.

"Anyone who didn't manage to conjure their lights this lesson, I'm expecting a demonstration at the beginning of the next. If you want to show me before, or if you're struggling, find me whenever I'm not in class!"

It wasn't until dinner that night that Lily and James met properly. Sirius prodded him as they entered the Great Hall; Lily was sat alone at the Gryffindor table. James beamed at him and made a beeline for her, slowing as he approached.

"May I sit here?" he asked, tentatively.

She looked up and shrugged before returning her attention to her food.

He sat, eyeing her cautiously. "My name's James. James Potter."

"Okay."

"You were great in Charms today."

"Thanks."

James hesitated.

"Are you okay?"

She looked up sharply. "Yes. Why?"

"You just seem a little distracted, that's all."

"I just don't really feel like socialising, that's all."

James smiled broadly. "I can help with that, we can go somewhere quiet!"

Lily glanced at him, scorn boiling in her eyes.

"Why would I want to be with you to get away from everyone. Please, just leave me alone."

"I promise it would—"

"Please. Just leave. For the love of God."

"Who's God?"

Lily let out a cry of annoyance and got up suddenly, drawing every nearby eye. She looked around and, realising she was the centre of attention, stormed from the hall. Everyone who had been staring at her now turned their gazes on James, and he reddened almost immediately.

"Nothing to see here, folks," called Sirius as the gang breezed in to take her place.

"What happened?" asked Remus gently as they and Peter sat around James to guard him from any residual peepers.

"She was in a really weird mood, I think. Or you were right and she is horrible. Either way, I don't think she'll ever want to talk to me again."

"Did she say why she was in a weird mood?"

"Yeah, kind of. She said she wasn't feeling social so I offered to take her somewhere quiet."

Sirius groaned and James looked alarmed.

"What? What have I done?"

"You can't solve everything. You should probably have listened to her when she said she wasn't feeling talkative," Remus advised calmly, Sirius nodding along in support.

"I tried to help!" James protested.

"I know, but sometimes people don't want help, they just want to be left alone. Maybe be a little more patient next time?"

"I don't think there will be a next time," James groaned, burying his face in his hands.

"Hey, you're here for seven years with her. She can't hate you forever over a little thing like that!" Sirius pointed out, shoving some bread haphazardly into his mouth.

James brightened almost immediately. "You're right! And when she's not mad at me I'll have all seven years to make her love me!"

Remus closed his eyes in an attempt to compose himself, but Peter was too quick to assert his opinion.

"You'll do it James, even if it takes seven years!"

Remus groaned internally and made a mental note to find Lily later and apologise.

"For now, give her some space?" he suggested wearily.

"I will. I'll give her all the time she needs," James vowed eagerly. "And then she'll love me!"

Remus couldn't help facepalming.

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