Thanks to all my reviwers

Jilyforeva – I strongly agree with how you see James (hence why I write him like I do) – glad your enjoying the story

Kristina080 – yay happy to hear that

Ryeflight – thanks for all three reviews and the encouragement, hope it's still meeting your expectations. And I agree with the whole damsel in distress thing (Lily is most certainly not that in my opinion). Also wolfstar isn't going to happen because I want to focus more on Lily and James, so I agree with your opinion :))

ClemK – glad my story was good enough to make you want to review. Thanks for your opinion on wolfstar (it isn't going to happen) – but they only thought Remus was the traitor after James and Lily died

Sinking – I'm sorry you feel that way. I actually have a plan for why Snape used such a strong curse. Also sorry about the canon thing – I'm actually going to write Bellatrix out of the story becacuse of it, since I want a canon story. Also honestly didn't know about James' parents (read up about them now)

LILY POV

James' return to Hogwarts on the 14th of December, only three days before the Christmas holidays, didn't go unnoticed. Naturally the whole school had heard what had happened – minus who had attacked James – and probably half of the Hogwarts cohort had written him Get Better cards. None of this surprised Lily – the boy could probably start a knitting club and have maximum attendance in less than three minutes.

Lily was sitting alone in the Great Hall – three textbooks scattered open around her – when James and Remus entered. Almost all of the heads in the hall turned to stare at him, and most of the younger years burst into frantic whispering. Lily wasn't sure what to do. Wasn't sure how to act. James had been cursed to an inch of his life and she was worrying about whether to hug him or not.

She watched in horror as Julia Ancott, a sixth year Gryffindor with a reputation of slutiness, sauntered up to James and gave him a drawn out hug. Lily couldn't see James' face, or hear their conversation, but the sight of them hugging filled Lily with a feeling she couldn't peg.

Over the past fortnight, Lily had felt James' absence like a pang in the chest. She had even moved back into her old bed to quell the feeling that she was suddenly alone. She'd missed their late night conversations, she'd missed walking with him to breakfast every morning, she'd missed hearing him rant on and on about Quidditch. She'd missed his smile, the way he ruffled his hair when he was nervous. She'd missed his smirk in class, his idle banter that brought an instant laugh to her lips, his warm, thoughtful hazel eyes. She'd missed the way his glasses were too big for his face and would slip down his nose.

She'd missed him listening to her problems (and his advice), or just him listening to her day. She'd missed just being around him, hearing his voice as he joked with his friends, the forceful look he got around anyone who tried to tease her.

Lily Evans had missed James Potter with every part of her heart. He was the boy who didn't care that she was a Muggleborn. The boy that had gotten hurt probably because of her.

She tried to straighten her thoughts when she saw them coming her way. Her heart was pounding at a ridiculously fast pace – thud, thud, thud – and her legs had suddenly gone numb beneath her. She had to be brave. James doesn't care, she reminded herself forcefully, he doesn't give a rat's ass that you're a Muggleborn. That he might get hurt because of you. Lily tried to convince herself that her thoughts were right.

She couldn't let the Slytherins get to her. Couldn't let the war ruin her friendships. Couldn't let the war dictate her life. Something seemed to settle in the pit of her stomach – a light, fluttering feeling. He was walking closer, stopping every now and again to answer someone's question or receive another hug, his eyes focused not on Lily, but something above her head.

A group of Gryffindor fifth years – three boys and a blue-eyed girl – stood up to congratulate him. One of the boys, Barney Mower, clapped James on the back and shouted something about how he'd faced death without even a bruise.

There was a painful expression in James eyes that caused Lily to shudder. She stood up, and because that wasn't enough, she stood up on her bench. Now he was looking directly at her, his expression shifting. Lily waited – her breath caught between the nerves – the room suddenly still. And he smiled. James Potter looked at her and smiled. Suddenly she didn't care that everyone was looking at her. She didn't care that maybe she was about to make the biggest mistake of her life. She leapt from her chair and ran the last few paces between them, before flinging her arms around his neck and kissing him.

His face was warm under her fingers, his mouth or hers soft and gentle, but everything else was frozen. He'd gone all stiff, his posture sharp. She pulled back – her cheeks blazing. James was barely breathing, his face flushed. The hall was quiet. Lily couldn't help but realize how stupid a place this was to suddenly declare her feelings. Maybe he was trying to figure out the nicest way possible to tell her he didn't reciprocate the feelings? Maybe she was wrong – wrong, wrong, wrong. Frightened, she took a few steps backwards.

The movement seemed to alert James. His eyes went from a crinkled smile, to euphoria.

"Evans?" He whispered.

Lily nodded slowly. She willed herself not to run.

"Jesus," he murmured. Lily couldn't help smiling when he ran his fingers through his hair. She also smiled at his use of a Muggle term – something he undoubtedly picked up from her. "I stuffed that up, didn't I? Two years of waiting, and I freeze on you." He shakes his head like he can't quite fathom his own actions. "Can we try it again?"

"You're an idiot Potter," Lily told him, but she allowed him to pull her into his arms anyway and kiss her.

His soft hands cradled her face, delicate and fragile. She ran her fingers through his messy hair, smiling against his mouth. They were both laughing a little, both full of disbelief. Everything about it felt right. He pulled away after a few moments – his face alive and flushed – shaking his head at the sudden stream of wolf whistling and cries of joy. It had only been brief and fragile and shaky but it made sense. The fidgety feeling inside of her was suddenly overwhelming.

"You owe me five galleons," Marlene suddenly screamed, jumping to her feet. She pointed a long finger towards Remus, who'd watched the entire showdown with surprise.

Lily couldn't believe her ears. "You had a beat on us?" She said, whirling to face Marlene.

Marlene shrugged. She didn't even look abashed by her behaviour. If anyone should be feeling abashed be their behaviour, it should be Lily. She'd just kissed a boy – James Potter, for that matter – in front of the entire school, staff included.

Remus chuckled. "Sorry you two," he said, taking a seat near Marlene. "But honestly was expecting this to happen after the Christmas break."

Unsure how to respond she turned back to James. The black hair boy looked slightly flushed like he couldn't quite believe it either. "Uhh, you hungry?" She said to him.

"Ravenous," James replied, following her to her pile of books and half eaten lunch.

Marlene and Remus joined them, hiding smiles behind schooled expressions. Remus looked like he was about to say something, when Sirius suddenly burst into the hall – his handsome face grinning like a madman.

"Jamsie," he called, rushing over to his best friend. He clapped James on the back and took the seat beside him.

James smiled back, obviously annoyed by the nickname but grinning nonetheless.

"Mate you won't believe this prank that I've –

"Really Black?" Lily interrupted, rolling her eyes.

"Yes Evans," Sirius grumbled back, before turning back to James. "Dude the castle's been a real bummer without your sorry arse here."

James shrugged, his eyes fervent. "No other pranksters trying to steal our place?"

"Our legacy is too big for that," Sirius told him.

"Just about the same size as your ego," Remus interrupted.

Lily turned back to James, as Sirius verbally asulted Remus for making such declarations – she caught words such as unbelievable and drastic measures. "You should eat something," she told him.

He poked at his plate, still grinning like some idiot. Remus was badly managing to hide a chuckle at the glazed expression on James face, even despite Sirius rambling. Marlene, who'd given up trying to hide her amusement, burst into peals of laughter at the curious look on Sirius' face as he finally clocked that something unusual had taken place.

"Okay," Sirius said, stabbing a slice of beef with his fork. He waved it between Lily and James. "What in Merlin's name did I miss?"

"Only one of the most historic moments in Hogwarts history," Marlene said, between giggles.

Lily rolled her eyes. "A little melodramatic don't you think?"

Sirius whined like a small puppy. "I wanna know," he moaned. "Tell me, tell me, tell me."

"Chapter thirty three," Marlene said, whacking her hand against one of Lily's textbooks. "Hogwarts most beloved star crossed lovers."

"We're not star crossed," James pointed out.

"And that chapter certainly doesn't exist," Lily concluded, always the voice of sense.

Marlene shrugged, tucking a few loose curls behind her ear. Sirius, on the other hand, gawped – his mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air.

"You," he said, pointing at James, "and you," he whispered, pointing to Lily, "are – you're finally a couple?" At the look of glee in James' eyes, and the sarcasm in Lily's exasperated expression, he fell back off his chair. He literally threw himself off the back of his chair, gasping with laughter.

"Just leave him," Remus said, rolling his eyes. He reached for a bread roll and began buttering it as if nothing had happened.

As if Lily hadn't changed things completely. But had her kiss turned them into a couple?

JAMES POV

James didn't remember the walk to Potions. He didn't remember what Slughorn was ranting on about. And he certainly didn't remember the double History of Magic lesson. All he could think was: she kissed me. Lily Evans actually kissed me.

Lily sat with him at lunch – which wasn't unusual – but she kept on glancing over at him, grinning slightly. A few sixth years clapped him on the back – smirking – and congratulated him. A third year Slytherin – one James didn't recognise – tried hexing him but he threw the curse off lazily, thanking the skies that Lily wasn't around to see.

He wondered what made her change her mind. At one point of the day, after he endured an hour of Snape glaring murder at him during Transfiguration, he wondered if maybe it was a pity kiss. Like, hey I'm sorry you got hexed because of me. Here, let me fulfil your fifth year fantasy. He pushed the idea away instantly; Lily wasn't that kind of person.

After last period the four boys made their way back to the Head Common Room, locked in the same conversation they'd been having all day.

"So you're definitely going to do it," Peter said, just to confirm his disbelief. "You're actually going to try asking her out again."

Sirius groaned. "Dude – clock on," he said, swatting his friend over the head. "The chick kissed him in front of the entire school. I think the answer's yes."

"That wasn't very Lily like, was it," Remus said, rubbing his jaw.

James frowned at that. Once again the doubt swept back in – even despite the blazing look in Lily's eyes as she'd rushed towards him – and he was back to the original question. To ask her out or to not?

"Maybe she was jealous of all the attention Ancott gave you," Sirius offered. He looked just as perplexed as James felt, which didn't make James feel any surer.

"Ugh I hope not," James said, feeling useless. "Ancott has nothing on Lily."

"Well obviously," Sirius said. "But obviously to you, not Lily."

"If you're suggesting I ask Lily if the reason she made out with me was because she was jealous you've got some messed up conception of her," James told his best friend. Even if James had similar doubts, that would only set spark to an inferno.

"I wasn't –

Remus cut Sirius off with a quick jab of his arm. "Uh we have company," he said, motioning to the figure of two girls coming towards them.

James recognised the shorter of the two as Lily. By the looks of things she was in an animated discussion with his cousin. Both girls hadn't noticed the boys yet.

"Hey girls," Sirius said, adopting his cocky, happy-go-lucky voice.

Lily almost jumped from her skin, her mouth snapping shut instantly. Marlene simply smiled before waving at the boys.

"I was just heading back to the common room," she said – James wasn't sure if she was talking to all of them or insinuating at something else – "who wants to join me?"

Lily looked mortified as she realised what her friend was not so discretely doing. James winced – was she really that embarrassed about her actions?

"I do," Remus piped instantly.

It took Sirius and Peter a few moments longer to catch onto Marlene's insinuation, but all too suddenly it was just him and Lily and a brain left with no words. He wondered if maybe he should say something when Lily suddenly straightened her shoulders and jutted her chin out – determined not to falter.

"Hey," she said, sounding blank. James tensed at the tone of her voice. "I don't really know what to say."

"How about we go inside," James said, motioning at the entrance of their portrait hole.

Something had shifted between them. James could feel it bludge and poke at his edges as they walked inside – this new sensation. He'd never felt anything like it before and it frightened him. He felt as if he was walking over a tightrope, a path of hot coals and swimming upstream all at the same time – exciting and intense.

Lily settled herself onto a couch, crossing then uncrossing her legs. James took one of the armchairs, resting his elbows on his knees.

"So – " Lily started, only to falter and stare nervously at her entwined hands.

James focused his attention on her fingers. She bit her nails he realised. They weren't like the nails of other girls he'd dated – all long and always coated in nail polish – but calloused and imperfect.

"How about we play our game," James suggested.

Lily shook her head, still looking nervous.

James frowned. "We don't have to talk about it – "

"No I want to," Lily interrupted, finally turning to look up at him. "I just – I don't know how to explain it."

"It felt big," James said.

The words had sounded less foolish in his head, but to his surprise Lily nodded eagerly, her smile inching further up her face.

"Do you think we could maybe try it again?" James asked. "Not tonight – but maybe if we went to Hogsmeade together. Or, we could do something smaller."

"Another day of nothing?" Lily said. She looked less nervous and more excited.

"But maybe without Sirius this time," James said.

James like the way things had shifted. It felt palpable. It felt real. And for a change he knew that Lily felt the difference too – the way she was blushing, the glint in her eyes – were all new, stronger.

"I'm glad you kissed me back," Lily said, giggling slightly.

"Saved you from embarrassing herself in front of the entire school?" James said, jokingly. Well, he sure hoped that wasn't why – but he could tell from the gleam on her face that it wasn't.

"The lesser of two reasons," Lily murmured.

James was happy just to sit there and listen to the crackle of the fire, but after a few minutes Lily convinced him that they should be working on their Potions essay.

"They due tomorrow," Lily told him, already on her feet.

"I'm excused from homework for the last three days of term," James said, looking smug about it.

But if Lily heard his smugness she dismissed it, instead looking mortified. "Oh my god – I didn't even ask if you're okay."

James just laughed. "Firstly, you did. You kissed me, and then made sure I ate something. That made me better."

"God you're such a cliché," Lily said, rolling her eyes. "Are you going to tell something who hexed you?"

"I think you already know," James murmured.

Lily nodded, frightened. "You don't think he's one of them."

James shook his head. He then opened his arms and ushered her forward. Lily wrapped her arms around his waist, tucking her head under his chin.

"Not tonight," James whispered into her hair. She smelled like mint and caramel and the chocolate pudding from dessert. "We can't let them ruin this."