Disclaimer: I own nothing and make nothing from this.

Lily was confused. She found herself walking her prefect's route automatically - her eyes not focusing, her mind moving at a mile a minute.

Severus had kissed her. Or had she kissed him? She wasn't really sure. So how did she feel about him?

She supposed that was the golden question. Problem was, she really wasn't sure how she felt about him. He was her best friend. She had known him for years and they had been very very close when they were younger. He obviously felt something for her...

Oh Merlin, what was Severus thinking? Did she think she was a hussy? Or that the friendship was ruined? Lily couldn't seem to think straight.

"Okay, just think," she said aloud to herself. She stopped in her tracks then. She needed to get a grip - talking to yourself was always a bad sign.

She saw a light around the corner ahead and walked toward it - colliding with the person rounding the corner. She was about to fall when the person grabbed her and held her up.

She met the hazel eyes with wide, surprised eyes. Potter's grip was gentle, but sure...yet he was giving her a slightly nasty look.

"Evans. Watch where you're going." He didn't let go of her though - if anything, she thought he might have tightened the hold.

"It's my night to patrol - you should be in bed, Potter." She put her hands on his chest and suddenly felt her face redden. His chest felt quite nice beneath his shirt.

"Whatever. I was looking for Sirius and -"

"I don't care. Just get back to the common room so I don't have to report you." At this, he released her and the look in his eyes became more of a mischievious twinkle. She suddenly wondered if she should just turn and run the other way.

"You wouldn't turn me in, Evans. We both know that."

"Don't think because we're in the same house I won't let a professor take points from you, Potter," she said, feeling the anger rising.

"No, that's not why," he said, his voice low. He kept stepping closer and closer, until her back hit the cold stone wall and he pinned her there with his arms. She was breathing hard and trying to determine the best escape route when his words stopped her thoughts. "You try to come off like a goody-two-shoes, but really, you're hiding dark secrets. Doing things you shouldn't."

His face was very close and though his words ignited her anger further, his proximity made her feel strange. She was scared to breathe, let alone move, but she met his eyes. "Get away from me, Potter." She tried for a mean look. "You know what they say about redheads."

He nearly smiled. "The carpet matches the drapes?"

She smacked his arm then, awkwardly, but it got the point and he chuckled, his smile making him more handsome. Damn.

"We are firey and you don't want to cross us."

He chuckled again. "Sure, sure. I am so afraid of Lily Evans."

She smiled...realising too late that she had let him see it. He darted his face in and pressed his lips to hers. It was chaste and sweet for the shortest moment and then his tongue swept in, moving fast and sloppily, spit spreading from her lips and his. His hands stayed on the wall, but he brought his body close to hers and she was soon breathless.

"You're making me claustrophobic, Potter."

"I just kissed you and that's all you have to say? I would say you have been spending far too much time with Snivellus."

She opened her mouth to defend her friend, but he stopped her with a kiss.

"You know you want to be my girl, Lily."

She eyed him suspiciously. "Lily? Since when do we use first names?"

"Well, my tongue was in your mouth. Shouldn't that earn me the right to call you Lily?"

"Ha! So? I'll never be your girl Potter." She said it so calmly, but her insides were churning. The kiss had been slobbery, but sweet and different and not all bad. She couldn't tell James - erm, Potter - that.

He made a weird noise - like a growl. "Fighting it doesn't make it go away, Lily."

"Evans, to you, I think. And I am not fighting anything."

"Really?" he put his large hand on her neck. "Your pulse is racing. Your face is slightly flushed. Your, um, chest..." They both glanced down.

"It's cold, that's all."

"And the pulse?" he asked, moving his hand to her stomach.

"Come off it, Potter. I need to get moving before someone comes looking for me." She put her hands on his shoulders to push him away.

Instead, he leaned in to kiss her again and this time, she let him. She didn't know why, but she slid her hands round his neck and let his tongue move between her lips. The voice saying, "this is wrong," was getting more and more quiet as the minutes ticked by.

Finally, he pulled away from her completely, leaving her against the cold stones, alone. "See, Lily, you can't resist me."

"Just go away, Potter."

"Are we -"

"Just go away!"

He smiled, tried to move in for a kiss, but she put both hands in front of her. He looked sad, but turned and sauntered down the corridor.

---

Immediately upon finishing her rounds that evening, Lily had returned to the common room and dashed to her bed. Only a few were still sitting by the fire at midnight when she dashed through, but she got a funny look from Remus and Sirius, who were deep in conversation. They both looked up at the same time.

She lay in bed after that, wondering what was wrong with her. What made her act this way? She was just trying to get through school. Why did there have to be members of the opposite sex? Damn. She tossed and turned for two hours before deciding to get up.

The common room at first looked empty, but she saw a hand on the chair near the fire. She approached cautiously and was surprised to see Remus, eyes closed, seemingly asleep.

She shook his shoulder lightly. "Remus, wake up."

His eyes opened and she saw deep into the depths of his grey eyes. "What time is it?"

"Late," she said and she sat on the chair beside his.

"I guess I ought to go to bed."

"Mmm." She didn't know how to ask him about his earlier look.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Do you like James?" He put out his hands, palms up. "You don't have to answer, but I won't tell him what you say."

She tilted her head to look at him. "I don't know honestly. It's all happening so fast. Something else sort of...happened...with someone else earlier today or yesterday or whatever and then James kisses me, too!" She felt her face redden.

"Yes, I have heard about Snape. Why do you think James went looking for you? He believes he can charm you away from the dark wizard before you get to serious with Snape."

Lily's mouth dropped. She closed it and narrowed her eyes. "You don't say."

Remus rubbed his eyes. "You didn't hear it from me, okay? I just think you should make your own choice. But," he said, stressing each word, "you must make a choice. Soon." He scratched his head. "James has all the patience of a Gryffindor, so he will demand an answer soon."

She just nodded, staring at the fire.

"Just don't say I didn't warn you." He stood and looked at her. "James is stubborn. He doesn't give up easily. As wonderful a quality that is in a friend, it won't be easy for the one he's in love with."

Startled, Lily glanced up at him.

"Goodnight, Lily," Remus said, smiling briefly before dashing up the stairs to his dormitory.