Note: I do not own James,Lily,Remus,Sirius, or Peter. The song lyrics (that James "wrote") are not mine either, it is the song I'll Be by Edwin McCain.

Chapter 2

On Thursday evening Lily was reading a book and walking down the stairs to the Quidditch field to go see Bex before practice. Bex was one of the best chasers on the Gryffindor team. Lily would sometimes watch her fly around during practices. She was trying to turn the page when she tripped on one of the stairs. She was preparing herself for impact with the ground, when somebody caught her. That somebody was James. Lily wasn't expecting how comfortable it would feel to have his arms around her waist. Or the effect it would have on her.

"Hey, you okay?" he asked, steadying her.

"Yeah," she said breathlessly. "Thanks. Why were you at the bottom of the stairs?"

"I was going to look at the field," he answered as he dropped his hands from her waist, much to both their disappointment. "You know, check the weather conditions."

She nodded. "Uh, where's Bex?"

"Talking to the new beaters, the Martin twins." He nodded toward where Bex stood in her Quidditch gear with an identical pair of stocky boys hardly taller than her. Lily walked over and began talking to Bex about their plans this weekend.

On Friday Lily had been sitting at the table studying alone for the past two hours, and expected James within the next ten to twenty minutes. She was tired of researching potion ingredients and transfiguration methods and decided it was time for some leisure reading. She opened the book she'd been reading at night Pride and Predigest by a muggle author and a piece of folded parchment fell out. Not realizing what it was, she unfolded it and began reading and actually comprehending the meaning behind the words.

'The strands in your eyes that color them wonderful
Stop me your stealing my breath
And emeralds from mountains thrust towards the sky
Never revealing their depth
Tell me that we belong together
Dress it up with the trappings of love
I'll be captivated, I'll hang from your lips
Instead of the gallows of heartache that hang from above

I'll Be your cryin' shoulder
I'll Be loves suicide
I'll Be better when I'm older
I'll Be the greatest fan of your life

And rain falls angry on the tin roof
As we lie awake in my bed
You're My Survival, You're My Living Proof
My love is alive and not dead
Tell me that we belong together
Dress it up with the trappings of love
I'll be captivated, I'll hang from your lips
Instead of the gallows of heartache that hang from above'

"You know he wrote that himself," said a voice beside her. She looked up to see Dawn sitting across the table from her.

"You're serious?" she asked in amazement. "I wouldn't think James could write anything so...Well, anything like this."

"You were his inspiration," she shrugged.

"Please don't say anything like that. We're going to try and be friends."

"Your idea or his?"

"His."

"He's settling for your friendship then."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because it's obvious. Anyway, he's here, so I'll let you two study." She got up and left, saying hi to James as she walked out.

"Hey, sorry I'm late," he greeted with a smile. "I lost track of the time at practice and came straight here."

"I can tell," Lily replied, taking in his appearance. He had taken off his Quidditch pads, but was still in his uniform, and his face shining with sweat and smudged with a bit of dirt.

"Sorry," he repeated, "Especially if I smell."

"I'll live. Bex is my roommate remember? I've had her Quidditch stuff in the room for six years."

"Right," he smiled, which Lily noticed was quite nice. "So, let's get started then, shall we?"

"Yeah." Lily said pushing the piece of folded parchment into her bag, and opened her Divination book. Before they knew it two hours had passed and they had missed dinner.

"I didn't realize how hungry I was," Lily commented as they packed up.

"You want to go get some food from the kitchen?" James offered.

Lily glanced at him. "No, it's okay. I'll be fine."

"You sure?" he asked doubtfully as her stomach growled rather loudly.

She sighed walking out of the library. "But we don't know where the kitchen is, and we're not allowed, and–"

"I do, and we won't get in trouble. Come on, Lily. It won't be any problem at all."

"All right, but if we get in trouble it's your fault."

"Great," James said smiling brightly. "Follow me." He led her to the main floor and down a brightly lit white marble staircase. They passed many paintings of various kinds of food until they reached a dead end with a large picture of a bowl of fruit. Lily looked suspiciously at James. He nodded, lifted his hand, and tickled the pear in the painting. To Lily's surprise, though she thought nothing at Hogwarts would surprise her anymore; it giggled, twisted and turned into a doorknob James opened. Inside the kitchen were house elves that were cleaning up from dinner. James asked for some leftovers and sat down while they were preparing the leftover meal. When they were done they knew it was late and they had to get back to the Gryffindor common room. They started walking back very quietly. James continued to look over his shoulder just incase anyone was coming.
Then suddenly James pushed Lily into a very tight passageway. Only James and his friends knew about this secret passage, but they had always gone in it one at a time because they would never fit other wise. James and Lily were very close, chest-to-chest.

"Filch," he whispered, pressed up against her.

She nodded trying to control her racing heart and pulse. He was very close to her. He was touching her, his hand was cupping her shoulder, and it amazed Lily that she didn't at all mind. The pressure from his hand actually felt right, like it belonged there. She found herself wanting him to touch her more, in more sensitive places. She took a deep breath to calm down and inhaled James's scent, a mixture of sweaty boy and deodorant she found tempting.

James was completely entranced by Lily. All he wanted to do was take her in his arms and hold her all night. He wanted to tell her how much he loved her, and how he would never let anything happen to her.

"James," Lily said after a few minutes going on her toes to whisper in his ear. Her hand was on his shoulder to steady her. "Do you think he's gone?"

James had been concentrating on Lily and not on whether Filch was gone yet. Lily's hand was on his shoulder, his hand still on hers, with her leaning nearer to him...

"Yeah, sorry" He said "I think we can go now."

Lily tiptoed up the girl's stairs and opened the door expecting Dawn, Bex, and Willow to be asleep. But she was very wrong when she stepped inside.
"Umm…Hello! Where were you and James at dinner!" Dawn said to Lily.

"We lost track of time and missed dinner, so James took me down to the kitchen and we ate and then came back." Lily said.

"They lost track of time! I believe that was 5 gallons Dawn!" Bex said with excitement.

"Not like that!!" Lily raised her voice.

"Lily you are falling for James Potter weather you like it or not." Dawn said sitting Lily down on her bed.

"No, I'm really not. You guys are just jumping to conclusions. We were talking about our project. I'm going to sleep it is late and we have classes tomorrow."

No she thought to herself, I didn't like James like that. We're just friends. We are working on a school project together. But I did like it when his hand was on me. No that just means I like him to be around me, as a friend. It's James Potter. I don't like James Potter like that…oh my god…I do.

"So James how is it going with you and Lily?" Sirius asked. When James enter his own dorm.

"Nothings happening if that's where you're going with this. We're just friends." James said. And that's better than nothing.

"But you know you're coming in two hours passed curfew." Remus added.

"Hey well were friends and that's more than I can say for you and Bex!" James almost yelled at Sirius, although he didn't know why he was getting so upset. "And Remus you and Dawn! And Peter you and…well who the hell knows!"

"Well actually, I did ask Dawn to go with me to the upcoming Christmas ball, the flier is in the common room, it was put up today." Remus said not taking offense to James's shouting.

"Well for your information I asked Bex to the Christmas ball." Sirius said mocking Remus.

"Good for you two you finally got your women."

"Now you need too!" Sirius said with a smirk.

"Well let's go to sleep if we're going to get up in the morning." James said to Sirius trying to ignore what he had just said.