Chapter 1: Oh How Things Have Changed

A/N: Hey, this is my second (barely) revised chapter! Please read and review!

Thank you JK for providing me with the tools and the canvas that I need to create this (I wouldn't say 'artwork') thing. That was my creative disclaimer.

Lily and Severus sat in their usual carriage. It was their fifth journey to Hogwarts so far and every year they managed to get one alone. Lily thought it was probably because of Severus intimidation factor. To her he was just good old Sev, but as she studied him from a stranger's point of view she noticed things she never had before: his dark eyes, curtains of pitch black hair, sallow skin, and height. Together this was a pretty menacing package. In a hot bad boy sort of way she unintentionally added.

What! I did NOT just say that! She thought blushing and mentally banging her head against the window. She tried to forget about it, but the problem was, she'd been thinking things like that all summer, far too long to be nothing in her opinion.

She cursed her logic and wished she could just be stupid and unobservant so she could just wave it away like nothing. Things between her and Sev had definitely changed, she didn't quite know how, and she wasn't sure if she liked it.

Severus looked at Lily from across the carriage from where he was seated. He wished he knew what she was blushing. God she's beautiful when she blushes…. He thought with a sigh. Heck, she's always beautiful! And it wasn't just he who had noticed. Half the guys in their year would give anything to go on a date with her. He'd even heard guys in older years commenting on her looks. Not to mention the third, now fourth year fan club devoted to her. This was okay. She didn't care about these guys. She said she had better things to do than let idiots slobber over her. Like James Potter Severus thought. It wasn't okay that he liked her. That arrogant little prat always messing up his hair and jinxing anyone that crossed his path- Severus stopped himself. He promised himself that that this year he wouldn't give Potter a second thought, that is, if the little berk would let him.

Severus was roused from his mental rant as Lily got up and stretched saying, "I better go to the prefects' carriage now, wouldn't want to miss anything."

"Sure you can't stay, for me" He gave what he hoped was a "cute puppy dog" look, the one she'd used on him so many times (the one he'd given in to so many times).

"Sorry Sev" she said looking back at him as she exited the carriage, "I actually really do want to stay, but I can't miss this. I might have this glorious badge and all my washroom privileges taken away." She batted her eyelashes, giving him a flirtatious look and was gone.

Wow Things had definitely changed this summer. He'd thought he was imagining it, but now he was sure. She had definitely just given him a look, 'the look'. Like the one Lily's friend Serena gave to the guys, or as Lily put it 'flavors of the month', she was pursuing.

Yes, he was pretty sure things had changed. And he was pretty sure he liked it. He thought sitting back and closing his eyes (with pictures of Lily dancing in his head-don't ask)

"Oh my gosh!" Lily whispered to herself when she was safely outside the carriage. "I did not just do that!" but she had, she had just given Severus 'the look'. The look patented by Serena, the look her other best friends Mary, Alice, Winry and Faolan and herself all rolled their eyes at. The one guys would kill to get from Serena. She felt so, so , so….SLUTTY. But no, she wasn't like Serena, who in fact was pretty much a slut or 'player' which as she had dubbed herself once she had discovered and perfected her dating talents in second year. She was the female Sirius Black. Heck, she'd already gone on five dates with him since third year.

Okay, back to Lily. I cant' breath. What if I faint! I really need to sit down. Where was I going anyway? Oh ya, the prefects carriage.

"Hey Lily, what's up?" Someone called from behind her.

"I'm not sure.." she replied weakly, but as she turned around and saw who it was she quickly snapped with as must venom as she could currently muster in her confused state, "None of your business, Potter"

"Aww, come on my flower. It's not even the first day of school. I haven't yet done anything to make you hate me" he said grinning, reaching a hand up to muss his already expertly disheveled hair.

"How about the fifty or so letters declaring your what was it "undying love an affection for a stunning blossom named Lily"", She said with a smirk, that faded into a smile when she remembered the bonfire she and Sev had made with them, and how handsome he looked with the light dancing in his eye……… God Lily, here you go again!

"I just wanted you to know I was thinking of you, my flower. I didn't want you to miss me!" He said flashing another, what he apparently thought (along with all the other girls in their year) was a killer smile.

"I really don't care, and I have to go to the prefects carriage, good bye Potter" She turned and walked away not looking back. She hoped she wasn't too cruel, but she had always fought with potter since her third year when he had suddenly declared his undying love for her (after she had her braces taken of and mastered the art of defrizing cream and the eye pencil, figures).

She was finally sure of something. Her relationship may have changed with Sev, but she was sure as hell still damn good at hating Potter.

One thing hadn't changed over the summer, and this time she liked it.

A/N: How's that? Like it? Now, remember my favourite saying constructive, not destructive criticism (I'm a kind of, okay very, sensitive person). Thanks for reading, and hopefully reviewing!

Okay, I know I portrayed Lily as a drama queen, but just read on….