N. I love your reviews! More information about Lily's friends coming up later!! For now, it's strictly her and James.

The prefects came, and we had our meeting. Surprisingly, James had a lot to input. I might pinch myself for saying this later, but…I think he might have matured over the summer!

My friends think I fancy James, and the whole school knows James fancies me. I have shouted at my friends many times, trying to get them to stop making up fantasies. Oh…I would never hear the end of James being head boy while I was head girl! And, while I'm thinking all this stuff, I have realized that James hasn't asked me out yet!

"Staring at me, Lily? Have you finally come around?" James asked cockily, in a "you-know-you-want-me" kind of voice.

"Huh?…What? NO! I was just…thinking." This is the part where I pinch myself for thinking that…earlier…thought.

"I'm sorry, Lily. I really have matured over the summer. Remus helped me! In fact, I've decided to stop playing pranks on Snivelly—I mean Severus. For you."

"Look, James. Don't ask me out now because I don't want to hurt you and I will say no. But if you have matured, then maybe later…sometime this year I might say yes."

James smiled and almost got up to dance. "Thank you! So much! In ways I can't even explain." His voice took a more serious note. "But, Lily. Never stop believing I love you."

Oh, my gosh. This would be the talk of the school for at least a year! But, it was still possible to go out with him on a pity date. I considered the possibility, but quickly shot it down. NO! Unless it was for Valentines Day, I was never going out with him on a pity date. It was real or no deal.

"Oh, and Lily?"

"Yes, James?"

"I got you these." He pulled out a beautiful bouquet of red roses. "I kind of planned to give you these at school, but since you're here…and I'm here…just take them."

Wow. This was great. "Well, first, thank you. I promise you that on the date I promised to go on with you this year, I will kiss you."

James smiled. I smiled, too, because he was being mature. Last year, he would have said something like, "I knew you would come around." This year, he just smiled.

"Maybe Remus does know what he's talking about." James said, in wonder of his friend's just discovered talent."

"Yes. He really does. James, if you don't behave immaturely, I promise you I'll be your friend this year."

"Really? Why? Not that I'm complaining or anything."

"It would look really bad if the head girl hated the head boy's guts."

"Well, then, Lily…as a friend, would you sit next to me when we eat?"

I sighed. Maybe I had promised too much. But, hey, a promise was a promise. "Sure, James."

I picked up the bouquet of roses and (on an impulse) kissed it.

"You don't know how much I envy those roses right now."

This is the part where I'm supposed to slap him, right? Well, I didn't. I just thought, "Aww…" but I didn't say it out loud. Again…I might hate myself for this later, but it's an impulse.

"Well, don't." And I kissed him on the cheek.