I sat on my bed. I definitely could not go to sleep right now. I decided to stay up late, waiting for James. I'd tell him the truth. About everything that I could. (See, if I told him about the Sisterhood Promise, I'd have to kiss Snape. No way that was happening.)

I heard James mutter the password. He didn't sound drunk, so I went to greet him. "Wow, James. Thank you so much."

"You liked it?" he grinned.

"Yeah, what can I say? This is way better than any of your old approaches."

"So, in that case, will you be inclined to say yes to going out with me?"

"James…let's sit down first. We need to talk."

We both sat down on the loveseat (I MEAN COUCH!) and I started to talk. "Okay. James, my friends somehow think that you'd be the perfect match for me. So I promised them something." I paused, waiting for him to say something.

"Promised them what?" James inquired.

"I promised them that I'd kiss you by the end of the week and go out with you by the end of the month."

James sighed. "Lily, you don't have to if you don't want to." He looked so sad that I felt sorry for him.

"No, James. Hear me through. I…I think I might like you. Maybe even love you. But I need to wait a day or two to make sure of it. So…I'm not saying no. Just give me a day."

"Okay, Lily." James said. "I'll wait. And thank you, you know, for not shooting me down immediately."

"You're welcome."

He hugged me, and I didn't resist. (Hey, friends can hug, can't they?) We both went to our separate rooms to fall asleep.

The Next Day

I was shaken awake suddenly.

"Get up, sleepy head!" James said, throwing a pillow at me.

I rubbed my eyes and looked around. All of the decorations were gone. Amazing what you could do with magic. All that remained were the roses. I went to shower and get dressed. Then, I walked down to breakfast with James. He immediately sat down with the Marauders. I met up with Emma and Mary.

"Hi!" I said.

"So…did any sparks fly last night?" Emma asked, always the romantic one.

"Well…James asked me out. Again."

"Did you shoot him down?" Mary asked.

"No." I said, proud of myself for doing something nice. "I told him I'd tell him tonight."

"Wow, Lily. It hasn't even been a day since we came to Hogwarts and you have feelings for James already!" Emma pointed out.

"Maybe. I just need sometime to think about it. Know one thing, though. I am NOT kissing Snape! I've protected him from the Marauders more than once, and all he's thanked me with was ' I don't need your help, Mudblood. I can fight my own battles.'" I made a perfect imitation of Snape's voice.

I took a spoonful of oatmeal. Professor McGonnogal walked by, handing us our schedules. We all put them in the center, so we could compare. "What've you got today?" I asked.

"I've got free period after breakfast, then Divination, then Herbology, then Defense against the Dark Arts, then free period, then Potions." Emma said.

"Well, I've got Transfiguration, then free period, then Divination, then Herbology, then free period, and finally Potions." I said.

"Oh. Well I've got free period, Divination, Defense, Herbology, free period, then Potions. Great! We've all got Potions together." Mary said, stabbing some eggs with her fork.

Then, James Potter walked up to me. "May I see your schedule, Lily?"

"Knock yourself out." I said, handing it over.

"Yes!! Forgive me for being obsessed, but last year, I asked your friend Mary what classes you were taking…and I took them as well…it seems we have the same schedules…every day."

"I'd like that back, please." James gave me back my schedule.

"Well…I suppose we've got Transfiguration first." I moaned. "Why are you so obsessed?"

James smiled. "I'm not going to answer that last question, and, since your friends don't have Transfiguration first, would you walk with me?"

I groaned again. "Sure, seeing as I have nobody else to walk with. Why not?"

We walked down the hall. Professor McGonnogal started droning as soon as she took attendance. I tuned out because I already knew what she was teaching. Suddenly, though, I felt something hit my leg. I bent down to pick it up. I waited until Professor McGonnogal turned around, then opened it to read it.

Lily

During Free Period, would you like to go to the library with me?

Love,

James

I suppressed a smile. James? Asking to go to the library? This was a surprise. Well, I'd be going there anyway (was I really that predictable?) I didn't want him to get the feeling I liked him…yet…but I didn't want to be mean to him either. Sure. What could happen at the library? I wrote back:

James-

Sure. We'll walk together after class.

Still your friend,

Lily

I passed it to him. He read it and smiled, and we didn't communicate for the rest of the class, because Professor McGonnogal started teaching something useful, and I started to take notes…real ones.

After class

James and I, arm in arm, walked out of the room. Unfortunately, we met Snape in the hallways.

"Potter." He sneered.

"Snape." James said coldly.

"Look, both of you! Break it up before a fight starts! Severus…James apologizes for everything he has done to you. Can we be friends…or at least not sworn enemies?"

"Nice, Potter," Snape said, leaving that smirk on his face. "Get your girlfriend to fight your battles."

"I do not fight his battles! It's just that…if I allow you to have a real conversation, it will end in a bloody duel!" I proclaimed.

I realized that I forgot to counter the part where he said I was James' girlfriend. "And I'm not his bloody girlfriend!" I finished lamely.

Snape bristled. "I hate both of you!" he yelled. "Potter…and…and the filthy Mudblood!"

"Don't call her that!" James raised his wand, and I couldn't stop him in time. "Densaugeo!" James shouted, giving Snape buckteeth immediately. They were very long; as long as a weasel's! I couldn't help it; I started laughing.

This just happened to be the moment Professor McGonnogal spotted us. "I'm shocked! The heads should not behave this way! Twenty points from Gryffindor. James and Lily, report for three detentions. I shall see you in my classroom at 7:00—sharp. Tsk, tsk." She muttered the counter spell for Snape's…teeth issue.

I groaned. While she was walking away, I muttered a quick spell of my own. I smirked. Snape would have LOSER branded on his forehead for the rest of the day.

"Another three detentions for the both of you!" Professor McGonnogal shouted.

"I swear; she has eyes in the back of her head! Wow, Lily. I thought you were against all of us tormenting Snivellus. I know I promised not to call him that—or to torment him, but I couldn't resist!" James said, still in awe of my "daredevilness"

"It's all right. I couldn't resist either." I smiled. "Shall we, Mr. Potter?" And we continued to the library.