A/N: And here's chapter 2! I would really appreciate it if you guys could leave me a review. Thank you!

Dsiclaimer: It's not mine. Hogwarts may be my home, but it's not mine. It's killing me but alas... What can I do?

The next morning, Lily woke up exceptionally early. Rather than wait for her friends to wake up, she hurried down the stairs to find Sirius Black waiting for her. 'Black?' she asked. 'What are you doing down here so ridiculously early in the morning?'

She noticed that he looked rather solemn, an expression that she had never before seen on his youthful and undeniably attractive face. She'd never fall for his perfect smile herself, but one simply couldn't argue his attractiveness.

'I wanted to thank you, Evans.'
Lily was even more surprised. 'What for?' she asked.
'Well, you know how James got that letter yesterday from Moody... He was obviously really upset. We tried to cheer him up a bit but he wasn't in too good shape when he left for a walk. We figured it'd be best to let him go alone. Besides, we all needed a bit of space to wrap our heads around it.'

Lily's heart swelled up with pity for the young man. It was a well known fact that Sirius had lived with the Potter's for a while now. They were like his parents too. 'How are you, Sirius?' she asked hesitantly. 'I'll be alright, Evans,' he smiled sadly. 'Losing loved ones... Let's just say it isn't a new experience for me.'
It broke Lily's heart to hear him say that.
'But this isn't about me. It's about James. I don't know what you said to him, Evans, but it worked. You brought back the fire in him. We came down to find him burning the letter. He said that he was going to do everything he possibly could to bring Voldemort down. Even before, James and I had been pretty set on fighting in this war. Now, James is absolutely, unequivocally determined to do whatever he can. When he gets out of Hogwarts, that's his mission. Whatever you said, it's given him the strength to keep going. So, I wanted to thank you,' he said earnestly.

'Don't thank me, Sirius. I was only telling him the truth. Voldemort's caused far too much damage. It's time to put an end to this. Even if the Potters are gone, we're still here. We can still fight this.'

Sirius smiled. 'Ever the Gryffindor. Well you won't find us contradicting you.' He looked over her shoulder for a moment before hastily saying goodbye and exiting the common room. She was still mid wave when she heard a throat clear behind her. James Potter was standing on the staircase looking at her a little awkwardly. 'I uhh – I wanted to say-'
'Don't,' she interrupted. 'Don't thank me. You never really let me thank you either. Besides, I only told you the truth.'
'You didn't have to help me, you know,' he said softly.
'I wanted to. Not just because you helped me, but because you deserved it. No one should have to deal with what you're dealing with. I don't like it when you're sad.'
'Thanks, Evans.'
'Lily.'
'What?' he said in confusion.
'My name. It's Lily,' she said.
'Oh. Uh, thanks Lily.'
'Don't mention it, Potter.'
'James. Call me James.'
She smiled. 'Well, I should be getting down to breakfast. I'll see you later, James.'
'Wait,' he called out. 'I'll join you, if you don't mind?'
'Not at all,' she replied, her smile still in place. 'How are you doing?' she asked as they walked down to the Great Hall.
'Much better, thanks to you,' he replied with a rueful smile.
'I'm glad to hear it. If you need anything, let me know, yeah?'
'Thanks, Lily. I appreciate it.'

Lily took her seat next to Sirius who was already eating while James sat across from her. 'Morning, Prongs,' Sirius said a little too cheerfully.
'How are you, Sirius?' James said rather seriously.
'Fine,' he replied unconvincingly.
'We'll get through this, mate. You know we will,' James replied.
Before Sirius could respond, another voice yelled out, 'oh, James! I'm so sorry! I can't believe this!' Amanda Jackson threw her arms around James from behind. 'Er, thanks Amanda,' he replied. 'How did you know?'
'It's in the Daily Prophet!' Amanda replied. Looking up she finally noticed Sirius and Lily. 'Hullo, Black. Evans,' she sneered.

Amanda Jackson and Lily Evans had never gotten along. Ever since third year, Amanda had been infatuated with James and when James fell rather hard for Lily, Amanda's hatred for the pretty redhead increased substantially. Lily never really cared for Amanda's slaggish ways and disinterest in academics. Also, it was difficult to like someone who did everything possible to make sure that she made a fool of herself in front of a certain James Potter at every opportunity available. Lily still had not so fond memories of the time Amanda "accidently" pushed her down the stairs and broke her ankle.

'Jackson! Always a pleasure,' Lily replied, her voice laced with sarcasm. Amanda made a face as she slipped into the seat next to James, her hand never leaving his arm. James looked a little uncomfortable at that and tried to shrug away from her claws. Towards the end of sixth year, Amanda had finally been asked to Hogsmeade by James and had taken great pleasure in rubbing this in Lily's face. Lily didn't mind. At the time, she could hardly stand to be in the same room as James.

'Fancy seeing you here, Evans. You're not usually one for early mornings,' Amanda probed.
'Actually I think you'd find that I am indeed up early. Perhaps you're just too busy to notice what's going on around you. That would I suppose, require some degree of concentration,' Lily retorted.

As Amanda opened her mouth to respond, Sirius threw his arm over her shoulder and dragged her to her feet. 'Well, we best be heading off, right Evans? We'll be seeing you later in Potions, Prongs,' he said cheerily, ignoring Amanda. 'You know, you can call me Lily. It is my name,' Lily said as he walked her out of the hall. 'Only if you call me Sirius, Lily darling,' Sirius replied with his trademark, charismatic smirk.
'So what was all that about?' she asked curiously. Sirius looked at her if she was mad.
'Are you crazy, Lily? You and Amanda were about to start a brawl. I know she doesn't have your smarts but that doesn't mean she's not a formidable opponent when it comes to insults even if they might not be as witty as yours,' he replied. 'I don't know what Prongs sees in the idiot,' he muttered a moment later.

'Well she clearly adores him,' Lily replied.
'Yeah well he doesn't seem to adore her too much. Pestered him with letters over the summer that one did. James hardly replied to half of them. The girl's a nutter she is. Fingers crossed he dumps her sorry arse soon, yeah?'
'Why are you telling me of all people?'
'I do believe, Lily darling, that you're officially a friend of ours. That means you get to know stuff like this.'
Lily noticed that she was getting quite a few odd looks. She wasn't surprised. Lily Evans walking around with Sirius Black's arm across her shoulder? The whole school must have been dreaming. It was a shock that she hadn't hexed the living daylights out of him yet. 'Sirius, just so you're aware, your arm on my shoulder is receiving numerous dirty looks from numerous members of the female population. I may be slightly terrified that I'll be murdered in my sleep tonight.'

Sirius laughed. Yes. He actually laughed. There she was terrified of being murdered and he laughed. 'Oh, Lily! You're determined to fight Voldemort but terrified of a few teenage girls?'
Lily gulped. 'I think you fail to understand the devotion of many of these monsters that go under the term "teenage girls." They're really not as innocent as you think they are.'

'Psh. You'll be fine.'
Lily rolled her eyes. They made their way down to the dungeons and waited outside for the next ten minutes or so. It seemed however that the Hogwarts gossip mill didn't need long to get going. By the time the rest of the class arrived and saw Sirius and Lily conversing like old friends, it really only confirmed what everyone thought they knew.

It was official! Lily Evans was dating Sirius Black! There was no news yet on how James Potter was taking the news that his former long term love (for everyone knew how James had chased Lily in their fifth year to no avail) was dating his best friend. Lily and Sirius were for the time being completely oblivious to the entire story. That was until Lily was minding her own business, making her perfect potion when she got hit on the back of the head with a piece of rolled up parchment. Opening it, she saw it was a note from Marlene. When Lily turned around she saw two very angry looking best friends glaring at her.

What the HELL are you playing at? Didn't think to tell your two best friends in the whole wide world that you're dating SIRIUS EFFING BLACK? – M&E
WHAT in the name of Merlin are you two talking about? – L, she tossed back.
That's all anyone was talking about on our way down to potions. "Did you hear? The head girl's dating Sirius Black? They were walking down to the dungeons together! He even had his arm around her shoulder!" –M&E
You're joking! This is ridiculous! I promise you, I'm not dating Sirius Black. It's all just another rumour. You know how people gossip in Hogwarts. We're just friends. Stupid excuse, I know. But it's true! I was eating breakfast with him and James but James got caught up talking to Amanda Jackson. We were done so we left them behind. Seriously, there's nothing going on. –L
Lily Evans, if we find out that you're lying, you're gonna have hell to pay. And since when are you friends with Sirius Black? – M&E
Since this morning... – L
Someone has a lot of explaining to do after class – M&E

Lily didn't reply. As soon as potions was over, she grabbed her stuff and fled to transfiguration (a subject she was less than brilliant at) and took her assigned seat next to Remus Lupin before Emmaline and Marlene caught her.

Sirius meanwhile had been cornered by James before they entered the classroom. 'So tell me Padfoot, got a new girlfriend?'
Sirius laughed. 'Me? A girlfriend? That's a good joke, Prongs.'
'Well I've been hearing the funniest rumours going around...'
'Oh?'
'Indeed.' James didn't elaborate at that moment.
'Well,' said Sirius, I'm afraid I've missed this morning's freshest Hogwarts gossip. I was too busy escorting the lovely Miss Evans down to potions.'
'Ah well it seems, that you my good friend, are the latest gossip.'
'Surely not!' Sirius gasped mockingly. 'What dirt have they supposedly got on me now?' his tone now flat and dry.

'It seems, my dear Padfoot, you've gone and got yourself a girlfriend. And said girlfriend is supposedly none other than the very same lovely Miss Evans that you escorted down to potions this morning.'

There was a moment of silence before Sirius burst out laughing. 'M-me an- and L- Lily-flower?' he got in through his laughter. 'Oh this is just golden!'
'Is it true?'
'W-Why?' Sirius snorted. 'Jealous, Prongsy?' he said, bursting out into laughter all over again at the shock and anger on James' face. Before James could stop him, Sirius had run off, cackling like the maniac he was, straight into transfiguration.

Taking his seat in front of Lily, he quickly scribbled something on a piece of parchment and threw it behind him, right before James stomped in furiously and took his seat next to his best mate.

Lily caught the parchment and opened it.

How about you and I play a little prank, Lily-flower?
What kind of prank? She replied.
Well it's come to my attention that there are a few rumours doing the rounds that concern us. I was thinking that maybe we should give them something to REALLY talk about. While of course we neither confirm nor deny the existence of any form of relationship?

Lily couldn't believe it. She did suppose though... It would be rather funny. But what a terrible thing to do! But... Perhaps just for a little while... It couldn't hurt after all.

Alright, she threw back.
Excellent. I'll meet you by in the common room tonight at seven. She could almost see the smirk through the parchment.
'What are you smirking about,' she heard James whisper to him grouchily.
'I, my dear friend, just got myself a hot date for tonight,' Sirius replied smugly.
'With who,' James asked suspiciously, glaring at the parchment that had been thrown back and forth between Sirius and Lily.
'Now, now, Prongs. Let's not be nosy,' Sirius taunted. James responded with a very rude hand gesture. 'Deary me, Prongs. What in the name of Merlin has got your wand in such a tight knot?'
James proceeded to ignore him.

Lily had to admit, it really was all rather entertaining. She stifled a giggle as Remus turned to look at her. 'You wouldn't happen to know what's going on, would you?' he asked her.
'Wouldn't have a clue,' she grinned, a twinkle shining brightly in her eyes.

At the end of class, before either Sirius or Lily could be accosted by their respective friends, Sirius had offered Lily his arm and the two walked out of the room amidst the curious stares of their classmates. When they sat in the Great Hall for lunch, Sirius decided that the best way to avoid answering their friends would be to eat elsewhere. Quick as lightning, Lily conjured a basket and filled it with as much food as possible before Sirius, in front of the entire Great Hall, kissed her on the cheek just as James, Amanda, Marlene and Emmaline walked in. With a quick wave to their friends, the pair walked out barely controlling their laughter.