September had come and gone in a blink of an eye. James had been taking his duties as Head Boy seriously, and that left Lily beside herself. He would even show up early to help her set up for the prefect meetings. He had the Quidditch team working twice as hard as they normally did. He was also studying with Lily in their common room during his free time. It wasn't like the years before when he would try to flirt with her claiming it was studying, he was actually studying. Of course he still made time to hang out with Sirius, Remus, and Peter, most often than not in the head quarters. Lily knew how to handle the old James, she would just get mad, yell at him, and then storm off. Lily really didn't want to admit that she was enjoying his company. They were actually being friendly towards each other.

It had definitely been the most busy and awkward month of her life. Being Head Girl came with its responsibility, however it was not without its perks. She and James had been given their own living quarters to share. It was only a few corridors down from Gryffindor Tower. The portrait opened to a comfy common room that was a slightly smaller version of the Gryffindor common room. Lily's favorite thing about their common room was the small library in the corner. It was only a few shelves, however anytime she needed a book it would be there no matter how rare it was. Lily and James each had their own room that connected to the common room. Lily's room was decorated in scarlet and gold. A Gryffindor banner hung on one side of the room with the loin in all of its glory. The room was absolutely elegant. She had a queen size four-poster bed. On the other side of the room was a door that lead to the bathroom that she as James shared. It was as exquisite! It was as big as her bedroom and there was marble everywhere. There was a wall length mirror that had claw feet and a gold carved frame. It had to be goblin made. Lily felt so small standing in front of it staring at her reflection.

Living with James had definitely taken some getting use to. They always seem to be together now. Although Remus, Sirius, Peter, Mary, and Alice seen to be with them ninety percent of the time. She was slowly starting to become more relaxed with the time that she and James were alone with one another. They were finally settling into a comfortable schedule. At this time last year, if someone had told her that she and James would actually be getting along, she would have laughed in their face.

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James was exhausted as he walked back to the castle on Thursday night. Contemplating his current situation, he thought that he had to be the luckiest guy in the world. Things were going very well between him and Lily. He knew better than to push it. This was his last chance to win Lily over and he would be damned if he screwed it up. It was a little past nine when he dragged himself thru the portrait hole. He put down his broom in the usual spot by the door and glanced up to see Lily lying on the floor in front of the fire. He loved how she sprawled out with her homework. She was wearing a slightly fitted white t-shirt and a pair of pajama pants. He couldn't image any woman looking more enticing in something so simple. He was half way across the room when she looked up from her book. He gave her a sideways grin as he fell back in the armchair closest to her.

"Practice is getting later and later James. It's a wonder that they haven't all quite on you. Or are you seducing various members of the Potter Fan Club in the locker room after practice?" Lily looked up giving him a coy smile.

James let out a deep laugh. "I wish. Sirius was late from practice, so I made him stay late and do laps. I swear he thinks that just because I am his best friend and Captain that I will let me off the hook." He started to slip off his boots. "Why Lily were you starting to worry? Miss me did you?"

It was Lily's turn to laugh. "You do wish don't you! Please, I was enjoying peace and quite for once."

"Well, next practice I expect you to be there at eight o'clock sharp in the locker room so that I can seduce you Miss Evans."

Lily raised her eyebrow at him. "I am most definitely not a member of you fan club, so you can just keep dreaming Mr. Potter."

"Well then please don't wake me up!" Wow was it his imagination or was she actually letting him flirt with her. He moved to the floor and crawled over to where she as lying. He arm brushed her as he rested next to her. "Have you done your potions homework yet?"

Lily stiffen as his arm brushed hers. Shaking off the feeling, she finished the last line of her ancient ruins paper. "No I was saving it for last." She looked up at the smile he was giving her. "Oh no you don't. I'm not going to let you copy off of my homework!"

"You wound me!" he said dramatically, placing his hand over his heart. "Not even in our next lifetime would I presume that you would do my work for me. I just thought that we could work together. I'll do my fair share. Hell maybe I'll even know what it means when we're done, instead of just scribbling the answer from the book." He gave her his best puppy dog eyes and instantly he could she that she had caved.

"Alright, but remember I know where you sleep. Will you grab my bag while you're up?" She looked up and James was already picking it up for her. He really was considerate when he wanted to be.

"Anything for my Lily"

"Don't make me start calling you Potter again!"

James entered the great hall immediately seeing Lily sitting with Mary and the other Marauder's. He sat down across from Lily giving her one of those smiles that most girls go crazy for. "Hey there McKinnon, how are you?" However he never took his eyes of Lily.

Mary look from James to Lily then back to James. She just shook her head. "Good. How about you James, how have things been going?"

James now focused all of his attention to Lily. "Why did Slughorn keep you back after class? Is everything ok?"

Sirius looked shocked. "Lily your Slughorn's little potions princess, what could you have possibly done wrong?"

"Nothings wrong. He just sad that James homework was done exceptionally well last night and wanted to make sure that he didn't steal mine while I was sleeping."

James seemed to choke and spew pumpkin juice all at the same time. He didn't even have to look up to know that Lily was now covered in his juice. All he could do at this point was put his head in his hands.

Remus and Sirius seemed to be talking at the same time; "James your Head Boy, please tell me you didn't!" and "Good one! I wish I would have thought about that sooner. Man next time you better share!"

"He didn't steal my homework." Lily said while casting a quick charm to clean up the pumpkin juice.

Once again Remus and Sirius seemed to be talking at the same time; "He didn't!"

James took his head out of his hands and looked up. He could just feel his face burning as his eyes meet Lily's. "Sorry about the juice. What did you tell him?" Everyone was now staring at him. "What is a matter with all of you?"

For the third time in the last ten minutes Remus and Sirius blurted something out simultaneously; "You just apologized to Lily." and "Dude, your blushing."

"I didn't think that it was possible James, you just got even redder. Anyway I told Slughorn that I have been tutoring you and explaining the potions. He was quite impressed, something about how he couldn't believe that someone finally go thru to you!" James was giving her that goofy grin again. "He said that if I continue to work with you that you might even get good enough scores to earn an extra N.E.W.T. for Auror training. You could test out of having to take potion in Auror training altogether." She couldn't help but giggle at the look of awe on James' face.

"I just love this woman!" James stood up leaning over the table. He placed his hands on Lily's cheeks and planted a peck right on her lips. She was so stunned that she just sat there looking at him as he turn walking straight out of the great hall.

Within seconds there were whispers all over the hall. "James just kissed Lily and he is still living!" "I always knew they would get together one day." "Do you think it was a prank." "He said he loved her! I'll never have a chance with him now!"

Sirius nudged Lily in her side. "Lily ,my darling, I think you have my best friend bewitched. No pun intended."

All Lily could do was nod her head.