Lily had to admit, there were things she admired about James Potter. How he managed to be Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, a loyal friend to his Marauders, and the Hogwarts Head boy, she would never know. Another thing she would never know is how James became head boy in the first place. He was never even a prefect. Lily had to admit was that James was a good head boy. He took his job surprisingly seriously. He had even given Sirius a detention once, something that had surprised Lily immensely.
As the first Quidditch match of the season loomed closer, Gryffindor vs. Slytherin, Lily noticed James becoming increasingly more agitated. He would rant to Lily during their daily patrol about the day's Quidditch practice; what went perfect and what he was worried about for the game. She could tell he was a little stressed, but since she knew nothing about Quidditch, she would quietly listen to him tell her about all the plans he had for the team this year. Secretly, Lily thought it was adorable the way James would talk about Quidditch. He would get all excited and start bouncing around with a grin on his face, as he talked about the beautiful play he and his chasers made during practice. It reminded Lily of an excited little puppy.
The night before the Quidditch match, Lily and James were doing their normal rounds making sure the corridors were clear.
"You're going to be at the game tomorrow, right Evans?" James asked Lily hopefully.
"Of course!" She responded. "You don't think I'd miss James Potter flying around like a maniac while pounding the Slytherin team to dust, did you?" She joked.
"Well you know Evans, a Quidditch player is nothing without a good luck charm," James said. "So will you be mine?" He grinned at her expression. She rolled her eyes.
"Why don't you pick one of those 5th year girls that obsess over you? They would be a much better good luck charm than me," she replied, a smile playing across her lips.
"No one's a better good luck charm than you, Lily," he said, meeting her gaze.
Wow easy on the eyes, Lily thought as she tried not to blush. She had to admit, the new James Potter was one she could grow fond of very easily. He was kind and compassionate, but he was also the same lighthearted jokester he'd always been, without the hexing first years for fun part.
"I believe what we just had there is what they call a moment, Evans," James said, a smile spreading across his face. Lily rolled her eyes.
"Don't flatter yourself, Potter" she replied, but she was smiling as well. Why did James Potter make her so damn happy all the time?
James was up at the crack of dawn the next day. He was ready to crack some Slytherin skulls. If he lost, he would never hear the end of it from Sirius and probably Lily as well.
Ahh Lily he thought. Ever since they had become head boy and girl, James could literally feel them getting closer and closer. At first, Lily had been a little annoyed that he had become head boy. But then he had proven himself to be responsible and he took the job seriously, therefore Lily and James had been getting along. They were getting along so well that James didn't want to ruin his chances by doing anything stupid like asking her out. James was guessing that even professor McGonagall was impressed by how well the two were working together because in years previous, anyone could've heard the two arguing down the hallway about something, and then James would quickly ask her out, and Lily would say no with some smartass comment. Everyone in the school could see the improvement.
As James walked into the Great Hall for breakfast, Sirius, Remus, and Peter in tow, the entire Gryffindor house began cheering. James couldn't help but grin at the attention. He saw that farther down the table, even Lily was cheering. At the far side of the Great Hall, the Slytherins began hissing at him, the loudest of all was the Slytherin Quidditch team. James gulped nervously. The Slytherin team was mostly made up of wannabe Death Eaters. James didn't want to think about what would happen to him if he won.
Sirius clapped James on the back and led him over to sit down. Sirius did this annoying thing any day there was a Quidditch match where he tasted all of James' food first "to make sure it wasn't poisoned" as he put it. James had gotten used to it over the years; even though he knew there was no way it anything was poisoned.
"Good luck today James," Someone said behind him. He turned in his seat, hoping it was Lily, but it was just two of those pesky fifth year girls who constantly annoyed him and followed him around.
"Er thanks," James said quickly. He got up to avoid the 5th years. James liked to get to the Quidditch pitch early before a game so he could test out the environment. He exited the Great Hall into the Entrance Hall. Suddenly, someone stopped him.
"Lily!" he said, surprised.
"Hey, I just want to wish you good luck today," she responded, suddenly a little shy.
"Ah it's not about luck, Evans," James said confidently.
"I mean just be careful. You know that the Slytherins might try to..." she trailed off. James knew what she meant. It was no secret that James and his family were blood traitors. His pureblood family actively did not support You-Know-Who. This year in particular, James had escaped many close calls with some of You-Know-Who's supporters in the Slytherin house.
"Thanks Evans," James said. Suddenly he did something very brave. "Want to walk me down to the Quidditch Pitch?" Lily was taken by surprise.
"Sure," she replied. The two exited Hogwarts and began walking down.
"You don't think any Slytherin might actually try something during a game, do you?" Lily asked. "I mean with all the teachers watching?"
"I don't know, hopefully not," James grimaced.
"Well what are you going to do if they start to attack?" Lily asked, concerned.
"Hope that Dorcus catches the snitch quickly I guess," James said.
"Well maybe if something goes wrong during the game, you can give me a sign and I can try to help you," Lily offered hopefully.
"Really Evans, you would do that for me?" James was shocked.
"Of course!"
"Why?"
"Because you're my friend stupid, and I wouldn't just watch my friend get beaten to a pulp by some Death Eaters," she said, as if this was obvious. They didn't talk for the rest of the walk down to the Quidditch pitch. When they arrived, the two parted, and James went to go get dressed.
James was as proud of his team as a father would be of his son. He had two 5th year boys as his beaters, a quick 6th year girl as his keeper, another 6th year girl and a 4th year boy and himself as chasers, and Dorcus Meadows as his seeker. The team of red and gold made their way onto the Quidditch pitch to storms of cheering from the Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs, and hissing from the Slytherins. James gulped at the menacing looks on the Slytherin team's faces. They were all staring directly at him.
The game started out as any normal game would. James scored one point right off the bat. Sirius was commentating the game as he always did.
"And there goes James Potter with the quaffle speeding towards the Slytherin goal. Keep in mind ladies that he is single!" Sirius joked. "Ooh close miss on a bludger aimed straight for the face by Amycus Carrow! What a slimeball,"
"Mr. Black!" McGonagall shouted.
"Sorry Professor, sorry," Sirius apologized.
"Looks like the seekers have spotted something! There goes Dorcus Meadows and my dear little brother Regulus Black chasing after the snitch. Oh no wait never mind." Back on the field, something was happening to James Potter. Both bludgers it seemed were chasing after James.
"The bludgers are rouge!" Sirius shouted outraged. "This is foulplay, dirty Slytherins!" The microphone was suddenly ripped from Sirius' hand as he fought over it with Professor McGonagall. From the stands, Lily watched in horror as James narrowly avoided the two bludgers that were right on his tail. He swerved to avoid them and both bludgers went tumbling under the stands. James raced towards Lily on his broom.
"It seems that James is now rushing towards Lily Evans in the stands and they seem to be discussing something. Hopefully their wedding plans, am I right folks?" Sirius joked as he regained the microphone. James reminded himself to kill Sirius later.
"Listen Evans, I don't have much time," James said quickly.
"I'm going to speed on my broomstick really far up, and then I'm going to nose dive. Destroy the bludgers right as I dive because then I will have the farthest clearance from them."
"Don't worry Potter, I'll take care of it," she assured him. Suddenly, a crack was heard below her as the two bludgers burst from under the stands.
"Got to go!" James shouted as he tore away. Lily concentrated hard. She watched as James flew on his broomstick up, up, up. And then he dived.
"Reducto!" Lily shouted from the stands. One of the bludgers burst into dust. James pulled out of his nose dive right before he hit the ground. The second bludger hit the ground leaving a crater in its wake. James traveled up into the air again, but the second bludger knew what was coming. As James pulled into his nose dive, the bludger slammed right into him, breaking the shaft of the broom clean in half. James tried to stay on his broom but it raced towards the ground.
"Reducto!" Lily shouted again and the bludger splintered into a million pieces. Meanwhile, James was laying on the field, not moving. Lily couldn't stop herself. She raced onto the field.
"And Lily Evans is now racing onto the field to James' side. Don't they just make a handsome couple folks?" Sirius was saying to the crowd. Lily reminded herself to kill Sirius later. Madame Hooch was already there with Madame Pomfry.
"Yes definitely a few broken ribs, a broken arm I'm guessing, and a nasty concussion," Madame Pomfry declared.
"Will he be alright?" Lily asked anxiously.
"He'll be fine dear. He's just blacked out from the hit to his head. He will be back to his normal antics in a few days."
James awoke in the hospital wing a few hours later surrounded by the entire Gryffindor Quidditch team, Sirius, Remus, and Peter.
"Did we win?" James asked groggily.
"Actually, Dorcus here caught the snitch while you were being chased by those bludgers and Evans was saving your ass," Sirius explained.
"Where's Evans?" James asked.
"She just left for a few minutes to talk to Professor Dumbledore. She'll be back," Remus said gently. James tried to sit up but felt an agonizing pain in his head.
"Woah slow down there cowboy!" Sirius said catching him and lowering him back down.
Suddenly from behind the crowd someone timidly asked, "James?" The crowd parted and Lily was standing there, a worried look on her face.
"Hey Evans," James said groggily, raising his non-broken hand in greeting.
"She hasn't left your side since you got up here," Sirius whispered in James' ear. He stood up and addressed the nine other people around him. "Come on gang, time to clear out. James is in good hands over here, time to give him some space." Everyone left except Lily who just stood there awkwardly. Finally she spoke up.
"You drool in your sleep," she noted.
"Thanks for that, Evans," James said sarcastically. "And thanks for destroying the bludgers."
"I told you I'd take care of it, didn't I? And plus what would Hogwarts do without its prized James Potter," she joked.
"Tear itself to pieces I presume," James said. Lily rolled her eyes.
"Well take care of yourself, Potter" Lily said.
"Are you leaving?" James sounded disappointed.
"It's dinner time. Besides, Sirius is waiting outside the hospital wing eavesdropping on our conversation right now. You'll have plenty of company," Lily told him. They heard a thump from behind the door as Sirius emerged sheepishly. Lily smiled at James and walked out the hospital wing. James watched her go.
"Seems like Evans has finally taken a liking to you," Sirius evaluated.
"You think?" James asked hopefully.
"Well she did try to punch me in the face after the game for what I was saying on the microphone. That means she was embarrassed," Sirius said. James just laughed, which really hurt his ribs.
"What am I going to do with her?" He asked dreamily.
"Get some rest, love boy," Sirius said.
