Chapter 5: A Year to Change

For James, Remus, Peter, and I, our fifth year was very eventful. Besides Remus being the first one to have – and lose – a girlfriend, we had our O.W.L. exams, and your mother's and father's relationship took a huge step. You may be surprised to learn that Severus Snape unknowingly brought James and Lily together.

Not long after taking one of our exams, James and I just happened to see Snape sitting alone, and we thought it would be fun to torment him for a while. Remus had tried to talk us out of it but we didn't listen. To this day, I wonder if things would have been different if we had.

We had fun "playing" with Snape, until Lily came to his defense. I don't remember exactly what happened, since it was almost twenty years ago, but I do remember the events that occurred after James put Snape on the ground at Lily's request. Suddenly, Snape called Lily the worse insult one wizard could ever give another. He called her a mudblood, which really made James mad. A huge fight erupted, and Lily stormed off, leaving James confused. Why did Lily Evans despise him so much? James just couldn't figure it out. So, one day, he decided to ask her.

About a week after the mudblood incident, we saw Lily sitting alone on a bench, with tears visible in her eyes. James's eyes were full of pain. Even then, he hated to see Lily cry.

"I'm going to go see if she's alright." James said, and began to walk toward her.

"I don't think that's such a good idea." I said, but James wasn't listening.

"I'm going to follow him." I said to Remus, and threw James's cloak over my head.

As James approached her, Lily lifted her head weakly. "What do you want, Potter?" she sniffed.

"I came to see if you were alright." James said softly.

"Well, I'm not, alright?" Lily replied, and got up to leave. She was just about to walk away, but found she couldn't. "James Potter, what have you done?" she screeched, even though she knew perfectly well what had happened. James had cunningly place a body-binding spell on her, forcing her to stay.

"I'm sorry, Evans." James said sheepishly. "It's just, you don't know how badly I want to talk to you."

Lily sighed. "Fine, but make it quick."

"You don't realize how beautiful you are, Evans. Everything about you is perfect. Your hair is more beautiful than the reddest rose, your eyes are like emeralds, and your voice sounds like music. Everything you say is in perfect harmony. You're smart, too. So smart, in fact, I'm surprised you aren't in Ravenclaw. Not to mention your stubbornness. You're almost as stubborn as I am, but in a good way. But I just don't understand what it is about me that you don't like. Why can't you see how much I'm in love with you? Every time I ask you out, you break my heart be declining. But I keep trying anyway. That's how much I love you, Lily Evans. There's nothing you can do to change that. I'd do anything, anything, Evans, for you to love me back."

This was a totally different side of James, one I had never seen before. As Lily stared into James's stunning blue eyes, and he stared into Lily's bright green ones, I was sure she was actually going to kiss him. I was wrong.

"What could I possibly not like about you, James?" Lily said sarcastically. As she continued talking, her voice grew louder with every word. "Let me think. Maybe it's because you are an arrogant prat who only thinks about yourself. You're so full of yourself, the way you strut around school, and ride that broomstick at Quitditch matches like you own the world. You think you're cool, always messing up your hair, trying to impress me. You're a bully, and not just to Severus Snape, but to almost everyone else as well, just not as often. People don't mess with you because they're afraid of what might happen to them if they do. And then of course there's -"

James interrupted Lily by giving her a kiss straight on the lips. Several seconds passed before Lily realized exactly what was happening, but once she did, she quickly pulled away.

"I cannot believe you just did that!" she gasped, clearly stunned.

"Neither can I." James whispered.

Lily slapped him across the face. "How dare you!"

"Please, Evans!" James begged. "What can I do to change your mind about me?"

Lily hesitated. "Well, for starters, I never want to see you bully another student again. You must take kindness a step farther, and actually go out of your way to help people. Also, you need to stop being so arrogant. I'll give you one year to change your ways, Potter, that's all. If you prove to me you have changed for the better, I will go out will you and give you a chance. But it must be to my liking. Do I make myself clear?"

"Of course, Evans." James whispered and released Lily from the body-binding spell.

Lily began to walk away, but quickly stopped and turned to face James again. "Oh, and one more thing."

"I'll do anything for your love, Evans. Just name your price."

"Call me Lily." Said Lily with a smile, and she walked away.

As James stared after Lily, I quickly went back to where Remus and Peter were waiting so James wouldn't realize I had followed him. Shortly after, James joined us.

"How'd it go James?" asked Remus.

In one breath, James explained Lily's request. After he finished, Remus, Peter, and I all agreed we would help him do whatever it took to win Lily's heart.

As it turned out, James was convinced it took a lot. He completely changed for the better for Lily. He even turned himself in for tormenting Snape in Transfiguration in front of Lily, the rest of Gryffindor, and the Ravenclaw fifth years, demanding he receive punishment, and leaving McGonagall speechless. In addition, instead of bulling, James stood up for others, especially the younger students. During Quitditch matches, if Gryffindor won, James would share the glory with his teammates, instead of trying to hog it all for himself. James did countless other things to make Lily change her mind, and they did not go unnoticed by her.

A year passed. We marauders were sitting outside by the lake when suddenly Lily approached us. "Can I to you for a moment, James?" She asked.

James nodded and stood up, ready to follow Lily wherever she lead him. "It's okay, we can talk right here." Lily said.

James smiled nervously. "Did you… uh… change your mind about me?" He asked.

Suddenly, Lily pulled James closer to her and kissed him. It was a passionate kiss, one none of us had expected. Remus, Peter, and I just stared at each other in awe. "Does that answer your question?" asked Lily with a smile.

And so, James and Lily's relationship began, and they've been together ever since, even after their deaths.

Author's note: I have decided to take a short break from this story in order to write a One-shot songfic for the song "There's a place for us" about two very unique characters from Harry Potter. I'm not saying who, because I don't want to ruin the surprise. :) If you really want to know, read the story. It will be called There's a Place for Us and will be posted by the end of tomorrow, 10/20/11. Thanks. :) Oh, and don't forget, reviews for all of my stories are encouraged and appreciated. :)