A/N: I apologize most profusely for the extreme delay in getting this chapter out. Life intervenes, as I'm sure everyone knows. Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed the previous two chapters. It made me want to keep going. I'm sorry that it's so short; it helps me get to the good stuff. And now, onward!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series. It is the property of J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., etc. It's use here is for entertainment only; no profit is being made. This disclaimer applies to all future chapters of this story.

Lily awoke the next morning with a growing sense of unease. She never thought that she of all people could get worked up over James Potter, but that's exactly what she was. He had not been in the communal common room that connected their bedchambers, so she'd had no chance to analyze the situation. She wasn't sure where they stood now, and that bothered her. Rising from bed, she gathered her shower supplies quickly, hoping to bathe and depart before James awoke. As quietly as she was capable of, she eased the door to her room open and tiptoed to the door to the loo she shared with the Head Boy. She had just enough time to seriously question the wisdom in two seventeen year-olds having their living quarters in such close proximity when a sharp pain to her forehead sent her to meet the floor

"Oh, Merlin! Evans, are you okay?"

She opened her eyes slowly, wincing at the dull throb this caused.

"Uugggh," she groaned.

"Merlin, Lily, I am so sorry. I had no idea you'd be coming in. Should I take you to Madam Pomfrey?"

Blinking slowly, the doubled vision of one James Potter gradually focused.

He was wearing a towel. Only a towel. Dear Merlin.

She gulped audibly. Luckily, he didn't notice.

"I need to get dressed. Let me get you to the sofa while I do, and then, I'll carry you there." He sounded worried and a little guilty.

She started to protest that really, she'd be fine, it was just a bump, when he lifted her into his arms. Pressed against his bare chest. Lily could do nothing but try to control her breathing. Quidditch practice had been good to him, and he was so warm, probably from the shower. She was just starting to let herself enjoy the sensation when she was gently lowered into the red velvet couch.

"Don't move," James ordered with such seriousness that she almost laughed out loud, but then her head panged, and she winced again.

A few minutes later, he returned dressed in jeans and a scarlet jumper (Thank Merlin, Lily inwardly sighed in relief), his dark hair still damp. When he started over to lift her again, she held up a hand.

"There's no need to bother Madam Pomfrey. I assure you, it's just a headache."

His sincere regret was obvious in his face. "She can give you something for the pain."

"I brought something with me from home. It's the little white bottle in the top drawer of my bureau, if you wouldn't mind. And a glass of water, please," she added.

A minute later, he returned with the bottle and the liquid and shook the bottle curiously. "No potion?"

"I'm afraid not. It's the good old Muggle remedy of swallowing a pill." She took the bottle and glass and noted with relief that it would make her sleep. This talking was killing her. When she was finished, she settled back into the couch and closed her eyes, expecting James to leave her in peace.

"I'm sorry," he suddenly whispered.

It hurt too much to open her eyes; so instead, she reached out until she found his hand and patted it rather absently. The medicine was fast-acting, but her tired brain did register the hand now holding hers before she drifted off.

She noticed two things when she woke a short while later. One, her headache was gone. Two, she was warm. Further investigation produced a Gryffindor Quidditch blanket tucked around her and no soul but herself. Before she could put a stop to such foolishness, her mind just had to go and gush about what a sweet gesture it was. Doing her best to ignore such thoughts, the Head Girl sat up and climbed off of the sofa just as her stomach growled. She had never made it to breakfast. Praying that lunch would not be over, she started toward the exit when, of course, he walked in.

Well, really, who else did she expect?

He grinned and gestured to the plate of sandwiches in his hand while a silvery cloak was over one arm. "I come bearing libations for the fair lady," he announced and tried to look pompous.

In spite of herself, Lily laughed. "This lady certainly is appreciative. I suppose I missed lunch, then?"

"I'm afraid so, dearest." He plopped down into the floor in front of the fireplace lowered the sandwiches to the floor, turned around for a moment and, "Voilà!" produced a bottle of pumpkin juice.

He looked so proud that she couldn't help but tease, "No goblets, I see."

"Damn. Knew I forgot something." He frowned.

She joined him in the floor, and suddenly paused, shocked. What had become of her? All of a sudden she had forgotten about what a prat that Potter was… and, dear Merlin, was she almost flirting with him? It didn't bear contemplating! And yet… last night and this morning… she was clear on one thing: this was certainly a changed James Potter she was dealing with here.

He was quietly contemplating her sudden stillness when her eyes met his again. She felt obligated to say something about the previous night.

"James, I–"

"There's no need, Evans," he interrupted smoothly. A wry smile graced his features. "I think that my motives are clear enough. Now," he grinned at her, "you're not going to let these lovely sandwiches that I worked so hard to procure go to waste, are you?"

Deciding to save thinking for later, the green-eyed girl rolled her eyes. "Knicking from the kitchens is hardly work."

The teasing bickering continued while the sandwiches disappeared. The pumpkin juice they swigged straight from the bottle. Several times, Lily experienced the same sensation she had felt in the Great Hall the night before, but she quickly pushed the feeling away.

James Potter, this is James Potter here, she continuously lectured herself. Oh, Merlin, why does he have to be so good looking?

Please review and let me know what was good/bad/decent and what needs improvement. I have a plan for this story, but I'm completely open to suggestions.

Also, I know that it's completely necessary for James/Lily stories (and sometimes for RHr stories, too, but does anyone else wonder about Hogwarts allowing a teenage boy and girl to basically live together with little-to-no supervision? It does make it easier to spark the two, I'll admit. :-)