A/N: Time for another moment …

Early summer sunlight flooded the Gryffindor common room. All around, students were hunting for the last of their belongings and dragging their trunks down the stairs. The Hogwarts Express would be leaving in just under an hour – it was time for another summer.

Lily Evans stood by the portrait hole, trying to stay out of the way of the frantic students scurrying around her. She'd been packed for the past two days, ready to spend the summer at her friend Alice's. Things were getting less safe every day in the wizarding world, and Lily and Alice's parents had both decided it would be better for her to stay with a magical family. She would be better protected there, just in case the whispers of danger became more real. Lily had argued at first, saying that surely the safest place for her to be was in the muggle world, inconspicuous and out of harm's way. But after a few attacks on muggle-born witches and wizards and their families, she realized the safest thing for her family would probably be if she stayed as far away from them as possible. It was a sad thought, but Alice's continual buoyance and excitement about the summer was contagious. Lily couldn't help but look forward to it, just a little bit.

Summer also meant a few glorious months of freedom from James Potter. He'd behaved himself a little bit better this year, that much was true. But Lily still didn't trust him any further than she could throw him. In fact, she had a sneaking suspicion that his new and improved behavior was all just part of some elaborate rouse to lure her into a false sense of security. It sounded paranoid, and she knew it. But really, what other reason could there be for him to start displaying a level of maturity higher than a five year old's?

Lily shook her head. No point in dwelling on it. Even if she did miss his stupid proclamations of love just a little bit. It had nothing to do with him, she told herself. It was just that she'd gotten used to it over the past few years. That was all …

As if on cue, James came bounding down the stairs of the boys dormitory, magicking his trunk along behind him. Lily rolled her eyes – of course James would be taking advantage of the last few hours they could legally perform magic. He let his trunk down lightly next to the fireplace just as a loud thump resounded through the room.

Turning to the stairs of the girls' dormitory, Lily spotted the source of the noise. A first year crouched down on the floor and immediately began trying to gather the contents of her trunk, which had spilled out at the bottom of the staircase. Lily guessed she had tried to get her belongings down the stairs with magic, but couldn't maintain the charm for long enough. The girl looked like she was about to cry, and some of the younger boys were pointing and laughing at her. Just as Lily was about to go and ask if she needed help, James rushed over.

"Have a little trouble?" He asked kindly, beginning to pick up the odds and ends on the floor, "Same thing's happened to me - a couple times, in fact. One time," he added, his voice turning into an exaggerated whisper, "My underwear even fell out of my trunk. Oh, the humiliation!" He gave a false swoon of embarrassment, and the girl giggled. Everyone else began to go about their business, and the boys stopped laughing the moment James started to help her – if James Potter was being nice to someone, then everyone else would be nice too.

Lily couldn't help but smile as she watched James help the girl with the last of her things.

"Come on," he said to her, "I'll wingardium leviosa this down to the great hall for you. Sound good?"

The girl nodded, staring up and James with wide eyes. Lily was pretty sure someone had just developed a crush … she just didn't know if it was her or the first year.

As James guided the trunk out of the portrait hole, he caught Lily's eye.

"That was really sweet of you," she remarked.

James shrugged, "You'd do the same," he looked at her for a moment, and Lily felt herself beginning to blush.

"You'd do the same," James repeated, a little more quietly, "That's one of the things that makes you so wonderful, Lily." He cleared his throat then, noticing that the first year was looking up at him expectantly.

"Onward, fair lady," he announced loudly, "To the great hall!"

The girl laughed again, and the two of them exited through the portrait hole.

Lily remained where she was, wondering if perhaps she hadn't misjudged James Potter, just a little bit.

She was starting to worry she might miss him this summer.

A/N: Reviews, as always, are wonderful!