Author's note: And here's chapter 3. One review would be nice so I know if someone is at all interested! Warning for some mild swearing ahead. As always, the mistakes are mine and I do not own HP. Thanks!

Chapter3: Catching Up

Madam Pomfrey cleared him the next morning with instructions to come back every night for a week in order for her to evaluate his healing progress, and also – despite his protests – to keep off his broom. His chest felt a little tight where his skin was stitching itself back together and he still had to wear bandages, but for the most part, he felt pretty good.

As James walked into the Great Hall that Friday morning he was welcomed back like a hero by the Gryffindor table. His ever loyal House had not forgotten his performance in last weekend's match and wanted to show their appreciation.

Unfortunately, his day went downhill from there.

In Transfiguration, James had not had trouble since he turned a pin into a needle his second week as a First Year. But today, it seemed like Professor McGonagall was talking in a whole different language. After being told the directions with little explanation of the theory – as it had apparently been discussed in a prior class – James approached her desk.

"I'm sorry Professor, can you explain that again?" He said a bit unsurely. Asking for extra help in class was not something he was comfortable with, as he rarely needed it.

McGonagall scanned him from top to bottom, "Glad to see you up and about, Mr. Potter. You gave us all a scare there. How are you feeling?"

James waved off the question, "Well enough Professor, thank you. But what exactly am I supposed to be doing?"

"Mmm, yes, missing a week's worth of NEWT level classes is never easy. You better start with reading chapter eight. I want a summary on it by Monday and any questions written beneath it so I can further explain. That should catch you up alright."

He nodded, "Got it, chapter eight. Thank you." And taking a seat, he began to read, trying to block out the rest of the class attempting their practical work, including Sirius whose wand kept being waved dangerously close to his eye.

James found this whole situation very unfair. He had missed five days of classes, and he hadn't even been awake to enjoy them. In fact, it felt like he had just been in class the previous day, but now he had a week's worth of assignments to catch up on.

After Transfiguration, the day seemed to develop a pattern. The teachers would welcome James back, take up the lesson, and James would sit there, utterly confused as he glanced at the rest of the class who seemed to be comprehending every word. The only exception was History of Magic. Binns apparently had not noticed James's absence and no one ever paid much attention in his class anyway. Not bothering to bring it up himself, James figured he could just copy Taylor's feeble notes. He had enough make-up work as it was, and skipping a few of Binns's essays wouldn't do him any harm. James had a theory he didn't even read their assignments anyway, as Binns wasn't solid enough to shuffle through the stacks of parchment.

"How do you do it?" James asked Remus that night from behind his pile of books and rolls of parchment. "How do you miss classes regularly?! I'll never finish sixth year at this rate. I'll fail everything and live as a muggle, sleeping in a ditch somewhere because I don't know how to do that either." Finishing his statement in a monotone voice, he let his forehead fall onto the page he was reading dramatically.

The common room was full of students, little with any school work in front of them as it was a Friday night. Remus and Peter shared a table with James, playing wizards chess while Sirius was across the room, talking up some fifth year girl.

"Don't give me too much credit there, Prongs. I usually get the lessons ahead of time. Give it here though, I'll finish that for you."

Remus made to grab his parchment from under his head, but James swatted his hand away. "Either way, you amaze me Moony. Never let me speak ill of you again. And please, let me suffer alone. Or I'll never understand this rubbish. And then I'll end up living as a muggle, sleeping – "

"In a ditch. Yeah we heard you, James. And I'll be sure to bring you a blanket. Maybe some table scraps." Peter laughed as he contemplated his next move.

"What would I do without you, Pete?" And picking up his head, James pushed his glasses further up his nose and continued reading with a deep sigh.

The night grew late, the common room emptying, the embers of the fire dying down, and next thing he knew he was being shaken awake, his head resting on the worn wooden table.

"Potter," a feminine voice roused him from sleep, "Potter, you should probably be resting in bed. You just were released from the hospital wing."

James lifted his head and blinked at none other than Lily Evans, slowly coming out of his slumber. He blinked again, not quite trusting his eyes. This would be two nights in a row now.

"What're you doing up? It's three in the morning!" she continued.

James waved at the stack of parchment and books littering his desk, "Trying to finish five days of school work in one night, of course. And clearly, I was not awake. I must have fallen asleep. Believe it or not, the theory behind vanishing charms isn't a riveting read…And what're you doing up at such a late hour, Miss Evans?" He questioned, raising his eyebrows.

Lily blushed, "Never you mind," she replied, looking away.

James smiled at her mischievously, before rubbing his abdomen and taking a sickly look upon his face, "Boy, do I feel lousy after falling off my broom, you know."

Lily narrowed her eyes at him, scanning him critically from top to bottom, "Shut up, Potter. I'm over it. I apologized and everything."

"Ah," James replied, pulling his essay back toward himself, "Here I thought I would be able to milk that one for a bit longer. You barely gave me a day, Evans."

Though she was clearly trying to suppress a smile, a small laugh came through her lips, "You shouldn't have accepted my apology then. I would have groveled if needed."

"Aww, Evans. You know I fold every time you bat your eyelashes at me."

The reply was dry, "I don't think I've ever batted my eyelashes at you in my life."

"Oh, you do," James said matter-of -factly, pointing his quill at her, "Subconsciously, you like me. It happens almost daily"

"Right," Lily said, rolling her eyes, "Now how about you let me read that over, and then you go off to bed."

James looked hesitantly from his books, back to the girl.

"Or I'll inform Madam Pomphrey you're not resting. Come on, Potter, give it here." She pressed, holding her hand out expectantly.

"I don't know. I still have a lot to do. Maybe just one more hour…"

Lily then widened her eyes and made a big show out of batting her eyelashes.

James chuckled, handing over his parchment, "You know just how to get to me, Lily. You always have."

James sat back and watched the red head as she read his essay. She was in her pajamas, plaid pants and a t-shirt with some muggle school written across the front, her hair long and wavy down her back. Yet, even with no effort put into her appearance, she looked so beautiful. This was Lily Evans, the natural beauty.

Before he could stop himself he found his mouth moving, "You know, Evans. You're really very pretty."

She glanced over at him, a hard glare in her eyes, "I'm trying to help you here. Now shut up."

"I just thought someone should tell you that."

Lily disregarded his statement and slid the paper back in front of him, pointing over his shoulder, "Just take that sentence out. It's completely wrong."

James pointed his wand at the indicated sentence, muttering a few words, and it vanished.

"Now tomorrow you could put in a nice concluding paragraph, and it's golden. It looks like you know what you're talking about."

"How encouraging," James said sarcastically, putting the stopper back into his ink well.

"Now off to bed. You just got out of the hospital. You should be horizontal and sleeping."

James laughed dryly, "From what I've heard, I was asleep for five days." But if he was honest with himself, he was exhausted, and sleeping slumped over in a hard wooden chair was not causing a pleasant feeling beneath his bandages.

"Do I need to go get Black and Remus to drag you upstairs?" She moved to get up and head towards the boy's staircase.

"Relax Evans, I'm going." He said a little too quickly, packing up his books. All he needed was Sirius coming down here in a huff, half asleep and pissed off about being woken up.

Holding a few texts in his arm, and pulling his over-stuffed bag onto his shoulder, James let out an involuntary groan.

"Give me that." Lily said annoyed, snatching his bag before James could pull it back.

"Evans, I'm fine. I really don't need another blow to me ego after falling off my broom – a girl carrying my books."

"Oh, shut up you misogynistic pig, and get moving." She swatted his reaching hand away and gave him a gentle shove towards the stairs.

Huffing, James turned away and began to ascend the spiral staircase. "For the record, I'm no misogynist; I'm a traditionalist and a gentleman. Don't expect to pay for your dinner on our first date."

Though he couldn't see her face, James smiled knowing she was rolling her eyes.

"Right, I'll take note of that."

"Not even a denial that our first date will ever occur? I call that progress."

"More like, exhaustion. You exhaust me, Potter."

James laughed and Lily smiled, and as he pushed open the door marked, "Sixth Year Boys," the sound of deep breathing and soft snoring filled their ears.

With no attempt to be quiet, James walked over to his four-poster, the one to the left of the window, and let his books tumble onto his small desk before collapsing onto the bed, the springs making a loud creak.

"Oh, it's been too long," he sighed, "my own bed!"

Lily chuckled, and dropped his bag at the foot of his bed.

"Prongs," came Sirius's groggy voice as he pulled his hanging back, "wats goin' on?"

Spotting Lily, his eyes widened and he smirked, "Oh, sorry… I'll just leave you two alone."

"Black!" Lily snapped, grabbing one of James's books and throwing it at the boy.

"Oi!"

"What's the noise?" Matt Hampton grumbled from behind his hangings.

"Nothing," Sirius replied, now fully grinning, "James just brought up a girl tonight."

"WHAT?!" Came Matt's now fully awake voice as he wrestled with his sheets to see for himself.

"You are hilarious, Black. Truly. I'm leaving now," stated Lily, marching across the room and slamming the door behind her.

"'Night, Evans! I'll see you tomorrow – I mean later. Thanks!" James called after her.

"Thanks for what, exactly?" Sirius asked his best friend, waggling his eyebrows.

"Oh, shove off Padfoot." James replied angrily, tossing another heavy book his way.

"Oi! Stop with the damn books! Those hurt!"

"Good! Now don't be insulting Evans's dignity. I'm fighting an uphill battle as it is. I don't need my best mate being a total ass."

"No worries," Remus yawned before Sirius could reply, "I'm your best mate. We'll write off Sirius officially in the morning. Once we've had breakfast. Can't make these types of decisions on an empty stomach."

"Not so fast," came Peter's voice as he blearily peaked through his hangings, "I would like to put in for that position also."

"Screw all of you." Sirius replied, flopping back onto his pillows, before lifting his face back up with a crooked smile, "Or… just screw Evans."

And there was a loud thunk as another projectile book hit its mark.

"OI! I was kidding!"