Disclaimer: All mentioned characters are property of J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 2. Turning point

No matter how much has taken place before, this story truly begins on their second week of their seventh year. Dreams had tormented Lily all through the night and so, her morning was a late one. Having skipped breakfast entirely, she ran through the third floor corridors as to make it to her transfiguration class in time. She did NOT want to be late to class on her second week as Head Girl, especially not to McGonagall's class.

It was in this moment that she saw it: a first year's bag being torn open by magic. She glared around trying to spot the culprit, but none could be seen. This time last year she immediately would have concluded that this was a Marauder's doing, probably James or Sirius, but she knew that these were no longer the pranks they pulled. Nonetheless, she was astonished to see James Potter immediately come to the first year's aid.

'Must be his Head Boy badge having an effect on him.' She immediately thought to herself. But then, what really hit her, was that James wasn't helping just any first year; he was helping a Slytherin - and wasn't even being arrogant about it.

She stood there in disbelief, not quite knowing what to think about it and feeling guiltier by the second, realizing that, even if she had befriended him, she hadn't really permitted herself to truly see him for who he had become.

Having him appointed as Head Boy had been somewhat of a shock to Lily. She thought for sure it would have been Remus, or if not, as much as she loathed to admit it, Snape. She had been happy about his appointment though, until she realized that, the head rooms that had appeared at the top of the Gryffindor common room stairs, also had a common area adjoining their rooms that were reserved for the both of them. It's not that she didn't trust him, she didn't even think that he had any feelings for her anymore, except friendship of course, but for some reason, having him in such close proximity to her sent shivers down her spine. Of course she had come to realise that she was physically attracted to him, but she never thought it could be anything more than that. She was wrong.

Because in that moment, watching him and realising how much he'd grown, she knew that what she had worked so hard to push to the back of her mind in the past months, would no longer keep quiet. Maybe James had been right… Maybe they did fit well together.

XXX

Weeks went by, Lily's feelings growing. They would talk and tease, flirt even. At meals they almost always sat next to one another, arms brushing and words exchanged as if they were sharing secrets, but that were in fact, simply ways to get closer. In class they would exchange looks and notes, smiles and winks. And when the day was over and they went back to Gryffindor tower, they would often be seen sitting with their friends, faces flushed as they tried keeping their eyes off one another. And when one of them decided to go study in the Head's common room, the other would be seen, barely five minutes later, heading up to their quarters.

It was almost two months into the term when the first Hogsmeade trip rolled around and Lily, had heard that Florence, the school's sweet, perfect and utterly adored Florence, had asked James to accompany her. Even knowing the fallouts of the Hogwarts rumour mill, Lily could hardly take it. She kept her distance from James after that, not wanting to let him see the hurt that she felt.

And so, on their very first Hogsmeade trip of the year, Lily found herself quietly sitting with her friends in the three Broomsticks. Dorcas and Marlene talking happily, completely unaware of Lily's inner turmoil.

It was only a few short minutes after entering the pub, that the Marauders swung the door open and entered, the four of them lost in conversation and laughs. Immediately, Lily's eyes shot up and fell on James. And it's with immense pleasure she noticed that there was no Florence to be seen, only Sirius, Remus and Peter. As a matter of fact, she didn't remember seeing her all day, not even when they were in line to be let out of the castle. It's with this glimmer of hope that she sat there, staring at James, and albeit unknowingly, a small smile spread across her dazed face.

James, as if sensing someone looking at him, or maybe out of sheer habit of always feeling Lily's presence when nearby, suddenly looked her way, catching her gaze and looking at her straight in the eyes. Seeing her expression, his smile froze and his stepped faltered; he had never seen Lily's look so intent, except maybe during her OWLS. And even then… this, somehow, seemed different. For the first time in a long time, James was utterly unable to know what Lily was feeling and that troubled him more then he would have liked to admit.

Lily flushed red and quickly turned away, looking back at her friends, who hadn't seemed to noticed Lily's unease. Hardly listening to their conversation, she let her eyes dart back to James, although this time, she allowed herself to hold his gaze and smile as a small blush crept up, spreading on both cheeks.

"Hey Lily-Pad!" cried Sirius, waving his hand frantically to get her attention.

"Hey Sirius'' she laughed. ''You lot having a nice day?" and even though her question was intended for all four Marauders, her eyes briskly found their way to James.

"Obviously!" answered Remus swiftly, noticing James' sudden inability to speak.

"Hey Lily" breathed the latter. Then looking to the rest of the table with a swift nod "girls". The Marauders went on their way then, finding another table for the four of them.

And even though she was desperately trying not to, it wasn't long before Lily was peering once more in James' direction, shifting in her seat and unconsciously running her deep red locks through her fingers. Of course it wasn't long before James took notice, and soon both were stealing glances from the other until finally, both were looking intently in the other's eye from across the room, paying little attention to the people they were actually with. Dorcas and Marlene never noticed, as they were now going on about some boy Dorcas had met over the summer, and James' friends were used to having him zone out when ever Lily was around. Or mentioned. Or thought of…

It was another half hour later, when Remus, being the only one that had noticed the exchange and unable to take it anymore, nudged his friend.

"Prongs, you daft mate? Get over there." he whispered so that no one else could hear.

And with that, James, without even saying a word to his friends, made his was over to Lily. He was moving towards her as if in a trance and simply couldn't take his eyes off the shy smile spread across her face. For more than thirty minutes now, he had been wondering, or hoping really, if that smile could possibly mean anything more. It was, however, with a start, that he finally took notice of the beautiful blush that was now spread over her entire face and neck.

"Didn't you have a date?" She questioned immediately. "Scared her off already?" She added with a small smirk, trying to keep the heat from her face.

"What? Oh! Florence you mean? No she asked but er… she's not… I mean, I don't. Well. No. I'm surprised you're not on a date. I was sure that bloke Aubrey would have asked you."

"Bertram? He did actually. Which is - er - quite surprising if you ask me, considering what you and Sirius did to him last time." She giggled softly in spite of herself.

"What that Engorgio hex? It was nothing..." James spluttered shamefully.

"His head grew twice his size!"

"Yeah well... You're avoiding the question!" James teased her. "Com'on! Don't give me cheek Evans, I know you had the hots for him."

"Had. Past tense. But - er..."

"But…?" Came James' drawn out question.

"But… he's just not who I wanted to come with!" Was Lily's raced reply. Her blush growing an interesting shade of red as she turned her gaze away to look anywhere but at James. With a pang in his chest, James smiled fully, all the while trying to keep control over his emotions. He didn't want to be mistaken again, not about this.

"Lily, who…" but he was cut off by Dorcas' voice coming from behind him.

"Potter. What do you want?" The girls hadn't heard much of the conversation, and even though the two Heads were friends now, they didn't want to risk a fight between the two if James seemed to be going down old paths. Of course, the girls had no idea about how close friends the two of them had become, nor did they know of Lily's true feelings. If they did, they'd be using completely different tactics.

"Er… just Head's stuff. You all good Lils?" and after waiting for a small nod and smile from her part, he continued "Ok. Good. Well I'll um… I'll see you later. Ok?"

"Yeah James. Later" she smiled taking all of him in, still blushing furiously.

And then, from the moment James walked back to his table to the moment they reached the castle for supper, Lily had absolutely no idea of what was going on around her. She could hear her friends talking as she nodded along to the conversation, but she had no idea what the conversation was about. She also took absolutely no notice of the growing frown of a student that was now watching her intently: Severus Snape. She was however, perfectly aware of James' sheepish grin, glinting eyes and growing blush as his friends laughed around him and patted him on the back.

Florence: Was mentioned in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire as a girl that went to school at Hogwarts during the Marauders' Era. Bertha Jorkins once caught her kissing a boy behind the greenhouses.

Bertram Aubrey: Was mentioned in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. It was said that James Potter and Sirius Black had once performed a hex on him, causing his head to grow twice its original size. It's unknown what motivated the boys to do so, but they were both given detention.

Dorcas Meadows: Was mentionned in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. It is unknown at what time Dorcas attended Hogwarts. However, she was an original member of the Order of the Phoenix. She died in the second half of 1981. She was presumed to be a very powerful witch, Alastor Moody stating that she had been killed by Voldemort personally.

Marlene McKinnon: Brief reference to the McKinnons is made in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. She was also mentioned in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix as well as in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It is unknown at what time Marlene attended Hogwarts but she was an original member of the Order of the Phoenix. She was killed by Death Eaters, along with her entire family, before the last weekend of October in 1981.

All information found on: Harry Potter Wiki