Chapter Two

Lily Evans awoke to a quiet common room. It was an early Saturday morning and most of her housemates were still snoozing in bed.

She felt a small nudge at her knee and looked left to see a house elf standing beside the couch holding a tray of sweets.

"Mr. Potter asked these to be brought up to you", the little elf smiled cheekily. He handed Lily the tray filled with treacle tarts, her favourite.

"He wanted this to be brought to you as well.", the elf handed Lily a small piece of paper, gave a little curtsy and hurried away.

The note was scribbled in James' messy handwriting and it read,

"Falling asleep on the couch and missing rounds huh Evans? I must say the boys and I must be a good influence. Here's a tray of tarts I made for you, thought you might want them."

Lily gave a small, uncontrollable smile. Suddenly she was struck with a realization. He made them? She stuck one of the small goodies in her mouth and immediately flushed. They were amazing! They melted in your mouth in just the right way and the amount of sweetness was just right. "He made these?", she murmured to herself.

Lily Evans had always been a curious person so it was no surprise when she suddenly found herself in front of the tapestry that concealed the doors to kitchen. Pushing the art aside, she opened the door.

James Potter stood amongst the elves, chatting and singing merrily. Evans watched with interest as James flipped a pancake expertly while humming to himself.

"Billy did you bring up the treats to Miss Evans?", James asked casually.

"Yes sir! I must say she seemed to love them.", the elf gave a small smile and nudge to his companion.

"I did."

Everyone in the kitchen whirled around to find Lily at the door. A couple house elves began smiling giddily to each other while others pulled her inside.

James smiled at Lily softly and continued flipping pancakes, "I'm glad you did Evans.".

"I never knew you could cook."

"I never knew you could miss rounds."

"Touché.", Lily laughed as she popped another tart in her mouth.

"Well, I best be going.", James said with a half-hearted smile. He grabbed a tray of food and left.

Lily gave a questioning look to one of the house elves. He simply shook his head.

"He makes food for his friends each Saturday and brings it up to them.", offered a small elf.

"That's not what she was wondering.", an older elf said pursing her lips together.

"Wait James slow down!", Sirius popped another strawberry into his mouth. "Evans was what?"

"She was asleep on the couch and I gave her a blanket and cooked breakfast for her.", James sighed as he lay on Remus' bed since he had yet to retrieve his own bedding from downstairs.

"Did she like it?", Remus inquired peering at his best friend from behind his book.

"She said she loved it."

"Now you're wishing you were the breakfast.", Sirius whispered loud enough for only Remus to hear causing him to snort into the pages of his charms book.

"What's the problem with that?", Peter asked while munching on a waffle.

"Everything!", James exclaimed. "She's supposed to hate me and hex me and stuff not go down to the kitchen for Merlin knows what."

"Lily has free will to go wherever she likes James.", Remus reasoned in an even tone, "Also aren't you two friends?".

"Yes but..it..it's different!"

"I think Prongsy here still has a thing called hope for Prongsette.", Sirius said as he groomed his hair in a mirror.

"I don't!", James argued as he rolled his eyes.

"She's rejected me so much, I'm surprised she talks to me.", he sulked.

"Prongs the fact that her coming down to the kitchen and being civil with you bothers you.."

"I don't have a thing for Evans!"

"You have a thing for her.", all three of his best friends chorused.

"Shut up.", was James' only reply as he buried his face deeper in Remus' pillow, "She's never going to love me anyways."

"He made breakfast for you?", Marlene McKinnon squealed as Lily recounted the events of the morning to her best friend. "Who knew Potter was such good husband material?"

"Marls he's not.", Lily sighed.

"I mean the look is more than enough but he cooks? Cooks well? Voluntarily?", Marlene smirked at Lily.

"He doesn't look that great.", Lily muttered.

"Then come with me to the quidditch match tomorrow and I'll prove you wrong.", Marlene knew exactly how to push her best friend's buttons and she was going to use it to her advantage.

"Fine! Ten galleons on it!", Lily huffed sticking her hand out.

"Ten it is.", Marlene smirked shaking Lily's hand. "Although Lils how we'll orchestrate this bet is going to be complicated."

Lily's eyes widened realizing what she had done. She had made a bet..to do what exactly? Decide if Potter was good looking or not?

"What the bloody hell!", she cried stomping her foot as Marlene sauntered away laughing.