The fact that James Potter had finally succeed in getting Lily Evans to go out with him was top news around Hogwarts for the next few weeks. It was all anyone seemed to be talking about. Girls would whisper and giggle enviously to one another, as James and Lily walked hand in hand through the corridors, prefect badges gleaming on their chests. The lads, however, catcalled whenever the couple approached, many tried to high five James and crude remarks were made- to which Sirius, walking a f#ew steps behind his best friend, would deal with.

James was happier than he'd ever been in his whole entire life; and he'd been a pretty spoiled, pampered, only child. Life was amazing- Prefect, Quidditch Chaser and captain, Straight O student, The Marauders and now- Lily. She completed the picture. She completed him.

"James." She said her tone serious. She pushed him towards the portrait hole. "Go." She pecked his lips with her own. "Go play Quidditch."

He whined and pulled her close, brushing her hair out of her face, leaning to kiss her. She moved her face away giggling. "Jamie," She looped a lock of his hair between her thumb and forefinger. She looked at him lovingly. "I've got an essay to do anyway and the match is tomorrow...You're the captain Potter. Don't you dare let Gryffindor down."

"Mm..." He said his nose grazing her cheek. "Say that again!"

"What?" Lily asked confused.

"My name." James whispered kissing her cheek; he rubbed his nose against hers.

"James?" She said it as a question, she looked at him and he shook his head. "Oh," She said, laughing, understanding. She gave him a mock alluring look. "Potter," She bit her lip, trying not to laugh.

James laughed and kissed her. "Goodbye Evans!" He squeezed her hand and left.

Sirius was waiting for him outside the portrait hole. "That took awhile." He commented, swinging his comet two-thirty broomstick onto his shoulder as they began to walk. "What's it gonna look like if the captain and co-captain are late for practice?"

James laughed. "I don't care Sirius man!" He slung an arm around his best friends shoulder. "I am so happy!" He grinned.

"You girl!" Sirius laughed. James elbowed him. "Ouch." He grimaced. "Cheers mate!"

"So," James said after a moment's silence. "I told you!"

"Seems you were right," Sirius nodded solemnly.

"Why you look so grim?" James asked.

"Well you've only been going out 3 days..."

"Five-!" James corrected him.

"Five then," Sirius rolled his eyes. "And already I hardly see you..." He mumbled looking at his feet.

James laughed and looked at him. "Are you jealous my little Padfoot?" James teased, ruffling his friend's hair. "Aw how cute! Ickle lickle Padfoot is jealous." He poked him in the sides.

Sirius growled straining away from him. "Shut it Prongs." He laughed.

They were walking down the grassy slope towards the Quidditch Pitch when Sirius frowned. "Remus has seemed...off this month..." He said slowly.

James nodded. "Yeah. I noticed too. It's defiantly this weekend though right?"

Sirius nodded. "Course. I can count you know."

James grinned. "That's what we tell you Padfoot." He said mockingly.

"Anyway," Sirius ignored his jibes. "I think his furry little problem is affecting him more recently." James noticed Sirius sounded extremely concerned. "Don't worry. We'll keep an eye on him!" James said as they reached the changing rooms. They entered, the rest of the team were sitting on the benches chatting, waiting for their captain.

"Hi everyone!" James said, pushing Sirius onto a bench as he tried to stand at the centre of the room to make an announcement. "Sorry we're late guys! We were er caught up-!" He hesitated so Sirius jumped in. "You were caught up, I was ready! You were too busy snogging-!"

"Shut up!" James snapped at Sirius and pushed him back onto the bench, where he whacked his head on a peg again. "Padfoot give it a rest. Now let's go practice, everyone have fun, keep it clean we don't want any prematch strains or pains."

"Wake up sleepy head!"

James woke up groggily; he sat up reaching blindly for his glasses from his bed side table. He pushed them on his face expecting to see Sirius sitting on the edge of his bed like he usually did before every Quidditch match, but instead sat... Lily.

"Lily!" He said shocked! He frowned, confused and pulled the cover up in an attempt to hide his bare chest.

"Sirius let me up!" She giggled. "He said it might be a nicer wakeup call then what he usually gives you." She laughed.

James blushed. "Yeah usually a pillow or sometimes a text book to the head, this is defiantly nicer." He smiled and leaned towards her for a kiss. She met him half way, he had meant for a peck but she drew it out longer and they ended up sitting side beside on the bed.

"Good morning Evans." James whispered bemused at the fact he was actually here with her.

"What?" She asked noticing his smile. She touched his lips with her index finger.

"I'm just in shock-wow- is this really happening? Pinch me!" Lily obliged and pinched his bare bicep, hard. "Ouch." He winced. Lily laughed and shrugged. "You told me to!"

James smiled and rubbed the place she had pinched him. "I just meant... I've spent years trying to get you to go out with me." He sighed. "And now you're here as if we've been going out months." He said confused.

Lily looked at the blankets, her fingers stroking the soft linen. "James..." She began. "It's not that I didn't like you all these years..." She sighed.

"Huh?" James sat forward confused. "What?"

"Well, I've always liked you." She blushed. "But- I never did anything because I thought it was just a crush for you... and that I'd end up really falling for you and then um..." She was refusing to look at him. "Then you'd y'know get bored and dump me." She shrugged. "I just didn't want to get hurt. But then Monday...when you came up to me and told me you..." She stopped.

"I said I loved you." James filled in for her, she nodded.

"Exactly, well that changed everything... You were serious and then that meant I could allow myself to feel everything I'd been hiding for years!" She sighed. Then blushed after thinking for a moment. "Sorry is this?" She hesitated gesturing at the bed. "Too forward?"

James laughed and put an arm around her. "Nope never." He kissed the top of her head. "Have you really liked me all along?" He said in disbelief.

"No," She smiled looking up at him. James's expression was confused and hurt. "I've loved you all that time!" She whispered.

James didn't know what to say, he was too shocked and overwhelmingly happy! He kissed her full on the mouth instead. "I love you Lily Evans!" He finally whispered.