Chapter 2

Well great, I messed up again, thought James. He thought it was going so well, she was actually talking to him and he messed it all up because he didn't think before opening his mouth.

He was too upset to go and tell Sirius and the others that they could come sit with him now, he just wanted to sit there, alone, and pity himself. This was his last year. He has been trying to win Lily Evans over since the day he met her. He could still remember it so well. It was his first day, year one, and he was so nervous and excited.

When he found a compartment to sit in, he saw Lily, sitting there by herself. When he walked in, she looked up at him and smiled, a beautifully large, bright smile. Suddenly he felt like he couldn't breath, he started getting butterflies in his stomach, he couldn't talk. He knew the second he made eye contact with her, that she was the girl he would one day marry.

Now he just needed to convince her of that, before school was over for the last time.

The first couple months weren't on his side though. Lily still hadn't talked to him since that day on the train. Every once in a while, James thought he could see her staring and smiling in his direction but every time he turned to look at her, it would turn into a glare and then she would look down. It was killing him. All he could ever think about, was always her. He would dream about her, think of her instead of paying attention in class, have her in the back of his mind during quidditch games.

He even tried cleaning himself up, and she didn't seem to notice. It took him all summer and the last few months of the previous school year to start smartening up. He tried to prank less, and learn more. He was trying to be more polite, less of a jerk. For her. He even liked the way he was changing, but Sirius couldn't stand it.

"You're not you anymore! Where did my best friend go? You wont hex anyone with me anymore, you don't joke around as much, and you made house boy! I don't even get to hang out with you late at night now because you have your own dorm!"

It was true, with his change of attitude, Dumbledore and the rest of the teachers noticed enough to think he deserved to be made house boy for Gryffindor. The only reason he accepted though, was because Lily made house Girl, which meant they got to share the dorm. They each had their own bedroom, and one common room just to themselves. But she always stayed in her bedroom.

One day after his last class, James couldn't take it anymore. He had to try talking to her.

"Hey, Sirius, I think I might go to the library for a bit. Really want to do well on Professor McGonagall's test."

Sirius stopped, looked at James for a few seconds, before finally reading behind the lines. "Right, well then you better go study!" He said with a wink.

James got to the library and felt relieved to see that Lily was in there. She was sitting on a couch in the far corner, reading a Care of Magical Creatures book. It was one of her favourite classes, she loved learning about misunderstood animals, simply because she loved caring for things.

"Evans?" James said, as he reached the couch.

Lily looked up from her book, saw that it was him and looked back down.

"I'm busy."

"I see that. I just wanted to apologize. For how I was on the train. I had no right to say what I said." He said, secretly pleading that she would respond.

"You're only a couple months too late for that, Potter. But... Thanks I guess." She was looking up at him, not as cross looking as usual, but very questionably.

"May I sit down?" James asked looking at the spot next to her on the couch.

He sat down before she could answer, not wanting to hear her say no. He watched her read more of her book. He loved the look of concentration on her face. The single wrinkle it created in the middle of her forehead, the ecstatic look in her eyes.

But she noticed him watching and looked over at him.

"Did you need something?" She was starting to wonder why he was there. He didn't know what to say. His only reason was just to simply see her.

"Uhm, no. I just..." He stammered, lost for words. He couldn't even think of an excuse.

"I see. Well I do have a lot of studying to do, so if you don't mind I do like my space when I'm trying to concentrate."

He didn't want to leave. He could sit there all day watching her.

"The Hogsmead trip is next month. Go with me. Please." He was startled at his own voice, he already knew her answer and almost regretting asking right away.

"I don't think that's a good idea." She looked at him, unsure of what else to say. She was giving him a look, that he was unfamiliar with. Almost like she was sad to say no.

"Why? One of these days, you'll have to give me a chance!"

That look quickly went away, and was replaced with a half smile, half look of anger.

"Oh, I don't think I have to do any such thing. You just won't give up will you? You are so relentless." She said, "And I think you should go now, I really need to study." She looked back down at that, and turned slightly away from him.

A little hurt, James stood up, looked at her again, not getting a look back, and walked out.

The next day in Potions, James was still a little upset over what had happened in the library. He saw her sitting only two tables away, her hair done up in a messy bun, bits of hair falling all over. She always looked exceptionally beautiful the days she tried the least. That was one of the things he loved most about her. She was unique, different, more carefree than most girls. Not caring one bit what guys thought about her.

Being distracted by his thoughts, James wasn't paying attention to what all he was pouring in to his cauldron, and the next minute, a loud BANG came from inside it. It had exploded green dust, completely covering Lily head to toe, who was inconveniently walking past his table at that exact moment.

She froze, slowly twisting her head towards him with the most sour look. She walked over, grabbed the full cauldron next to his, and dumped it all over him. He was lucky that she had picked up Peter Pettigrews cauldron, so it was hardly even a potion. Just sticky, hot liquids all over him.

"Evans! Potter! Detention both of you!" Prof Slugghorn said, walking over to investigate what happened. James overheard him turn to Lily and say, "I'm sorry, no matter how well deserved, dumping a potion over another student is not allowed." He patted her on the shoulder and walked back over to his desk.

"You will both be polishing the trophies tonight."

The only thing James could think of at that moment was, two full hours alone with Lily.