Transfiguration was James’ favorite class. Professor McGonagall had a distinct way of teaching that always fascinated James. Strict, neat, precise, but with a hint of fun. Not many noticed, but when she wasn’t in a good mood, they usually transfigured rats into objects. And, when she was in an especially foul mood, they would perform special transfiguration spells on the poor animal. Her way of fun was transfiguring Sirius’ desk into a pig, because he kept snorting while laughing. No one noticed subtle hints of mischief the professor showed regularly. Except James.
Sirius never bothered with transfiguration, not interesting enough. Remus didn’t bother with it since his book was turned into a snake. Peter protested the subject after one rough class with rats. So, the three took different courses, Muggle Studies was Sirius’ favorite, and Peter had a gift for Herbology. Remus liked potions, which reminded him of mom’s work corner in the house.
Meaning James had no marauders to keep him company. But he didn’t mind. She was there. Sitting next to him. Every class.
Don’t tell the boys, but no one could be a better company than her.
Lily Evans got James’ attention in first year, when she hexed an older student for making fun of her friend Mary. It took him short time to realize she’s not one to mess with, and that she does not like hexing unprovoked. But man, she was smart. Sometimes, he would listen to her talk about potions, different ways to brew something he didn’t remember, but he would listen. She would scrunch her nose after realizing she talked for a bit. He didn't mind it once.
Lily Evans first told James’ she would rather eat squid’s feet than go out with him in second year. He was miserable for weeks. But decided to let it go. Never realizing how hard he was fancying her.
In third year, he won the quidditch cup, and she hugged him. In fourth year, she told him he was hot. Well, he read it between the lines. (“I don’t get it Remus, why would he be nervous about asking Henrietta out, as if anyone would say no to James bloody Potter”). Last year, she cried on his shoulder when she lost her childhood friend and the only remaining hope of a lasting relationship with her sister. Right before summer, she called him her friend.
It was only the second day of the term. But James Potter had a plan.
“Oi, Evans,” he nudged her. “Hmm,” she barely spoke.
“How good is that book?” she looked at him funnily, “It’s very interesting…” she began talking before realizing that she held the book too close to her face.
He chuckled, “Yeah, I noticed.”
“Remus gave me this one, apparently the main character reminded him of me.” They talked a bit about the book, Lily even laughed at one of his jokes.
“Will you two please stop flirting, I cannot focus with your bantering ringing in my right ear!” they turn around to see Marlene sitting with her eyes closed and legs crossed, in a meditation position.
Lily chuckles, “Marls, why are you meditating in a classroom?” Marlene opened her eyes and sat up, “Because, I need an O in NEWTs, so if I meditate immediately, it will happen. I just need to focus, so if you lovebirds don’t mind.” She shushed them and went back to her position.
Dorcas was sitting next to her, reading a magazine. “Just leave her be, I tried.” She doesn’t look up but continues flipping pages.
“Marlene, can you meditate for a fourth-year streak also?” Quidditch is the first thing James thinks about in every conversation. It took couple of years for him to stop nagging people about it. Thanks to Remus’ continuous snaps.
“Already did.” Marlene winks at him.
“Merlin, I love you Marls.” Lily pulls a face, “You two are-“ they shoot her a look.
-
After transfiguration, they walk to the great hall. Lily keeps fidgeting and looking behind her. As if someone is following her.
James jumps with his wand and begins walking around her in a funny pose. “Who’re we attacking?” Lily laughs, “No one! I just keep seeing this dumb black dog in weirdest places, so now I just keep a look out.”
This makes him laugh, “It’s not funny! I’m not lying!”
“I believe you!” he shouts as she hits him in the arm. “I just think it’s funny how there’s a dog who has it for you apparently.”
“Well, I am a cat person.” She remarks.
“Me too, but don’t tell Sirius that,” Lily laughs as they enter the great hall.
Her mood shifts as they approach Gryffindor bench and a familiar face suddenly appears in front of them. Tall, lanky boy with greasy black hair, and a crooked nose. His robes were green, in contrast to the red table he stood in front of.
“Severus.” Lily says politely.
“Lily, may I speak to you for a moment?” he pleads, and Lily awkwardly shifts.
“Why?” James stands next to her, looking down at Snape, who sneered at him. “None of your business Potter. Piss off.” He snaps.
“Oi, let’s not start something you can’t finish Sniv-“ Lily interrupts him by putting a hand on his chest. “It’s okay, just go sit.”
James straightens and nods, “I’ll still be there.” He shoots a look at Snape who is glaring through him.
He sits next to Peter and Remus, who’re playing chess. They didn’t see the small interaction between the three. Lily and Snape move further from table, so James can’t hear them anymore.
“I hate that bloody git.” He speaks. “We know, James.” Remus replies not looking up.
“I don’t get why she must talk to him, what is there to say? They haven’t been friends since the incident. And word around is, he’s almost on the verge of becoming a bloody death eater!” James’ furious comments don’t get a reaction from the two. Peter just snorts, “I can’t even imagine him with all those dimwits, he probably looks lost.” The rest chuckle.
Sirius approaches the bench and sits next to Remus. “I would ask why the hurdle, but I saw Lily and then James’ red face. Connected the dots.”
“I swear if he does some- “Sirius cuts him off, “Prongs, Lily is the only person in this world who I’m scared of, I think she can handle poor little Snivellus.” Remus and Peter make a face of agreement with Sirius’ statement.
“Wormtail, how the fuck do you do this! I had you cornered!” Remus shakes his had as Peter beats him in chess, once again. “At least I can beat you at something.” Peter retorts.
“So what are we doing for the next Hogsmeade weekend? It’s at the end of the month, so I think we can just go and get shitfaced at Hog’s Head.” Sirius suggests. “Sorry, already taking out Olivia, it’s her birthday.” Peter replies.
“I’m taking Evans out.”
Peter stopped putting away chess, Remus chuckled, and Sirius brushed off James’ statement, “Prongs, what?” Peter asks.
“I have a plan!” the statement resulted in a groan.
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Later that month, James was laying on grass in front of the Great Lake, sun bathing while Sirius as Padfoot chases a stick Peter throws him once in a while.
“I FUCKING KNEW THAT I WASN’T GOING MAD!!!” someone shouted from the top of the hill. The three looked up to see Remus and Lily walking towards them, with Lily’s eyes being wide at seeing Padfoot. Remus told them earlier that since Lily figured out his furry little problem, he was going to tell her about them. He trusted her enough.
“Lily, meet Snuffles.” Remus introduces them. “Oh, he is adorable!” Padfoot barks at Remus’ nickname for him.
Sirius transforms back “How dare you Moony! We had a deal about that name!” he marks with his finger in the air. None of them noticed that Lily stared at him with her mouth open.
“You know, I’m genuinely not surprised, but still, WHAT?” Lily shouts making the boys laugh.
Peter waves at her and turns into a rat, which earned a genuine screech from Lily. “Ew, ew, Peter why are you A RAT!”. She looks at the poor small animal, with Sirius turning back to a dog, the two start running around.
She turns to James, “Okay Potter, let’s see you now.” she motions James to get up but he refuses, “No, you’ll get embarrassed.” She laughs, “Why would I be embarrassed? It actually kind of makes sense, I remember each of you got those animals as you patronuses which is hilarious cause wh- MERLIN POTTER!” Prongs suddenly stood next to her tall and proud.
He switches back, “People.” He remarks, as he sees couple of Hufflepuff’s at the top of the hill talking and walking around.
“But wait, if Sirius is a dog and his Patronus is a dog, and Peter is a rat, so your- oh.” She stops.
James scratches the back of his head, a bit embarrassed. “Yeah, my patronus is a stag.” He won't acknowledge how her patronus is a doe, and how in James' mind, that's the perfect sign that they're meant to be.
She just nods. “So, Remus, I think I owe you 10 sickles.”
“What did you bet on?” Peter asks Lily. He and Sirius turned back into their regular selves. “I told her that I can tell her who’s the black dog she keeps seeing around.” Remus replies instead, taking the money Lily gave him.
“How did it happen?” she asks. “After we found out about Moony’s furry little problem, we began wondering how can we help him. Peter replied something that unless we’re wolves it’s useless, so we realized we can’t be wolves, but we can be animals.” James explains.
“So, in second year we began researching and discussing, and in fourth year we succeeded! Since then, we’ve been keeping him company during his time of the month.” Sirius beams at James’ statement and switches back to Padfoot.
Lily smiles, “So Prongs is a stag, and Wormtail is a rat, Padfoot is a dog, and Moony a wolf. How original. But I prefer Snuffles.” Padfoot barks at her statement.
Sirius ran off chasing Peter who carried a stick and Remus went on to read a book, but James’ tried to gesture him to leave somewhere. Unfortunately, Remus was oblivious. After few weird eye exchanges, Remus sighs and gets up, “I’m going to check on Snuffles and Peter, perhaps he didn’t eat him.”
Lily sits next to James. “I think it’s brilliant what you guys did. But I got to say, if I found out about this in fourth year, I wouldn’t believe you. Not because of your age, but because it’s, well, you.” She smiles.
But James didn’t fancy that statement, “What do you mean?”
“Well, you guys are ‘The Marauders’, who would expect you to be serious about anything!” she exclaims, completely oblivious to James’ distaste of her opinion.
“That’s a bold statement considering you know how much we love Moony and that we would do anything for him.” He replied a bit too stern.
Lily noticed and sighed, “I know now! But I hated you in fourth year, you were little shits.”
“That doesn’t mean we were unserious about our feelings about Moony.”
“I never said that.”
“But you insinuated it.”
Things were getting heated, so James just left it, “Never mind, what’s in the past is past.” He smiles.
“No, Potter, be serious, you guys were continuously taking a piss at everyone, why would I think you’re capable of becoming actual animals!” she remarks.
“Capable?”
“I meant-“ she stops herself. “Nevermind.”
James looks at her, “No matter you opinion of us Lily, we are at the top of almost every class we ever had, Peter is a chess legend, Sirius can recite Hogwarts: A History in his sleep, I’m a quidditch captain and head boy, and Remus is a bloody genius.” His reply was calm, but she noticed she touched a nerve.
“Didn’t know you’re so defensive of your friends.” He nods, “One of my fatal flaws I guess.” He shrugs, “I would do anything for them.”
She smiles, “A good quality.”
They sit in silence for a while, before James says one thing he’s been waiting for.
“Lily?”
“Hm?”
“Will you go out with me?”
Silence.
“I thought we were passed that stage.” She says coldly. “What stage? I am asking you on a date?” he questions.
“Bugger off, Potter, you just talked about being mature!” she gets up frustratingly.
“Bloody hell Evans, what are you talking about?! If you don’t want to go out, just say so, don’t have to insult me.” He says, and she noticed he got hurt.
He wouldn’t meet her eyes, and he got up too.
“You’re being serious?” She doesn't believe him. How could she, they never talked about how for years he's been asking her out, and she'd always say no. To her it was a joke, to him it was a way to get her attention. No one told him it wasn't the good way to do it.
“No, I’m being James.” He cringes at his own reply.
“James.”
“Yes.”
“Are you genuinely asking me out?” she asks him. He finally looks at her beautiful green eyes, takes all of his courage, and replies, “Yes.”
She didn't know what to reply. She never took his questions seriously. But, looking at his gorgeous hazel eyes, somehow she knew he wasn't messing around. Turning to him she gets closer to him, making both nervous. She looks up to him, meets his eyes, which are waiting for an answer.
Closing the gap between, she kisses him, somehow surprising herself in the act. He wraps his hands around her, and immediately kisses her back. The kiss was soft and gentle, but somehow they both felt as if it’s been a long time coming.
Pulling out, she looks up to him again, “Yes James, I will go out with you.”
Suddenly they hear claps and whistles. Turning they see Peter, Remus and Sirius standing and clapping. “Bloody hell Evans, now I own Remus 1 galleon!” Sirius barks, taking his money out.
“You bet on us?!” she smiles. “We’ve been waiting for Prongs to make an idiot out of himself again, but you surprised us.” Peter says, handing Remus money.
“Thanks, Remus, for believing in me!” James shouts.
He didn’t say anything about how Lily never pulled apart, how he’s still holding her. How it feels incredible. Almost as if this was exactly what he was made to do. To hold her close.
He looks down to her and kisses her again, just to see if its real.
And it was bloody real.