"Evans," James said nonchalantly, falling into stride next to Lily.

"Potter," she said in an impassive voice.

"Why won't you go out with me?" he asks, referring to the many times he'd asked her to Hogsmeade, or even to come to the library with him. And she'd declined.

"Because you're an arrogant jerk."

"Yes," he agreed. "But why won't you go out with me?"

She stopped abruptly, looking into his eyes. "Because I don't like you," she said evenly.

"You know," he replied, still speaking conversationally. "They say that love can often be misconstrued ad loathing."

"I don't love you, Potter!" she said angrily, her eyes narrowing. "I don't even like you! I will never like you! So quit wasting your time and go chase after some other girl, because there are plenty of them begging you to!"

And that's when it happened. Or maybe a moment after that. It was just about the time he let his shield down, and she got a glimpse into his soul. His eyes, so sad.

It happened when she saw how upset she'd made him. Yelling at him like that had nearly broken his heart. Why hadn't she seen it before?

It happened the moment she realized that he really love her.

At that moment, as she watched him walk back to the Gryffindor common room, holding himself together very tightly, she realized it.

James loved her.

And she loved him too.