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Chapter One – Ignorance

A week into Lily's seventh and final year at Hogwarts and it had been a fulfilling time for the new Head Girl. Strolling down the hallway passing her favourite subject Charms, Lily made her way to the Heads' department to do some Transfiguration homework and then to go straight to bed. Although it was a Friday night, Lily felt the need to have some time to herself tonight.

Happy that the week had gone without any hitches, Lily had much to ponder on Dumbledore's appointment of James Potter as Head Boy. From her experience of Head duties so far and of living with him and only him, James was not acting the way she had expected and that disturbed her.

I will figure him out, Lily mused, preferably when reading my book which has been laying in my trunk, and having a hot bubble bath…a hot bath…what a luxury. Lily usually preferred a shower since at home the Evans' household had only one bathroom and it was both economical and a time saver, yet sometimes a girl needed pampering.

Reaching the fourth floor at last the red haired Head Girl stood and gazed at the portrait that guarded the dormitory as she always did. It was beautiful painting of a medieval couple: the man was tall with dark hair and dark eyes and had a look of wisdom and courage in his features, his hand placed gently on the shoulder of a luminous blonde woman with lively blue eyes who seemed to have the spirit of intelligence. However it was the loving expression between the two that captured Lily's eye and which made her pause every time before continuing through to the common room.

She sighed and her heart dropped a little as she wished she was in the tight embrace of either her Mum or Dad. Feeling the depression seeping through her body, Lily shook her head and whispered, "Lemon Drops".

The couple nodded solemnly and smiled before the portrait swung inwards to reveal the red room with two couches and a table, plus the warmth of a burning fire. Slipping into the room, Lily noted the silence which filled her as the opening closed behind her with a click. Her planned night now looked very lonely and wrong. Taking a deep breath, Lily willed herself to stop feeling sorry.

Look at yourself, she scolded, as she made her way to her room, millions of people are starving everyday and here you are being blue about not having someone to love!

Returning quickly from her bedroom, with a fluffy towel and her blue pyjamas, Lily was too busy juggling the objects to notice that her path had been blocked. In fact, it wasn't until she ran into the solid wall – a very wet solid, smelling of sweat and leaving mud on people that came into contact with it. Shocked out of her reverie, Lily took a step back.

"Potter."

James turned around, stopping his journey to the bathroom at the call of his name. "Lily", he smiled in response, "sorry I didn't see you there…mind was occupied."

Noting his appearance, it was obvious that James had come straight from the Quidditch pitch and that it had been a gruelling training session. Lily was amazed that Potter had the strength to walk all the way back from the grounds. The amount of time that the Gryffindors put into their team playing was tremendous as well as crazy.

"Is not early to start training?" Lily enquired as she realised that her bathing might have to be put off for another night.

Embarrassed by the cool tone of Lily's voice, James rubbed the back of his neck with a muddy hand. He felt like he was a child again being caught doing something naughty when Lily looked and spoke to him in that way. It was the voice she has used many a times in fifth and six year when she was a Prefect.

However he hadn't done anything wrong. Well, except …maybe staring at her shirt that has three of her top buttons undone, which shows that she is wearing a black bra. Looking back at her face from staring at the red carpet he said, "I thought that by preparing them in the autumn I might give them a little slack in the winter."

Again astonished by Potter's thoughtfulness, Lily was stuck for words. However she was saved by James finally noticing the bundle in her arms.

"Were you going for a bath?" he asked, taking a step back from the bathroom door.

"Well…I …that is…you should" Lily stuttered, which James found endearing and again moved further back.

"It's fine Lily", James motioned his hands for her to move in front. "I need to clean my broomstick and guards and there's no point doing it when I'm clean."

"No… that's ok…I can wait", Lily said with a little more composure yet did not move backwards. Lily bit her lip from the temptation of going first and James' kindness.

Got to think logical, Lily will only accept logic thinking, James' head started the mantra. "Lily, do you really want to wait for twenty minutes to have a bathroom that is going to stink of 'boyness' and if you haven't noticed by now, I'm not the tidiest person in Hogwarts".

Again, James allowed his face to crack a lopsided grin at the red head standing in front of him, as his view on the matter filtered through her mind. He loved watching her emerald eyes – it revealed everything to him about Lily Evans.

And for over a week he could tell that Lily was constantly being staggered by James' actions. He was secretly pleased by her reaction. He was trying to show the girl that he had loved since first year his true side and maybe, just maybe if he was successful she would at least allow him one date…

"Are you sure?" questioned a slightly flushed Lily, with eyes sparkling at the thought of a shower. I'll have a bath tomorrow.

"Of course!" James gave a flourishing bow, "Go ahead my lady."

She narrowed her eyes slightly at his dramatics but her rising anger evaporated when she realised he was completely solemn. "How can I repay you kind Sir?" Lily gave a small curtsy.

James smirked and stroked his imaginary beard. "Mmmmhhhh". He clicked his fingers, making Lily jump from her intent stare at his handsome face.

"Do you mind if we play a game of chess?", James could see that Lily was about to think of an excuse so he continued quickly, "you see Sirius and I have this ritual of a chess match every Friday, however since I have moved in here Sirius has decided that since I have broken the first Marauders' code he is punishing me by going out on a date tonight. Please? I'll go easy."

He gave Lily his puppy eyes and pouted, which made Lily's mouth twitch in the corner. "Who said that you had any chance of winning in the first place?"

James smiled at the retaliation. He adored Lily's fierce spirit. It's the red hair gene…I wonder if our children will have red hair…they would be beautiful…James drew his thoughts away from his hopeless dreams.

"Is that a challenge Miss Evans?"

"You're supposed to be the clever one of the infamous Marauders", Lily taunted, "scared Mr Potter?"

"Not even close." James moved to Lily, inching his face closer to hers so that he could stare straight into her green eyes. "What's your answer Lily? Game?"

"Be ready to be conquered" Lily side stepped and entered the bathroom. "But first the shower is calling."

When the door finally closed, James allowed a huge grin to erupt over his handsome face. It was very rare indeed, and many girls at Hogwarts were very envious that Lily Evans was the only source that caused such a display of gorgeousness. Not that she would see it of course, James made sure to hide his lovesick happiness away from the Head Girl as for the last seven years he had experienced many a misunderstanding between what Lily saw, and the rest of the school body.

Shaking his head in disbelief, Prongs made his way to his room to shed the muddy Quidditch robes and clean his gear properly. However he paused on the way up and turned around to point his wand at the table situated in the middle of the room and cast the familiar spell to call on his chess board. With a slight whizzing sound followed by a small pop, a black and white marble chess set stood to attention. Completing the task, the Head Boy continued to his room.

Lily tied her wet, red hair up once again to avoid the droplets running down her back. She knew it was foolish to do so since the water would only be soaked in by her pyjamas and the fact that she had several towels in her room that she could have easily used. Nevertheless, the urge not to actually move from her comfortable position on the couch in front of the fire and the chessboard succeeded, and there she sat waiting.

Crossed legged and burrowing her nose into her clean fresh pyjamas made Lily smile softly. She was content with the whole world at this moment but she didn't know why and was quite puzzled by her rapid change from having the blues to blissfulness. Must have been the shower, she mused as her ears picked up at the sound of the bathroom door opening.

In seconds Potter appeared on the opposite couch with red trunks and a white t-shirt printed with 'Quidditch rocks!' across the front. Lily lips twitched as she read it. Could that boy think of anything else! I wonder what James would have turned out like without Quidditch. Lily seriously pondered this as James settled himself and flicked his wand for two hot chocolates with whipped cream on top to appear.

"Here you go loser", jested James as he handed her a cup, "thought I might soften the blow now."

Lily raised her eyebrows in acceptance and query, which brought another smile to James face. He knew that he shouldn't bait her with his words but it was a hard trait to break since it had been the only way to communicate with the beautiful witch since the beginning of Hogwarts.

Silence fell over them as they tried to stare each other out. Lily had an ace up her sleeve, James found it infuriating when she wouldn't speak. Several times in the past, he had stomped off throwing his hands up at the area and cursing all the way down a corridor and out of sight. However this time she didn't want him to leave. Before she could digest that particular thought, James interrupted, "Ladies first."

He indicated the board with his large, lean hand. Lily allowed a smile to cross her usually blank face. "Always the gentleman I see", she said.

"My mother raised me with manners", James said shaking his head sadly. "I'm doomed for the rest of my life to be chivalrous to the opposition sex."

Lily's smile widened before muttering, "Shhh…I'm trying to think."

"It's your first move!" exclaimed James, laughing at the petite girl.

"But crucial, so please be quiet as you are distracting", stated Lily as she bent her head in serious mode.

With a quirk of his lips, James remained silent throughout the game, allowing Lily ample concentration. The night went on, ticking slowly by as three games of chess were played in the Heads' common room. Lily won the first one while James gained the second. He sheepishly admitted that he was taken by surprise by Lily's moves in the first.

The last game was in hand, and both were nearly calling stalemate. However in a leap of imagination James pulled off an incredible move.

"Checkmate!" he crowed.

"I can't… that is to say…how is that?" Lily sputtered words out as her mind raced through the game strategy.

"I must say", drawled James slowly, savouring his win, "I did draw inspiration from your pyjamas."

Confused beyond belief, Lily stared at her night wear with complete bafflement. She watched for several seconds on seeing the number of frogs jumping upon different lily pads. Not understanding the importance that her wizarding pyjamas made in chess, Lily stared blankly at James, wanting an explanation.

Her eyes were wide and bright as they focused on the Head Boy who secretly thought they were like emeralds. He never fancied the colour green; it had reminded him of Slytherin, until he spotted a red headed first year with large green eyes. Captivating - the only word for them.

With his warm hazel eyes on Lily's face, he carefully reached out and pulled her right arm and straightened it out. With his index finger he followed one frog; moving all the way down from her shoulder to her wrist. "You see" he said softly, almost in a whisper, "I forgot that the Knight could jump around."

Lily's eyes blinked away from his as she realised his answer. Of course, so simple yet a winning combination, Lily mentally slapped her head.

"You forgot what your pieces could do?" asked Lily dumbly.

James mumbled something sounding like "I was distracted." However Lily did not push any further as she was slightly hurt at not getting one up on the famous James Potter who was brilliant at everything. What was worse was that he never made a big deal of it either, while Lily would run to her friends to tell them her perfect marks. Although in her defence she only gloated for five minutes.

"Well, it seems that you have won this round" Lily said, slightly dejected and not able to hide the disappointment in her voice.

"If it makes it any better I have been playing with Sirius since third year and not once has he never managed to win against me" James stated. "I was actually shocked that you won the first game, I haven't been beaten for years."

"You are too kind Potter," Lily rolled her eyes at his attempt soften the defeat. She stood up and started to walk to the stairs, heading for the comfort of her bed.

"No seriously Lily," he said while grabbing her shoulders and turning her to him, "if you breathe a word to this to Padfoot, I might have to break my code as a gentleman and prank you…James Potter never loses to chess."

She laughed at the determination in his face. "Your secret is safe from me. However, I want a rematch!"

"Deal", James nodded solemnly as he held out his hand. Lily placed her hand in his tight grasp and shook on it. With a final look, Lily went to her room.

A tapping noise could be heard from inside James' room. Racing up to the window and unlatching it, his pet owl Morgan flew in and landed on his bed. James handed his pet owl a piece of a sugar quill, patting it slightly before it flew out again.

Un-rolling the note, James visible grimaced.

What do you mean you can't play chess with me! I swear Prongs you're turning into a law abiding student. I won't stand for it!

Your ever trouble-making friend

Sirius

P.S. you own me big time for allowing you to spend 'quality time' with Evans.

As James chuckled at the end of the note, he whispered to himself, "She is completely ignorant of my feelings for her".

XXXXX

Do you think this is a good beginning? Thoughts please!