Alright Evans?

Chapter One

"For god sake Lily, go to bed!!" Marlene shouted from her four poster bed opposite, sending a pillow flying. Lily was sat up with her wand lit under her quilt. Trying to cram as much information on History of Magic as possible. She pulled her index finger up to her lips, narrowing her eyes and inclining her head to the other individuals present, and asleep,  in the room, before launching the pillow back.

"In a minute" she whispered, trying hard not to wake the other three fifth year girls up. See OWLs (Ordinary Wizarding Levels) were starting next week and Lily felt she needed as much time to prepare as possible, bare in mind she only had two days, and felt like everything she'd learnt over the last 5 years had disapparated out of thin air.

Marlene fell back down aggressively, sighing loudly and clutching the pillow to her chest. Lily listened intently, and soon enough, heavy breathing could be heard from Marlene's bed.

Lily stared at the words on the page, but nothing was going in. Becoming increasingly exasperated with the textbook, she slammed it shut and decided to try and get some sleep. Gryffindor were playing Hufflepuff at Quidditch tomorrow and she knew no matter how hard she protested, she'd be dragged to the game, despite the mountain load of revision everyone should be doing.

"Nox"she whispered. As the light from her wand flickered out, Lily pushed it under her pillow for safe keeping and closed her eyes.

She tossed and turned for a good half an hour before finally pulling the duvet off in defeat. Deciding instead, to go down to the Gryffindor common room. She quietly pulled on her pink slippers and walked the length from her bed to the door of the dormitory, carefully, but quickly leaving the room.  As she trudged angrily down the final steps leading into the common room, she noticed it wasn't empty at all.

"Alright, Evans?"James Potter was stretched out on one of the squashy sofas directly in front of the fireplace, his hair it's usual messy self. "Can't sleep either?" Lily frowned, she didn't particularly enjoy the company of James Potter at the best of times, even less so when tired and grouchy.

"Shouldn't you be sleeping? Big match tomorrow isn't it?" She asked forcefully, her face still placed in a frown as she flopped into the nearest armchair.

"Ah yes, but it'll be alright" He replied halfheartedly, staring into the fire, his mind occupied elsewhere which was very unlike James.

"So..."He started, sitting up so that he was fully facing her, his hands resting lightly on his thighs. "Fancy a wander around the castle?"He grinned cheekily at her, knowing full well what her answer would be. Lily thought it over for a few seconds, but she was too tired to control her natural impulses.

"Alright" she responded. His eyes grew wide with shock, his mouth slightly open, gawking at the fact Lily Evans had actually agreed to breaking a school rule. After a seconds pause, he seemed to realize what he was doing and jumped up.

"Alright then Evans, I know the perfect place" He held his arm out for her to take, and as if to sweeten the deal, he added "They serve hot chocolate." Without missing a beat, he gave her one of his trademark winks. The one that gets all the girls swooning over James bloody Potter. Lily's face contorted in-between a frown and a grin as she battled with herself internally at his words.

"Come on Lily"  Whispered the  voice in her head, beckoning her to take his arm. With one last deep breath, pushing away the thoughts of doubt gnawing at the back of her head, she leaped up, looping her arm under his, as they both walked silently towards the portrait hole.

"Lily Evans." James stated as they started down one of the marble staircases, cautiously looking out for teachers or Peeves. "Lily Evans, breaking school rules." James looked down at Lily's increasingly red face with admiration "It's so unheard of." He chuckled quietly and Lily punched his arm playfully in response.