"Do I look like I want to go out with a jerk who bewitches random people just for fun?" Lily snarled. They were just on the way back from their Care of Magical Creatures lesson and James had called her to a halt while his friends brought up the rear of the rest of the class so no one else would stay behind.

"But I don't! I mean, I know what you mean. But I've changed. I'm not doing these things any more. Because of you." There. He had spoken the magic words. And it was true – mostly. Maybe he had also grown up a bit. But mostly, it was her.

Lily looked at him, curiously and a little bit suspiciously, but at least not with the contempt she had displayed previously. "Is that so? What about Sev… erus Snape? I've seen you bully him again only last week."

"That was something else," James defended himself. Should he go and tell her that he was never going to do it again? But that wasn't true… so he told her the reason instead: "Snape's not being exactly friendly, either. He's been picking on Moony." She said nothing, so he proceeded. "He's a friend of mine, after all. Remus, I mean."

"I know whom you mean when you say Moony," she said quietly. It occurred to him how beautiful she was. Not that he ever forgot about it, but in this moment it struck him again. And she knew what they called Remus. Wasn't that a sign of interest?

Up until now, he'd always thought himself way too cool for romance. But there came a point at which things became unbearable, and he had to do something. He hadn't impressed her yet, and by now he could see why. It was time he spoke his mind, and if she didn't like it… well, at least she'd know.

"Look, Lily… I'm no good at this kind of thing," he interrupted himself and ran a hand through his hair, out of habit. But she curled her lip at the gesture and turned away. "No wait," he shouted and got back in front of her. She stopped short. "Listen. I… you. I'm. The fact of the matter is… as a matter of fact. Whatever." He raised his hands in resignation. He was never going to get this right. He'd be better off running away. But he had to look at her green eyes, green like the Forbidden Forest he and the others had been roaming so often that it was almost ridiculous to call it forbidden. She didn't like his tendency to break rules, either, did she? But he couldn't please everyone.

"What now?" she said sternly, and he realized he'd been standing in front of her silently, like an idiot, for fifteen seconds.

"I know what you think of me. I mean, that I am an irresponsible, reckless, arrogant… whatever you want to call it… and you would have been right a couple months ago, and maybe you're still right because I know well I'm not… you know… exactly a model pupil… we're different, you and I, and I mean, I'm not saying I'm the better one, but the fact remains…

Heck, I love you."