A/N: Hi wonderful readers! I hope you like the start of this story. As the summary says, it starts with Lily making James a deal that he has seven chances to prove to her that they're 'meant to be together'. It'll be funny in places and serious in places; Lily and James growing to understand each other, with the Marauders, Quidditch, the Slug Club, Snape, the War and the Order in the mix...well, don't think it'll just be James taking Lily out on 7 dates or something. Plenty to come!

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Much love, crushed-lilflower

DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything you recognise.

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Persuasion

Chapter One

(James' point of view)

I recognise Sirius' usual knock on my bedroom door, but fail to do more than grunt at him in my state of complete indolence. I hate the summer holidays. We can't use magic, we can't go to Hogsmeade every day, there's no Evans, we're torn apart from the wonderful Hogwarts banquets, there's no Evans, we get subjected to interrogations from our parents about our futures, and, did I mention Evans isn't here? It's as if when she's away from me my energy fizzes out, and I can't do much more than lie on my bed of pain and mope. Well, except for when Sirius and I go out every night and get drunk at the local pub…but, I mean, that's my way of coping with my lack of Evans.

"Prongs?" Sirius says to me as he lets himself in.

"Mmm?"

"Still sulking, then?"

"Mmm."

"Are you going to be like this until we're back at school and you can stalk Evans again?"

"Mmm."

"The Hogwarts letters are here," he tells me after a dramatic sigh.

"Mmhmm."

Sirius hands me my letter as I remain flat on my back watching the Quidditch players on the poster above circle the pitch time and time again. I notice the envelope seems to have a weighty feel to it, weird…I haul myself into an actual sitting position and tear it open half heartedly. The usual letter, start of term September 1st (as if I haven't been counting down the days since I last saw her), and book list, (at least there are only five new ones this time)…and…something shiny in the corner…

"Sirius…" I say slowly.

"What?" he says gruffly.

I tip the badge out onto my palm and stare at it in shock for several moments. Sirius looks over at my lack of a response and follows my wide-eyed gaze, his eyebrows flying up into his matted fringe when he registers what it is.

"Oh God," he moans. "You're not going to become a good boy like Remus are you?"

"Sirius!" I say excitably, grabbing his upper arm as something amazing dawns on me. "Lily! Lily's going to be Head Girl!"

"So?"

"Me Head Boy, her Head Girl…getting cosy in the Heads common room, night time patrols around the castle…d'you see where I'm going with this?"

Sirius is rubbing his forehead wearily. "Prongs," he says heavily. "If anything, all this is going to mean is when she finds out you're Head Boy she's going to rip off your testicles."

I shudder. "Merlin…you know, you're probably right," I say worriedly. "But, this is so obviously fate. You can't deny it."

Sirius scrutinizes me for a moment, tilting his head to the side and looking pensive. Finally he says, "I think we should make a game plan. If I have to suffer another week of you acting like this, I'll commit suicide. You're frightfully depressing when you're love sick. This year you'll get her."

"That's the attitude!" I beam.

"I think we're talking about the revamping of your entire outward personality," Sirius frowns. "Can you do that?"

"Sure!" I say happily, not really knowing what on earth he's talking about.

"Lesson One: Compliments…"

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One Month Later

I stand and stare at the incredibly beauty, the glorious shimmering red, dancing in the light of the sun's filtered rays…she's truly marvellous. I could watch her all day.

The Hogwarts Express.

"Prongs, I know you're excited, but you don't have to be quite so orgasmic about the train," Sirius reasons with me.

That is a weird sentence. I start to snort with laughter very unattractively, punching Sirius lightly on the arm, when suddenly out of the corner of my eye I spot Remus.

"Moony!" I call excitably, jumping up and down on the balls of my feet and waving ecstatically. This is exactly what Hogwarts is all about; the Marauders together, the train, the smoke puffing onto the platform making you cough and stutter your way through the crowd…now, where's my Lilyflower? There she is. An electrical charge through my body, my stomach turns over and my heart skips a beat. It's amazing that even now she has no idea she has this effect on me. And when she looks at me she looks right through me…but that's going to change. She's with her Mum and Dad and that sister of hers with remarkably horse-like facial features. Moony arrives in front of me and holds out a hand politely, which is annoying as he's blocking my view of Evans. A handshake? Really, Moony?

"Moony don't be a prat," I say jokily, pulling him in for a hug. "We've been friends for years; I think we can forget the formalities!"

"I hear you've reformed," he raises his eyebrows at the badge gleaming on my chest.

"Indeed I have Moony old pal," I grin. "Not to say I won't be pulling the same old pranks," I assure him, with a side-long look at Sirius as well; I have to let my partner in crime know I'm still in business. "I'll just be more subtle about it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a lady to attend to."

Sirius and Remus salute me as I go; perhaps their warped idea of a good luck. I take lengthy strides and lurk a few feet behind her as I wait for her to finish saying her goodbyes.

She hugs her Mum and Dad warmly, but I can see the awkwardness behind the charade. It must be incredibly confusing to have two separate worlds to belong to. Her family and herself living completely different lives. I wonder what it must be like for her in the holidays. At least I still have a direct connection to the magical world; she must be completely cut off. I watch as she turns to her horse/sister, and gives her a hopeful smile. Her sister laughs cruelly and stalks off with a roll of the eyes. I'm liking her less and less. Ugliness I can forgive, but rudeness to my Lily I cannot. She should feel privileged to have Lily as a sister! How dare she treat her like that--?

"Come on Mum, Dad, let's leave the freak to talk to her freaky friends," the horse girl says harshly.

Lily's Mum gives her a final kiss on the cheek, "we'll see you at Christmas," she smiles. And with that they all move off as a family to the barrier back to the muggle world. All together, Lily alone.

"I can see you there, you know," Lily suddenly calls over her shoulder.

"What, you've got eyes out of the back of your head?" I grin.

"I saw you coming over," she turns to face me nonchalantly.

"Ah. Looking at me, were you?"

She colours slightly, and I wait patiently for her to realise. She averts her eyes from my face, perhaps out of embarrassment, and they travel steadily downwards, giving me the once over. And then they come to a halt when they scan over the badge; her eyes widen enormously, her eyebrows shoot up and she draws a sharp breath.

"What—is—that?" she jabs a finger in the direction of the shiny badge.

"My Head Boy badge," I say slowly, as if addressing a three-year-old. Why do I always act like such a prick when I'm around her? It's like verbal diarrhoea; I can't control it.

"Don't patronize me," she snaps. "I cannot believe this! Has Dumbledore completely lost it? Does this mean I have to stand you near me for the entire year?!"

"Yep," I trill. "Starting now. Shall we?" I offer her my arm like a perfect gentleman, just as Sirius told me to. Ah, here's an opportune moment for a compliment. "And may I say your arse looks smashing in that skirt of yours."

"You make me sick," she tells me scornfully, pushing past me and dragging her trunk with her. Now that's a bit much. She's so fantastically complex. I love it. I quickly recover and run to catch up, arriving at her shoulder in no time. She moans when she sees my quick reappearance.

"See, I don't think that's true. I think you want me."

She snorts and replies; "I think you need a reality check. You disgust me, Potter." I really think she's warming to me. We arrive at the doors to the Head carriage and Lily looks utterly miserable, as if resigning herself to the worst; an entire journey alone with me.

"Come on!" I clap her on the back to urge her forwards, and she seems to shiver at my touch. Is that good or bad? She scampers onto the train quick as can be after that, obviously eager to get away from me and my electro-touch. I hasten to follow, and, bracing myself, push open the compartment doors and casually take a seat opposite her. She's fiddling with the hem of her t-shirt, and repeatedly pushing her hair behind her ear even though it's already out of her way. She's very fidgety today. It must be the sexual tension.

"Alright there, Evans?" I ask, cocking a playful eyebrow.

"Shut up, James."

James?! Did she—did she just call me my birth given name? She's smirking widely, obviously fighting to restrain a laugh.

"Calm down, Potter, don't have an embolism. I only used your name. Although I suppose for us that must be something like third base," she adds thoughtfully. She just used me, her, and the term 'third base' in the same sentence. Oh, she so wants me. She's flirting with me, right here in our private compartment! At this rate I might be able to secure a snog before the start of term feast!

"Now, now, Evans, steady on," I wink.

She rolls her eyes and says dryly; "You're pathetic. I think I've made it clear enough how much I loathe you, Potter. But, since we're stuck as Heads together until next summer," she closes her eyes wearily. "Maybe we can at least go on a first name basis."

"Are you trying to say we should become friends?" I ask.

She looks murderous. I think Sirius is right; she really is going to rip off my testicles. She obviously knows I only said that to get her to admit she wants to be my friend. "Yes," she replies through gritted teeth.

"Oh, let's not play this petty game anymore Lilyflower," I smirk. She mouths the nickname 'Lilyflower' in revulsion. I continue, "You know you love me. You know we're made for each other."

She opens her mouth, but after a second or so, snaps it shut again. She's holding back from a snappy comeback? This is a moment in history! I study her expression carefully; it has changed from one of utter rage to one of far off wonderment. She seems to be contemplating some sort of plan. "Prove it to me," she says finally, her head tilted to the side and her eyes challenging.

"Prove it to you?" I repeat.

She shrugs. "If you're so sure, prove to me we're made for each other."

I blink several times. "Just to be clear; is this you giving me a chance?"

"No," she says immediately. "This is me giving you the chance for me to give you a chance."

I nod slowly. "So, how many chances do I get, for getting a chance for you to give me a chance?"

The corners of her mouth twitch slightly – I can see it, she's not fooling me, she is so nearly laughing at my incredible wit. Sadly she manages to keep it to herself, and replies; "I'll give you seven. Seven chances to prove to me that we should be together."

"Seven chances," I reiterate. That's just too easy! The Marauders and I will cook something up, and Lily and I will live happily ever after, in a lovely cottage with little Lily and James babies crawling around at our feet…Lily clears her throat, looking amused, recalling me to the here and now. I chuckle slightly and ask her; "And, just to clarify the rules of this little game, am I allowed to use any means available to me to persuade you to go out with me?"

She sucks on her lower lip for several seconds. I wish she wouldn't because it is excruciatingly attractive and is making it all the more difficult to restrain myself. One day I think I might just crack under the pressure of how radiant she is and...jump her or something. "Yeah, all right," she says at last. "No rules and restrictions. Use anything you've got."

She is being very daring. I don't think she realises what I am capable of, to be honest. Well, she will soon see that my powers of persuasion are something to be revered.

"Well then," I say happily. "Now that we've established the lack of rules; I think I shall go and consult with my boys over how best to begin!" I give her a wink, to which she cringes, and leave her to her thoughts. Just before I head off to find the Marauders, I stick my head around the door once again and call to her; "See you at the Prefect meeting, my future wife!"

She claps a hand to her forehead and sinks down in her seat, giving a very audible groan. Oh, she so wants me.

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A/N: Hope you like where this is going – review review review!