Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Only in my dreams.

This was a challenge from my sister, I can only hope that it doesn't suck.

To Sav, I hope you're happy.

James Potter was annoying.

No, really.

His life was perfect. Excellent grades, excellent looks, excellent family -- and this meant rich, to those of you who didn't know, excellent fan club of drooling girls and grudgingly admiring guys, excellent friends, excellent… everything.

So why on earth he kept following her around like an annoying lap dog and teasing her mercilessly she had no idea.

But he did. Of course he would. And he flaunted it dreadfully, too.

But thankfully, if James was the guy in Hogwarts whose life was perfect, Lily's almost rivaled his. She had fantastic friends, fantastic grades, a fantastic record which resulted in her being Head Girl, was fantastically popular and had fantastically good looks, too.

That was why, everyone gossiped shamelessly, they couldn't stand each other and they hated each other with vehemence. But it was also why, everyone muttered discreetly, they were probably perfect for each other.

Lily Evans stared at his messy black hair.

She hated James Potter more than any other person she had ever met. And she was a hundred percent sure that he hated her back with equal vengeance. When this hatred had begun, she had no idea, but they played the parts well.

Screaming fits in the hallway, never agreeing when discussing things as Head Boy and Head Girl, never agreeing when it came to politics or school, or friends. They had had heated debates on a number of topics, always ending with one of them making a comment about how asinine the other was and storming off. Lily was sure that once, they had actually argued over mashed potatoes.

It didn't matter how stupid the topic was, all that mattered was that it was a topic and they could argue about it.

Lily said yes, James said no.

James loved Quidditch, therefore Lily hated it.

Lily loved Charms, James detested it.

James abhorred Wizard Chess, so Lily became extremely good at it just to spite him.

It was just like that.

It had always been, Lily reflected.

But, she couldn't help but wonder as she stared at his hair, when, precisely, in all the hating that they had had, did she, Lillian Amy Evans fall for her sworn enemy, James Henry Potter.

She couldn't help it.

As arrogant he seemed, he was also frighteningly loyal, kind to those were in need, devastatingly smart and shamefully good looking.

And Lily Evans was only human, no matter how perfect she seemed.

"Damn it," she swore. "How can I fall for someone who will never like me back? Honestly, Lily, how can you fall for James Potter? You hate him. You hate him," she hissed to herself.

Unfortunately for Lily, a certain black haired boy had overheard her talking.

James Potter just sat there. Stunned.

Lily Evans had fallen in love with him?

How, what, why, when, where?

He wanted to leave, but he just sat there, dying to learn more.

"Yeah, right," Lily mumbled. "You hate him about as much as you hate a chocolate frog, which is, to say, not at all." She groaned. "Pathetic, Evans."

A pause occurred, in which James was thinking about turning around and shaking Lily.

"When did the whole thing start, anyway?" Lily mused. "Oh, no, better question -- when in all the hating and arguments that James, I mean, Potter, I mean… shut up," she mumbled. Then she sighed.

"When did this start?" She thought about it, thinking aloud.

"I hated him first year, second year, third year, fourth year, fifth year… no, wait. There was that one really weird time when I looked at him and thought Potter is extremely good looking, and Abby nearly whacked me on the head for thinking asininely.

"But that doesn't mean I liked him, I was just appreciating his… physical…" she coughed, "attributes." Then she snorted. "So I thought James Potter was insanely hot. Big deal. All the females in Hogwarts do, which would explain his enormous ego.

"But when did I begin to notice that he wasn't a big headed, stupid, ignorant, spoiled prat?" Lily wondered. "Because if you ask me, that's pretty much James. Potter. James… whatever," she said again with a sigh.

"Sixth Year, I saw him help Longbottom from those slimy Slytherins. I actually saw him hex Snivellus… I mean Snape," she corrected, "but it could be construed as kindness… in the biggest sense of the word."

"See, he's rubbing off me in the worst way possible. Snivellus, for Merlin's sake. Probably came up with it with those Marauders.

"And about those friends of his. Peter is pretty much just… there, so no complaints, except he reminds me of a mouse.

"Remus Lupin… there is the fact that he's a werewolf. But that's not a big deal. I mean, of course it is a big deal, but he's actually studious and responsible, and probably the most sensible of the four.

"And the only one who could actually rival James with his pranks, the great… or at least self-declared great… Sirius Black."

Lily rolled her eyes and twirled a lock of her hair with one finger. "If you ask me, they gave him the wrong name. Sirius Black should be Prank or Dupe, or… something along those lines. It would suit him better," she snickered.

Then she sobered. "But… it was his loyalty to those people which I noticed in the first place, so I should hate them all for getting me into this damn position.

"In love with James Potter. I think I'd be better off dead. Because at least," she rationalized, "if I'm dead, I wouldn't have to deal with James hating me.

"So I didn't deal with the whole hatred thing too well, screaming at him today that he was a fool to the highest degree and a bacchanalian fool, at that." She winced at the memory. "But he provoked it," she defended herself to… herself. "Or… did I?" she wondered.

"I did hit him with that pudding cup." She frowned. "But he didn't know about it. Unless of course, he saw it, which only makes things worse. Because hitting him with a pudding cup can only increase his hatred for me."

Then she sighed and dropped her head on her hands. "The sad thing about all of this," she whispered to herself, "is that despite fighting with him every single day… I'm still so bloody and desperately in love with him. And that just makes the whole thing worse."

The bell rang and it was a resigned Lily that left the classroom.

James sat there. He was completely and totally thrown.

He should feel… disgusted at news. He should want to throw it in her face triumphantly and taunt her and make fun of her.

But he didn't.

He wanted to find out if it was true. He wanted to shake her and stare into her emerald eyes and ask her, point blank, if she loved him. He wanted to… kiss her.

His jaw dropped.

He wanted to kiss Lily Evans?

He hated Lily Evans.

He hated Lily Evans.

He hated Lily Evans.

He… he… he… loved Lily Evans.

"Oh. Bloody. Merlin," he cursed, saying a few more colorful words, before bolting out of his seat.

"What's up with Prongs?" Sirius Black asked his friend Remus Lupin, the two of them having had seen James cuss and bolt out of his chair incredibly fast.

"It probably has something to do with the fact that he just found out he's in love with Lily Evans and vice-versa," Remus said, copying some of the notes left on the board.

"What?" Sirius said, standing up.

"Please, Padfoot," Remus snorted. "This has been a long time coming. I've predicted this since… well, Fifth Year."

"And you didn't see it fit to tell me?" Sirius demanded, highly insulted. "Me, one of your best friends."

Remus gave Sirius a look. "Please. Stop overreacting and acting like a girl. And if you really want to see this drama unfold, follow James. It'll be interesting," he advised, before turning back to his notes.

"Like I'll go and invade on his privacy," Sirius snorted. After a few seconds, he bolted out of the classroom, muttering, "It can't hurt to try."

Remus smiled in satisfaction. "So predictable. Just like James. And Lily, for that matter."

"Evans!" James called. "Hey, Evans!"

"What do you want, James? I mean, Potter," Lily covered up.

"I... I... I want to try something," James blurted out.

"So?" Lily asked tiredly. "You've never asked for my permission before."

Well, I should this time, James thought. "It kind of has something to do with you."

"What?" she asked. "And hurry, because I'm not in the mood for this right now."

"Is it okay," James ventured, "if I just... show you?" He swallowed.

"Do it and do it fast."

James merely complied with her request.

"What are you doing? Are you criminally insane?" Lily hissed at him, shoving his chest.

"Possibly. Are you?" James demanded.

"I'm not the one who kissed my mortal enemy, so I'd say my chances of being sane are far better than yours," Lily growled, pointing an accusing finger at him.

"You're just the one who fell in love with your mortal enemy," James said slowly, watching and waiting for her reaction.

The surprise was there. The horror was there. The desperation to hide the truth was there, too.

But the denial of the fact was not, in fact, there at all.

So James said what had to be said, which, coincidentally, was precisely what he felt.

"I must be insane, too," he mumbled, staring at her eyes desperately. "Because... because... I kind of... might have... accidentally... not on purpose..."

"Say it already," Sirius moaned.

"Mighthavefalleninlovewithyou," James spat out hurriedly.

Lily's jaw dropped.

"Yeah, so there it is..." James grinned sheepishly at her. "And... so... I should go now and hide to prevent myself from furthur humiliation." He backed away.

Lily grabbed his arm. "Wait."

"What?"

"You're... in love with me?"

"I think I just said that, so yeah," James said slowly.

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"That's..."

"Freaky?"

"Kind of."

"THanks."

"Well... I might sort of..."

"Be in love with me?" James provided hopefully.

"No, of course not," Lily spat out.

"Oh."

Then she sighed. "Well, yeah. I must be a fool."

"A bacchanalian one?" James asked mischievously.

"You overheard the whole thing?" Lily gasped. "And you... you... OHMYGOD. I hate you. Hate, hate, hate you."

"Talk about conflicting emotions," James observed.

"Well, you could make it up to me," she reflected.

"How?"

She grinned a very unlike Lily smile. "Kiss me?"

"Why not?" James grinned wolfishly.

The entire corridor cheered and they all seemed to be thinking, "Finally."

Save for one disbelieving individual, by the name of Sirius Black, who, upon seeing his best friend snog his worst enemy, said, "Who'd a thunk it?"

Fate. That's who.

Hopefully, it didn't suck too much. I, personally, blame my sister for making me do this. :)) Just kidding. Anyway, how about a review? I'll send you all cookies, brownies and ice cream. :))