Prologue

Minerva McGongall sat in her office, pleasantly scanning over 
the reports Kathy Ravenson wished for. She smiled as her eyes 
passed Lily's grades in Charms, she was on top of her class. In 
Transfiguration, which Professor McGongall herself thought, 
Lily came in second, behind the well-behaved Joanne Kay. 

Professor McGongall was a strict teacher, so none any 
nonsense annoyed her greatly, and her smiles were rare. Yet 
they were usually directed at her most rule-braking 
pranksters, or young Lily Ravenson, who was always unusually 
still or quiet. Sometimes, she wished that she could add Lily to 
the Potter gang, and get a great bunch of mild pranksters, just 
like a potion. Add one thing to another and you get an evened 
out reaction. Yet, she had her doubts, probably because she 
was not very good with potions.

Her gaze stopped when Professor McGongall reached the 
report Madam Hooch wrote. 

She just doesn't try, and when she is on a broom she can't 
relax enough to accomplish anything. I don't know what to do, 
and the Slytherin fourth years aren't helping by teasing her so 
much. 

This was not good, in fact, this was very bad. Lily's mother, 
Kathy had asked that one of the teachers writes a report about 
Lily, and since Professor McGongall was Head of Lily's house, 
Gryffindor, she was the one doing the job.

One thing the Professor was certain off was that Lily's mother 
took every single setback in Lily's schooling as a personal 
insult, and punished Lily constantly for it. 

There were three weeks before she was to mail this report to 
Lily's mother, just as Lily went home for the break. And if Lily 
didn't learn how to comfortably fly by then, she was not going 
to enjoy her holiday. 

Well then, maybe her potion was going to work anyway.

Part 1: Telling

James Potter, the Gryffindor seeker, Quidditch captain, a 
Prefect, an amigus (although Professor McGonagall did not 
know that), top of his class, and a downright handsome 
prankster entered Professor McGonagall's classroom, just as 
she was about to tell the students in her fourth year class how 
to turn a quill into pigeon.

"Professor, you said you wanted to see me?" He asked, looking 
around the class, and noticing a red-head in the first row who 
had the tip of her perfect nose inside a book. 

The rest of the class was looking at him, the boys eyeing him 
with jealousy, and the girls drooling.

"Yes James, but first, do you know how to turn a quill into a 
pigeon, some people are having trouble here".

But before James could answer, Janna Key stood up and said 
"Quill to a pigeon, I should have no problem with that".

Professor McGonagall frowned at that, thinking that Janna 
should have been a Slytherin, she was too proud.

James smiled at the girl, who suddenly was having problems 
standing up, "Yes Professor, I think I can manage".

Miss Ravenson, please pay attention to this demonstration. Lily 
looked up, revealing to have a pair of the most piercing green 
eyes. She set the book down and paid full attention to James' 
wand, not looking up at him.

He tapped the quill with his wand, and watched as a white 
pigeon appeared and fluttered its wings. The class stood silent, 
no one has ever managed to transfigure something so quickly. 
Even if he was a year above them.

The white pigeon fluttered its wings again, and flew over to 
where Lily sat, seeking attention. She smiled at it and patted 
its head gently, before taping it with her own wand and giving 
the quill back to Professor McGonagall, although it colour 
changed to white.

Janna sent her a glare.

Just as the bell rang, Professor gave five points to Lily, and 
five points to James, before asking them both to stay for a 
second.

"Is something wrong Professor?" Lily asked, getting a worried 
look playing about her features. Which, James decided, were 
definitely pretty.

"Yes and no." -" Lily, I wrote the report your mother wished 
for, and so did every one of your other teachers, and as I was 
reading your report last night, Madam Hooch's little note gave 
me a couple of worries. Is it really that bad?"

"Yes" Lily said, looking down. James wasn't really sure where 
he came into all of this, but he wanted to find out soon, so he 
could go and play a trick on Snape during Potions.

"James" Professor McGonagall looked at him.

"Uh, Professor, I know how to fly" He said sheepishly, jet still 
managing his lopsided grin.

"Yes, I know that, that's why I need you to spend the next 
three weeks tutoring Miss Ravenson".

James looked at her, then at Lily, then at the Professor again. 

"Aren't you afraid I am going to corrupt her or anything?" He 
asked, eyeing Lily again. This time, she caught his eye, and he 
saw them glazed over with tears. Struggle was evident as he 
was sure she was trying to hold them back.

"Lets just say that I have at least little faith in you" She smiled 
fondly at her students, then ushered them out the door.
Before James could ask Lily to meet him and discus times and 
seasons. She had left, and all he could see was her back as 
she moved steadily towards the library.

Part 3: First lessons

The next day James seemed to notice Lily more. He saw her in 
the corridors a few times, at meals, during study time, but she 
always was alone. No friends in tow.

When he and Sirius pulled a prank on Snape ( Itching powder 
down his robes) Professor McGonagall just told them off, gave 
Sirius a detention, and James a speech about helping fellow 
students.

That was the last straw, so around 7.30 pm, James made his 
way over to Lily who was reading a book on Charms. The girls 
around him turned around to stare, the guys pretended to 
ignore him, and Lily didn't even react when he sat down next 
to her.

" 'Ello" James whispered into her ear, causing her to shriek, 
and drop the book she was reading.

"Oh, Hello" she said and looked at him. "Do you want me to 
move or something?" And without even awaiting his answer, 
she just started to pack her things up.

"No, wait" he said, "Don't you want me to help you out with 
your flying?"

"Uh, sure" she said, yet still looked quiet uncertain.

"Don't worry" James said. "I am quite good, it will be an ease". 
He smiled a reassuring smile, and pulled her upwards.

"Now?" She asked shocked... 

"Why not?"

"I can't get a broom now, the broom shed is locked" She 
hoped that this would get him of her case. Why did he care 
anyway?

"Don't worry, I was thinking, we could go for a ride first, and 
then you can try on your own later" He said, and dragged her 
out of the portrait hole before she had a chance to protest. 

*

It was freezing outside, as it was mid November, and the snow 
was threatening to fall. And Lily was dreading the fact that she 
didn't get a cloak. 

James got out his broom, and showed it to her.

"See, a good, nice Cleansweep, latest prototype" He 
whispered, and although they were alone, Lily whispered back,

"I don't like flying, no matter which broom it is on".

"Don't worry, just sit up front so you have the view off 
someone who is riding the broom".

Less then a second later, the both of them were soaring 
through the sky.

Lily was cold, scarred, and about to start screaming at James 
when he slowed down about the lake.

"Are you ok?" He asked, "You are shivering" 

"Just a little cold, no big deal" Why was she saying all these 
stupid understatements?

James held the broom with his knees as he wrapped his arms 
around her small shoulders.

"DON'T DO THAT" Lily shrieked and started struggling. James 
quickly pulled away.

"Uh sorry, won't touch you again" He said, and kept his hands 
at his sides, looking rather hurt. But Lily didn't care. 

"Please, dear God, please. James put your hands back on the 
damn broom. We are going to fall off" She mumbled, 
practically starting to cry.

James quickly took the broom, then landed on a small patch of 
grass next to some rocks.

"How the hell can you do that? Just let go of the damn broom? 
You, you, you..... urhg" She screamed in frustration and sat 
down.

He came up behind her, and asked "If I touch you again, 
promise not to scream?"

"Yes" She said, her throat hurting now.

James sat down beside her, pulled of his cloak and wrapped it 
around her shoulders. Then he looked at her.

"Look, I know I am not a teacher, but when it comes to flying I 
know what I am doing. I fell of twice in my life. Once because 
Snape hurled a hex at me, and the second time was when I 
saw the Snitch and jumped after it. So if you can't feel relaxed 
on a broom with me, I don't know with who you can.. I think 
you are just scared of relaxing a little?"

"Well I think you are an overconfident jerk who never bloody 
understands that some don't like things like flying, and yet no 
one cares what I think, so why should I care what you do?"

He gave her a hurt look, at which she felt so guilty that she 
wanted to beg for forgiveness.

"Sorry James" She whispered, and for a second they both sat 
there in silence.

"I find it hard to believe that no one cares what you think" He 
said, she was shocked to find that he understood where the 
statement came from.

"Sometimes I feel like Professor Binns while he is taking about 
the goblin rebellion in 1612.." Lily whispered, not sure did he 
even hear her, or that he was listening.

"Did you know that the actual headquarters were in 
Hogsmade?" 

"No"

James leaned over, and traced a finger down her collar-bone. 
Lily shivered again.

"Are you still cold?" He asked.

Lily nodded, well she couldn't really tell him why she was 
shivering now could she?

James whispered a spell causing a small white flame to appear 
in his palm. He took her hand and guided the flame onto her 
palm, then smiled. 

"I better go now, Quidditch practice. You can give me the cloak 
some other time" He smiled again, and left.

When he was gone, Lily tried to regain some self control, but 
was left with a strong urge to either run after him, or find out 
why her knees have turned to mush...

Part 4: Substitutes

It just happened that the following day, Lily had Flying Lessons 
as her first class. She considered not going, but then decided 
not to let the other people intimidate her and actually go.

When she did arrive at class she starred absentmindedly at 
James Potter and Sirius Black, both of which were saying that 
they would be teaching their class.

The girls swooned, the guys shot them angry looks, and as 
James waved to her, Lily waved back.

James and Sirius separated the class into two parts, one went 
with Sirius, and the other went with James.

James walked up to Lily as she was going to mount her broom, 
and rearranged the position of her hands on the handle.

"Calm down" He whispered into Lily's ear. "You'll do fine"

After James said up, and all the class mounted their brooms, 
Lily didn't do fine. In fact, as soon as she was up, she was 
tumbling down, her broom a couple of meters away from her.

James did a dive, born of natural Quidditch skill and all the 
practice he put into it. He caught her before she hit the 
ground, and propelled her down onto her feet.

As Lily's class roared with laughter, and a few people made 
nasty comments, Lily ran with all the speed she had. 
Unfortunately she ran in the direction of the Forbidden Forest, 
and what was even worse, she was really fast. Hence, she was 
within the forest before she realized it.

In there, It didn't feel really safe, so Lily definitely wanted to 
be elsewhere. But she was a stubborn mule, and would not 
turn back, so she walked on.

Part 5: Physical contact is bad

Before she could do any damage to herself, or worse, before 
the creatures of the forest could do any damage to her. James 
arrived, looking very upset.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Do you know where you 
are? You could have been eaten by the time I got here? There 
is a reason it is called Forbidden, you know?" He moved closer 
to her, but Lily moved away.

"Don't touch me, don't talk to me, just leave, dammit" She 
screamed.

"No, come on, we have to go back before the both of us are 
expelled" James said, trying very hard to stay calm.

"Get lost, you, you, you..." but again she was lost for words.

"Come on Lily" James said, and this time pulled, at her hand.

"Let go of me" She said, and tried to pull her hand free. This 
didn't go as planned, as both her and James came head to 
head. Their faces only a few centimeters apart.

He still held onto her hand, as the other one moved behind her 
back, and sneaked around her waist. And before she could 
protest, his mouth was upon hers, claiming it as his, with a 
gentle, and earth shattering kiss.

When he pulled away, Lily was at loss of words. 

"I know, you really don't like physical contact, and I promise 
not to touch you any more unless it is an accident, k?"

She nodded, her mouth refusing to speak, yet pleading for her 
to let it do some other exercise with the mouth of a certain 
messy-haired James Potter.

They both just walked out of the forest, without a word uttered 
between them.

Chapter 6: Sane Conversations

The next morning Lily sat alone at breakfast, and one second 
she was feeling lonely, the next second James Potter sat 
besides her. Remus and Sirius sat at the other site, and Peter 
sat next to James.

"Mind if we join you?" Sirius asked... Remus smiled, but 
seemed half asleep and too tired to talk.

James winked at her then added,

"Would you mind hanging out with us, cause Remus is pretty 
tired sometimes, and with Sirius no one can have a sane 
conversation?"

Sirius looked around for something to throw at him, then 
decided to pick some corn of his plate and hurl it in James' 
direction. Who ducked and Janna Key got hit instead. Lily 
laughed along with the guys.

"Sure" She added then smiled at the four guys which turned 
around looking for teachers which were about to punish them. 
There weren't any. 

James leaned in to hug her, then moved back and said,

"Yes, I remember, physical contact is bad" The other four 
laughed, and Lily figured James told them.

"So tonight, second flying lesson, ok?" James asked her, while 
trying to stuff as much food as possible onto his plate, Lily just 
smiled her ok.

Authors note: Ok, that was really bad, but it is better than 
Lady Lily, cause that was really bad too. Please help out my 
shattered self confidence and review. 

To J.K Rowling: You know they aren't mine so don't sue me, 
and if you do, that will shatter my self confidence even more.