have any questions or concerns you'd like to raise, or maybe suggestions you'd like to make on how we can improve student life here at Hogwarts, we're done for today."

The prefects looked at each other then looked back at the two figures at the head of the table. Their mouths clamped shut. Lily Evans looked at them expectantly, gaze and posture stiff and unmoving. James Potter leaned further back in his seat, eyes darting back and forth from the prefects to the door. No sound could be heard except his foot repeatedly tapping on the ground.

"Nothing? Alright, you are dismissed. Oh and I want reports on the points each of you have added or deducted from other students so far in the term. And while you're at it, think of ideas on how we could decorate the castle for the Holidays." Lily sighed, placing her quill down. Immediately, everyone started putting away their things. The prefects made a bee-line for the door, mumbling goodbyes to James and Lily.

Lily shook her head in annoyance, her brows furrowing.

James chuckled at her expression. "Still not used to it, huh?"

"Why aren't they taking their roles more seriously? Don't they know that to be named prefect is an honour and they should be responsible enough to-" Lily said, quickly, barely pausing.

James strode towards her, and places his hands on her shoulders. "Hey, Evans, breathe."

Lily closed her eyes and took three deep breaths, feeling herself get calmer as her fists unclenched themselves. Her breath gets caught in her throat when she opens her eyes only to find James Potter's eyes gazing down at her own. She gulps when she finally noticed the weight of James' warm palms on her shoulders.

"You alright?"

Unable to find her voice, she nods. James removes his hands from her shoulders and takes a few steps back. "Relax, alright Evans? You don't have to breathe down their necks all the time. They don't need that kind of pressure. These prefects, they're students, just like us. You can't expect them give more than what they're asked to. Hogwarts is stressful enough as it is."

"I know it's just that I feel like we could all be doing better."

"You have to let them live a little though, okay?" James asked and Lily reluctantly nodded. She fiddled with the straps of her bag and mumbles an "okay" back.

"Great!" James grinned. He turned on his heel, back now towards Lily. He makes his way towards the exit. "I'll see you around, Evans."

He was already out the room when Lily loudly said, "James, wait!"

James pokes his head through the door, "What?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Uh, sure." James said, reentering the room. "You have to make it quick though. I'm meeting Diana in a bit."

"Right, um, yeah." Lily gulped, eyes now trained on her shoes. "How are you two?"

"We're wonderful." James smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling behind his glasses. A faint blush spreads across his cheeks. "Yeah, we're doing great."

"That's great!" Lily answers all too quickly, looking back up at James.

"Yeah, was that all you were going to ask? Because I really don't want to keep Diana waiting." James shoved his hands in his trousers' pockets, eyeing the door.

"Lucky girl." Lily mumbled. "James, listen, it's no secret that you've fancied me before."

James brows shoot up at Lily's statement, he nervously rubs the back of his neck with his hand. "Uhm, yeah."

"I just want to know what happened."

"What do you mean?"

"How did you move on so quickly?" Lily asks, sitting on one of the dark wooden chairs. Her hands smooth the invisible wrinkles on her skirt, before neatly folding them on her lap. Her green eyes pierce through James', her voice cool and demanding.

James takes a step back in shock, his entire body tensing up. He feels the hair on his arms stand. Sunlight streams through the tall windows of the prefects' meeting room and he wanted nothing more than go outside. For a moment, he's speechless, unsure of what to say. His mouth starts to feel dry, opening it then closing it quickly. He shoved his hands deeper in his pockets, looking at everything besides the red haired woman in front of him. His gaze darts from the long mahogany table, to the floor to ceiling bookshelves, to the chairs carelessly strewn around the table.

The silence enveloped the two and Lily wanted nothing more than to retract her question. But she couldn't, she had already thrown it out there. From where she was sitting, she could feel how tense was, noticing how he wouldn't even meet her gaze.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked. Just ignore everything I said, it was a silly question." Lily said, shaking her head at James. Oh how she wished to be swallowed up by the ground beneath her to save herself from embarrassment.

"No, it's alright. I was just taken aback." James replied, sensing Lily's nervousness. "Honestly, I-"

"You don't have to answer, by the way. I put you on the spot, don't worry about it." Lily cuts him off, waving her hands wildly to prove her point.

He chuckled. "No, I'll answer it. I guess you do deserve to know."

Lily took a deep breath to prepare herself as James sat on the chair beside hers.

"I loved you, Lily. I really did." He began, Lily's mouth opens to say something but James cuts her off before a syllable could even come out. "But Diana just came along and the more I got to know her, I realized there's more to life than this one girl. No offence. But I thought, 'This girl is amazing, I'd kind of be really dumb if I don't do anything about it.' So, yeah. I never had a chance with you anyways and I didn't want to waste any more of my time. No offence, again."

"None taken." Lily replied. For a few moments both were silent, processing what James had said.

"Merlin, you must hate me." Lily said with a bitter laugh, gripping the fabric of her skirt beneath her hands.

"No, I don't." James said, looking at Lily with a soft smile.

"Why? I was horrible to you."

"It was really my fault. Never really left you alone, did I?" James laughed, shaking his head at himself.

"Still," Lily said, beginning to choke up. "I could've been nicer to you."

James noticed Lily's eyes welling up with tears. "It's alright. I honestly should have gotten the hint that I never had a shot with you."

He grabs his handkerchief and passes it to her. Lily reluctantly accepts and wipes her tears using the corners.

"Besides, all the rejection builds character." James joked, gently nudging her with his shoulder. Lily replies with a half-hearted laugh. "Don't feel too guilty. In a way, you helped shape who I am today. And I don't know about you, but I think I'm pretty great."

"You are." Lily sniffed, clutching James' handkerchief. "Diana's really lucky to have you."

"I'm sorry, James. Truly, I am. I treated you so terribly even though I'd never even have a proper conversation." Lily said, looking down at her hands.

"It's alright."

"You know, if I had just gotten to know you, I probably would have given you a chance." Lily said, the corners of her lips twitching upwards ever so slightly.

"I mean, we could still get to know each other."

"What?" Lily asked, blinking back her tears.

"As friends, I mean." James shrugged, looking back at Lily with an expression she couldn't figure out.

"Yeah, friends. That'd be great."