Summary: If you're looking for the usual James-loves-Lily-but-Lily-hates-James storyline, then this isn't it. The thing is, Lily doesn't hate James at all, he can just be annoying at the best of times. As she comes to realise why she doesn't hate him, it leads to the famous love we all know about. Set against the backdrop of a warring magical world where nothing is certain, can James and Lily hold onto each other and fight?

UPDATE August 08: It's FINISHED! Thank you so much to all those who have read and reviewed this story, I have loved your support. i hope there are still people out there who are willing to read it. Keep an eye out for more stories by me! UPDATE February '08: I have changed the chapter names of some of the 'Defied' chapters, to make this fit and to make it more plausible, as I see the 'thrice defying' of Voldemort as happening when James and Lily are part of the Order of the Phoenix.

UPDATE 20th September: I have altered my facts in the chapter 'Once Defied' as I made mistakes in the ages of James and Lily. It didn't matter so much in this chapter but had annoying repercusions for future chapters. It should all now be correct.

Summary: First problem: James Potter is Head Boy. Second problem: Why is he acting so different? The James Potter that Lily Evans knows is arrogant and conceited and loves Quidditch and bullying his “inferiors” with an unimaginable passion. This year he’s kind and charming and much more, shall we dare say it…mature. He is also much more distant than he has ever been in all her years at Hogwarts. In her seventh year, Lily finds out that there is much more to James Potter than meets the eye and together they set out on the long and precarious road to each other’s hearts.