James-

Throw and catch, throw and catch. I was spinning my wand in the air out of boredom In the back of the room of my last class of the day, one of my favourite classes - Defence Against the Dark Arts. I was eager for this lesson for the professor had said we would learn a spell that was difficult to master and very useful. The Marauders and I were looking forward to a challenge, the only trouble is we already learnt this spell a year ago in our free time. I sighed 'Expecto Patronum'.

The whole class was concentrating, sweat beading down their foreheads, muttering curses under their breath. Padfoot, Moony, Wormtail and I took it upon ourselves to make a racket at the back of the class while goofing around. The professor kept eyeing us. Oh boy will he get a shock when we do a demonstration.

I was trying to concentrate on charming a vine to curl around Phillip Bomstones ankle but Lily Inconsiderately kept getting her beautiful red hair in my way. I tried not to stare too obviously for I'm trying to make a better impression lately, learning my other strategy seemed to be failing miserably.

Fiery sparks exploded out of Sirius's wand and the professor had had enough.
"Right, Mr Black. Seeing you feel no need to practice this spell why don't you start of with the demonstrations hmm?"
"Would love to professor." Padfoot replied smartly and winked at Remus and I. He almost strutted up to the top of the classroom. He swished his wand lazily and muttered the charm in a bored voice. A few people laughed, keen to see his bound failure but we were laughing for an entirely different reason.

Mist erupted from his wand, forming a dog which leaped around the class room. The laughter immediately stopped and several jaws were hanging open, including the professor.
"Well okay Black that is enough. Top marks, who's next?" A select few people managed to produce an animal but honestly it was pretty difficult to hold in my laughter when Snape tried. Brow furrowed, breathing hard and with a swish of his wand, mist drifted out of the tip and then fell to the floor. Even Lily giggled a little. Furious he huffed and sat back down again.

Finally it was Lily's turn. I've been waiting for this. I wondered what her Patronus is, I was sure she could make an animal. Lily was rather flushed, she bit down the corner of her lip (cute) the way she always did when she was concentrating. She spoke the words curtly and swished her wand. Immediately glowing white mist formed. It swirled out of her wand majestically and began to form an animal that was leaping around the classroom. It was a doe, a beautiful white doe. It was so -

Wait what?! A doe?! I nearly fell out of my chair. Lily glanced at me curious. I swear my jaw hit the floor and I could feel the Marauders eyes all on me. None of us believing what we saw. Lily glanced at me, curious. I was trying to say something but I suspected I looked rather like a gold fish. "Amazing work Ms Evans! Now who's next?" There was this feeling in my heart that was expanding all over, warming me to the core. I could just melt. Soulmates. We were soul mates. A goofy grin expanded on my face. Finally Remus came around enough to say,
"She is just going to die when she finds out." He was right. Or maybe I would die. Lily would kill me! She would be mortally embarrassed. Merlin, if there was anyone who could completely neglect their soulmate, I was pretty sure Lily was that person.
"James, I think you are the last one left, why don't you come up here?" The professor asked.
No no no no no no no no no. I couldn't do that to her. I was on the verge of panic when Moony spoke up for me.
"Ah professor, James would like to do his after class if that's quite alright? He has a very good reason I assure you." Thank The Lord for Remus Lupin. The professor looked like he wanted to argue but curiosity got the better of him.
"Alright. I'll allow it. With that you are all dismissed." I exhaled. Phew that was close. I allowed a small smile to creep back on my face. "Potter, Lupin please stay behind."

Lily -

James Potter refusing a chance to show off his magic skills? James Potter not giving me a confident smile when I perform my patronus but nearly falling off his chair instead? And what possibly could be such a good reason to perform his charm after class? I had to find out.
"Alice, what do you think is up with Ja-Potter." I corrected myself but Alice caught it.
"First name terms now I suppose?" She said winking. "I don't know, who cares anyway?"
She knew very well that I cared. I huffed.
"Dear me, I seem to have left my quill back in the class room?" I said, trying to hint if we could go back.
"Suuuuuure. Just because your in love with James..." I gave her my puppy dog eyes and then hit her realising what she had just said. "Fine lets go, I'm just a little curious myself."
I did a little victory dance and with that we both scurried back to the classroom.

Silently Alice and I peered through the slightly ajar door. We seemed to have missed the reason James didn't perform in front of the class but at least we'd get so see his Patronus. Although the professor did seem to be muttering something about 'young love'. I couldn't see what that had to do with anything. James flicked his wand swiftly and muttered something under his breath. Straight away a fully formed stag appeared out of his wand. It majestically galloped around the room. It was absolutely stunning. I was transfixed on it when I felt a tugging at my sleeve. "Lily we have to get out of here now!" Alice whispered.
"Wh-" But I got cut off when Remus's eyes caught mine and felt Alice tugging me out of the door way into a spare classroom.

"What is it?" I questioned rather angrily. Alice was pale.
"Don't you realise what that was?" she whispered.
"A stag? Why does it matte-" I faulted. A stag. James patronus was a stag. Mine was a doe. Does that mean? No it must be a mistake. But It wasn't. I was soulmates with James Potter? What? I stumbled to the floor. This was all too much.
"Hey at least we know why he did it." Alice said trying to comfort me. It's not like I was sad or anything, I was too shocked to do anything. Finding out who your soulmate is does that to a person.

"Lils, he did it so you wouldn't be embarrassed. He was trying to make sure you wouldn't get teased." Oh. Oh, he was trying to protect me. Oh. Even though he himself had probably just had the shock of his life. Oh.

Suddenly the empty classroom door opened. Remus popped his head in. "She's in here." He whispered to somebody outside. Oh no, he must've told James we were looking. James came in, tears falling out of his eyes. Why was he crying? Everything seemed to be moving so slowly.
"Lily, I'm sorry. I'm really sorry." He choked while crouching down beside me. He was crying out of guilt because he thought he'd upset me! I reached out to wipe his tears.
"Don't be." I muttered. Alice and Remus slowly crept away. I engulfed James in a hug. Not really processing anything that was happening. "Thank you for not embarrassing me." I whispered. He didn't reply but I think he understood. We broke away and James leant against a desk. We were still both in shock. I leant my head against his chest and he wrapped his arms around me. We didn't talk we just sat there and thought for a while. Silently comforting eachother.

Maybe just maybe, James Potter wasn't so bad.

(This wasn't my original idea, I got it off a text post on tumblr by 'there-is-a-blue-bird'. The writing is mine and the ending is altered but the idea was not. I'm also keen for ideas and thank you for my first vote!)