Petal
“did you hear Regulus has the same patronus as James? James couldn’t stop talking about it” Lily asked Mary as the two were sat opposite one another in the library, with everyone all coupled up Lily and Mary were often found spending time together.
Mary both loved and hated it. Loved it because she was spending time alone with Lily and she really, really liked Lily, hated it because well she was spending time with Lily and she really liked her.
It was so hard to hide those feelings when it was just the two of them. The secret glances she always used to steal were not so secret anymore and there was no one there to distract her from the miracle that was Lily Evans.
She was so beautiful, Mary wanted to kiss every freckle on her cheeks, wanted to bury her nose in those red locks of hair. Wanted those green eyes to stare at her for eternity.
She was so foolishly in love with her best friend. How was she ever going to get over a girl like Lily?
She had tried, she really had, going on dates with any boy who was willing to go with her, trying to find someone she liked more than Lily. But there wasn’t anyone, no one compared to Lily.
Lily who was so smart, one of the smartest witches Mary knew and that while growing up without magic. She was also one of the kindest people she knew, Lily always went out of her way to comfort the others around her even when she needed comfort herself the most. Luckily Mary was there to give her that, to hold her while she cried when yet another one of her letters to Petunia was left unanswered, or after a long day where Lily was so overwhelmed that only the sound of Mary humming a tune could calm her down.
Mary loved the whole of Lily, so she loved those moments too.
“Mary? Are you listening?” Mary jolted up when Lily was waving her hand in front of her face trying to get Mary back to earth. “there you are” Lily chuckled when Mary looked at her. “what had you so deep in thought?”
“you” Mary thought to herself as she looked at Lily, but she tensed when she saw a look of surprise flash across Lily’s face.
“me?” Lily asked, and oh shit, she had said that out loud.
“uh- I just remembered I had agreed to meet with someone in the courtyard and I’m already late” Mary started scrambling to gather her stuff, she had to get out of here before she said more stupid things. “it was nice studying with you, okay bye now”
“wait! Mary!” Lily whisper yelled as Mary started to run away. Nope not doing this, not today, not yet, let me keep my best friend for one more day before I go and ruin it all with the truth.
Angry tears rolled over Mary’s cheeks, how could she have been so dumb, it was such a small thing but such a big mistake.
Oh Lily will hate her.
Mary let out a sob and let herself slide down against a wall to sit on the ground, pulling her knees to her chest and crying into her folded arms.
Why must this happen to her, everything was so good, she had a great friend group and now she had to go and ruin it by developing feelings for her best friend, for a girl.
“Mary!” Lily’s voice carried through the empty hallway making Mary shoot up from her position, she looked at the end of the hallway where Lily took off in a jog towards her.
Mary shook her head and hauled her bag over her shoulder taking off in a run as well, hoping to outrun her friend.
“Mary please stop running, I just wanna talk” Mary kept on running.
“Mary for the love of god please stop running you know I have asthma” Lily heaved from behind her making Mary come to an abrupt stop, spinning around on her heels making Lily collapse against her not having long enough to stop herself.
“I’m so sorry Petal, are you okay, do you have your inhaler?” Mary fussed over her friend who was quite out of breath, her hand on Mary’s shoulder to steady herself.
“I’m fine M, just need to catch my breath for a few seconds” Mary gave her the few seconds she needed and when Lily was calmed down she tightened her grip on Mary’s shoulder too scared she would run off again. “don’t leave again, there is no need to run away from me”
Lily looked up at mary, her thumb stroking Mary’s shoulder where it held a firm grip, her other hand coming up to her other shoulder playing with the collar of Mary’s button up.
“you were so lost in thought..about me?! but the way you were looking at me? I’ve seen that look before Mar, what does it mean? Tell me what it means… please” Lily sounded almost desperate.
“Lily please don’t make me do this” Mary pleaded “don’t make me ruin us”.
“please say it Mary, because if it isn’t what I think it is, then I’m scared I’ll be the one to ruin us, I don’t want to ruin us Mary, you mean everything to me, everything” a tear rolled down Lily’s face and Mary reached out to brush it away, leaving her hand to cup Lily’s face. It broke her heart whenever Lily cried, she never wanted to make Lily cry but the things Lily said lit a little flame of hope inside of Mary.
“I’m so scared Lily, so fucking scared” she whispered leaning her forehead against Lily’s.
“I am too, but we’ve got each other don’t we? You and me, we can do this, together” and holy shit was Lily saying what she thought Lily was saying?!
“we’re talking about the same thing here aren’t we?” Mary let out a breathy laugh and Lily nodded chuckling as well.
“I think we are, merlin we are idiots, such idiots” Lily shook her head in disbelieve before she leaned up and kissed Mary.
Mary felt like she was about to burst from the sunshine that filled her at the touch of Lily’s lips. Immediately she wrapped her arms around Lily softly kissing her back before pulling away to stare at her.
“you are so lovely do you know that?” Mary asked her with a goofy smile making Lily blush.
“does this mean you like me back?” Mary chuckled at Lily’s question leaning in to pepper kisses all over her face making Lily giggle and the sound was like music to Mary’s ears.
“is that answer enough?” Mary smirked after she pulled back.
“yes that is answer enough you silly, I’m covered in lipstick prints now aren’t I?” Mary looked at Lily’s face which indeed had red lipstick stains all over it.
“maybe a bit” Mary shrugged before pulling Lily with her towards the Gryffindor common room, “come on let’s clean you up before heading to dinner”
“leave one, I want people to see you kissed me”
“are you sure?” Mary asked and Lily nodded firmly.
“I meant it when I said we’ve got each other, the opinion of others doesn’t matter to me, I’m proud to have you and I want to show you off, you deserve to be shown off” Lily smiled brightly and Mary’s heart fluttered.
“does that mean I’m your girlfriend?” Mary asked.
“now you’re the one asking rethorical questions” was Lily’s answer before she leaned up to kiss Mary’s cheek. “if I wasn’t clear yes that means we’re girlfriend and girlfriend, if that’s what you want?”
“we need to stop with the rethorical questions”
“we really do”