Rosemary
They were paired together on prefect rounds, perfectly innocent. Frank had told her that he thought they’d get on, seemed to have similar interests.
“Hey, I’m Rosemary.” Her smile was incredible. It was slightly crooked, what with her front teeth being a little wonky, Lily found it endearing. Rosemary smiled with her eyes, it was like a fire being lit on a cold October evening, like being told you have passed an exam with flying colours.
Lily flushed, she had been staring for far too long now, “Hi! Um- name- Lily!”
What the fuck.
She immediately wanted to crawl into a hole and curl in on herself. That was until Rosemary laughed. Oh what a sound that was. It was deep, hearty. The girl laughed as if she didn't have a care in the world, as if there wasn’t a war tearing everything apart. At that moment, Lily decided that she wanted to be Rosemary’s friend. She wanted to be her friend so badly.
--
Frank was right. The two girls got on like a house on fire. Lily loved learning about her new friend, she was drawn to her in a way she had never felt before. Rosemary would sit and listen to her complain about James, fret about Remus, panic about exams, and then offer solid advice. Lily would repay in kind.
Rosemary was in Ravenclaw. She was pureblood, not sacred 28 pureblood, but enough so that she had been approached by death eaters.
“I’d never join them, Lils, I swear. I think it’s all bullshit. Why would I want to kill people, for no good reason.” She looked up at Lily, fear in her eyes, “I’m just worried that if I keep saying no, they’ll hurt my family.”
Lily pulled her into a tight hug, “it’s ok, love, just stay strong. You’ll pull through, I know it.”
Rose melted into her. Lily felt a tug at the bottom of her stomach, a need to protect the beautiful girl she held in her arms. It was odd, not something she was used to. Not thinking too much into it, Lily kissed the top of the girl’s head.
Rosemary met her eyes, “thank you Lily, I don’t know what I would do without you.” Her smile didn’t quite meet her eyes.
--
Lily made her way back to her dorm after that night’s events, and was met with Mary and Marlene.
“And where exactly have you been? It’s not like you to stay out so late.”
“Snogging a boy, Lily?”
She felt a sinking feeling in her heart. Why was that what they assumed? Lily had no interest in kissing boys, not yet at least. She had come to accept that she was somewhat of a late bloomer, why couldn’t her friends do the same?
“There was a problem with Rose, that’s all.” Lily climbed into her bed and drew the curtains in a huff. She was being stroppy, it was childish, she knew that, but she didn’t care.
Not long after, her two best friends started whispering.
“Rose? That’s the girl she does rounds with, right?”
“Yeah, I think so. Franks convinced they’re gonna go out eventually. He told Alice, and Alice told Dorky, and Dorky told me.”
Mary gasped, and then broke into giggles, “Marls, Lily’s not queer. Anyway, I know for a fact that there are so many people that reckon she’ll give into Potter eventually.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure. She has that way of talking about this Rosemary girl. I think she just hasn’t realised it yet.” You could hear the smirk in Marlene’s voice.
“I can hear you guys, just so you’re aware.”
“Shit.”
“Sorry Lily.”
--
That conversation had been playing on Lily’s mind for two weeks now, every prefect round she had gotten closer and closer to asking Rosemary if she was queer. Each time she had decided against it. What good would it do, knowing whether Rose was if she wasn’t herself. It would do more damage than good.
“Hey! Lookin’ good Evans!” She rolled her eyes, when would Potter finally learn to leave her alone.
“What do you want, James?”
“Ooh, we’re on first names today, I feel honoured.” he flashed her a grin, running his fingers through his hair, “just wanted to inform you that you are looking absolutely radiant today. The green bow does wonders for your eyes.” Sirius laughed in the background, at least someone else was aware of how ridiculous this was.
“Sirius, can you please come and collect your mutt.”
He strode over, and grabbed James by the arm, “come one Prongsie, you’ve said your bit, let her get going.” Sirius dragged him away, James never taking his eyes off of Lily.
--
“He’s just so annoying! When will he understand that I don’t like him? I will never like him! Not like that, anyway.” Lily threw her hands in the air, Rosemary caught them on her own, swinging around to face her.
“What is it about Potter you don’t like exactly? It sounds like he’s completely gone for you.”
Lily looked at her, perplexed, “I guess it’s that- I mean- He’s nice but-
And then Rose kissed her. It was slow and tender, everything she could have hoped for. The way they fit perfectly together, moving in synchrony. Rosemary’s hands wandered up to Lily’s jaw, one circling round and tangling in her hair. Lily reached up, cupping Rosemary’s face in her own hands. She had read many romance novels in her time, but Lily now finally understood the fireworks feeling the main character gets when the guy sweeps her off her feet. The feeling that everything was going to be okay.
Everything started to make sense after that. The desperation to know, to protect, to befriend. Lily had a crush. Lily had a crush on a girl.
“Oh my god.”
Rosemary laughed her beautiful laugh, “you’ve had the moment, haven’t you?” Lily looked confused.
“What ‘moment’?”
“Lily, sweetheart, you are by far one of the most amazing, most intelligent witches I have ever met in my life, but you aren’t half oblivious.”
Lily sighed, “call me sweetheart again, please? It sounds nice in your voice.”
Another chuckle, “Lily, sweetheart, you’re gay.”
She huffed a laugh, a sigh of relief, “I’m gay.”