Just Friends - A Christmas Ceilidh
Lily twirled her quill in her fingers in Charms. She wasn’t particularly paying attention to Professor Flitwick who was enthusiastically lecturing from the front. If she was being totally honest with herself, she hadn’t paid all that much attention to Charms for the past couple of weeks.
Since the seating plan changed really.
Since Flitwick moved James Potter to the seat directly in front of her.
She sighed a little as she watched him run his finger through his hair leaning back on his chair slightly. Slyly she pulled in a deep breath and let James Potter roll around her senses. She closed her eyes briefly and jumped dropping her quill as Marlene jabbed her quill into the back of Lily’s hand.
“What?” She mouthed at her, cheeks tinging pink.
Marlene rolled her eyes and simpered, gesturing at the back of James' head. Lily felt herself blush further, and looked down at her notes. They were startlingly empty. She looked forward again, deliberately avoiding looking at Potters back as he stretched over to pass Sirius a note. Merlin, he was all hard angles this year, muscles clearly defined under his shirt and his broad shoulders flexed every time he moved.
Marlene giggled next to her and Lily huffed, bending down to scratch some notes into her parchment. Flitwick drew the lesson to a close and the class shuffled around packing up their materials. James and Sirius were up and off sharp, they always liked to be first down for lunch. Lily took her time packing up, putting off the inevitable roasting she was about to get from Marlene.
“So, Lily, learn much today?”
Lily pressed her hands to her cheeks, “Marls, stop. I found the lesson very informative.”
“Map out the muscles under Potter’s shirt, did you?”
This time Lily really did blush. “Ugh, was I obvious? I’m obvious, aren’t I? Just, what did those boys do over summer? It’s unfair to expect us to concentrate with all that,” Lily gestured in front of her, momentarily lost for words.
“Muscle?” supplied Marlene.
Lily laughed. “Honestly, I’ve gone mad.”
They left the classroom, strolling down the corridor towards the Great Hall for lunch. They did usually eat with the boys now, the seventh years choosing to usually sit together in their small group. They’d grown closer over sixth year and now generally socialised as a unit. Lily was grateful for the way she and James had grown easier with each other as time had cooled tempers and each of them had learnt how to get along. Marlene and Sirius had helped that along with their on, off and on again relationship. Remus had also quietly maintained his friendship with Lily, providing a measured member to their group.
Remus and Peter were just up head when the girls turned into the entrance hall. They’d stopped to join the crowd lingering there, reading something pinned on the wall.
Lily joined Remus, touching his shoulder. “Something going on, Remus?”
“Can’t get close to see, Sirius and James are upfront though,” he replied.
Lily nodded, noticing now the pair of them right at the front reading from a piece of parchment. As they turned Lily clocked James’ grin, mirrored by Sirius’ as they ambled towards the rest of them. His eyes had that glint to them, and Lily had the feeling that they were about to enjoy whatever they were going to report back on.
Sirius slung his arms around the shoulders of Remus and Peter.
“Lads, it’s a Christmas Ceilidh!” he announced to them all.
Lily frowned, “A Ceilidh?”
James smirked a little, “Never been to a Scottish Ceilidh before Evans?”
“No can’t say I have,” she replied, “care to share?”
“Oh, there’s a band, social dancing—”
“Drinking,” interrupted Sirius.
“Yeah, drinking,” chimed Peter.
“Kilts,” added Marlene.
“Kilts?”
“Yup, that’s right Lily, get ready to see these legs in a kilt,” Sirius elegantly placed a leg out in front of her and then thrust his hips towards Marlene.
“Hey Marley, did I ever tell you I’m a true Scotsman...” Lily laughed as Marlene let herself be swept away under Sirius’ arm as they moved into the hall towards lunch.
The group moved off towards lunch and James fell in beside Lily.
“He doesn’t mean that does he?” Lily asked, allowing herself a brief look up at James.
“Nah, he’s not Scottish. He will wear a kilt though, never misses an opportunity to get his legs out,” replied James.
Lily aimed for casual next, gently bumping shoulders with James as they turned towards the Gryffindor table.
“And you?”
“Me what, Evans?”
“Will you wear a kilt?”
“Why? Keen to see my legs?” James winked at her and slid into his usual spot in between Sirius and Remus.
Lily stood for a second, a flush creeping up her neck, she pulled at the front of her shirt briefly and then sat down opposite Remus, who frowned at her.
“Water, Lils? You look a little bothered,”
“Yes, err, thank you, Remus.”
Lily gulped down a glass and turned to engage Mary in conversation, determined not to look at James again for the rest of her meal.
****
The next couple of weeks passed with high excitement in the air. The Christmas Ceilidh was on everybody's minds as they marched on towards the end of term. Lily, Marlene and Mary planned their last trip of the year to Hogsmeade meticulously so that they would have enough time to get dress robes altered. All three had ordered ahead so that the dresses would be in store already. Inevitably talk also turned to who was taking who, the eligible list grew shorter every day as courage was gathered and questions were asked.
The girls wandered down towards Hogsmeade after being ticked off the list, they were wrapped up warm. Scotland's baltic winter had well and truly taken its grip. Snow lined the walk to the village, the trees wearing their winter wonderland attire, adding to the already magical feeling in the air. The girls linked arms as they walked, Lily refreshing their heating charms on their toes as they drew closer to Gladrags.
“I can’t wait to get this dress on,” said Marlene, her eyes were bright with excitement.
“You went for the red, didn’t you?” asked Mary.
“Yes, with the cape that sweeps around the back, it’s fur-lined, but detachable so once we start dancing, I can take that bit off,”
“Sirius can take that bit off,” amended Lily.
“Well, yes, I hope so! What about you two, any dates on the horizon?”
Mary smiled, “Remus and I have agreed to go as friends, I don’t need any drama this year.”
Lily squeezed Marys’ arm and smiled gently at her, her break up with Benji had been particularly brutal over the summer. “I’m pleased for you Mary; Remus will be an absolute gentleman.”
“Anybody asked you, Lily?” Marlene asked, her grin wide as she said it.
Lily laughed, “Oh give over, you know that I’ve turned down two already.”
“Waiting for the perfect match?”
“Something like that – look we are here now, let’s sort our dresses and then we can meet the others for food.” Lily pushed open the door to Gladrags, happy to avoid the conversation of dates for a few more minutes. She’d expected James to ask her, presumed he would even. Perhaps she has missed that particular boat. The assistant pulled her from her musings as she showed her through to a changing room.
“The dress you ordered is just hanging there, if you could change, please, and wear the shoes you’ll wear to the dance and then stand up on that platform there.” The curtain was swished shut behind her and Lily turned to look at her gown. She’d picked from the catalogue but was pleased to see it didn’t disappoint. The deep forest green satin dress was had a flattering cut on the neckline, the fabric then gathered at the shoulders and fell away like a waterfall along the back.
She gently touched the fabric and then changed slipping it on, and pushing her feet into her simple golden slingbacks.
She stood up on the podium and waited for the dressmaker to appear, turning to admire her back as she did so.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes, all ready,” she called back.
The dressmaker entered and made an appreciative noise. “The colour suits you, dear.”
“Thank you. You don’t think the fabric at the back is too much?”
“I think we can cut away the back here, and pin behind the shoulders here, then you’ll see your back as you move and dance.” She had no sooner finished explaining when the scissors started to move and cut the fabric themselves. Lily smiled to herself as she saw what the dress maker had meant. The fabric would sway and move as she did, her bare back peeping through underneath as she turned.
“I’ll add a shimmer charm here too, and cut it just above the floor, you’ll thank me when you start the Orcadian Strip the Willow.”
Lily frowned at the name of the dance, having no idea what that particular one involved. Her face quickly shifted though as she watched in fascination as the bottom of the dress appeared to shorten itself and then a shimmer ran around the edges.
“It’s beautiful, thank you.”
“No problem. It hardly needed adjusting at all really. I hope you’ve somebody taking you to the Ceilidh?”
“Oh, no, at least not yet anyway,” replied Lily.
“Well, I hope they ask soon.” The assistant smiled kindly at her and stepped back. “You can go ahead and take it off, pack it into that garment bag there and I’ll get you out the front.”
“Thanks again, I can’t wait to wear it.”
****
Marlene, Mary and Lily entered the Three Broomsticks and made their way towards a large booth in the corner already occupied by James, Sirius, Remus and Peter.
“Seriously, are they first for food every time?” murmured Mary.
“Always thinking of their stomachs,” replied Lily.
As they made their way through the packed pub, the boys shuffled themselves around to make room. Marlene ducked in next to Sirius, tucking herself in neatly under his arm. Remus stood to take Mary’s bag, leaving a space next to James. Lily sat herself down, arranging her skirt neatly as she did so.
She felt conscious of the warmth emanating from the boy, almost man beside her. James smiled down at her, and she found herself staring at his lips as he did so. Absentmindedly she caught her bottom lip between her teeth. The sounds of the rest of the pubs seemed to turn down. Lily’s heart sped up, trying to hammer its way outside of her chest.
“Alright, Evans?”
Lily jolted a little and once again found herself blushing in the presence of James Potter.
“Sure.”
“Having a good day?”
“Yeah, we’ve been to get our dresses fitted, and then came here really.”
“For the Ceilidh?”
“Mmmhmm,” Lily nodded.
James leant in a little closer, Lily felt his breath tickle her ear, “I can’t wait to see you in your dress.”
Lily smirked, pulling back to look at him properly. James grinned that boyish smile that lit up his features.
“Well not long to wait now, is it?”
Lily turned herself towards Remus, who had now sat back down. For the next hour she engaged him and in turn the others in conversation. Their lunch finished up and they began their traipse back to the castle, through the snow. Lily found herself drawing ahead with Marlene, eager to be back in the warm.
“You and Potter looked cosy earlier?” asked Marlene, shoulders gently bumping against Lily’s.
“He gave me a flirty comment actually, said he wanted to see me in my dress.”
“And out of it, I bet!” Marlene giggled and Lily found herself smiling along with her chum.
“Hasn’t asked me though, has he?”
“Lils, I think he’s probably just nervous, you guys have been getting along so well this year. He won’t want to provoke the dragon, lurking beneath the surface.”
“I am not a dragon!” objected Lily.
“Fine, not a dragon. You’re fierce though.”
***
One week to go before the Ceilidh and Lily still had no official date. She lounged in the common room, reading her book but actually creeping on everybody else. Marlene and Sirius were tucked up together on a large armchair, a blanket draped over them. Lily avoided looking too closely at them, given the blanket appeared to cover all their hands. Remus and Peter were playing exploding snap, with Mary sprawled nearby also reading and occasionally flicking stray sparks from her stockings.
James, she noted with interest was nowhere to be seen.
Strange, he usually was occupying the chair nearest to the fire. Lily often wondered how somebody so warm could sit so close to the fire but he sat there night after night. She sighed half to herself. She was so head over heels and apart from his one comment in the pub James Potter appeared to be well and truly over Lily Evans.
“Are you reading that?” Sirius asked, he had Marlene securely tucked against his side. Lily frowned, feeling a prickle of jealousy at the back of her mind.
“I am reading yes,” she dropped the book into her lap, “why d’you ask?”
“Just James is waiting for you in the kitchens.”
“What?”
“James Potter, tall as me, dark, unruly hair. Quidditch captain?”
“Very funny,” said Lily. Your humour never fails to tickle me.” She tried to maintain a cool exterior but a glance at Marlene’s face told her she wasn’t doing a great job.
“I’ll just head down, shall I?”
“You do that Evans, have fun.” Sirius laughed then, as Lily rose from her chair.
****
Lily spent the walk down to the kitchens freaking out. James Potter, former rival, new friend, current crush was waiting for her. She smoothed her hair and ran her hands down over her skirt. Deep breaths Lily, deep breaths.
She descended the stairs into the kitchen, tickled the pear, taking in the sounds and scents of the busy kitchen as the portrait swung open. Looking across, she felt her eyes drawn to him. He was sat at a small table with some food laid out in front of him.
James spotted her almost immediately, jumping up and crossing the space between them.
“You got the message then?”
“From Sirius, yeah. He sent me down, said you were waiting?” Lily tried to keep the impatience out of her voice.
“Great, I’m glad you are here.” His hand flew into his hair, ruffling it in that nervous tic that he had. Lily smiled, and took a step closer, leaning around him to look at the table behind.
“You’ve got food?”
“I thought we could have some snacks, just a couple of bits. The elves are always happy to provide if you ask nicely.”
“Sure, sounds great.”
They made their way across and sat down; Lily smiled at the odd selection of foods laid out on the table. It seemed James, in his indecision, had gone for a wide range of treats.
“Couldn’t decide?”
“Something like that, I err tried to make sure I had all your favourite things on there.”
“My favourites?”
“Yeah like, that's the little chocolate puddings we had at Easter last year, you said they were the best you’d ever had. This little pastry here —”
“Is the one I have every Sunday?”
“Well yeah, it is.”
Lily avoided looking at —him for a moment, her cheeks felt suddenly warm. Her skirt pattern seemed more interesting. He squirmed a little across from her, and that prompted her to speak again.
“James, how do you notice these things?”
“Well, you know I try to be a good friend.”
Friend.
That was a confusing word for him to use right this second.
“Friend?”
“Well yeah, I rather thought we were friends now?”
Her stomach sank a little further. Lily felt like her brain was short-circuiting, had she completely misread the situation? She forced herself to carry on chatting. She was fierce, Marlene said so.
“Yes, I think we are friends,” she replied, her tone a little terse.
“Great. And I know you haven’t anybody to go with to the Ceilidh and I thought—”
“You thought, we’d go as friends.” Lily interrupted him before he could go on any further. Best to just get it over with, rip off the plaster as it were. “I’d be happy for us to go as friends.”
James appeared to fumble for words, his hand was back in his hair again.
“Right, great,” he said briskly. “Friends.”
Lily picked up the pastry and shoved it into her mouth, anything to stop her from talking anymore. James likewise seemed to have the same idea and tucked into the chocolate pudding. They ate in silence.
Silence which seemed to stretch on and on.
“So, I'll head back upstairs, see you up there soon?”
James smiled as she spoke, “Sure, I’ll get the rest of these boxed up,” he said.
Lily stood and made her way to the kitchen door, pausing only as James cleared his throat.
“Night James.”
***
“You’re going as friends?” Marlene's disbelief rang clear through her tone.
Lily sighed, her arms thrown over her face, she lay on her dorm bed.
“Yes, that’s what I said. Friends.”
“HOW did that happen? Sirius said it was all set up, he had your favourite foods, it was all perfect Lily, how on earth are you going as just friends?!”
“I’m unsure,” replied Lily. Sounding slightly muffled from under her arms. She rolled over, groaning until she was sitting upright on her bed. She crossed her legs and pulled her winter blanket up to her chin.
Mary smiled at her encouragingly. “Why don’t you just go over it one more time, Lils.”
Lily huffed again, “Alright, so he had all my favourite foods. And he talked about how he knew they were my favourites. When I asked how he knew that he said that good friends notice these things. Then we got in this weird friend, friends? Friends! Chit chat. And it concluded with we'll go to the Ceilidh as friends.”
“God, Lily, for head students who have been pining for a year you are terrible at communication!” exclaimed Marlene.
“It isn’t me!” retorted Lily. “Anyway, it’s fine, I’ll still get to see his legs, and dance together.”
Mary shuffled over to her bed and gathered her up into a hug. “Just kiss him, it’ll either work or it won’t. But then you’ll know.”
Lily smiled back at her, “I’m not as brave as you. I’m going to turn in, perhaps I’ll wake up and James will ask me properly tomorrow.”
Marlene rolled her eyes while Mary gave her a small smile and slipped off her bed. Lily drew her hangings around her bed and snuggled down. Wishing for a little Christmas communication miracle.
****
Sadly the next day did not bring a communication miracle and James and Lily slid back into their usual friendly banter. Friday arrived quickly and Lily and James were finishing up paperwork.
"Do you want to head off Lily? I can finish up and you can go get ready."
"Are you sure? Don't you need time to?"
"Nah, Sirius is the one who preens in our group. I'm just naturally graced with these good looks!" He gestured at himself and Lily averted her eyes. She did not need to fall into the trap of looking at him anymore than she already did.
"Marlene is well suited to Sirius then," she chuckled. " I better go and see if she needs help, and fix my hair."
James smiled, his gaze seeming to rove over her hair and down to her face as he did so. "I'll see you later - in the common room, at quarter to seven?"
"Can't wait," she said as she left, closing the door behind her.
Lily made her way back to dorms from their small office, taking a slightly longer route so she could peek in at the decorations in the Great Hall. They were beautiful. The tables had been pushed to the sides, leaving a larger open space in the middle for dancing. Soft twinkling lights lined the walks, and two huge Christmas trees stood proudly on either side of the door.
She smiled to herself, that lovely Christmas feeling washing over her. Whatever happened tonight, she was determined to enjoy this evening.
A couple of hours later and the girls had finished their finishing touches to each other. Marlene cast her wand over Lily’s hair, soft waves curled around her shoulders, lifted at one side with a clasp.
“You look gorgeous Lily, but I don’t care what you say, you’re going to get so sweaty dancing with your hair down.”
“I prefer it down,”
Marlene raised her eyebrows and looked at Mary - “Code for, Potter likes it down.”
The pair laughed and Lily blushed. “Got to work with what we can ladies.”
They gathered up their things and made their way down to the common room. The curve of the stairs just allowed them to glimpse the room before they fully came into view. The three of them paused, observing the boys as they waited for them. Remus was settled into an armchair watching Sirius and James with a bored expression on his face, he’d gone for tartan trews and looked as if he had been listening to the other pair for a while.
Sirius had a kilt on, a pressed white shirt and a dark grey jacket. James didn’t have a jacket on yet but Lily felt her heart beat quicker as she realised, they had all gone for the same tartan. Marlene voiced this at the same moment.
“They are unbearably cute, matching themselves in tartan.”
James turned then and Lily realised he was adjusting his shirt. He methodically fiddled with the sleeves a second, fixing his cufflinks. Then he reached for his jacket thrown across a chair and swung it easily across that broad back.
Lily closed her eyes.
“Breathe Lils,” chuckled Marlene.
“I’m sorry, he does the cufflink move and then slides into that jacket and he just wants to be friends,” hissed Lily. “How can I be friends with him looking like that?”
Mary closed her hand around Lily’s wrist and tugged her forward. With no other option than to follow they exited the stairwell as a three.
“Girls,” said Sirius, “Stunning as always. Shall we?” He extended his arm for Marlene who took it immediately. Remus stood hastily, also offering his arm for Mary. They left through the portrait quickly. Lily turned towards James who was leaning against a chair.
He seemed to shake himself a little and stood, straightening his jacket, which sent Lily’s pulse racing off again and then offered his hand to her as the other boys had done.
“Shall we?” he asked.
“Please,” replied Lily.
****
“LEFT ARM, RIGHT ARM, BOTH ARMS, DO-SI-DO!”
Lily laughed, “Well now I know that the McGonagall is making up words.”
James grinned, his eyes flashing with that twinkle Lily loved. “She isn’t, it's an easy one come on!”
Lily felt most of the evening passed in this way, her being confused about steps and the rest of them guiding her through the dances. Strong arms caught her and turned her about the right way, after the first couple of times Lily just went with it. James was a good dancer and knew all the dances as McGonagall announced them before she even called the steps. Besides she secretly, not so secretly enjoyed his arms steering her expertly around the room.
The final dance of the evening was the Orcadian and passed in a blur. The pairs of students faced each other in a long line down the hall. Lily was horrified to realise she would be expected to spin all the way down the whole strip. The sound of the band rang out across the hall and more than a few students took up stamping their feet.
James grinned at her across the way, gave her a thumbs up and resumed his clapping to the beat. They were near the top of the hall and so after taking her turn to spin a couple of boys it was her and James up next.
She met him in the middle as he clasped their hands together behind their backs.
“James, I’m not sure I can do this!”
“Nonsense, just lean back and keep counting!”
He leant away from her spinning and they were off. A laugh escaped her lips as Lily realised if she leaned into it then he could spin her faster. They hit their sixteenth beat and spun off down the line, spinning a partner each and returning to each other in the middle each time. Halfway down Lily realised she was no longer worried but instead flying into the centre, certain James would be there to catch her.
He was every time.
As they hit the end of the line, disaster struck, a sixth year Slytherin was her next partner and he neatly sidestepped as she stretched her arm for him. Suddenly Lily found herself falling, the ground floor speeding towards her at an alarming rate.
Next thing she was righted and passed straight to James, who spun her as if nothing had happened. She looked over her shoulder to see Sirius standing where the Slytherin had been, he winked at her and the dance carried on.
The next three passed without incident and they spun their final sixteen counts together at the bottom. Just before they broke apart James leant in to whisper to her.
“Drink? Our office?”
Lily nodded and as they completed the final turn, they slipped out the doors of the hall.
The corridor was quiet, nearly everybody taking part in the final dance. The pair of them made their way to their shared office. They generally didn’t spend much time in here together, Lily found being with him in such a small space overwhelming. There was only two desks, the back wall lined with bookcases and a small couch just in front of the fire.
James pushed open the door and flicked his wand at the grate, the fire springing up almost immediately. Lily sank into the couch gratefully, slipped her shoes off and tucked her feet under her. The short walk through the cold Castle had cooled her from their dance and she drew a blanket up over her knees.
James passed her a Gillywater he appeared to have conjured from his desk and sat down beside her.
“I’m sorry Lily, I didn’t see that dick until it was too late.”
“It’s fine, Sirius caught me. I don’t know how he moved so fast though.”
“Still, it was a dick move.”
“It happens, I know most of them don’t like me and most don’t think I should be here,” replied Lily.
“Well, I know you should be here. You can wipe the floor with the lot of them! Easy.” James gesticulated with his hands as he spoke and Lily laughed in spite of the situation.
James settled down and for a while they sipped their drinks in the quiet. James stretched his legs out a little and then reached to loosen his laces around his calves. They crossed up his socks from his brogues.
“Is it comfy?” Lily asked.
“The kilt? Yeah, I guess so, alright for an evening.”
Lily nodded, her eyes travelling down his body. He’d rolled his sleeves up at some point in the evening, tanned, taut forearms on display. Merlin, he was ridiculous to look at. Lily pulled at her dress, desperate to create a little air. She felt as if the temperature in the room had suddenly climbed a few degrees.
James watched her over his glass through narrowed eyes.
“Alright, Evans?” he asked softly, his gaze dropping to her lips.
Lily nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
James leant in, taking her drink and placing it on the table beside them. As he moved back, he stroked a finger down her bare arm.
“I love your dress, it suits you,” he said.
Lily’s reply came out breathy and flustered, “thanks.”
His fingers pulled gently at a curl, “and your hair...”
“I know you prefer it down,”
“Noticed that did you?”
She nodded, following his eyes as they dropped to her lips again. James paused and then he slowly leant down. Lily responded, pushing herself forward, their lips meeting.
His lips slid over hers, pressure firm. Sudden heat rushed through Lily and she moved her arms up around his neck. Burying her fingers in his hair. She opened her lips to him and he deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue in to taste hers.
All too quickly he pulled back, a shy smile spreading across his features. Lily slid her hands down his arms, gripping his forearms and leaning towards him.
“Can we just do that again? I need to double check we aren’t just friends.”
“I never wanted to be just friends,” he replied.
“I know, so just kiss me again.”