”…So, that sums it all up I guess. You don’t have to answer me now, of course, have some time to think.”
It was 7 pm and Lily Evans and James Potter found themselves in the headmaster’s office. He wanted to recruit them to the organization fighting against Voldemort. They were awestruck for a moment before James declared “I’m in.” Lily and professor McGonagall turned to look at him. Dumbledore smiled. “I can’t say I didn’t except this from you, Mr. Potter. With your parents and reputation…”
“Sir, the situation is terrible. No one should suffer because of their blood, everyone should be proud of who they are and their heritage. I want to fight. I want to make the world a better place, and I’m grateful you’ve given me the chance” said James looking into Dumbledore’s eyes with determination.
“Indeed, Mr. Potter. Ms. Evans?” Dumbledore turned to Lily who was still looking shocked by James’ statement. She cleared her throat “Uh yes sir, of course I will fight.”
Dumbledore smiled at them both and said they will continue this talk some other time. “Goodbye, professor.” Said James and Lily and walked out of the office.
As soon as they left the staircase and the gargoyles behind them returned to their regular spot Lily took a hold of James’ wrist. He turned around shooting her a questioning look and saw her looking at him with worried eyes. James was shocked to say the least.
They became friends in sixth year after he apologized for everything but still seeing Lily worried. About him. *Although* James thought *things are a lot different now.*
The summer between fifth and sixth year Sirius Black was disowned and he went to leave with the people he considered his real family for a long time. The Potters. James was affected by Lily’s harsh words during the incident and he decided to pull his life together. He wanted to be a better friend to the marauders, a better role model for younger students, a better warrior, a better son to his parents, a better brother to Sirius and a man who would, one day just maybe, be good enough for Lily Evans.
“Why are you fighting in a war that doesn’t affect you?”
“Sorry?” Said James, snapping out of his train of thought.
“You are a rich pureblood, Voldemort won’t come after you, why are you fighting?” She repeated.
“If I don’t fight, It just means I’m with them. That’s wrong.I don’t want to live in a world where blood status is important, where people marry for blood, not love and where muggles and muggleborns get killed. It’s horrible. I want to help.”
Lily looked at him with wide eyes. They’ve been head students for two months now, which meant they shared a private dormitory and that they worked together almost all the time. They became friends in 6th year after he apologized for being an idiot to Snape and an even bigger one to her. Ever since October this year she felt something shift between them. She knew what it was but didn’t want to admit it. But then… this. Lily couldn’t help herself, she was in love with James Potter. The arrogant toe rag who hexed people for fun, who wouldn’t stop asking her out, who bullied Snape.
When those thoughts came into her mind she quickly put them away. He changed. James Potter was not the same person anymore. He was a lot more… bearable? No, he was amazing. He tutored other students in transfiguration(his best subject), he sat in empty hallways with homesick first years comforting them. The marauders’ pranks were only in purpose of cheering people up now. He stopped asking Lily out, and she kinda felt guilty missing it. She was also quite anxious that he stopped having feeling for her. At that she couldn’t bring herself to think further. She came back to the present and realized that James was still waiting to see her reaction. “Wow, well that’s-wow.” She stuttered.
His lips quirked up in amusement but before he could comment she said. “That’s really mature of you.” She smiled at him and let go of his wrist.
“Why were you so worried a minute ago?” James asked furrowing his eyebrows looking at her with curious eyes. Lily tried to ignore her blush
“well I mean, It’s war.”
“I think we’ve established that” said James with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. She rolled her eyes trying to hide her smile. *It seems I’ve been doing that a lot this year around him* she thought.
“It’s just that people die and…” she trailed off.
“And…” James asked taking a step closer to her.
Their bodies were separated by a couple of centimeters and there was the height difference which gave James the advantage of looking down at her blushing face, his chin just above her forehead.
Lily bore her emeralds into the warm hazel eyes she’s been dreaming of a lot lately. Talking was suddenly very hard on her, so she did what seemed logical to her at the time.
She stood up on her toes, cupped his cheeks with her palms and kissed him. James’ eyes widened and he felt his stomach do a backflip. It was a quick, gentle, soft kiss but it made his head spin. Hard. She felt electricity run down her whole body and she separated their lips, so she could look him in the eyes(trying not to get lost in them) and tell him. “And… I don’t want to lose you.”
The corridor was quiet and the only sound that could be heard was the loud beating of their hearts. He was looking at her with wide eyes and Lily couldn’t help but feel anxious. She had kissed him and he didn’t do anything, he just looked at her. She started to panic slightly, but before she could do anything James put his hands on her face and took a deep breath.
“Lily…” he whispered and she shivered.
“James…” she said in the same tone.
“Will you go out with me?” He asked trying to hide the worry in his voice.
She beamed at him. “Yes.”
He let out the breath he’s been holding in and smiled. Lily saw him smiling at her a lot of times over the years, but now she realized he had been holding back. She never saw this beautiful, bright, just…amazing smile before and she couldn’t help but smile back just as wide.
He kissed her and poured his heart and soul into the kiss. She did the same. When they separated Lily’s cheeks started to hurt from all the smiling and she let out a laugh. James started laughing too.
Lily lowered herself back on her heels and put her hands around James’ neck. James’ hands left her face and they placed themselves on her hips.
“So…” Lily started and immediately felt her cheeks warm up.
“So…” James whispered sweetly.
*Ok I’m definitely as red as my hair now* she thought.
“Let’s go back to our common room” said Lily staring down at her feet. James’ finger came down to her chin and lifted it up, placing a heart melting peck on her lips, he agreed “let’s”.
They walked hand in hand in silence. It wasn’t an awkward one, they were just trying to sum the events of tonight in their heads.
When they got to the portrait James said the password and they entered their common room. Lily looked up and found James already watching her fondly. She smiled and pulled his hand as an invite for him to bend down and kiss her. He, of course, obliged. They were both smiling into the kiss and when Lily threw her hands around his neck again, James circled his arms around her waist and the smiles dropped leaving them snogging like there’s no tomorrow. James guided them to the couch and Lily sat sideways in his lap. After some time their lips broke away and Lily placed her forehead on his, their breathing ragged. James laughed breathlessly “wow. You can’t imagine how many nights I dreamt of this, and I-I never thought It could be this good, but… wow.”
Lily smiled. It was the kind of smile she had discovered at the End od 6th year, the kind only James could bring out like it was reserved for him and him only.
“I love you.” She blurted out surprising both herself and James.
She froze, they literally kissed not even an hour ago and she’s already proclaiming her love for him. But as soon as those words sank in she knew they were true. James stared at her, his face not giving away any kind of emotion and she felt like she might cry.
*Lily Evans just said she loved me. I repeat, Lily Evans just said she loved me* James was instantly paralyzed and convinced he died during their make out session and this was his heaven now.
A minute passed, and finally to Lily’s relief James beamed. He beamed and Lily felt every muscle in her body relax as she heard him say “I love you too, Lily Evans.” She giggled and kissed him again.
*We’re going too fast* she thought but then realization hit her. Her own words came tumbling into her mind. “It’s a war”, “people die”.
They were in their last year of Hogwarts, they’ve just joined the Order of the Phoenix meaning they were to join the war in a couple of months. She meant it when she said that she didn’t want to lose him, and now? Well now, that feeling had just doubled in size. She didn’t care about “too fast” or “too sudden” she just knew that she loved James Potter and he loved her.
They made out for a long time on the couch, she sideways in his lap, her hands in his messy raven hair and he sitting on the couch, his back resting on the pillows, right hand making little circles on her thigh, and left hand rubbing her back sweetly. It all felt strangely familiar, like they’ve been doing it their entire lives.
James slowed down the pace of his lips before gently pushing away completely. She missed his lips instantly and blushed at the thought. He smiled and she smiled back.
“What time?” Lily asked breaking the silence.
“What? James asked, looking a bit disoriented.
She laughed “tomorrow is Hogsmeade. What time do we leave for our date?” She smiled sweetly and his heart skipped a beat.
“Could you hit me, please?”
Lily stared at him in confusion.
“I’m 90% sure this was all a ‘too good to be true’ dream” he admitted and she laughed again.
She took his hand, kissed it and then smacked him with it across his face. He smiled, she laughed.
“8 o’clock, right after breakfast, I want to spend as much time with you as I can.”
She blushed for the hundredth time this evening and placed her head on his chest, listening to his heart. She fell quickly asleep and James kissed her temple whispering “good night, love” before drifting to sleep.