Your Friends Giggle Too Much
September 1977
“We thought you hated him, Lily?” Dorcas smirked across the Gryffindor table.
“I distinctly remember her saying that she’d rather go out with the giant squid.” Marlene said, feigning seriousness that made her sound like she was concerned for Lily’s sanity.
“She definitely told anyone that would listen that she didn’t fancy him.” Mary laughed; James had at least thought Mary would lay off taking the piss.
The other three Gryffindor girls had been giggling away as James and Lily had joined them for breakfast. To Lily’s credit, she was taking their teasing very gracefully, if she hadn’t, James would have told them to knock it off.
“The giant squid turned her down.” James said, unable to resist joining in – it seemed safe enough to now that he was sure Lily was just brushing it off – and the girls fell about laughing. It was funny. He was on cloud fucking nine, of course, but it was funny that she’d spent so long pretending not to fancy him. They’d been sneaking around all of last year, and she’d still insisted to everyone that they were just friends.
Lily glared at him, but he was sure he saw the corner of her mouth twitch. The bell rang and slowly – and very reluctantly – students started to move themselves for the first day of lessons.
“Thanks for that.” Lily muttered, but she squeezed his hand all the same.
“Hey, it’s not my fault your friends giggle too much.” James shrugged, draining his cup of tea before letting Lily tug him from the Great Hall.
“When they giggle that much, they’re your friends.” She grinned, reaching with her free hand to mess up his hair.