Firewhisky Kisses
March 1977
“I didn’t need the hospital wing.” James muttered as he and Marlene walked along the seventh floor corridor.
“Your shoulder popped out again.” Marlene said, like he needed reminding.
“Yeah, and Sirius put it right again.” James shrugged. The shrug was a mistake, it made his shoulder throb painfully.
“And if it had been one of us, you’d have marched us straight to Madam Pomfrey.” Marlene said with a finality that made it perfectly clear she wasn’t going to discuss it anymore. What use was there in arguing about it now? They should just go and enjoy the party.
He’d spent so long being prodded and poked by the matron that it was already in full swing when they entered the common room. He clocked Dorcas pouring the last dregs of Firewhisky into a glass; the girls had got through that quick, it hadn’t been long since he’d replenished Marlene’s supply.
“They finished it without me.” Marlene said, sounding half amused and half offended. James was only half paying attention to her however, he was more interested in watching Lily dance with Sirius in the middle of the room. Judging by the redness of her cheeks she was the one Marlene should be blaming most.
“It’s alright, Marley, there’s half a bottle in my truck. You can raid that if you pour me a glass too.” James said watching as Lily stumbled. Sirius caught her quickly round the waist and righted her again.
“James!” She laughed, spotting him. She beckoned him over, brushing the hair from her face. James weaved his way through the revelling Gryffindors and as soon as he reached her, Lily threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.
Her body was so warm and soft against his, but he could taste the alcohol on her breath and they were in a crowded room.
It took James an enormous amount of effort to pull away, kissing Lily had fast become one of his favourite hobbies. But she’d been very firm about keeping whatever it was that they had a secret, at least for now, at least until she asked him out – he was more than willing to wait for her, however long it took, but that didn’t make pushing her away any easier.
She’d only kissed him now because she was drunk.
James ignored Sirius’s raised eyebrows and the giggles of the others on the makeshift dance floor. It was harder to ignore disappointment in Lily’s bottom lip. He pulled her into a hug so that he could whisper in her ear. “You’ll thank me in the morning.”
Even as he said it, he hoped that it wasn’t true. He wanted her to be annoyed that he didn’t kiss her back. He wanted her to come down to breakfast tomorrow morning and kiss him for the whole school to see.
He wanted Lily Evans to tell the world what she told him when they were alone: that she fancied him.