You Love Me?
Lily noticed that James had changed. He no longer irritated her all day and he didn’t try to ask her out whenever he saw her. In fact, he was respectful towards her. He smiled at her when their eyes met, he didn’t annoy her anymore and he was extra careful around her. She liked this new mature James, but she found she missed the old fun-loving James. Not much, but a little. She missed his laugh echoing down the corridor after he had tried to ask her out, she missed his goofy grin when he and Sirius were planning a new prank.
It was weird... The Marauders were still the closest of friends and they were almost always together, grinning and laughing, but they never did big pranks anymore. Okay... So sometimes they did small, stupid pranks and jokes, but never anything massive or over the top. It was as if they had all grown up over the summer and now they were in sixth year they had matured a lot.
Lily also noticed that James was looking hot. He had obviously been working out over the summer holidays due to the size of his biceps and she bet he had a six pack... What? Hm? Moving on! But he did look gorgeous. She found herself staring at him whenever she had the chance: in the common room, in the Great Hall, she even watched him in his Quidditch matches, for that was when she thought he looked his best. She mainly stared at his eyes. They were a beautiful hazel colour and she could get lost in them for hours. But recently, she had been staring more at his lips. His plump, captivating lips. She wondered what they would feel like against her own. Would they be soft and gentle, or would they be chapped and rough? Either way, Lily wanted to feel them. Preferably with her own lips.
Oh Merlin. She knew... She realised. She... She... She loved him. She really loved him. Lily Evans loved James Potter.
~~
“Lily. Lily. Oi. Evans. Lilyyyyy.”
It was lunch break and Lily, Marlene and Alice were in the common room catching up on some of their homework. However, Lily could not stop staring at James. She looked away from James’s kissable lips to see her friends grinning at her.
“What,” She asked, pretending to be focused on her charms essay.
“You’re staring at Potter again,” Marlene said.
“Don’t even try and deny it Lils,” Alice said before Lily could respond, “You were staring at him.”
Lily eyed her friends and sighed, “Okay fine. I was staring at him.”
“Aw. Cute. You gunna talk to him?” Marlene said.
“I- What? No! Marls! Just ‘coz I’m staring at him does not mean I like him,” Lily said defiantly, causing both the other girls to smirk.
“We never said you liked him,” Alice pointed out.
“Thank you for confirming that you do,” Marlene grinned at Lily, who was blushing like anything.
“HEY! Potter!” Alice called across the room, “Lily wants to talk to you!”
James looked curiously at Lily, but he got up anyway.
“No! Alice! Why did you do that! I hate you why did you- Oh... Hey Potter,” Lily tried to play it cool while James was with them and she shot Alice a killer glare.
“Hey Evans, McKinnon, Prewett. You alright?” James said.
“Yup. We’re perfect. Or Lily is at least. You?” Marlene said, grinning up at him.
“I’m good. Bit stuck on the potions essay though. Any of you done it? I could really use some help,” James rubbed the back of his neck and smiled.
Lily saw her chance to talk to James and tell him that she liked – sorry – loved him, but she was too nervous to offer her help and talk.
“Oh. Lily finished it ages ago. I bet she will help you,” Alice smiled innocently at James and smirked at Lily, who scowled back.
“If that’s okay with you Evans,” James turned to her.
“I- Yeah sure,” Lily stuttered, “Let me just grab it,” She dug around in her bag for her essay, sending her friends another death glare as she followed James back to where he was sat at a solitary table by the big window in the corner of the common room.
She and James spent the next half an hour working on the potions essay and to Lily’s surprise, James did not flirt with her once. He just put all his focus into the essay and at the end of it, came out with an almost perfect piece of potions homework.
“Nice James! That’s really good,” Lily said, smiling at James.
“Pht. I owe you one. Thanks so much. That was a massive help,” James grinned back and started to pack up his things, “So, what did you want to talk to me about?”
“Hm?” Lily hummed, confused.
“Earlier. Prewett called me over ‘coz you wanted to talk to me.”
Lily scowled, “I didn’t want to talk to you. She caught me staring and decided to be a git and call you.”
James raised an eyebrow, “You were staring?”
“Oh, did I say that out loud?” Lily blushed deeply and James laughed.
“Sure did. Why, pray tell, were you staring at me?” He grinned.
“Well... I...” Lily was stuck and she knew it, “You see...”
“Well I never!” James exclaimed, “Lily Evans, lost for words! I thought this was impossible.”
“Shut up!” Lily hit him repeatedly with her potions textbook but that just made him laugh harder.
“Merlin Lils,” He gasped, “Stop hitting me! We’re attracting attention.”
Sure enough, almost everyone in the common room was staring at them. Lily stopped hitting him and instead, she stood up, grabbed his hand and stalked out of the Gryffindor tower, dragging a confused James yet grinning behind her. She pulled him through the school until they reached the Wooden Bridge and Lily sat down on the wall, dangling her legs over the edge of the wall. She was perfectly safe due to the countless protection charms all around the school, but she was still a bit nervous. She had never been one for heights.
“And why are we out here?” James asked, smiling.
“Coz I don’t want everyone to hear why I was staring at you,” Lily huffed. James eyed her but sat next to her on the wall anyway. Lily had to pluck up every ounce of Gryffindor courage she had to tell James this, and it wasn’t going to be easy.
“Are you ok-”
“I was staring at you ‘coz I find you attractive. You’re fit, gorgeous and bloody beautiful. Your eyes are incredible, and I could get lost in them for hours. Yes, that was hella cheesy but right now I don’t care. And your lips look so inviting. I know it’s weird. Also, you seem to have grown up over the summer. You don’t mess around or annoy me anymore and when we did that essay, you didn’t flirt with me once. Honestly, I love the new you but I kind of miss the old you just a little. You know... The you that would laugh loudly and plan pranks with Black and Pettigrew and Remus and would be cute and mischievous. I do love the new you... But I wish you would laugh more... You have such a nice laugh...” Lily trailed off and refused to meet James’s gaze, too afraid for what expression she would see on his face.
“You... You love me?” James sounded shocked.
“I... Yeah,” Lily covered her face with her hands to try and hide her blush, but James chuckled and bought her hands down, one of his hands holding both of hers, the other cupping her face, making her look him in the eye.
“Lily-”
“I’m sorry. I just can’t help it. I love you. I love your stupid smile, your sparkling eyes, your funny laugh. You’re just perfect. And I can’t help it. Even this new you is just... ARGH! Bloody perfect and I-” Lily was cut off as James captured her lips in a soft, tender kiss. Lily’s breath hitched as she fell into the kiss and she closed her eyes. James let her hands go and his other hand came up to cup her face. She rested her hands on his hips and kissed back just as gently.
It was amazing. So caring and loving. James’s lips were just as soft as Lily imagined, and she loved the feel of them moving against her own. It was just heaven.
As they separated slowly, Lily let her hands come up to James’s neck and lent her forehead against his, looking deep into his eyes.
“That was incredible,” She whispered, making James chuckle slightly.
“Sure was,” He said, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, “I love you Lils.”
“I love you too. Though Merlin knows how.”
James threw his head back and laughed heartily.
“You said it yourself,” He said, “I’m just perfect!”
Lily laughed as well and swatted his shoulder.
“Shut up you arse,” She said, good naturedly.
James grinned back at her, “We okay?”
Lily looked into James’s eyes again, noting the way in which they now had a new sparkle of joy in them. One that would hopefully never fade. She really did love the man sat in front of her, looking at her as if she was the most important person in his world. She smiled and straightened his glasses.
“Yeah. Yeah we are.”