Disclaimer: Everything you recognize belongs to JKR.

Matters Of The Heart

Matters of the heart are often complicated to a rational mind.

"Will you go out with me Lily?" James asked, the hope not quite hidden from his hazel eyes. I spun on my heel and headed down the opposite direction of the hall – but not before giving him a roll of my eyes. I didn't care where I was going just as long as I could get away from him.

"Lily, you didn't answer me," James called after me.

"Haven't I answered that question enough times over the past few years for the answer to finally have gotten through that thick skull of yours?" I said over my shoulder, but kept walking.

"So is that a yes?" he asked, tilting his head to the side like a little lost puppy, a big grin on his face. That grin sent butterflies flying into my stomach.

"I… I," I said, the shock of the butterflies making me speechless – or rather what felt like butterflies, it must have been some sudden stomach flu, or something of the sort, because there was no way that James Potter was giving me butterflies. "Of course it's not!" I hoped that I was able to regain my composure before he could notice the change within me, but judging by the flicker in his eyes I guessed that it didn't escape his notice.

I turned my head back around, and kept walking down the hall. I heard footfalls following behind me, and let out a loud sigh, not bothering to hide my irritation. "Go away, James."

"No," he said pleasantly from just behind my left shoulder. I stopped walking and was turned around, facing him in a second. But I had misjudged how close behind me he was, and I now stood with his face inches from my own; my breath caught in my throat.

"Just leave me alone James." I'd meant for my voice to come out strong and full of irritation, but it was quiet and slightly breathless. I tried to turn back around, but his hand caught my arm, efficiently stopping me.

"Go out with me Lily." It wasn't a question this time. My answer was stuck in my throat along with my breath. I tried to step back again but he still wouldn't let me go.

"Let go," I finally got out, my entire body trembling and I wished desperately that I could make it stop – but I couldn't. He loosened his hold, but didn't release my arm.

"You didn't answer me." His hazel eyes pierced all the way through me, and I tried again – without success – to pull away. "Answer me, Lily," he said softly, but with a sudden intensity.

"Let me go," I whispered, unsure why I couldn't make the word 'no' come to my lips. I'd said it a thousand times before, why was it so hard to say it now?

His face leaned closer to mine, and now not only was my vocabulary suddenly stunted but so was my movement. He leaned closer and closer, and I couldn't do a thing to stop him or to move away.

"Lily," he whispered, and my heart rate sped. Move, get out of here, my mind screamed at me, but my heart was whispering something completely different, more quiet, yet I was so much more compelled to listen.

I closed the distance between us without a second thought.

Matters of the heart come down to one thing: you either love him or you don't.

A/N: Hope you like it, but whether you did or not, I'd love a review. =]