Ok, this is the last chapter! I want to thank you all for reading, and indulge in a bit of shamelss self promoting when I suggest that you take a peek at some of my other fics ... ;) I had fun, hope you enjoyed it:D
Lily was perched nervously on the edge of the couch. The Common Room was fairly empty around her; most of the younger students had gone to bed, and many of the older ones had taken up residence in the library.
She fiddled with her sleeve nervously, not noticing a familiar, messy haired boy sidle up to her.
"Evans?"
"James!" Lily jumped up, knocking over a glass of water in the process. "Oh … oh no … "
James suppressed a smile. "Here," he said quietly, flicking his wand. The glass repaired itself and with a hiss of steam, the water dried up.
"Thanks," murmured Lily, not meeting his eye. A silence followed this, during which both Lily and James racked their brains for something to say.
"Look … James …"
But he shook his head and interrupted her. "Not here," he said, glancing around. The few students that were still in the Common Room appeared to be having intense discussions, but James knew that they were watching the pair eagerly out of the corners of their eyes. "Come on …"
They clambered out of the portrait hole, feeling several sets of eyes burning into the back of their heads, and set of at a leisurely pace down the corridor.
"James," began Lily hesitantly, glancing up at him and then looking away quickly when he met her eye. "Look … I know there's no excuse for what I said, but please believe me … I didn't mean it."
The rounded a corner, ignoring three Ravenclaws who scuttled past them, whispering eagerly.
James didn't answer straight away. He glanced down at the top of Lily's shiny dark red hair, and found himself wishing she'd look up at him with those startling green eyes. Sirius was right, she did sound sincere. But nonetheless, said a nagging voice in the back of James's mind, had she only gone out with him as a joke? The thought made James's stomach lurch.
"Was it true though?" he found himself asking her as they ascended a staircase.
"Please, I really didn't mean it –"
"Was it true?"
Closing her eyes and wishing with all her heart that she could truthfully say something else, anything else, Lily nodded. "Yes," she whispered.
James's face fell. He had heard it from her own mouth in the Potions dungeon, he knew it was true, yet still, he had hoped that there was a reasonable explanation, which for some reason, she had so far neglected to put forth.
"So you did only agree to go out with me so you could get rid of me?" He queried in a voice of forced calm.
Tears leaking from the corners of her eyes, Lily nodded unwillingly, wincing at how much worse it sounded coming from James's own mouth.
"Oh. I see."
He looked so hurt. This Marauder, this practical joker who was invincible to absolutely everything, was gazing down at her with a rare expression of vulnerability, and Lily found herself utterly stuck for the right words to say. She felt worse than she had ever felt in her life, and now wondered, angrily, what had made her do something so ridiculously harsh in the first place.
"I thought … I thought you …" James broke off, feeling stupid. He smiled humourlessly. "I thought you liked me."
Lily forced herself not to burst into tears and throw her arms around his neck; now was probably not the right time.
"But I do," she whispered earnestly, gazing at him. "I thought I didn't, but I was wrong … I do like you."
He stopped walking and turned uncertainly to face her.
"So why did you … ?" He broke off, waving a hand. "You know."
"Well …" began Lily, twisting her hands nervously. "Well … you … you were always bugging me."
James raised an eyebrow at her.
"No I'm going somewhere with this, honestly!"
In spite of himself, James smiled, and sank to the floor of the corridor. He indicated to the tiled ground beside him, inviting Lily to join him. She knelt down next to him and smoothed out her skirt unconsciously.
"You … I mean wherever I went, there you were, hitting on me and asking me out. No matter what I did, I couldn't get away from you."
"Not helping your case here, Evans," said James dryly.
"No, I am. I do have a point here. I'm not entirely to blame, James."
James looked at her incredulously and made to stand up, but Lily grabbed his arm and forced him back down again. "No, you are going to hear me out," she said firmly.
James contemplated throwing his cloak on and running off, but the spark in her eyes compelled him to stay. "Fine," he sighed. "Keep talking."
"Ok," Lily said, her mouth slightly dry. "Right … so … you were always there, and … and I hated it, James. I hated the fact that you wouldn't take no for an answer, I hated the fact that everyone else thought I was crazy because I said no to you, I hated … I hated you." She looked at him apologetically, and found him watching her closely, his hazel eyes sombre.
"Go on," he said softly. "Keep talking."
Thankful that the corridor they had chosen to have this conversation on was mercifully empty, Lily continued.
"So … when Gwendolyn and Hetty suggested that I go out with you so that you could see how awful a couple we'd make, I … I decided it would be a good idea." She shook her head, praying that he'd understand. "I didn't set out to humiliate or hurt you, James," she implored softly, meeting his eye. "I just ... wanted some peace."
James held her gaze for a moment, until she looked away in embarrassment. A new feeling was forming in the pit of his stomach, and with a jolt of shame, he realised that he had never really registered before just how annoying his frequent flirting must have been to someone who did not want it. Most of the female population of Hogwarts would have welcomed it with open arms, although Sirius had always taken the title of ultimate 'ladies man'.
But Lily … Lily had been different. She was one of the few who were not impressed by the antics of James and Sirius, and this was what caught James's attention in the first place. He had really liked her, and had assumed that after a while, she would return the feeling. Yet three entire years later, she still hated him, and he … he still hadn't given up. And as was his manner, he wasn't exactly subtle or considerate. Merlin, he thought uncomfortably. I must have been really annoying …
"But," Lily continued, breaking James's concentration. "I was wrong."
"Wrong about what?"
"About you."
James hesitated, but couldn't help asking, "How do you mean?"
"Well," said Lily hesitantly, inching slightly closer. "I had planned to have an awful time, and show you how bad we were together, but … I ended up … having quite a nice time, actually."
James sat up a little straighter. "Really?" he asked, mouth slightly drier than usual.
Lily nodded. "Gertie was jealous, you know she's obsessed with you, and she provoked me … I know I still shouldn't have said it, but it was the original truth … its not anymore though," she finished softly.
James shifted and moved slightly closer. "Its not?" he asked, mustering all his willpower to prevent himself from jumping up and doing a ridiculous victory dance right there in front of Lily.
Lily shook her head, aware that she was blushing furiously.
A sort of explosion was taking place in the pit of James's stomach, and his heart began to race as it had when she had first agreed to go out with him. He had been so ecstatic; after years of pursuit, Evans had finally agreed to go to Hogsmeade with him … it had been a joke though, he remembered, face falling slightly.
Lily read his mind, and her face broke out into a smile. "I mean it this time," she said softly. "I … I really like you. You can celebrate," she addedd knowingly. "I know you want to."
James grinned and took her hand, aware of the fact that their knees were touching. Lily's already red face deepened a bit more and he asked, softly, "Lily Evans, will you accompany me on the next Hogsmeade trip?"
Unable to contain her smile, she nodded eagerly.
"Really?"
"Really," she said breathlessly, moving closer still.
James cupped a hand under her chin, his other hand still enclosed around hers. He could count almost every freckle on her face. Still feeling as though this were a dream (and willing himself not to wake up) he moved slowly closer … closer … until he could feel her gentle breath … and he kissed her.
Butterflies had taken flight in Lily's stomach and her heart sped up. She had never been kissed like this before, and the way James's hands tightened gently around her slender frame sent tingles down her spine. Unfortunately, they broke apart sooner than she would have liked.
"Go Lily!"
"Nice work Prongs!"
Lily and James turned in shock to find the grinning heads of Gwendolyn, Sirius, and Remus poking around the corner of their previously deserted corridor.
"Gwen!" gasped Lily. "What are – go away!"
Gwendolyn beamed. "I knew you'd make it up!"
"Sirius, Remus … get lost!" said James. He attempted to look outraged, but could not help grinning at Remus's smirk.
"Just wanted to make sure you two weren't killing one another!" he said with a twinkle in his eye. "How wrong we were …"
"Or if we were correct, what a way to go!" exclaimed Sirius, winking at James. Lily blushed.
"Padfoot," said James warningly.
"Right so," said Sirius cheerfully. "We'll leave you two alone to … eh … 'talk' …" he wiggled an eyebrow suggestively and, linking an arm with both Gwendolyn and Remus, dragged them both away down the corridor, humming loudly over their spluttering protests.
A comfortably nervous silence echoed in the wake of their departure. Lily laughed shyly, and finally, James gently took her chin and turned her face to look at him once more.
"Now," he said softly. "Where were we …"
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