"James?" she asked, sitting up with bleary eyes. She wasn't sure how long she'd been asleep.

The dark Gryffindor common room swam around her, slowly coming into focus, and she blinked.

Kneeling beside her was James Potter.

Lily blushed. She wasn't sure why she'd thought of him instantly, but now that he was actually there with her, she felt a rush of embarrassment.

He smiled. "Hey."

She leaned back down onto the pillow and smiled up at him, feeling her cheeks blush as she stared up at him.

"Hi."

Moonlight fell across her, and her dark red hair shimmered, fanned out across the cushion. She'd waited for him.

They just smiled at each other for what seemed like ages before she broke the silence.

"How is he?" she whispered, her eyes flickering to the full moon hanging outside the window.

James looked down at his hands, and as he shifted, she saw the bruise blooming across his jaw and winced.

"He was rowdier than usual tonight. I dunno. Sirius and I were able to keep him pretty much under control, but I think the fact that midterms are over and he's gotten more sleep lately..."

"Yeah."

"It's snowing out." James whispered, unsure why he thought to bring it up.

"Really?" Lily sat up again.

James smiled. The littlest things made Lily so happy.

Her hand found his shoulder, and she pushed herself up off the couch as he stood too. She smiled at him, and without taking her eyes off him, she twisted her hair up into a loose bun. Strands of her hair fell out within seconds, but she didn't seem to care. James swallowed discreetly. She was beautiful.

"Well?" he asked, looking down at her.

"Let's go up to the astronomy tower. I want to see the snow." she whispered back. A childlike glow sparkled in her eyes, and her smile widened. Casually, she twined her arm in the crook of his elbow and started walking forward, pulling him with her.

She leaned against the window, her nose and hands against the glass and tendrils of her hair floating in the draft. Just standing there, in her crimson tank top and flannel pajamas, she was the most beautiful thing James had ever seen. Her shirt had ridden up just a bit so that a strip of pale skin was visible. She was so pale she nearly glowed.

James' heart was in his throat as he stepped forward to stand next to her. The world felt silent, as the two of them stared at the falling snow and the peaceful grounds. It was past midnight, and Moony was up in the Shrieking Shack, probably asleep after the Marauders had worn him out. His parents, and hers, were miles away, and it felt like everyone else they knew was miles away too. In that moment, it was just them.

James was so wrapped up in these thoughts that when Lily's cold fingertips drifted down the pane of glass and intertwined with his own, he nearly started. She looked up at him and grinned. He grinned back.

But they were both at a loss for words. Their grins slowly faded into soft smiles, and before either knew what they were doing, his lips were on hers.

Let it be said that James Potter was a fantastic kisser.

Their fingers slowly untwined, hers finding their way around his neck and tangled through his hair and his around her waist and cradling her back.

They kissed with a quiet ferocity, and it was quite some time before they both found themselves sitting on the floor under the window. Lily was sitting on James's lap, and his arms were wrapped tightly around her waist.

They laughed, and she leaned back to leave a long kiss on his jaw.

"Lily?" he asked as she snuggled closer. It was cold.

"Hmm?"

"I don't know if now is the best time, but there's a Hogsmeade weekend coming up and I was wondering..."

She pivoted on his lap, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him again. He never did finish his sentence.