James didn't need to look up. He knew who it was. Only one person would shuffle her cold feet across the carpet in that way. She paused in the doorway and he glanced up at his flannel-clad wife drinking her hot chocolate with a thin marshmallow mustache. She held his gaze.
He'd had a hard day, but she had too. He could tell by the way her deep, green eyes looked worn out. He hoped that he was less readable, but the sympathetic grin she gave him killed that thought.
She strode quietly over to him and sat her warm drink on a coaster beside the bed. He stood and wrapped his arms around her waist, conveying support to his love. At his gesture, she wrapped her arms around his neck, and rested her forehead in the nook of his nose.
"Long day?" he whispered.
She sighed slightly in response and he inhaled the sweet chocolate of her breath. He leaned in to kiss her, but she turned away slightly. He jerked back in surprise and at his silent question she again sighed.
She felt his body tense in offense at her cold reception, but she quickly reached her finger up to his lips, silencing all comments. Their gaze held, and Lily silently pleaded with her husband for peace. He seemed to understand, and after a loving kiss on her forehead, he grabbed her hand and her hot chocolate and led her from the room.
She leaned her head against the bare muscles of his back as he pulled her into the kitchen. They always talked things out in the kitchen. It was an unspoken understanding.
She pushed herself onto the counter top and wrapped her legs around James' waist. He planted his hands on either side of her hips and looked expectantly up. She sighed and took a sip of hot chocolate, steeling herself for the upcoming conversation.
"Dumbledore hired a new potions master," she said.
Relief and confusion swept over James' face. "Finally."
"It's Snape," she clarified.
At this, James' knuckles turned white, and in his anger he inaudible growled, "What?"
"The staff was just informed today," she explained hurriedly as he drew back from her and began pacing, stroking his forehead in thought. Lily, who had taken a temporary position at Hogwarts as a Charms professor while Flitwick took an indefinite vacation to work on a mission for Dumbledore, had expected the murderous anger her husband was emitting.
He glanced up at her, and she saw fire in his eyes; the fire that told her James Potter was going to get his way. She had detested that look all through school, but it had grown endearing, and she smiled at her determined husband.
"I know you James," she warned. "And I know that you are going to act on this feeling of injustice. But please remember that Dumbledore gave him the position. You do trust Dumbledore, right?"
He nodded and muttered something under his breath.
"What was that?" she asked as she jumped off the counter and strode to where her husband stood.
"I've got to talk to Sirius," he stated, then he pulled her into a passionate kiss, conveying all his love for her and displeasure in the situation through his lips. And this time, she kissed back, relieved at having shared her haunting news and understanding his need for affection.
She knew that the revelation had successfully disturbed her husband, but she also knew that James could take care of himself. He pulled back from her and she slowly opened her eyes, enjoying their fleeting moment of affection.
"I've got to talk to Sirius," he repeated as he swept through the swinging door into the living room.
She sighed and smiled, picking up her hot chocolate.
She headed into the bedroom, knowing that it would be a long time until her husband joined her. Her indignant sweetheart and his impulsive friend would no doubt be up late into the night in colorful discussion, and would both be in Dumbledore's office first thing in the morning.
Lily climbed into the bed on James' side and started grading papers. She'd stay up and wait for James to come to bed, and if she fell asleep, he'd wake her up for being in his way. He'd probably wake her up anyway.