Lily hadn't been able to sleep well for 2 nights now. She kept finding herself lying awake much too late, lost in her thoughts. She blamed it on stress, on having too much transfiguration homework. But she knew that wasn't the real reason.
James Potter was in the hospital wing.
It seemed silly to admit, why should she care about James? He was an arrogant, stuck-up athlete who felt entitled to what wasn't his. Lily couldn't stand him at times. But when she had watched him fall from the Quidditch Pitch, her heart had dropped in her chest.
She felt like screaming as it happened, and she didn't know why. James Potter, the boy who had bothered her for a date since fifth year, who had bullied Severus with no remorse, and who was now constantly on her mind. Or had been for the 2 1/2 days he'd been in the hospital wing.
She felt the urge to visit him, but kept resisting. She couldn't bear to hear him tease her if she went to see him. But by charms class, she couldn't handle the suspense anymore.
She had to admit that as the year went on, she was becoming more and more intruigued with James. He seemed to mature a lot over the past year, and Lily was starting to despise him a little less. Maybe even like him a little.
So when charms class ended, she packed up her things, and made her way to the hospital wing.
It wasn't much different than she had always seen it. Rows of white beds, a few chairs for visitors. There were only 2 patients at the moment: a blond first year, who appeared to have a broken arm, and... James Potter.
Lily watched him from afar at first. He seemed to be sleeping, with a bandage wrapped around his head and his leg propped up on a pillow. Even after 2 days, he still seemed to have significant injuries. He looked peaceful, his messy hair askew among his pillow. She dared to step closer. See? She told herself. He's fine. Nothing too horrible. She turned to leave, and just as she reached the door...
"Evans."
Lily stopped dead in her tracks. She whipped her head around, a trail of fiery red hair following in her wake. There was James, looking at her with a questioning, yet amused glance.
"Potter." She tried to sound nonchalant, but was trying to keep herself from blushing.
"Fancied a visit, eh?", James laughed, while looking at Lily with smirking eyes.
"If you must know, I was just discussing a healing potion with Madam Pomfrey. I figured she could use some help, since you're bound to be back here sooner or later, giving her more trouble." Lily turned to leave again as James recaptured her attention.
"Hey, Lily?" James voice rang out, and though Lily wanted to look annoyed, she felt here stomach flip when he called her name.
"Yes, Potter?" Lily said with fake annoyance.
"Pomfrey's been out all day."
The realization that she had been caught in a lie made it even harder to hide her blush. James knew she had been there for him, and now he was going to tease her about it mercilessly.
"I didn't know I was so irresistible. You must have been wild with worry." James fake-swooned as Lily rolled her eyes.
"I didn't know you were so in love with yourself. You hardly need a girlfriend," Lily scoffed.
"So when are you going to finally say yes to that butterbeer I've been offering for 2 bloody years?" James flashed his winning smile, and Lily felt her heart skip a beat.
Lily actually considered the question. The question she had always shot down for 2 years. The one she always had a snappy answer for, and which she had always said no to. But for some reason, there was a voice in the back of her mind telling her not to say no this time. And her mind was showing her a scenario where she did agree to a date with James, and ended up having a really nice time. She decided to go out on a limb and trust the voice.
"Alright."
James practically fell out of his bed.
" 'Alright'?! 'Alright'?! Did you just agree to a date with me?" James almost shouted, a goofy grin breaking his face.
Lily tried to hide her smile as she said, "Yes, James. I said I'd go out for a butterbeer with you. But only a butterbeer. Hogsmeade this weekend sound good to you?"
"Of course." James gulped, and Lily could clearly read the disbelief on his face.
"Alright, then," and with that, Lily turned on her heel, feeling herself break into a toothy grin with a newfound bounce in her step.
