Part 1 of a collection of Valentine's shorts…hope you enjoy! Inspiration/ideas for the others welcome : )


It's not every day that a girl lowers her morning Daily Prophet to find the entire Gryffindor Quidditch team standing before her. Well, not quite the full team; a certain captain was notably absent.

"Er…hello."

Jason Sanchez was the first to break their ranks, crossing around the table and plopping himself in the empty seat next to her. Lily couldn't help but stare bemused at this boy – one whom Mary had been lusting after since he hit a growth spurt in fourth year – as he promptly shoved an entire muffin in his mouth.

"Spiffing morning innit, Lily?" He swallowed the mouthful in one big gulp and grinned at her.

"Perfectly lovely," drawled Jasmine Singh, a disarming smile on her pixie face. Lily supposed this petite thing shouldn't intimidate her; the girl certainly appeared friendly enough: big, brown doe eyes and an expertly woven plait falling to her waist off her right shoulder. But she hadn't made beater for her soft temperament, and Lily knew enough people who'd been subject to one of Jazz's caustic tongue-lashings to ever doubt that.

She sipped at her coffee in order to hide a weak smile. "Mm…indeed. You lot are up early."

The group exchanged several knowing glances – a mix of bemused and bewildered, for the most apart – that only a crew who spent an inordinately large amount of time together could pull off even somewhat covertly.

"Thea thought we'd have a team breakfast in honor of the special occasion." Clarice Clearwater piped up, loping one of her long legs over the bench opposite Lily and dishing herself a heaping helping of eggs.

Lily relaxed a bit at Clarice's presence; the two had shared a dormitory for the past seven years, after all. The others seemed to ease up, too, for Thaddeus Robins, Althea Goodwin and Jazz all clambered up to join Clarice's side of the table. Henry Hooper, whom she'd tutored for nearly the entire year prior, came over and claimed the spot on her other side. She tried not to raise her eyebrows at this sudden company and busied herself by pouring yet another cup of coffee.

"Best morning ever," enthused little Althea. Really, even as third years and seekers usually came, the girl was quite small.

"Damn straight. Brilliant fucking day," said Thaddeus, shoving a handful of bacon in his mouth. "Ow."

Jazz had just elbowed him in the ribs. "Watch your language, prick."

"Jazz," hissed Clarice.

"I'm not the one saying 'fuck' before nine in the morning."

"Not in front of the baby," corrected Henry.

Althea soured, her nose scrunching up. "I'm not the baby anymore. I'm thirteen."

"You're pre-pubescent."

"Shut it, Henry!"

"I thought we were supposed to be charming." Jason inclined his head toward Lily, to which she gave him a questioning look.

"Wha–." But she could barely get a word in.

"You're the charmer, Sanchez."

"In general, yes. With J.P.'s girl? Do I look like I have a death wish?"

Jazz smirked. "No, you look like you're one bottle of Sleakeazy's away from being a human oil slick. I briefly entertained the idea of buttering my biscuit in your hair."

Lily felt a jostling at her side; with a sharp grunt, Jason had made to pull his wand out, but she was quicker. Shooting up in her seat, she shouted "Silencio!" and rendered the pair quiet with one quick swish.

She crossed her arms. "Would someone mind explaining what exactly is going on?"

"It's Valentine's Day," Thaddeus stated dumbly.

"And we don't have practice!" chirped Althea.

"Sit down, you're ruining the moment." Henry patted the bench.

"I can't sit when I'm nervous!" Lily blurted out.

The group surveyed each other, Robins letting out a grunt of a laugh and Jazz pointing blankly at her mouth.

"Oh, er, right. Sorry about that." She murmured the countercurse. "Listen: Did James put you up to this? Is this some sort of elaborate distraction for whatever he's got up his sleeve for today?"

Althea frowned. "I don't think this is working, Cece."

"Hope Potter's got somethin' good planned – now that we went and got 'er hopes up. You don't catch on quick for the smartest bird in school." Thaddeus winked at Lily, and nudged Clarice, who was starting to look a bit miffed.

"Merlin, if you'd all act civilized for once, maybe she'd warm up to you!"

"I-I'm warm. Sweating a bit, actually." Lily added, noting the glares that were being shot at her roommate. "I'm just…confused. Are you lot – (an awkward pause) – sucking up to me?"

A hoot of laughter shot out of Jason, while Henry shook his head and leaned into one palm. "We're definitely getting reamed for this. I say double the laps next practice; any takers?"

"Two-a-days next week, more like." Jazz added, still regarding the majority of the group with poorly disguised disgust.

Lily made for the table, sitting back down a bit less cautiously. She grinned despite herself. "All right, now. So…you are?"

Jason smirked back at her. "Not necessarily."

Althea sat up on her knees, her eyes bright and eager. "We just wanted you to know we're grateful. Especially me! Chris Harding invited me into Hogsmeade tomorrow….and he's a fifth year, Lily – fifth!"

"And a Ravenclaw, you tiny traitor." hummed Henry.

Clarice dropped her head into her hands, groaning loudly. "Can everyone be quiet for a moment before I'm forced to do unspeakable things to your under garments?"

Jason wiggled his eyebrows. "Now we're talkin', Cece. Show me your skills, babe."

"Aren't you taking out Janet Caruso?" Jazz interrupted.

"Certainly am. S'pose that means something to you?" He pressed his chest out in that manner that only truly self-consumed teenage boys could.

"Not a thing. It's just that she's lovely and you're disgusting."

Lily palmed her wand again, but this time Jason only blew a kiss at his teammate.

"You're letting the jealousy get to you again, Jazzy. I'll cancel if you really want me to."

"Who knew there was such a fine line between sexual tension and blatant dislike?" questioned Clarice.

"I did!" Lily waved her fingers, eager to re-enter the conversation.

"Back to our point?" Althea suggested.

"I'm starting to forget that we had one."

"Perk up, Cece. We're getting there." Henry flashed a toothy smile. "Hi, Lily."

"Hello again, Henry. How's your Cheering Charm these days?"

"Much better. How's that sweater your gran knit you?"

"Ah well, you know what they say about the way wool and small fires get on. But all in the name of learning." She held her coffee up in a mock "cheers."

"You lit her on fire, mate? I thought you said she liked you best." A few pieces of egg sputtered from his mouth as Jason cackled.

Henry leaned forward to look past Lily. "I had a one in six chance. One in five, really. No one likes Jazz best."

"He doesn't mean that," Thea soothed, placing a hand on Jazz's arm.

The latter shrugged, pointing between the two boys. "They're both getting the piss beat out of them next practice. Potter can yell all he wants – sometimes bludgers just have a mind of their own."

"Speaking of practices and Potter." Clarice cleared her throat loudly.

Lily pointed two fingers at her. "Yes, that. Stay on that."

"We just wanted to say thank you." Thaddeus said simply, gulping down a giant swig of orange juice and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "S'all, really."

"For...sorry, what exactly?"

"For me getting to snog Janet as long as I want later, and Thea being able to go out with that ponce of a Ravenclaw. And for not holding grudges even though Hooper lit you on fire. Sorry, just wanted to say it again." Jason looked delighted with this explanation, though it still made little sense to Lily.

"It's Valentine's Day and we don't have practice. And tomorrow's Hogsmeade, but we still don't have practice." Henry added.

She smiled weakly. "I realize there's supposed to be some revelation on my part here, but I'm really not following…"

"Look, Evans: Potter starts dating you and suddenly we're acknowledging holidays and Hogsmeade days. It's not a coincidence."

"He used to make you practice on Hogsmeade days?" Lily asked, incredulous.

A cacophony of grunts, snickers and sighs erupted.

"Something about character building," said Henry.

"Likes to see us suffer, more like, the bastard." Thaddeus bemoaned.

Clarice rolled her eyes. "Merlin, you're wimps. I've dealt with him the longest and I'm not nearly as bitter."

"Even after he scheduled on your birthday last year?"

"Afraid so, Thad."

Lily stroked her chin. "Cece, I thought your birthday was in July…"

"Exactly." The two boys said at once.

Jason leaned in. "Remember that blizzard a couple years back when the temperatures were so low that Sprout cancelled greenhouses for the younger kids? Learned the hard way that heating charms are only effective for the first half hour. Almost lost a toe."

She guffawed. "And James wasn't sorry about that?"

He pondered this for a moment. "Nah….he seemed pretty happy my hands were all right, though."

"You've never heard of a toe winning the World Cup, have you, Lily?" Thaddeus tapped the side of his forehead, earnest as all hell.

She paused to survey the rest of them, the entire crew looking only semi-sympathetic and much too comfortable with possible frostbite for her peace of mind.

"Do you want me to speak with him about this?"

A mixture of emphatic no's followed:

"Absolutely not" – Clarice

"Fuck no!" – Jason

"Please don't, Lily!" – Thea

"No, never. Ever. Seriously, no." – Henry

"Best not to." – Thaddeus

"Christ, Evans." – Jazz

She held up her palms in surrender. "Okay, okay! I won't say anything. I just thought that maybe –."

"Don't even think it. He'll know." Henry held a finger to his lips, looking tragically solemn.

"I don't think he'd want all of you to be harboring all this anger at him when –." But she was again cut off.

"Anger? I could never be mad at Potter." Thaddeus looked upset at the mere idea of it.

Thea was shaking her head insistently, and breezy Clarice had gained a sudden air about her that Lily hadn't seen in all the years they'd shared a dorm.

"We're the best for a reason," She stated, not a drop of doubt in her voice.

"They aren't as insufferable as they seem." said Jazz. "The practices or these prats."

Jason leaned in again, this time his voice full of awe. "One time, the good old captain snuck me out of detention so we could try out some new formations for me, him, and Cece. Paid a group of fourth years to clean the trophy room – Filch apparently came to check twice and never knew the difference! Still don't know how he did it. Wiley little minx, your boyfriend."

Lily crinkled her nose, but the corners of her eyes betrayed amusement.

"And if we had off days all the time, we wouldn't be able to appreciate the sheer fucking awesomeness of a day like today." Thaddeus held up a piece of bacon and stared at it like it was the most beautiful sight in all the land.

"You're all quite odd." She paused, thinking, and then grinned, holding her mug just in front of her lips. "I think I like it, though."

"Lucky for you, we're kind of a package deal. And JP says he's in love with you, so that means—."

Lily nearly choked on the coffee "Wha-wh…what?"

"There you fucking go again, git." Jazz threw up her hands.

"Honestly, Jason." Clarice was massaging her temples.

"Quick, Hooper, light her on fire so she forgets!"

But there are some things that a girl will never forget. And sitting in the Great Hall that morning, eating breakfast with a motley group whom she'd come to adore over the course of that spring, finding out entirely by accident that James Potter loved her – that was something Lily Evans would always, always remember.