by prexus
"You know, I'm awfully tired of chasing you down." Red hair and green ribbons.
He rolls his eyes at her. "Then stop following me."
"I can't help it." Like it's the most obvious thing in the world. Funny thing is, she thinks it is the most obvious thing.
She smiles. His lips twitch. She's so young and naïve, he's so old.
The stars are shining. Not as brightly as yesterday's, they both notice.
He's sitting against a tree trunk, legs crossed neatly in front. Her head is kind of on his lap, except, not really.
Because that's what couples do.
They're not a couple, they both know. And they don't want to be. That's what they say.
"Evans."
She doesn't reply.
"Evans."
She still doesn't reply. He sighs and looks down at her.
Eyes closed, small smile on her lips.
Sleeping? Perhaps. Only one way to know. He leans down.
They're in the main hallway, heading back. It's late, they think.
At least two hours, she says.
No, only one, he argues.
Quiet for a moment, waiting for the inevitable.
"Malfoy?"
He turns his face slightly. Acknowledgement.
"Why did you, you know?"
He raises a brow.
"Oh, you're so impossible. Don't smirk at me that way. You know what I'm talking about. Stop looking at me like that."
She rambles on. He never gets a chance to tell her why.
And for that, he's kind of thankful, but not really. He would like to know the reason too.
There aren't any stars tonight.
She frowns. 'Maybe, the stars are broken.'
But for the sake of tradition, he's sitting against a tree trunk; legs crossed neatly, her head kind of, but not really, on his lap.
"Because I thought you weren't awake."
Her brow furrows, turning to him, confused.
"And I wanted to know what it felt like, for your head to really be on my lap."
She blinks. Sudden realization. Blush. Her lips part as if it to speak. But she can't think of anything to say.
They stay like that for the longest time, until a star shines through the clouds. Her lips are parted, cheeks blushing. His eyes are gray, face calm.
He leans down. But this time, he knows she's awake.
Neither of them will mention it tomorrow, or the day after. They're friends. Kisses are something that couples do. And they aren't a couple, they both know.
In two days, he'll be gone, off to be some important Lord or another. She'll still be the same Evans, Lily Evans. She shows him a set of two rings.
"Because we'll be … friends no matter what we do, and what directions we're going in."
The rings say Forever on it. They both know its silly, to wear a couples' ring, when they're only friends. But they both wear it anyway.
Night, stars, boy and girl. Same old, same old. A shooting star. She gasps. He sees it too. He smirks down at her awed face.
"Make a wish, Evans." She turns her face.
"I don't need to. I already have what I want. You make a wish."
He wishes for her to be happy … forever.
He's rather old now. Has a son that's seventeen, attending the same school. Brings back memories.
He looks out the arch window of his study, the sky full of stars. His lips twitch, the way they did for her. A shooting star passes. And he's bitter. He thought that wishes were supposed to come true.
( "Because we'll be … friends no matter what we do, and what directions we're going in." Forever. )
He thinks the stars might be broken.
FiN.