Hey everyone. This story was brought to you by Herbology: The Whomping Willow assignment, and Our Tangled Webs on Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. For Herbology: The Whomping Willow assignment I wrote for task number 2 which was to write about keeping a secret. For Our Tangled Webs I wrote for the pairing of Marlene/James (platonic friendship). I hope you all enjoyed A Secret Worth Keeping.
Marlene wondered why James Potter had owled her asking for her help instead of asking Lily. She looked around the Leaky Cauldron looking for James until she spotted him near the doorway to the back alleyway.
"Marlene," James exclaimed pulling her into a hug, "how have you been? How is Sirius doing?"
"We're both doing fine," Marlene replied raising an eyebrow. She'd seen James Potter stall for many reasons before but this was totally different. "Can we cut the small talk and you just tell me why we're meeting here?"
James sighed as ran a hand through his thick black hair. His hazel eyes glowing with happiness. "I'm going to ask Lily Evans to marry," he told her barely able to contain his excitement. "But I need someone who knows her to help me pick out a ring they think she will like the most. You were the first person I thought of. Being her best friend and everything."
"Of course I'll help you," Marlene exclaimed happily.
"But you can't say anything to Lily." James looked around them as though expecting Lily to jump out of nowhere. "I want to make it a surprise. Have it be something special she'll remember for the rest of her life. Okay?"
Marlene nodded. "Shall we then?"
James nodded opening the door for Marlene.
They walked towards the ring shop where James's father had gotten his mother's engagement ring from. They had the highest quality gems and bands and anything else you could think of.
"Does anything jump out at you?" James asked as they stood in front of the ring case. "Anything that screams Lily Evans?"
Marlene looked through all the ornate rings. There large cut diamonds. Emeralds of several differing sizes and shapes. Amethysts. Rubies. You name they had it. But the one ring that caught Marlene's attention wasn't as ornate as the others. It was a simple diamond set in a simple band. "I think she'd love that one," Marlene told him pointing towards it.
James smiled nodding. "I think I agree with you on that one," he said motioning the salesperson over. "Can I have that ring in this size?" He pointed out the ring Marlene had brought to his attention and then handed over Lily's ring size having bought her ring for one of her last birthdays.
"Right away, sir," the red haired woman told him spring to get his sized and boxed for him.
"Thank you, Marlene," James told her with a smile. "You were a really big help today."
Marlene smiled as she left the ring shop with her friend and the secret they both now shared. Not knowing that a few weeks later James and Lily would be announcing their engagement.
I hope you all enjoyed A Secret Worth Keeping.