Lily and James have become friends over the last few months. At first, it was a tentative relationship- both of them seemed to fear doing even the smallest thing that would ruin the relationship. It was very much like walking around constantly on a thin sheet of ice that was covered in glass.
Gradually, they became more confident in their relationship. James began to appreciate her kindness, sincerity, and witty comebacks, and Lily, upon getting to know the more mature version of the boy she'd once loathed, looked forward to seeing him, hearing his jokes and listening to him go on about Quidditch. His eternally dorky grin and his laughter became an important part of her day.
They carry on with the newfound friendship, Lily ignoring her growing affection for James Potter, and James Potter, in turn, ignoring the fact that he is deeply and irrevocably in love with Lily Evans.
They're sitting together just outside of the castle on a cold December day, rather by default, seeing as James' friends have landed themselves in detention again (or rather Sirius landed them in detention). Lily is sitting down on a dry patch of ground, knees drawn up, and swathed in a thick coat, reading. James is leaning comfortably against the trunk of the beech tree they are sheltered under, watching the slowly spiraling snowflakes.
"What are you reading?" He asks, after thoroughly racking his brain for a conversation starter. He scoots closer to Lily and peers over her shoulder.
Lily gives him a smile. "Sonnet 116," She says, and, upon seeing the confusion on James' face, explains: "William Shakespeare. He was a Muggle."
Of course, James thinks, remembering Lily's affection for muggle literature.
Lily offers the book to James (The Sonnets of William Shakespeare), and he takes it from her.
Lily can see James' eyes darting from side to as his reads. His brow furrows, his eyes returning to the top of the page to read it once again:
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no; it is an ever-fixed mark,
That looks on tempests, and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.
James' eyes return to Lily and he hands the book back. "Weird wording."
Lily just nods in response.
After another few minutes silence, Lily speaks up. "You don't have to change, you know." Lily says quietly, immediately looking down and turning a light red color. She she doesn't know why she says it. Maybe because she's scared he might change. Maybe because she suspects he still likes her, or because she likes him. She doesn't know.
James is startled, but immediately recovers. "I know, Lily. I know."
~oOo~
A/N: That was quite random. Please review? I don't own Harry Potter or Sonnet 116.