It starts with him being a know it all. It always does. Lily is lounging on the couch and playing muggle chess. She enchanted figures and the board to float next to her, and now she is mindlessly poking at the figures with the tip of her wand and dragging them to the desired position. Lily says it's intellectually stimulating for her, James says she just wants to beat him once in her life. The redhead disagrees.
He is sitting in the armchair next to her, yesterday's Daily Prophet in his hands, his eyes unfocused on the words in front of him. James hates muggle chess, he does. Oftentimes he calls it boring and uneventful, mostly because there is no real figure destruction. He also just point blank believes that the figures ought to move on their own. Lily thinks James is an idiot, but that is nor here not there, and certainly not news.
"I can feel you staring," her voice echoes through the empty common room, it's almost two o'clock in the morning and both of them had fallen asleep in the afternoon. The five hour nap was what kept them awake for so long.
James snorts, "Am not."
"Are too." Lily tilts her head slightly backwards, green eyes playfully glaring at him. "Say it and be done with it, James."
For a few seconds he keeps his silence, weighs his options. If he speaks then she will undoubtedly be irritated, and if he were being genuine he had been rather horny all day long. Plus, for some reason, Lily looks really attractive in his old pyjama bottoms and a T-shirt with a pattern of tiny cats. Then he sighs, because he knows he can't keep this in, and opens his mouth.
"I just think your chess is boring, that's all."
"We've been over that." She retorts, returning her attention to the game in question and moving the only white knight on the board.
"And that's an idiotic move. Can't you tell that it won't pay off in about… three moves?" James interrupts.
"Excuse me?"
"You always do that," he starts, but quickly stops as the playful glint vanishes from Lily's green eyes and she is now merely glaring.
"Did you call me an idiot? I am the only person who managed to beat you in this game!" Her voice raises slightly, it always does when she is truly upset.
In his armchair, James shifts uncomfortably.
"What?" His girlfriend demands. "James?"
"Nothing, Lily. It's fine, the move is alright, I was wrong." Then he tries to lift the day old newspaper to hid his face.
"Bollocks. You are lying, you-OH MY GOD!" Her voice is now simply high, and James peers at her over the top of the newspaper. "YOU HAVE BEEN LETTING ME WIN!"
"Well, I wouldn't say that…" He starts.
"I can't believe this, you massive liar." She is upset, James can tell. But for some reason she is also smiling.
The dark haired boy lowers the newspaper until the top is just beneath his chin, "You look really cute when you win. You do the whole happy dance. So, if I have to power through your horribly obvious chess moves, then… I do?"
Lily stares at him, eyebrows furrowed and lips pursed, "Oh, shut up, you massive twat."
She says it endearingly, and James is far too relieved that she let this go, so he smiles in response, "How 'bout you make me?"