AN: Prompts will be displayed at the bottom to avoid them potentially giving away things.

Emeralds, Pick-Up Lines and Sweaty Palms

AlwaysPadfoot

This was it.

This was about first impressions; this was the be all and end all. This was his and Lily's first date.

James wasn't sure how he'd ended up this nervous. His palms were sweaty and having the boys all suggesting shitty one-liners hadn't helped.

You must be great at charms because you've bewitched me.

Are you sure you weren't destined for Slytherin? Because I can show you to my dungeon.

Baby, you shine so bright, you've got me howling at the moon.

Remus had been unimpressed at that suggestion, so much so that he'd hit Peter around the back of the head for not thinking before he spoke. They'd all shut up fast when James had snapped unintentionally. He was afraid that he was going to do something wrong as the two were getting on so well this year.

He'd been reluctant to accept her offer — despite the fact he'd been pining over Lily for years. But how could he turn down the most beautiful girl in the world?

He was meeting Lily in the Common Room at ten so they could walk down to Hogsmeade together — it was six minutes to. He checked his pockets — again — for his wand and money, finding they were still there.

"Stop faffing, and just go," Remus said simply.

He didn't look up from the book he was reading, fully-dressed, and waiting for the two other boys before they went to Hogsmeade. Peter was still reluctant to get out of bed whilst Sirius showered.

"Lily isn't going to wait forever." Peter grinned.

James stuck his middle finger up and then fastened the buttons of his blazer. Wrapping his Gryffindor scarf around his neck, he scooped up his coat and then took the first step towards the door. He was terrified, but set his shoulders back and then walked with faux-confidence to the dormitory door.

"See you losers later."

"Have fun," Remus called — again, not actually looking up from his book.

James said nothing more and closed the door behind him. He leant against the wall and released a long, slow breath. Still terrified; still not ready to go down to the Common Room. He ran a hand through his hair and checked his watch.

"Two minutes," he breathed.

All he could think of was the many things that could go wrong.

Taking a step towards the stairs, he began what seemed to be the longest journey to the Common Room in his whole Hogwarts schooling. Why was this so much harder than he had anticipated in the five seconds after Lily had asked if they could go to Hogsmeade together?

Finally, James reached the bottom of the spiral staircase in the Gryffindor Tower, and then stopped dead.

Lily Evans was sat on the edge of the sofa, one leg over the other, laughing hard with Dorcas Meadows. She was beautiful when she smiled; her laugh was like music. Her eyes sparkled like emeralds set in pale, freckled skin, and her red hair cast a stunning contrast.

He cleared his throat; a goofy grin spread across his face before he spoke. "Morning Ladies."

Crossing the room, James offered his arm to Lily and she smiled softly, taking it. "Morning James. You look... well, much smarter than I am."

"No one could look as beautiful as you. May I kiss you on the cheek?"

She laughed and then blushed, nodding.

James' lips touched gently against the soft skin of her cheek; then he outstretched a hand towards the portrait.

"Shall we?" he asked.

"We shall."

Competition: DP Comp Issue 2

Prompt: Write a team members NOTP (Captains - James/Lily) including one to five pick-up lines.

Pick-Up Lines: You must be great at charms because you've bewitched me. / Are you sure you weren't destined for Slytherin? Because I can show you to my dungeon. / Baby, you shine so bright, you've got me howling at the moon.

Word Count: 596 (not including AN's and titles)