Lily and James had spent the whole summer together, and they loved each other dearly, he knew it was time to ask her the question.
They were both sitting on a small ornate, white bench, in a beautiful rose garden, with tall trees, filled with blossom surrounding them. The perfect setting.
"Lily," said James, turning to her, "I have to ask you a question."
"Ok," said Lily, with a smile, "what is it?"
James got off his seat, and knelt down on one knee
"Lily Evans, will you marry me," he said.
"Oh…." Said Lily, completely shocked, "I'm sorry, but ill have to say no,"
"What do you mean no!" said James, who had fallen on the floor, and landed on his bottom.
"I'm just not ready to be married," sighed Lily, sounding sad, "Sorry." She then walked away, blowing him a kiss.
James just sat there on his bottom, on the grass, and his eyes began to well up. He knew he shouldn't cry but he had to, so he did. Suddenly lots of people who were in there year at Hogwarts jumped out from behind the trees.
"Congratulations," they cheered. They had obviously not realised what had happened.
"Guys, that is just so stupid," shouted James, glaring at them with his tear streamed face. "She said no, then you come jumping out telling me congratulations, and you were only supposed to do that if she said yes, so do you think I wanted you to do that, because things are still tense!"
"But we didn't reali….." the guy was cut off from talking,
"Just leave me alone," shouted James
"But were sorry," said the guy
"SHUT UP," screamed James
"I guess we should leave him then," said the girl behind the guy, who must have been his girlfriend.
"Yes do what she says," muttered James.
They all left James alone to cry about his loss.
Later that day, when he had calmed down, he went to a muggle jewellery shop. In the window, a bright green emerald ring, sat behind the glass, in the middle of four diamond rings. He knew the ring was perfect; it would go so well with Lily's lovely emerald green eyes.
As he opened the door to the shop, a little bell rung, and a guy came towards the counter, his name tag said Bill.
"Excuse me," said James, "there is something in the window I was thinking of buying."
Bill followed James out of the shop, and pointed to the little emerald ring.
"Ah, that ones a beauty, is it for ye girlfriend?" asked Bill, he had a Scottish accent, so he was obviously Scottish.
"Kind of, yes, I asked her to marry me, but she said no, and I forgot to give her a ring when I proposed, so I thought if I gave her a ring to go with the proposal she might change her mind," explained James.
"You're a bit young to be proposing aren't ya lad," said Bill
"I'm 18, im not that young," protested James
"Oh sorry lad," chuckled Bill, then he stopped, "well if you want my advice, a ring wont buy her back, but you could always try. To be honest, if you know she loves you, and she says no, there must be a good reason, what did she say to you,"
"That she wasn't ready," answered James
"Well, I don't think that's the reason at all lad, me wife said that, because her parents didn't want me to marry her," said Bill
"Well her parents like me," said James
"Well then, you had better keep an eye out for what's wrong then," said Bill, handing him his ring, which he had put in a little box for him."
"So how much do I owe you," said James, reaching into his pocket.
"Don't worry lad, keep it, have it for free," said Bill, smiling at James.
"Why thank you sir," said James, walking out of the shop with the ring in his hand.