The smooth curve of her chin rested in her white hand, causing her hair to pour over the edge of the desk. It ran pure gold over burnished copper, the different tones dipping and rising in silent waves. The ends lapped gently at the desk corner and a heady, fragrant breeze from the open window coaxed individual strands to break free from the mass and beckon to James, who sat in wonder three rows back.
It was the first true Summers day of the year and the sun seemed to choose Lily, and only Lily, to grace with light. She was restless. Every minute or so Lily would shift, tossing the cascading, copper curtain over another shoulder. James could sense how much she wanted to be outside. In reality, everybody in the class was probably equally desperate for History of Magic to be over. Yet, James swore he could feel the longing radiating from her. He was hyper aware of every movement she made. The way the back of her head kept tilting slightly towards the large window and then to the clock and then back to the window. The way her left hand rolled her quill distractedly against the desk. The rise and fall of her delicate shoulders as she sighed periodically. James tried to drink everything in, determined to memorise Lily like this. Never, he was sure, had he seen anything so unconsciously perfect.
Gracefully, Lily rose and started to pack away her things. James was vaguely aware of the rest of the class doing the same but he couldn't move. He could have stayed for hours in that position, with his head resting against the warm stone wall, just storing the image of Lily safely in his mind. It was like every new gesture she made was a little gift she was giving him. Not able to break the trance he was in, he slowly gathered his own things together. Lily had hung back, struggling with the clasp on her satchel and now she joined the back of the group of people squeezing through the door. The quill in her hand rolled rhythmically under her thumb. James fell into step behind her as the last one to leave the class. Behind him, Professor Binns slid quietly through the blackboard.
In slow motion, Lily's quill slipped through her fingers and fell towards the ground. Instinctively, James reached out and caught it before it hit the stone floor. Lily turned and their eyes met. He gently pressed the quill into her outstretched hand and something in his eyes caused the faintest blush to stain Lily's cheekbones. She opened her mouth to say something, her red lips parting ever so slightly...
...but she thought better of it and instead just smiled timidly at him. In a whirlwind of summer breeze she was gone. James stood absolutely still for a second, then walked dazedly towards the now deserted corridor. A smile crept upon his face as he left, leaving the door wide open.
In an empty classroom, sunlight spilled over the windowsill and into every corner, spreading warmth and light. Summer had finally arrived.