"You will fall sick", Lily sighed.
And James did too, this was the third time that his dear friend had told him this.
"Will not", he told her again as he attempted to slyly move towards the door.
But she clearly was not letting it go, the sweater still stubbornly clutched in her hands a screaming proof.
"Fine, I will take it with me just in case."
With his hands still on the door James froze on hearing her words.
These words that he had not heard in months. These words that were often uttered in the same way by some other lips. These words that his mother had said to him a hundred and more times before. These words that just now Lily had said. 'Fine, I will take it with me just in case.' and he would sigh exasperatedly telling her she didn't need to but feeling a little grateful nevertheless because yes it is cold outside and no he won't admit it.
He never liked wearing sweaters even in the harsh cold days of winter. And having an extremely caring mother did nothing to help him in that field. But James being James can't go down without a fight. So his mother took it upon herself to carry one for him whenever they went outside.
Nobody else did that, his father would laugh and tell him jokingly to not ask for his jumper if he changed his mind once outside. Remus would list him all the reasons why it's not a good idea to ditch the sweater. And Sirius would suggest him to wear a jacket instead, while Peter will merrily follow his lead and discard the one that he is wearing too. So with them he could be happily free from the irritating piece of woollen clothing for the day. But not with his mother.
She had told him how he always disliked wearing a sweater. Even as a child he had the same feeling for the fluffy garment. She had often told him her stories of getting him in a sweater when he was a child. The process was always the same. Whatever she did it always gave the same result, a disgruntled baby Potter in an even more disgruntled sweater. Firstly she had to locate the hiding child and ask him to wear it. Then try to sweet talk him into wearing it. Then reason with him or force him into it or bribe him, whatever worked depending upon the little Potter's mood.
Now that they were much older she joked about the same old method not working any more. But she had an other way. 'Fine, I will take it with me just in case.'
If somebody asked him he would not be able to explain the warmth that the words and the action spread in him. This was their thing and he cherished it.
So now after so many months when he heard the same words uttered by a very different mouth it froze him.
James slowly turned back just in time to catch Lily putting the object of their argument in her bag.
He paused and then asked, "Why?"
Lily looked up, a confused sort of expression on her face and replied back, "What why?"
"Why would you carry it with you?", there was something in his voice that made her realize he really wanted the answer to his why.
So she took a step forward, heat rising to her cheeks, opened the door that he had left and stepping out replied, "Because I want to."
James knew they were just friends at this point of time but he also knew well that this friendship was starting to turn into something more special.
So when he caught the blush that rose to her cheeks he felt the very familiar warmth of the words spread through him again.