That Smile
By Teary Loser
Disclaimer: Characters and all that do not belong to me, but to J.K. Rowling – credit to her.
Note: This is just the first chapter, so it's not that long. If you have any comments or suggestions, please let me know. I'll hate to keep writing not knowing what you guys think…
Chapter 1: Maybe
There was silence for the first 30 minutes of their first patrolling duty of the year.
"How was your summer?"
"It was okay. How about yours?"
"It was… eventful, thank you for asking."
"No problem at all."
Lily Evans and James Potter walked down the corridors.
"Parents happy for you?" James asked.
"Proud. You?"
"Glad."
"Having fun?"
"Yes. You?"
"Kinda." Lily Evans had no idea why she was smiling, why she wasn't angry about him becoming the Head Boy. Instead, she was happy about it. She didn't know why he wasn't asking her out, making fun of her or being arrogant as usual. Instead, he was just being normal. Well… she never actually knew if he was normal or not, maybe he was just playing an act or as she feared, just being James. Lily was afraid to like this kind of James. Maybe, she had already started.
James grinned. "Wondering why I haven't asked you out yet? Why I'm not being 'a big-headed jerk'?"
Lily turned to look at him. "Maybe."
"Because I finally realized that I don't need to be anyone but myself to get your attention." He said. "I have, haven't I?"
Lily rolled her eyes, "Oh, Potter…"
"What?" James asked, "I've noticed, Evans." He gave Lily a smile, a smile he had only given to her, a curve that Lily had never noticed before. James saved this smile for her, for that special red-head he had a crush on for five years, the one with those beautiful emerald eyes… the girl he couldn't get over no matter how much he tried…
"Noticed what?" Lily said.
"Your smile."
"What about it?"
"It appears when you're happy."
"So?"
"You were smiling when you were with me."
"It doesn't mean that I like you or anything."
"I never said you liked me."
"Why be so complicated, Potter?"
"Why be in denial, Evans?" James asked.
Lily thought for a moment, she realized she was in denial, she did like James Potter, but she was ashamed to tell him, or to tell herself…she liked James Potter. She loved the fact that his hair was a mess, how he looked at her with those hazel eyes… she liked James Potter… she did. She really did.
"Fine. You've changed."
"Of course I have." James said.
"You have." She said.
"I know."
"You've changed."
"I know." said James. They stood in the dark corridor staring at each other, neither of them knowing what to say next. Then, they started to laugh; maybe because they got sick of the silence, or maybe they remembered something funny, maybe because James changed, or maybe because Lily gave him a chance to change. Or maybe, they've actually enjoyed their first patrolling duty of the year together.
They walked back to the Head's Common Room. Neither of them didn't know why it happened so suddenly. Lily wondered why James can just easily stop being stupid and she would just like him straight away, why he could just make her smile without trying, why this night seemed to be so different. It'll be just her secret. She couldn't tell anyone, she couldn't let anyone know she had a crush on James Potter. She lay on her bed that night rethinking about what just happened. She actually thought this year was going to be horrible – working with Potter and everything. Instead, she found herself excited for the next prefect meetings and the late-night patrols. She actually wanted to spend time with James Potter.
"...and it all comes down to that last person you think about before you fall asleep."