Ever since the beginning of term 1971, Lily Evans and James Potter have been in constant competition.
At first, with their innocent age, the competing was purely academic. Who could fly highest on their broom? Who could score higher on their exams? Who could get the Hippogriff to bow first?
James won most of these; though that isn't to say Lily did terribly. Lily was the smartest and most talented witch in her class, but she tended to challenge James in subjects he was best at. (Though, she wiped the floor with him in Potions, Charms, and Herbology).
But then, as the nature of their relationship changed, so did the competition. Who could annoy the other the most? Who could yell the loudest? Who could come up with the best comeback?
Lily won most of these for the pure and simple reason that James found it increasingly difficult to concentrate on being clever wherever Lily Evans was concerned. She was, at first, oblivious to the change, but then, as she found herself experiencing something similar, got better at pushing different buttons.
And then they began to flirt. Who could make the other blush the reddest? Who could make the other laugh the hardest? Who knew exactly what to buy the other for their birthday? Who would get more flustered? Who would need a moment to, ahem, sort themselves first? And then...
Who would kiss the other first?
And that win, surprisingly or not, went to Miss Lily Evans. After then, it seemed like the competition was over. Maybe they had been building to that moment the whole way. Maybe now it was a private thing. To James and Lily, the competition had ended. There was no need to compete anymore. Until one day...
"Goodnight, James." Lily leaned in to kiss her boyfriend.
"Night, Lils." James grinned.
"I love you."
"I love you more."
"I love you most."
"I love you from here to Hogwarts!" He shouted.
"I love you from here to Durmstrang!" She returned.
"I love you across the Atlantic!"
"I love you across the Pacific!"
"I love you to the moon and back!" James smirked, feeling quite clever.
"I love you to the sun and back!" Lily retorted, biting back her own responding grin.
James huffed, shouting as loud as he could, "WELL I WANT TO MARRY YOU!"
And as James realized what he'd said, Lily gasped, hands jumping to cover her mouth. Both of them went beet red.
"I... I want to marry you." He repeated, much quieter this time. He took a step closer, and moved her hands away from her mouth. "I want to marryyou... Lily, marry me?"
"You great dolt!" She cried, lightly smacking his arm. Her eyes were wet with tears as she nodded her head. "Yes, of course I will."