"Lily."
Oh, how my stomach churns upon hearing the quiet whisper of my name, oh, how my heart beats –
No, I'm kidding. James Potter, contrary to Marlene's beliefs, does not have that effect on me. He hasn't had an effect on me for six years, and that's not about to change.
Oh yeah? So what was that flutter, huh?
Shut up, me.
"James?" I respond questioningly.
He ruffles his hair sheepishly. "I have a confession to make."
Oh, Merlin.
"Go ahead." It's not like we're at the Gryffindor table during the start-of-year feast where, should our housemates choose to do so, they can listen in at their convenience.
Is there a reason why your voice is shaking like a leaf?
Shut up.
"Over the holidays…" he pauses, scratching at his collar, "Over the holidays, I may have had… a summer fling?"
It's more of a question than a statement.
Oh, of all the –
Merlin's saggy boxers. He had a life – a girl – away from me?
Who's the pathetic one now?
"What?" I manage to squeak. In my head, the question is a shout.
"I know, Lily," James pleads. "But I was so sick of waiting for you, so sick of the rejection, you know? It was nothing, Lily, I swear."
I look around and realise that it's not just the Gryffindors' attention we've drawn, but the entire Great Hall.
What a great start.
Dumbledore passes a coin to McGonagall surreptitiously. Probably betting on how long James will be in the Hospital Wing once I hex his –
I digress. His head is hanging in shame and I find myself wondering why he's admitting it now.
He can't not have had any relationships before now? He can't have been waiting on me all this time?
Merlin, look who's messed up bigtime over the past few years.
"Shut up." I whisper it audibly this time and James's head snaps up.
"Lily, I'm so sorry, I swear…"
"Not you." I shake my head ferociously.
Why do you care so much?
I don't know!
Oh, Lily, you do.
This time it's my head that snaps up.
"Godric!"
James seems slightly confused, and to be honest, I don't entirely blame the guy. It's not his fault that I'm madly in love with him or anything.
Godric.
"James."
"Yes?"
"I love you." I'm rather serene as I admit this.
I'm painfully aware of our audience, because everyone within a five-metre radius and beyond draws in a shocked breath. At the staff's table, the ageless although presumably older than I imagined Professor Vector of Arithmancy passes out with a thud. Rather worryingly, nobody pays any attention.
I can only assume that this is because James has now become very close and it's getting hard to think.
Oh, Lily, may I remind you quickly that he smells like your Amortentia?
"Shut up," I murmur in the general direction of James's confused face before covering the distance between his lips and mine, effectively shutting up the voice in my head for a few -
Tongue? Oh, okay. Cool. Deploy tongue - yes, good...
