Her eyes opened.
The middle of the night; she struggled to think what had woken her.
She looked at the time.
3:30
Of course.
She got up quickly, pulling on the night gown, she hurried towards the window, making sure to be quiet so as not to wake her friends. That would be an awkward conversation. One she wasn't ready to deal with. Not yet, anyway.
She looked down towards the grounds, searching.
3:32
And there they were. The Marauders, in their Animagus forms. Animals galloping across the school grounds.
A smile crept over her face as her eyes settled on the stag. James.
She could think his name now. She didn't know when that had happened. How. But now that it had she realised it had been a long time coming. James.
Her eyes stayed only on him, watching eagerly. It was the only time she could watch him.
3:50
She watched as he ran a distance away from the others. Checking something out, so it seemed.
She sighed heavily, watching him.
Suddenly, his head moved. His eyes met hers
3:52
Her heart stopped. He couldn't see her from all the way down there, could he? He couldn't. But why wouldn't he look away?
3:53
Her heart started pounding loudly in her ears. Thumping heavily in her chest. 'Look away' her mind told her. But her eyes were trapped.
3:54
A hand reached towards the window, hesitantly. It was hers. Without her consent.
His name whispered from her lips. Without her consent.
3:55
A large dog slammed into the side of him, playfully knocking him down. Sirius Black.
The eye contact was severed.
The trap broken.
She let out a staggered gasp, and hurried away from the window.
She climbed shakily into bed, pulling the blankets over her head.
3:58
She didn't sleep that night.
A ritual so habitual
His eyes closed.
The end of the night and here he was sinking into bed.
5:07
He felt battered, that blow he'd received from Sirius had left him bruised. But his mind was on her.
Her opinion of him has changed. Of that he's sure now.
The admiration, the adoration?, that was in her eyes tonight, the way her lips framed his name. He couldn't get it out of his head. He didn't want to. He wanted to savour that moment for the rest of his life.
6:21
He was so angry with Sirius for breaking their eye contact. They had a moment. He, James Potter, and she, Lily Evans! had a moment. And Sirius ruined it.
They'd had a moment. Even in his Animagus form he'd felt that.
Which brought an interesting question to his mind. How had she known?
He thought about it, and realised it could be the reason she'd changed her mind about him. He smiled.
He resolved to ask her in the morning.
6:35
He fell asleep with her name on his lips.
A ritual so habitual
8:30
She sat down at the table for breakfast. Same place as always.
She didn't look up from her plate when someone sat down opposite her. She knew who it was. Who it always was.
A smile lingered faintly on her lips.
Her heart started racing.
8:33
"Morning Evans"
She brushed a stray hair from her face without looking up at him.
"What do you want Potter?" She spoke, softly, slowly, coherently. Speaking her words firmly, and with such control; almost as if she was afraid that something else would slip out.
He smiled. "Same thing as always, Lily. I want you to look at me."
She knew she shouldn't. She knew he'd see it on her face. And she was scared of what she would see on his. But, as always, she did anyway.
8:35
He was smiling at her with such affection on his face. Her heart clenched painfully.
This wasn't the same as usual. There wasn't the same amusement on his face as there had been every other time since 3rd year.
"I love you, you know." he said, speaking casually as though he was talking about the weather.
She forgot how to breath. "I... wh..." the words caught in her throat, and her face went bright red.
"You were watching last night." Again, his tone was conversational.
8:39
She nodded mutely.
"How long have you known?"
"Fifth year" she managed to get the words from her throat, but they sounded choked.
"I thought so"
He didn't say any more.
Minutes passed.
8:45
"Are we done?" she asked, almost hopefully, in an attempt to bring the conversation back to the tradition.
He picked up an apple and stood up. Looking down at her from the other side of the table, he asked one last question. "Will you go out with me Lily?"
She nodded, jerkily.
"I thought so." he grinned, leaning quickly and smoothly across the table to place his lips on hers. Her heart stopped.
8:48
And started up again when he pulled away, leaving her feeling empty. He threw his apple up slightly to catch it deftly in one hand, and turned away.
"And to answer your question... Not yet Lily. I don't think we ever will be." he said over his shoulder as he walked away to sit with his friends.
8:49
A ritual so habitual
He was watching her in class.
10:15
Her hand was flicking quickly over the page; clutching at the quill as if her life depended on it.
Her other hand was clenched into a fist around the parchment, holding it firmly in place.
10:16
She paused suddenly. The professor continued lecturing nonetheless.
She took a deep breath, sinking back into her chair.
Her head was only 30 centimetres away from his.
His heart skipped a beat.
10:19
She sighed, running her long fingers through her messy hair.
He wanted nothing more, in that moment, than to pull her into a hug and...
He leaned forward.
"Alright, Evans?"
She gave a short, almost silent laugh.
"You really should be paying attention, Potter."
He smiled, "But I am Lily."
10:21
She gave another short laugh. "I meant to the lesson."
He pouted, although he knew she couldn't see it. "But that's not interesting."
She smiled, still facing forward to the front of the classroom.
She leaned further back into the chair.
He gave in, and reached forward, wrapping his arms around her stomach and pulling her back even further.
She playfully slapped his hand.
"Not in class, James."
10:27
He smiled, kissing the back of her neck. "The professor doesn't mind."
She smiled, pulling away. "I do. Get back to work Potter."
She leaned forward in her chair, to begin taking notes again.
He sighed contentedly, watching her.
For a moment, he looked up towards the professor.
The professors eye seemed to wink at him from behind his half-moon glasses.
James smiled.
A ritual so habitual.
