The morning of September first, Lily woke up early and took a shower, carefully checking over her appearance for her first day of school. To her great surprise, she'd had no more contact with James since July and had enjoyed a relatively peaceful holiday ever since. Even Petunia had been too busy with wedding plans to snipe at her too much.
Finally satisfied, Lily made her way downstairs for breakfast. Her mother was already sitting at the table, dressed for work and drinking tea. Rose was a music teacher at the local primary school, which wasn't too taxing, but her daughters were still nervous about letting her go. There had been a short discussion about it, the end of which hosted a marvelous display of three equally frightening tempers, and the women hadn't spoken for two days afterward.
Lily stopped on the threshold of the kitchen, taking in her mother's pale face and trembling hands. Rose caught her watching and grinned brightly, setting down the tea cup as Lily moved to make her own breakfast. Kissing her cheek, she returned the smile and said, "Morning, mum. Are you feeling all right today?"
"Right as rain, sweetie," she lied brazenly. "I'm so excited to see all my kids back from holiday."
Reluctantly, Lily let the obvious fib pass and sat across from her with a bowl of cereal. Rose continued to smile and asked humorously, "So, are you ready for battle, darling?"
"I'm sure it'll be fine, mum. James and I have reached an understanding," she explained carefully, avoiding her mother's gaze. She was not at all certain that the Head Boy would stick to the truce he had sworn to, but she had little choice other than waiting to watch the future unfold.
"Remember, Lily, that so long as you randomly kiss him and show up where you're not invited every so often, you'll be able to keep him off balance enough to stand working closely with him for the whole term," Rose joked with a weak laugh that quickly turned into a cough.
Lily did her best to smile, even though the rattling cough alarmed her. She knew her mother would get angry if she sensed her concern, so she covered it by saying, "I'll do that, mum."
"Are you sure you don't mind going to the station by yourself, dear?" Rose asked breathily.
"It's fine, mum," Lily murmured distractedly, wishing she knew what was wrong with her mother. The suggestion that they visit St. Mungo's Hospital had been met with outright hostility on the part of her mother and sister, but Lily worried that the muggle doctors might not figure out the problem until it was too late. Pushing away the morbid thoughts and telling herself she was being overdramatic, Lily offered: "I have to be there early anyway and I don't think Tuny's up to taking me."
Rose merely shook her head, well aware of the fact that her oldest child had not returned home until well past midnight. "Are you sure you have everything, dear? Do you need any money? Is everything packed in your trunk?"
"Yes, mum," Lily sighed. "I have everything right here." She pulled a miniature trunk out of her pocket and set it on the table. "All of my stuff is inside, I just shrank it and put a charm on it so it would be light enough for me to carry in my pocket."
Rose reached over to tenderly pat her daughter's cheek. "My clever girl."
Glancing at her watch, Rose quickly kissed her before rushing out the door, leaving Lily to finish her meal in silence. After cleaning the dishes, she tiptoed out of the kitchen, making no noise so as not to wake her sister. Petunia wouldn't want to see her before she left anyway. She checked her room one last time before disapparating with a soft popping noise. An instant later, she arrived at King's Cross Station on Platform 9 ¾ and soon caught sight of Alice, who was gazing around anxiously. To her surprise the usually buoyant blonde didn't have a ready smile when she greeted her.
"Hello, Alice. How was your holiday?" she asked kindly. The two had been in contact by owl several times, but the look on the shorter girl's face made her wonder if there was something she hadn't told her.
The Hufflepuff's anxious face melted into an absent smile and she said, "Hi Lily. It was all right, I guess. I was just looking for Frank..."
Lily instantly understood the cause of the girl's anxiety. She was obviously very keen for the young man to arrive. Personally, Lily had never experienced the whole giddy, love-at-first-sight, skipping-around-the-room sort of relationship and she wasn't quite sure it was real. Then again, she'd only had a few dates before Potter had marked her as his territory. The closest she had ever gotten to that kind of thing had been watching sappy old movies and the week in her third year when she'd gotten a crush on a fifth year Ravenclaw. It had ended quickly when James had transfigured her hair into a writhing mass of snakes in the middle of dinner and the boy had laughed at her panic along with everyone else. Even though her heart had been crushed, she felt she had come out wiser for the experience.
Lily was about to ask Alice a question when Sirius Black dropped his arm around her shoulders. He seemed none the worse for the spell she had put on him and grinned at her cheekily. Sirius was tall and handsome, with gray eyes, dark hair and a charming grin that could melt any girl within a fifty-meter radius. He was already wearing his Hogwarts uniform, but his shirt was carelessly untucked and his sleeves rolled up above the elbow. His tie was nowhere to be seen.
"Hey there, Evans, did you miss me?" he asked with a winning grin.
Rolling her eyes, she cried, "Oh yes, Black. I could barely eat or sleep all summer. All I did was sit in my room and pine, counting the minutes until I got to see you again."
"Really?" He seemed genuinely surprised. "You could have just come to visit, now that you know where we live..."
She pushed him away and glared. "It's called sarcasm, Sirius. Why would I waste a single second thinking about you during my excruciatingly short period of Marauder-free life? Especially since that little field trip to the Potter's grossly overtaxed my holiday quota of putting up with you guys."
"Some day, Lily Evans, you will understand how much you really enjoy my company," Sirius promised sagely.
"I doubt it," Lily replied sarcastically.
"Hey Sirius," Alice jumped in quickly, wanting to avoid what was sure to be a row if the two continued picking at each other.
He winked and gave her a charming grin, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Hello, Alice. How was your summer?"
Alice dimpled and blushed. She was devoted to Frank, but still... this was Sirius Black. Impatiently,Lily grabbed her arm and pulled her in the direction of the train. "She's fine, Black. Try not to obstruct traffic."
"Congratulations on Head Girl, Evans," he called after her mockingly. "May your reign of terror never end!"
She ignored him and dragged Alice onto the train, hopelessly trying to get the young blonde to stop laughing at the exchange. "You seriously need to get over The Marauders, Lily. They only tease you so much because you get so upset."
"I am over them," Lily announced stubbornly. "I was never... with them. And they tease me because I'm the only person in the whole of Great Britain who isn't taken in by their charms and has the bollocks to stand up to them."
"Right, and you haven't seen how they get off on your little opposition?" Alice chuckled. "Honestly, Lily, it's better than sex for them when they can rile you up. Sirius was practically glowing since they got to interrupt your holiday."
"Please never put the concepts of sex, me, and those prats into a single sentence again, Alice. As a personal favor," Lily begged quietly with a painful grimace.
Alice gave her a knowing smile before glancing over her shoulder and giggling in delight, squeezing Lily's hand as she bounced up and down excitedly. Lily gave her a look before following her gaze. Frank Longbottom was heaving his trunk onto the train. He disappeared for a second before lifting another considerably more battered trunk for a boy with flaming red hair.
"Isn't Bill a cousin of yours, Lily? I can never remember, are you related to the Weasleys?" Remus Lupin mused from behind her.
Lily spun around with an exasperated sigh, though she really found Lupin the most tolerable of the Marauders. Handsome, quiet, and intelligent, Lily had worked with him when they had served as Gryffindor's Prefects during fifth year and she had been amazed that he was capable of rational thought after all the time he spent with Potter and the rest. With his pale skin, lanky frame, bright blue eyes, and light brown shaggy hair, he was the object of many female student's affections, but he had never shown any interest in anyone outside his small circle of friends.
In spite of the fact that Lily generally got along well with Remus, she felt unaccountably irritated by the apparent ambush so closely following Sirius's. "Merlin's beard! You guys are like fleas! Just piss off and leave me alone, why don't you?"
"Be nice, Lily," Alice admonished softly. "It won't hurt you. Hello Remus."
He smiled at her and she set off to greet Frank. Lily was barely able to contain a sigh of long-suffering when Lupin stuck out his hand, ignoring her irate outburst. "Congratulations on being made Head Girl, Lily. You really deserve it."
She eyed him suspiciously, waiting for the gag. Though Remus was often much more considerate than his friends, she had no illusions about his loyalties. Marauders were unpredictable at best and it was prudent to treat them cautiously at all times. With more than a few misgivings, she shook his hand and said, "Thanks, Remus. I appreciate that."
"You know, with James as Head Boy, I have a sneaking suspicion we'll be seeing a lot more of each other this year," Lupin remarked in an off-hand sort of way. She couldn't help but note how he watched her discretely, waiting for a reaction.
She shrugged noncommittally. "I don't think we'll see each other any more than usual. You guys tend to show up everywhere I am anyway. Sometimes it's like you have a tracking spell on me." Lily tried to seem casual as she turned to walk toward the front of the train and Lupin matched her step.
The reserved young man chuckled as if she had just told a private joke. "No spell, we're just lucky since James is in love with you. He's got radar. I swear he could find you if you were unplottable."
She raised an impatient eyebrow at him and stopped as they reached the carriage reserved specifically for the Head Boy and Girl and the year's Prefects. "Like turning up at my house uninvited at the beginning of the summer ready for a dinner party he wasn't supposed to know about? Yeah, I've noticed. Is there any way you can help me get James to tone it down this year?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Remus replied evenly. She stared at him sharply and had to admit: he seemed earnest. Then again, lying was one among many of the Marauder's finely honed skills.
Lily shrugged. "Whatever, Remus. I know it won't make any difference to ask, but please, please call the guys off this year. I have to work with James every day and I'll probably murder him if you lads keep trying to prove you're cleverer than me by putting a notch in his bedpost."
"That's not our aim, Lily, whether you believe it or not. And I certainly wouldn't want to put my best mate in danger," Remus added softly. Then he grinned and Lily's hopes fell. "But I'm pretty sure he'll do whatever he wants. Besides, he really does like you."
"Right," she laughed. "I gotta go, Remus. See you at the feast?"
He nodded and turned to amble back toward where his friends were no doubt waiting in one of the other compartments. Shaking her head, she entered the Head's car. The male Ravenclaw and Gryffindor Prefects sat in conversation in the corner, but smiled and waved as she walked in. She gave the two boys a warm smile and proceeded to the side of the carriage in order to store her trunk.
After returning it to normal size and weight, she lifted the heavy case to the luggage racks, but had only gotten it above her head when she started to feel wobbly. Almost over-balancing, she nearly fell backwards. Taking a step to steady herself, she inadvertently backed into something solid that made a slight "oomf" when she hit it. Large hands reached up around her to secure the trunk and she spun to find herself nearly nose to nose with James Potter.
"Potter," she choked in greeting as she took a hasty step backwards and bumped into the wall, nearly losing her balance again.
"Nice to see you, Lily," he countered easily with a charming smile that lit up his hazel eyes. His shock of black hair, always untidy, looked decidedly wind-blown and his rectangular glasses were slipping down his thin nose. Unfortunately, the summer had done nothing to change his appearance and he was as handsome and muscular as he had been the last time she'd seen him. Just looking at him now made her feel like she had activated a portkey.
Uncomfortably Lily dropped her eyes and asked, "How was your summer?"
James's grin widened and he leaned toward her intimately. "It was fantastic. I never dreamed I'd see you twice and get to kiss you both times."
"I'd rather we didn't discuss that at school, James," Lily said stiffly, wishing he wouldn't stand so close. "And besides, the first time you tricked me and the second I'd had an unhealthy exposure to a love potion."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, sweetheart," he replied smugly.
She gave him a dangerous look. "I hope I don't need to remind you before we're even underway that you swore to be helpful and mature this term."
James's face instantly sobered and he took a step away from her. "You are absolutely right, Evans. Sorry about that. As Head Boy, it's my duty to be an example to the younger students. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some important things to attend to."
He had the satisfaction of seeing her blink in surprise at the sudden pronouncement before he turned to sit in a squashy leather chair, rifling through the sheaf of papers he had produced from inside his robes. Lily's eyes narrowed, but she turned and took her own chair, completely oblivious to the fact that James' "important" papers were nothing more than detailed plans drawn up by himself and his friends for the coming year's pranks. After all, he was only Head Boy and captain of the Gryffindor quidditch team, not dead. In his opinion, his new positions of leadership didn't mean he was too busy to get up to some solid mischief this year.
Many people would be surprised to learn of the intricate planning and organization put into a Marauder plot, but the general consensus between himself and his three friends was the necessity to strive for professionalism in their art. It had been established after their first plot during second year when they had very nearly murdered the current object of his affection by making her fly a broomstick to the roof of the Astronomy Tower in order to retrieve her teddy bear. She had dropped like a stone and they had learned something very important: keep it simple and never overestimate your prey.
Since then, their plans had become masterful, uncomplicated, and they'd only had one close call since when Sirius had told Snape about the Whomping Willow. Thankfully, that disaster had also been avoided without grave mishap. This year, however, unable to resist addressing the problem of James's unrequited love without some plan of attack, Sirius had proposed they put their main efforts into helping him. Their first plan had just been put into action with his civil brush off of Lily Evans, and, if her repeated covert glances in his direction were any indication, it would appear that phase one was going swimmingly.
As the train finally began chugging on its way, Lily and James both stood and began the introductory presentation to the eight new Prefects. They debriefed the students on protocol, authority and duties, and then passed out the schedules for nightly rounds for the first month. After this, they collected the proposed passwords for each of the house's common rooms and asked for questions. The meeting didn't take very long and once it was over the students began milling around the room and leaving in order to meet up with friends farther on down the train.
Rolling up the scroll onto which she had transcribed each of the house passwords, Lily brought it to the school owl that had been waiting patiently on a stand near the back window. She turned after it had flown off and was surprised to see that all of the students but herself and James had cleared out of the compartment. James was standing patiently watching her with his hands clasped behind his back as if he had all the time in the world as Lily returned to the desk to put away the writing utensils.
"Did you need something, Potter?" she asked nervously. For some silly reason, she was suddenly uncomfortable being alone with him and felt her cheeks instantly suffuse with color as he regarded her seriously. Why did he have to watch her all the time?
"I just thought you might have something to talk to me about," he told her with a disconcerting grin.
Lily raised her eyebrows at him and did her best to appear indifferent, clasping her hands in her lap and cocking her head to the side. "Well, they don't teach Divination at Hogwarts anymore, so what would I need to talk to you about?"
Sensing her thinly veiled discomfiture, his eyes lit with amusement and he explained, "I just supposed you'd want to lay down the law for this year. You know: tell me where the line is so I can toe it."
"Why would I need to do that? I already have your solemn vow that you won't get up to your usual tricks this term," Lily replied innocently. "Did you want to give me a lock of your hair just in case you decide to renege?"
James tilted his head to the side and studied her quizzically. "So... you're fine with everything between us this year?"
"There is nothing between us, Potter. What happened over the holiday was just... an accident," Lily sighed crossly, pushing herself out of the chair. "Here at school, we just happen to be Head Boy and Girl. Other than that and anything pertaining to our duties together, we have precious little to talk about."
Lily watched him suspiciously as he regarded her with a look of genuine surprise. Taking a hasty step toward the door, he stumbled over his own trainer and caught himself on a chair, narrowly avoiding crashing to the ground. Lily raised an eyebrow at the uncharacteristically clumsy move and James quickly righted himself and reached up to rumple his hair nervously. Why did she have to look at him like that? It made him feel like a bumbling troll.
"Good, then. I guess," he stuttered uncomfortably. "I just didn't think you'd be so cool about us sharing a dormitory."
Turning away and flicking her hair over her shoulder, she gave him another icy look and said, "Well done, Potter. Did you just figure out we've been sharing Gryffindor dormitory after only six years?"
James's face went red and he stuttered, "Y-You mean you don't know?"
"Know what, James?" she asked irritatedly, turning back to him and crossing her arms over her chest.
"Head Boy and Girl share a dormitory. By themselves. My dad was Head Boy at Hogwarts and he says it's pretty posh," he explained quickly. "But it would just be us. You know, two rooms, one bathroom and one common room. It's closer quarters than you're used to and I thought you might have some friendly threats for me."
Finally catching his meaning, Lily's face paled before flaring crimson. She felt as though someone had removed her stomach and replaced it with a barrel of bad-tempered fire salamanders. She'd have to share a living space with James for a whole year? She didn't know if she could survive. Looking up, she realized he was still watching her with keen interest and quickly frowned at him.
Unsure of whether or not he should be telling her, he added, "And there's kind of a superstition about the whole thing. They call it the Head's Curse because a lot of Head Boys and Girls ended up together after living so close for their last year. It's probably not true, though, since my mum was never Head Girl..."
"I'm sure that won't be a problem," Lily cried a little too loudly, fighting the tears she felt welling in her eyes at the sudden, unpleasant news. Why hadn't Dumbledore mentioned this in his letter?
Seeing her distress, James took a step toward her, but stopped when she shied back. "I'm sorry about that, Lily. It's just... tradition, and it makes it easier for the Heads to coordinate everything and work closely without the distractions and restrictions of a normal dorm room. You know I'd never do anything to make you really uncomfortable, right?"
Lily did her best to gather her racing emotions and bury them down deep, turning back to James with a smooth, apathetic look. "Well, no matter what the circumstances are, there isn't any reason for us not to... to be respectful of each other. I suppose I don't mind your friends visiting occasionally, but I would like it to be clear that you are to show consideration for me as your roommate and not invade my space or be noisy late at night or steal my things or… any of the… other things you might be inclined to do."
James nodded seriously, a little concerned at how quickly she had gained control again. Meeting her eyes, he told her with mock-brevity, "You don't need to worry, Lily, I understand. And I hope you will be respectful of my privacy as well."
At this, Lily lost some of her composure and nearly turned purple with incredulity, her bright green eyes flashing angrily. Taking a menacing step towards him, she balled her fists at her sides and hissed, "I don't think you'll need to worry about that."
To her fury, he began to chuckle softly and moved forward to close the space between them, apparently unconcerned by her threatening fists of fury. "It was a joke, Lily. You honestly need to lighten up. I won't bother you and I know you won't bother me. I'm just hurt you could question my gentlemanly qualities."
"I'm quite convinced you don't have a single gentlemanly bone in your entire body, Potter," she announced candidly. "You may be handsome and clever and talented, but you're completely incapable of behaving like a mature human being and I don't trust you one bit."
He seemed inordinately pleased by her summation of his attributes despite the fact that it had been intended as a slur. Giving her a coaxing smile, he said, "Come now, Lily. Why can't we bury the hatchet? Let's just forget the past and make a fresh start. It'd be the mature thing to do."
"I'm sorry. We can't do that because I know for a fact you still have at least three pairs of my knickers from last year and you tried to seduce me with a love potion over the summer," she replied sharply.
He had the decency to look a little sheepish, but quickly grinned. "And you're going to let a little thing like that spoil what could be a beautiful friendship? You need to relax. Look, I promise the lads and I won't get up to any tricks in our dorm, at least. I'll give you all the privacy you need and I expect you to treat me like an equal. We're in this together, you know."
"Thank you, Potter," she gritted out through clenched teeth and spun on her heel. Before she could stalk off, James grabbed her arm gently and pulled her around to face him once more. Alarmed that he might try to kiss her as he had at her house, she threw her hand against his chest in a bid to keep as much space between them as possible.
Leaning in close, he reiterated earnestly, "You can trust me, Lily. I won't invade your privacy."
"Right. I'll believe that when You-Know-Who starts teaching Muggle Studies," she replied sarcastically. James held her gaze, trying to convey his sincerity and Lily squirmed, uncomfortably aware of his close proximity to her face. A moment later, he released her and quickly exited the compartment, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
'What is he playing at?' she thought angrily as she crossed the floor and sank back into the leather chair. She was so distracted that she didn't see James' triumphant face peering through the glass of the compartment door. For the past two years, Potter had hounded her constantly asking for dates, attempting to blackmail her for kisses and hugs, and deliberately misconstruing anything she said so that it appeared to be in his favor. He was the reason no guy at Hogwarts would even speak to her outside of classes. This "new" James was almost like a real person. She felt nearly ill with anxiety as she recalled how thoughtful, reserved, and respectful he had been (for the most part) during the meeting. One thing was certain: it wouldn't last.
Turning abruptly, she headed for the door, hoping to get a chance to talk out these confusing new developments with Alice. She moved into the passage and pulled up short. Her way was barred by Severus Snape. The tall, sallow-faced boy stared at her inscrutably for the space of several seconds before he turned away and walked smoothly into a compartment brimming with his fellow Slytherins, all of whom gave her nasty looks but refrained from saying anything, keenly aware of the shiny badge on her chest. Lily rushed past them, feeling unaccountably uncomfortable. While she found Frank and Alice with several other familiar classmates, James was entering the Marauder's private carriage.
"It's working!" he crowed eagerly as he entered the compartment occupied by his friends and a surprisingly large pile of sweets.
"Are you kidding? She really fell for it?" Peter asked excitedly around a mouthful of fudge flies. Peter was a bit pudgier than the other boys, but he had a great sense of humor and was always willing to go in on any prank his best mates could dream up. His shock of blonde hair lay flat across his head over startling blue eyes and a pointed nose, but his face conveyed his easy-going personality. He wasn't nearly as smart or talented as his three friends, but they had been close since first year and wouldn't think of abandoning the clumsy young man.
Sirius jumped up and whacked James on the back before grabbing him around the neck in a rough side-hug. "I knew it would work, Prongs!" he practically shouted, pushing his long black hair out of his eyes.
Remus smiled up at them from the scroll he had been carefully writing and reached over to toss James a pack of Bertie Bots before returning to his work on their Lily Scheme. James flopped down onto an empty seat and tore open his candy. "I did exactly as we planned and the looks she gave me were priceless! She didn't even know we'd be sharing a dorm and looked at me like I had just told her she would be Gryffindor's beater when she found out."
The four boys shared a good laugh before Remus called them to order. They had a lot to do if they were going to get Lily Evans to fall for James Potter in just under a year. Even with her relationship quarantine, they were well aware that they had six years of misbehaving to overcome in order to get her to consider James as a reasonable candidate.
The night was unaccountably clear as the train finally pulled into the station at Hogsmede and Lily left Frank and Alice in order to help sort out the ensuing chaos that the platform inevitably stirred up. She had just sent the last antsy first year toward Hagrid, giving the giant man a cheerful wave as she did so, before turning toward the carriages. To her surprise, James and his friends had waited for her under the pretext of assisting the older students with their luggage.
"All right, Lily?" Peter called jovially as she slowly made her way toward them.
She was about to respond when the animals standing at the front of the last two carriages caught her eye. In her previous years at the school, the coaches had always moved under their own power, but tonight, for some reason, there was a skeletal, ghastly horse-like thing harnessed to the front. "Good Lord! What are they?" she asked, backing up nervously.
The four boys gave her identical looks of confusion, glancing between her and the carriages several times. Finally, Sirius moved over and put a comforting arm around her shoulders, drawing her gently forward. Speaking slowly and soothingly, he explained, "Those are called coaches, Evans. The school uses them to pick up students from Hogsmede because they're too stingy to spring for carpets."
"I know what coaches are, Black," she spat sarcastically, untangling herself from his grasp and taking another step back. "What are those... those... horse-things?"
"What do they look like, Lily?" Remus asked curiously. Lily explained as best she could, refusing to look at her companions who were watching her with mixed reactions.
Finally, James nodded and stepped forward. "Thestrals. Must be..." He put out his hand and moved toward the coach, unsurprised when his palm came into contact with a spiky, solid flank. He turned back to Lily and grinned. "They're called thestrals. No need to worry, not everyone can see them."
"I've never seen them before today," Lily told him nervously.
With a gentle smile, James came back and took her hand, leading her toward the last coach that was waiting patiently. He decided not to tell her that one could only see a thestral after witnessing a death, though it gave him a bit more insight into her father's passing. Instead, he lifted her into the coach, smiling as his friends took off in the other one, leaving him to climb in with her alone. Lily was too busy staring anxiously at the spectral animal to notice when he slipped an arm around her shoulders and rubbed her arms briskly.
"Don't worry about it, Lily. They've probably always pulled the coaches. You know how erratic these magical things can be," he assured her gently.
As her nerves finally settled, she realized she was snuggled up alone with James Potter in a coach under a starlit sky with his arm around her shoulders. She turned her head and raised her eyebrows at him. "What do you think you're doing, James?"
The smile he gave her was noticeably uncertain and his response came out sounding more like a question. "Comforting you?"
"Is this what I am to expect from your professional courtesy?" she asked quietly. Catching the hint, he removed his arm, clasping his hands timidly between his knees as he smiled innocently at her. "You know, my mother thinks I need to keep kissing you at inopportune times to keep you manageable this term."
"Really?" he squeaked. He cleared his throat and turned to her earnestly. "You know, I think I might respond well to those tactics."
Lily leaned tantalizingly close as their carriage passed under the winged boars guarding the main gates. "Would you like to try it now?"
James couldn't breathe and was only able to swallow convulsively as he stared at her, leaning back reflexively when she moved even nearer, her thigh brushing against his. He was quite unused to having the roles of predator and prey switched on him like this. Lily's nose was mere centimeters from his when she smiled at him devilishly. "Actually, I think her point was that I should keep you guessing," she announced before collapsing back into her seat and staring avidly at the twinkling lights of the castle.
"That was not very nice, Miss Evans," James sniffed disdainfully. He was uncomfortably aware of the way his heart was pounding painfully and his pants seemed to have shrunk several sizes.
"Welcome to my world," she muttered wryly, leaning her cheek into her palm as she watched the castle drawing ever-closer.
James was still for a moment before he asked, "Does that mean you want me to kiss you?"
"No!" she cried emphatically, turning to him with wide eyes. Before she could react, he caught her face in his hands and kissed her tenderly, causing her stomach to roll. He could actually feel the heat flooding into her cheeks through his palms as she reached up to grasp his forearms, but didn't pull them away as he moved his lips against hers. For a moment, she even kissed him back, nipping gently at his lower lip in a way that turned his intestines to pudding.
SMACK! Stars burst behind James's eyelids as his cheek burned painfully. He opened his eyes in time to see Lily skipping lightly down from the carriage before turning back to him with an impish grin. "Confused, Potter? That's what I'm going for."
"Oh, you little..." he growled as he vaulted down after her. She was not going to get away with treating him like that! She rushed into the crowded hall, but he could still hear her triumphant laughter as they were swept up in the whirl of students.
