Confession

Prompt: Movies

Setting: Canon, summer before their final year at Hogwarts.

383 Words

"That was brilliant!" James gushed as they walked out of the theatre. His hazel eyes were sparkling, his crooked grin stretched from ear to ear.

Lily smiled to herself as she patiently listened to his enthused raving. Like a kid in a sweets shop, she thought, and stifled a giggle.

It was endearing, how easily James was impressed by the smallest of things; mundane, everyday things Lily scarcely paid attention to herself, having grown up among them.

That's probably what I was like, when I first came to Hogwarts, she mused to herself, washed away by a sudden wave of nostalgia. Discovering a whole new world, where everything had been so different and so fascinating.

James was now acting out one of his favourite scenes, waving around an imaginary sword with gusto. Lily shook her head.

He was different. So many wizards, these days especially, cared nothing for muggles or their world. But James was always curious, always interested in how muggle technology worked, always asking about Lily's favourite muggle things: books, music, paintings, movies... And better yet, she could tell his interest was genuine and respectful, not that condescending 'oh look at those silly muggles' kind, which some wizards seemed to emanate.

James was still going on about the movie they had just seen, gesticulating wildly. Lily stepped closer and took a hold of his hand, leaning her had against his shoulder. He stopped, the stream of praise for the movie suddenly cut off. He turned his head to look at her and gave her hand a hesitant squeeze.

"All right, Evans?" he asked. His face had softened; a smile was playing on his thin lips.

The words slipped out with surprising ease.

"I love you, James."

A stunned silence followed the confession, and she lifted her gaze to meet his eyes.

They were wide behind the rim of his glasses, and he quickly schooled his astonished expression into one of easy confidence.

"So sorry, Evans," he drawled, mischievousness sparking in the hazel of his eyes. "I didn't quite catch that. Mind saying it just one more time?"

A giggle escaped from Lily's lips.

"I said," she told him emphatically, "I love you, James."

With her free hand, she reached to grab his cheek, and then determinedly pulled his lips to hers.