Ways to Say "No"
A Collection of Fragments and One Shots
Four
Lily Evans ran down the stairs leading from the fourth year girls' dorm to the common room, skipping the last two all together, and very nearly crashed into someone on her way to the portrait hole.
"Sorry!" she called over her shoulder as she pushed open the door. Once she was out in the corridor, she stood tapping her foot impatiently as she waited for the staircase she wanted to use to finish changing places. As soon as it was close enough to the edge for the security ward to come off, she ran down that flight of stairs as well.
Once off the stairs, she took a right and at a pace that was just shy of full on sprinting, made her way down the corridor, zigzagging to avoid running into people. She went down one last flight of stairs, and then stopped to catch her breath outside the large doors leading to the library.
Still panting slightly, she pushed open the door and made her way to the nearest empty table. She deposited her bag and then looked at her watch. It was 4:57. She only had three minutes before she was supposed to be outside meeting Severus so they could finish their homework together.
She strode quickly to the charms section and frantically read the spines of the books until she found the one she wanted. Just as she was about to grab it, a hand came out of no where and snatched it up off the shelf.
"Hey!" she said, agitated, turning to see who had stolen the book practically out of her hand.
James Potter, complete with an innocent look on his face, held tightly to the book.
"I really, really need that book. I'm in a hurry. You can have it tomorrow. I swear!" She said, holding out her hand and giving him a desperate look.
"Whoa," James said, putting up a hand as if to tell her to slow down. "Who says I'll need it tomorrow? I happen to need it now."
"Fine. Let me copy what I need. I'm late!" She reached for the book again, but he was too fast for her and he moved it before her fingers could even brush the leather binding.
"You're late, you say? Late for what?" James asked conversationally.
Lily sighed, but she knew she had to answer him or he would play games with her all night. "I'm meeting Severus outside two minutes ago."
"And you need the book because…"
"I need it because I need to do my charms homework and the library is going to be closed when I get back!" She looked desperately from him to the book.
"It just so happens that I need to do my charms homework too. We can share. I've got a table over here."
"What? I just told you I'm going outside to meet Severus."
James rolled his eyes. "Now Lily, what's more important? Your social life or your school work?"
She narrowed her eyes at him. "You're just doing this because you want Severus to think I've abandoned him."
James shrugged and thought for a second. "Yeah, you're probably right. But it doesn't change the fact that I still need to do my charms homework."
Frustrated, Lily let out a strangled cry. "What do I have to do to get the book from you right now?"
"You could kiss me," James said, as though he was saying all she had to do was ask please.
She stared at him disbelievingly. "Why are you doing this to me?"
"Doing what? I hadn't realized that my homework was such a problem for you."
"There are other books," Lily said suddenly. "Use a different one! Come on, James. I'll pay you!"
He shook his head and said, "My last offer stands."
"You've got to be kidding me," Lily muttered under her breath. "If I kiss you, you'll give me this book, and then I can give it to you in the common room tonight?"
"Kiss first," James said, grinning broadly.
"No. Book first," Lily said, putting her hands on her hips. "How do I know you aren't going to roach on the deal?"
"How do I know you won't?" he countered.
Lily pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes at him again. "Here's how this is going to happen. On the count of three, I will kiss you and you will give me the book. And no tongue!" she warned.
"Well…here's the problem. I don't want my grades to suffer, you see. I could probably put my essay off for at least three hours, but only if there was some kind of incentive." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at her.
She flicked him hard on the arm and said, "Is that incentive enough?"
"A deal is a deal, Evans."
She could hardly believe what she was doing. It was ridiculous! Why was she letting him do this? She could just kick him, grab the book and run. But he was right, a deal is a deal. She shouldn't have made the deal if she wasn't going to go through with it…And she really, really needed that book.
"One," James said, leaning in closer to her. "Two." she groaned and began preparing herself. She put her hand out, and grabbed the edge of the book, prepared to rip it out of his grasp. "Three," he said finally, leaning in even further.
She leaned forward the slightest bit, gave him a quick peck on the lips, tore the book out of his hands and jumped backwards. "Ha!" she said, waving the book. "I'll see you in three hours, Potter." With that, she turned and ran to check the book out, thinking that Severus had better appreciate what she went through so they could do their homework together.
"Hey, Lily," James called after her. She swiveled and looked at him expectantly. "Don't worry about the book. I finished my essay last night."
If she wasn't in such a hurry, she probably would have murdered him.
A/N: I read this today and thought it was cute. Poor Lily! I feel like this is something that Fourth Year James would do to her.