Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own HP.
Chapter Eight: Goosebumps and Dresses
When Lily and James broke away a few moments later, his head was still spinning.
"You do that so well," Lily mumbled, almost in a dazed state. James smiled, his heart still pounding in his chest.
"Thanks," he replied, taking another sip of his hot chocolate. His was fully aware that people from their school were now staring at them, but he ignored them. He seemed to be in his own little world with Lily, and it was almost like there was no one else in the room. He could hear them distantly talking, but all that he really saw was Lily.
"So," Lily said, rubbing her arms. She had Goosebumps, and it wasn't because she was cold.
James reached across the small table and took Lily's hands in his own.
"Lily, I was wondering if you'd like to go out with me?" he asked, looking at her and smiling.
"I am out with you," Lily replied, smiling innocently.
"Don't play coy, you know what I mean. I want you to be my steady girlfriend."
"Ok," Lily answered, smiling wider still. He grinned at her.
"So we're officially going out then?" he inquired, rubbing his thumb against her hand.
"Yes," she replied. It was a wonderful sensation whenever James touched her.
"When are we going to tell the others?"
"I suppose when we go to meet them," she replied with a smile. She was ready to tell the world that she liked James Potter. Who once had been her enemy was now her lover, and Lily suspected he was her one and only true love.
They discussed the Samhain Ball, only because they felt obliged to.
"You know we have to go together right?" Lily told him, her hands still in his.
"Yes, but I want to go with you anyway." James replied.
"Well our costumes should match, I'm thinking of going as Cinderella." Lily said, brushing back a piece of her hair that had fallen into her eyes.
"That's a good idea, I love that fairy tale," James nodded.
"You read fairy tales?" Lily questioned, her eyebrows raised.
"When I was little." James answered.
Lily smirked, not really believing him. "Yeah ok James, I bet you curl up by the fire with a big book of fairy tales every chance you get."
"You found me out," he smiled.
Nearly half and hour later, they finished their hot chocolates and got up to go after paying for their drinks and left a tip on the table for Madam Puddifoot. James helped Lily into her coat and slide his arm around her waist, pulling her close again.
"Look at them, they look like something extremely shocking has happened," he mumbled, a slight grin playing on his face as he nodded to a few of their peers.
"Well, to them, something extremely shocking has happened." Lily replied, pushing open the door.
"About what?" James questioned, slightly confused.
"About us, the most unlikely couple in Hogwarts!" Lily exclaimed, rolling her eyes.
"Who says we're the most unlikely couple at Hogwarts?" James asked her, drawing her closer, "I, for one, have been telling people over and over that you love me."
"Who says I love you?" Lily asked, looking up at him and smiling innocently.
"This," James replied, spinning her around and crashing his mouth to hers, kissing her so passionately that Lily felt her knees grow so weak that she was leaning on him for support as they stood in the middle of the street kissing. He ended the kiss and smiled smugly down at her. He could feel her heart pounding against his chest.
"That proves nothing," Lily denied as they resumed walking towards the Three Broomsticks.
"I beg to differ," James said huskily, his eyes still on her as they pushed open the door to the Three Broomsticks.
Lily glanced around for a moment, then spotted her friends sitting with the Marauders at a table near the back. They were all chatting and joking around, but stopped when Lily and James approached.
"Well, well, well, shopping for decorations for the ball?" Alice said, clicking her tongue as they all ogled at the pair. James's arm was still around Lily's waist and she was still pressed closed to him.
"What is going on here?" Marlene demanded, "You two aren't a couple, are you?"
"Actually yeah, we are." James replied, pulling out a seat for Lily. She sat down and smiled up at him, touching his hand as it rested for a moment on her shoulder.
"James asked me out today, I said yes." Lily told them. She looked around the table at her friends; everyone had their jaw dropped in shock.
"Your joking mate?" Sirius said in disbelief. James shook his head, smiling.
"No I'm serious," he told them, sitting down and taking Lily's hand.
"They're playing some kind of twisted joke on us," Sirius said, turning to look at Remus, "any minute now they're going to admit it,"
"I think they're telling the truth," Remus said. Ellie squealed in delight.
"Oh it's so perfect!" she said, grabbing Sirius by the arm and practically jumping in her seat. Lily rolled her eyes, feeling the blush creep up her neck.
"We were going for exclusive, but that kind of died when James took me to Madam Puddifoot's." Lily exclaimed, pushing James gently in his firm stomach and smiling at him.
"He took you to Madam Puddifoot's? Aww that's so romantic!" Marlene sighed, then turning to Remus she demanded in a mock jealous voice, "Why don't you ever take me there?"
While Remus stuttered his reply, Sirius stared at James as if he was insane.
"Somebody bloody well pinch me," Sirius said, shaking his head, "I have no clue what's going on."
Ellie pinched him, "Well Sirius, James and Lily are going out. That's what's going on."
"Ouch!" Sirius complained, rubbing his arm where she had pinched him. "That hurt!"
"Oh your such a baby, let me kiss it better," Ellie said, rolling her eyes and locking lips (yet again) with Sirius. Lily rolled her eyes at Ellie.
"Um yeah, James and I aren't the only ones who have got some explaining to do." Lily laughed, her deep rich laugh that sent shivers down James's spine, and he just wanted to take her in his arms.
"We're just friends with benefits," Sirius said when they broke apart, a wide grin on his face. He didn't catch Ellie's face crumbling for a moment, but Lily and James, who were sitting across from them, did. However, Ellie quickly regained her composure.
"So tell us, how long has this been going on?" she asked after taking a deep breath.
Lily gave her an encouraging smile; she knew this was tearing Ellie apart. Ellie didn't like being treated like a plaything, and Lily knew she wouldn't stand for it forever.
"Few weeks ago," James told them, shrugging, "I don't see why our love life is of any importance to you all," He made a mental note to talk to Sirius later, probe his best mates mind and see what was really going on. He could tell by Ellie's look that she wanted to be more then just friends with benefits, and James felt it was up to him to plant the idea in Sirius's head.
"I knew it would happen," Peter said, squeaking in delight.
"I think the whole school knew it would happen," Alice smirked.
"Yes, the school is going to be in such an uproar over this," Marlene agreed, nodding.
"Why would they be in such an uproar?" Peter questioned blankly. Everybody rolled their eyes at him.
"Because it's James Potter and Lily Evans, you do the math Wormtail," Sirius said bluntly.
"I don't like math," Peter said, frowning.
XXXX"What about this dress Lily? It totally brings out your eyes," Marlene asked, holding up a very gorgeous green strapless dress that Lily thought was far too elegant for her. They had left the boys to go dress browsing for the Samhain Ball.
"The price, Marlene," she sighed, "Besides, it's kind of like a costume ball, and I'm going as Cinderella."
"Er, who's Cinderella?" asked Ellie from behind a rack of dresses, coming from a Pureblood family meant that she didn't know of the fairy tales that Lily adored.
"It's a fairy tale," Lily replied, "A peasant girl meets Prince Charming and he falls in love, that sort of thing."
"Who's going to be your Prince Charming?" Ellie asked, emerging from in behind dress racks.
"Who do you think Elle? Come on your just as bad as Wormtail," Marlene joked, putting the emerald green dress she had held up for Lily back on the rack.
"Oh Merlin! I see it! It's perfect!" gasped Lily, rushing towards a white gown that positively shimmered on its hanger. "It looks just like the caption in my Fairy Tale book!"
"It's beautiful Lily, try it on," Alice said, pushing Lily towards the dressing rooms with the dress.
A few minutes later she emerged. Her friends all gasped; Lily looked positively stunning in the gown. It revealed her back and it seemed to sparkle all the way up. Lily almost glowed.
"Of course my hair will be up," Lily said, twirling in the mirror. The dress seemed to mould perfectly to her body, and she loved how it fit her figure.
"That looks amazing, totally get it!" Alice exclaimed, while Marlene and Ellie murmured in agreement.
"What are you guys going as?" Lily asked.
"Dunno yet, we still have loads of time." Ellie said. Lily nodded, glancing at herself in the mirror again.
"But we were supposed to be browsing today, not deciding." Lily frowned.
"Yes but grab it before it's gone, next time we come back it might not be there," Ellie wisely pointed out.
"Alright, it's settled. I'm getting the dress," Lily declared, changing into her robes. She carried it over to the counter and paid for it while Marlene, Ellie and Alice all continued to browse.
Thanks again to everyone who reviewed! I know some of you wanted to see a secret affair going on, but I've read that so many times in different stories, I wanted this one to be a little...more me. I rush into relationships. Besides, Lily's really in love, and she knows it too ;)
REVIEW people, I live for your reviews!
