A/N: Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays! You get an update today, isn't that exciting!? I'm sorry I suck at updates, and that I have to constantly put the same apology into my notes. Calculus should die, and if it wants to take Physics with it, more power to it. Yeah, that's what I'm blaming it on, for the most part. You know the drill – please read, review, and enjoy! Me gusta checking my email and seeing emails saying people reviewed! Here you go, chapter 9!
Harry and Ginny were doing their assigned night patrols when they heard students' voices from around the corner. Quickly, Harry pulled out his invisibility cloak and covered both her and Ginny, and they leaned against the wall.
Lily and James turned the corner, unaware that they were being listened to.
Lily laughed. "Yeah, like you've fallen off your broomstick in your life."
"No, really!" he argued. "I'm not quite sure why I'm telling you, but it was my first day as captain last year. Sirius thought it would be funny to hex me off my broom in front of the team, who was all standing below. I summoned Sirius and fell on top of him…"
"Which is why you were both in the hospital wing at the beginning of the year," Lily completed, cutting James off.
"Right. Believe me now?"
She sighed. "I suppose so," and they both continued patrolling.
Harry and Ginny traded glances with each other under the cloak, then they continued patrolling.
1 Week Later
During dinner, Ginny nudged Harry rather viciously in the ribs, and jerked her head to the Gryffindor table.
Rubbing his side, Harry followed the gaze of his girlfriend to his favorite table. Immediately, he found his mother's red hair, and with a jolt, saw that the messy head of his dad was right next to her.
"Huh," Harry said, watching Lily and James laughing with Sirius and Remus. "Huh."
Ginny laughed and said, "It looks like you may be getting closer to being able to tell them, doesn't it?"
"Apparently," Harry replied dryly, turning back to his food.
"Don't try to fool me, Harry," Ginny scolded. "I know you're excited. You can't wait for it to be official so you can drop some not-so-subtle hint in front of your mum and just sit there grinning like an idiot until she figures it out."
"And if I do?" Harry asked his girlfriend with a smirk.
Her only response was to smack him on the arm.
The Next Weekend
It was the day before the late fall Hogsmeade visit, and James was pacing in his common room, waiting for Lily to come down from breakfast.
James was the first thing she saw when she opened her bedroom door, and she laughed. "What are you doing, James?"
He jumped and spun to face her, his hand magnetizing to his hair, baffling Lily. In all the years she had known him, she had never seen James Potter so nervous.
"I was, uh, waiting for you," he eventually answered.
"That was nice of you. But if you were so hungry you were pacing, you could have left without me."
"No," James said. "That's not it. I – um, Lily would you maybe come to Hogsmeade with me tomorrow?"
Lily stopped packing her bag from her esk and looked at the boy across the room from her. "Like on a date?"
"Well, technically yeah, but we don't have to call it a date if you don't want to. I'm fine with that, totally completely fine, I promise-"
"James," Lily interrupted. "You're rambling."
He stopped and drooped his shoulders, ruffling his hair nervously.
Questioning herself, Lily abandoned her bag and crossed the room to James. Looking up into his hazel eyes, Lily squeezed her eyes shut and firmly said, "Yes."
Before she could open her eyes, she was lifted off her feet and spun in circles.
"Really?" James asked, his eyes alight.
Lily laughed. "Yes, James, I'll go to Hogsmeade with you."
"I promise you, Lily," he said solemnly, staring into her emerald eyes, "you won't regret it."
A few minutes later, the two of them entered the Great hall, gathering the notice of the two youngest professors at Hogwarts.
"Look at him," Harry whispered," he's smiling so big he may break his face soon."
"She must have said yes," Ginny replied.
"But only to Hogsmeade at this point."
Ginny gave him a look.
"He wouldn't risk it by going too fast after waiting six years. 2 Galleons says he asked her just to Hogsmeade."
Ginny smiled sweetly and shook Harry's hand. "You're on, Potter."
Later that night, there was a pounding on the door of the office that Harry and Ginny shared.
"Who is it?" Harry called from the couch he was lying on.
"It's James."
Lazily, Harry flicked his hand and the door opened. James practically ran to Harry and started pumping his hand, beaming.
"She said yes, Professor! I asked her to Hogsmeade and she said yes! I did what you suggested and she said yes! Thank you!"
With a yawn, Ginny sat up and leaned to her boyfriend, dropping two gold coins into his open hand.
"Were you betting on us?" James asked, amused.
"What?" Harry asked, pretending he didn't hear.
"You were betting on us," James accused again, laughing as he back out of the room. "Good night, professors, and thanks again."
