A/N: Thankyou dear, darling Anna for helping me write. As usual, I don't own anything blah blah blah. Anyway, I hope you like it. It's not very good, but I felt like I had to get something out there into the open.
James Potter sank to the floor, and made a noise of loud frustration. He clenched his fists, making his nails leave marks in his palms. He could practically feel angry tears piercing his eyes. He eyed the objects in front of him and finally ducked his head, mentally admitting defeat.
"Why are you on the floor?" Remus raised one eyebrow, having just entered from a long quiet breakfast with Lily.
"I can't decide whether this shirt suits me!" James bust out, after a pause, pointing at a blue number. Remus quirked the eyebrow once more then moved forward to help James up. "Lily won't notice."
"Yes, she will. And she'll look perfect."
"You think she always looks perfect."
"Can you just stop being so damn reasonable and help me choose?" James gestured to the other shirts crumpled on the bed.
"The red one. Chicks dig red." Sirius entered the room.
"Lily isn't just some chick, Sirius." James spat the word out with disgust.
"Whatever. I think the red's best." Sirius nodded decisively. James tried on the shirt for size. Glancing in the mirror, he ran his hand through his already tousled hair, and squinted a little. "I'm not suuure…"
"Prongs. Get. A. Reality. Check. Lily will spend most of her time gazing longingly into your eyes. Not your shirt." Sirius flopped back on James's bed, causing it to creak a bit.
"Mmm, ok. But if this goes wrong, you're to blame."
"Aren't I always?" Sirius grinned lazily.
Lily Evans knelt on the floor, and made a loud noise of frustration. She clenched her fists, her long nails making indentations on her palms, and she could feel an angry tear piercing her eye. She glared at the objects in front of her and finally leant back, bowing her head in defeat.
"Why are you on the floor?" Sasha eyed her with a little quirk of her eyebrow.
"I can't decide what to wear!"
"Relax Lily, it's a date to Hogsmeade, not to meet the Queen. James won't even notice."
"Yes, he will." Lily sounded frustrated. "He'll look perfect!"
"You think he always does."
"Not aaallwaayyss" Lily whined. "Stop being so annoying, and help me choose, already!"
"The green cardigan, it brings out your eyes." Evangeline entered the room.
"No! It doesn't, it makes my skin look crap!" Lily sounded disgusted.
"Ok, the blue hoodie then. It'll take the place of your coat. And Lil, your skin isn't that bad. Relaaax." She intoned, breathing out on the last word. Lily grabbed the jumper, and zipped it up.
"I'm not sure…" She squinted a little in the mirror, and leant in to examine the skin under her eyes.
"Lil, reality check here. James will spend most of his time gazing lovingly into your eyes. Not at your top." Sasha curled up into a chair, shivering at the bitter January cold.
"I wouldn't be so sure. It's more what's under your top –" Sasha was wiggling her eyebrows provocatively but was cut off by a pillow thrown in her direction.
"If this goes wrong, you're to blame!" Lily yelled, leaving the dormitory.
"I always am, Lil, I always am." Sasha smiled lazily at her friend and waved her on her way.
Having made her way downstairs, Lily was now standing in the entrance hall, with her arms crossed. James was late. As usual. I shouldn't have even considered it…
"Shiiiiit" James moaned as he skidded along the floor to meet Lily in the hall. "I'm so sorry Lils, Sirius caught me up. He grimaced and ran a hand through his dark hair. Lily smiled back and motioned for them to go. Waiting in the queue to be let out by Filch, they smiled shiftily and stood close together, but didn't talk. He looks hot. Her mind was racing. James certainly did look good. He was wearing indigo jeans that were more fitted than usual and a tightish red checked skirt rolled up to his elbows. He was also carrying a black hoodie as well as a hat, gloves and the other necessities of winters at Hogwarts.
She looks hot. James's mind was racing too. Lily was wearing tight indigo jeans tucked into big boots. On top she wore a Weird Sisters tee and a pale blue cardigan, as well as a dark blue hooded top. She was carrying mittens and a scarf, which she pulled on as they waited to be let out.
Suddenly the doors opened and a rush of cold air whooshed in, biting their faces with icy pincers. Shivering the teens pulled on their woolies and made their way outside. Soon their faces were whipped by the wind and both had an adorable flush, made ever more blushing by the broad winks the pairs received from others walking to the village. Talking was stilted as the wind was blowing against them, and anything spoken had to be repeated a few times.
"God, I can't feel my fingers any more! It's so cold!" Lily hollered, after ten minutes of walking ducked against the gusts.
"Pardon!?" James turned to face her.
"I said... I can't feel my fingers!" Lily yelled again, near to his ear. James nodded and smiled, but made no move to open his mouth. Lily frowned a little, and was about to repeat again but was cut short by James's hand slipping into hers and squeezing. Suddenly the feeling in her fingers was coming back very rapidly. James turned to look at his partner and smiled broadly, winking. Lily caught his eye and winked back, and they both burst into giggles. Nodding at the same time they burst into a sprint, eager to get to Hogsmeade.
The Three Broomsticks was unusually quiet for a Hogwarts trip. It was so windy that not many had ventured out into the cold. Rosmerta wiped down the bar, again and again until its chestnut wood sparkled and glittered like her earrings. Some regulars sipped at their drinks, trading banter and reading the paper. All in all, it was a hushed environment into which the two teens burst, laughing.
"That was fun. Do it again sometimes?" Lily was laughing loudly, but was quickly hushed by the almost formidable atmosphere in the bar. "Maybe… we should go somewhere else?" She poked James gently in the ribs.
"Nah! They love me here!" James's bravado was spilling over, exhilarated by the run up. He lead Lily into a chair and bounced up to the bar, with the air of an over excited puppy. Lily sank into the seat and leant forward, studying the ceiling awkwardly, waiting for James to return.
"Two butterbeers, milady." He bowed deeply and set the bottles down with a bang. They both drank deeply, warmed to the toes by the liquid.
"So, uh, which NEWTs are you doing?" Lily ventured, but cringed inwardly. NEWTs?! That's crap! Lily, why did you have to ask? Stupid girl! She shook her head a bit and started listening.
"Charms, Transfiguration, DADA, Potions, and Herbology…" He trailed off.
"Oh cool, what do you want to, erm, use them for?" She took a sip of the butterbeer.
"Well, uh I think it would be really cool to, you know –" He blushed little. "Become an Auror, and you need all of them to do that…" He bit his lip. Usually he kept his ambitions quiet.
"An Auror? That's awesome. I think you'd be really good!" Lily flashed a smile, which made James feel sure he would have fallen over, had he not been sitting down already.
"What about you?"
"Charms, Potions, Astronomy, DADA and Herbology…" She trailed off, just as James had done.
"What do you want to do then?" James cocked his head, looking a little confused.
"Well, I thought that I'd like to become a nurse."
James had a puzzled look. "Why not Healing? You're clever enough."
"It's too hectic. I want to be able to have a proper family, but still work." She twisted the ring on her finger as that all too familiar ball of anxiety returned to her stomach.
"Aw, you have your whole future planned out. That's sweet." I just wish it would include me…
Lily smiled, and finished off her drink. She was about to go order another pair but was forced down into her seat by a young man with black hair, grey eyes and a laughing smile.
"I'm surprised James hasn't scared you away yet." He poked James in the ribs.
"Die Sirius." James's voice sounded deadpan, but anyone who knew him well would realize he was pissed off. Sirius bounded to the bar to order more drinks, while James and Lily were joined by Remus, Pete, Sasha and Evangeline.
"We thought we would check up on you guys." Sasha began.
"Check you weren't doing anything you'd be embarrassed of." Remus continued.
"Or killing each other."
"It was an 'either or' situation." Evangeline finished.
"Go away you guys, we're just fine." Lily glared at her friends but they avoided her gaze.
"We can't leave now! I just got drinks!" Sirius yelled, across the room.
"We aren't going, Siri!" Evangeline yelled back. The boy mimed a sigh of relief and brought the bottles over. There were a few quiet moments as everyone drank, warming up again. James brushed his knee past someone else's and looked up to meet Lily's gaze.
"Oops, sorry." He pretended to apologise and moved his knees away. That will let her know I'm interested Subtly he moved his leg across, and lightly stroked her foot with his. He looked up once again and smiled, with a tiny wink. Then he turned to Sasha, who was sitting next to him, and began a conversation, all the while, gently caressing his foot with hers. Ahah! Footsies! She won't be able to resist!
Suddenly he noticed Peter blushing furiously. Uh-oh, if we don't sort this out he'll start sweating soon… ugh. James shivered mentally and rose from the table.
"Peter, come with me… to the… gents room, won't you?" The smaller boy nodded and leapt up, disturbing a few bottles, and followed James to the bathroom.
"What's wrong?" James asked, carefully.
"James," Peter hissed "I think Sasha is trying to- to- play footsies with me!" He blushed.
"What?!" James looked incredulous.
"Well she moved her knee to… touch mine. Then back. Then again and she started rubbing her foot over mine! I thought you realized! You kept winking!"
Suddenly the realization hit James like a ton of stinksap. The grin slid off his face like a Kneazle off marble and he blushed too, more furiously than ever.
Ack! Tell me what you think, and I will shower you with love and jelly babies!