Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognise. (Does anyone know if I have to write this every time?)
Enjoy xx
Previously:
Dear Mum,
How are you? I would say I'm fine, except I'm not. Remember I told you about Lily getting Head Girl? Well...we're sharing a common room, and I don't think I can bear it any longer. We're so close now, good friends, but I can't handle it, being so close to her, but not getting to hold her, hugging her, but not kissing her.
I know that she likes wearing her hair in bunches, but doesn't because she thinks people will tease her. I wouldn't tease her.
I want her to tie her hair up in bunches and laugh, because when she does, I feel like I'm flying.
The letter goes on, but I'm crying too hard to read the rest of it.
Wiping away my tears, I place the note gently down on the table and climb the stairs to his room, listening for any signs of movement, but I can't hear anything. I call out "James?", but there's no answer, so he must have gone somewhere else. There's no way he would be in there and ignore me. I may not always know what to do, but I know my friends.
I know James Potter.
The room is empty when I push open the door, and it's dark. He never opens the curtains in his bedroom; I remember him telling me, with a pang of sadness. Checking the time on my watch, I groan as I realise that it's nearly 11. I'm tired from running all over the place, but I don't want to miss him if he comes back in later, so I scramble down the stairs and summon my pyjamas, slipping them on over my bra and knickers.
Curling up in the large armchair after folding up my uniform neatly, I pull James' blanket over me and stare into the depths of the fire until I'm tired enough to fall asleep.
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When I wake up, there's a peppermint hot chocolate on the table in front of me, and there's still no sign of James. The sun is streaming through the open curtains, and the old blanket is tucked around me tightly. Although I'm still worried about what I'm going to do about the kiss, the fact that I'm curled up in his blanket comforts me, and also that he's come into the room and left me the drink, like it's a normal day.
Like it's a normal day.
It's a Saturday, so there aren't any lessons, so I could easily curl up and go back to sleep...
But I won't.
Folding up the old tartan blanket, I place it in its original position on the sofa and climb the stairs to my room, sipping my hot chocolate. The familiar taste calms me, and I smile as I look at the mantelpiece where the picture of us is sat. Performing a quick washing and drying charm on my hair, (I can't be bothered to shower) I pull it up into two bunches, securing it with two pieces of green ribbon, and dress in a grey tunic and black legging, with a green cardigan.
Whether I like it or not, I know a lot of things about James too. He never opens his curtains in his bedroom, unless it's Christmas, to see if it's snowing. He hates lavender shampoo, and would drink gravy, if he could. His dad died during the Christmas holidays last year. I also know that he likes me.
I hope he likes me as much as I like him.
It feels strange, walking down to breakfast alone. I haven't done it all year so James can't have either, as we always walk down together. I wish we were walking down together.
Malfoy jeers at me as I walk past, but he might as well be insulting a brick wall; it would care more than I do.
As I enter the Great Hall, Alice waves at me from the Gryffindor table, so I hurry over, my eyes searching the length of it for him.
He's not there.
Alice budges up to let me sit down, and immediately starts quizzing me. "What happened, Lils? Did you kiss again? Did you make up?"
"Nothing happened, I couldn't find him. He still got me a drink, though."
"Don't worry Evans." Sirius leans forward, waving his fork knowingly. "He goes to the Quidditch pitch when he's upset. You should go and see him in a bit, it'll make him feel better."
"Okay then, I'll go after breakfast."
Just then, someone taps me on the shoulder, and I turn around, nearly cricking my neck, shivering in anticipation.
It's not James.
It's Amos Diggory.
"Lily, babe. You. Me. First Hogsmeade weekend ." He flashes me a winning smile that would make most girls melt, and turns away, sauntering over to the Hufflepuff table. I look at Alice who's practically drooling, and at Sirius, who looks like he's about to throw something.
Standing up, I walk quickly over to where Amos is sitting, and tap him on the shoulder, so he leans around, hopefully cricking his neck painfully.
"Yes, babe?"
"Turns out I have plans on that weekend."
"You can't do, they haven't announced the date yet."
"No, no, you must misunderstand me. You see, I have several possible plans, but none of them involve you."
It's then that I realise that the whole Hall is silent, like everyone is holding their breath. He mutters something under his breath, and I laugh. A loud, cheerful, real laugh.
"Way to get the girl, Diggory. Insult her. Great seduction technique. Oh...and don't call me babe."
I wink playfully at his furious face, and walk slowly back to my seat, my footsteps echoing around the quiet Hall. Sitting down, I start helping myself to toast.
After a few minutes of stunned silence, the Hall starts to fill up with noise again: indistinct chatter and the clinking of knives and forks on plates. Alice is sitting still, mouth hanging open, flabbergasted, but Sirius is grinning as he tucks into kippers, so it feels like a victory.
A small victory, but a victory nonetheless.
Haristo,
She-who-loves-fanfiction xx