CHAP 12: THE BIG MOMENT

He was following the mystery girl through the forest.

She donned a white knee-length strapless dress.

Her brown hair fell over her back swaying with her every move.

The light breeze rustled the leaves in the forest, she was bare-foot and he could hear her every footfall.

All James knew was that he needed to catch a glimpse of her.

She walked calmly through the trees.

They reached a clearing and she sat down on a rock with her back facing him.

She patted the spot next to her with her slender hand.

James took that as an indication and silently sat down beside her.

The sound of the animals, trees and the insects created the most peaceful atmosphere for James.

He tried to get a look of the girl's face, but her hair fell over her shoulder hiding it from his view.

He contemplated moving the curtain of silky brown hair with his own hands but he held back the urge.

She tilted her head upwards, yet all he could see was the tip of her nose, her pink lips and her chin.

Something about her was startlingly familiar.

He asked "Who are you?"

Her voice made bells ring inside his heart and the feeling warmed him through and through.

He had heard this voice before, he just couldn't remember where.

"I thought you already knew"
Her tone was teasing and pleasant at the same time.

He racked his brains trying to place her but he couldn't "I'm pretty sure I don't"

She told him "Close your eyes"

He blinked.

She put her hand on his eyes and turned, all he saw was a flash of her brown hair as she turned towards him.

She reprimanded him "No peeking"
He shut his eyes tightly.

He could feel her moving closer.

His breath caught in his chest when her other hand covered his heart.

Her hair tickled his cheeks and neck.

He inhaled sharply.

She whispered "Calm down James"

He loved the way she said his name.

Her breath blew against his face as she spoke making his insides turn to mush.

Finally her lips reached his.

The feeling was over-whelming and all-consuming.

He wouldn't trade this feeling for anything.

He needed to know who this girl was and wanted to stay with her forever.

She gently pulled away which disappointed him.

She placed a light kiss on his cheek.

She moved away removing her hand from his chest.

She slowly removed her hand from over his eyes.

James opened his eyes, he felt light headed and drunk.

The face in front of him was the most beautiful face he had ever seen in his entire life.

He went as still as rock, he had seen that face a million times before.

He had seen it and he couldn't believe he hadn't recognized her the second she had walked his way.

It was Willow.

James woke up groggily in his bed to the sound of birds and the sunlight flooding the boy's dormitory.

James stuffed his head under his pillow, he had had such a wonderful dream.

Only if it had been reality.

That's what you call wishful thinking.

James had never felt so disappointed in the mornings.

In his opinion, he should have slept for the rest of his life living that dream.

Where did the boy get these ideas?

But he couldn't help the feeling the guilt of having such a dream about Willow.

That dream was so wrong in so many ways.

Willow would never wear a dress.

Willow would never walk through a forest bare-foot.

Willow would never seduce James.

Willow would never kiss James.

Willow was hopeless at flirting.

Willow wasn't smooth at all.

Willow was completely tactless.

Willow could never pull something like that off.

Willow was not the most graceful girl he knew.

And lastly, He did not love Willow.

Isn't the last one a joke?

He said "Damn the dream"

He threw his pillow at a snoring Fred.

"Fred wake up! I need to talk to you"
His cousin just stuck his head out of the hangings and told him "You can wait for two hours… actually make that three"

James groaned "Wake up Fred, it's important"

Fred snored in response.

James sighed and started getting ready.

He got bored and went to the common room to wait for Fred.

What he saw stopped him in his tracks.

Willow was sprawled across the sofa, an open book was lying on her chest.

He couldn't help notice how cute she looked.

Her brown hair was tied loosely in a ponytail.

Her eyes were closed and her eyelashes brushed lightly against her cheek.

He knelt in front of her and watched as her chest rose and fell with her breathing.

She was dressed in shorts and an over-sized shirt.

It was obviously a boy's t-shirt.

That made him wonder how she'd look in one of his shirts.

Everything about her was just like he had seen in his dream, except in reality she was more beautiful than the dream version.

He lightly brushed her hair from her face, her skin was soft and smooth against the tips of her fingers.

A slow smile appeared on her lips and she said contentedly "James"
His fingers stopped, did she know he was there?

But she slept on with her smile still on her face.

He sighed, she was dreaming.

And just like in his dream he loved the way she said his name.

He pulled the book from her grasp and marked her page.

He placed it on the table and smiled down at her.

He heard footsteps and he turned, to see Fred coming down.

He looked at James and then at Willow, he rolled his eyes "Oh"

Then he asked "Good morning?"

James smiled "Good morning"

Fred asked "So what did you want to tell me?"

James said looking at Willow "Not here, let's go out"

Fred shrugged and followed James out of the common room.

Fred said "Tell me"

James sighed and then started "I had a dream…."

Once he was done, Fred looked at him "Wow, pretty freaky dream"
James nodded.

Fred asked "So what's your problem?"
James brushed a hand through his hair "I thought I loved her but then I know I don't….aagh! I'm confused!"

Fred said smartly "Give her a shot"
James asked incredulously "What?"

Fred nodded "You heard me, give her a shot. Just watch her for a while and then if she's worth it make a move. I think personally that you should observe her and see how she makes you feel"

James sighed "I know how she makes me feel"

Fred asked "How does she make you feel then?"

James answered "Weird, wonderful, punch drunk, awesome, smart, good, warm, fantastic, excited, reckless, wild, annoyed, protective, possessive, impulsive and just plain old brilliant!"

Fred raised an eyebrow "Okay, That…That is….For the first time in my life I've been rendered speechless"

James asked "Am I insane?"

Fred answered "I always thought you're insane James. But now I'd say that you're, shall we say lovesick?"

James was horrified "I'm in love?"

Fred rolled his eyes "Wow, and I thought you were smart"

James had nothing to say "Merlin….Shit I'm in love! What do I do? Fred what do I do?"

Fred patted him on his shoulder "First things first mate, have a good breakfast"

Well, realization isn't very easy, is it?

James was shell-shocked.

For so long he had been in love and he hadn't known it.

This was a joke, how could something so obvious not come to him earlier?

Was he born dumb or something?
He had no idea how many people would answer that question in the affirmative.

He ate all the food on the table and then some more.

When Willow slipped into the seat next to him he openly stared at her.

Oblivious to her discomfort he continued staring at her.

He loved her, so much that it drove him mad.

She was the one for him.

What wouldn't he give to grab her and snogg her senseless right there, right that second?

He loved her with every fiber of his being.

And nothing could change that.

How had he not known all this before?

Why did he realize it on that day?

Some questions are best left unanswered.

Willow asked "James are you alright?"

James stammered "I….I…I…..I…I…I…I….I"

Fred answered for him "He's a little high this morning"

Willow replied "I can see that"

James started off "Willow….I..lo..OOW!"

Fred had conveniently kicked him and stopped him from making a fool of himself.

Willow looked at him with so much concern that he melted into a big puddle of James goo.

She asked "James are you really alright?"

James would have answered but Fred got there first "He's fine, come on James! We have to go to the library!"

James looked confused "No we don't"

Fred gritted his teeth and said venomously "Yes we do. Now get your stinking arse up from that bench"

James stood up and was dragged out of the Hall by Fred.

Willow watched them go feeling amused and confused at the same time.

What had suddenly come over James?

I'm sure she didn't really want to know.

Willow was still as confused about her feelings as she had been the day before and didn't know how long she could keep up with the mental madness around her and within her.

Erica and Cindy slipped in beside her.

Erica asked "Where did Fred and James go?"

Cindy took the bacon of James's plate and munched on it.

Willow shook her head pouring herself some pumpkin juice "I don't know, James was acting very weird"

Cindy said "Not that surprising is it"

Willow asked "Where's Reese?"

Cindy answered "Writing a love letter to your brother"

Willow frowned "I still can't get used to the fact that she's dating my brother. I mean my brother? What does she see in him?"

Cindy smiled "Oh I know why anybody would love to date your brother, he's hot"

Erica nodded "Yes, he is"

Willow looked like she might puke "Okay that's just yuck"

Cindy frowned "You don't think your brother's hot?"

Willow looked at Cindy like she just turned into a cockroach "No!"

Erica shrugged "That's a shame"

Cindy nodded "If I had a brother like Damien…."

Willow held her hand up "Don't even complete that sentence"

Erica asked excitedly "Have you seen his abs? You probably would have I mean you stay in the same house don't you?"

Cindy squealed "Oh my god! Tell us!"

Willow did not want to talk about her brother "Yes actually I have, more than I would ever like to"

Erica pretended to faint.

Cindy whacked her shoulder "Lucky girl!"

Willow said loudly "Stop it! He's my brother!"

Cindy asked Erica "Have you noticed his brown hair? It's so soft!"

Willow put her head on the table top.

Erica replied "Yes and merlin his eyes!"

Cindy groaned "You could drown in those eyes!"

Erica nodded "Forget that, He's so fit!"

Cindy smiled "Yeah and have you seen his smile?"

Erica got a far-off look on her face "Perfect"

Cindy asked Willow who was groaning loudly "He looks like your father doesn't he?"

Willow lifted her head up "How the bloody hell does it matter! I wouldn't care if he looked like a donkey! He'd still be my annoying brother wouldn't he?"

Erica smiled "I had a huge crush on him in first year, and then Reese got him"

She frowned at the last part.

Cindy rested her chin on her palm "I know"

Erica asked looking depressed "We're pathetic aren't we? We're drooling over a boy who is dating our friend and is our other friend's older brother"

Cindy nodded "I know, this sucks"

Willow looked at both of them and thought back, it was true her brother had always made her friends giggly and girly.

It was also true that he had always been good-looking.

He was tall like her Dad, had deep ocean blue eyes unlike her blue-grey ones and his hair was the same shade of brown as hers was.

Both Willow and Damien looked very similar when they smiled but otherwise they looked pretty different.

She did love her brother deep deep down but he was still irritating and a complete imbecile.

Erica finished her juice and slammed the goblet on the table "I need a boyfriend"

Cindy nodded "Me too"

Depressing moments can do this too girls.

That night Willow couldn't sleep, she just couldn't.

She got up and looked at her clock, it was one o'clock in the night.

After tossing and turning a few more times, she sighed and stood up.

She needed to take a walk.

She stood up and walked to the common room.

The moonlight filtered through the windows.

Willow thought she heard someone but when she looked around there was no one there.

After sitting in the arm chair she decided, she was going to the Forbidden forest, because she really wanted to and she had nothing else to do.

Bare-foot and her hair open, wearing only her white shorts and over-sized white t-shirt that had once belonged to her brother she silently left the common room.

She felt daring and nervous while she walked through the corridor, the flames of the torches danced and created patterns on the wall.

Once or twice she jumped at the sight of her own shadow.

Finally she made it to the entrance hall.

She walked out, into the night air.

The moon was large and peaceful.

She silently descended the steps and made her way to Hagrid's hut.

Still bare-foot she walked through the trees past the hut and past the pumpkin patch.

At the edge of the forest she stopped, could she do this?
She had come this far, what was the point of going back now?

She thought she heard the swish of a cloak and whirled around but she heard and saw nothing remotely like a human.

It was her mind running wild she decided.

She stepped into the forest, the twigs cracking underneath her foot.

Coming bare-foot wasn't the smartest idea she ever had.

She walked carefully through the forest.

The light breeze made chills run down her spine.

After hearing so much about the forest she had finally gone in there.

Why did she feel like someone was following her?

She didn't turn around, even if someone was following her she didn't want to know who.

Her hair blew with the breeze and every one of her footsteps was heard in the forest.

The sounds of insects and the leaves rustling was oddly soothing.

After walking further and further into the forest, she was sure someone was following her.

She was sure she heard the footfalls and they did not belong to her.

They were heavier and more male.

She reached a clearing.

The rocks on the edge looked like a nice spot to sit.

She could imagine herself sitting there, but not alone, with someone she loved.

They'd hold hands and he'd slowly lean in and….

She shook her head, she wanted to run back and call James to see this place.

She'd call James because he wouldn't reprimand her and wouldn't judge her.

She moved and sat down on the rock.

She looked at the empty space beside her, she patted it, and then she felt it in her heart, it was like a low hum and then she knew that spot had to be filled with James.

If not, then it was wrong.

She thought back to all those times.

Their friendship.

She had always thought it was friendship.

But in her heart it was so much more.

Then it hit her, she was in love.

In love with James Potter.

What could she do?

She withdrew her hand and placed it on her lap.

For a minute everything was still until someone sat in that spot.

She was sure there was someone, she shut her eyes and didn't look at the person.

Her hair fell over her shoulder hiding her face.

She wondered whether she should run or look at him.

A very familiar voice asked "Willow?"

It sounded uncertain but confident.

She knew in that instant that it was James who had been following her.

Both of them didn't move for a long time.

From somewhere, god knows where, she got the courage and felt bold.

She asked in a teasing voice "You already knew, didn't you?"

She waited for him to reply.

He said in a raspy voice "I'm pretty sure I didn't"

Within she felt desire and passion, so unfamiliar and yet so good that she replied "If you didn't know then you wouldn't have followed me blindly"

James asked "Why are you hiding your face?"

She felt a drastic change in her, she tilted her head upwards but she didn't answer his question.

She felt a spark ignite inside her when his fingers brushed against the side of her face moving her hair away from her face.

He leaned towards her and whispered "I love you"

She was on fire.

She went completely still, she couldn't speak.

She took deep breaths trying to turn the tables on him again.

She turned her face away from him trying to calm her beating heart.

He said "I had a dream about you similar to this right now"

Willow turned back to face him, this time she looked straight into his brown eyes.

In the moonlight James looked like a dream.

His hair was fluttering in the breeze and the look in his eyes completely disarmed her.

Her hand rose on its own accord and touched his face checking if he was real and not her imagination.

His skin was smooth under her fingers.

James closed his eyes when her hand was on his face.

He opened them and took her hand in his.

From the gesture she got the strength to speak "I love you"

James's expression changed, that was all he needed and his lips were on hers.

Willow felt like she finally had a purpose.

James loved her. What more did she need?
His lips were soft and hungry.

Everything around them faded away.

Her hands wound around his neck and her fingers were running through his thick black hair.

His arms were wrapped around her waist protectively like they would never let her go.

By the time they were done, both of them were breathless.

Willow asked "This is it?"

James smiled "What do you mean?"
willow asked "Is this the beginning of the story or the end?"

James shook his head "No idea"

Willow asked "This is real and not a dream?"

James sighed "If it's a dream I will kill myself"

Willow looked into his eyes "How did this happen?"

James answered "After spending so many years together, I guess this is what we get"

Isn't that sweet?

I can cry right now.

They finally realized!

AN: Okay so, I don't know how I managed to pull this off.

It came to me, just like that, I started typing and was grinning the whole way till the end.

Please review this chapter!

I'm begging you, I have to know how it was!

I have never in my life written something like this, I swear.

James is awesome and Willow is too good.

You guys are brilliant as well.

It feels like I wrote this story just for this chapter.

I hope you liked reading it as much as I liked writing it.

Thank you all for reading, it was a lot of fun writing for you all.

Review!

There is at least one more chapter after this, there has to be.

Those of you who have read my other stories know that I never finish a story without and Epilogue.

Those of you haven't, well, I never finish a story without an epilogue, so yeah.
:D

SPHP20896:)