A/N: Apologies for the long delay, I've been a little blocked with how to write this story and don't really have a lot of inspiration for it at the moment. But this chapter is split into two parts. In this one, James wants to cheer Lily up and asks her out, the next chapter will be their 'first date'. But enjoy this chapter, I don't know when the next update will be. Most likely after Christmas to early January.
Christmas was soon upon Hogwarts quicker than anyone could have anticipated. Snow covered the grounds so much everyday that many students found that Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures lessons were cancelled and they had to take theory lessons inside the castle. Gryffindor had also won their first match of the season against Hufflepuff which James was rather pleased about. But it had been six weeks since he and Lily had last shared a kiss in the kitchens and agreed to have some time.
Marie was still angry, often found shouting out remarks about him and Lily in the Great Hall at breakfast or pretending to vomit if she happened to see the two of them talking on their way to class. He tried to not pay attention to his ex-girlfriend but it seemed impossible because whenever he turned his head, she seemed to be across a hall from him, glaring at him and trying to make him feel guilty for her hurt.
It was a Monday evening when he returned to the common room after a stressful day of lessons. He dumped his bag on his bed, pulling out a book that Lily had let him borrow before deciding to go for a walk to relax and forget about the amount of homework the teachers had given him to get completed over the Christmas holidays and the lectures that he had gotten from Marie's friends about their breakup.
Walking through the corridors, he decided to head for the library to read that book that Lily had let him borrow. But as he headed for the second floor, he noticed Lily emerge from the girl's bathroom; eyes puffy and red. He felt a pang in his chest, it was evident that she had been crying but he wasn't sure whether she would be in the mood for him to talk to her.
"Lily." James called.
She looked up and put on her best smile before walking over to him.
"Hey James." she greeted.
"What's wrong?" he asked quietly.
Lily shrugged, "Doesn't matter. I need to find Professor McGongall." she replied.
As she turned to leave to find their Head of House, he placed his hand on her shoulder; turning her back to face him. If something had upset her, it mattered to him and he wanted her to know that.
"Talk to me, what's happened?" James questioned.
Lily exhaled sharply before looking into his concerned hazel eyes.
"I got a letter from Petunia today. To cut a long story short she's getting married next year to this bloke called Vernon and she doesn't really want me to meet him. My mum has insisted that she introduces me to him when I go home for Christmas but Petunia doesn't want me to go home this year. She says that she has her perfect happy ending with Vernon and she doesn't want a freakshow like me to ruin that and of course, she had to bring up the fact that it's been five years since dad died and how I wasn't there when they got the phonecall about it. It's made me feel rather crappy to be honest so I'm telling McGongall that I'm staying here for Christmas." Lily explained.
James pulled her closer to him, wrapping his arms around her as he held her into his chest tightly. He had never met Petunia and didn't really want to because she sounded like a bitter and jealous person who held Lily's magic against her when Lily was the most amazing person he had ever met. Lily was nothing as to how her sister described her, Lily had helped him through one of the most difficult times in his life and although he wasn't as sad over his dad's death as he was in the beginning, he still felt the pain of his loss but seeing Lily everyday helped him through that; maybe it was because Lily had been through the same thing or maybe it was because he had deep feelings for her, either way; Lily made him feel better.
"You shouldn't be made to feel that you have to change your plans for the holidays but if it cheers you up, I'm staying at Hogwarts this year. So is Remus and Sirius and I know Marlene and Alice are as well. Maybe you would feel better being around us rather than someone who is jealous of you." James said brightly.
Lily let out a small laugh and looked up at him, "Thanks, but that doesn't change how I hope that one day she won't be like this." she said quietly.
James smiled, letting her go. He watched her walk away a little bit before blurting out, "Go for a drink with me."
She turned back to face him, eyebrows raised.
"Did you just ask me out Potter?" Lily asked.
"I just meant...next Friday is last day of term...we finish classes early because most students have the long train ride home on Saturday...we could go to The Three Broomsticks, it might cheer you up." James mumbled.
And Lily didn't know what prompted her to nod her head but she smiled.
"Alright Potter, a drink sounds nice."