Ways to Say "No"
A Collection of Fragments and One Shots
Twenty-One
"Wish me luck, Evans?"
Lily stopped in her tracks and turned to see James Potter standing behind her looking decidedly nervous.
Lily couldn't help but smile a little. She very rarely saw James Potter nervous – or with any other human emotion for that matter. He stood before her, dressed in his scarlet and gold Quidditch robes, his broom slung over his shoulder. He was standing perfectly still, but all of the color had drained from his face, making his black hair stand out like a shock.
"Oh, Quidditch today?" Lily asked with an air of carelessness. She knew very well that it wasn't just 'Quidditch today,' but rather the Quidditch Cup final against Ravenclaw. She watched in pleasure as his eyes widened and he began to sputter something incoherent about Ravenclaw's beaters.
Lily held up a hand. "I was just joking, James. Calm down, will you? You're making me nervous."
"I'm not nervous!" James cried indignantly.
"Oh, please. You'll be fine. I'll be cheering you on from my seat in the Ravenclaw stands."
Teasing him was just too much fun, Lily decided. Where his face had been a sickly pale color before, it was now flaming red. Normally, Lily thought, she was the one who would be red with anger. So rarely had she had the upper hand.
"You're a right traitor, Lily Evans," James said, narrowing her eyes at him. "I can't believe you'd abandon your people for a bunch of…brainy know-it-alls!"
Lily laughed, "I am a brainy know-it-all, James. And besides, I was only joking. Look at me. Do you really think I'd show my face over in the Ravenclaw stands wearing this?"
James, for the first time, looked down at what Lily was wearing. She was scarlet and gold from head to toe. James grinned at her and said, "You're still a traitor. You're only camouflaging yourself. We all know you'll be cheering for your brainy boyfriend."
Lily laughed. "He's not my boyfriend, but, if it wasn't Gryffindor in the running, I might very well be over there decked out in Copper and Blue." James looked horrified, once again.
"I'll tell you what, Lily Evans. I'll make you a deal."
"Oh?"
"Since you're so pro-Ravenclaw, if they win I'll leave you alone for a month. If we win, you have to go out on a date with me."
Lily laughed immediately and said, "James Potter, I'm not an idiot. I'd never take you up on that offer."
"And why is that?" James asked, swinging his broom from his shoulder and leaning on it smoothly.
Lily rolled her eyes. "Because you're going to win, you git."
James laughed and picked up his broom once again. "I'll take that as 'good luck', Evans. Thanks!"
Lily waved him off and picked up her sign bearing the Gryffindor Lion flying around on a broomstick before starting off towards the Quidditch pitch with the rest of Hogwarts.
Three hours later, during the celebration in the common room, Lily couldn't help but turn a furious shade of red when James announced to the entire house that the victory was all due to Lily Evans, her being his good luck charm and all.
A/N: Hello! I decided to post something sporty today, seeing as it is Super Bowl Sunday. However sad I am that the Ravens didn't make it (Come on…Edgar Allan Poe! What's not to love?), I suppose I can always cheer for the home team…mostly because around here, if you're not a Steelers fan, they can smell it on you. And they're rabid, I'm sure.
Hope you enjoyed!