Of Mistletoe and Holly Leaves

Twenty Two: Another " I Love You"

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Each dedicated to someone:

Dedicated to Blackfirexwater.

Beta read by CloSalvatore.

-l-Lily-l-

I had to tell him.

Yes.

He deserved to know.

Seven years.

Seven stupid, long, aggravating, years.

It took me seven years until I realized what I was doing. I was pushing the one boy who did anything for me. I was fighting love that was undeniable.

So I told him to meet me on the Astronomy Tower.

Now, I'm the Head Girl, so I don't ask just anyone to meet me on the Astronomy Tower after hours.

The first time I had seen him, he had been young. Foolish. He had laughed at Severus, my best friend at the time. And with that we became unspoken enemies.

First Year, when he had only given me a few looks, pulled a few pranks. But nothing showed he liked me yet.

Second Year, when he had given me an anonymous Valentine's day card. I didn't find out until Third Year it was from him.

Third Year, when he brought me a single white rose, and asked me out for the first time. I remember how I stopped, how I looked at him. then at his reputation. I will forever remember how I shouted, " I will not be your girl for one week and then let you leave me!" He had looked shocked, but didn't push it, and a young Sirius Black had dragged him away after giving me a look of disgust.

Fourth Year, he was simply quiet. It had concerned me until he brightened up, when I asked him what was wrong, and he said he just wanted me to go out with him. I'd slapped him hard, and walked away.

Fifth Year, when he asked me out shamelessly all the time. During lunch, passing time, classes. Anywhere you could think of. I had snapped at him, or else had ignored his question and walked away or gave him a furious glare. He would shrug it off every time as though he didn't really mean it.

Sixth Year, the most quiet time of them all. He didn't talk to me. In fact, only Remus had talked to me from the Maruader's group. And he never said if James still liked me. Sixth Year had been the year everything had changed. I noticed him for once. I looked beyond his demeanor and into his nature. I saw who he really was. How he defended girls who had boys bugging them. How he helped people up when he thought no one was watching. His pranks were less vicious.
I saw how he turned girls down, all of them, nicely and said instead, he liked a different girl.

He asked her out, and she said yes. I saw him treat her well. He bought her flowers, chocolates, and a pendant. He was nice to her.
Then she cheated on him. I was shocked that I actually felt like he didn't deserve her. If she was going to really just cheat on him like that.

He pushed her away when she asked for another chance. For a while he was quiet, but then he asked out another girl. She accepted, but fell out of it rather quickly.

And now it is Seventh Year. And he asked out a girl, the girl he's loved since the first day. And you know what? She accepted. And now she's happy, she is glad that she didn't turn him down this time.

That girl is me.