Catching the Flower, Keeping her Near

Chapter 25

She don't Know she's Beautiful

Snowflakes were softly falling as James Potter and Lily Evans apparated into the grounds of the Potter Estate. There was a hearty helping of snow now deeply covering the mansion. Lily shivered and pulled her coat more tightly around her. Noticing this, James moved closer towards her. His arms snaked around her waist and he pressed a kiss to the top of her forehead. She placed a gloved hand to his chest and rubbed her nose against his. He moved his head slightly and their lips met in a soft kiss. They stood in a tight embrace, looking into each other's eyes. Her eyes gently grazed his face and she reached up to brush snowflakes out of his damp hair. A bird flew over their heads, singing a soft song to the wintry sky.

Lily and James crunched up the snow covered path, hand in hand. James inserted his key in the door, opening the heavy oak door. Lily's cheeks were flushed as she followed James into the hallway. He kissed her softly on the lips as he leant her against the wall, running his hands through her red hair.

"James?" a woman's voice came, "James, is that you?"

"Mum," James called.

"Hello, darling," Megan called, as she came out the kitchen. She had an apron on and reached out to give her son a hug. "How was the journey?"

"Not bad," James said. "We apparated from Kings Cross. Sirius had to go to Diagon Alley to get something. He'll be joining us for dinner."

"Oh, all right. Lily, hello. How are you, dear?" she moved her hug to Lily.

"I'm well, thank you, Mrs Potter," she said, smiling slightly.

"Please, call me Megan." She started walking back to the kitchen, "Richard's going to be about half an hour, so once he and Sirius have returned we can have dinner. Why don't you take your trunks upstairs." She was busy whipping up something creamy. "Lily, I've set up a spare bedroom for you, if you want it. It's the one opposite James' bedroom."

"Okay, Mum, we'll do that." James took Lily's hand as they left the kitchen. Neither saw the smile Megan Potter was giving them as they left the room. James lazily flicked his wand, charming the trunks to follow them up the stairs.

Lily laughed lightly. "How would you ever manage without magic?" she teased.

He shrugged, "I'd just get my gorgeous wife to wait on me, hand and foot." He replied grinning widely.

"And what makes you think you're gorgeous wife would wait on you, hand and foot?" Lily asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, I just know, Lily, darling. I just know." He said, pressing a kiss to her knuckle.

She looked at him sceptically, "sure, James, sure."

They came out onto the landing. "Now, darling, do you want to use the spare bedroom or share mine?"

She looked at him shyly. "I don't mind, James. If your Mum bothered to set up the spare room…"
He cut her off, "don't worry about it. I'm asking you what you want to do. Mum said you didn't have to use it."

"Well… we don't want to create too much washing for her," Lily said quickly.

James hid a smirk behind one hand. "Okay, love."

"So, do you three have any plans for the holidays?" Meg asked as she passed James the potatoes.

James smiled, slowly chewing a piece of lamb. "We'll probably meet Remus, Pete, Alice and Frank, at some point. I thought we could go to Diagon Alley."

"Yeah," Sirius agreed.

"I saw Jonas Locksley at the office today, James," Richard said. "He said he'd like to pop round for a quick match while you're home."

"That would be great," James smiled. He noticed Lily looked very confused, to his left. He took her hand in his, pressing their palms together. "Jonas is the seeker for Puddlemere United. He was in Dad's year at school and he comes round here to play with me and the boys sometimes."

"Oh, nice," Lily said quietly.

"And I hate to break it to you, boys, but we are all going to the Ministry Christmas Ball…" Megan said.

"All of us?" Lily asked.

"Yes, dear," Megan continued. "We could go out to get our dresses one day this week. It's rather formal. And James, I know you still haven't replaced your dress robes."

"Yes, Mum," James said, rolling his eyes.

"What happened to them?" Lily asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

"These two managed to put a rip in the last year," Richard said.

"Yeah, I said I was sorry 'bout that, Dad," James said softly.

"Richard," Megan warned, "we know they didn't do it on purpose."

Her husband nodded slowly. "So, Lily, do you know what you want to do after school, yet?"

"Yeah, I'm torn between becoming a healer and an auror. But our charms professor suggested becoming an auror." Lily said. James smiled at her softly.

"Ah, yes, they could really use you," Richard smiled. "Less people are training to be aurors with the war, and you're very talented. Plus you can keep an eye on my boy; you know how he attracts trouble."

"Yeah, he does," Lily grinned.

"Thanks, Dad," James said, "I appreciate it." He ruffled his hair.

"Stop it," Lily said.

"Stop what?" James asked.

"Ruffling your hair," Lily said, looking at him in amusement.

"Sorry," he said, pressing a kiss to her temple.

"James told me your sister's getting married, Lily," Megan said.

"Yeah, I don't know why, Vernon's an absolute pig," she replied.

"Ah well, you gain some and lose some," Richard said.

Lily laughed, "Tuney's always been a lost cause."

"Prongs is going to the wedding," Sirius said.

Megan looked at her soon keenly. "I didn't know that," she said.

James fixed his mother with an even stare.

"Mum asked me to find a date, I asked James to come," Lily said. "I don't think it will be much fun. I bet Tuney doesn't even want me to come. But she's my sister…" Lily sighed.

"Don't worry about it," Megan said. "I'm sure it'll be okay. She'll be too busy getting married to make any snide comments."

"Merlin, I'm tired," James said, lying out on his bed.

The room was large with quidditch posters tacked all over the green-blue walls. The player nearest to the bed was flying in and out of the poster, clutching a quaffle to his chest. The bed was made out of a dark wood and was a four poster. The curtains were midnight black and the satin sheets were dark blue. Along one wall was a bookshelf made out of the same dark wood as the bed, and on another a chest of drawers. In one corner was a navy blue sofa bed. On the chest of drawers was a picture of the four marauders, one of James and his parents and another, the same as the picture in the Head's Common Room.

Lily turned to her suitcase and busied herself with putting on a white nightdress. She could feel James' gaze on her and when she turned around, she saw his hazel eyes had darkened in lust. She smiled slowly and moved her way over to the bed. She bent over him and kissed him slowly. When she pulled back, he had his eyes closed. He looked so cute at that moment. She pressed another quick kiss to his full lips.

When she pulled away this time, his eyes flicked open immediately. He stared at her with his hazel eyes, taking in her full figure. She stretched out beside him, placing a hand on his cheek. She caressed the soft skin, their eyes gazing into each others' intently. He put his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. She giggled slightly as he gave her another long kiss.

"Hmmm…" he said, pulling away and stroking her cheek.

She smiled, watching his eyes studying her face.

"You're beautiful," he murmured.

"How beautiful?" she asked, giving him a suggestive look.

"This beautiful," he replied, laying her on her back and crawling on top of her. He kissed her and fiddled with the straps of the nightgown.

She pushed him off her and he watched her diligently with his hazel eyes. She pulled the straps down so that the pearly white material pooled at her knees.

He watched her carefully, "very beautiful."

She smiled coyly, "all yours."

He grinned widely, inching his way over to her. "Well, you won't mind if I do this then," he said seductively.

She raised an eyebrow as he leaned in to kiss her once again. "No, I won't," she agreed, slowly tracing her lips with her tongue. James followed the path with his eyes.

He gave a deep, gasped breath. "You're too much, Lily Evans."

"Shh," she said, silencing him with a kiss.

Sorry for the overly long wait for this, exams and revision have been a pain up my arse! :(

But, hey, they're over. I keep thinking I should be revising, but then I'm like no. I actually have no work, revision or anything I should be doing. So I can write!

YAY!

Tell me how you thought it was! :)

Love JLF xoxo