This one's for round 10 QLFC, and this time the prompts were all music. We were all given the top hit of every decade. I was given the 80s, which held the early hit Bette Davis Eyes, originally by Kim Carnes. It has been done again by many people, not many achieving the success of the original. We can do whatever we want with the song.
My optional prompts are (word) blend, (word) arrow, and (emotion) fear. Interesting, yes? Without further ado, let's see what the writing muses have to say today.
It was a rainy evening, the kind that made you want to curl up under a blanket and take a nap. As the drops of rain streaked down the windows, almost as though it was a race to reach the bottom, Lily Luna sat in the Gryffindor common room. Thoughts kept swirling in her head: despair, hopelessness, fear that no boy would ever find her good enough. It all blended into a stormy gray mess that mirrored the sky.
"Lily?" a tentative voice came from the landing. She looked up to see Lysander staring down at her with concern. Lysander was her best friend, and that also scared her: lately, she'd begun to realize she might like him. She didn't want to ruin their friendship with a declaration of love. What she needed was an arrow pointing in the right direction. "Lils, what's wrong?"
As if she'd needed to hear it, Lily suddenly broke down. "Al-alen and I broke up. He… he likes someone else."
Lysander grew very serious. "All right, then. Who do I need to curse?" That's what Lily loved about Lysander—he didn't ask unnecessary questions. No 'what happened?' or 'Why?'. Just a question to act on it.
While she would never wish harm upon anyone, she was sorely tempted to allow it in this case. Betrayal always hurt, and it never came from an enemy.
With a small laugh, she said, "Think you can handle Alyssa Randolph?"
Lysander nodded confidently. "Sure thing," he agreed. "I'll be back in ten minutes with a cure."
While she waited, Lily couldn't help but keep thinking. How had she been so stupid? She had known that Alen Zabini was known as a playboy at Hogwarts, yet she foolishly believed he'd changed for her. She couldn't help but realize why she had not been in Ravenclaw.
'I'm back!" Lysander called as he returned. He carried with him a radio, which Lily only knew about from her dad.
"I'm glad, really, but what's the point of this? A radio can hardly solve the problem."
"We're gonna dance," Lysander said, grinning as he set it up. "Genni Dowers owed me. She got it to work through the magic borders, don't ask me how."
Lily smiled as she stood, grinning. This was nice and unexpected of him, and she appreciated it.
"Lysander…"
She never would have thought of this if the roles were reversed. It just proved what a good friend Lysander actually was.
"Just dance, Lily," Lysander stopped her, turning the radio on and holding his hand out for her to take. The song played, and Lily recognized it.
"Bette Davis Eyes?" Lily asked, accepting Lysander's hand. "Don't tell me that this eccentric appearance hides away an old soul?"
"I didn't pick it," Lysander said, giving her a cheeky smile.
Lily shook her head as they swayed before the fireplace. It was a moment that Lily would remember for a long time to come.
"Lysander, thank you," Lily murmured. "You always know what to do when I'm upset."
"We've been friends for almost all of our lives," he reminded her. "Since you smacked me with one of Uncle George's fake wands and it turned into a feather. Remember it?"
Lily recalled the memory vividly. She had been six, and had found one of her Uncle's trick wands. She had been annoyed with Lysander that day, so she had hit him with the wand, which had turned into a bright orange peacock feather. She had proceeded to tickle him with it. Who would have thought that they would have ended up as best friends?
"Yes, I do," Lily said quietly. "How could I forget it? What kind of friend would that make me?"
"A pretty terrible one," he conceded. "But you do remember, so it's all good." He grinned at her, small dimples forming on his cheeks, and Lily had to look away to hide her blush.
They remained silent for the remainder of the song, gently swaying to the music. As the song neared its end, they slowed until they stood still, though neither tried to step away from the other.
"Lils, you think you'll be okay? Or do I truly need to curse someone? I'll do it, you know."
Lily sighed, shaking her head. "As much as I want that, I know it's petty and would just bring me to their level. I know that he didn't want my love, so I won't give it. I just can't believe I fell for his act. Everyone warned me, and I didn't listen."
As Kim Carnes ended the song with a final flourish, Lily sat on the sofa in front of the fire. Lysander sat next to her, quietly listening as usual. Lily could tell he had something on his mind. They had been friends for so long, they could pretty much read each other like a book.
"You want to say something," she told him. He started a bit, and turned bright red. "I know you too well. What is it?"
Lysander seemed to be thinking of how to word what he had to say, but finally did. "Lily, you're my Bette Davis." Lily could do nothing but stare at him, so Lysander continued, "You've been my best friend for forever, and I didn't want to ruin that, but… it hurts seeing you with jerks like Zabini when I know I could make you so much happier."
Lysander had a faint blush on his cheeks, and turned away from her. Before she knew it, a small smile was spreading on her lips. Slowly, she reached for his hand. His head snapped up, looking at her wide-eyed.
"I... " Lily looked down at their joined hands, an answering blush on her cheeks. "I'm happiest with you," she whispered.
Lysander turned his hand on hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Lily," he murmured, and she looked up, her heart beating faster as their eyes locked, "would you go on a date with me?"
She smiled, the beat of her heart almost deafening her, and nodded eagerly. "Yes!" She looked, embarrassed by how eager she sounded.
Lysander chuckled, giving her hand another gentle squeeze, and Lily almost jumped out of her skin when she felt him give her a kiss on the cheek.
"Good," he said. "Now comes the hard part." Lily looked up at him, frowning. "Surviving your brothers and cousins."
Lily laughed, even as she got up and pulled Lysander after her. She might be his Bette Davis, but he was her happiness.
