Written for the THC

Hufflepuff

Astronomy

Drabble

[Object] Remembrall

[WC] 987 (google docs)

A Gift To Remember

"Happy birthday Lily. Here's a gift you'll never forget!"

James beamed as he handed Lily a small gift-wrapped box, and for a brief moment, her heart dropped into her stomach. Even though they'd been dating for a few years, they were still far too young for a mysterious palm-sized parcel. Weren't they?

She narrowed her eyes at James to scour for intel before she opened his gift. It's not like they were alone — they were in the Leaky Cauldron for Merlin's sake. James made no attempt to hide his excitement; his toothy smile stretched across his face and his eyes twinkled as he bounced impatiently on his feet.

"Open it!"

"Okay, okay!" she said, now acutely aware of many curious eyes on her as she tugged at the strings to unravel James' birthday gift. James wouldn't give her a ring, would he? Not in public...

No, that's exactly what he'd do.

She turned her gaze back to her hands, tearing away at the tissue paper, which was now patchy with fingerprints from her sweating palms. It's not that she didn't want him to buy her a ring — she just hadn't really thought about it.

No, you have definitely thought about it, she internally corrected herself. You think about it all the time.

As she removed the last of the paper, she realized it hadn't crossed her mind to prepare a response; she didn't need to. She already knew what she'd say, hypothetically, of course.

Finally, rid of the wrapping, she popped open the top of the box with trembling fingers. Inside was a miniature crystal ball filled with red mist. It was no bigger than a ring box. She released the breath she didn't know she was holding, convincing herself it was due to relief rather than disappointment, but the knots forming in her stomach suggested otherwise.

"What is it?" she asked.

"A remembrall!" said James excitedly.

Lily raised her eyebrows, silently asking him to explain.

"It turns red whenever you've forgotten something."

She glanced at the remembrall, still swirling with what appeared to be red smoke. "What have I forgotten now?"

"I don't know!"

"Oh," said Lily. "Well, thank you, James."

The gleaming red remembrall sent Lily's brain into overdrive. What could she have forgotten? Was it important? Why didn't it tell her what she'd forgotten? And why wasn't it a ring?

Her eyebrows knit together in concentration and James sniggered.

"What's so funny?" she asked, her voice sounding more shrill than anticipated. Relax, Lily. You weren't expecting him to propose, and this is a fine birthday gift...

"You look cute when you're stressed. I can't wait to see you get all flustered when you try to remember what you've forgotten." James was still wearing his giddy grin, and Lily couldn't help but smile back.

She studied the glass ball in her hand, suddenly brimming with affection for it. It's okay that it wasn't a ring. It was such a James gift. "Well, I love it. Thank you."

"And I love you!" He leaned forward and kissed her on the nose. A rosy warmth filled Lily's cheeks, temporarily easing her anxiety about whatever it was she couldn't remember.

x

"It's still red," said Lily, tossing her purse onto a chair as soon as they arrived back at their flat. "Why?"

"Great gift, isn't it?" said James, tugging her into a hug. "It's going to drive you mad!"

"Hilarious," said Lily as she softened into his embrace. "And you're right, it's making me crazy.

James pulled away and met her gaze. "You really can't figure out what you've forgotten?"

'No, why?"

"Because I know."

Lily's eyes narrowed. "What is it?"

"I'll give you a hint. Today is a very special anniversary."

Lily scoffed. "Yeah… my birthday!"

James laughed, guiding her back into an embrace. "Something else happened on your birthday."

"It did?" she asked, her voice now muffled against James' shoulder. "Which one?"

"Fifteenth."

Lily froze, a grin forming on her lips. Her fifteenth birthday. The party in the Gryffindor common room. The smuggled Butterbeer, the loud music, that fateful game of truth or dare.

"James, truth or dare?"

"Dare, of course."

"I dare you to ask someone on a date right now."

Lily remembered rolling her eyes when James turned to her. "Wanna go out with me?"

She recalled the laughter when she answered him honestly, "Not in a million years, James!"

But most of all, she could clearly imagine his expression, his determination. He was completely unfazed by her rejection, and years later, he still wore his optimism like a badge of pride.

"You asked me out,"said Lily, nuzzling into James' shirt.

"Ding ding ding!" smiled James. "For the first time!"

"I said no," she said.

"Which was a terrible mistake. You're lucky I gave you another chance."

"You're not wrong," she said. "You gave me many chances."

James took a step back and locked eyes with her. Ever so briefly, his confidence vanished from his face. "So we can agree that saying no was a bad idea, right?"

Lily opened her mouth to speak but couldn't answer before James crouched down to one knee, his hands moving to hers. "James—"

"Your remembrall should be clear now," he said, his signature grin returning.

Unlinking their fingers, she reached into her pocket for the glass orb. James was right — it was clear. But it wasn't empty.

"You thought I'd only get you a remembrall for your birthday?"

"Well, yes," said Lily, her eyes watering at the sparkling solitaire ring at the center, no longer obscured by red smoke. "But this is so much better."

James beamed. "Lily Evans, will you—"

He never finished his question because Lily launched herself into James' arms and pressed her lips to his. There was no need to answer; he had to know it was a resounding 'yes'. After all, 'no' would have been a terrible mistake.