Well, not to spoil anything for you, but I lost the bet.

Remember the bet? "Ten Galleons says that you're my girlfriend by the start of next term." Yeah, I lost.

I suppose I should recount the events of the summer after 6th year for you.

James did not reach out to me for several weeks, which I found very strange. I mean, really - we'd both confessed our feelings for each other, and then he proceeds to just ignore me for all of June? Who does that? (James says that he was busy helping his parents with "war stuff", but I think that's a feeble excuse).

Finally, the third week of July, I received a letter by owl post.

Dearest Evans, Object of my Innermost Affections,

Remember that evening when we were playing Exploding Snap in the common room and you confessed your deep, burning desire to snog me senseless? Wasn't that fun?

I come to you today with a business proposal: dinner in Diagon Alley this Saturday evening. Say around eight?

I still have ten Galleons on you becoming my girlfriend before the start of term, so there's a lot riding on this, Evans.

Sincerely yours,

James Potter, Object Of Your Innermost Affections

To which I responded:

Dear James Potter,

I do remember that evening very clearly. Although I'm not sure I used that exact wording.

Saturday at eight is acceptable.

I still have ten Galleons riding on me not becoming your girlfriend before the start of term, so you'll have to work extremely hard to charm me.

Sincerely yours,

Lily Evans, Single Woman

I am ashamed to admit how nervous I was before meeting James that evening in Diagon Alley. I mean, telling him that I fancied him had been nerve-wracking, of course, but this was an entirely different league.

What would we even talk about? I'd never seen him outside Hogwarts before. We'd have to come up with more interesting conversation topics than whatever stupid Potions assignment Slughorn had just assigned.

And what if he changed his mind about me? I mean, I know he said he fancied me back, but that was four weeks earlier. A lot can change in four weeks, you know. Exhibit A) It took less than four weeks for me to suddenly fancy the arse off James Potter.

"I've been looking everywhere for you."

There I was, sitting at a table outside Florean Fortesque's Ice Cream Parlor, when suddenly the object of my innermost affections appeared in front of me. Where had he come from?

This is offtopic, but I suppose I should describe how James looked, just to set the scene: he looked hot. Granted, he had always been hot, but this was an entirely new league of hotness. Or maybe it was because he wasn't wearing his drab school robes, and was instead wearing a truly stunning red button down with slacks. Aooga.

"What?" I asked, after my own momentary lapse of concentration. "You said to meet in Diagon Alley. I'm here. In Diagon Alley."

"Well, yes, Evans, but I'd forgotten that Diagon Alley is at least half a mile long. And it's dark."

Ah, yes, that was true. "Well, you've found me now."

James grinned, and I noticed him look me up and down. Hm. Did he think that I was in an entirely new league of hotness, too?"

"You look hot."

Oh. Apparently he did.

"Thank you. The feeling is mutual."

We ate at a restaurant called The Golden Snitch, which was apparently a Quidditch themed restaurant (very on-brand, James Potter). I must say, he seemed far more interested in the broomstick displays than he did in me.

"That's the Nimbus 150, Lil, fastest in the world! That's just a model, of course, because it's still in beta testing right now, but I'd kill to get my hands on one… Did I tell you McGonagall's trying to pre-order some for the Gryffindor team already? They won't even be available for sale til at least 1981, but seriously, Lil, 0 to 80 miles per hour in fifteen seconds! That's technology from the future!"

"Your ten Galleons are slowly flitting away, James Potter."

James' face reddened. "Sorry," he mumbled. "How can I salvage this date, Evans?"

Hm. What a loaded question. "Well, you could always tell me how amazing you think I am. I'm very vain, you know." I think James thought I was joking, because he laughed. I was not joking.

"You, Lily Evans, are one-of-a-kind," he said, still grinning. "You're unlike anyone I've ever met in my life. Truly."

"How long has it been?" I asked. He knew exactly what I meant.

"Since I've liked you? Ages. Ages and ages. Why'd you think I asked you out so many times?"

Hm. Good point. "I thought you were doing it to make fun of me."

"Seriously?" He was shocked.

"I told you, James, I'm not the most perceptive person."

"Yes, I'm well aware."

I'll spare you all the details of our silly little date - the point is, it was great. Spectacular, actually. I fell for James Potter harder than I ever felt possible.

James insisted on walking me up to my doorstep, which was completely idiotic, because I lived in an entirely different area of the country that he did. However, apparently the bloke knew how to Apparate or something, and told me it was "no big deal". Show off.

"Tonight was crazy, Lil," he told me once we got to my door. How romantic.

"I know," I responded.

"I'm, like, whipped for you."

"You have such a way with words, James Potter."

"Lily?"

"James?"

"Please be my girlfriend."

Wow. He has such a way with words.

"James…"

"I won't even ask you for the ten Galleons!" he exclaimed. "Actually, I'll pay you ten Galleons. Or twenty! Or a hundred! How much do you want?"

He was really making a fool out of himself. "You cannot pay me to date you. That's borderline prostitution."

"Sounds romantic," James said, grinning. Apparently, wizards did not know what 'prostitution' was. "Seriously, Lil. I really, really like you. And I know you feel the same way - don't pretend you don't! Why are we dancing around this?"

I pretended to consider his words for a moment, mostly because I liked seeing the anticipation on his face. Then, I finally sighed.

"Okay."

He blinked, then his face brightened in a way that I did not seem humanly possible. What, did he have a lightbulb hidden in his brain?

"I win," he said.

Really? That was the first thing he said? Was that all this was about?

I sighed. "You win."

"Lily Evans is my girlfriend."

"I am. This is a truly shocking development, I know."

"Nah, I expected it. You can't resist my charm."

"Don't think too highly of yourself, James Potter."

And so, ladies and gents, as of July 23, 1977, James Potter and I were officially dating.