Written for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges and Assignments) Term 15 and Quidditch League: Wigtown Wanderers as Seeker

Quidditch League: Wigtown Wanderers, Seeker - Round Twelve: Your soulmate's name is printed on your wrist.

Hogwarts Assignment 2: Medicine Preparations Task #2, capsules: Write about something slowly breaking down over time.

James, Lily read for the millionth time that morning. That was awfully vague, honestly. Couldn't she have had a less common name? How many James' were there in the world? She knew about five of those already, and she hoped beyond hope that none of them was her soulmate. Of course, she hadn't dared ask to see their wrists, which would have ended her agony, but then again maybe one of them was her soulmate, and that would be even worse than not knowing.

The first James she knew was her neighbor. A seventy-two-year-old widower, who was as grumpy as they came. It couldn't be him. There was no way. She would rather die unloved than do that. It was beyond inappropriate.

The second James was her Literature teacher. If she thought her older neighbor was inappropriate, her teacher was even more so. No. Not happening.

The third, fourth and fifth James were her colleagues. One a year younger, one a year older, and one in her year. She didn't care about any of them, and they looked weird enough.

The worst of all, though, was the last James. James Potter. The pain in her ass. The troublemaker with the hazel eyes and terrible eyesight. He flirted with every living thing without a care in the world, and Lily didn't think she would be at peace dating him. Or was it Sirius who flirted left, right and center, and James was just along for the ride? She didn't know, really. It was like they were a single entity.

"Good morning, Petal." Sirius slung an arm over her shoulders. "Happy birthday and let me see your wrist."

"Good morning to you too. Thank you, and get out of my sight," Lily replied. If James Potter really was her soulmate, the last person she wanted to know would be Sirius Black.

"Don't be mean, I'm just curious. I showed you mine when I got it last year," he said, dangling his tattooed wrist in front of her face. The name Remus seeming to taunt her.

There were no other Remus' in the world that Lily knew, so it was pretty easy for those two. Lily wanted easy, but it didn't seem like she would get it.

"Sirius, you show me much more than I would like to see on a daily basis."

"Not true. I didn't show you my butt that one time. You walked in at the wrong time."

"That seems to be a theme in my life when it comes to you, then." Lily rolled her eyes.

"You don't have to play coy with me, Petal. You were gifted a glorious view, and I know you enjoyed it. Is it my name on your wrist?" He wiggled his eyebrows at her. "It is, isn't it?"

"You already have your soulmate. Why do you want another one?"

"I don't want it, but maybe you want me." He flashed her a dazzling smile.

Sirius Black was good looking as all hell, and the bastard knew it. His confidence and borderline arrogance made him even more attractive, and Lily wanted to hate him, but he was also so nice. To her, at least.

"In your dreams, Sirius. In your dreams."

"Fine, if it's not me, then let me see it. What's the harm in it?"

Little did he know. The longer Lily spent in Sirius' presence, the more she realized that there was no way it was anyone else other than James Potter. The pull she felt to him was way too strong and she couldn't stay away from him even if she wanted to. She had the same arrogance Sirius did, and the same good looks. He annoyed the life out of her, but she just couldn't keep any distance from him. It was like the universe was always putting them side by side. And if Sirius Black knew that, he would never shut up about it.

"Why don't you go bug your friends about their wrists?" she suggested, trying to send him away.

"Well, we both know what name is on Remus'. Peter probably doesn't have any names, cause he doesn't seem interested in people that way. James will only get his in March. You are the only one left," he explained.

"I'm your friend now, huh?"

"Really, Lily?" Sirius stared at her. "Do you think I go around school talking to just anyone? Giving them little nicknames?"

"Nice to know I'm part of Sirius Black's pack."

"Let's make it official, then. We'll shake on it and you will be officially a pup." He smiled at her.

"Do I wanna be that?"

"Lily, don't try to fight it."

Lily sighed and took his extended hand. Sirius gripped hard, and Lily noticed a moment later what was happening. Well, shit. His other hand flew to her sleeve, and tugged it upwards, exposing the word on her wrist.

Lily's eyes widened along with Sirius' smile. He knew now, it was too late.

"Isn't that just a lovely surprise?" he said, letting go of her hand.

"Do you go around tricking all of your friends?"

"As a matter of fact, yes, I do. So, are you going to tell him or can I?"

"We don't even know if it's him," she tried to argue. "It could be any James."

"Like the teacher? Ooohh, scandalous." he teased. "It is him, you know it. You two can't stay the hell away from each other, even though you are fighting like crazy all the time. Or were, at least. I haven't seen you bicker for a while now."

It was true. Lily and James couldn't be together in the same room without sparks flying. Lily always assumed that it was because they were too different and just couldn't see eye to eye. She thought they were bound to fight as long as they were around each other, but now she could see that those sparks could have been something very different.

"Just want until my name is on his wrist, please. I don't want to make a fool out of myself just so he can end up with someone else's name on his skin."

"Like that's ever going to happen. He would tattoo your name on his forehead if it were up to him."

Lily laughed. James liked to flirt with her, but she used to dismiss it as a joke before. Now, she didn't think it was.

She checked her watch. "It's time to go to class. Give me until his birthday, please."

"Fine," Sirius agreed. "Two months, and that's it."

"Thank you, Sirius."

Lily walked into the classroom and sat on her usual seat. As she looked around she noticed the many empty chairs in the classroom, and slowly started to comprehend things a bit more. She always sat right beside James Potter, was always on his team and even sat close to him during lunch. No matter how much she had wanted to fight it, she never could.

She didn't want to fight it anymore. If they were really meant to be, she would have to be bold and take a leap of faith.

She cleared her throat. "Good morning, James."