Lily, Hazel, Arabella, and two dozen other girls crowded around the
flyer. Arabella had been the first to grab the paper, and she read it aloud
for all who were not close enough to see, "The Hogwarts Ball! Valentine's
Day, February 14th, beginning at 6 o'clock. Dress Robes Required, Bring a
Date! Fourth Years and Up Only!"
"Our first dance!" Hazel giggled serenely as the three friends slowly distanced themselves from the crowd. "I can't wait!"
"Who are you going to bring?" Arabella asked Lily and Hazel.
Hazel sighed. "I don't know yet."
"Remus?" Lily asked Hazel with a sly smile. "You've had a crush on him for a while."
"I really don't know. I like him, but what if he asks someone else?" Hazel, who was beginning to blush, decided to change the topic. "What about you, Lily? Maybe James?"
"James and I are just friends," Lily said.
Arabella winked at her with a grin. "Yeah, friends. Right, yeah, uh- huh. I saw how you two kissed!"
"So I suppose you'll go with Sirius then, Ara?"
Arabella smiled possessively. "We've been going out for three monthes now. I should think so!"
"We'd better hurry," Hazel said with a sigh. "It's almost time for history."
When the three girls entered Professor Binns' classroom and sat down, the boys behind them immediately started whispering nervously.
"I am definitely going to ask Ara to go with me," Sirius told James. "Who are you going with?"
"I don't know," James said, but his eyes betrayed him. As he spoke, his eyes followed Lily.
"I think somebody's got a crush!" whispered Sirius just a little too loudly.
James elbowed him. "Lay off, Sirius. So maybe I DO like her. That doesn't mean I'll ask her to the ball or anything!"
"You should, James," Remus replied. "I think she likes you too."
"Who are you taking?" James asked Remus.
"I think I might ask Hazel." All three of his friends started snickering. "What? She's pretty, polite, and I think she likes me!" Peter was still laughing. "Like you should talk, Peter!"
Peter shuffled his feet. "I probably will ask someone, I just don't know who yet." He sighed and stared at the floor. "No one will want to go with me though."
James just patted Peter on the shoulder. "We'll find you someone, don't worry about it. What about Patti?"
Peter blushed. He had mentioned liking the shy, plump Hufflepuff girl once, and Sirius had teased him to no end about it. "Yeah, maybe..." he mumbled.
***
James walked down the steps slowly, saw Lily across the common room. Feeling the familiar lurch in his stomach, he forced his feet to walk towards her. She was with Hazel and Arabella, like always. Why couldn't girls ever go somewhere without all their friends? It's not like they'd get lost or anything, and she'd be easier to talk to without them snickering. Oh well, Potter, he thought to himself. Let's get this over with.
"Lil?" James asked. "Can I talk with you for a minute?"
The girl with hair the color of flame and eyes like emeralds, the girl who seemed confident about everything, the girl who made his knees shake, was suddenly blushing. "Sure, James. Ara, Hazel, I'll be right back."
The two walked a few feet, towards a corner of the common room. James opened his mouth, shut it again. "Lily, everyone's watching us."
"Not everyone, Jamie," she replied. That was her nickname for him, Jamie. If any of the guys found out she called him that, he'd never hear the end of it.
James shook his head. "Your friends are, and mine too. Who knows how many other Gryffindors are staring right now?"
Lily stared at James for a second, looked around, and stared at James again. "Do you want to go somewhere else and talk?"
Relieved, James replied, "Yeah, that would be a good idea."
"Where?" Lily asked.
James thought a moment, suddenly nodded. "I know just the place. Come on."
The two left Gryffindor Tower, with at least five pairs of eyes staring at their backs.
They climbed up several flights of stairs. After the third staircase, Lily paused for breath. "Is all this really necessary?"
"Trust me, it's worth it."
"Jamie, where are we going?" Lily asked, one thin eyebrow raised.
"You'll see when we get there," was the only reply James would give.
The two walked up stairs for ten minutes more, finally nearing what had to be the top of Hogwarts. A closed door stood in front of them. "Close your eyes," James whispered to her.
"Excuse me? James Fineus Potter, you have spent nearly fifteen minutes making me climb stairs, all so you can talk to me alone. Now, you want me to close my eyes. What for?"
Looking boyishly hansome, totally overconfident, James only smiled. "Trust me."
All Lily could think of was a time four years ago. She hadn't been able to get on the train. A boy walked up to her, a brash boy with unruly black hair and shining brown eyes. 'Just run through the wall,' he had said. When she had looked at him like he was insane, he had simply said, 'Trust me.' Lily smiled at James and closed her eyes.
She felt him grab her hand, then heard a door creak open. He led her across what was probably a hallway, but it slanted upwards slightly. Another door opened, and Lily felt a rush of cool air hit her face. "You can open your eyes," James whispered.
Lily opened her eyes and gasped. It was so beautiful! They were in the very top tower of Hogwarts, and they could see the countryside for miles around. It was nighttime; the full moon was gleaming and the stars all shined bright. Lily found herself wondering, not for the first time, if Hogwarts was actually in England at all. Her country was known for its fog, yet she could see trees at least three or four miles off.
James just watched her with a half-smile. "This was the old astronomy tower. They stopped using it when my mum was here because the new magical telescope wouldn't fit up the stairs."
"Why didn't they shrink it?" Lily didn't really look at James as she spoke, just kept staring raptly at the land below.
"It would have needed too much shrinking solution, and the current astronomy tower has a wider roof anyway." He was making small talk, beating around the bush. Dammit, Potter, he thought to himself, just ask her already! "Lil, I have to ask you something." Well, that was original, he thought to himself with a laugh.
"Sure, Jamie, what is it?" She half blushed, half smiled. She suddenly noticed that James was still holding her hand, and she gave it a nervous little squeeze.
He hadn't forgotten he was holding her hand, and her touch was comforting. Okay, time to get it over with. "Remember when we played Spin- the-Bottle?"
She smiled nervously at him. "Yes..."
"Well I just, um. Lil, I don't want to scare you or anything, but I can't stop thinking about that kiss. I like you, Lily, a lot." He was blushing furiously. "Anyway, there's a ball coming up, on Valentine's Day, and well, I need a date."
The bravest boy Lily ever knew was stammering and staring at his shoes. Lily wanted to giggle, fall into his arms, and run away all at once. It was a funny feeling, one that no textbook could prepare her for. Was he asking her? Yes, yes he was. Should she play hard to get? Yes, yes she should. "So I should help you find someone to go with?"
James looked at her like his world had cracked right down the middle. "Yeah, I suppose," he muttered.
Maybe hard to get was not the best approach. "I was kidding! Jamie, are you asking me to go with you?"
"Well, if you want to go..." and his voice trailed off, getting lost in the ground far below.
"I'd love to go with you," Lily said with a laugh.
His face broke into the most handsome smile she had ever seen. It was like he had transformed. Maybe it was the moonlight, maybe it was the view for miles. Maybe it was just that they had finally admitted that they liked each other. Whatever it was, Lily took a hesitant step towards James, and he took a tentative step towards her. They stood only a foot apart then, still holding hands.
"I like you too, Jamie," she whispered.
God, she was beautiful, he found himself thinking. Her fiery hair was floating in the breeze. A strand broke free of her loose ponytail, whipped in her face. James reached up to brush it away, found his hand touching her face. He caressed her cheek gently, smiling at her softly.
Lily took another step towards him. If they were any closer, they would be touching. They couldn't have that... could they? His fingertips were still stroking her cheek. She closed her eyes, relishing the feeling. She felt him moving closer, felt his body almost in contact with hers. Then, without either of them moving, their lips met.
The kiss was sweet, gentle. Her free arm reached up, wrapped around his neck. He let go of her hand, wrapped his arm around her waist. They just stood there, their lips touching softly. They were so wrapped up in the moment, they never heard five pairs of footsteps creeping away.
"Our first dance!" Hazel giggled serenely as the three friends slowly distanced themselves from the crowd. "I can't wait!"
"Who are you going to bring?" Arabella asked Lily and Hazel.
Hazel sighed. "I don't know yet."
"Remus?" Lily asked Hazel with a sly smile. "You've had a crush on him for a while."
"I really don't know. I like him, but what if he asks someone else?" Hazel, who was beginning to blush, decided to change the topic. "What about you, Lily? Maybe James?"
"James and I are just friends," Lily said.
Arabella winked at her with a grin. "Yeah, friends. Right, yeah, uh- huh. I saw how you two kissed!"
"So I suppose you'll go with Sirius then, Ara?"
Arabella smiled possessively. "We've been going out for three monthes now. I should think so!"
"We'd better hurry," Hazel said with a sigh. "It's almost time for history."
When the three girls entered Professor Binns' classroom and sat down, the boys behind them immediately started whispering nervously.
"I am definitely going to ask Ara to go with me," Sirius told James. "Who are you going with?"
"I don't know," James said, but his eyes betrayed him. As he spoke, his eyes followed Lily.
"I think somebody's got a crush!" whispered Sirius just a little too loudly.
James elbowed him. "Lay off, Sirius. So maybe I DO like her. That doesn't mean I'll ask her to the ball or anything!"
"You should, James," Remus replied. "I think she likes you too."
"Who are you taking?" James asked Remus.
"I think I might ask Hazel." All three of his friends started snickering. "What? She's pretty, polite, and I think she likes me!" Peter was still laughing. "Like you should talk, Peter!"
Peter shuffled his feet. "I probably will ask someone, I just don't know who yet." He sighed and stared at the floor. "No one will want to go with me though."
James just patted Peter on the shoulder. "We'll find you someone, don't worry about it. What about Patti?"
Peter blushed. He had mentioned liking the shy, plump Hufflepuff girl once, and Sirius had teased him to no end about it. "Yeah, maybe..." he mumbled.
***
James walked down the steps slowly, saw Lily across the common room. Feeling the familiar lurch in his stomach, he forced his feet to walk towards her. She was with Hazel and Arabella, like always. Why couldn't girls ever go somewhere without all their friends? It's not like they'd get lost or anything, and she'd be easier to talk to without them snickering. Oh well, Potter, he thought to himself. Let's get this over with.
"Lil?" James asked. "Can I talk with you for a minute?"
The girl with hair the color of flame and eyes like emeralds, the girl who seemed confident about everything, the girl who made his knees shake, was suddenly blushing. "Sure, James. Ara, Hazel, I'll be right back."
The two walked a few feet, towards a corner of the common room. James opened his mouth, shut it again. "Lily, everyone's watching us."
"Not everyone, Jamie," she replied. That was her nickname for him, Jamie. If any of the guys found out she called him that, he'd never hear the end of it.
James shook his head. "Your friends are, and mine too. Who knows how many other Gryffindors are staring right now?"
Lily stared at James for a second, looked around, and stared at James again. "Do you want to go somewhere else and talk?"
Relieved, James replied, "Yeah, that would be a good idea."
"Where?" Lily asked.
James thought a moment, suddenly nodded. "I know just the place. Come on."
The two left Gryffindor Tower, with at least five pairs of eyes staring at their backs.
They climbed up several flights of stairs. After the third staircase, Lily paused for breath. "Is all this really necessary?"
"Trust me, it's worth it."
"Jamie, where are we going?" Lily asked, one thin eyebrow raised.
"You'll see when we get there," was the only reply James would give.
The two walked up stairs for ten minutes more, finally nearing what had to be the top of Hogwarts. A closed door stood in front of them. "Close your eyes," James whispered to her.
"Excuse me? James Fineus Potter, you have spent nearly fifteen minutes making me climb stairs, all so you can talk to me alone. Now, you want me to close my eyes. What for?"
Looking boyishly hansome, totally overconfident, James only smiled. "Trust me."
All Lily could think of was a time four years ago. She hadn't been able to get on the train. A boy walked up to her, a brash boy with unruly black hair and shining brown eyes. 'Just run through the wall,' he had said. When she had looked at him like he was insane, he had simply said, 'Trust me.' Lily smiled at James and closed her eyes.
She felt him grab her hand, then heard a door creak open. He led her across what was probably a hallway, but it slanted upwards slightly. Another door opened, and Lily felt a rush of cool air hit her face. "You can open your eyes," James whispered.
Lily opened her eyes and gasped. It was so beautiful! They were in the very top tower of Hogwarts, and they could see the countryside for miles around. It was nighttime; the full moon was gleaming and the stars all shined bright. Lily found herself wondering, not for the first time, if Hogwarts was actually in England at all. Her country was known for its fog, yet she could see trees at least three or four miles off.
James just watched her with a half-smile. "This was the old astronomy tower. They stopped using it when my mum was here because the new magical telescope wouldn't fit up the stairs."
"Why didn't they shrink it?" Lily didn't really look at James as she spoke, just kept staring raptly at the land below.
"It would have needed too much shrinking solution, and the current astronomy tower has a wider roof anyway." He was making small talk, beating around the bush. Dammit, Potter, he thought to himself, just ask her already! "Lil, I have to ask you something." Well, that was original, he thought to himself with a laugh.
"Sure, Jamie, what is it?" She half blushed, half smiled. She suddenly noticed that James was still holding her hand, and she gave it a nervous little squeeze.
He hadn't forgotten he was holding her hand, and her touch was comforting. Okay, time to get it over with. "Remember when we played Spin- the-Bottle?"
She smiled nervously at him. "Yes..."
"Well I just, um. Lil, I don't want to scare you or anything, but I can't stop thinking about that kiss. I like you, Lily, a lot." He was blushing furiously. "Anyway, there's a ball coming up, on Valentine's Day, and well, I need a date."
The bravest boy Lily ever knew was stammering and staring at his shoes. Lily wanted to giggle, fall into his arms, and run away all at once. It was a funny feeling, one that no textbook could prepare her for. Was he asking her? Yes, yes he was. Should she play hard to get? Yes, yes she should. "So I should help you find someone to go with?"
James looked at her like his world had cracked right down the middle. "Yeah, I suppose," he muttered.
Maybe hard to get was not the best approach. "I was kidding! Jamie, are you asking me to go with you?"
"Well, if you want to go..." and his voice trailed off, getting lost in the ground far below.
"I'd love to go with you," Lily said with a laugh.
His face broke into the most handsome smile she had ever seen. It was like he had transformed. Maybe it was the moonlight, maybe it was the view for miles. Maybe it was just that they had finally admitted that they liked each other. Whatever it was, Lily took a hesitant step towards James, and he took a tentative step towards her. They stood only a foot apart then, still holding hands.
"I like you too, Jamie," she whispered.
God, she was beautiful, he found himself thinking. Her fiery hair was floating in the breeze. A strand broke free of her loose ponytail, whipped in her face. James reached up to brush it away, found his hand touching her face. He caressed her cheek gently, smiling at her softly.
Lily took another step towards him. If they were any closer, they would be touching. They couldn't have that... could they? His fingertips were still stroking her cheek. She closed her eyes, relishing the feeling. She felt him moving closer, felt his body almost in contact with hers. Then, without either of them moving, their lips met.
The kiss was sweet, gentle. Her free arm reached up, wrapped around his neck. He let go of her hand, wrapped his arm around her waist. They just stood there, their lips touching softly. They were so wrapped up in the moment, they never heard five pairs of footsteps creeping away.