Deflating

Chapter Fifteen: Opposite Magnets

***

Lily had no choice but to go back into the Great Hall, as lunch wasn't going to be over for another twenty five minutes. She remained about six feet behind James while they walked. They separated at the head of the table and went back to their respective seats.

Charlotte and Emily looked at Lily quizzically, and the Marauders mumbled questions, but neither James nor Lily responded to them. James whipped out his Stalking-Lily-Evans journal and started scribbling while Lily glared at him.

"I told you not to write in that," she said.

James didn't look up, but kept writing. "I'm sorry, Lily, but I am my own person, and can do what I like, with or without your permission. And all we agreed on was that I was not going to refer to you as Subject. If you'll look at this page, it does not say Subject anywhere on it."

Lily sulked for the remainder of lunch.

***

More Wednesday, January 31

12:15 p.m.: Sub--LILY is a sadistic bitch.

I'm quite serious.

Okay, so I was right: she is head-over-heels in love with me, this is true. But just when she gets all my hopes up, and I start picturing her in a wedding dress (no comments from the peanut gallery, I already know how stupid and mid-life crisis this is, thanks), she informs me that, while I have convinced her that I am a worthy candidate for her future husband (the only candidate, as far as I know) she'd rather have someone else.

What. The. Hell?

So now I have to completely sweep her off her feet.

Oh, wait…

Valentine's Day. I completely forgot.
Well, I have two weeks to plan this.

Any ideas, gentlemen?

***

Still Wednesday, January 31

Approximately 1:25 p.m.

Mr. Padfoot would like to offer a suggestion for Mr. Prongs's Valentine's Day date with Miss Lily.

Do I want to hear this or should I just tell you to shove it in advance?

It would most benefit you to listen.

Does this plan involve chocolate covered strawberries, whipped cream, and Lily in a black lace teddy?

It might.

I don't want to hear it. Or should I say read it?

See what you did, Moony?! And you were wrong: the teddy was red, and there were no chocolate covered strawberries--there was, however, a heart-shaped hot tub... You know, to go with the whole Valentine's Day theme?

It's something Lily would most certainly never agree to. I suggest that Mr. Prongs go the route of leading her into the Room of Requirement and having a dinner set up there or something.

Well, that's just stupid.

I think it's nice.

Fine, side with him. Take the stereotypical Valentine's Day, sap-filled dinner.

I intend to.

But mine is more fun. Admit it, Prongs, you'd find something to do with whipped cream and a teddy.

I'm burning this paper.

***

"Well, you know where you went wrong, don't you?" Charlotte said once back up in their room, after Lily had recounted the whole story to Charlotte and a very surprised Emily, who had no idea of what Lily had been internally combating, as Lily and her sister had neglected to tell her.

"By meeting the stupid prick in the first place?"

"No," Charlotte contended, "no, by telling him how you felt. Now he most definitely won't leave you alone. Now, he'll double his efforts, I expect."

Emily chimed in, "Yeah, next thing you know, he'll be proposing to you by the lake."

Lily's eyes widened in horror. "He wouldn't be that stupid, do you think?"

Charlotte shot daggers at her sister. "No. Lily, would it be terribly redundant of me to tell you that you just need to give him a chance?"

"Yes," Lily spat. "Yes, it would, so stop it."

"So what are you going to do if you won't give in?" Emily asked, chewing on a strand of her hair.

Lily shrugged. "I don't know, just keep doing what I'm doing. Don't do that, Emily, that's gross."

Scowling, Emily dutifully removed the strand of hair from her mouth. "So, explain it to me, Lily," she said, "what exactly are you doing?"

"What do you mean?" Lily asked slowly.

"Well, you're giving him very mixed signals. This morning at breakfast? Yeah, you shared breakfast with him. That was a very flirtatious thing to do."

"I didn't share breakfast with him! You're making it sound like we were feeding each other strawberries on a balcony while we watched the sodding sun come up! I took a bite of his sandwich because he wouldn't let me talk until I did!"

"And your speech when he did let you talk," Emily said solemnly, "was just phenomenal. How do you prepare for such scintillating discussion? Stand silent in front of the mirror?"

Lily glared. "Telling James Potter that you like him--no, telling James Potter anything is a very difficult thing to do, because you're always worried that you might have to hit him in front of the teachers. So I'm sorry if I waited a little too long for your preference, Emily."

***

Tuesday, February 6

Eight Days Until V-Day

Does anyone else notice how much "V-Day" sounds like "D-Day?"

Am very nervous about said day…I mean, the Room of Requirement is custom made for things like this, but what if someone else had the same idea? What if we walk in on…I don't know…someone shagging, for the love of God? Then Lily will think I led her straight into a sodding orgy. And then she will slap me and run off sobbing, and it'll be al over school that James Potter likes to watch other people in the middle of a shag session.

Oh my God, this is going to blow up in my face.

Moony, help me, I think I'm having premature heart flutters.

***

Lily was in History of Magic, trying to make herself pay attention when a piece of parchment sailed over her head and landed cleanly on her desk.

Glancing at James, as she knew it was he who had sent it, Lily unfolded the parchment and read:

Meet me in the Common Room tomorrow night at 9.

Lily sighed. What now?

***

A/N: You guys are funny…I make you wait one day, and you act like I've pulled a JKR on you. I can almost promise you that it won't happen again, as I have nothing better to do. There was just good TV on yesterday ;) Further proof that I have no life. Feel sorry for me.