Romance in the Wrong

Love Letters

It was the topic of the year, Sirius and Lily. They were so romantic and caring with each other. They were truly deeply in love.

James spat on the ground. He'd had it with the whole Sirius and Lily crap. He wanted to just go up to Sirius and punch… maybe he would do that. Maybe, he should teach James a lesson for stealing his girl away from him.

But as much as he didn't want to think about it, he thought about what Lily would think. That wouldn't be the best way to go about winning her over. He had to do something.

***

Lily sat in class not listening to Professor Binns talk about Wars and such when there was a tapping on the window. Everyone looked up from their sleep to see a beautiful owl flapping in front of the window, trying desperately to get their attention and keep it's self in place at the same time. Lily looked over at Professor Binns and saw that he was rambling on, not noticing anything. Lily got up and opened the window. The owl flew in and perched on her shoulder and dropped a rose in her hands, and stuck out a foot for the letter that went along with it.

"For me?" she asked the owl quietly, all eyes were on here, even Sirius' who was looking at her in puzzlement.

The owl hooted softly and shook it's let again, demanding it relieved of it's load. Lily untied the note and the owl took off back out the window and disappeared around the corner of the castle. Lily closed the window and reluctantly turned around. All eyes followed her as she went and sat down in her seat with her letter and gift. Her fingers itched to open the letter, but she didn't dare open it here. She stuffed the letter back into her bag but kept the rose out. She twirled it in her fingers examining it. She smelled it and it smelled oh so romantic. She wondered who sent it to her, certainly not Sirius, who was throwing her glances from across the room, trying to get her attention. But she only looked back with the same face and then turned away. All the rest of the period she stared at the rose. It was so lovely, and such a romantic gesture. Her fingers itched to open the letter and find out who sent it, but she didn't. But by the end of the class she was about to explode with curiosity. She sat there with all her things packed, rose and letter in hand, waiting to spring up and out the door, away from prying eyes and awkward questions. And finally it did and she was out the door and running down the steps.

She ran to the Tree and sat down leaning against the trunk. She looked at the letter once more, wanting to open it desperately, and not at the same time, reveling n the mystery and the romance in it. She looked at the front of the letter and on it with blood red ink was her name scrawled in beautiful curving, looping letters. She carefully opened the letter, very slowly.

My dearest Lily-

You're lovely, with your smile so warm

And your cheeks so soft, There is nothing for me but to love you,

And the way you look tonight.

Please help me mend my broken heart, And let me live again

There was no signature, but Lily didn't need to guess who it was from. Something in her heart told her it was James.

But James?

She didn't think he was capable of such a romantic gesture. He wasn't, how could he, especially after… she tried not to think about it. She suddenly was over come by the urge to rip it up and throw it into the lake. But she didn't. She stuck it back in her pocket and walked back up to the castle, deep in thought.

***

Sirius was sitting at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, wondering where Lily was. He guessed it had been from James who was sitting a ways from him, chatting away with Remus and Tonks like nothing had happened. Sirius was suddenly worried, he loved Lily, he thought he did. But he suddenly felt like he just wanted to give up and let James have her. She had been with him first and then Sirius had comforted her and made the first move toward their relationship. But how could he. He didn't want to. He was in love with Lily too.

***

Lily avoided everyone the rest of the night, she ate down in the kitchens and went to bed early, pulling the curtains around her bed. She heard the other girls whispering about her. She tried to block it out and pulled the pillow over her head to muffle out the noises. It did and she breathed a sigh of relief. She just needed to think. Lily had been in love with James first, but then he started acting different and started hanging out with Katy. But then there was also Sirius, he had been loyal from the beginning. She was torn between the one who knew her best, James, and the one who wanted to know her best, Sirius. She weighed the odds of James against Sirius and in her mind Sirius had won. But then James had suddenly showed a new side of himself. He had been romantic. But Lily had also weighed how many times he had shown interest and then pushed her away again. Would he do that again? She hoped not. She was unsure of what to do, and then decided to wait it out.

***

Sirius had been pacing their dormitory. He wanted to ask James if it had been him who sent it. If it was him… what? What would he do? He had told James that he could fight for her, it was only up to Lily to decide who she wanted more. He wanted to hit James and he wanted to celebrate for him. Had he finally seen how much he loved Lily? That was a good thing for him, but a bad thing for Sirius.

The door opened and in walked James.

Not now, now here. Sirius didn't want to talk to him now.

"Hey Padfoot," he said, and flopped down on his bed. He started taking off his socks and shoes.

"Hey," he replied gloomily, and James seemed indifferent to his attitude. For a second, Sirius debated on whether or not to ask him, but curiosity won him over.

"James, did you send Lily that letter with the rose?"

James leaned back on his bed, "Why do you ask?"

"Because she's…" neither of them had really agreed to be together, it just sort of happened, but neither of them had actually said it aloud. Dare he say it first?

"Because she's…" Sirius repeated. The pull of wanting to know if it was James verses daring to say he and Lily were together first was tearing him apart.

"Because she's curious," he finally answered.

"Oh," replied James, "then why doesn't she ask me herself?" he inquired, a quizzical look on his face. If he was playing dumb, he was sure doing a good job.

"She's just nervous that's all," Sirius replied, giving up. Sirius sat down on his bed, feeling defeated. He closed the hangings on his bed and mumbled a "g'night," to James, but he didn't go to sleep. Instead he lay there on his bed, staying up most of the night to ponder on his inner battle. He was disgusted with himself.

***

My lovely Lily-

People You can never change the way the feel

Better let them do just what they will

For they will If you let them

Steal your heart from you

People Will always make a lover feel a fool

But you knew I loved you

We could have shown them all

We should have seen love through

Lily held the note tenderly in her trembling fingers.

James? James? Is this really you? Dare I hope it to be you?

***

My Lily Flower

People say that love's a game

A game you just can't win

If there's a way I'll find it some day

And then this fool will rush in

***

October's end was quickly closing in, and Halloween was in the air. Lily had received numerous notes in classes, all to lyrics of songs, all with a new name on top and nothing written on the bottom. By now, Lily was unsure of it was James, he seemed not to care about the notes Lily received in class. But then who was it? Was it another secret admirer? She probably guessed she had many fans now, the knew she was popular and that many guys had looked at her, longingly. But did she have a fan crazy enough to make insanely romantic love notes, telling her that he wished that she was his? She didn't know.

The Halloween dance was closing in and she had already said yes to going with Sirius. Yet, Lily secretly wished that she was going with her secret admirer. Would she see him tonight? Would he ask her to dance? Or would he just hang back and stay out of her way and watch from afar? Lily entered the Transfiguration classroom deep in thought, her friends chattering away beside her. She sat down and commenced to take notes and follow the lesson, but in the back of her mind, she lingered on the notes and dreaming and hoping on future notes.

Then, there was that familiar tap on the window. Lily looked up to see the same owl that had delivered the first note hovering beyond the window. She opened it, and now even the teacher was staring at her as she received the letter and closed the window. Lily was surprised to find not a rose, as usually included with the notes, but a Lily. She cradled it gently in her hands, smiling. She sat down in her seat and stared at the flower, wishing this period would end sooner so she could run to her Tree and read the letter. She carefully tucked the flower behind her ear, adjusting it and taking in it's scent. The letter pulled at her, especially today because there was a different flower. And finally she gave in, turning in her seat so that the letter could only be read by her. Everyone surveyed her with interest as they watched her eyes running back and forth, reading.

Lily my Love

Well, it's a marvelous night for a moondance

With the stars up above in your eyes

A fantabulous night to make romance '

Neath the cover of October skies

And all the leaves on the trees are falling

To the sound of the breezes that blow

And I'm trying to please to the calling

Of your heart-strings that play soft and low

And all the night's magic seems to whisper and hush

And all the soft moonlight seems to shine in your blush

Can I just have one more moondance with you, my love

Can I just make some more romance with you, my love

Lily read it, her heart sighing at the letter. But she was surprised to find a personal note at the bottom of it.

Lily Love, will you please meet me after the Halloween dance at 12:30 at the far side of the lake. Please make sure nobody flows as I would be embarrassed if anyone knew this was me. Goodbye for now Lily Love, until we meet.

Lily's heart was racing, a beat so fast that she didn't think, if she tried, she could make out the rests between thumps.

Would she meet him? What if he really was crazy? What if it was someone she didn't like? Lily thought hard, eyes downcast and brows furrowed as she tried to run over a list of possible people. At the very top was James and right under that was Sirius, but would Sirius play dumb just to make the notes more mysterious and romantic? She honestly didn't think so.

Lily decided that she would meet her secret admirer.