Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters. Everything belongs to J. K. Rowling. No profit is being made from this story. I am simply having fun and providing entertainment for other readers.

Chapter 6

Hogsmeade

By FreiMe

"Lily hurry up!" Becca said impatiently as I stood in front of the mirror on the morning of the Hogsmeade trip.

I smirked at her. "Wow Becca, I didn't know you liked Sirius that much," I said, knowing it would shut her up.

Instead she began taunting me as well. "Well you shouldn't be talking. You've never been so obsessed with looking good before this," she replied.

I hated to admit it, but she was right. Normally I didn't care too much about the Hogsmeade trips; I'd just throw on a pair of jeans and a tee-shirt and be done with it. But this was different. This was James Potter.

I actually turned to her and smiled. "You know, you're right. I haven't," I said coolly. Becca gaped at me.

"So…what are you saying?" Becca asked with raised eye brows. She continued to stare at me. "You like James don't you! You like him more than a friend, don't you?"

I murmured something inaudibly. To my discomfort Becca did not drop the subject. It carried us all the way down to the Great Hall for breakfast.

I just kept turning the conversation to something else and avoiding her answer. I could tell Becca was getting exasperated.

Finally, she raised her hands into the air and a defeated sort of way. "You know what? I give up! I quit!" she said as though she had just been conquered.

I sighed in relief and began to eat my bowl of porridge. "So…" I said, trying to turn the conversation towards her and Sirius, "looking forward to your date with Sirius?"

Becca smiled sheepishly. "Yes."

I was surprised that she had actually admitted it. But it was sort of cute…Becca and Sirius…they made a good couple…

"Lily!" James called, running over to me when people had started to get up from breakfast, ready for a beautiful day in Hogsmeade. I smiled at him as he approached me. He looked really cute. I mean seriously James – in a sweatshirt – he looked really good.

James beamed at me when he had finally reached me. "Hi," I said shyly. I was surprised at myself. I was acting shy around James Potter – my ex-enemy.

James grinned back at me. "Hey Lily. Er – ready to go then?" James asked sort of awkwardly. I nodded and we stood in line, waiting to walk out into the bright sunshine.

I was feeling slightly nervous. I had just realized I was supposed to spend the whole day with James in Hogsmeade. Was it a date? Or did he just not have anyone to go with? Was I a last resort?!

"Lily – er – are you alright?" James asked, waving a hand in front of my face.

I snapped out of it. "Oh – er – yeah I'm fine," I said laughing awkwardly, "just thinking." I felt my cheeks beginning to turn red.

"About what?" James asked me. He was smiling.

"Er – nothing," I said, thinking desperately of a way to turn the conversation. "So where do you want to go when we get into Hogsmeade?" I asked.

James began thinking. "Oh I dunno. I guess we can just decide when we get there," he responded. I nodded my head, racking my brains for something interesting to say to him.

It was sort of funny; we could walk around the grounds together, talking for hours. Yet, when we went to Hogsmeade – both unsure of whether or not we were on a date – we found ourselves talking about the weather because we had nothing better to say…

"Want to go to Honeydukes?" James suggested when we had finally entered the wonderful village. How did he know it was my favorite store?

"Yeah sure, I love Honeydukes," I said smiling at him. We started to head towards Honeydukes, the cold air brushing against our faces.

When we walked in through the door, we saw several students from Hogswarts in there, also purchasing some of the many sweets in the shop. Several people waved to us, and they looked amused at the fact that James and I were there together. James seemed to notice us too.

"Why are they all giving us weird looks?" he said curiously. I laughed when I saw the look on his face. He looked confused. He looked cute.

"Well, I think some of those people still think we are arch enemies," I said laughing again. "It would look funny to see us on a date together."

James looked at me. I began blushing furiously. I cursed my stupid mouth. Why did I say date? This was going to lead to lots of awkward feelings.

There was uncomfortable silence for a second before James spoke. "Well – if you er – you could maybe – it could be a date. If you wanted it to be," he said, smiling but turning slightly pink.

I smiled back. "Sure."

"Great, then Lily, we are on a date," James said, this time sounding stronger and happier. I grinned. I'm on a date with James Potter…

It just sounded so good…

After we emerged from Honeydukes, where James bought me a Chocolate Frog and I bought him a Pumpkin Pasty, James stopped in front of a cart full of roses.

He turned to me and smiled. Then he reached inside his pocket, and pulled out some sickles. Then he looked at the owner of the cart. "May I have a rose please?"

The owner nodded, took the sickles James handed him, and then gave him a single rose. James grinned, turned to me, and gave it to me.

I couldn't stop smiling. "James you did not have to do that, really," I said, admiring the flower and then smiling up at James.

James shook his head. "We're on a date, remember? I wanted to give you a rose. And because we're on a date I have license to give you one," he said grinning. I laughed, making a mental note to make the rose last as long as it could.

As we walked from shop to shop, I just found James more and more charming. I was really enjoying myself with him. A couple years ago, if someone had told me that one day I would go on a date with James Potter and enjoy it, I would have probably scoffed and not believed them. But now…

"Are you cold?" James asked, noticing that I was shivering. It was late in November and I had been thick enough not to bring a jacket with me.

I nodded. James pulled of his sweatshirt and handed it to me. I took it hesitantly. "Are you sure you won't be cold now?" I asked him.

James shook his head. "Trust me, I'm fine. Go ahead, put it on," he said smiling at my uncertainty. I smiled and put it on. It was so warm, and it smelled so good. It smelled like James…

Oh my gosh! James had given me his sweatshirt and now I was wearing it! This was just too much! Did it mean something?

We met up with Sirius and Becca after a few hours and had butterbeer together in The Three Broomsticks. Becca looked just as content with Sirius as I was with James. I thought the day just couldn't get any better, but it did.

On the way back up to the castle after the wonderful day, I was feeling a bit disappointed because I didn't want it to end. But then, quite suddenly, James reached out his hand and took mine. And I let him hold it!

We held hands all the way up to the castle. We weren't talking, but it wasn't awkward silence. It was the kind where you feel comfortable enough with each other that you don't feel the need to make uncomfortable conversation.

We walked up to the Gryffindor common room, still holding hands. I smiled, because neither one of us wanted to stop holding hands. People kept getting amused looks on their faces as they passed us on our way up to the common room.

I was about to say the password in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady, but James stopped me. "Lily – er – can I talk to you?" James said. Then he noticed the nosy look the Fat Lady was getting as she strained her ears to overhear us. James led me over to a corner where we would have privacy.

James looked slightly nervous. I stared at him, clearly unsure what he was about to say. "I had a lot of fun with you today and I feel like we're close and I like being around you – I really do. And er – willyoubemygirlfriend?" he blurted out.

I laughed at him. "What?" I asked, but I kind of knew what he was asking.

James sighed. "Lily, will you be my girlfriend?"

James turned very red. My stomach lurched. What was I supposed to say? Lily don't you go making a fool out of yourself!

"Yes!" I blurted out. James laughed, and so did I – but in a more embarrassed sort of way.

I kissed James on the cheek and raced into the common room, grinning at broadly at everyone around me as I walked up the staircase to the seventh-year girls' dormitory.

I took the rose James had given me and put it in a vase. Then I leaned down and smelt it. I smiled to myself. That rose wouldn't have smelt half as good if I hadn't received it from James Potter...

A/N: Sorry for the delay. I've been busy and my internet hasn't been working. Please review! I really appreciate it and it really encourages me. Special call-out to Debbie: I put this chapter up for you…because I was afraid that if I didn't you'd come to my house and beat me. Just kidding. Thanks for your review – it really made me laugh.