James Potter had been tailing Lily Evans for years. He put every ounce of his energy into asking her out. So much energy that his schoolwork fell drastically.
"So, Lily," James said casually, "Will you go out with me today?" Lily gave James a look of disgust. He knew by now that that meant No. This happened pretty much every day. A while later James gave up. He forgot about Lily and concentrated more on his O.W.Ls and N.E.W.T.s.
It was Christmas time at Hogwarts and everyone was in the spirit. There was mistletoe hanging in every classroom door. There was a school wide Christmas tree in the Great Hall. Students or teachers could put a present under the tree for a fellow student. James, being the stud that he was, got more than a dozen presents the first week it was up. But he was surprised to see a small package addressed to him in familiar cursive writing. He shoved it in his binder and waited until later when he was alone in his room to open it.
Inside the tiny box, James found a little, shiny key. It was engraved with a little heart. James put it on his bedside table and went to Potions. He was late. The class was already coming out. James stood in the doorway talking to Remus when he saw her walk out. Lily stopped in the doorway where James was standing. He looked into her deep green eyes and realized how in love with her he was. Then she kissed him. He remembered the mistletoe and looked up.