Disclaimer:

I don't own these characters or this setting. Joanne Kathleen Rowling, Warner Brothers, and I Can't Believe You're Reading My Disclaimer do.

Dedication:

To Lauren, for teaching me so much about love. And to Katie, whose undying love of L/J fluff inspired me to write some of my own.

Introduction:

Wow, a chapter three!

Froze Over

James told himself, when he returned to Hogwarts, that he was mad at her, even though it made him feel like the narrator of The Telltale Heart, who insisted he wasn't crazy even as it became ever clearer that he was. He wanted to scowl when he saw her, but invariably his emotions worked to mirror hers: if she laughed, he would be happy; if she looked depressed, so too would he be. Every day he devoted more attention to Lily than anyone else. As Sirius and Claire always sat together at mealtimes (and all other times, it seemed), Sirius divided his time between the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw tables, and really didn't notice this. Peter, who wasn't really the psychological type, also failed to recognize how James's eyes were always drawn to her, and how she became the sole influence over his own disposition. But Remus was a constant student of human nature, and it became clearer and clearer to him that James needed to go out with Lily and either have it over with or marry her. He didn't say this, though, as he somewhat lacked the self-confidence that one has when one isn't half-animal. For four months it continued: Remus watching James and James watching Lily and Peter just wanting to be useful and Sirius just wanting to be a good boyfriend. Perhaps it was Christmas that jerked everybody out of the status quo, or perhaps somebody had just had enough. Whatever the case may be, it so happened that in that funny period between Christmas and New Year's, James sat at the Gryffindor table watching Lily, who had overcome her inexplicable dislike of James enough to sit next to Claire, who was sitting next to Sirius, who sat across from James. Remus and Peter sat on either side of him. James was putting up a good show of being interested in the meal, but sneaked looks at Lily between every bite, thinking of how while other girls strenuously worked to maintain the beauty of their hair, Lily's was beautiful even when tousled and slightly knotty, as it was now.

Claire abruptly stood up, unnecessarily brushing off the front of her jumper as she did.

"I fancy a snowball fight," she said. "Anyone else up for it?"

"Give me five minutes alone with this pie and then I'll make sure you're caked with ice," said Sirius.

"I'll go with you in the meantime," said Lily, also standing. She noticed James's eyes on her far more often than he thought she did, and was feeling them now. It made her a little self-conscious and she wanted to be away from his gaze. She regretted now being so harsh to him, but then she didn't know how to seek retribution. It was just that at the time she simply hadn't been ready, but she felt now that she had learned a lot about how to maintain a relationship by observing Claire, who was an infinite testament to her own mysterious wisdom in all her actions.

The two girls quit the Great Hall, the heads of James and Sirius turning to follow their movement. Remus bit his lip in thought. When they were out of sight Sirius returned his attention to his pie as promised, and they all sat in silence, engrossed in their own thoughts about the others, but none expressing them. After what seemed like an eternity to James, Sirius stood and, stretching his arms above his head in the fashion of those who feel well-fed, said, "Come on, men, I have to go make my girlfriend angry."

James smiled and Remus said, "Okay!" Peter grabbed a cupcake on their way out, and munched on it as they crossed the Entrance Hall. On the front steps they gained a view of Claire and Lily clambering to hit each other with their snowballs. James would have liked to stand and watch them for a moment, but Sirius, never a premeditator, made a quick snowball and ran ahead, throwing it at Claire as he went. It struck her in the back of the head, eliciting a shriek.

"SIRIUS BLACK!" she yelled as she wheeled about, her cheeks pink with cold. "That is NO WAY to treat your girlfriend!"

Sirius, who had by now arrived at her side, said, "Show me the right way, then," with an impish grin, and Claire laughed and kissed his cheek, then said, "We are going to wage war on your friends."

"Whatever you say, love," said Sirius immediately, and flung another snowball at James, his tongue sticking out of the side of his mouth in concentration. James ducked and it missed. Straightening up again, he stuck his tongue out at Sirius, and Peter laughed. The laugh broke off in a shiver, and he said, "Merlin, it's cold tonight. 'Spect hell freezes over on a night like this."

In a split second James's grin had been wiped from his face. He immediately looked at Lily, wondering if she, too, remembered. She was staring at the ground, flushing in embarrassment. He quickly looked away.

Remus touched his arm, in his supernatural way seeing James's thoughts. "Go talk to her," he said to James, in a low voice so only he would hear.

James looked up into Remus's face. A half-smile was quirking his lips. James almost wondered if he wasn't the only one in love with Lily.

"Thanks, Moony," he said. Remus nodded and then, with an abrupt return to his normal temperament, shot a snowball at Padfoot. James walked slowly up to Lily, who seemed to be trying very hard not to notice his approach. When she felt she could ignore it no longer, she looked up. James was standing about a foot away from her. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, she whispered so quietly that she was not sure he would hear, "Hell froze over."

James, his heart thundering somewhere near his ears, said in a rush, "You're the most beautiful, incredible girl I've ever met and I don't know what I can do to deserve you except love you."

Tears pricked the corner of Lily's eyes, and she wrapped her arms about him and said, "It's me that will never deserve you."

"Want to go for a walk?" James asked. Lily nodded, and said to Claire, "White Stripe, we'll be back a little later!" Sirius, for once, had the sense not to gibe at James - either that or Claire stamped on his foot just as he was about to - and they set off towards the lake. Snowflakes were settling one by one in Lily's hair. As they began to cut a path around the lake, Lily said tremulously, "Are we a couple now?"

"Not quite," said James.

"Oh," she replied, confused.

They were approaching a huge tree by the side of the lake. It was leafless, thrusting its bare branches into the star-strewn sky, but still the large rock on the other side of it was quite invisible. He led Lily over to it and they sat for several moments in silence.

"James," Lily said, "When will we be a couple?"

"In ten seconds," he said, and with that he leaned over and kissed her.