Chapter Ten:
James and Lily wandered the streets of Hogsmeade for the rest of the afternoon, exploring all the shops. After Madam Puddifoot's, all the awkwardness between them had quickly faded away, and they chatted endlessly about all sorts of things. Soon darkness began to fall, and the amount of students remaining in Hogwarts decreased by the minute. James held Lily's hand tightly as he led her to the same field that he had taken her to on the full moon night.
"You don't think we should be heading back to school?" Lily asked, sitting on the grass next to James.
"No, it's still only dinnertime. And if it gets too late, there's a passageway in Zonko's that leads straight into Hogwarts." James replied. He knew he should not have said that the moment he saw Lily's eyes narrow.
"Why didn't we take that passageway back to school on full moon night?" Lily asked in fake suspicion. Truthfully, she was very glad they had just spent the night at Zonko's.
"Er, I forgot," James grinned sheepishly.
"It's okay, I had fun." Lily smiled. James smiled back at her, and laid down on the grass, looking up at the stars.
"What are you doing?" Lily asked.
"Stargazing. Me and my sister used to do it when we were younger. I used to love pointing out the different shapes the stars made." James said. Lily slid down onto the grass beside him, and looked up at the sky.
"Look, that looks like a broomstick!" Lily said, pointing to a cluster of stars.
"Sirius loves pointing out his star in the Canis Major constellation." James laughed.
"Some people say it's the brightest star," Lily added.
"Well, it matches his personality." James said fondly. Lily turned her head to look at him.
"How long have you and Sirius been best friends?" she asked.
"Since forever. We met in Diagon Alley when we were five, and became friends immediately." James replied, "I mean, he's like my brother. He even lives at my house now. . .he ran away from home."
"I feel bad for your mum during holidays," Lily laughed. A sudden movement in the sky caught her attention. "Ooh, look James, a shooting star! Make a wish!" Lily watched as James looked up at the shooting star.
"I haven't done that in years," James laughed, after making his wish.
"Do you think it will come true?" Lily smiled.
"I don't know. Shall I find out?" James replied.
"You sound like our Divination teacher!" Lily giggled. James sat up and gazed down into Lily's eyes, taking her hand in his.
"Lily, will you go out with me?" he asked softly. Lily looked up at him for a few moments, too surprised to say anything. Of course she had been expecting this, but it was the way he asked that surprised her. There was not a trace of arrogance in his voice. . .he wasn't wearing his usual cocky smile. His voice was sincere, and he had a genuine expression on his face.
"Yes," Lily whispered, barely able to hear herself. Now it was James's turn to look surprised.
"What? Y. . .you will?" he stammered excitedly. Lily sat up and threw her arms around his neck. "But you said you wouldn't go out with me if it was a choice between me and the giant squid," James reminded her. Lily slightly pulled away, so that her face was just inches away from his.
"Some things change, James. You should know," she smiled. James leaned forward, and gently pressed his lips against hers. Lily felt as if her heart would leap out of her chest, as she tightened her grasp around James's neck. This was even better than it had been in her dreams. For the few seconds it lasted, every other thought in Lily's head seemed to vanish, and she knew it had to have been the best few seconds of her life. They laid down on the grass, Lily snuggling close to James, looking up at the twinkling stars in the velvety sky.
* * *
The hours passed quickly, and it was close to midnight when James and Lily snuck through the passageway back to Hogwarts. They crept into the Gryffindor common room, and stood at the foot of the stairs leading up to the girls' dormitories.
"You don't have to go upstairs yet," James grinned, his eyes twinkling mischievously. Lily laughed and put her arms around his neck.
"Goodnight James," she said, hugging him tightly.
"Sleep well, Lily," James replied. Lily gave him a quick kiss before turning around and climbing up the stairs. James walked across the common room, unable to stop grinning madly. He climbed up the stairs to the boys' dormitories, images of the night flashing through his head. His dormitory was dark, and was filled by the sounds of soft breathing. James sank onto his bed, not even bothering to change into his nightclothes. He stared up at the ceiling happily, remembering how good it felt to kiss her and have her snuggled next to him. Suddenly, loud cracking noises filled the room, and flashes of bright light flew into the air. James jumped up in shock as the firecrackers exploded noisily. The lights suddenly switched on, and James saw a cork pop out of a bottle and fly through the air. He looked back at the bottle, which was now fizzing all over Sirius, who was grinning like an idiot. Remus was trying to put out the firecrackers, while Peter stood and stared at James.
"Sirius, I TOLD you not to light the firecrackers inside the dorm!" Remus said angrily, as a firecracker set the sleeve of his nightshirt on fire. James looked around the room in shock. There was confetti sprinkled everywhere, and loads of snacks piled on each of the beds.
"What is going on here?" James asked in bewilderment.
"Why, we wanted to congratulate you, Prongs!" Sirius grinned, setting down the bottle he was holding.
"Yeah, when you didn't come back by ten, we figured things were going the way you wanted!" Peter exclaimed, stuffing a cupcake into his mouth.
"What is that?" James asked, eyeing the bottle Sirius had been holding.
"Firewhiskey!" Sirius said proudly, "You've been waiting for this for three years, so I figured it called for a celebration!" Peter still looked awed at the fact that Sirius had managed to sneak in some firewhiskey.
"So, how did it go?" Remus asked, once he had succeeded in putting out most of the firecrackers.
"Did you ask her out?" Peter asked excitedly, his eyes large and round.
"Yeah," James replied.
"AND?" Sirius, Remus and Peter shouted.
"She said yes!" James grinned. Peter started clapping wildly, while Sirius started singing as he poured some firewhiskey into a goblet. He handed it to James, and patted him on the back happily. Remus beamed proudly, as if all his advice had finally paid off. James couldn't help feeling even happier as he watched his friends partying. It was nearly four hours later when the five bottles of firewhiskey were finally finished, the food was completely eaten, and the boys had passed out on their beds.
* * *
The girls did not get much sleep that night either, although they spent the hours talking and giggling, instead of partying and drinking. Bridget and Annabelle's eyes grew wider by the second when Lily told her three best friends a detailed account of what had happened.
"I can't believe you're going out with James Potter!" Bridget screamed.
"I know! You have us to thank, of course! We're the ones that encouraged you to go out with him from the beginning!" Annabelle said proudly.
"I've never seen you so happy before!" Kailyn smiled at Lily, who was still beaming uncontrollably.
"Well naturally! I mean, it's JAMES POTTER!" Bridget shrieked shrilly. Kailyn rolled her eyes.
"You got to kiss James Potter. . ." Annabelle sighed dreamily.
"There'll be a lot more of that!" Bridget smirked. Lily blushed.
"Ooh, how much more?" Annabelle laughed. Kailyn looked at Bridget and Annabelle in annoyance.
"So Lil, now you can go with him to the Halloween Ball!" she said, changing the subject. The moment she saw Bridget and Annabelle's gleaming eyes, she wished she had not said anything.
"What are you going to wear?" Bridget screeched.
"How are you going to do your hair?" Annabelle cried. Kailyn groaned, slamming her pillow over her head. Lily grinned happily, and fell back on her bed. This had definitely been the best night of her life.
Author's Note: Sorry, this chapter is kinda short. Please read & review!! We love getting reviews - thanks!
James and Lily wandered the streets of Hogsmeade for the rest of the afternoon, exploring all the shops. After Madam Puddifoot's, all the awkwardness between them had quickly faded away, and they chatted endlessly about all sorts of things. Soon darkness began to fall, and the amount of students remaining in Hogwarts decreased by the minute. James held Lily's hand tightly as he led her to the same field that he had taken her to on the full moon night.
"You don't think we should be heading back to school?" Lily asked, sitting on the grass next to James.
"No, it's still only dinnertime. And if it gets too late, there's a passageway in Zonko's that leads straight into Hogwarts." James replied. He knew he should not have said that the moment he saw Lily's eyes narrow.
"Why didn't we take that passageway back to school on full moon night?" Lily asked in fake suspicion. Truthfully, she was very glad they had just spent the night at Zonko's.
"Er, I forgot," James grinned sheepishly.
"It's okay, I had fun." Lily smiled. James smiled back at her, and laid down on the grass, looking up at the stars.
"What are you doing?" Lily asked.
"Stargazing. Me and my sister used to do it when we were younger. I used to love pointing out the different shapes the stars made." James said. Lily slid down onto the grass beside him, and looked up at the sky.
"Look, that looks like a broomstick!" Lily said, pointing to a cluster of stars.
"Sirius loves pointing out his star in the Canis Major constellation." James laughed.
"Some people say it's the brightest star," Lily added.
"Well, it matches his personality." James said fondly. Lily turned her head to look at him.
"How long have you and Sirius been best friends?" she asked.
"Since forever. We met in Diagon Alley when we were five, and became friends immediately." James replied, "I mean, he's like my brother. He even lives at my house now. . .he ran away from home."
"I feel bad for your mum during holidays," Lily laughed. A sudden movement in the sky caught her attention. "Ooh, look James, a shooting star! Make a wish!" Lily watched as James looked up at the shooting star.
"I haven't done that in years," James laughed, after making his wish.
"Do you think it will come true?" Lily smiled.
"I don't know. Shall I find out?" James replied.
"You sound like our Divination teacher!" Lily giggled. James sat up and gazed down into Lily's eyes, taking her hand in his.
"Lily, will you go out with me?" he asked softly. Lily looked up at him for a few moments, too surprised to say anything. Of course she had been expecting this, but it was the way he asked that surprised her. There was not a trace of arrogance in his voice. . .he wasn't wearing his usual cocky smile. His voice was sincere, and he had a genuine expression on his face.
"Yes," Lily whispered, barely able to hear herself. Now it was James's turn to look surprised.
"What? Y. . .you will?" he stammered excitedly. Lily sat up and threw her arms around his neck. "But you said you wouldn't go out with me if it was a choice between me and the giant squid," James reminded her. Lily slightly pulled away, so that her face was just inches away from his.
"Some things change, James. You should know," she smiled. James leaned forward, and gently pressed his lips against hers. Lily felt as if her heart would leap out of her chest, as she tightened her grasp around James's neck. This was even better than it had been in her dreams. For the few seconds it lasted, every other thought in Lily's head seemed to vanish, and she knew it had to have been the best few seconds of her life. They laid down on the grass, Lily snuggling close to James, looking up at the twinkling stars in the velvety sky.
* * *
The hours passed quickly, and it was close to midnight when James and Lily snuck through the passageway back to Hogwarts. They crept into the Gryffindor common room, and stood at the foot of the stairs leading up to the girls' dormitories.
"You don't have to go upstairs yet," James grinned, his eyes twinkling mischievously. Lily laughed and put her arms around his neck.
"Goodnight James," she said, hugging him tightly.
"Sleep well, Lily," James replied. Lily gave him a quick kiss before turning around and climbing up the stairs. James walked across the common room, unable to stop grinning madly. He climbed up the stairs to the boys' dormitories, images of the night flashing through his head. His dormitory was dark, and was filled by the sounds of soft breathing. James sank onto his bed, not even bothering to change into his nightclothes. He stared up at the ceiling happily, remembering how good it felt to kiss her and have her snuggled next to him. Suddenly, loud cracking noises filled the room, and flashes of bright light flew into the air. James jumped up in shock as the firecrackers exploded noisily. The lights suddenly switched on, and James saw a cork pop out of a bottle and fly through the air. He looked back at the bottle, which was now fizzing all over Sirius, who was grinning like an idiot. Remus was trying to put out the firecrackers, while Peter stood and stared at James.
"Sirius, I TOLD you not to light the firecrackers inside the dorm!" Remus said angrily, as a firecracker set the sleeve of his nightshirt on fire. James looked around the room in shock. There was confetti sprinkled everywhere, and loads of snacks piled on each of the beds.
"What is going on here?" James asked in bewilderment.
"Why, we wanted to congratulate you, Prongs!" Sirius grinned, setting down the bottle he was holding.
"Yeah, when you didn't come back by ten, we figured things were going the way you wanted!" Peter exclaimed, stuffing a cupcake into his mouth.
"What is that?" James asked, eyeing the bottle Sirius had been holding.
"Firewhiskey!" Sirius said proudly, "You've been waiting for this for three years, so I figured it called for a celebration!" Peter still looked awed at the fact that Sirius had managed to sneak in some firewhiskey.
"So, how did it go?" Remus asked, once he had succeeded in putting out most of the firecrackers.
"Did you ask her out?" Peter asked excitedly, his eyes large and round.
"Yeah," James replied.
"AND?" Sirius, Remus and Peter shouted.
"She said yes!" James grinned. Peter started clapping wildly, while Sirius started singing as he poured some firewhiskey into a goblet. He handed it to James, and patted him on the back happily. Remus beamed proudly, as if all his advice had finally paid off. James couldn't help feeling even happier as he watched his friends partying. It was nearly four hours later when the five bottles of firewhiskey were finally finished, the food was completely eaten, and the boys had passed out on their beds.
* * *
The girls did not get much sleep that night either, although they spent the hours talking and giggling, instead of partying and drinking. Bridget and Annabelle's eyes grew wider by the second when Lily told her three best friends a detailed account of what had happened.
"I can't believe you're going out with James Potter!" Bridget screamed.
"I know! You have us to thank, of course! We're the ones that encouraged you to go out with him from the beginning!" Annabelle said proudly.
"I've never seen you so happy before!" Kailyn smiled at Lily, who was still beaming uncontrollably.
"Well naturally! I mean, it's JAMES POTTER!" Bridget shrieked shrilly. Kailyn rolled her eyes.
"You got to kiss James Potter. . ." Annabelle sighed dreamily.
"There'll be a lot more of that!" Bridget smirked. Lily blushed.
"Ooh, how much more?" Annabelle laughed. Kailyn looked at Bridget and Annabelle in annoyance.
"So Lil, now you can go with him to the Halloween Ball!" she said, changing the subject. The moment she saw Bridget and Annabelle's gleaming eyes, she wished she had not said anything.
"What are you going to wear?" Bridget screeched.
"How are you going to do your hair?" Annabelle cried. Kailyn groaned, slamming her pillow over her head. Lily grinned happily, and fell back on her bed. This had definitely been the best night of her life.
Author's Note: Sorry, this chapter is kinda short. Please read & review!! We love getting reviews - thanks!