A/N: This chapter is dedicated to Radiion-hobbitwarrior who gave me that
one review I needed to continue ^_^, and to number1princess who was
constantly reading the fic until my bout of writer's block. Much thanks to
both of you!!!
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Gazing up at the starry sky, Lily Evans sat on one of the many gilded window seats in the Gryffindor common room. Her tangled red hair spilled over silky green pajamas that matched her glittering green eyes. It had been a long day, a wonderful day, the best Valentine's day she could ever remember having in her lifetime; by all rights she should be fast asleep, dreaming of the charming James Potter – and yet, sleep would not come.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" A voice, one that only weeks ago Lily had dreaded, murmured from the shadows, causing the redhead to emit a startled gasp.
James stepped forth from the shadows, bestowing a solemn smile on his blushing girlfriend.
Having always been quick to collect herself, Lily answered passionately, "The stars? Yeah, it's funny, I've always been fascinated by stars, even after learning the source of their luminescence in astronomy . . . I'm still completely captivated by the magic they seem to hold."
Grin broadening at the logical rationalist turned hopeless romantic, James leaned closer, his breath tickling her ear as he whispered, "I wasn't talking about the stars."
Lily's cheeks flamed, glowing the same color as her radiant hair. Almond eyes dancing in merriment, James gestured for her to move over, allowing him to join her on the red velvet cushion. Staring into Lily's incandescent eyes, James felt his heart skip a beat, butterflies beating their gossamer wings against his stomach. If Cassandra, the great seer herself, had told him only days ago that on this night, the most romantic night of the year, he'd be sharing it with the girl of his dreams, James wouldn't have hesitated in suggestion she should visit St. Mungo's. But here he was, sitting hand-in-hand, stargazing with Lily Evans.
Breaking the heavy silence, James quietly questioned, "Did you have a good time today, Lil?"
A heart-melting smile broke across Lily's face, "The best I've had so far this year," she peered up at him through her dark lashes.
"Really?"
She squeezed his hand reassuringly. "Would I lie to you?" She asked in a voice, so purely innocent, that James had to laugh along with her.
As their laughter slowly began to fade, James nervously fumbled with something inside his robes, drawing Lily's attention away from the stars and back to him. Realizing she was staring at him with overtly curious eyes, James felt the heat rise in his cheeks as he met her gaze. Pulling his hand out from inside his midnight black robes, he slowly uncurled his fingers for a tantalizing effect, until his object of pursuit lay open in his palm.
Letting out a gasp of surprise, Lily stared in amazement at the unscathed origami lily lying in his calloused palm.
"I'm sorry I was late this afternoon," he whispered as he handed her the perfect folding. "And I'm sorry I couldn't give this to you early, but with Sirius and them around . . ." he trailed off, afraid that Lily would think him conceited for worrying about his reputation, but the girl just stared in awe as she lifted a silver chain up from amongst the paper petals. Dangling from her emerald painted nails was a silver chain supporting a crescent moon, a tiny heart-shaped emerald embedded in the gleaming metal.
"Go ahead," he murmured, clearly enjoying every bit of the shocked pleasure shown on her now scarlet face. "Open it."
She glanced curiously at him, but James just nodded to the pendant. On closer inspection, Lily noticed it wasn't a pendant at all, but a moon- shaped locket. Pressing the small of her forefinger against the clasp, desperately trying not to leave fingerprints on the clean surface, she triggered the lock, popping the locket open. Sliding her nail between the two sides, Lily almost dropped the necklace in surprise as James' voice resonated from inside, his smooth voice declaring, "I love you, Lily."
Tears glistening in her eyes, Lily stared speechlessly at James as though seeing him for the first time. James noted, with some satisfaction, that for once he had rendered her speechless and not the other way around.
Knowing all too well how it felt to have nothing to say, James quickly came to Lily's rescue, removing the chain from where it had become intertwined in her fingers. "See, I've put a spell on it so that it will repel finger marks, so you won't have to worry about cleaning it." He stumbled over his words, realizing that she was appraising him each and every moment and that this was his one chance to prove his worth. "And every time you open it, it says something different, see?" He hastily demonstrated it for her, his fingers trembling as he placed it back in her hands. "Do you hate it?"
Regaining her composure, Lily smiled at him, removed her hand from his, and fastened the chain around her neck. "I love it," she whispered. And she leaned forward, her ruby lips touching his quivering ones, sealing the end of their perfect Valentine's Day.
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A/N: I have a feeling this chapter was a bit out there compared to my past chapters, but my muse felt like I needed a nice chapter between Lily and James. I hope you all liked it! Remember, reviews are what keep me going!
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Gazing up at the starry sky, Lily Evans sat on one of the many gilded window seats in the Gryffindor common room. Her tangled red hair spilled over silky green pajamas that matched her glittering green eyes. It had been a long day, a wonderful day, the best Valentine's day she could ever remember having in her lifetime; by all rights she should be fast asleep, dreaming of the charming James Potter – and yet, sleep would not come.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" A voice, one that only weeks ago Lily had dreaded, murmured from the shadows, causing the redhead to emit a startled gasp.
James stepped forth from the shadows, bestowing a solemn smile on his blushing girlfriend.
Having always been quick to collect herself, Lily answered passionately, "The stars? Yeah, it's funny, I've always been fascinated by stars, even after learning the source of their luminescence in astronomy . . . I'm still completely captivated by the magic they seem to hold."
Grin broadening at the logical rationalist turned hopeless romantic, James leaned closer, his breath tickling her ear as he whispered, "I wasn't talking about the stars."
Lily's cheeks flamed, glowing the same color as her radiant hair. Almond eyes dancing in merriment, James gestured for her to move over, allowing him to join her on the red velvet cushion. Staring into Lily's incandescent eyes, James felt his heart skip a beat, butterflies beating their gossamer wings against his stomach. If Cassandra, the great seer herself, had told him only days ago that on this night, the most romantic night of the year, he'd be sharing it with the girl of his dreams, James wouldn't have hesitated in suggestion she should visit St. Mungo's. But here he was, sitting hand-in-hand, stargazing with Lily Evans.
Breaking the heavy silence, James quietly questioned, "Did you have a good time today, Lil?"
A heart-melting smile broke across Lily's face, "The best I've had so far this year," she peered up at him through her dark lashes.
"Really?"
She squeezed his hand reassuringly. "Would I lie to you?" She asked in a voice, so purely innocent, that James had to laugh along with her.
As their laughter slowly began to fade, James nervously fumbled with something inside his robes, drawing Lily's attention away from the stars and back to him. Realizing she was staring at him with overtly curious eyes, James felt the heat rise in his cheeks as he met her gaze. Pulling his hand out from inside his midnight black robes, he slowly uncurled his fingers for a tantalizing effect, until his object of pursuit lay open in his palm.
Letting out a gasp of surprise, Lily stared in amazement at the unscathed origami lily lying in his calloused palm.
"I'm sorry I was late this afternoon," he whispered as he handed her the perfect folding. "And I'm sorry I couldn't give this to you early, but with Sirius and them around . . ." he trailed off, afraid that Lily would think him conceited for worrying about his reputation, but the girl just stared in awe as she lifted a silver chain up from amongst the paper petals. Dangling from her emerald painted nails was a silver chain supporting a crescent moon, a tiny heart-shaped emerald embedded in the gleaming metal.
"Go ahead," he murmured, clearly enjoying every bit of the shocked pleasure shown on her now scarlet face. "Open it."
She glanced curiously at him, but James just nodded to the pendant. On closer inspection, Lily noticed it wasn't a pendant at all, but a moon- shaped locket. Pressing the small of her forefinger against the clasp, desperately trying not to leave fingerprints on the clean surface, she triggered the lock, popping the locket open. Sliding her nail between the two sides, Lily almost dropped the necklace in surprise as James' voice resonated from inside, his smooth voice declaring, "I love you, Lily."
Tears glistening in her eyes, Lily stared speechlessly at James as though seeing him for the first time. James noted, with some satisfaction, that for once he had rendered her speechless and not the other way around.
Knowing all too well how it felt to have nothing to say, James quickly came to Lily's rescue, removing the chain from where it had become intertwined in her fingers. "See, I've put a spell on it so that it will repel finger marks, so you won't have to worry about cleaning it." He stumbled over his words, realizing that she was appraising him each and every moment and that this was his one chance to prove his worth. "And every time you open it, it says something different, see?" He hastily demonstrated it for her, his fingers trembling as he placed it back in her hands. "Do you hate it?"
Regaining her composure, Lily smiled at him, removed her hand from his, and fastened the chain around her neck. "I love it," she whispered. And she leaned forward, her ruby lips touching his quivering ones, sealing the end of their perfect Valentine's Day.
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A/N: I have a feeling this chapter was a bit out there compared to my past chapters, but my muse felt like I needed a nice chapter between Lily and James. I hope you all liked it! Remember, reviews are what keep me going!