James
I watched the sticks and twigs snap under my feet as I paced back and forth up and down the lake shore.
Feh. Women.
No. Woman.
What the bloody hell was with that girl? I merely sat down and said hello, and boom! Head on shoulder! So what else should I do but put my arm around her? It's not like I was trying to pounce on her. Damn!
I stopped pacing and took a breath. I tried counting to ten like Moony suggested but it just wasn't doing it for me, so I hoisted my broom over my shoulder and started walking slowly up to the Great Hall. If I wasn't already pissed off enough, Ariana Wood, our "captain", had to call practice before the rest of the world even thought about waking up, so I hadn't had time for breakfast and was clearly starving. I banished my broom up to my room and entered the Great Hall, tracking mud all the way over to the Gryffindor Table. At this point, I didn't care if Mr. Pringle ripped me a new one for messing up his sparkling floors or not.
"Hey Moony, Padfoot," I mumbled, plopping down beside my best mates, not really registering their replies. I was in such a mood I didn't even realize Padfoot was up before the clock struck twelve (noon) until he cleared his throat in my ear for the fourth time.
"Why Padfoot," I smirked, "To what do we owe the grace of your presence before lunch?"
"You can thank that bloody Wormtail," Sirius scowled, "His damn nightmare mumbling woke me up. 'No, not the beans! Take the marshmellow, but leave the beans!'" I couldn't help but laugh.
"You know," Moony said, "You're getting really good at impersonating him. Could it be that you -"
"Hush up, Moony, before I shove this waffle somewhere foriegn," Padfoot snapped. "Speaking of waffles..I forgot how good breakfast food was, seeing as everytime I made it to the Great Hall it was already lunch time." He grabbed another piece of toast and buttered it, then very unattractively stuffed it in his mouth.
"That's disgusting Paddy," I said, scrunching up my face. I turned away from the breakfast entertainment and scanned the Gryffindor Table, hoping to sight Evans. Not like I'd say anything to her if I did. Moony also was scanning the table, and to my relief he didn't bring up my looking for Lily; something else got his attention.
"How is it," Moony asked Padfoot, "That you can stuff your face with food, the remaining bits of it smeared all over your face, the crumbs all over your shirt, and still manage to have at least five girls at this table alone gawking at you like some sort of sex god?"
Padfoot leaned back in his chair and wiped his face with his napkin, appearing to be thinking hard. Appearing being the key word.
"I guess it's just my natural charm. And the hair doesn't hurt either," he grinned, running a hand through his dark black hair that fell perfectly around his face. And I mean perfectly. Completely the opposite of mine.
Moony snorted and took a sip of his juice. He turned back to his Daily Prophet and Padfoot was busy winking at a girl at the Ravenclaw table, so I was free to let my mind wander.
Evans still hadn't come to breakfast. But what would if matter if she did? Even if I did try and talk to her she'd probably tell me to bugger off. If she was feeling extra Lily-ish I might even be lucky enough to get a slap too!
I took another breath. 1...2...3...
Seriously. What am I supposed to do? I've done every single thing I can think of save proposing to her and I've been shot down each and every time. It's like her goal in life to make mine miserable. But then again...
On the rare occasion when Lily wasn't playing the role of Queen Bitch, the times when she forgot to put up her icy shield, she and I really hit it off. Believe it or not we've even had some nice talks late at night in the common room, just the two of us. But whenever I make the suggestion of taking her out, she refuses. I just don't get it. And if she wasn't strange enough, lately she's been acting even weirder. Like this morning. She made a move on me! And then yelled at me like it was my idea!
"Padfoot," I said, punching him in the arm slightly. His attention was still on the Ravenclaw who was now blowing air kisses in his direction. "Padfoot, you'll have plenty of time for her later. Or any other girl in the castle you want."
"Eh, I suppose you're right mate. It's not easy being a heartthrob," Sirius grinned, turning back to face me. "What's up?"
"How is it that you can have any girl you want, and I can't get the one I've been chasing for seven years?" I asked helplessly.
"Well Prongsie poo, you see, the answer is simple. All -"
But I didn't get to hear what was so easy. Professor Dumbledore had risen from his seat and a calm had rushed over the Great Hall. He smiled kindly and waited for the few whispered conversations to cease before he opened his mouth.
"Thank you, thank you. Now, this little announcement is directed towards the Seventh Years, so if you are not you may let your minds wander or listen if you wish, but I ask that you remain silent," he said in his powerful voice. He smiled once more and continued. "As you know, this is your last year at Hogwarts, and I think I can speak for everyone when I say that I'm sad to see you go. In a couple weeks time you will walk these halls for the last time as a student here. But, I will save my rambling on for later, for I am sure you have better things to be doing this fine day. So," he said, clapping his hands together, "The point of this annoucement. In fourteen days we will be having a Graduate Ball. This will be a time for reflecting, socializing, and fun. Dress robes will be worn. There are notices posted in your common rooms, so I suggest it wise you take a look. Now, you may continue with your going ons."
A Graduate Ball, huh?
"So," Padfoot said, not wasting any time, "Who're you lot taking?"
"Who said anything about taking a date?" Moony asked, looking up from his Daily Prophet.
"Duh, it's a ball! You have to have a date. So, Moony, who'll it be? You and the Melissa Stevens gal have been pretty close lately," grinned Padfoot.
"I'm her tutor," Moony snapped. But I smiled; he had started to blush.
"What about you James?" Padfoot questioned, biting into yet another piece of toast.
"Are you that thick, Sirius?" Moony asked.
"Oh, whoops! Slipped my mind. I guess the question is how are you going about asking dear Lilykins," Padfoot said.
"I dunno," I mumbled. "Look, I gotta go get my broom, I'll catch up with you later."
Sure, it was a lie, but I needed to get out of there. I trooped up the stairs to the seventh floor and spoke the password to the Fat Lady. I climbed inside and headed straight for my favorite armchair by the fire and slammed myself down in it.
I sat in silence, thinking about the question that played over and over in my mind.
Should I ask Evans to the ball?
I wanted to, of course, but should I? I mean, is it really worth another slap and stamp of rejection? This would be my last oppurtunity to ask Evans to go out before we graduated and moved on with our lives. I wanted us to move on together.
I popped a hard candy into my mouth and sucked on it, thinking hard. Candy always helps me think. I stared blankly into the fireplace, weighing out the pros and cons.
I finally decided what to do.
I would ask Evans to go with me. But her answer would not only be deciding whether we would go to the ball together, it would also decide if I would continue pursuing her.
If she said yes, I'd still have a chance.
If she said no, I'd give up right then in there. Give up all seven years of chasing after Lily Evans.
Now I just have to get the courage to ask her.