Disclaimer: The ever-wonderful J.K Rowling owns all but the journal idea.

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beta by: ilovethedotgame

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Chapter Fourteen: A Valentine Note

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James Potter

Sirius Black

Remus Lupin

Peter Pettigrew

I wish Christmas holiday could go on a little longer. It's been quite nice having so few people here – I've gotten to spend a lot of time with Lily. It's been quite beneficial in getting to know her better.

I almost wish that it could be like this all year round, but then again, if it were Christmas time all year round, it would lose the elements that make it so special.

Guess what holiday is coming up, Prongs?

How did you get in here? I changed the password!

Your passwords aren't any good. They're too obvious. I mean, "Transfiguration" is not exactly a hard password to break, James. Try and be a little more creative for my sake.

No! I am not going to help you vandalize my property.

Vandalism is a harsh word. I'm just helping you to analyze your thoughts.

Don't lie – that's what Remus is here for.

Valentine's Day is in about a month and I don't know what to do. I want to give Lily something, but what? What do you give a girl who's your friend, and you're head over heals for, for Valentine's Day?
You don't. Why don't you lay off for once, Prongs? Give the girl some space.

You don't know what you're asking. Why don't you just tell me to go bake cookies for Snape? You'd probably get a better result.

After much deliberation and soul searching, I've decided to give Lily the same exact thing I gave her last year: flowers and a note.

See, last year, I wrote her poem and at the bottom of the card, I asked her out, but not this year. This year, it will just be a nice note and some flowers. No desperate attempts for a date or anything of that nature - just a little something to let her know that I still care.

Note for Lily: Attempt 1: I hope you enjoy these flowers. Happy Valentine's Day.

Do you remember how she threw those flowers you gave her last year out the window?

You just had to bring that up, didn't you?

I just wanted to refresh your memory, that's all.

I'm sure. Why don't you do something constructive and get me something from the kitchens?

Or you could send Peter and I could stay here and help you.

Fat chance!

Attempt 2: These flowers remind me of you; I hope you enjoy them this year.

Attempt 3: I hope you'll enjoy these flowers more this year.

Attempt 4: To Lily From James.

Oh, that was creative.

Bugger off.

Attempt 5: To my flower.

No, can't use that one, I value my life.

To my true love Lily, from James.

I cannot use that!

Why?

Well for starters, the whole true love bit might scare her a bit! And….never mind.

What?

Nothing.

If it was really nothing, you wouldn't have said something!

Oh fine! It's just…I mean, I'm completely infatuated and head over heals for Lily but…I'm not sure I'm in love with her.

Then you're the only one.

What is that supposed to mean?

Nothing.

I rather hate you sometimes.

Attempt 6: For my friend Lily.

Attempt 7: To Lily, from James. I will always be here for you, no matter what.

Attempt 8: To a wonderful friend.

Attempt 9: To a beautiful flower and friend.

Attempt 10: These flowers are like you: beautiful.

Attempt 11: Like these flowers, you are truly beautiful, inside and out.

Today in History of Magic what I should write in the note to Lily came to me. I was working off of the last ideas I had written and suddenly it hit me.

Attempt 12: "In a sea of ordinary flowers, you are the brightest, and most beautiful of them all."

12:24 pm

Tomorrow is the Big Day.

Right now, I'm in the common room waiting for Hestia to come down and get the flowers (lilies-of-the-valley) so she can place them on Lily's nightstand. I wish boys were able to get into the girls' dormitories. Not for the reasons you may be thinking, but so I could put the flowers there myself and maybe do a few other spells to make the day special for Lily.

Someone's coming –

Flowers safely delivered. Good, I'm going to bed.
She liked the flowers! She kept them! Life is so good. Lily even accompanied me to breakfast, Of course, I had to say, "just as friends" but it's better than nothing, right?

We had a nice conversation on the way to the Great Hall. She figured out that I've been having Hestia place things flowers and birthday cards on her nightstand. Hmm…I may have to start asking Alice or Emmeline to do stuff like that now since Hestia will be watched like a hawk.

But all in all, today was a success.

Pardon me, I'm going to go drown myself in the shower.
Bloody idiot. What did he think was going to happen?

I can't believe he asked her out in the corridor like that….what did he say again?

Something about being a Gryffindor and not doing things halfway, then he asked her out. This was followed by "We've been through so much this year and it's only convinced me further that there is no other girl for me."

Oh, in the name of all things good and holy. What was he thinking?

I'm not sure he was.

I agree with Wormtail.

He's had brain lapses before, but this…but you know, she didn't say no. She just ran away.

So technically he wasn't turned down?

I'd still call it being turned down, but not for the same reasons as he used to be.

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

I think I am.

Would you care to tell me what you think you're thinking?

Not here. Let's go to the Room of Requirement. That way it'll be sound proof and we can lock the door.

What was if James really does drown himself?

He'll be fine. Remember back when Lily still disliked him he said he was going to drown himself in the shower at least once a week.

I'm an idiot. A complete and utter disgrace to all young wizards everywhere. If Lily will still speak to me after this day, she should be awarded sainthood.

I asked her out in front of an entire hallway full of people. As muggles say, I might as well have shot myself in the foot.

Why I did it, I have no idea. It was just one of those idiotic impulses I'm famous for. I mean, I practically said I that I loved her. And maybe I do, but why did I have to tell her? Lily is my friend and she's made it perfectly clear that friendship is all she wants from me.

( End of Chapter )

Now I realize that this was a rather depressing end to the chapter, but I promise that things get better at the beginning of the next one. I'm just trying to put emphasis James desperation and lack of hope at the moment.

I hope everyone understood what Sirius and Remus were talking about when Sirius said "I'd still call it being turned down, but not for the same reasons as he used to be." !

Review Responses

hazeled eye marauder: Yes, Lily now knows about his "idea notebook"!

Abby: Thanks! Glad you like it!

justdreem: I would laugh at the funny comments in James's "idea notebook" too if I were Lily! There will be eighteen chapters.

Auramistealia: Thanks so much!

The Great Charlotte: Hope I updated a bit sooner this time!

justina: Well, he's not quite the perfect gentleman, but he's pretty darn close! He's getting there, anyway!

J.E.A.R.K.Potter: Yes, only four more chapters left:-(

swimmerchic: Thanks for reminding me of how Sirius keeps cracking James's passwords – I'd forgotten about those! I added one just for you!

Lady Radcliffe: Glad you liked the knight in shining armor and white stallion line! So did I!

DOJ: I love Christmas time too! I love to go ice skating… glad to know you liked th last chapter! When are you going to post your new Lily/James story?

Queen Of Day Dreams: It was seagulls being strangled, but close enough:-) I love it when I get reviews like yours that quote the crazy things that James says!

AnneChristy: Sorry if I took a while to update last time, I've been really busy with trying to wrote two different stories and I have a reading list for my AP English class next year…I can't promise that the next chapter will be up overly soon, but I will try!

Lady Sonora the Black-Rose: Thank you!

woodchip: Well, I had Sirius break a password in this chapter and I promise there will be more in future chapters!

NinitademiBrooke: Thank you so much for the absolutely wonderful review! Seriosuly, your review made me feel so good about my story!

Laughing Dragoness: That's fine, I forget to review people's stories all the time…Thanks for the nice review!