Chapter X

Pink Roses

((James's POV))

Lily was so jealous.

She wouldn't talk to me anymore, and every time she saw Sylvia and me holding hands in the hallway, I could hear her sniff slightly in anger. But, you know, Sylvia really was a nice person, and I didn't want to break up with her just yet. Not when I was doing so well.

"Wasn't your original plan not to make Lily angry?" Peter asked one morning at breakfast, about a week later. Yes, I was still with Sylvia, even a week later.

"Yes, but I figured out this way is so much better!" I replied. "See, the more jealous I make her, the more likely it is that she will admit to me that she likes me."

Remus shook his head in disappointment, but Sirius just clapped him on the shoulder, saying, "Ah, Moony. You're too soft."

"I think it's you two that are too hard," the werewolf responded.

Just then, Sylvia came over and sat next to James.

"This isn't your House table," he told her, kissing her lightly on the mouth.

She shrugged, blushing. "I know, but word spread that Gryffindor's bacon is better than the rest." The Hufflepuff girl picked up a piece and bit into it.

James put her hand in his and said, "You should go back to your table before I have to carry you over there."

She shrugged, and he stood up and tossed her over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Sylvia squirmed a protested, giggling. James looked over at Lily and saw her face turning red as she focused on the newspaper propped up against her milk jug.

He smiled a little and transported the Hufflepuff girl back to her table. Peter scurried over and set the plate of bacon in front of her.

"Like that was what she was actually here for," Sirius muttered when the two boys came back.

((Lily's POV))

It was fully decided. I was completely jealous. Rose and Pansy kept bothering me about it, too. I, being a redhead, had trouble abstaining from ripping out their hair.

"Just tell James how you feel," Pansy suggested.

"Don't be ridiculous," Rose said. "She can't do that. Just be sincere with him, and he'll realize the mistake he's making, dating her instead of you."

"Boys are stupid; he would never realize his error unless she told him," the brunette girl countered, rubbing some of her bubotuber pus solution on a spot on her chin. She was doing a fantastic job with keeping her acne away, and she and the Ravenclaw boy she fancied had been dating her for about two months. I had told her it was shallow of him to date her only after her face was clear, but she said he'd told her he'd never noticed.

"James is smart," Rose said. "He gets excellent grades."

"Boys. Are. Stupid," Pansy insisted.

"BE QUIET!" I shouted, so the whole of Gryffindor Common Room looked at me. I then gathered up my books, quill, parchment, and bag, and stormed away to the Heads dormitory and finished my homework in my room.

A couple of days later, I was stopped in the hallway by a seventh year Ravenclaw boy. His name was Derek Timbleton, and he was in my Charms classes. He was taller than me (not as tall as James) with blonde hair and brown eyes. He was also on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team—the Keeper. I had fancied him in fifth year, but we had never gone on a date together.

"Lily, hey," he said, and I looked up at him curiously. "I was wondering if you'd like to go to the Valentine's Day Ball with me."

I smiled a little, considering it. "Sure." I wanted to have any chance to get back at James. Besides, the Ball was in less than a week, and I needed a date.

"Great! That's settled, then." He smiled and walked away, leaving me grinning a little.

Rose and Pansy then rushed forward. "Did he ask you out?"

I nodded. "To the ball."

They both giggled. "You said yes, right? So that doesn't mean you like James anymore, right?" Pansy asked.

"Uh, right." I decided to lie. Of course I liked James. But I jumped at the chance to get them to shut up about him. "I got over Potter."

Rose acted like she believed it, but I studied her for a moment and realized she didn't. Ah, well.

So I had decided on a dress to wear, and a spell for the perfect hairstyle, and my shoes, and was entirely too excited for the fourteenth.

The school days rolled by slowly, everyone anticipating the Valentine's Day Ball. It was on that Friday, and everyone kept talking about it. I heard people getting asked out in the hallways, and sometimes Derek even came up to me and walked me to classes. It was sweet and all, but he wasn't James.

On that Friday, when cherubs were drifting around, delivering Valentines to the students, one came up to me with a letter from Derek. It read:

Lily,

I can't wait for tonight. I hope you have a very Happy Valentine's Day!

-Derek

Attatched were five pink roses. I smiled. It was then that James stalked up to me.

"Got a boyfriend now, have you, Evans?" he said.

I nodded. "Yes. Derek Timbleton. He is so sweet. Look at these roses." I heldthem up. "I hope you sent a Valentine to Sylvia!" I smirked a little and sauntered off, leaving him standing there confusedly.

A/N: Short chapter, but I want the Ball to have a chapter of its own, and I also needed one to explain how Lily got her date. So viola! Review and I will prostrate myself at your feet.