Disclaimer: What a cute couple, but no, they're not mine. Unfortunately, my initials are not JKR.

Summary: One date; that was it. Just one date to pacify Potter's insane desire to go out with her. But things are never easy for Lily Evans.

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Pacifying Potter

Part Three

Fluttering

Oh, god, there it was. Again. That nauseating, fluttering feeling that started at his stomach and seemed to work its way up. How he loathed that feeling; that rush of adrenaline shooting through him that mingled with overall unhealthy movements his heart seemed to make. And he was sober and everything.

James Potter grimaced, but wondered why he should be so surprised. Said feeling had persisted within the confines of his stomach for the past two years, whenever he was around that certain someone.

When it came to romance, James supposed he wasn't the smartest of blokes. He used his charm to make up for his lack of understanding when it came to the opposite sex, but where he really wanted his charm, it always failed to come to him.

Comparing other situations with girls to Lily Evans was unfair, James thought. Those two had a rocky history—ever since first year, he had persisted in teasing her, pestering her, for reasons unknown to him. It was perhaps fourth year when he realized that there was, indeed, a reason why it was she he had singled out and not any other. And that reason was that he liked her, and the impact of how much he liked her came at him all at once.

Unfortunately, he had handled it the way he had with every other girl he fancied; he showed off, ran his fingers through his hair, rode his broom more often. And obviously, that road led to numerous rejections.

That was because he didn't know then what he knew now; Lily Evans wasn't like other girls. Being some tough bloke wasn't the way to her heart and James supposed he didn't really know her then. But he did now. And what he knew, he liked.

James thought that what he felt for her could be accurately described as infatuation, but that infatuation held so much potential. He still didn't understand why, but James knew he could be so happy with her. That she could be happy with him, too. Perhaps that was why he never gave up; why his heart never gave up on her.

There she was. Sitting at her usual spot in the library, a secluded, cozy corner next to the window, the sunlight seeped through the windows and cast a rather angelic light over her head, highlighting the tinges of various colors of red in her wavy head. She was intent on her studies; she had always been a vigilant scholar.

Making his way over to her, his usual confident stride forgotten, James crept to her table, pulling out the chair across from her, and sitting down.

It was amusing that she had not noticed him, so engrossed was she, but when she did, it confused him to see a flush dance across her cheeks before disappearing. Her eyes widened momentarily and she had the most befuddled expression on her face.

"P-Poter," she stuttered. "What… what are you doing here?"

Mentally, James frowned. She seemed… off. Could Sirius have been right? "Erm, I wanted to ask you something," he said, realizing for the first time that he had absolutely no idea what he was going to say.

"Okay," Lily looked at him expectantly, now that her composure had returned. "Go ahead."

Swallowing, James dove right in. "Just… hear me out first, okay? I… I've liked you, for a really long time, and I know that I didn't show it properly, but I honestly like you. And I realized that you've rejected me every time I've asked these past two years, so I'm going to do this one last time. I think… it's time I've moved on from you, if you honestly can't see us ever being together, just tell me right now… but if not, would you… would you like to go out with me sometime?"

The object of his affections stared at him with large eyes, not sure how to respond. Thoughts ran through her mind at that moment… how much he had done to her the past few years… how cruel he could be… how cute he looked at that moment… what an insolent, mischievous boy he was… how funny and clever he could be… and through it all his words played over in her mind, unable to fully realize that she grossly underestimated how much he cared for her.

Nevertheless, her reply was, "Yes. Yes I would… I would like to go out with you, sometime."

Now it was James's turn to gap at her. Had he… had he heard her correctly? Fortunately, his mouth functioned quite nicely without his brain. "Great… that. Great. Um… how is this Saturday night?" It was Monday then, giving him all week to plan. Excellent.

"After the trip to Hogsmeade?" Lily frowned slightly, figuring that the two would just go there.

"Yeah," James said, his Marauder mind heading to work. "Yeah. Um, I'll… I'll let you know the specifics later, okay?"

"All right," was the mild reply. Lily was still dazed over the fact that this was all happening, that she seemed to revert to auto-pilot.

"All right then," James said, his mouth breaking into a wide grin, unable to believe that it was finally happening. "I'll… I'll see you later, okay?"

"Yes," Lily stared at him, bemused, though her eyes softened as her mouth hesitantly mimicked his own.

They stood, looking at each other for a moment, before James seemed to remember he had work to do, and he rose out of his chair. Lily was unsure whether to follow, but, quick as lightning, he swooped forward and gave her a kiss on the cheek, and all she could see were his flushed cheeks and bright eyes before he was gone.

It was only then did she allow herself to smile, her plan of pacifying him completely out of her mind.

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When James practically floated into the boys' dormitories, Sirius was more than suspicious. What kind of curse did Evans put on him this time?

"How'd it go?" he asked slowly, discarding the PlayWizard magazine under the bed he was perched on.

"Wonderful," his best friend replied dreamily. "She said 'yes'."

"Oh, that's too bad—wait. She accepted?"

James snapped out of his reverie, confused. "Er, yes. I thought you were the one telling me to go for it."

"I am, I mean, I did, it's just…" Sirius trailed off. He trusted Alice that Lily was beginning to like his buddy Prongs, but just the reality of the fact that she said yes… well. It was a bit of a shock. "Congratulations," he settled on. "Where are you two going?"

"Not to Hogsmeade," James frowned. "Too unoriginal. I'm thinking…well. You'll see. I have to go now."

"What?" Sirius leapt out of his bed. "Why? I thought we were planning a prank tonight."

"That'll have to wait," his friend said, "better yet, ask Moony to help you."

"He's got Prefect duties, Mr. Head Boy. And Pete's in the infirmary 'cos of that food poisoning. So it was supposed to be you and me."

James made a face. "How about you help me with my date with Lily? If you do that, then I will help you pull the best prank on the Slytherin's ever."

Sirius thought about it. "It's just one proposition after another," he muttered. Louder, he replied, "All right, fine. But I hope you're not going to go all out for this, Prongs—all this work over a bird!"

"Not just any bird, Padfoot," James grinned. "She's my bird." He started down the stairs. "You coming?"

"Yeah, yeah. She's not your bird yet," Sirius followed, pushing the door open as he followed James.

"Oh, don't worry—she will be," James said just as Sirius let the dormitory door slam shut.

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Notes: Hello, everyone! Sorry I didn't put "the date" in this chapter—thought I'd save it for the next one, which will be out… sometime.

Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed; you guys are so great! Thanks to: frenchfriesrule, DarthRoden aka Carl, cosmopolitan, James's Fire, scullymulder, green-mermaid, Randomisation, Goddess of Grammar, blackolives10, glitterglow, and The ORIGINAL Meathead.

Not sure when part 04 will be out… but hopefully… next week? I don't know.

Anyway, until next time!