After the Quidditch Cup
by Millia

Summary: A small drabble about a certain post-Quidditch party and a certain kiss from a red-head's point of view.

Disclaimer: I hate witty disclaimers. I don't own Harry Potter, so that's all.

xx

Colors flew around the Gryffindor common room like rainbows flying past on a broomstick. The students were a whirl of color, sounds, spilled drinks, sweat and clammy hands grabbing each other for another telling of the game. She avoided the hands, the eyes, the grinning faces, watching the door for when he would return.

It was late already; it wasn't fair that he should be in detention for so long. She smoothed her hair, nervous for reasons she couldn't understand. A mess. She was a mess—sweaty and disheveled from the excitement of the game . . . it seemed like it had been ages since they had had something to celebrate. She didn't even think of admonishing some of the more pronounced revelers.

She didn't notice when he first came in; but she felt him behind her, the telltale dip of her stomach, clenching with an excitement she'd never felt anywhere else. She could feel his eyes searching for her, full of an unstated statement they had been sharing for months now.

She ran towards him, Gryffindor captain, and knew before his rough lips bruised hers that he was going to kiss her this time. A year ago, two, she would have scoffed at the idea . . . besides his friends, hardly anyone in the common room noticed, taking it in stride amidst the Butterbeer and zooming snitch (gold like the flecks in his hazel eyes). Those annoying friends of his that somehow she had come to like made their usual catcalls and banters, but it seemed a faraway presence in her ears, like the chirping of grasshoppers, inconsequential but always there.

In a few days or years or a lifetime, James loosened his hold on her, smiling from behind his crooked glasses; she straightened them for him, and told him he should have seen the game, it was incredible, even if she couldn't tell a bludger from a quaffle. He replied that he didn't care about the game; well, he sort of did but he could catch up on that later.

Lily smiled and dragged him out of the common room until later.