Chapter Eight: The Eighth Note
"Lils, why do you have to sleep at the head's room tonight?" Hailey asked for the umpteenth time.
"Hailey! Shut up!" Katie said, annoyed. "Lily and James have things to do. Do you want the Hogsmeade trip to be cancelled?"
"Of course not!" Hailey said, still pouting.
"Well then, let Lily go!" Jen said, equally annoyed.
"I'll see you guys tomorrow!" Lily shouted, eager to leave Hailey to her remaining friends. "I'll meet you guys at breakfast!"
James and Lily were silently making their way to the Head's room. They agreed to sleep there for the night as they were going to discuss the upcoming Hogsmeade visit on Sunday.
"So? Have you thought of going on Sunday?" James asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
"I'm not going…" Lily said with a laugh. "I'll take it that you're going, then?"
"Haven't even asked her yet…" James said, rubbing the nape of his neck nervously.
"Why not?" Lily asked unbelievingly. "What holds you back?"
"I'm not sure…"
"Oh at least give it a shot…" Lily said, giving him a friendly push.
"I will… I'm just giving it some thoughts."
"Well hurry up!" Lily said, entering the common room. "You're not the only wizard looking for a date!"
"My friends said the exact same thing!" James laughed.
"Who are you asking then?" Lily asked as she settled herself by the fire.
"That's a secret I won't tell... and besides, you wouldn't want to know..."
"And why would that be?" She looked at him oddly and nudged him again. "Come on! Tell me!"
Sighing, James started, "Because... you're not too eager with the idea of me asking that someone out..." He followed Lily's lead and sat beside her.
"Does my opinion matter?" She asked curiously.
"Well..." James started, getting a little embarrassed. "...you can say that..."
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Lily was in the Gryffindor table, seating not too far from the Marauders. She was reading her Charms book while waiting for her friends when she heard them calling for her.
"Lily!" Katie said excitedly, hurrying to her side. "We found another one on your bed this morning."
"What?" Lily asked, confused.
The Marauders, along with some students in the great hall looked curiously at them. James, however, was growing particularly red, with his friends looking knowingly at him.
"Another note!" Hailey said, handing the note to Lily read.
I
have loved you from afar…
A distance I wish I could
cover—somehow, to get to you… (8)
Lily was stunned. He loved her?
Noticing their friend's reaction, the three friends looked at each other.
"Lily?" Hailey asked. "What did it say?"
Looking at the note clasped in her hand, she asked, "You haven't read it yet?"
"Well, it's not ours is it?"
She handed the piece of parchment to her friends as she pondered on the short message.
"Is he for real?" Katie asked, handing the paper to Jen.
"I think he is." Hailey said without a doubt. "What do you think Jen?"
Looking over at James, she smiled at him as she noticed him looking at them. When he noticed her studying him, he smiled uncertainly, almost nervously. Looking back at her friends, she said "I'm confident that he is."