A/N: Oh boy, another long wait. Sorry about that, but just know that I'll never forget about this story. This chapter takes place in seventh year, and Lily and James are already friends, so sorry if you're confused. I'm already working on the next chapter, it should be up soon.
REVIEWERS. You are the best, you have no idea how big I smile when I recieve them. Keep 'em coming!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Remus stood up and turned off the screen, shaking his head so his hair fell about his face, hiding his embarrassment. No one spoke; the only sound echoing throughout the dusty attic was Harry scuffing the toe of his shoe on the floor.
"Harry, mate." Fred said quietly, "I really, really mean it when I say you are the bravest person alive."
"Yeah." George added, "You just saw your dad in long underwear."
"Leopard print long underwear." Fred corrected, shuddering slightly.
"At least it wasn't our dad wearing them." George said lightly. At this, Mr. Weasley pursed his lips.
"What's the big fuss?" Ginny asked; pulling her hand away from Harry's to stand up, "It's not like he looked bad in them!"
There was a gasp throughout the attic, and Ginny rolled her eyes, "Oh for heaven's sakes…I didn't mean it like that…"
"You think Harry's dad looked attractive!" George cried, his eyes widening.
"No…" Ginny said quickly, "Well, I mean…he isn't bad looking."
"You dirty little girl!" Fred cried, "He's old!"
"Well he wasn't in these videos!" She cried, blushing a deep shade of crimson and placing her hands on her hips.
"That's mildly disturbing," George said, "You're supposed to find Harry attractive…not his dad."
"Did it ever cross your mind that maybe I thought James was attractive because he looked like Harry!" Ginny shrieked, and the moment the words crossed her lips, she looked as if she had never regretted anything more in her entire life.
She was breathing heavily, avoiding Harry's eye contact. Not like he was trying to meet her eye, for suddenly, he had become incredibly interesting in a small insect on the floor.
The awkwardness seemed to last forever, nobody knew what to say. Ginny hadn't said anything wrong, but she knew she shouldn't have said it just then. They were saved from saying anything, for just then a cup of tea emerged through the ceiling, followed by Tonks. Her now short blonde hair fell about her face as she picked up the cup of tea.
"Goodness!" She cried as she looked up, "There you all are!" She had on a dirty pair of old jeans and a baggy sweatshirt, "Molly and I have been working our rears off down there, and here you all are…lounging about on a pile of boxes…" She paused, "What are you all doing up here?"
"Long story," Mr. Weasley said, "We'll tell you later."
Tonks nodded, "Anyways, Molly sent me to find you," At this she pointed to the twins, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, and Harry. "It's time for bed."
"She can't tell us what to do," Fred said, puffing out his chest.
"Well I believe she just did," Tonks smiled, "Now, off you go!"
A few hours later, Ron was loudly snoring in the bed next to him. Harry sighed and rolled over. His mind was swirling. He had just seen so much of his parents, and it was taunting him. He rolled over again causing the bed to creak loudly. Ron wrinkled his nose and rolled over on his back.
And Ginny. Harry didn't even know what had just happened. He knew she said he was handsome like his father…but it seemed like some sort of hint. Like she was tired of hiding her feelings and she wanted a relationship again. Harry shook his head, reminding himself that that was an arrogant thought, thinking that all Ginny was thinking about was being with him.
Yet, even as he thought about her tiny fingers laced through his, he could feel his heart thump against his rib cage and his head swirl. He wanted nothing better than to sink further into his pillow and drift off to sleep, to forget everything…everything about his parents, Ginny, the Marauders…
Ron sat up, mumbled something about dancing teacups, and collapsed against his bed once more.
Harry groaned as he felt his scar beginning to prickle. This house was suffocating, yet he knew he couldn't leave. He rolled onto his side and attempted to busy himself with a photograph on the wall.
When his scar moved from prickling to burning, he sat up and grabbed his glasses. Placing them on his face, he leapt lightly off his bed and headed for the door, wads of dust emerging in the air with his every step.
He felt the hairs on his neck stand up as he walked down the stairs to the kitchen. Once he got to his destination, he allowed his eyes to wander, it was too dark, he could only see the outlines of some chairs and a table.
"UGH!" Harry cried, stumbling backwards in fright and landing with a thud on the floor. He had just seen the outline of something that was neither chair nor table.
"Harry?" Came a soft voice, "Lumos."
Harry looked up to see Ginny standing over him, her eyebrows stitched with concern. She held out her hand and Harry took it. Once he was to his feet, he began dusting off his maroon and gold striped pajamas.
"Er…thanks." He murmured.
"Sorry about that," Ginny said softly. "I just couldn't sleep. I-I'll go…"
"No." Harry said quietly, "Don't leave."
Ginny turned around, her white nightgown flowing with her every movement.
"I…I could use the company," Harry said, gesturing to the chair, which, with the wands light he could fully see. "Please sit."
Ginny smiled slightly as she set her wand in the middle of the table, illuminating the room faintly. They both sat down and looked at each other across the table.
"So…" Ginny began, "You couldn't sleep either?"
"No." Harry said, running a hand through his hair.
They sat in silence for a while, Ginny softly whistling and Harry drumming his fingers on the table.
"How'd you like that last tape?" She asked.
Harry laughed, "It was by far the most…amusing one yet."
Ginny nodded, "Yeah…" Her eyes suddenly widened, "Why don't we go watch another? I mean…everyone's asleep, and we can't…so why don't we?"
Harry grinned, that was exactly what he wanted to do. "Okay," He said, let's go.
They tiptoed back up the stairs, and helped each other up the latter and into the attic.
Ginny rubbed her arms together, "It's freezing up here."
Harry nodded and watched as Ginny enlarged the eighth tape and plastered it to the wall.
Instead of sitting on a box, Harry leaned up against it, Ginny doing the same. He saw her shiver again, and he put his arm around her, pulling her closer. Ginny grinned into his chest as the tape began to come alive.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Alright boys," James said in the deepest voice he could muster, "Tonight's the night." He licked his hand and slicked back his hair, doing absolutely nothing.
"The night for what?" Peter asked curiously.
The four boys were lounging about in their dorm, relaxing. James however, had been standing in front of the mirror for the past forty five minutes.
"I'm going to ask Lily out again." James said in his fake deep voice.
"No you are not!" Remus cried, "You two just started to become friends, don't ruin it!"
It was a few months into seventh year, and James had earned the badge of Head Boy. Lily had tried to run away from James when she found out he was the Head Boy to her Head Girl that day on the train, but instead had run into the compartment door.
Slowly but surely, James had gained Lily's trust and respect. He hadn't asked her out once this year, and when he hexed people, he made sure she wasn't in sight.
Well, at least he was a little more mature.
They had been spending a lot of time together, and their friendship had progressed, so much in fact, that James had decided it was time to finally ask her out again.
"What?" James growled, still speaking in his lowest voice, "You don't think I can do it?"
"Why are you talking like an angry bear?" Sirius asked bluntly.
"I'm trying to be charming!" James cried, returning to his normal voice and squeaking on the word 'charming.'
"You could use a little work." Remus muttered.
James glared at the three boys, "You don't believe in me!" He yelled, "We're friends now…she's got to say yes!"
"James." Sirius said, "You aren't charming enough to ask her out just yet."
"Well." James huffed, "I'm doing this with or without your help. So I guess it's without."
"Wait!" Sirius said as James spun on his heel, "I have something that could help you…win her heart."
"Sorry Sirius, no more leopard print long underwear for me." James said arrogantly, waving his hand in the air as if to dismiss the idea.
Remus snorted, "Because that's really charming." He said sarcastically.
"No…" Sirius said, and with that he stood up and crossed the cluttered room to his trunk. He flung it open and rummaged through it, before pulling out a square, brown box. "But this is!"
James furrowed his brow and stepped closer. Sirius opened the box carefully, and pulled out the two items.
Remus burst into a fit of hysterics…because those were the furthest things from manly.
James' eyes widened…for he had had far too much experience cross-dressing.
Sirius Black was holding out a pair of glass slippers.
"What the bloody hell is wrong with you Padfoot?" James cried, "I'm sorry, but I don't think those will attract the ladies."
"How wrong you are." Sirius said defiantly, "Now. If you want me to help you, you'd better listen."
James closed his mouth as Peter sat up and Remus buried his face in his pillow to muffle his laughter.
"Now." Sirius said, "There is a charming spell on these slippers, it's very powerful, but will wear out within an hour."
"What kind of a spell?" James asked quietly.
"It'll make you say the sweetest, most charming things that would never come out of a mouth like yours." Sirius said as James gave him a dirty look.
"Where did you get those?" James asked, and even Remus looked alert, as if suddenly interested.
"Too many questions," Sirius said mysteriously, "These weren't exactly cheap, but I had thought I would need them…turns out I'm already charming enough…"
"You'd let me wear them?" James asked, "Really?"
"Yes," Sirius said, "Go on, put them on, and as soon as you do you must go looking for Lily, for the spell will, like I said, wear out within an hour."
James looked hesitant, but a few moments later, slipped on the glass slippers that immediately molded to his feet.
"You won't be able to get them off until your hour is up," Sirius said. "Go get her tiger, and don't fail us! Go get the lady of your dreams!"
"Not yet!" Remus cried, "James…you can see the slippers and I think she'll start to wonder…" At this he cast a spell on James' jeans to make them longer. His jeans fell to the floor and successfully covered the slippers.
"GO!" Sirius cried, "You've already wasted two minutes!"
James nodded and took off, wondering why he didn't wait until tonight to put the slippers on. What if he couldn't find Lily? What if he found her when he only had five minutes left? What if the glass slipper was really just a glass slipper and Sirius thought it was funny to see his best mate dressing like a girl…once again?
James couldn't think about that any longer however, for at that moment he slipped on the last step and crumpled to the floor. He stood up shakily, it was awfully hard to walk in heels.
As quickly as he could, he made his way out the portrait hole, tripping and stumbling into walls and people.
About fifteen minutes later, and still no sign of Lily, he bumped into Snape.
"Watch where you're going, Potter." Snape sneered.
"Why don't you hot buns?" James said, and gasped. The slippers were attempting to charm Severus.
"Did you just call me hot buns?" He hissed, looking highly disgusted. Snape shook his head and watched as James scurried away, his hand covering his mouth.
He continued searching for Lily, knowing that his time was running out. It had already been thirty minutes and James had still not spoken since the incident with Snape.
"Lily!" He gasped ten minutes later, having spotted her with two other friends by the potions room. "Can I talk to you for a moment baby?"
Lily's eyes widened and her friends giggled at what he called her, "Um…sure." She said; following him as he quickly bustled away.
"Where are we going?" Lily asked in confusion.
James stopped in an empty hallway, knowing full well that there was only fifteen minutes left.
"I…I need to talk to you darling." He said, attempting to catch his breath.
"Darling?" She asked in amusement.
"The thing is..." He paused, "I really like you baby cakes."
"Baby cakes?" She asked, looking mildly alarmed.
"Um…yeah…" At this point in time James wanted nothing better than to slap Sirius over the head with one of the glass slippers. "Will you go out with me sugar lips?"
"SUGAR LIPS?" She cried, "James…what are you talking about?"
James decided to go back to his deep voice, thinking that if the slippers didn't work, this sure would.
"I…I know we're just friends sexy pants…" He growled.
"S-sexy…pants…?" She took a step backward. "Are you DRUNK James Potter?"
"No, no of course not baby bottom." He said quickly, returning to his normal voice.
Both James and Lily looked as if they wanted to run away.
"You did NOT just call me baby bottom…" She hissed angrily. "James! I'd thought you had changed…you're acting so strange."
"I…please, cupcake!" He cried as she began to turn around, "Let me explain pumpkin pie!"
"ARGH!" She cried angrily, "What is wrong with you?"
"I can't help what I'm saying, buttercup!" He cried, blushing the deepest shade of red he had ever gone.
"I don't understand what's gotten into you."
"Please baby bear!" James pleaded, "Just listen blossom buns!"
She shook her head, "Is this some sort of joke…do you find this funny?"
"Of course not tight rear…" He said sincerely.
"TIGHT REAR?" She cried in disgust, "You are a sad little boy, James."
"Please…please just listen hot lips!" He urged.
She stared at him inquisitively, "Fine…" She said after a while.
James looked at the clock and gasped, "I'll have to explain another time bottom bear."
"What?" She asked, "You told me to come, just so you could call me tight rear, and now you're leaving? What's going on?"
James wanted to tell her that he was just under a spell, and that he would never call her tight rear.
At least, not to her face.
He was afraid though, he didn't want her to see him in glass slippers, to have her see how insecure he could be.
"IT'S BEEN AN HOUR!" He wailed, as it turned 5:00. With that he spun around, sprinting down the hallway as fast as his legs would carry him. He was not about to be humiliated in front of the girl he liked most.
The slippers began to slip from his feet. The hour was up, so they no longer molded. He tripped and fell to the ground, the robe falling over his head.
"James!" Lily cried, dashing after him, "Are you okay?"
James scrambled to his feet as she almost reached him and began to take off running. It was then that he noticed he was lopsided. One of the slippers had slipped off of his feet. He turned around and started running back, pulling up his long pants as if they were a dress. He reached the shoe right as Lily did, and she snatched it a second before himself.
"What is this?" She asked in bewilderment.
"Er…" James said, "Nothing…"
"Is this a glass slipper?" She asked, tilting her head to the side, "Are you wearing glass slippers?"
"No." James said quickly.
Lily pushed him roughly and James fell over, still being unstable from the shoes.
"AHA!" She cried, pointing accusingly to the other one on his foot.
James turned around and tried to claw away, but Lily stepped on his long pants.
"Explain." She hissed.
James whimpered in defeat and turned onto his back, "Lily…those aren't mine."
"Oh really…" She said, rolling her eyes, "Then whose are they?"
"Sirius'." James said.
Lily scoffed, "Sure."
"No really." James said, before he sighed deeply, "I wanted to ask you out again Lily…but I didn't want to mess it up. These slippers…there's a spell on them to make me more charming…"
"So that explains the tight rear," She said, looking as if she wanted to laugh.
"So I put them on," James continued, "They wear out after an hour, so when an hour was up I had to run away…"
"Why did you do all this? Just to ask me out?" She asked softly.
James nodded, "I know we're friends, and I didn't want to mess that up. I figured this was the best way to win your heart."
Lily kneeled down on the floor so she was level with him, seeing as he was still there from when she pushed him. "So ask me."
"What?" James asked, leaning in a little closer.
Lily sniffed, he smelt rather nice, "Ask me."
"Well…will you go out with me?" He asked nervously. James Potter, nervous. He was the smoothest guy at school, it scared him that just one person could change him like this. "I know me dressing like a girl and tackling you and putting on glass slippers wasn't the best way to go around it…"
Lily smiled, "James…these past few months I've seen a side of you I never have before, and I can see why you'd dress like a girl when most guys wouldn't, and I can even see why you wore these glass slippers. What I can't see is why you'd want to go out with me."
"Lily." James said seriously, "Has seven years taught you nothing?"
Lily blushed, "I'd like to go out with you, James."
"Really!" James asked, obviously attempting to contain his excitement. "You said yes?"
Lily nodded and smiled, "I said yes."
--------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N: Okay, I know it was fluff, and sorry if it seemed like all this happened rather fast, but keep in mind they had been friends for a while. I sincerely hoped you liked this chapter, sorry again about the wait. Please please please review, they always make my day! I'll update soon.
