Word Count: 631
She knows exactly where the arrow on the compass inked into her arm is going to take her. It's pointed straight to James Potter so many times, but she had so desperately wanted to believe it was just broken. James Potter couldn't be her soulmate.
And yet she's taken two busses to make it this far, and she is quickly approaching a sign announcing her arrival in Godric's Hollow.
Maybe it's because she's lonely. Severus has betrayed her trust, and their friendship is beyond repair. Petunia still hasn't spoken to Lily in years, but it doesn't matter; she has Vernon now and no one else matters.
She hesitates. She could turn back. If she does, James won't ever know that she was here at all. There's no harm done, and she can get back to the mountain of summer homework.
Except she can't. Not really. She has felt the pull for so, but it is overwhelming now. If she doesn't follow it, if she doesn't realize her destiny…She feels like she might actually implode. All she can do is trust the universe and have faith that it hasn't made a mistake in making James her soulmate.
Her feet carry her on, and she pauses only to study the ruby compass arrow. Her heart flutters. Why does it flutter? It's just James, and there is no reason to get excited.
Except there is. As much as she hates to admit it, embracing her soulmate means so much to her.
She doesn't stop walking until she reaches a little house. It's surprisingly modest. Given his personality, she would have assumed James would live in something flashy.
Lily takes a deep breath before knocking on the door. After a few seconds, it opens, revealing Sirius Black. "Nope," he says. "James has been in tears over your constant rejection. Get thee gone, harlot!"
She rolls her eyes. "Sirius, go be stupid somewhere else," she says. "I'm here for my soulmate."
Sirius considers for a moment before shrugging. "It would take a better man than me to get between you two," he tells her before offering her a dramatic bow. "James! Evans is here!"
Sirius steps back, and James takes his place. Over James' shoulder, Sirius still lurks, watching like it's some soap opera unfolding. If James notices their third wheel, he doesn't say anything. He folds his arms over his chest, exposing the ruby compass that is identical to Lily's. The arrow points to her. "Well?" he says, and the firmness of his tone is a little too forced. Lily suspects he's secretly wetting himself with excitement. "What's up, Evans?"
"Stop trying to act all cool," Lily snorts, waving a dismissive hand. "We both know you've been in love with me since we were eleven."
"A fact you are clearly taking advantage of now. What happened? Did you get dumped? Were you just bored and thought I would be your dancing monkey?"
She raises her brows, lips twitching in amusement. "Since when were you not a dancing monkey?"
His mask falls, and he laughs, unable to fight a grin any longer. "You aren't wrong," he says, shrugging. "But really… Why are you here?"
"Maybe I'm tired of fighting fate," she says. "Maybe I'm ready to be open to falling in love. You're my soulmate, and I think I can live with that."
"Oh, you think?" James teases. "Excuse me while I swoon."
Lily snorts. "Shut up."
James steps aside, becoming her to come in. "We were just about to have some pizza," he says. "You're just in time."
Something is changing. Lily can't quite put her finger on it, but as she stands in the kitchen with James and Sirius, fixing a plate of pizza and crisps, she thinks that maybe change isn't so bad.
