It had been 9 days since their date, and Lily started to wonder whether James would ever ask her out on a second date.

She figured he didn't want to seem too eager, so she was giving him some time. But at the same time, she was worried that he had changed his mind. What if he actually had a horrible time and was just being nice? He's probably regretting ever asking me out Lily thought.

She was letting her negative thoughts consume her mind as she left potions class, only to be met at the doorway by James.

"Hey, Evans." James flashed his winning smile, and Lily felt her heart flutter.

"James." Lily tried to sound calm, but inside she was anything but calm.

James' brown eyes sparkled brighter than before. "Moved on from 'Potter', have we?"

"Seems appropriate given the circumstance." Lily gave James a waiting glance.

James wasted no time in getting straight to the point. "Are you doing anything this Saturday?"

Lily couldn't hide her smile anymore. "I don't believe I have anything planned that day."

James smiled back and said, "Great. I have a better place than Hogsmeade planned for a second date."

"Pick me up in the common room?" Lily asked hopefully.

"It's a date," beamed James as he let out a breath of relief. From the look on his face, Lily could tell he had been nervous to ask her out again. James always seemed so confident. Had asking out Lily really made him doubt himself?

Lily turned away with a newfound confidence. She peered over her shoulder, and saw James smiling with his signature confidence. She could hardly wait for Saturday.

4 days later

Lily fiddled nervously with her necklace while she waited for it to be time for her date with James. She had looked over her outfit dozens of times: a green turtleneck jumper with jeans. Looking at herself in the mirror, she wondered if she should wear something more revealing. Or would wearing something revealing make her seem too easy? She battled in her head until she realized it was too late to change anyway. She went down the stairs into the common room, where she nearly ran into a waiting James.

"You look lovely, as always," greeted James with a wink. "Shall we?" He offered Lily his hand.

"We shall," answered Lily as she took his hand. She noticed a basket in his other hand. "I'm hesitant to ask, but what's in the basket?"

"All in good time, my dear Lily. All in good time."

They walked down through the grounds until they had reached the lake. Lily noticed a green patch of grass, ladened with daisies, that was still glowing in the remaining sunlight. James kneeled down, opened the basket, and set a blanket onto the trimmed grass.

"What is this, a picnic?" laughed Lily.

"As a matter of fact, yes, it is." James proceeded to empty out the contents of the basket.

"Pumpkin Pasties...corned beef sandwiches...treacle tart?" Lily giggled. "James this is all stuff-"

"From the great hall? No, I get my source straight from the kitchens. Who knew all you had to do was tickle a pear in a painting to have house elfs loading you up with food?"

Lily laughed and shook her head in confusion. "What?"

"Long story," said James. He presented his arrangement of the food to Lily. "Bon appétit."

They ate, talked, and laughed. Lily stopped herself laughing for too long, as she felt self-conscious.

"I absolutely hate my laugh."

"Your laugh is wonderful, it makes you even more perfect."

Lily blushed at this. "You're just saying that because we're on a date," Lily muttered. But James grabbed her hand and she looked deep into his eyes.

"No, I really mean it." His brown eyes were boring into her green ones, and everything felt much less funny and much more intimate.

"About you liking my laugh or about me being perfect?" Lily felt her blush awaiting his answer.

"Both."

His grip on her hand turned more gentle yet more intense. She rested a hand on his shoulder, and he cupped her cheek. They were in the same position like before. She felt the moment approaching, but she pulled away and stood up.

Lily cleared her throat. "Why don't we take a walk before we have to go back to the castle?" Lily tried her best to not look flustered.

James looked surprised, but quickly got to his feet and took her hand in his. "Yeah, sure."

As they walked, Lily felt guilty for not explaining herself. For not saying why she pulled away as they were about to kiss. She didn't want to be typical. She felt that if she let James kiss her then, he would feel entitled to kiss her everytime he simply called her perfect. She wanted to let him know that he would have to do a bit more for another kiss.

They walked around the lake and into the outskirts of the Hogwarts grounds. They continued to talk about everything, and eventually, the topic made it's way to quidditch.

"I have to wait two months for my next game. They're worried that I'll go injuring myself again and lose us the cup. We lost the last one to Slytherin due to my injuries. But we're sure to win the next game. No injuries this time!" James' eyes sparkled and flared when he talked about quidditch. Lily could tell it was something truly important to him.

"I haven't been to many quidditch games. I think maybe 4 in all my 7 years so far." Lily felt embarrassed to admit, but 2 of those had been when she was developing feelings for James, and wanted even more opportunities to look at him.

"One of which was the last game." James winked.

"You saw me there?" Lily asked, feeling slightly embarrassed.

"How could I not? How many other redheads are there that sit in the corner looking disinterested?"

"I wasn't disinterested-"

"You weren't exactly whooping with everyone else," teased James. They were right next to a tree at this point. "Maybe you just need a reason. Something" James backed Lily up against the tree so that she was looking right up at him. "or someone, to be interested in."

Lily felt her blush full-on in that moment.

"C'mon, Lils, cheer me on for good luck?" James was looking down at her with joking, yet very hopeful, eyes.

"Alright, but I am not going to become one of your fangirls. No red and gold, and no sign."

"That's all I wanted to hear." James whispered, as he leaned closer to Lily, grabbing her waist. Lily could feel his breath on her as she reached her hands up to his chest. He was so close, all she had to do was go up on her tiptoes to capture his lips in her own.

Just as she was about to kiss him, he released her waist and started backing towards the castle. "Curfew."

Lily felt her cheeks grow hot. "What was that for?"

"Doesn't feel too good when someone leaves you hanging, huh?" James chuckled, and he started running up towards the castle. Lily rolled her eyes. She had to admit, he was playing fair. She chased after him, and eventually was inches behind him. James grabbed her hand and spun her toward him. She stumbled, but was already caught in James' arms. They looked as if they were performing a dance, James dipping Lily in a flourish.

Lily was looking up at James from below. The way the setting sun was hitting perfectly on his jaw. That jawline. She swore he was sculpted from stone.

As she was already halfway to the ground, she pulled James down with her, so they both fell in a heap on the ground. Neither could stop laughing for a few minutes. Lily rested a hand on James to steady her, and soon his hand was back cupping her face and resting on the small of her back. Her hands each snaked up to his neck. Their foreheads were nearly touching.

"Are you going to let me kiss you now?" James breathed, it was barely a whisper.

"Only if you kiss me like before." Lily whispered back.

James didn't hold up to his end of the bargain. The kiss was far better than before. They were both lost in each other and the only thing that mattered was their lips on each other's. Lily felt every nerve in her body on the verge of exploding. She took in every detail she could. The smell of James, his wonderful, musky scent. The feel of his messy hair as she gripped it. The amazing feeling of his lips moving against hers. His hands holding her like he never wanted to let go.

Eventually, James pulled away with a heavy breath. Panting, Lily realized she had forgotten to breathe as well, and both were trying to calm themselves and breathe in the cool night air around them.

"You are full of surprises, you know that, Lily?" gasped James. Lily loved to see him trying to catch his breath, knowing that she had been the one to take it away.

"Not too bad yourself," she exhaled. They both stayed like this for a few moments before Lily broke the silence with, "Are we dating?"

"What?" James laughed with what breath he had left.

"Are we dating? I just wanted to clarify so we're both on the same page. These things can get so confusing when there's no communica- mph."

And James was kissing her again. This time, less intense. A slower, more sweet and genuine kiss. As he pulled away, her green eyes looked into him with more uncertainty than she had ever felt.

"I'd be honored to be your boyfriend. So if you'd like to be, yes, we are dating."

"We are?" Lily beamed.

"If you'd like to be," repeated James.

"I'd like to be." Lily felt very certain of that. She gave James a small peck, and with that they both stood up.

She looked to James, to see how he was taking the fact that they were now a couple. Lily didn't think she had ever seen him more elated. He turned to face the grounds and spread his arms wide.

"Everyone hear that?! Lily Evans is my girlfriend!" shouted James, and although she had her face in her hands, she was smiling.

"C'mon, you bloke." She grabbed his hand and they made their way up to the Gryffindor tower. As they reached the end of the common room, Lily placed a kiss on James' cheek, and wished him goodnight. Both of them walked to their rooms, feeling even more pleased with tonight than their first date.