Word Count: 610
Prompts at the end.
"She gives me butterflies," James sighs, watching as Evans walks away.
His cheek still stings from where she had slapped him after colorfully telling him how much she hadn't appreciated his jokes, but it doesn't matter. He knows she'll come around one day.
"Mate, in your dreams," Sirius snorts. "She hates you."
"You forget, my friend: dreams can come true."
James creeps through the house, walking on tiptoes, a camera in his hand and a smile on his face. The warm scent of pancakes fills the house and makes his stomach growl. He walks carefully, still on the tips of his toes, his slippers bending slightly with each stealthy step.
Some days, his dream seems impossible. Lily notices him, but it isn't enough. She doesn't see him, doesn't care for him. James has always preached optimism, but he doesn't know if he can practice it now.
"Why does it seem so far out of my reach?" James sighs.
"Because she can barely stand the sight of you," Remus supplies.
"Remind me never to piss you off," James snorts. "If you can wound me so easily as a friend, I hate to see what you could do to me as an enemy."
His dreams have always been simple. Marry Lily, start a perfect life with her, and just be happy. Sometimes, it amazes him that he'd found a way to make those dreams come true. But here he is; Lily is his wife, and there are more beautiful days than bad ones.
He creeps through the hallway and comes to a stop outside the kitchen, lingering in the doorway. Lily's back is to him as he leans against the doorway, unable to resist a broad grin. Sunshine filters through the window, bathing her in a beautiful, soft golden light that makes his heart flutter.
He wonders how he got so lucky. Even if Lily came around and learned to tolerate him, how did she actually learn to love him? He's spend years dreaming of this life, and now it's his reality.
"Careful with the seedlings, Potter," Lily cautions.
"Oi. I'm good at this," he says indignantly, folding his arms over his chest.
She rolls her eyes. "Yeah? Since when did you care about Herbology?" she snorts, gesturing at the little sprouts and blossoms that fill the greenhouse with color, as though to emphasize the word.
"Always. It's in my name," he says, grinning. "Potters and plants are a perfect match."
Normally, she would groan and tell him exactly where he can shove his silly jokes. This time, something seems to have changed. She covers her mouth to muffle a laugh, but the way her emerald eyes twinkle with amusement betray her.
"Would you like at that," James muses with a victorious smirk. "Evans thinks I'm funny after all."
"Piss off, Potter." But she grins so brightly when she says it.
"Good morning, beautiful," he calls.
When his wife turns around, he snaps a picture. Too late to matter, Lily shields her eyes against the bright flash. "Oi! It's too early for your shenanigans!" she laughs, turning back to the stove. "Can you not?"
"Nope. I have to have proof, that way when I finally wake up I'll know it wasn't a dream."
Lily laughs and grabs the plates, taking them to the table. James licks his lips. Pancakes, topped with whipped cream and fresh strawberries. He takes it back. This is so much better than the life he had dreamt of.
"What are you smiling about?" she asks, summoning pitcher of orange juice with a wave of her wand.
"Just thinking of how lucky I am."
And he truly means it.
Holmes Mystery: walking on tiptoes
Film Festival: camera
Balloon: happy
Gobstones, black (dreams): pancakes, friend, simple
National Cheese Day: cheesy romance
Summer: fresh
Birthstone, topaz: "He/she gives me butterflies."
Fire Element, Leo: Jily
Gryffindor: Lily Evans
Disney, Olaf: fluff
Buttons: slippers
Lo's Lowdown: "Remind me never to piss you off."
Faeries, spring: sunshine, blossom, sprout, seedling
