Mirrors and Mistletoe— Chapter 6
"Isn't this a bit extreme, Albus?"
Dumbledore swiveled in his chair to glance up at the woman in black descending the staircase behind his desk. "Ah, Minerva. I didn't realize you were here," he replied with a gleam in his eye.
She raised an imperious eyebrow as she approached him. "Matchmaking the students? Whatever are you thinking? As if their raging hormones need any assistance! Isn't it a waste of valuable time considering all that's happening outside these walls lately? Aren't there more pressing matters to attend to?" she added solemnly.
Dumbledore's demeanor tightened. "It is precisely because of all that is happening that I do this."
Minerva McGonagall looked at him in confusion. "Please explain."
The old wizard pushed himself out of his chair to stand face to face with his longtime colleague and friend. "I know things, Minerva. Things that have happened. Things that are happening now. And things that will happen. Some good," he paused, then continued, "and some not."
She contemplated his words, knowing that he indeed did know many things no one else was privy to. With tensions escalating between those who followed this new dark lord and those, like her and Albus, trying to keep him at bay, she was curious about his interest in two students. "And what do Miss Evans and Mr. Potter have to do with all of those things, Albus?" she asked.
A sad look appeared on his face, which surprised her. "All I will say is that it is of the utmost importance for all of us that those two…find one another, for lack of a better term," he answered cryptically. She still eyed him skeptically, but had long ago learned to trust his instincts even when he seemed a little like a loon.
"Times are uncertain. Tomorrow is not guaranteed for any of us, so trust me, my friend," he said, that twinkle once again returning to his eyes. "The magic of Christmas is a powerful thing."
"Well, first things first, we're going to need a list of everyone who's still here at Hogwarts for the holiday," announced Lily. She had already retrieved a pen and notepad and scribble furiously as she and James walked back downstairs to the Gryffindor common room. "And then we'll have to make a timeline of when everything should happen, what activities and when…and then the meal…what to serve…"
James watched her with a smile as she chewed on the end of her pen in thought even as she kept in motion down the hallway.
"And what about the decorations? And, and the gifts? How will we even know what to buy? What if we get something someone doesn't want?" She abruptly stopped walking and a look of utter dread spread across her face. "It's too much, James," she declared as she looked hopelessly up at him. "I don't think I can do it all in such a short time."
He had never seen her so bereft. It near broke his heart and made him want to kiss her again all at the same time. He put one hand on her shoulder and took her notepad with the other. "Lily, you don't have to do it all," he said comfortingly. "Unless you've already forgotten, Dumbledore assigned the task to both of us. You're not alone in this."
He could tell by the fond way she looked at him that he had said the right thing. She sighed with a smile and it seemed a great weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She nodded and smiled at him again.
"Thank you," she said softly.
'Oh, sweet Lily,' James thought to himself. 'If only she'd look at me like that all the time.'
"You're welcome," he replied, sliding his hand from her shoulder to take her fingertips in his. "Having the captain of the Quidditch team as your co-planner will make this a piece of cake," he added with a smug grin.
Lily furrowed her brows and pulled her hand from his. "What do you mean?"
"I mean," he said, stepping closer and grabbing her hand again, "that most of the younger years worship me. They'll jump at the chance to do whatever I ask. All we'll have to do is sit back and supervise." He drew out the last word with a proud lift of his chin. "Problem solved."
An astonished glare overtook her pretty face that only moments before had looked at him with something akin to admiration and appreciation. She ripped her hand from his, and James could swear he saw smoke coming from her ears.
"To think I actually thought—." She stopped herself and shook her head as if to clear it. "You are absolutely unbelievable, James Potter!" she exclaimed. Clenching her fists at her sides, she closed her eyes in an attempt to regain her composure. "I have never known someone so bloody in love with himself, so, so utterly arrogant and, and selfish!"
"Hey! Wait one minute!" he interjected, finally realizing how unhappy she was with him.
However, she was unfazed and stormed off down the corridor still expounding on his many faults and her apparent lunacy.
"I was stupid, stupid, stupid!" she uttered heatedly to herself as he trailed after her. "Can't believe I let him… should have never went outside."
James easily caught up to her and spun her around to face him. "Evans! Stop!"
"Don't. Call me that," she said in a low and deadly serious voice.
"What are you so upset about? So I get us some extra help? What will that hurt? We're going to need it," he stated matter-of-factly, which, for some reason, only infuriated her more.
"I know we'll need some help," she stated calmly. "But the way you just assume everyone will rush to do your bidding like you're some god's gift to Hogwarts is absolutely disgusting! Not to mention that you're just being lazy and trying to get everyone else to do your work for you like the spoiled, entitled brat you are —." She paused to breathe deeply. "You know, never mind, James. You don't have to do anything. I will do it all without your help. Go and play or sleep, or practice Quidditch— whatever you do. I don't need you."
With a jut of her chin, she spun on her heel and stomped off, leaving a confused James in her wake.
"What the bloody hell was that?!" he muttered to himself.
"That, you oaf, was Lily Evans in all her passionate fury," added a voice from behind a nearby alcove. James turned to find Severus Snape stepping out into the hall glancing admiringly at Lily's retreating form, now nearly out of sight. "Glorious, isn't it?" he added, more for himself than James.
James frowned to see another male looking that way at Lily— his Lily. And she would be his because he was still determined to win her over. However, he had to admit Snape was right. She was glorious.
"Put your eyes back in your head, Snivellus. She's spoken for," James said with a growl.
Snape turned slowly toward James, looked down his hawkish nose and cocked a smug eyebrow. "By whom? You?" he said incredulously. "Clarkson might have something to say about that." Snape smirked at the jolt of surprise that flitted across James' face. "Give it up, Potter. She's never liked you," he declared, "and she never will. She deserves someone…," he paused to rake a condescending gaze over his nemesis and added, "better." Then he spun around, his black robe whipping behind him as he took off in the opposite direction.
James frowned and pondered the events of the past couple of hours. She kissed him. Willingly. And he could tell she enjoyed it. It was no meaningless kiss. No, Lily Evans didn't partake in meaningless flings. That much he knew from observing her all these years. Their kiss had meant something.
Or did it? Snape's remark about Howard Clarkson's possible claim on Lily ate at him, especially after their strained interaction in the dining hall the previous night. Something was going on between them. How much truth was there in Snape's words? Well, James aimed to find out. And in the meantime he would prove her wrong about his being lazy. He would prove himself helpful whether she liked it or not.