Epilogue: Detention
Lily, Harley, and Sirius were assigned to polishing the Trophy Room, while Zoe, Peter, James, and Marlene were in various Potions rooms, cleaning up spills and messes. Remus had gotten out of the night's fun, however, due to his prescheduled visit to his mum.
"So, was it all worth it?" Harley asked Sirius as they sat next to each other, rags in hand and polishing various trophies.
"What, the party? Definitely."
"But we're in detention," Lily argued, crossing the room to join them.
"That's your fault, Head Girl," Sirius reminded her, tossing her a rag.
Lily deftly caught it and took a shield-shaped award from the cabinet and set to work. "Even after the day we had, you can say it was a great party?"
"I like to think that it's because of the day we had that I think it's a great party," Sirius said mildly.
"You spent the whole day with a hangover and stinking like the lake," Harley pointed out.
"Yeah, but think of how our misadventures brought us closer together!" Sirius said happily.
"Oh yes, I feel so close to you right now," Harley rolled her eyes.
Sirius smacked her in the face with his rag.
"Rude," she said, taking out her wand and removing the glob of polish from her nose.
"I thought it was a good look for you."
"Bite me."
"Not the time," Lily said.
Sirius laughed and Harley smiled.
"So, Lily, what's going on with you and Prongs?" Sirius asked conversationally.
Lily flushed. "Nothing."
"Nothing? According to him, last night wasn't nothing."
"What are you, a gossiping old lady?" Lily accused, defensive.
"Just looking out for my best mate," Sirius shrugged. "It's not every day James gets his heart broken."
"James did not get his heart broken," Lily said bitterly. "He was more than happy to forget it ever happened."
"You were the one who suggested it," Harley reminded her.
"Besides, what was he supposed to say?" Sirius asked. "'No, don't go, I love you!' James is more in touch with his feminine side than most blokes, but even he wouldn't do that."
Lily looked up curiously. "He doesn't love me."
"Evans, I have been James' best mate for six years now. I can assure you, he's been on the verge of 'in love' since we first saw you on the train the very first day of Hogwarts."
Lily was stunned. "Really?"
"I know right? He needs a hobby-"
"No, Sirius, focus," Lily said, grabbing his arm and forcing him to look at her. "You're telling me that if I – I don't know – go up to James right now and admit some feelings I've very recently discovered, he wouldn't be disgusted and never talk to me again?"
Sirius quirked an eyebrow curiously and grinned. "Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying."
…
"I have to go."
Sirius laughed and Harley beamed as Lily got to her feet, throwing her rag down on the ground.
"I'd be quick, love," Sirius called as she ran out of the room. "Prongs, Wormtail, and I have somewhere to be soon!"
Taking his statement to heart, Lily increased her speed to a sprint and headed for the Potions rooms. She found Marlene in one.
"Where's James?" Lily demanded.
Marlene, alarmed, answered, "room number three. Why? Lily!" But the redhead was already running towards the room in question.
Throwing all sense of decency away, Lily burst into the room and called, "James!"
"Lily?" He said, not fifteen feet away from her. He was sitting on one of the desks, cleaning away years' worth of doodles from the table.
"James – I'm so sorry," Lily panted, the after effects of her running finally getting to her. Alarmed, he closed the distance between them but didn't touch her.
She rested her hands on her knees and tried again. "I've been awful to you all day, I'm so sorry! I was wrong, James, I was wrong, last night meant everything to me and it's taken me this long to realize it and oh, I know you may not feel the same way, but I need to say it, I do. I fancy you, James Potter," she said grandly, standing upright and taking a step closer to him, "and I think I may even love you if you can believe it because I think I'm starting to."
She paused for breath and fell silent from the look on James's face. It was a mix of confusion, humor, and awe.
"Well, don't just stand there!" Lily insisted nervously. "Say something!'
Instead, he beamed and wrapped his arms around her and kissed her, pressing his body into hers, pouring all of the emotions he couldn't express in words into the kiss.
After a few moments, Lily broke away with a shy smile. "Ditto?"
James felt as if his face was about to split in half from the broadness of his grin. "Definitely."
AN: It's over! Ahh!
It's been a week of awesome guys, I honestly have no idea how I could have gotten through it without looking forward to reading your reviews and talking to you guys because honestly you're all the best. Hugs, man, hugs all around.
I haven't responded to everyone from chapter five, I wanted to finish the story as soon as I got home! But I'm about to go through those ^_^
Thanks again to everyone who read, liked, Favorited, reviewed, and went along with all of the drunken shenanigans with me (: