Chapter 6: Love Charm Number...?

"Cora? Cora? Who is Cora and since when does Sirius not play the field?" Elizabeth complains, flopping out on my bed, still looking pretty in her red formal that matches her hair. I chose white and festooned my hair with lilies to match.

"I guess she's his steady girl," I say, watching her from the mirror, dabbing a little more perfume on my neck, wrists, and behind my ears. "I don't know. James doesn't really want to talk about his mates dating habits."

"Well, what good is he then?" she whines. "Really, you think he would have told me."

"Black doesn't know you exist, dear," I point out. "Sorry to say, but--"

"He...He smiled at me two years ago and-and-and winked at Hogsmeade."

"Hardly an uncommon occurrence," I sigh, shaking my head. "Really, Lizzy, we're talking Sirius Black here. Used to be a different girl a week. Perhaps a different girl an hour. A smile and a wink is nothing."

Elizabeth sits up, still pouty. "Why don't we talk 'James Potter here.' Since when is he your steady guy? Didn't you just curse him for-for whatever your excuse of the moment is? How does that turn to potential Yule ball snogging in the bushes?"

"Really, Lizzy, how vulgar!" I admonish, rolling my eyes. "James and I are going to dance, not...not anything else. And I told you before, he's changed. He's different. Kinder. More sincere and mature. I like him and am entitled to a change of opinion."

"Maybe that stupid love charm he cast 4th year finally worked."

"He...He what?" I ask, turning to face her. "What love charm?"

"The one he cast after charms class 4th year," she says, yawning. "It was close to this time of year. We had just covered that chapter and he asked me for some hair from your brush to make it work."

"You...You didn't give it to him, did you?"

Elizabeth shrugs, standing to smooth the fresh wrinkles out of her dress. "I didn't see the harm in it. We all know Potter can't pass a charms OWL if his life depended on it. I didn't expect it to work."

I stand too, lips thinning to a firm line. "It didn't. An attempted casting 4th year should have worked 4th year. Charms can't hang around waiting for-for...I don't know what. It's just--It's just--" I pause, taking a deep breath to calm the sudden tears. "Casting a charm? Really! How desperate!"

"Are you going to break off with him?" Elizabeth asks, worming her feet into her shoes, nearly ready to make a grand entrance at the ball.

"I...I'll have a talk about it tonight. At any rate, I know he's loved me since first year so suppose I can't blame him for trying."

"Four months ago you wouldn't have thought twice about cursing him!"

I glare over my shoulder at her from the door. "That was four months ago. I've told you, he's changed since and I rather like him now."

"Suit yourself," she grumbles, following me through the portrait and toward the stairs. "I just don't want you to make a mistake, Lily."

"I'm not and I won't, Elizabeth," I say. "I know my own mind and don't need help making it up...from anyone."

"God, Severus," Elizabeth says, rolling her eyes as we round the corner to the top of the stairs, seeing James and Severus Snape waiting at the bottom. "What was I thinking, Lily?"

"He's rather handy around a potions lab," I say, pushing her to get her feet working. "Have fun, Lizzy."

"He'd rather go with you, you know," she hisses, grabbing my arm so she doesn't have to descend alone. "I think the only reason he asked was to get close to you."

"Perhaps one dance, but I have a feeling James will be greedy tonight," I say, smiling when James raises the lily-flower he'd bought towards me. "Good evening, gentlemen!"

"Miss Evans," Severus says, bowing formally.

"My you look handsome in your dress robes, Severus!" I exclaim, not being able to help the words that elicit a dark scowl from James. "Black suits you."

He takes a startled step back, eyes wide. "Th-Thank you, Lily. White suits you as well."

I smile, turning to James before curtsying and accepting the flower he offers. "It's lovely. Thank you, James."

"Let's dance," he says, grabbing my wrist and heading for the ball floor. "Don't talk to Snivilus again, Lily. I don't like it."

I scowl, shoving off so we're not dancing so close. "Don't tell me what to do, James Potter. I hate jealous gits."

He tries to pull me close again but I keep my distance, arm stretched and palm flat against his chest. He scowls, muttering something under his breath.

"Speak up. I didn't hear you," I hiss, currently in no mood to be pleasant.

"I SAID 'Why don't you marry him then?' Have a whole slew of flat footed, buck teethed, greasy haired, pointy nosed, dark arts loving Snapes."

"They would be a million times better than any children we'd possibly conceive!" I shoot back. "Why would I want any messy haired, short sighted, knock-kneed, Quidditch obsessed prats?"

"I'm worth a million Snapes!"

I shove completely off, crossing my arms over my chest. "Go to hell, James Potter! Thank you so much for a lovely evening. I don't believe I can stand a second longer."

I turn, trying to hide my tears, before lifting an edge of my skirt and hurrying up the stairs. I intend to go back to the Common Room before realizing James is at my heels. He grabs for my wrist, spinning me around to face him in the hall.

"Wait, Lily!"

"Why should I?" I cry. "Why should I even give you a second more of my time, James Potter? You just proved to me back there that you're no better than the foolish boy who tormented Severus since first year! Now I look the complete fool because I've been telling all my mates how you've changed and I how actually like you now. How foolish could I be? You haven't changed. You're just the same as you've always been. Reminds me of why I hate you."

"No, no you don't mean that," he says desperately, grabbing my other wrist to hold me in place and ducking slightly to see into my lowered face. "You don't mean you hate me. I've...I've worked so hard to prove myself to you, Lily. Jealous! Jealousy makes everyone act like gits. I was-I was just jealous you spoke to him first, that's all. You're supposed to be my girl, Lily. At least I thought so. We've been getting on well. I was just--I was just upset. Please don't walk out on me now."

I notice through my eyelashes he does look genuinely panic-stricken. I sigh, lifting my gaze. "Don't ever do that again, James, and perhaps I'll forgive you."

"I'll make it up to you, I promise, I promise," he insists, kissing me between each word. "I just...I wouldn't be so jealous if I knew once and for all where I stand." James raises both eyebrows hopefully, waiting.

I sigh again, resting my head on the spot partway between his chest and shoulder. "I don't know yet. I'm trying to think carefully about it but I...I don't know."

'But you don't...you don't hate me?"

"No, I don't hate you."

"In time do you think...do you think you could, perhaps, um, love me?"

I lift my head to look fully into his face. So earnest and sincere. Bugger. "Perhaps."

"Good enough for now," James says, kissing me quickly. "Almost a yes and not a no." He grins. "I'm happy with that."

I smack him playfully on the shoulder. "The simpleminded take such pleasure in small wonders."

He laughs. "Come back to the dance, Lily."

I watch him for a moment before smiling slowly. "Let's stay up here alone awhile longer, James..."