Written for Romance Awareness Month at Hogwarts (Day 26): Your soulmate can't harm you at all. Additional prompts: bonus- (object) suitcase, (word) propose

Word Count: 601

"Lils?" James asked, threading his fingers through his girlfriend's ruby hair. "Have you ever thought about life after Hogwarts?"

Lily glanced up from her book. "I do," she said pensively. "Why do you ask?"

"I—" James hesitated before he plunged onwards, "I wanted to know if your future includes me."

Lily turned the page, and without looking up, affectionately ruffled her boyfriend's untidy hair.

"Of course you are involved, silly," she said kindly. "Why would you think otherwise?"

"Well, with the war raging on, Muggleborns are a primary target. Associating with purebloods like me is risky."

Lily paused and looked up. "Are you breaking up with me, James Potter?"

"No, no, I'm not!" he said hastily. "I'm just concerned about your safety."

"Oh. In that case, I can take care of myself," she said flatly, returning to her book.

James ripped the book away from her hands and threw it across the room. It landed in the lap of an unsuspecting fourth-year. James ignored his indignant squawking in favor of glaring fiercely at Lily.

"What was that for?" asked Lily, put out. "James, control yourself!"

"I'm trying to talk about something serious with you and you're just interested in reading a damn book!" James exclaimed irately, attracting attention from everyone in the common room.

Lily's ears twitched nervously as she registered the deafening silence around her.

"James," she said pointedly, "let's take this conversation elsewhere, shall we?"

She grabbed his arm and forcibly dragged him up the stairs to the boys' dormitory.

"What's your problem?" she hissed as she closed the door behind them. "Why are you so invested in my future?"

"Because—because I love you," he said defiantly, "and I want to spend the rest of life being with you making you happy."

Lily covered her mouth. "James Fleamont Potter, you'd better not be proposing."

"No. I'm not," he confirmed, "but what I said is true. I want to live with you, marry you, have children with you, grow old with you…everything."

Lily couldn't restrain herself; James looked so adorable confessing his plans to her. She threw around her arms around him and kissed him hard and passionately.

James's lips were hot and needy against her own. "I love you because," he gasped, "you're beautiful."

"Keep going," she encouraged, pressing chaste kisses along his jaw.

James was having immense difficulty concentrating.

"You're smart," he said, "and kind, and sensitive, and levelheaded, and generous."

Each quality he listed was rewarded with a kiss on his throat. James closed his eyes, relishing the feeling of her soft lips against his skin.

"And you're amazing in bed," he concluded, emitting a small laugh from Lily.

"I love you too," she whispered, her smile so bright it could've lit a thousand suns.

While he was with her, he was immortal.

…

James hummed as he lugged his suitcase full of his belongings inside his newly purchased flat. He and Lily had bought it with their savings. It was a rather small flat but provided the bare necessities. It would do for now, and Lily had promised she would spruce it up.

He dropped his suitcase in the sitting room as Lily hauled her own in, grunting with effort.

With a smile, James helped her set down the suitcase and hugged her with unsuppressed joy.

"We have a flat," he whispered in awe, "we're officially adults now."

"I know." Lily nuzzled his neck with her head, stray strands of her hair tickling the underside of his jaw. Dear Merlin, he loved her to death.

He couldn't wait to start a future with her.