Lily and James were in an empty classroom sorting out the new prefect patrol timetable. James had suggested that they re-use the original one, but Lily was adamant on making a new one. After some negotiation, they decided to use the original one as a base and just change a few shifts.
"I can't patrol Thursday," James said, pointing to the first Thursday.
"Why not?" Lily scowled. He had to be so picky with his shifts! She waved her wand and replaced James' name with Remus' name.
"Neither can Remus," James added. Lily realised it was the full moon.
"What does the full moon have to do with you?" Lily asked. James shrugged.
"I have to comfort him for moral support!"
Lily frowned and paused in her work. "Is Sirius a werewolf?" she asked. James looked confused.
"What? No."
She looked down at the timetable. "Oh, I was just thinking… never mind." She continued tapping the timetable. James took hold of her wand.
"Tell me," he demanded.
"Just of what Peter said about a dog's tail," she mumbled. "Never mind, it was a stupid guess."
James chuckled. "Yep. Not even close."
"But he is some sort of dog then?" Lily pressed. James shrugged.
"Sure, I guess so."
Lily chewed her lip. It wasn't her business at all, but she was so curious, and James better have a bloody good reason why he couldn't do the shifts allocated to him.
"You promised you'd tell me," Lily said petulantly. James sighed.
"I know. Let's finish this first."
They returned to the timetable and finished it after Lily was pleased with the 'random allocation' of shifts.
"There's something wrong with it," James observed.
"I know," Lily agreed. "But I don't know what."
James looked closely at the timetable. There was something off about the colours… or the names…
"There are no Hufflepuffs," James said at last. Of course! It was so obvious!
"Seriously?" Lily snatched the timetable back and quickly looked at it. She sighed. "How could I have forgotten them?" She took out her wand and began changing the names. "This ruins everything!"
James thought it would be best to let Lily fix it by herself. He satisfied his boredom by watching Lily's hair shine in the candlelight, how her slender fingers curved around her wand. She truly was beautiful to James.
"How's this?" James jerked out of his stupor and took the timetable Lily was holding out to him. He looked over it carefully, making sure there was an even spread of houses patrolling and age groups. It was perfect; nothing less than James expected from Lily.
"It's good," he said simply. Lily nodded and put it into her bag to distribute at the next meeting.
"So." Lily put her elbows on the table and rested her face in her hands. "Tell me your secret."
James copied her pose. "Who said it was a secret?"
"If it wasn't a secret, you would have told me by now," Lily pointed out. James conceded.
"Alright, so maybe it is a secret. If I tell you, you have to promise you won't tell anyone," he warned.
"So many secrets with you!" Lily shook her hair back. "It makes me wonder what else you're hiding."
James smirked. "The best secrets are kept. Promise me you won't tell anyone."
"I promise."
"Shake on it."
They both shook hands firmly, Lily's hand being lost in James' big hands, James' hand warming at Lily's touch. When they returned to their original poses, neither had realised they had inched forward.
"So… if Moony is a werewolf, and Padfoot is a dog," James hinted, "Can you guess what Prongs is?"
Lily shook her head. "I suck at riddles, James," Lily admitted. "You're better off just telling me." James was agitated that Lily wouldn't take part in his game. He ditched all theatrics.
"Animagi," he said bluntly. Lily looked amused.
"Do you really expect me to believe that Peter became an animagus?" she asked. "Oh, pretend I never said that, that was so rude!"
James couldn't help but laugh. "We had to help him out in some areas."
"That is very impressive magic though," Lily said. "And all of this, just for Remus?"
"We didn't want him to suffer alone," James murmured. He drew imaginary patterns on the desk with his finger for a minute. When he made eye contact with Lily, she looked awed.
"Your friendship is certainly something to be jealous about."
James flushed at the praise. "Maybe. Well, now you know everything, please don't turn us into the Ministry."
"You mean you're not registered?" Lily shook her head. "Of course you're not!"
"It might be a good secret weapon," James argued. "Undercover and all that."
Lily began twirling a strand of her hair around her fingers. "That would be a good idea, having more animagi in the field," Lily thought aloud, "if it weren't for the fact that going unregistered is illegal. So what are you?"
"A stag. Hence the whole Prongs thing," James teased. Lily smiled.
"Of course." She stood and gathered her things, forcing them into her bag. She waited for James to join her; he took his sweet time considering he didn't bring anything. He seemed deep in thought.
"Do you want to go to the paddock with me?" James asked quietly.
Oh, did she ever. Lily hadn't been able to get the beauty out of her mind. It wasn't easily forgotten. She desperately wanted to return.
"Not tonight," Lily said regretfully. James looked dejected so Lily slipped her hand into his and squeezed. "How about tomorrow?"
James brightened up immediately. "Alright. After dinner then?" Lily nodded, wanting to see the place at night. Perhaps the fireflies would be there.
James didn't let Lily pull her hand out of his until they reached the stairs. While this disappointed Lily, should would never admit it, and was slightly relieved when James wandered off around the castle in search for his mates.
"They won't be in the common room," he had said. "It's too boring without me there."
So Lily had returned by herself, happy that things were looking up. She climbed through the portrait hole, looking for her friends. They were sitting at a table in the corner with a spare seat for Lily. She bee-lined for them.
"Guess what, girls?" Lily began bravely. She had decided that, since James didn't say she couldn't tell anyone, she would tell her best friends that they were going on a date.
Marlene and Hestia's attention was squarely on Lily. They looked… expectant. Lily plonked her things on her chair before sitting beside them. "I have a date."
They broke out in grins. "I knew it!" Marlene squealed.
"It's about time," Hestia added. Lily smiled. "So, give us details! Was it romantic?"
Lily found herself actually wanting to tell her best friends everything. "It wasn't romantic," she said honestly. "We just finished doing the patrol timetable and he asked."
"How did he ask?" Marlene wondered. Lily stopped herself from saying He asked me back to the paddock. She had almost forgotten they didn't know.
"He just asked me if I wanted to go on a date with him," Lily shrugged.
"Seems a bit plain for James," Hestia observed. Lily nodded in agreement but didn't comment. "So, when and where are you going?"
"Tomorrow evening, but I don't know where," Lily smiled.
Marlene smirked. "Evening, huh? Make sure you actually come back to the dormitory," she said. Trying to hold her snickers under her breath, but failing, she let out an ugly snort.
"What are you talking about?" Lily asked. Marlene composed herself.
"All the naughty stuff happens at night," she said seriously. Hestia rolled her eyes.
"They aren't going to have sex, Marlene!"
Lily blushed immediately. "Don't be so crude, Marlene," she frowned. Marlene shrugged in a can you blame me fashion. It's worth noting at this point that Marlene the only non-virgin between the three of them, though she had always refused to tell who she lost it to.
At that moment, James and his crew walked in. Sirius was laughing loudly at something, whacking Peter on the back roughly, and Remus was talking to James happily. James was nodding along but, upon seeing Lily in the corner, waved him off. He headed towards Lily, which made Hestia and Marlene giggle, but Lily had butterflies in her stomach. She prayed her friends would be on their best behaviour.
"Hello James," they chorused. Lily sunk in her seat. She could see the glints in their eyes. James was unaware, however, only looking at Lily. He grinned at her.
"I hear it's going to be cold tomorrow," he said conversationally.
"Best stay inside then," Hestia said with a smirk. "Not exactly good date weather." She then pretended to look shocked, putting a hand over her mouth. "Oh, did I say date? I meant to say day!"
Marlene looked solemn. "A common mistake," she added comfortingly.
Lily felt very embarrassed and glimpsed at James' face to see how he was handling her friends' mocking. To her surprise (though she really shouldn't have been surprised, because James was always mocking and being mocked) he was grinning at them.
"I think that cold weather is the best type of weather," he disagreed. "Cold weather means cuddling for warmth." This made Hestia and Marlene start giggling. James turned to Lily. "Dress warm tomorrow night. Or don't. You know, suit yourself." He winked and then sauntered off to his friends.
"Looking a bit red there Lily," Marlene snickered. "Feeling alright?
Lily sunk further into her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. "Why do you have to embarrass me so?" she asked rhetorically. She then pointed an accusing finger at Hestia. "And you! I'd expect this from Marlene, but you surprised me!"
Hestia and Marlene laughed loudly. "It was too good of an opportunity to pass up," Hestia managed to get out. "I'm full of surprises."
"Aren't we all," Lily muttered.