Disclaimer: I don't anything here.
Chapter Nineteen
The weather remained cold as they moved through January. The frosty grass on the grounds crunched under James' feet as he and Sirius made their way towards the castle after an early morning Quidditch practice.
They had an upcoming match against Ravenclaw at the end of February and James wanted to ensure they were prepared for all eventualities.
Not that he was worried, he had the best team in the school.
But they did needed to ensure they beat Slytherin by a reasonable margin to stay in the running for the cup. Slytherin had flattened Ravenclaw last week and James was worried that they if they didn't get ahead now they would regret it later.
"Fancy sneaking into Hogsmeade later?" Sirius asked, flicking his hair out of his face and jolting James out of his thoughts of the Quidditch Cup. "I should probably get Evans a birthday present."
James had forgotten that it would soon be Lily's birthday, and he hadn't even thought about what to get for her.
After all, what did you get for a girl who thought you just wanted to be friends when you really wanted to be something more?
That added to the fact that this would be the first birthday Lily would celebrate without her parents, and James couldn't imagine she would be in the mood for partying.
"I can't" James said, clearing his throat and running his fingers through his hair awkwardly. "I'm meeting a girl."
"Don't be thick, Prongs" Sirius snorted, "I know Evans is studying with Moony this afternoon because I bribed him with chocolate to keep her busy."
"Will they be in the library?" James said quickly.
Sirius shrugged, "I doubt it, Remus said he wanted to do some spell work" he said, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Why?"
"I told you, I'm meeting a girl."
"In the library?" Sirius snorted.
"She said she needed help with her Transfiguration work" James said defensively.
"So you have an actual date?" Sirius clarified, "With a girl who isn't Lily Evans."
"It's not a date" James said, suddenly feeling self conscious. "She just asked for some help with Transfiguration."
"Who is it?" Sirius wanted to know.
"You know Felicity Jones' little sister Melody?"
Sirius stopped to gape at him, "Oh for the love of Merlin!"
"What?" James asked, beginning to wish he hadn't said anything.
"Well if you're meeting Melody Jones then it's definitely a date."
"What makes you say that?" James asked.
"The only person who needs help with Transfiguration less that Melody, is you."
"How would you know?" James asked.
"Felicity talks to me about things, sometimes I listen" Sirius shrugged as they stepped through the Portrait Hole together. "Her sister is already studying sixth year Transfiguration."
"I know, she told me."
"And you still think it isn't a date?"
"Not everyone has an ulterior motive, you know" James told him as they claimed the stairs together.
"You keep telling yourself that, Prongs" Sirius smirked as he pushed the door to their dormitory open.
James didn't have time to argue, just to quickly jump in the shower and throw some clothes on before he ran back down towards the library to meet Melody.
After speaking to Sirius he was feeling more nervous than he ought to be, and he kept ruffling his hair.
Not that he had any reason to feel nervous because this wasn't a date, Melody had just asked him for help with Transfiguration homework, much like he often helped Peter. They would probably talk so much about spell work he would regret ever leaving the Quidditch pitch.
On the other hand, what did it matter if this was a date? Melody was an attractive girl, and it might be nice for him to spend time with someone who wasn't Lily for a change, maybe it would help him to work out what his feelings for her were.
He felt much more cheerful as he jumped up the last two steps leading to the library.
When he reached the library he was glad to see that the tables were free from Lily Evans, he did spot Damocles Belby at a table by himself but decided to pay the Slytherin no mind as he made his way over to Melody. Her blonde hair was spilling in front of her face as she pored over the books in front of her.
"Hello" James said in way of announcing his presence, "Sorry I'm late, I had Quidditch practice."
Melody looked up at him with a beaming smile and big blue eyes, "You're not late" she told him as he sat down.
"So what did you need help with?"
Melody pushed book she was reading across towards James and leaned so close her chest brushed against his arm, "Well it's this bit I'm struggling with" she told him, leaning closer still to point at the paragraph in the book.
James cleared his throat, "Right well, human Transfiguration can be tricky" he started.
"I bet you don't have any problems with it, James" she said, getting her eyelashes.
"Well when you understand the theory-"
"I heard you and Daisy Hookham had broken up, is that true?"
James' head whipped around so fast he thought he might have neck, "Well we never really-"
Melody reached out to place her hand on his arm, "So you're free for the next Hogsmeade trip then?" She pressed.
James could feel this study session quickly crashing around his ears, and he was beginning to think that Sirius had been right about Melody thinking this was a date.
Not that it would necessarily be a bad thing, Melody seemed nice and she was certainly beautiful. But she was coming on a bit strong and James wasn't sure how he felt about that.
He felt bad enough for the way he'd hurt Daisy's feelings, and he really didn't want to have to repeat the process any time soon.
"Actually Melody-" he started, a flash of light from across the room catching his attention.
He glanced up to see the light was catching off the wristwatch of the very girl he just couldn't stop thinking about. Lily was leaning across the table that Damocles Belby was sitting at, pointing at something on a sheath of parchment. As though his gaze had caught her attention she looked up, her eyes flicking between him, Melody and her hand that was still on his arm.
She muttered something to Belby before turning and disappearing into one of the bookshelves with a swish of red hair.
James turned back to Melody who was still waiting expectantly with blue eyes, he hesitated for a second before stuttering, "I've just thought of a book that will really help you with this."
He catapulted out of his seat before she could stop him and marched down the aisle he had just seen Lily disappear down.
He found her in one of the dark deserted corners, reaching up to pull down a book.
"Alright, Evans" he said cheerfully.
"Oh, hello Potter" she said, barely sparing him a glance as she pulled another book off the shelf.
"What you doing?" He asked.
"Remus needed some books for his Charms homework" she said, still not looking at him.
"Right" James nodded, "Well I'm just looking for a book to help out Melody."
Lily finally turned to look at him, and he could just make out her thunderous expression in the dim lighting. "Nice of you to mention you were dating Melody Jones."
"I-" James stuttered, pausing and drawing his eyebrows together in confusion. "Why does it matter?"
"Oh, it doesn't" she said in a high pitched voice, "I couldn't care less who you date."
James snorted, "You so care" he contradicted.
"Oh grow up, Potter" she hissed.
"Why can't you admit you're jealous?" James flared up angrily.
Lily promptly turned a bright, blotchy red, "I am not jealous!" She insisted, narrowing her green eyes at him.
James laughed though he didn't find this remotely funny, "Oh come on Lily, it couldn't be more obvious if you went and jabbed Melody in the eye with your wand."
"I really couldn't care less what you do with Melody Jones" Lily insisted, flicking her hair out of her face. "In fact, I feel sorry for the poor girl."
"She'd probably say the same about you, hanging onto Belby's every word" James bit back.
"Now who's jealous" Lily demanded, "And I've told you that I'm just helping Belby out with a project."
"Well at least I'm not the only person you're pretending to have feelings for" James said derivatively.
"Does it make you happy to hear me say I don't have feelings for Dam?" Lily seethed, "Because I think this might be the twentieth time I've said it."
"Well we both know how good you are at being in denial" James pointed out, "Why don't we talk about your feelings for me?"
"I have no feelings for you, Potter!" She burst out in whispers, "Other than finding you completely infuriating."
James took a step closer, lowering his gaze so he could look directly into her fiery green eyes, "Well at least that's honest, what else?"
She looked a little startled by his sudden movement but her eyes didn't lose their anger and she stood her ground as she said, "You're conceited and vain, you want everyone to notice you and you're beyond arrogant to the point of stupidity." She swallowed as he took another step closer, "And.. and.."
"And what, Lil?" He breathed, taking a lock of her hair between his thumb and forefinger.
"And" she took a deep breath, "And you're the sweetest, kindest, funniest, stupidest, most considerate person I've ever met."
James didn't give her a chance to think after that, his chest inflated like a balloon as he grabbed her around the waist and crushed her against one of the bookshelves before covering her mouth with his.
He had dreamed about kissing Lily Evans for approximately 2 years, 5 months and 21 days and it certainly wasn't a disappointment.
Her lips were warm and soft against his and her intoxicating cinnamon smell completely surrounded him. After what might have been minutes, or several perfect hours, they finally broke apart.
Lily was staring at him with big green eyes looking very breathless.
"Oh Merlin" she said quietly, "James' I'm not really sure that was-"
"Lil."
"I mean, not that it wasn't nice, because it was-"
"Lil."
"I just think maybe we should-"
He cut her off successfully by pressing his lips against hers again. She didn't resist, but melted into his chest as though she belonged there.
"Lil" he said quietly, moving back only far enough to rest his forehead against hers. "Shut up."
Lily opened her mouth again before letting out a giggle and quickly closing it.
Just for the hell of it, and because he could, James leaned in to kiss her again.