A soft drizzle was falling, blurring the edges of Hogsmeade and making everything look more like an impressionist painting than reality. Lily sat outside the Three Broomsticks, her gut feeling increasingly confirmed.
She had been stood up.
Alexander Hickory had asked her to meet him for a butterbeer at half past three. It was now a quarter past four, and he still hadn't shown up. Lily was fairly certain she could take this to mean that he wasn't coming it all. Honestly, she wasn't surprised. A few days after he'd asked her she had seen him flirting with Delana Morris in Potions. Normally Lily would think it was harmless, but she knew Delana. When that girl decided she wanted something, she got it.
Lily sighed. She hadn't exactly been married to the idea of Alex, but it still hurt to be tossed aside. She fiddled with of her hair, which was growing increasingly unruly in the damp air.
"Why so blue, Lily pad?"
Glancing up, Lily saw James Potter in front of her. To her surprise, she was actually happy about it. He tended to be a life preserver for her mood lately, buoying her up with a quick joke or story whenever he noticed she was feeling down. Funny, Lily though, he always seemed to know when she was feeling down. Even when she was careful to hide it.
"I got stood up," Lily replied, choosing not to reprimand him for his use of a nickname, "Alex Hickory was supposed to meet me here 45 minutes ago."
James made a face, "He must have died," he replied matter-of-factly, "No other reason he wouldn't show."
Lily smiled, "I appreciate the vote of confidence, but I'm pretty sure he just got … distracted … by someone else."
James stuck his hands in his pockets, "Not very bright then, is he? To think he could have more fun with another girl."
Rolling her eyes, Lily stood up from her spot on the bench, "Flattery will get you nowhere, Potter."
"Alternatively, it will get me inside the Three Broomsticks with you," he replied smoothly, "Come on, Lily. Butterbeers on me. I'm no Alex Hickory," he said the name with a false dramatic flair, "But I'm not half bad."
Lily stared at him, uncertain of what to do. Half the girls at Hogwarts would kill to have James Potter offer to buy them a butterbeer. He was the picture of handsome, his damp hair disheveled, his glasses flecked with rain. Lily couldn't decide if she was insane for even considering taking him up on his offer, or insane for not jumping at it in an instant. Either way, she found two words coming out of her mouth.
"Why not?"
A bright smile lit up James's face, and Lily couldn't help but feel just a little special about the fact that all it had taken was a 'yes' from her to make him so happy.
"But this is just a friendly thing," she added, maybe as much for her own benefit as for his, "I don't want you thinking this means you've won me over or something."
"Yes ma'am," he replied seriously. And Lily thought she was probably an idiot for saying that.
After all, would letting him win her over really be so bad? Lily gave herself a shake at the thought. This was not a date, and she was not considering letting James Potter win her over. This was just a butterbeer because she'd gotten stood up. Just a drink between friends. Harmless.
So it was harmless when they found a cozy booth by the fire. It was harmless when they talked and laughed for three hours. It was harmless when James paid for both of them at the end. It was harmless when they walked back to Hogwarts together.
And it was harmless when James hugged her goodnight inside the Gryffindor common room, and she found herself wishing just a little bit that he'd held her longer.
"Thanks for everything, James," she said. And she meant it.
"My pleasure."
Lily turned to make her way up the stairs, but stopped, "Remember," she added, pointing a finger at him in a mock threat, "Just friends. Got it?"
James smiled, "Got it."
But something about his smile told Lily that he knew she didn't necessarily mean it.
"Well damn," Lily muttered to herself.
She might be in trouble.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed it! Reviews are great .