The story of how James Potter managed to win over Lily Evans after she was painfully pushed away by Severus Snape.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of its characters or…anything. J.K. Rowling does.
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"All right," she sighed. James' eyebrows lifted slightly, surprised at her sudden surrender, then smiled and glanced up at Sirius with an I-told-you-so kind of look. Lily caught the look between them and cleared her throat with pursed lips. James smiled even broader but complied.
"Right. Sirius, could you go to the castle and fetch that new nurse… what's her name…Madame Pomfrey?"
"Sure thing, mate," Sirius was off running in an instant.
"Let's hook your arm over my shoulders," James suggested when Sirius was gone. Lily gave him a slightly suspicious look, but James only grinned and said, "Either that or I carry you."
"No thanks," she said quickly. She may have decided to accept Potter's kindness, but that didn't mean she was going to let him embarrass her like that. She put her arm over his shoulders and began slowly limping back to the school. I could curse myself for getting injured so far away from the castle.
After a while, she began to pant heavily; it was difficult to hop along on one leg, even with James' strong shoulders to lean on. It was not long before he asked, with his voice surprisingly softened with compassion,
"Need to rest, Evans?"
Huh. Potter isn't as self-centered as he appears. "Just for a bit," Lily panted, lowering herself down on the grass. James sat beside her, and for a minute they just sat, staring quietly at the lake. The sun was descending behind it, setting the water's surface wonderously aflame with color.
Suddenly James spoke. "Lily." He's never called me Lily before. It's always Evans. She said nothing, gluing her eyes to the sunset. His warm hand was suddenly touching hers, and Lily realized that she was alone with James Potter, watching the sunset. What's taking Sirius so long? But then Lily also realized that she barely minded. Was it possible she was even forming an…attachment? To this conceited, infuriating boy? she thought. Her heart sped up a little. Yes… and perhaps all the more for him being so.
Lily felt her own hand respond to James' touch, and in a moment his hand was holding hers tenderly. For a while they just sat there, holding hands. When the sun was dipping sharply into the horizon, Lily released a sigh. "We should probably go back to the castle now." She was then very abruptly aware that James was looking at her intensely.
"Lily," he said again. As she looked back at him, her breath snagged for a moment as she took in his dark, wind-ruffled hair and his warm eyes set into his handsome, sharply angled features, all dangerously close to her own face.
"Yes?"
"I just like to say your name. It's beautiful."
Lily's face grew warm. "Thank—"
Her words were suddenly interrupted as James pressed his lips gently, insistently, to hers. In her surprise, her hand loosened its grip on his, at which he took the opportunity to reach up and hold the back of her neck, softly and firmly. The sunlight vanished below the horizon, but Lily could still feel it, warm and golden, filling up her insides.
The sound of running steps finally distracted them, and when their lips broke apart, Lily looked at James in wonder and surprise. Did he just…
"I'm sorry," he said breathlessly. "I'm sorry. You looked so… I just thought…"
Sirius ran up panting, followed several yards behind by Madame Pomfrey. "Hey, what took you so long getting back to the castle?" Sirius asked, as if he knew exactly what took so long.
"Uh… Lily—er, Evans—felt tired, so we decided to stop." James offered truthfully but unconvincingly.
"Oh, I see. Lily, huh?" Sirius teased, as Madame Pomfrey ran up puffing, her youthful brown hair flying from under her cap.
"Mr. Black tells me you took quite a fall, Miss Evans. Let's see that ankle." Only now did Lily feel the pain in that treacherous joint once more. She bit down on her lip as Madame Pomfrey examined the now badly-swollen ankle in her professional manner.
After a minute she muttered something and flicked her wand at the ankle, at which the swelling vanished almost immediately, and Lily was relieved to find that the pain was gone. Pomfrey gave her a satisfied smile.
"There you are now. Good as new. Hop along, now, all of you. It's getting near dinnertime."
"Thanks, Madame Pomfrey, it's much better," Lily said gratefully as she stood, stumbling slightly; James' strong arms caught her before she fell.
"Whoa, Evans, you don't want to hurt yourself all over again." The magic moment was gone, and the arrogant smirk was back in his voice.
"Worry yourself not, Potter, I won't," Lily responded coolly, her leaf-green eyes flaring up and contradicting her coolness as she spun to face the insolent boy. Instead of arrogance or even hurt, she found in his eyes some unfathomable emotion, strong and turbulent, which left his brows furrowed and his lips slightly parted in… was it… uncertainty? This unexpected reaction put her off guard, and she let the second half of her retort die on her lips.
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