Chapter Five
Lily awoke to the light of the sun streaming through an open window. It was Monday. They had classes but Lily couldn't care less.
Last night, Lily had confessed her feelings to James and they'd kissed in the corridor before dancing to a soft tune that James hummed. They had twirled around with light of the moon bathing them sweetly. They had told each other stories in the dark common room and looked into each other's eyes and saw the world laid in front of them.
Lily looked to her bedside table and found a pile of pictures of a laughing James and her taken using Sirius' muggle camera. A snitch that James engraved with their initials and had used magic to make much smaller was attached to a string, just like a necklace beside an empty bottle of firewhiskey.
She hugged the covers close to her and smiled. Lily had never felt this way before. It was as if the weight of the world had been lifted off her shoulders and she was coming home after spending a lifetime away from it.
James looked both ways before crossing the corridor. Although most people were in class, he knew he still had to take precautions. He didn't have time to argue his way out of detention because Lily would be up any minute now.
Carefully, he carried the small breakfast tray through the portrait hall and into the common room.
Now the only problem was to get up the staircase. James carefully placed a foot on the bottom step. Nothing happened. He tried another foot, then another. Suddenly, the staircase spoke.
"I am built to guard against those of impure intentions. Against those who wish to do as they please by impulse. However, I detect only sincerity and purity in your heart. Tell me boy, is this true?"
James' eyes widened. The staircase spoke? "Yes. Yes it's true.", he answered thinking of Lily.
"Do as you please.", the staircase responded.
Quickly running down and fetching the tray, James darted up into Lily's dormitory.
"Lils?"
Lily turned around to find James in red sweatpants and his quidditch jersey looking absolutely adorable. He was leaning on the door frame with a tray of food and his glasses were sliding down his nose and reflecting his boyish smile. He walked over to the bed and sat down lightly.
Lily smiled and pressed a soft kiss to his lips.
"I love you."
James returned the kiss and mumbled softly, "I love you too."
"Can I call you 'Forever'?", Lily asked staring deep into his chocolate coloured eyes.
A puzzled expression came over Potter's face, "Why would you want to do that?"
"Because I'm going to spend forever with you."
"Merlin, I thought I'd be the one who told terrible, romantic jokes."
The couple laughed together in the dormitory, their youth and love shining in their eyes and only one thing was perfectly clear.
They loved each other.