A/N: the obvious belongs to the Queen.
James returned to Hogwarts that Tuesday, but unfortunately they didn't have time to talk or spend time with each other for another two weeks. There were papers to be written, exams to be taken, Quidditch championships to be won, friends to say goodbye to, packing, and graduating. Suddenly, it was the night before they graduated Hogwarts and Lily was freaking out. She and James hadn't spent any time together in two weeks and she missed him so much it physically pained her. Plus, he forgot about their talk. Well, it was stupid to get my hopes up anyway, Lily thought.
James was just as freaked out. Thank god he was able to graduate, what with all of the detentions and whatnot. And, on top of all of the work, he hadn't seen Lily. Merlin he missed her. He missed her smell and her presence and he laugh and her smile and god did he want to hold her. Plus, they hadn't had a chance to talk. He hoped that she didn't think he forgot about it because dammit he wanted to be with her already. Frustrated with himself, he walked down to the common room to find Lily staring into the fireplace.
She turned around when she heard someone walk in and instantly felt her heartbeat quicken when she realized that it was James.
"Hey" she said, patting the ground next to her. James happily sat down.
"Hey, long time no see."
"Yup. How have you been?"
"Stressed out."
"Ditto"
He smiled at her and scooted closer to her, taking her hand in his for the first time in forever.
"So," she said
"So, I think we should talk."
Lily gulped and felt her palms start to sweat. She's been dreading this for weeks, the moment when James said they should officially just be friends. He obviously forgot about their talk and he obviously didn't like her anymore and she was obviously being an idiot because nothing was obvious.
"Okay" she finally said.
James took a deep breath, he had a monologue prepared for weeks but he instantly forgot it the second he looked into her eyes.
"Okay." He started, "Lily. Okay I just need to spit it out. Gah!" he exclaimed, letting go of her hand and getting up, running his fingers through his hair.
"I get it James," she whispered.
"Get what?"
"I get the fact that you just want to be friends and, if it's what you really want-"
"Woah there, Evans. Who the hell said I just wanted to be friends?" He asked, feeling himself getting frustrated. He wanted to be with her more than anything in the entire world.
"I don't know I just assumed-"
"Lily, don't assume anything. Isn't it obvious that I've been mad about you for six years? What would ever make you think that I don't want to be with you?" He asked, looking her dead in the eyes so she couldn't avoid the question.
"I don't know, James. I just thought since we haven't talked in a while that you moved on." She finally admitted.
"Even if I wanted to move on, I don't think it'd be physically possible to." He said, walking towards her.
"Ditto"
He smiled, making her heart melt.
"So you do like me then?" He asked
"Isn't it obvious?" she teased, looking up at him.
He smiled at her and tucked a piece of hair out of her eyes.
"Merlin Lily, I wanna be with you so bad."
"Ditto" she whispered.
"You do?" He asked, sounding surprised.
"I want it more than anything, are you kidding?" She exclaimed, smiling like an idiot.
"Brilliant then." He said, smiling back at her.
"So what does this mean?"
"Lily Evans, will you please do me the honor of being my girlfriend" James asked, feeling his heart speed up even though he already knew the answer.
"Sure, why not?" she teased.
They stayed there for a minute, just smiling at each other, taking in the fact that they were now a couple. Before they could do anything, though, Sirius came running down the stairs.
"Um, Prongs, we have a problem." He said, not acknowledging Lily except for a slight head nod.
"What is it?"
"Um oonyMay ooktay ethay apmay andway ethay oakclay andway eway avehay absolutelyway onay ideaway erewhay ehay isway. eterPay eckedchay ethay ackshay andway ehay asn'tway erethay, osay e'reway onderingway ifway ethay lytherinssay adhay anythingway otay oday ithway itway. 'knowYay, asway away e're"way aduatinggray" ankpray."
"Shit." James said, "Lil I gotta go, but I'll see you tomorrow?" He asked
"Yeah sure, go do what you gotta do." She replied.
"You're the best," he said, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek before running off with Sirius.
She suddenly had a feeling that being kissed by James Potter wouldn't be a bad way to spend her life.
~The next day~
"Here's to the class of 1978!" Dumbledore exclaimed, signaling the now-graduated students to cheer. James lifted Lily up and spun her around.
"We did it!" Sirius screamed, running over to the pair and enveloping them in a crushing hug.
"Heck yeah we did!" Remus replied, joining the hug.
Marlene, Mary, and Donna came running over and joined the hug as well. Peter was off somewhere doing god knows what, but the rest of them were laughing and crying and cheering. They did it! They were done with school!
After the ceremony, Lily and James ditched the rest of the group and walked down to the lake hand-in-hand. They found a rock to sit on and chatted about the future.
"We did it."
"Yup, Hogwarts is done."
"My father would be really proud."
"He is,"
"Think so?" James asked
"Definitely" Lily replied, laying her head on his shoulder.
"Lil there's something I've been wanting to do for a while" James said
"What is it?" Lily asked, lifting her head from his shoulder.
James started to lean in, but before he could actually kiss her, the rest of the group found them. They had no idea that they were together, nor did the couple plan on telling them. For now, it was their little secret.
"I think we should go to a pub later, get piss drunk, and celebrate the fact that we actually graduated. What do you think, Prongsy?" Sirius asked.
James looked at Lily, who gave him a nod.
"Sounds brilliant."
"Great! Let's go!"
They celebrated the night away, reminiscing in the last time that they'd ever be together 24/7 as a group. What a great way to end the year, and what a great way to start a new beginning.