Chapter 4

Lily's POV

"To The Three Broomsticks, then?" James asks me.

"Sure," we begin to walk "so… we were going to talk about what happened… you know, yesterday?" I say uncertainly, not wanting to kill the fun.

"You mean when I said I am in love with you?" He said, both curious and dead-serious. Oh Merlin…

I blush red. "Yeah," I mutter, too embarrassed to say anything else.

We walk into the Three Broomsticks. It was loud, and then louder when we came in. Hogwarts students jaws dropped and everyone began whispering to each over, oh Merlin!

I give James 'change of plan' look. He gives a tiny nod and we grab two Butterbeers to go. We leave and walk down the snowy road, unsure of where we were heading. "Thank you," I say as we walk down the lane. He smirks at me.

"S'alright. So, where to then?" He asks, gesturing to our surroundings.

"We could go back to Honeydukes." I say, point towards it "I could use some chocolate therapy." He laughs at that. "So it's not just me. Sixth year driving you around the twist too?" He inquires.

I grin. "God, yes."

"So what else is going on in the life of Lily Evans?" He says as we begin to walk.

"Mmm, little bit of drama at the moment. You see, my friend knows this guy she used to hate seems more and more decent every time she talks to him, but the whole school thinks she hates him but she want to be friends. Another twist is he's said he is in love with her." I say, wondering if he'll play along.

"Hmm, I see. Lucky boy, I'd say to be proven 'decent'." He smiles, "So, why should she care what anyone else thinks?"

"Well," I say, trying to think of an excuse, "she doesn't want everyone to suddenly think she's in love with him or something, you know? Because she hates when she is in rumours."

"Well," James says casually, "what if she does have feelings for him? Maybe even a little and is too scared to admit them? Too afraid to be judged by everyone else, even though he'd love and support her?" He asks.

I suck in a breath. How the hell do I reply to that?

Oh, I know. "How the hell does she reply to that?" I say with a slight nervous smile.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe 'yes you're right James, you always are! They might be judgemental at first, but they'd get used to it!' or something like that." He jokes with a poor impersonation of my voice.

"James, you are not always right!" I say goofily, "And maybe they would get used to it, but maybe she has to figure out what she feels? Maybe hang out with him and see what happens? They'll probably just be friends though."

He grins. "We'll see."

"So, Lily… what exactly do you want to talk about?" he says and we walk out.

"Well, yesterday. I said we can try and be friends but, well with you, uh… liking me, I just didn't know if you could sort of… wait?" I say, uncertainly.

His eyes glint mischievously. "Now, now Evans. We both know 'like' isn't the word I used- or would use. And 'if I could wait'? That implies I actually have a chance," he chuckles "I've been waiting since the moment I met you Miss Evans, I can wait a little longer." He says whole-heartedly.

I think my heart stopped for a second there. How can he have that effect on me? I mean, I don't even like the guy. Right. Right?

"You might not have to wait that long…" I mutter, thinking he's too far away to hear me.

I was wrong.

James POV

"Now, now Evans. We both know 'like' isn't the word I used- or would use. And 'if I could wait'? That implies I actually have a chance," I chuckle.

"I've been waiting since the moment I met you Miss Evans, I can wait a little longer." I say, meaning every word. And I would. I would wait until the day I die if we continued making progress.

Her face reddens slightly. It's amazing that she doesn't understand, it's like she thinks she couldn't be loved by anyone. Emotions flash her face that I can't read. I watch her lips, ready for anything from "Get the hell away from me jackass" to "I love you, kiss me!". I listen closely for anything. Anything, until I hear "You might not have to wait that long…" so quietly I wouldn't have noticed unless I was so anxious for her reply.

I freeze. What. What? OH MERLIN WHAT DID SHE SAY?! I internally scream so loudly I wouldn't be surprised if it escaped my lips. What did she like me? Had I proven I'm actually an alright guy? Could she possibly-

"James? What's wrong?" Lily asks, looking concerned. Those eight words were enough for my insane act. I turn to face her and did one of the craziest things I could have thought of.

I kissed her. In the middle of the damn street.

It was better than I had ever imagined. Her lips were so soft, so sweet. I rested one of my hands at the back of her head, expecting her to push me away and slap the bejesus out of me. But she didn't. No, instead I feel small hands curl into my hair and deepen the kiss.

Oh my Merlin. This is actually happening, it is finally happening!

I place my other hand on her waist- not low enough to be going too far, just to deepen the kiss.

Lily's POV

James looked so strange. Frozen and speechless, he stands there. Is he okay? Surely he hadn't heard me, I was so quiet!

"James? What's wrong?" I ask, generally concerned. And to reassure myself he didn't hear me. Maybe he's just sick or something.

He turns to face me, and his face is unreadable. Well, it's readable, but there looks like there are a thousand emotions on his face- all at once.

Then ever so quickly, he moves. And he's kissing me.

Oh my God James Potter is kissing me.

And I like it.

Oh my God, what is he doing to my brain?

His lips were both soft on mine but their texture rough, and it felt amazing. I've kissed before, but not like this. Never like this.

I am starting to see why girls gossip about him; he is an amazing kisser. I mean, a few days ago I hated this guy and now he's kissing me and I'm enjoying it when I really should push him away and hex him into oblivion. But I don't. Why should I?

Because you're in a middle of a street you fool.

So? He's right, I shouldn't care. I don't care.

So when he places his hand on the back of my head, with his fingers slightly tangling into my hair, I let him deepen the kiss. Hell, I deepened the kiss myself. I placed my hands into his messy black hair and curl my fingers deep within it. His lips part slightly, probably out of surprise. Then he recovers and places his hand on my waist in a platonic way.

It seems like we've been kissing for ages, but it's been like 10 seconds or something. But I don't care; this sensation of kissing James has hypnotized me. He holds me closer against him with his hand on my waist, and I'm a goner. I never want this to end- and it probably wouldn't have if I hadn't heard the last voice I wanted to hear in this moment, or any moment actually.

"Lily?!"

James's POV

"Lily?!" Oh Merlin, have I gone insane? Imagining things surely, because surely I'd have noticed him.

That's when I get pushed away by Lily with a horrified gasp.

"Lils, did I do something-"

And that's when my nose gets broken by Snivellus.

"Fuck!" I breathe, grasping my nose as it drips red onto the pure white snow. He may be an asshat, but I'll admit- he's got a wicked right hook.

"SEV!" Lily screams, "Merlin James, are you okay?" She says to me.

"I will be in a second." And that's when I got my revenge, punching him in the gut.

"JAMES!" Lily screams again. She gets in-between us. "What the hell are you two thinking?"

"So it's James now is it? You kissed that spawn?" Snivelly asks of Lily.

"Well, not that it's any of your business Sev- Snape, but he kissed me. And no, you can't punch him because I kissed him back." She says honestly.

I smirk at Snivellus. "And you!"

Oh crap.

"Episkey!"

"Ahh!" I groan as my nose resets, rubbing the bridge. "A little warning would've been nice!"

She ignores me and continues. "I kissed you back because I had seen you change the last few days, but then you punch him? Honestly James! That's not helping your cause!"

And now he's smirking at me. That little weasel.

"Go Snape. You have no involvement in my life or the people within it, so stop poking in my business!" She says, and I'm actually a little scared of Lily.

He sneers at me. "See you around Potter." He says like a threat, which it probably is. "You know, there won't always be a girl to protect you." He smirks before he walks away.

"Looking forward to it!" I shout after him and with a mocking wave, quickly rewarded by a slap on the back of the head from Lily.

"Ow!" I glance at her, rubbing the back of my head.

"Don't encourage him!" She says looking murderous before and storming toward the castle. I jog after her.

"Hey now, easy tiger. Just playful banter!" I comment, hoping to lighten the mood.

"Goodbye Potter!" She says and runs off.

Ah, hell.

Lily's POV

How dare he! Sev is not my friend anymore and I can kiss who I like! I look towards the castle.

"Uh, now I have to go the long way." I mutter sadly to myself. It was rather cold.

And then there's Potter. I thought he'd changed from picking petty fights, that's why I let him kiss me!

That kiss though. Wow. That was amazing. I feel the numbness of my lips, the tingling on my skin. That was quite the rush, but was is worth the repercussions? Surely people had seen us. Would Sev let this spread? Probably accidentally, he's not cruel- not to me, anyway- he'd probably just tell Avery and then it'll circulate.

I am such and idiot.

I can't even think of the rumours that will spread, everything from being together to-

Ew. I shudder at the thought.

People will think we're finally going out, and you know the worst thing? If he'd had asked if Severus hadn't come, I'd might have said yes while in the crazy trance he put me into with his stupid kissing skills.

Now back on Hogwarts grounds I continue to look around at students self-consciously. Did any of them know? Did their friends know as well now? And their friends... I run back to Gryffindor tower.

I get to the Fat Lady.

"Password?" She asks.

"Bowtruckle." I reply, remembering.

"Good. Enjoy your date?" She asks as she swings open.

I groan loudly as I walk into the Common Room, and a wave of heat from the fire hits me. I sigh in content before realise James would be back if I would, and that it was a private topic. I would just forget about it for the second.

"Now, now Evans. Don't tease Prongs with your promiscuous sounds!" Sirius calls from the couch.

"Well done, Sirius. That was a big word!" I say and double-pat his head.

He laughs.

"Lily?" James says hesitantly.

I sort of deadpan him.

"Yes James?"

"In case you forgot, we have detention." Oh damn. I forgot about that- wait, did he say we?

"We?" I say louder than I was supposed to. Damn. Calm, deep breaths...

"Yes, I got caught pranking a few days ago. And, it's 4:20. Should we go?" He asks casually, like nothing happened. So he's caught my drift about being discreet.

"You go ahead, James." I sigh, needing a few minutes.

"But-" He starts.

"Go!" I order as I jog up to my dorm.

"HESTIA!" I say, in need of girl talk. I need to get this out of my system.

"Lils? What's up? You have detention soon, you should go." She says warningly.

"I know, I know!" I say, and take a deep breath. "JameskindofsortakissedmeandIkissedhimbackandthenSnapecameandbrokehisnose." I say as quick as I can, ashamed.

"What? I got James, Snape, nose and a word I must have imagined." She jokes and I swallow.

"James kissed me and I kissed him back and then Snape came and broke his nose! Then he punched back and I only kissed him because I thought he had matured! Help?!" I say, still quick but understandable.

Her jaw drops.

"MARLENEEEEEEEEEEEEE! IT HAPPENED! THIS IS NOT A DRILL! I REPEAT, THIS IS NOT A DRILL!" Hestia screams so loudly.

"WHAT?! You're kidding!" I hear her shout from the bathroom, along with a few banging and clashing noises as she rushes to get out. Oh God…

Marlene literally runs out of the bathroom and quite literally jumps me.

"TELL. US. EVERYTHING!" She demands as we hit the floor.