Disclaimer: Surprise, surprise, I don't own this characters! Reviews are welcome, like usual. Enjoy xx

The next morning, I wake up early, with a smile on my face. I try to remember my dream, but it slips away before I can grasp the details.
I can remember one thing, though: it was about James.
Curse that confusing, sweet, flirty, arrogant, funny, kind, annoying prat.

My smile fades slightly when I see the time: it has just turned six, so it's too early for well...everything. Pulling my favourite cream jumper over my pyjama t-shirt, I skip down the stairs and jump onto the love seat, grabbing my book, Pride and Prejudice, from the coffee table. Next to it, there's a steaming mug of hot chocolate with a note tied to it with a piece of green ribbon. Smiling, I pick it up and read it:

Lily,
I heard you like hot chocolate.
I've gone out for a run, I heard you getting up and left this here. It's got a heating charm on it, so you might want to do the counter-curse before you drink it. I'll be back in about 20 minutes, so if you want the shower first, I would go now.

JP

Curse that confusing, sweet, flirty, arrogant, funny, kind, annoying prat again.
WHY DOES HE KEEP DOING THIS TO ME? He's being so...so...JAMES!
He's right though, I love hot chocolate.

Carrying the hot chocolate carefully, I climb the stairs to the bathroom and set my hot chocolate down on the shelf outside the bathroom, carefully untying the note and placing it on my bedside table, weaving the slim ribbon through my fingers. Running the shower, I undress quickly and wash my hair, watching the suds run down the plughole. When I'm done, I wrap the nearest towel around me, and walk into my bedroom. It's only when I pass the mirror, my wet hair sticking to my shoulders, that I notice that the towel is grey. It's James'. I sigh. Great. He's going to have to use mine, and it's going to be too small for him.

After dressing in my school uniform, I dry my hair with a flick of my wand and brush through it, the silky strands floating with static electricity. Combing it back into a ponytail, I tie the green ribbon around it in a neat bow and pick up my still-hot chocolate, carrying it down into the sitting-room. It's not even seven yet, so I curl up in the squashy armchair, the tartan blanket I saw yesterday covering me. I'm sipping my hot chocolate, and reading, when James jogs in, sweaty from running, his t-shirt clinging to him.

"Hey Lily!"
"Hiya James. Thanks for the hot chocolate."
"No problem, Alice told me you liked it. Oh, you're using my blanket."
"Oh...sorry." I blush and start to struggle out from under the warmth of the blanket, but he waves his hand and grins.
"No..no don't worry. I don't mind."
"Oh, ok, thanks. I might have accidentally used your towel though..."
He groans, stretching, and I have to make an effort not to drool.
"Ok, Petal. When are you going down to breakfast?"
"I-I'm not sure."
"Ok, wait for me then, will you?"
"Ok?"
"Yeah...Sirius won't be up for ages, and I don't want to be ambushed by that group of Hufflepuff third-year's."
"Fair enough. Girls can be lethal."
"Thanks Petal."
"You're welcome, Porcupine."

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When James comes down from the shower, pulling a t-shirt over his head, I'm leaning against the portrait hole, waiting for him.
"Lils, you actually waited!"
"Of course I did." I blink, confused. "You asked me to."
"It's just...yeah, cool, thanks."
"Shall we go down then?"
"Sure."

We walk through the corridors, occasionally talking, when James points at my hair.
"You're wearing the ribbon."
"Uh-huh. It's pretty."
" No, you're pretty, and it matches your eyes, so it just makes you look better. Don't give the ribbon all of the credit."

I blush and avoid his gaze, so we walk in awkward silence until we reach the Great Hall, when I speed over to Alice. Luckily, James sits a bit further away, so I explain everything that's happened in the Heads' dorms.

"-then he got me a hot chocolate, and asked if I'd wait so we could walk down to breakfast together and he said that I was pretty and I'm SO confused, Alice!"

"Hmmm...so do you like him?"

"I don't know, Alice! He's annoying, but sweet, protective and kind. He's arrogant, but funny and generous. I don't know if I like him, but I don't think that I can keep up this truce much longer. I don't want him to ask me out, but he is great, and I can't stop blushing around him!"

"You like him."

"What?!"

"You like him, definitely. You're showing all the signs."

"Fine. So WHAT DO I DO?!"

"Woah! Calm down, Lils. I don't know yet, Frank asked me out and I said yes, but you two have made a deal to not go out, basically."

I start to protest, but then James calls out to me. "Can you pass me the butter, Petal?"

"Sure, Porcupine. Here," I throw the small pot quickly and he catches it with one hand.

"Thanks, Petal." Alice prods me in the side and I turn to look at her, smiling broadly. She scribbles on to me on a napkin, her quick-quotes quill that she uses for note-taking flashing. (Alice, Lily)

I see what you mean, Lils. Totally seeing the appeal.

I grab my quill out my pocket and dip it in my portable inkwell, my slanting handwriting spiky with indignation.

I don't know what you mean, Alice. He is perfectly ordinary. Besides, you have Frank!

I know, Lily, but a girl can dream! He doesn't like me like that, anyway, Alice.

No, he lurvvves you! You're his "Petal."

Perhaps, but I don't know if I want to be his flower.

Arigato,

She-who-loves-fanfiction xx