The Gift Of Flowers

(One-Shot)

Disclaimers: I don't own anything apart from some DVD's/books for this series. 2

AN: This is a short drabble prompt for "The Houses Competition" set in 'Marauders' Era' time. As I am old (ish), my views of them may vary from the young ones, including the fact that I am TeamCharlus/Dorea, have Sirius/James as distant relations through Black blood, as well as TeamTrans (as an ally). I do not accept any new stuff by Rowling.

House: Gryffindor

Class: Prefect

Category: Drabble

Prompt(s): [object](Valentine's Day/Anniversary —using Val's Day) Flowers

Word count: 760 according to AO3 (2 pages)

Summary: In which, James tries to impress Lily.

Hearing a tap on the bedpost, Sirius looked up from his potions homework to see James standing by his bed. "Just give me five more minutes, Prongs," Sirius said. "I'm almost done. I promise to turn out the light real soon."

"No worries," James shrugged. "I can just use a blinding spell on my curtains later. I was wondering, uh, well, you know a lot about muggle folks, right?"

"Sure," Sirius shrugged. "I practically live like one."

"What do muggle girls like to do for Valentine's Day?" James asked. "It's in a few days. Good thing seventh years have a lot of free periods. We have it off!"

"Thinking to do something with that Evans girl?" Sirius laughed.

"You know we've just started dating, but, well, Hogsmeade is only so good for a couple of times," James said. "I need something different for a day as big as Valentine's Day."

"She likes flowers, right?"

"Sure," James said. "But there aren't a lot of those in Hogsmeade."

"Do you have a note allowing you to leave?"

"Yeah, Dad's got that covered," James said.

"Well, Dufftown's not too far from here," Sirius pointed out. "It's more Muggle-style, unlike Hogsmeade."

"I was thinking about that," James nodded.

"Well, apart from the setting, it isn't much different from what witches would like," Sirius said. "Pretty much any gal likes to be treated." After a short pause, he added with a wink, "Maybe in more ways than one."

James put up a hand. "Let's not be too hasty here."

Sirius stared at him. "You ... haven't done it yet?" His voice was rather hoarse from surprise.

"Dude," James muttered as he rolled his eyes at Sirius before trying to get back on topic. "Valentine's Day. What should I do?"

"Fine," Sirius groaned. "But this other conversation isn't finished. Anyway," he said as he launched into a full explanation of how a typical outing should go. He deftly ignored James's glare. No. That other conversation was most certainly not over, but it would have to happen some other time.

When Valentine's Day arrived on Tuesday, James soon found himself with Lily in Dufftown. He had even dressed like a Muggle, as Sirius had instructed, in black trousers with a white shirt. A black coat completed the look. Lily wore a sky blue sleeveless dress under a long green coat. Her red hair hung in a loose ponytail held by a white ribbon going halfway down her back, coming out from under her cap.

After staring at her for a moment, James led Lily to the first shop Sirius had told him about. It was a flower shop. Various scents wafted through the air as James went straight for the Calla lilies. He bought one to give to Lily.

After she took it, she sent him a sly look. "You have Muggle quid?"

"Sirius has plenty," said James. "He explained to me how it works." He picked a few more flowers out: a bright yellow daffodil as well as a cluster of white snowdrops, before heading out into the street once more.

They walked past a shrub with pink camellia flowers. James pulled a small branch with four or five pale blooms. He inspected it for a moment before handing it over.

Lily's hands were getting full with various flowers. She pulled off her ribbon, letting her hair fall over her shoulders. James watched as she tied up the flowers together before bringing her to the restaurant for lunch.

As they were finishing their chicken Alfredo with a side of garden salad, James revealed his biggest gift yet: a bouquet of twenty-four Sterling roses. Lily's eyes went wide with delight as the waiter set them in the center of the table before handing over a bottle of 'The Dufftown Glenlivet'. It had 'From the house of Bells' written on the label.

James poured out two Glencairn glasses while Lily rearranged her flowers so that they were all together.

As evening started, they headed back to Hogwarts. Lily kept sniffing the flowers on the way back until she was able to put them in a vase when they got to the dorms.

"This was a really good date, Jim," Lily said.

"Yes, it was," James said. "Happy Valentine's Day."

"Happy Valentine's Day," Lily said as she moved closer to James. "Good night," she said before kissing him quickly.

"Good night," James returned. His eyes caught sight of Sirius sitting in the corner window. Sirius gave James a thumb up.

Yes, it was a very good Valentine's Day, indeed!