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Year 7 - September
He pressed his face into her neck, inhaling deeply. "Merlin, Evans, why do you always smell so good?"
"Do that - do that again," she gasped, pressing her hips into his.
He groaned, tracing his hand back up to her neck, fingers glancing across her collarbone, down the side of her ribcage, before curling it around her at the waist, hauling her closer, where she had been sure there already was no room.
James's other hand released her hip, sliding down behind her until it gripped at the curve of her arse.
Her fingers were nearly numb from where she'd been clutching onto his shirt.
She made a quiet noise when he brought his lips back to hers, tongue sweeping in to taste her.
"Agrippa's sake, you two!" Sirius's voice exclaimed.
Perhaps a bit slower than the two should have, Lily and James pulled apart in the arched alcove they'd found, out of breath and only somewhat visibly guilty.
"Taking your head duties seriously, I see," Sirius continued in a sly voice. "Don't suppose you two are aware of what time it is?"
James grinned. "Nearly midnight, I'd estimate. Lost track of time a bit there."
Lily used a hand to cuff him on the arm. "I assume you're here because it is nearly midnight and we're due to meet at Camelot's Corner?"
"Approach," Sirius corrected, but looked pleased regardless. "And you assumed correctly."
James held his hand out for her to take. She accepted it, threading her fingers with his, sharing a shy smile.
Sirius cleared his throat. "Unless you two need an extra moment."
"We're right behind you," James confirmed, but hadn't looked away from Lily's smile.
Without caring about Sirius or her dignity, she stepped into his space, inhaling the scent of him as she tilted her head to accept another kiss.
He grinned against her lips. "I won't ever get tired of that."
"Just 'cause I let you snog me doesn't mean I'll go easy on you tonight," she murmured.
"Oh, I hope not."
"Let's GO," Sirius called impatiently at the other end of the corridor. "The only positive outcome of this thing between you two is that you'll both be too distracted to worry about as competition."
Lily and James shared another smile, before he tugged her along after his fellow marauder. "Ten sickles either one of us will pull ahead of him by at least fifteen points."
"Don't go defiling my point system," she couldn't help but tease as she squeezed the hand that held her own.
"I thought we all had established you lot defiled it ages ago?"
"We've always upheld the rules of the Game with honor and integrity."
"Have you?" James asked, his left brow raising over the rim of his glasses.
Lily met his gaze head on, defiant. "Absolutely, you tosser. Not all of us are steeped in salacious mischief."
He laughed, his head tilting back and revealing the lean muscular line of his neck, the edges of his messy curls tickling the curve of his strong jaw.
Merlin, when had she turned into such a thirsty bint?
"Your bet's on."
Her response caused a falter in his footsteps, but with a roguish smile still in place, he turned his head to face her as they walked. "What's that?"
"Ten sickles," she repeated. "Or are you too afraid to risk more?"
Ironic, she knew, having visited his home - his manor - quite a few times during the summer with their friends. She'd seen more of the greenhouse, basement, and library than she had.
James laughed again, the low firelight of the torches glinting off of his glasses. "I'd like to wager more, if I'm honest."
Something in his tone let Lily know it was not banknotes he was referring to. The mischievous grin on his face helped cement that appraisal.
"Yeah?" she prompted, reaching her other hand to latch onto his upper arm, slowing his gait as she pressed her body closer to his.
He moved in stride, shifting the arm between them and raising it, taking her hand with it so that he could wrap it around her shoulders, hugging her closer to his chest as he leaned down to press another kiss to her willing lips.
"I've got a few things in mind I'd prefer more than sickles," he murmured, twisting his neck to press another quick kiss against her jaw.
"I'm sure you do," she responded, hoping she didn't sound as breathless as she was sure she did.
"OI!" Sirius's voice snapped. "Or I'll bloody disqualify both of you for unsportsmanlike behavior!"
Lily's laugh was louder than she intended, clapping a hand over her mouth to cover the rest that threatened to come out.
James looked delighted in it though, pressing one last kiss to her temple before releasing her completely from his hold, pressing his hand against her hip - just above her bum - to shove her away.
"It's not my fault this witch isn't playing fair," James called, throwing a wink over his shoulder as he dashed away to catch up the twenty or so paces Sirius was ahead of them.
Lily scoffed, knowing the effect was ruined by the beatific smile on her face. Her cheeks were hurting.
"I don't need to hear your bloody flirting rituals," she could hear Sirius complain, followed by his overexaggerated gasp as James shoved at him. He nearly lost his footing but James reached out with a hand and a cackle, righting the Black before he could fall.
Lily rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest as she became very aware of the cool night.
She missed James beside her. She bloody missed James beside her.
What the bloody hell was with that? And when the hell had that happened?
She resisted the urge to touch her lips, still tingling from their previous contact. Her chest was impacted by a peculiar feeling and she couldn't quite get her chest to fully expand - and it was happiness that she realized was squeezing that small spot beneath her ribcage.
"Merlin's sake," she hissed, rubbing at her temple. When the hell had she become such a damned sap?
From in front of her, James's head turned, giving her a curious look, tinged with that magical humor she knew to be contagious.
She waved off his concern - and again, she asked herself, when had all this happened?
Was it the way they'd found at least a dozen hidden spots to snog in before the end of their 6th Year? Was it the countless letters they'd sent to each other over the summer? The time he'd kiss all the freckles on her face, over her shoulders and across the top of her chest just above the line of her summer vest top the time the rest of their friends had left for the night but she stayed behind to chat?
Merlin. No. She knew it was the way she could talk to him and he reacted as if she were the only witch in the world worth listening to. The way she let him vent about Petunia and her rotten husband, about her Mum and her sudden decreasing health - that he understood.
She sometimes still had a hard time - processing it all. They'd never quite had a conversation about them, yet. Perhaps she was too scared to address the topic - and he perhaps knew how skittish she felt about it.
But she knew. She knew she had to stop being a sodding coward about it all.
The entry hall was quiet as she trailed in behind Sirius and James, her heart squeezing with a different emotion - sadness - when she saw that the others apart of their group were already there and it was just down to the seven of them.
From near the Great Hall's doors, Marlene caught her eye, sharing a quick understanding look as she too, noticed the smaller group, but her expression soon turned mischievous as she studied Lily's appearance.
"Get sidetracked after your patrols?" Marlene asked with a wry smile once Lily joined her.
"Shut it," the redhead responded glibly, unable to hide her own smile.
"What? I was merely curious - it looks like you got into a fight with a kniffler."
"I do not," Lily gasped, reaching up to inspect her hair, which, admittedly, did feel a little mussed.
"Here," Marlene offered without having to be asked, handing her a scrunchie.
Lily narrowed her eyes as she accepted the hair tie, reaching to comb her hair up out of her face.
"Oof," Marlene said wryly. "Perhaps a low braid. Is that a hickie?"
It was hard to refrain from reacting and slapping a hand over the spot she just knew Marlene was referring to and did her best to remain somewhat dignified as she smoothed her hair over her shoulder and twist it into a messy braid.
She did her best not to meet James's eyes, which she could feel burning into the side of her face. She wasn't sure if she'd find an expression of pride or sheepishness on his face.
Marlene twisted around, looking over her shoulder at the now four marauder's standing together. "Does that mean you've asked him?"
Lily's eyes involuntarily did find James this time, doing an automatic scan of his expression, his stance, before dropping her eyes down to the end of her braid. "No."
"Oh, come on!" Marlene hissed. "You're killing us here. Dorcas has owled at least seven times - Seven! We've not even been in school for five!"
"Mar," Lily complained with a sigh.
The blonde huffed, throwing her arms up. "I know, I know. Don't push you."
"I'm going to."
"Are you?" Marlene responded with an inflection of doubt.
Lily nodded stubbornly, patting her braid down and adjusting her top. "Yes, of course. I just have to -"
"Let's get this going!" Sirius declared, the clap of his hands echoing loudly towards the tall ceilings.
"Padfoot," Remus chastised, smacking him across the chest. "Let's not get caught before we even get the Game started, yeah?"
"Seconded," Peter said, swiping his hands across his trousers. "I swore I heard McGonagall out earlier."
"Nonsense," Sirius waved him off. "She's cozy in her quarters."
"And how do you know that?" Alice asked with arms crossed. "Professors don't take kindly to stalking, I suspect."
"She's always in her quarters with some brandy on Tuesday." Sirius nodded succinctly. "Orders it straight from the Three Broomsticks."
"Another thing that I would prefer not to know how you know," Marlene cut in as they all began to form a circle. "I swear you must get your gossip straight from Hunter."
"That Hufflepuff? Merlin, no," Peter laughed.
Alice's brow scrunched. "Then how -?"
"How about we get the Game started?" James cut in smoothly, his eyes catching Lily's from across the group. "We decided on singles, yeah?"
"Well, seven doesn't make for even teams anymore, does it?" Marlene said, rather glumly.
"It does not," Lily agreed with a sad smile. "But I suppose this is the first Game of the year, yeah? Let's see how it goes."
Marlene held out her arm dutifully, allowing Lily to cast the charm quickly - silently - before she moved onto the next in line, Alice.
"And are we sure there's no concerns coming from the Head Boy and Head Girl being out after curfew?" Remus said with a waggish smile as she cast the charm over his arm.
"Extracurricular studies," Lily responded smoothly, releasing his arm to hold her hand out in acceptance of James. "Right, Potter?"
He was already grinning, the left corner of his smirk tilted up. "Right, Evans. Defense practice."
The sheer amount of will it took to not return his smile was nearly going to break her, but she did it, moving onto Peter and casting the charm quickly before moving onto Sirius last.
"Tingly," he said with a wink.
She zapped him on the wrist.
"Oi," he complained, pulling his arm to his chest.
"Slipped," she said with a tongue-in-cheek smile.
He wanted to stick his tongue out at her, but he held back. She sensed he was already plotting on getting back at her during the Game.
"Shall we?" he said to the larger group. "Wands at the ready!"
The seven 7th Years did as directed, assessing each other from around the circle as they prepared themselves.
"On my count," Sirius continued.
10
9
8
Lily could already feel the heartbeat in her chest, forcing herself to keep her breaths even as possible, when she made the mistake of looking across the circle to James.
He was already watching her, his grin more teasing than jovial. His eyes had a predatory glint to them.
Her heartbeat picked up immediately and her next breath shuttered in her chest. God, this excited her.
7
6
5
4
James's expression remained even, as he raised his left brow in a spurring manner.
Rising to the response, Lily's own brows raised in challenge, unable to hold back the goading smirk that curled around her teeth.
3
2
1
"GO! " Sirius exclaimed - and they were off, sprinting in different directions.
Safe with the familiar, Lily bolted towards the Great Hall doors to circle through to the trophy room and up the hidden staircase - and the paranoid thought that James was chasing her singularly urged her to move faster.
The warning timer passed - and the Game began.
It wasn't until her 4th encounter with the other players that she realized she hadn 't seen James yet. And that made her nervous.
The scoreboard on her arm revealed that he was in fact playing the Game - he was holding second place just behind Marlene, with Lily set at third - but Sirius wasn't too far behind.
She'd made the trek all the way to the 7th floor, heart pounding after an encounter with Remus, when she finally slowed her steps, doing her best to breathe evenly as she listened for the sound of footsteps, clinging to the wall as she crept forward.
A clatter behind her made her whirl, arm raised at the ready, but there was no movement; just the flicker of shadows cast by the low-light torches.
Arm still raised in defense, she padded backwards gently, the charm just on the tip of her tongue as she assessed the corridor.
Nothing. Silence.
Her wand lowered fractionaly as she paused, so sure she'd heard something - when -
She shrieked as a hand reached around her, gripped her wand warm, spinning her into a warm chest and - of course - looked up into the mischievous eyes of James as he held his finger up to his lips in a shushing manner.
Her lips automatically opened in response and as if he'd been expecting it, James reached his hand up to cover her mouth, using his other arm to wrap around her waist and tug her close to his body. With effortless movements, he walked them backgrounds until he stopped at a tapestry, using an elbow to push it open and setting her into the niche behind it, reaching behind him to close the tapestry behind them, swathing them in darkness.
It only took her eyes a few moments to adjust, but she could already imagine the wild, proud smirk on his face.
"Familiar?" his husky voice asked.
She couldn't respond verbally with his hand over her mouth, so she rolled her eyes, until her memory caught up - and she realized, yes, this was familiar.
Just a year ago, had she run into him and shoved him into this very alcove to hide from Marlene.
His hand slid from over her mouth to the side of her jaw, tilting her face so that he could look more directly into her eyes.
"You're a tosser," she whispered.
His chest vibrated in silent laughter as he used his other hand to smooth down her hand.
"Yeah, but there's not much I can do about that," he whispered back and the smile in his voice caused her heart to skip a beat.
"It's a shame."
"Maybe more to others."
"I suppose," she murmured, emboldened by the darkness, threading her fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck.
"Hm," he hummed, leaning closer, leaning his cheek against her temple.
In the perfect spot, she took advantage and pressed a solid kiss to the exposed skin of his neck. His skin was warm, spotted with a light sheen of perspiration that she should have absolutely found repellent - but her lizard brain noted the slatiness on the tip of her tongue when she pulled away.
"You're a fucking dream," James murmured, leaning down to capture her lips in a heated kiss.
She returned it with as much enthusiasm, raising her other arm to wrap around his neck, pulling herself closer to him, if possible.
God, she wasn't sure what gave her more adrenaline - playing the Game or this.
The hand at her hip squeezed, sliding the fingertips over the curve of her bum.
"James," she gasped, pulling away just enough to look into this face.
"Yes?" he asked, eyes unfocused.
"Do you - I mean -"
"Sh," he whispered, suddenly alert.
She heard it, too - footsteps.
He turned his head to listen intently and taking advantage of the distracted moment, she studied his expression closely. The line of glasses, his nose. Damnnit, he was handsome.
But the Game came first.
She cranned her neck to listen, too.
The shoes were squeaky - like they were made out of leather. Lily knew instantly they were Marlene's (having listened to them every morning). She knew she'd have to be quick.
James was still stooped low, ear tuned towards the tapestry. He wasn't paying attention to her - and for a flash, she felt guilt.
It was quickly overridden by a sense of giddiness.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, pressing her lips to his cheek, feeling the stubble there.
"What-?" he began to ask, head turning towards her -
"Cesso," she cast nearly silent, freezing the Head Boy in front of her. "Catch me," she said teasingly, pressing another kiss to his cheek, before she stepped back out of his frozen stance, and tossed the tapestry open.
Just as she had counted, Marlene was on the other side, already a few paces ahead.
"Cesso!" Lily spelled at the unsuspecting blonde, who shrieked and dodged in turn.
"Oi!" Marlene recovered as Lily shot a second spell and missed - but the redhead was already on the move, hopeful that Marlene would ignore the fact that there was another occupant in the alcove and that the tapestry had already fallen into place and hidden James's body.
"I'll get you!" Marlene crowed, already on her trail.
"Let's see you try!" Lily tossed over her shoulder, rounding the corner and back to the stairs.
She'd nearly gotten away from the other girl had it not been for the changing staircase on the 6th floor - Marlene was able to successfully tag her just beyond Peakes' corridor. When she unfroze, she was dismayed to find she was now bumped to 4th place.
Another run in with Peter helped gain points, but not by much.
Re-strategizing, she backtracked back up to the fourth floor, hoping to use the hidden staircase to catch someone who may be traveling from the fifth floor.
A sudden gust of wind caused the window panes to rattle, causing the hairs on the back of her neck to raise as she struggled to listen to any sounds beyond.
Again, she was caught off guard as a pair of arms wrapped around her, tight across her chest.
"Stop doing that," she hissed, without any true threat.
James hummed, leaning into her space to press his lips against her ear. "Tell me you got Marlene, at least." He walked them backwards until he paused at a tapestry; shoving it partially aside to reveal a darkspace - something she had never known was here. He pulled her into it with him, careful not to trip.
She shivered as she settled her back against his warm chest. "You know we're not teams anymore," she laughed breathlessly.
"Could've fooled me," he whispered against her throat, trailing his lips against her pulse point.
"You're trying to distract me," she hissed as he nipped at a sensitive spot.
"I am distracting you," he said, and she could feel the grin of his lips against her skin.
She bit back a moan. "Why are you so good at that?"
"Because it's you," he murmured, his hand gripping the spot just above her hip. Lily could practically feel the calluses through the thin fabric of her shirt.
"Why can't I push you away?" she huffed, eyes rolling to the back of her head as he pressed a firm kiss to the spot behind her ear and involuntarily pressing her hips backwards towards his.
"Because it's me," he replied, the teasing smirk audible in his tone.
"And you drive me absolutely mad," she murmured, twisting in his arms to face him.
"Not nearly as mad as you drive me, Evans," he replied without missing a beat, descending to capture her lips into another toe-curling kiss. "I'm not the one to play dirty tricks."
She was able to hide her smirk as he pressed a kiss against her cheek, down to her jaw, to that spot just behind her ear that got her heart racing. "Who said that was out of the rules?"
"I distinctly recall someone giving me a talk about -"
"Shut it," she said breathlessly, eyes rolling as his lips trailed down further, feather-light kisses against her collarbone. His other hand reached towards her waist, then even higher still.
Lily was absolutely certainly he could hear her heart thudding in the small space - or at least feel it through the skin of her chest as he pressed a single kiss to her sternum. Gingerly, she placed a hand over his, where it was resting on her ribcage, just below the line of her bra.
"Wait -"
He pulled back immediately "- I'll stop -"
She nearly did a double-take at the look of concern in his expression, at having overstepped with her, but she shook her head vehemently. "I hear someone," she whispered, nodding her head towards the half-open tapestry.
In a sensation of deja-vu, she watched as he turned to listen intently - once again, putting blind faith in her, despite having tagged him before.
Fuck, her heart.
The words were beginning to bubble up in her throat.
James was nodding to himself suddenly. "I hear it too - I think it's from the staircase," he whispered, his hand returning to her waist, but it was clear his intention was not to return to their former activity.
She panicked, latching onto his arm tightly.
He took it as a normal concern for the Game, tightening the grip on her waist. Still in a whisper, he said, "Take the corridor back to the 4A classroom. The storage closet has a small door hatch to the Charms classroom. I'll take the stairs to -"
Oh, God, she couldn't stop it. "James -"
"- The third floor so I can check out the main staircases -"
"Will you -"
"- Yeah, you're right. I'll take the route to the second-"
"- go to Hogsmeade with me?"
" - floor - w-what?"
She tugged at his jumper, pulling him closer as she blissfully enjoyed the sudden slack-jawed expression on his face. "I said -"
"I heard what -"
"Is that a no?"
"Evans, Bloody Hell. "'Is that a 'n-'"
"Cesso!"
Blue sparks exploded above their heads in the small passageway.
Remus's voice startled them both, so much so that James jumped to a defensive stance immediately - just as Lily did. His larger frame collided with hers - and the uneven ground below her feet didn't help matters.
Her ankle turned; painful yes, but no worse than the ensuing tumble that followed after, Lily pitching sideways, the momentum sending her rolling further down the passageway in a harrowing manner.
"Lily!" was the last thing she heard before she lost consciousness.
-:-:-:-:-
She found herself gasping awake, startled by the bright light - before she realized it was the sun, streaming in through the lights of the Hospital Wing's windows.
"Morning," a voice said to her right, causing her heart to shutter.
"James?" she asked unnecessarily, blearily wiping at her eyes. "What - happened? The -"
"Extra patrol session, you mean?" he said, and when her eyes had adjusted, she saw his wry, pleased expression. "Pomfrey was curious why I was bringing in an unconscious Head Girl to the infirmary at 1 o'clock in the morning."
"I'm sure," Lily replied, sitting up and wincing as her ankle twinged. "Ow."
"Broken," James confirmed, reaching up to adjust his glasses and attempting to smooth down the side of his hair - it was suddenly obvious he must've fallen asleep at her bedside, hair unkempt from laying on his side. "But you know Poppy. One more dose of her Skelegro and you'll be good as new."
"And you're still here to make sure.. I'm alright?" she said wryly, adjusting the blankets around her.
"Yes, all a part of my plan to properly help you recover."
"Is that so?"
"Of course."
"And.. the others?"
"All warned to return to their dorms. As far as I'm aware, you were the only hiccup of the night."
"Brilliant," she said with an eye roll towards the ceiling. "And I suppose that -"
"Yes."
She faltered, eyes snapping towards his face, for the tone he used was serious, solemnly determined.
"What?" Lily asked, self-conscious suddenly from his intense stare.
"Yes," he repeated, with no further elaboration.
"I… uh, what?"
He merely smiled - that same damn, confident, effervent smile.
She thought back - to yesterday, to the Game, to their snogs, to -
"Oh."
"Pick the date and time, I'll be there."
"James," she huffed, irrationally embarrassed as she covered her eyes. "Don't tease."
"I'm not," he said solemnly. "Whenever, wherever, you call it."
"James," she whispered, dropping her hand.
"Just not in here. This is the last time you're in the infirmary this year, yeah?"
She nodded with a reluctant laugh. "Hospital Wing, off the list. Got it. I was thinking we'd start with the Three Broomsticks."
"Brilliant," James agreed, surging forward to kiss her, hand under her jaw to hold her close.
"Potter!" Pomfrey's voice called in annoyance. "None of that in here!"
"Just part of my plan to help you recover," he said quietly once he pulled away. He did not look chastised at all.
Lily's cheeks were burning, though. Despite it, she smiled brilliantly. "I think it helped quite a bit with the pain. Another?"
"Done," he said, already leaning over before she'd even finished the sentence.
"POTTER!"