Our Seventh Year

James was slightly taken aback by her question, and he grew very serious, trying to plan out how say it exactly. He wanted to do it right, so as not to upset her, nor disappoint her.

“Because you’re the smartest, and most beautiful girl that I have ever met,” James said quietly looking her in the eyes the whole time. He looked to the side for a second, and cleared his newly dried throat.

Lily blushed slightly at that. It was the nicest thing she had ever heard, and she needed something like that after what had just happened.

“Thank you,” she said tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. The silence began to grow between them, and it was becoming a bit awkward.

“No problem,” he said smiling at her slightly.

“I had better get going,” Lily said quietly. Truth was, she did not want to go. She wanted to spend some time with him, and actually give him a chance. He had done two things in her favor today.

When Lily said she had better go, he gave a small sigh, but then put on a smile, and gave it yet another try as always.

“Hey...uh before you go, I want to ask you,” he said hoping she would not just roll her eyes like normal. It hurt every time she did. “If you would like to take a walk with me tonight.”

Lily was trying to hide her smile, but then just gave up, since it was showing.

“I would like that James,” she said looking over at him. Lily could barely contain a laugh as she saw the look on his face.

Something had changed in Lily over the summer. During her other years at Hogwarts, she wanted nothing to do with boys, least of all James. Sure she had some short flings, but nothing spectacular. They would interfere with her school work, and none of them were worth it. Now though, being her last year, she figured she would give it a shot, and why not with a boy she knew already liked her.

James’ eyebrows shot up at her reply, “r-really?” he asked after a moment, not being able to believe what she had just said. Be she had time to back out, or say she was kidding, he smirked.

“Alright, um, just meet me by the front doors after dinner,” he said trying to tone down his stupid grin as he adjusted his glasses on his nose.

“That’s fine with me,” Lily said smiling at James before turning towards the library. Her stomach was full of nervous butterflies, and she was happy, but her mind was screaming at her to turn around and tell James no.

Lily collapsed into a dusty, deserted corner and began to study. Reading and studying were the only things that would keep her stomach calm and her mind at ease.

At five thirty Lily packed up all her books, and went up to her dormitory to put her books away, and freshen up a bit. She brushed her hair, smoothing it out, and reapplied a light layer of tan eyeshadow and eyeliner. Once she was satisfied with how she looked, Lily headed down to the great hall for dinner.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Once Lily had left, James had run to find Sirius, Remus, and Peter. Literally ran to find them.

“Hey,” James panted when he found them by the lake sitting on a rock ledge.

“Hey mate,” Remus said without looking up from his book. “Your late,” he commented sarcastically. Sirius and Peter had parchment and quills out, getting notes from Remus.

“Alright, now that James is here, I don’t have to study,” Sirius said laughing at Remus, who just glared at him over his book.

Peter just sat quietly, looking at the group. He was nervous for this test, and James and Sirius were procrastinating.

“You will never guess,” James said sitting on the ground, his goofy look still plastered on his face.

Sirius, Remus, and Peter all were looking at him, and Remus tapped his fingers on the cover of his book.

“I’ll guess,” Remus said off handily looking back at his book again. “Someone made an immature joke, and now you have to share,” he said smirking.

“Even better,” James said laughing a bit.

He paused for affect, Remus was busy reading though, as always, and Peter was hanging on every word.

“I asked Lily on a walk,” and with that everyone threw up their hands and proceeded to go back to work. They were expecting that she rejected him, but nicely or something stupid along those lines.

“And she accepted.”

Remus lowered his book once again to look at him, raising an eyebrow. Even Peter was skeptical, and he never doubted anything James ever said.

“No way,” Sirius said shoving his friend lightly.

“Yes,” James said laughing a bit, it still had not sunk in yet.

“Well don’t blow it,” Sirius said staring at him earnestly. He was happy that Lily had finally agreed. The last thing James needed was to get the opportunity to be with her, and have it snatched away.

“We are meeting after dinner and are taking a walk on the grounds together,” he said before ripping a piece of parchment off of Peter’s notes, and grabbed a quill that Remus had offered him.

For most of the afternoon the group studied, though James did not really absorb any of it, he was too busy thinking about what he would say to Lily, and what they would do.

He headed up to his private dormitory at five to shower, and make sure he looked nice. James was getting frustrated with his hair and eventually he just gave up. Around five thirty he heard Lily enter the Head boy and girl common room before slipping in her room. Quickly, he darted out, not wanting to make things awkward if they ran into one another.

James met the other three marauders for dinner, and all throughout the meal he caught himself glancing at Lily more then usual. He was always a hardy eater, no matter what the situation, but tonight he could barely get anything down. James finished before Lily did, and once he was out of sight of anyone, he used a charm to make sure his breath was fresh.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lily ate dinner with her friends like normal, and made an excuse that she was going back to the library to study for her potions test the next day, so not to wait up for her.
All through dinner, Lily had caught James’ eye a few times, blushing each time. She had lucked out that none of her friends saw, or notice that she only had salad and water for dinner.

Once all their dinner plates had cleared, Lily excused herself, and walked quickly to meet James, waving at Sirius, and turning her nose when she saw Severus looking at her.