Our Seventh Year

James leaned on the wall next to the front doors waiting for Lily. He checked his watch, it was exactly seven, so dinner had just been cleared. He tried not to look desperate as he searched the crowd flowing out of the great hall.

Then he spotted her making her way around people, and he could feel a lump form in his throat, and his stomach knot a bit. He pushed himself up off the wall, and met her half way.

“Hey Lils,” James said as he smiled widely at her. He held his arm out her, hoping she would take it, though she did not have to. “Ready?”

When Lily saw James she felt her stomach flip lightly out of nervousness. “Hello,” she said quietly, then took his arm, placing her hand in the crook of his elbow. All through dinner she had told herself to just be natural, no one would be around to judge her.

“Ready.”

He smiled widely at her, as he opened the door for them to pass through. James had already thought this walk through, opting to take Lily down by the lake, the moon was out giving off plenty of light, but it was not full.

“So how are you tonight, Miss Evans?” he asked with a cheeky grin.

“I’m fine, and you Mr. Potter?” So Lily was flirting a little, she never went on dates, but she was not dumb when it came to things like this. The wind was blowing harder then earlier, and it caused her to shiver slightly.

James stopped in mid walk, gently removing his arm from her grasp. He took his cloak from his shoulders, it was a bit cold outside, but he had prepared wearing his heavier pants, and long sleeved shirt. He always felt bad for the girls wearing skirts, they must have always been cold in the winter.

“I’m on a walk with a gorgeous girl, so I’ve never been better,” James remarked as he draped his cloak over her shoulders before putting his hands in his pocket, and continue walking.

She turned her head to smile at him, glad it was not bright enough for James to see the flush that covered her neck and lower face. It smelled like him, and she enjoyed that a lot. Stop it, her mind told her, but she did not care.

“Well thank you,” Lily replied as she continued to walk next to him. Her shoulder brushed his slightly, and just that light touch sent shivers up her spine.

James felt that slight touch, feeling something that felt like electricity. “No problem,” he said quietly after a moment before shaking the hair out of eyes and looking down at his feet for a moment as they walked.

The silence was growing again, so Lily wanted to break it before it became awkward. “So...” she said very quietly as they walked along. “Why the lake?”

“The moon reflects off the water,” James said quietly looking over at her. “It’s peaceful as well, no people around, and sometimes, when the weather is just right mer-people show themselves,” he said with a smirk.

Lily’s eyes widened a bit, she had never seen mer-people before except for pictures in books.

“This way,” James said leading her to a rock ledge. “Watch your step,” he replied as he climbed up the side of the rock, then reached his hand down to hers to help her up.

Lily took his hand, almost pulling back for a second at the way it felt. It was different then what she had felt holding any other person’s hand, and she liked it a lot.

James had felt the same thing, but he held on tight to her hand not wanting her to slip and fall. He never felt that with anyone, and knew it was a sign.

She made her way up to the rock, letting go of his hand quickly, the blush she had before rising up to her cheeks now.

He tried not to look disappointed when she pulled her hand away, and he just re-pocketed them.

“It’s beautiful,” Lily said, they could see far out on the lake, the water was as smooth as glass, and the moon reflected on it brilliantly.

Lily adjusted, glancing out of the corner of her eye, she saw his hands were back in his pockets, and she wanted to feel what she had felt before again. Slowly, her hand brushed his pocket, and let her fingers linger at the opening, tickling the top of hand lightly.

James felt it, and his stomach did a flip. After a second of her tickling his hand, he pulled it out of the pocket, and grasped it lightly. The silence was then broken when he heard a splash of water.

“Look,” he said and pointed to with his free hand. There were two mer-people splashing about in the water.

Lily hand his hand very gently, hoping he did not feel the slight tremor. She followed where he was pointing, it was hard to tell if they were male or female, but they were still pretty.

“They are very pretty, but nasty buggers,” James said quietly, squeezing her had hand lightly.

They watched the mer-people for a few minutes, before they went back down to the murky depths of the lake.

Once there was silence, Lily looked up at James, biting her bottom lip when he looked back at her, and she quickly stared at her feet.

James felt her looking, and he looked back, smiling when she was embarrassed and looked away. She was so incredibly cute, and gorgeous. He let go of her hand, and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her body close to his. James was tempted to tilt her head back to face him and kiss her, but he did not want to rush anything, or blow it.

Lily dared to look back up at him, but this time did not break eye contact. Her eyes searched his, and she felt desire build up in her, she wanted to kiss him badly now, but was to shy to make a move.

James was surprised that she had kept the eye contact, and he moved his face a bit closer to hers. When she did not pull back, he moved the rest of the way, his lips meeting hers for a very gentle kiss.

Lily gingerly returned the kiss, the butterflies in her stomach exploded, but she did not pull back. This felt so natural and perfect.

James pulled back, making it a very short kiss. He did not want to scare he off, even it if was the most amazing kiss had ever had, even if it was very short.

When James pulled back from her she opened her eyes to look at him, reality had just set in. Oh God, I just kissed Potter. Everything I have ever said or done, I just went back on, Lily frantically thought. She could feel her heartbeat quicken as she stared at him. But you liked it, even if is against what you said and think, her heart fought back.

“I-I should go,” Lily said pathetically, looking away from his face. He looked completely crushed. “It’s...just I have some studying to do...you didn’t do anything wrong,” Lily added, flashing him a small smile.

James was glad he had done nothing wrong, but he was slightly disappointed that she suddenly had to go.

“Would you like me to walk you back?” he offered.

“Yes,” Lily said with a smile as he climbed down the rocks.

James quickly scrambled down the rocks, reaching his arms back up to help her down.

Lily moved down the rock, and caught her breath when he lowered her back down to level ground.

She turned her head around to look at him. He was perfect, but he is Potter, her mind and heart argued. Lily wanted to kiss him again.

James stared at her face, he knew that look. Gently, he leaned down, his lips meeting hers once again, for another kiss, this one longer then the last.

Lily smiled in the kiss, and when he pulled back, she grabbed his hand and they headed into the castle. She had a lot of thinking to do.

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Once inside the main common room many people had gone to bed, and they made their way to their private common room, James said the password, and the door opened for the both of them.

He was unsure if what had happened tonight would work out, but he was not complaining, he at least had one shot. James had come a long way since this afternoon, and he wanted to make sure that it stayed that way.

“Thank you for a lovely evening,” Lily said quietly looking up at him. “Will I see you tomorrow?”

“Of course Lils,” he said giving her a small smile before leaning down and giving her forehead a kiss.

“Goodnight pet,” James said opting away from saying love.

Lily blushed again when she felt him kiss her forehead. “Goodnight James,” she said before slipping up the stairs to her room.