Their Seventh Year

There are two ways I could have taken this duckies.  I could have James say something wrong and Lily get mad, or I could have them totally connect.  Of course, I went with the latter, because I couldn’t do that to my James!  Snogging ahoy!

Chapter 24- From This Moment

"You...got me something?" She repeated, following him helplessly out of the ballroom, since he stillhad a firm grip on her hand.

"Well, sure." James wasn't really sure where he was going, but he did want to be able to accomplish this with a minimum of potential for making a fool of himself, and that required getting her alone where there was less chance of someone like Sirius adding commentary at an inopportune moment. He just hoped Lily didn't think he was dragging her off for some sort of tryst. Not that she would agree to that anyway, but he didn't want her to think that was what he had in mind. He pulled her into the first room they came to, which was fortunately empty but was some sort of living room or parlor with sturdy, comfortable furniture and a low fire burning.

Right, so the room was a bit tryst-like, but he wasn't going to wander all over the McKinnons' house looking for a less romantic setting so as to not offend Lily's sensibilities, he meant to get her alone to give her her present and so he had.

"Right." He withdrew the flat, silver-wrapped box from his pocket. The woman at the jewelry store had wrapped it actually, commenting all the while on the "lucky girl" while his face burned, but it did look a good deal better than he could have managed. "Here."

Seriously James, is that the best thing you can think of to say? But he shook his head to clear it of the jeering voice and fixed his eyes on a point beyond Lily's shoulder, holding his breath.

Lily was not sure what to think with James watching her expectantly, biting his lip, and seemingly very nervous. If he had gotten her the sort of thing most boys would, say, sweets from Honeydukes, he would not be so nervous. He would also need a bigger box, so that alone made her wary. Being female, Lily recognized the sort of boxes jewelry came in, and she was willing to bet that was what this was. And she was proved right as she opened the velvet box and saw the delicate gold bracelet. She was at once surprised, since she wouldn't have credited James with having such taste in jewelry.

"James, I-"

"I thought it was good because, you know, it's not really showy or fancy or anything, and I've seen you wear jewelry, but you know, always pretty, delicate things. So I thought it would suit you, um..."

Lily stared at it. It was beautiful. Pretty and delicate as he's said, and finely made, and probably very expensive.

"James, it's beautiful, but-"

"But nothing." He interrupted firmly. "Do you like it?"

"Of course, but-"

"Well then that's all that matters." He cut her off again.

She gave up, and picked the bracelet out of the box carefully. It looked so delicate it seemed as though it might come apart in her hands, but it was stronger than it looked, as it glittered in the flickering light from the fireplace. She tried to put it on, impossible to do one-handed, until she finally gave James an exasperated smile. "You could offer to help me, you know."

"Oh, right!" He quickly took it from her and fastened it, his fingers lingeringjust a moment at the pulse in her wrist.

"James, wait right here for a minute, don't go anywhere, okay?" And she disappeared.

James had no idea where she had gone, but he stayed where he was, as instructed. A huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders- she had liked it, and she had made only a very few token protests, which with Lily must mean she had really liked it. James smiled to himself and ran a hand through his hair. This night was turning out better than he's even hoped.

She returned a moment later bearing something wrapped in red and green. She had gotten him something too! She had actually gone to the time and effort to get him a present, and even if it was...socks...it still must mean something.

"I, ah, got you something too..." She handed it too him.

Lily fixed her eyes on James's shoes and waited. He had given her such a nice gift she now really hoped he liked it. James was not the sort of guy who you would immediately think to get books for, but she hoped that considering the subject, he would find it interesting...

She heard him murmur "Quidditch Teams of Britain and Ireland" as he read the title.

"You don't already have that one, do you?" She asked quickly. "I see you reading "Quidditch Through the Ages" all the time, but I've never seen..."

"No, I don't." He agreed quickly. There was another pause, then he said softly, in a disbelieving voice. "Lily, this book is autographed by all the members of the England National Quidditch Team..."

"Oh is it?" She said innocently, unable to keep a small smile off her face. "Imagine that."

"But...what...how...?"

She finally met his gaze and threw him a smile. "Magic."

“Lily, you’re amazing.”

This was so different from the arrogant, cursing-anyone-he-could-just-because-he could, quidditch captain, head boy she knew.  And this James Potter she was seeing now, who was uncertain and sincere and real, this was someone she could like, maybe even love.  Lily felt like for the first time she was seeing James Potter for what he actually was, a side of him that not many, maybe not even his closest friends, saw.  As she considered all this, there was a silence between them that did not seem as uncomfortable as it should.  Silently cursing herself for her weakness, knowing as she did how stupid and reckless it was, but for once Lily didn’t care.  Lily didn’t do the sensible thing, the smart thing, the responsible thing.  Instead, Lily took a chance.   They were only standing about a step apart, and she closed that distance.  A look of surprise from James, and then, a look in his eyes that she had never seen before.  He saw no hesitation or resistance in her face, as he brought up his hand against her cheek.  As he drew her nearer, Lily’s eyes fell closed, and he kissed her. 

Kissing Lily was like nothing James had ever experienced, and he realized through the haze of thoughts and sensations swirling through his mind that she was kissing him back.  Almost automatically, he slipped his hand around her waist and drew her against him, and she did not resist, but actually deepened the kiss, with a soft sigh.

James had no idea, it might have been only seconds or several minutes, but too soon Lily drew back, though she made no move to pull away from him.  Instead, she stared at him as thought she had never seen him before.  For his part, James thought Lily had never looked as beautiful as she did at that moment.

“James?”  She said his name softly, a question in it, wanting to know what he was thinking.

“Yes?”  He murmured, tracing her face gently.

She had meant to say something else, but James moved to kiss her jaw, just below her ear, and she forgot what she was going to say in a sigh.  He kissed along her throat, drawing back her hair, which fell through his fingers like silk.  At that moment, reeling, her mind spinning, Lily only hoped he wouldn’t stop.

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Remus wasn’t sure where James and Lily had disappeared to, but he guessed they were close to some sort of breakthrough, so he was hoping for the best.  He’d gladly be out ten galleons for James to get what he’d wanted since fourth year.

The party was in full swing, and although he had seen some people from Hogwart’s, Peter and Sirius had behaved well enough that so far Flora’s parents had not noticed their few extra guests.  Remus had been dancing, not only with Flora, but with several other girls he knew vaguely from Hogwart’s.  Sirius had been strangely withdrawn all evening, possibly just sulking because they had abandoned him.  Peter was acting unusually outgoing and getting towards simply silly, and Remus was beginning to suspect he was getting drunk.

There was a sudden a flash of light, a sudden commotion near the doors, and Sirius gripped his shoulder surprisingly hard and murmured “Oh No…”

A woman screamed, and then someone moved and Remus caught a glimpse of a masked figure coming through the door.

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James was in a dream.  That was the only explanation he could come up with.  But then he really wasn’t putting too much thought into it, since all of his attention was currently focused on kissing Lily.  Somehow, they had worked over to the couch, so that she was pressed back against the arm of the couch.

Lily had lost track of time, lost track of where she was, she was unaware of anything but James.  She had never meant for this to happen, but now that she had taken this chance she didn’t want this night to end.  She was at once afraid, of the sudden intensity of this, and at the same time exhilarated.

There was a quiet popping and a log in the fire broke, startling both of them.  James drew back, and tucked a lock of long coppery hair behind her ear.  She was flushed and looked confused and disoriented, but absolutely exquisite.

He was about to reluctantly say that maybe they should get back to the party before someone came looking for them, but as he opened his mouth the silence of the room was shattered by a scream.

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