Lily rolled her eyes at his usual and expected bouts of cockiness—she figured James would simply never get over that—but when he assumed a serious demeanor, she wasn’t quite sure what to do. She had been staring at the floor when he mentioned his ‘serious question’, and…
Lily stared at James with a funny expression, quite unsure of what to say. She wanted to tell him that no, he wasn’t the bleeder type, but she didn’t know if she could do it without sounding insincere or else arrogant, so she merely sighed and shook her head a little. She could vaguely remember the flowers, and the scoff and glare she had upon the sight of them. In retrospect, she really has all the right to act like that—like he said, he was dating Sarah Clearwater—but now, with that sheepish expression on his face and the fact that try were actually having a decent conversation…it was simply hard, if not impossible, to scoff and glare.
So she stayed silent and didn’t tell him how she didn’t think he was a jerkass boyfriend like some, and that—this other one something she wouldn’t have been able to tell whatever the circumstances were—she actually even thought that yes, he would make a great boyfriend…
She visibly shook her head off a little to stray from these thoughts, especially when she noticed he was speaking once more.
And this time she really did scoff, rolling her eyes, but her lips were upturned into an amused smile. “You underestimate me a great deal, Potter,” said Lily, getting to her feet and crossing her arms across her chest. “Kitchens?” she suggested, smirking down at him.
He really didn’t think she would agree to that and his eyebrows shot up in surprise. He couldn’t quite place the look in her eye, but it was almost like she was challenging him. All he knew was that he rather enjoyed this side of Lily Evans, and showed it by grinning widely at her, obviously pleased with her decision to stray from the straight and narrow a bit. “I think I’m a bad influence on you, Head Girl.”
He copied her movements and stood up, but shook his head at her assumption to go to the kitchens and held up a finger to her signaling her to wait as he made his way over to the bookcase. He bend over to the lowest right drawer, muttered a quick “Alohomora” to unlock it, and slid it open. When he straightened up again, he had his hands behind his back and a sheepish look on his face.
“I think it is now you who underestimates me,” he chimed, revealing two bottles of fire whiskey. He usually would have though she would disapprove of him hiding alcohol in the Head Office, but after the way things were going tonight he wasn’t quite sure how she would react. “So, what do you say, Snaps…truth or dare?”
He didn’t let it show, but he still felt a little nagging in the back of his mind that possibly getting drunk with Lily Evans held the potential of being very, very dangerous, seeing as there were definitely certain things about his feelings for her that should not be revealed under any circumstances and could potentially ruin any chance at friendship they had and seemed to be rather good at so far.
Still, the opportunity was too tempting. She was willing, seemed almost…excited about this, whatever it was. And he had been at parties with Lily in the past, but never one on one, with a generous amount of whiskey and the opportunity to learn more about her and than he ever had before.
I just finished my Transfiguration essay.
A day early.
Merlin, what have you done to me. I think I’m gonna go to the hospital wing.
Stop being overdramatic or I’ll slap you. And liar—you’ve finished homework early before. You just didn’t think it was something cool to brag about…or rather, Sarah didn’t think it was something cool to brag about.
Oh, you’re going to slap me Evans, I’m terrified now. Really. If you would have threatened me with magic then maybe, maybe, felt the tiniest bit more cautious. As far as brute strength goes, you’re not much of a threat, Snaps.
I’m not bragging, I’m ashamed. And that was, what, fourth year? I didn’t have to brag about anything, that bird thought I was Merlin’s gift to the earth. Although I can’t really blame her, have you seen me?
I just finished my Transfiguration essay.
A day early.
Merlin, what have you done to me. I think I’m gonna go to the hospital wing.
Lily rolled her eyes at his usual and expected bouts of cockiness—she figured James would simply never get over that—but when he assumed a serious demeanor, she wasn’t quite sure what to do. She had been staring at the floor when he mentioned his ‘serious question’, and when she looked up at him from under her lashes, she could not help but feel a little apprehensive at his solemn expression.
What now?
But then his hazel eyes met her emerald ones, and they were practically glinting with glee. “Just how pretty do you think I am, Evans?”
She wanted to simultaneously laugh out loud and hex the hell out of him right then. “What?” She spluttered, her face that of utter incredulity. “What are you—?” But then her own words came back to her, and she had to look away and purse her lips in annoyance of her traitorous mouth. You really would risk that pretty face for a duel with me?
Well of bloody course he would use the slightest things as ammunition.
She turned back to him and studied his face, trying to assume impassiveness, but for once actually caring about what she really and truly felt about James Potter’s bloody appearance. Merlin, the things this bloke made her do. “Fair enough,” she muttered, and she found herself both baffled and amused at how she was growing more and more comfortable being around him like this. Her eyes followed his figure as he leaned back the couch. “You extraordinarily resemble the bleeder type of boyfriend, to be honest,” she observed. She wanted very much to laugh at her own ridiculousness and at his and Sirius’s shameless descriptions of themselves—‘chiseled perfection’? Seriously?—but she managed to match his former serious air.
It was true, though. Because whatever rubbish she could manage to put out there, there was no denying the fact that James was indeed ridiculously good-looking. And that, she thought, was the mainly the problem. He was handsome, and everyone knew that—even he knew that himself.He could easily use it to his advantage. He could smile and make a witch do whatever he bid her do. Hell, he could even make the most enthusiastic former member of the Potter-hating club be with him in a castle office alone, when they were both supposed to be doing Head duties, talking about her prattling problems and his aesthetically pleasing (typical bleeder boyfriend) face.
“But because we’re friends,—” The reference was never going to end, was it? “—I’m willing to move on and not dwell on that. I suggest we go back to you helping me with my ranting problem.” She shifted to her side so that she was facing him, leaning her elbow on the back of the couch and resting her head on her hand. “What do you say?”
“Oi! I would be a great boyfriend. Opening doors, buying flowers on a whim, hexing anyone who looked at her the wrong way. All that chivalrous stuff. Don’t you remember Sarah Clearwater in 4th year? I picked half the flowers in the gardens while I was dating her. ‘Coure I sent them all to you…” James let out a small laugh and looked down, dropping his eyes from hers. “So I guess I was the bleeder type, wasn’t I?”
Sure, many girls had been infatuated with him over the years, but his amount of actual girlfriends had been minimal, mostly because he hardly paid attention to any but Lily. And the brave few who managed to actually call themselves James Potter’s girlfriends held the title for only a short time, when they could no longer ignore that he had eyes for only one girl at Hogwarts. He really would have been a bloody good boyfriend though, had he gotten the chance with the right girl…
He couldn’t tell if his comment had made her uncomfortable, so he continued on quickly.
“Anyways, yes. You’re ranting problem. My idea is that I distract you with a game: Truth or Dare. Fire whiskey is recommended. That, of course, is entirely up to you, Miss Evans, if you’re feeling a bit dangerous,” he finished with a teasing smile.
I would like to know. Isn’t that like…food discrimination?
All that hard work those House Elves put into our meals, Snaps, and you still find something to complain about. *shakes head* Shameful.
He shook his head playfully, letting out a small amused laugh. It was a great feeling knowing ‘Snaps’ was still getting to her. And of course, he could never actually tell her the reasoning behind the perfect nickname. “I already told you, it’d ruin the fun, Snaps. And if I told you I’d have to kill you. Then who would I annoy for entertainment, hmm?”He asked, raising his eyebrows as if it was obvious that there was no possible alternative, and how could she be so silly as to think such a thing.
“But back to my advice. Well, I suppose it’s not so much advice as a general friendly observation.” He left heavy emphasis on the word friendly - this would be fun for a while. Lily Evans and James Potter were friends, how could he not find a way to playfully annoy her with the decision she, or well they, just made. He was James Potter after all.
He fixed her with a serious stare, but couldn’t stop the corners of his lips from turning up ever so slightly. ”You talk to much.” It was true. Especially when Lily was nervous or frazzled, words just seemed to come pouring out of her mouth for which she had no control over. But James liked it, so, of course, how could he not tease her about it? It was always amusing (unless of course they were words of anger directed at him), and he was often amazed at the connections her brain made and the sheer amount of words she could spit out in a matter of seconds.
And then James had an idea - an idea that Lily might actually agree too and that could be potentially very, very…interesting. Especially in their current state of friendliness. “But, seeing as I’m such a great friend,” he chided, walking over to the too-short couch and taking a seat, kicking his feet up on the small coffee table in front of him and throwing his hands behind his head, “I have a way to help you,” he finished matter-of-factly, with a very James Potter-ish mischievous grin.
Lily resisted the urge to hit him on the head when he laughed and refused to give in. Merlin, this bloke was so hard-headed. “Look, I don’t mind ruining the fun—it’s not reaching my end anyway!” She raised an eyebrow on the latter part of his speech, smirking. “Kill me? You really would risk that pretty face for a duel with me? You won’t be the same after I’m done with you, I can assure you that.”
Normally, this behavior from him would have made her walk over to the door and leave him be. Normally, this sort of conversation would not make her lips twitch into an amused smile like they were doing now—especially because this imminent smile was merely because, and she knew that too, he seemed amused. Normally, her last statement would have been delivered with the usual scowl, a rundown of offensive spells in her head, and with her eyes possessing that coldness she reserved for a few people who managed to greatly aggravate her.
There was none of that now, she noticed, and this time, she wasn’t scared to admit it, too. There was just no point. They were friends now, weren’t they? Things change. People change. It’s what the world revolved on, and it seemed like James and Lily were finally making their own little moves that could or could not potentially and drastically affect their lives.
“I don’t talk too much!” she retorted, walking over to the couch and flumping down with a sigh to sit beside him. “I just get carried away sometimes,” she explained, looking ahead. “When someone aggravates me or I get excited, the words just tumble out. It’s not like I do it on purpose. It’s may way of getting around the nerves, you know?” She paused, frowned, and turned to James. “I’m doing it again, aren’t I? Oh and don’t give me that grin,” she added, nudging his arm lightly with her shoulder. She just then noted his trademark smile for a looming mischief, the glint in his eyes making her skin tingle, a feeling she knew didn’t have anything to do with the cold. “If that doesn’t involve explosives and that gooey green stuff you keep scaring the first years with, Potter, I might actually consider it.”
She hadn’t even noticed she said it, had she? And that made it all the better. She wasn’t saying it sarcastically, or ironically, nope.
Lily Evans had just called James Potter pretty. As if his ego needed that.
He was certain she hadn’t realized she said it as she started babbling again when she plopped down next to him, seemingly unaware to the knowing smirk that covered James’ face as his mind whirred with excitement, millions of different ideas flying into his head about how to best make her regret not choosing her words more carefully.
“First of all, I would definitely win in a duel, Evans. You may spend hours upon hours in the library, but I have natural talent with a wand, and there are some things books just can’t teach. The only reason I ‘wouldn’t be the same after you’re done with me’ is because I would never live past the guilt of hexing a girl into oblivion. Second, no gooey green stuff,” he said shaking his head. “That would go awful with your hair,” he continued, turning himself to face her more completely on the small couch. “And also they deserved it, because they’re all tiny little prats. But we’ll get to that in a minute. First, I have something very serious to ask you Evans.” His face grew solemn, and he was silent for a few moments to build up the tension, not meeting her eyes.
Finally he looked up, locking his eyes onto hers, leaned forward slightly once again having that scent of summer that seemed so familiar and comfortable fill his senses, and said, without so much as the corner of his lips turning up (because 6 years of convincing teachers you’re innocent when you’re so clearly not makes one talented in the field of deceiving), “Just how pretty do you think I am, Evans?”
He held his look of complete seriousness for a few seconds before a wide, teasing grin covered his face. He leaned back, hitching his arms up to rest on the back of the couch and continued in a mock-tone while looking at Lily. “Because Sirius and I have been trying to find words to describe ourselves, but handsome, god-like and chiseled perfection and just don’t seem to cover it. A lady’s perspective might be of some help, especially with your extensive vocabulary.”
the time for sleep is now
but it’s nothing to cry about
cause we’ll hold each other soon
in the blackest of rooms (x)
