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Their peers were leaving them behind and moving inside the castle. Not that James noticed them separating from the large group as of yet. His attention was on the redhead next to him. The musical laughter brought a smile. Wasn’t everyday that he could get her to laugh. Exactly what was different from all the other times was a mystery, but he was enjoying this. 

Fun. Lot of what he did in his spare time broke school rules and Lily didn’t exactly approve of that. Licking his lips he was just about to make a suggestion when she came out with one. The game had take quite a bit of energy and he wouldn’t mind relaxing easy evening. 

“Talk?” This serious vibe might be staying. James took a moment to look over the redhead. “Okay.” he agreed, without hesitation. Maybe she was taking this seriously for once and wanted to get to know him better. “You have anything in particular you want to get off your chest, Evans?” 

The word rang through the night air once more, and Lily prepared herself to be teased. When James easily agreed, a brow simply arched in surprise. She could feel something settle between them, and she didn’t quite understand what that specifically was. Still, it made her feel more at ease, so she couldn’t complain. At ease around Potter, who would have ever thought?

Lily pondered the question. She had a few things she’s wanted to ask him, if she really thought about it. But a lot of them seemed to be of the past, and was there even a point in asking now? 

Glancing over her shoulder at the pitch behind them, she shrugged her shoulders. “Do you even like quidditch?”

     Considering how much she loved sleep, she probably should have found her way to bed by then, but she couldn’t help but to stay up a little while longer. Push the rules a little further. Break curfew for just a little tiny bit more. She turned at the sound of footsteps, somewhat glad she hadn’t brought anything questionable with her. “Let’s keep this our secret, yeah?”

Occasionally Lily had to struggle to make it through her prefect duties walking the halls at night. It was by far her least favorite responsibility, as she had a tendency to be jumpy at night in the corridors. Not skittish, just jumpy. So spotting her friend out of bed, the witch couldn’t help but squeak in surprise. “I’ll add it to the list,” She said warily with a smile.

A chance to win over Lily Evans, the girl of his dreams, might just be slipping through his fingers. First time he got her to agree to spending a little time with him and he had to open his big mouth. Go and ruin it. Well that is what he had originally thought. 

Stopped, dead in his tracks, James jaw dropped open. All of this was still hard to wrap his head around and he looked at the pinky being offer, astonished. He didn’t remember making a deal with the devil, but how else did he pull this off? The look of surprise was fleeting. In a moment a sly grin appeared while he took a hold of her pinky with his own. There was a gently squeeze before letting go. 

“Moping?” The comment had him furrowing his brows as he wouldn’t quite describe himself as that. “I’m serious for one moment Evans and you just assume that I’m being mopey.” There was a playful scoff as it didn’t really bother him that she had made the assumption. His only intention was to make them on the same page. Tension could easily rise between the two. “Now that I finally have your attention.” Something he still was having trouble believing. “What would you like to do?”

Lily couldn’t help but laugh lightly, the musical sound filling the night air. She couldn’t help but be amused at the look on his face, however brief. James and his mates seemed to make her feel predictable, and surprising him felt a bit satisfying. Anytime James showed anything the least bit vulnerable, it threw Lily off guard. 

The redhead drops her hand and tucks it into her coat pocket. The rest of the crowd had moved past them now, leaving them nearly alone. It was strange, but not bad really. He looked tousled and a little tired from the game, and it was kind of nice of him to want to hang out with his biggest critic rather than the adoring crowd of their house.

Godric, what was she doing?

“Can’t fault me, i’m not exactly used to it.” She replied breezily, honest as could be. This was all new territory, and Lily had to struggle to appear sure. But...maybe she didn’t have to. Her thin shoulders rose and fell in a shrug. “Whatever you do for fun, I suppose. Or just...we could, er -- talk?” The witch said, weary of the crowded tower.

Silence could speak louder than words. The pause was worrisome since the was the first time James had Lily even considering the idea of spending one on one time with him, that wasn’t forced. It made him skeptical of the situation. Even the reluctant ‘alright’ didn’t excite him like he thought it originally would. Caughtt him off guard more than anything.

“…Alright.” The word hung in the air, his skepticism coming out. Did she have the intention of giving him a real chance, or was she just going to be a downer until she could safely say she didn’t have a good time. Do this all to just get him out of her hair.  

“You know Lil, you’re actually going to have to try for the deal to be honored.” It was one of the very few times that James wasn’t cracking a joke or trying to be witty. There was a vulnerability there since he wanted a real chance and to be strung along wasn’t his idea of fun. “So - Will you you actually give me a chance, otherwise I guess have fun with Jane Austen and the squid.” 

Still staring at the dark sky, a careful eyebrow raised slowly. She was surprised James would even question her answer, rather than just going with it. Then again, he wasn’t stupid. She’s always secretly given him that. He wasn’t stupid. And in some ways, he knew her fairly well. 

It was kind of what she had planned to do, after all. At the very least, it had crossed her mind. That wasn’t fair, though, even if it was Potter. Lily didn’t like being unfair. If she was going to give him her evening, she ought not waste it either. 

And he sounded so genuine. It caught her off guard. It was a rare moment, the kind that occasionally she found herself wishing for. To just talk to him, minus the bravado -- if that was possible. Tilting her head back down she stopped walking abruptly and offered her pinky finger. “Alright,” She repeated, nodding her head to her hand. “Will you stop moping now?”

Exactly how was enjoying his company a waste of time? Constantly having one’s nose in a book could qualify as a waste of time, in his humble opinion. Life could easily slip by if one wasn’t careful. James would rather experience it, not read about it. - Especially dull old timey classics. 

“Let me get this right, you’re passing up on celebrating our house’s victory for Jane Austen?” James feigned hurt. However, it was predictable. “What, you want to reread Pride and Prejudice for the fifth time?” He asked dully, shaking his head in disappointment. 

“Okay, just hear me out.” James was going to try and reason with Lily. “Maybe, you won’t have a good time, but you just might.“ James spoke with his hands, weighing out the options like a scale. "To make it worth you precious time I’ll make a deal with you. If you absolutely have a shite time being with me, I’ll leave you alone. No questions asked. I’ll quit.”

“Sense and Sensibility.” Lily corrected in a mumble. She didn’t mention that she had already read Pride and Prejudice more than five times. She couldn’t help but think of herself as quite the Elizabeth Bennet type. But James was no Darcy. 

Rolling her eyes, Lily was hardly listening until the tail end of his statement. He’d leave her alone? Now that...that was worth her time. She didn’t quite believe him, after all of the years of this nonsense. But one evening, that might be worth a shot. It wasn’t as if there were half a chance she’d have fun.

After a moment of silence, Lily answered, eyes scanning the sky for stars. “...Alright.”

Lily Evans. The girl he couldn’t get out of his head. She was smart, sure of herself, had a fiery spirit and beautiful. Despite always being turned down and those snide comments, James couldn’t be more interested in the redhead. After a well-earned win, there were very few people he’d rather have walking beside him. Now, if only she’d give him the time of day. Thick skinned, the snotty little retort rolled over him without much effect.  

“Plans with the squid, now I can’t get in the way of that!” he said, his words drenched with sarcasm. A hand came down, emphasis on the word that. “Hate for you to disappoint.” he added, though he sounded slightly wounded. James didn’t understand why she had to come off the way she did, he was simply just trying to be friendly at the moment.

“C’mon Evans, you can’t put your books down for one night and spend some time with me? What are you so afraid of, that you might actually enjoy yourself around me?”

The witch couldn’t help the crooked grin that overtook her features, not looking at the boy but the tower. The only thing they had in common, she figured. At least the squid picked up her books for her one time fourth year - wet pages or not. 

Perhaps James’ cockiness would have worn down in her eyes over the years if it hadn’t been for his treatment of Severus. Then again, Lily didn’t even like hearing the name as of the previous year. What was her reason now, exactly? Shaking her head slightly to move the hair that had blown over her eyes, she considered his question.

“I don’t like my time wasted.” She said simply, truthfully. It didn’t sound as annoyed as she had meant it to. “Especially when I could be reading Jane Austen instead.” She vaguely wondered if James knew who that was.

Tough game. In the end Gryffindor came out ahead and that isall that really mattered. All the practices had paid off, not that James wasletting anyone know he had been sweating it. He played it off as the Quidditchcup was already Gryffindor’s. Deep down winning wasn’t all that mattered. Thesport was a way to release stress and there was nothing more exhilarating thenflying. Well, the cheering and praising went a long way. Gave him a bit of abig head. Broom put away, he left the pitch behind and started heading towards histower.

“Whaat?” His head tilted to the side while he scoffed a bit.“Of course, I wasn’t worried. I knew we’d pull through in the end.” There wasconfidence in his voice that would sell the lie to just about anyone. “Want tocelebrate the win?”

Heading back to the castle, Lily had fallen behind from her mates, somehow ending up walking alongside (of all people) Potter. How was she supposed to keep her tongue after a match like that? In her mind, it was better than most. She got rather bored when Gryffindor didn’t have a chance of losing. She liked the rush of a well won match, even if it was just cheering in the stands. The redhead rubbed her hands together as James replied rather as she had knew he would, trying to keep them warm. She had forgotten her gloves in the pre-game excitement.

Lily scoffed slightly with a laugh. “I’ve got plans tonight, down by the lake. With the squid.” She snarked, glancing sideways at him. Though her plans for the rest of the night were much more predictable -- a cup of tea and a nice book. Potter was hard to tolerate on a normal day. After winning a match it was much harder.

Christmas at Hogwarts had always been a wonderful time of year in Daisy’s eyes. With the snow falling on the grounds and the decorations lighting up the charmed ceiling in the Great Hall, the only thing that could make it more magical was the transformation on the evening of the Yule Ball.

Sitting at one of the many tables scattered around the Hall, Daisy had left her friends on the dance floor to give her feet a break for a moment. It gave the Hufflepuff the chance to take everything in and to watch on as others enjoyed themselves.

With a smile painted on her features, she turned to face the other person who was sitting at the same table as her. “Are you having fun?” She called out, hoping that they would hear her

The redhead was still trying to catch her breath, she had been dancing far too hard. And not to mention, laughing even harder. She couldn’t see why anyone would ever went to balls with any other than mates. A date could never be as much fun, she decided. 

Chest still heaving a little, Lily moved a chair closer to the Hufflepuff so they could speak without entirely shouting. “Of course! How ‘bout you, Daisy?” She grinned, pushing her hair back off her shoulders.

The redhead was a couple of steps from the table when she realized who was standing in front of her. Realizing she wouldn’t be able to get by with a butterbeer and no conversation, Lily smoothed her hands down the lace of her dress nervously. “Potter,” She greeted softly as she stepped next to him. She tried not too look at him closely, tried not to notice how handsome he probably looked. He always seemed to, no matter how much it annoyed her. She offered a smile - she didn’t know how to act. After the last time they spoke, Lily as if she were walking on eggshells. “Having a good time?” The girl added tentatively, tucking a lock of curled hair behind her ear.

     “ — Oy! I wouldn’t eat that if I were you. ” Normally Peter would leave this sort of thing well enough alone, but being that he was all alone, he really didn’t fancy being BLAMED if something untoward happened. 

With an arched brow Lily sets her fork down on her plate. It looked like her lunch would have to wait. “What’s in my food this time, Peter?” She asked politely, eyeing her tea suspiciously as well.

Remus chortled, imagining as if Lily actually did that. He didn’t know Petunia very well, and didn’t have a good impression of her anyway, but he could almost imagine how red in the face she would get with a copious amount of firewhisky running through her. Remus nodded though, understanding. “Yeah, it’s the same with my family. Of course, it’s half and half instead of pure Muggle, but my mum’s really the one calling the shots.” He doesn’t mention that his father fled the Wizarding world after Remus got bitten. “I’m staying this year, but at least you’re welcome at home still.” His parents liked when they got to see him, of course, but with the way the moons go this year, he would be on the train to Hogwarts the same day as the full moon. His parents didn’t want to risk it, so he has to stay, according to them. He looked up at Lily, suddenly gripped with nerves. 

“Erm, alright.” He approached the potion cautiously, and took a whiff. And another. Tilting his head, the scents separate themselves in his head. “Hmm. You were right; just stuff I like, really. Nothing’s standing out to me, anyway.”

Lily frowned slightly, unsure of what he meant by that, but thinking it a little to personal to ask. It worried her, but Remus didn’t seem to indicate any ill feeling for his family. It seemed a bit strange. It reminded her that she didn’t have it as bad as it seemed, even with her sister biting her head off every other minute. 

“Mostly gift giving. I want everyone staying to enjoy a little bit of the time of year. Other than that mostly stuff for myself to have fun. Especially since I’m staying. What about you?”

“You’re getting gifts for people? That’s really nice.” Lily smiled. “I’m going home, like always. It’ll be nice to see my mum and dad. And my sister, I suppose. What are you going to give as gifts?”

“You’ll get Head Girl,” Marlene assured her soothingly, side-eyeing her strange pen and paper; it had always confused her. “One party won’t damage your record.” Probably, she added, internally. At Lily’s mention of James Marlene hid a smile. The redhead couldn’t resist bringing him up, even to insult him. “I’ll keep him under wraps,” she promised, grinning, having no intention of doing any such thing. “We could get Remus to control him - and Black, as well.”

A great, silent sigh, exited the witch. She would feel much better when this year was over, when she held the title of her dreams. Even if it included NEWTs, she couldn’t wait for next year. But she knew she needed to enjoy this school year while she had less responsibilities. “I don’t suppose I can just...not invite him, can I?” She asked rhetorically, scribbling down what night would be best and what she might wear.