A Lily and James romance (For Lila Oren-Dahan)

He was rude and arrogant and had little to no respect for those in Slytherin, especially Severus. Yet, he had defended her, albeit, not in the most mature of ways.

Lily Evans gazed at James from across the Gryffindor common room, her eyes just peaking over her textbook. James and Remus were entertaining themselves with a game of exploding snap, a game which frequently irritated her when she was trying to study. The cards began to smoke and she winced, knowing the sound that was about to issue from the pile. Sure enough, the cards flew into the air with a spontaneous bang and James whooped with glee having obviously gained victory over Remus. The latter, having been defeated, sighed and began to collect the fallen cards, announcing that he was tired and off to bed. 

"Just one more game, come on!" James pleaded with his friend, but Remus shook his head.

"And let you win again? I don't think so."

They said their farewells and Remus trumped up the spiralling stairs to the boys dormitories, taking the cards with him. Lily and James were left alone. 

The fire crackled and emitted sparks and the logs within crumbled. Lily stared at them feigning concentration. She didn't want to be caught staring at James. He didn't need the thrill of more attention. 

"Well, it's just you and me." James raised his arms above his head as he stretched, his mouth opening in a yawn like a lion. Lily could almost hear him roar. Despite his attempts to gain her attention, she ignored him and turned back to Hogwarts: A History. She had met the author once previously, a meeting which sparked her interests with the book in her hands, but tonight she could barely concentrate. Still refusing to look at him, she felt James rise from his chair and resettle himself on the adjacent couch, right beside Lily. 

"If you're not going to look at me, can you at least talk to me?" He pouted, flicking the spine of her book and causing her to blink in surprise. 

Lily crossed her legs on the sofa and turned away from him, her book still held high. "If you finish that sentence." She stated curtly. She knew she was toying with him, despite her annoyance. James was quite persistent. 

"Please?"

"No."

"Oh, come on, it's been days! I haven't done anything wrong. The least you could have done was say no, which you did, but I see no crime in asking for a simple date."

"You're acting as though you inquired just once." Lily replied, her eyes shifting to James' face with a glare. "If I said no the first time, what made you think I was going to change my mind the fifth time you asked?"

"My charm and good looks?" James sat up straight and grinned, but seeing Lily fail to smile, he returned to a slouch. "Or my hope that you would eventually give in."

"So you think I'm weak?" Lily dropped the book to her lap and faced James once more, her green eyes gleaming like emeralds in the firelight. James leant back in slight fear.

"N-no." He stammered, but didn't know how to continue. To his relief, Lily sighed and turned away from him. She wasn't looking for a fight. 

"I'm sorry about what I said to Snape yesterday. I just meant it as a laugh, nothing more." James faltered, hoping to gain some sympathy from Lily.

"It was mean, James. You can be such a bully." She folder her arms across her chest. "Besides, it shouldn't be me you're apologizing to."

"I know. I talked to Snape this morning with Sirius." James spoke with his head lowered like a bad dog caught by its master. Lily looked over at him with sudden interest. "He didn't take the apology too well, but I said it either way."

He had apologized to Severus without her demand. This was something she had not expected, but quite admired. Perhaps this was the one sign that her refusals may not continue if he ever was to ask again. However, she thought, it seemed as though James has given up this plight and would cease his questioning, for he raised his head once more and stood up from the couch.

"I'd better go and see if Remus is okay. If Sirius returns with his," James hesitated before continuing with his next word. "Girlfriend, please let him know that I've gone to bed." And with a final nod, he turned around and headed towards the same stairs that Remus had previously ventured up. 

"Wait!" Lily cried, coming to a quick decision that perhaps she had made long before now. Allowing her book to slide onto the floor, she ran over to where James was standing and reached up on her toes to kiss him on the cheek. "Thank you for apologizing to Severus. And thank you for being on my side." She smiled at him, her cheeks the tiniest shade of pink as James gaped at her, open mouthed. "And Sirius doesn't have to be the only one with a girlfriend. That is, if you'll have me." 

A sudden grin burst across James' face and he pulled Lily into a tight hug. "You've made me the happiest man at Hogwarts, Lily!" He said into her deep, red hair. "Truly, you have!" And giving her hand a tight squeeze, he kissed the top of her shining head and bounded up the stairs like a small boy at Christmas. 

Lily laughed as she watched him go, feeling sudden elation at the night's events. She turned back to the sofa to retrieve her book from the floor when Sirius slunk in through the portrait hole. 

"Oh, I didn't know you were up." he said, looking very embarrassed that he was caught out so late, but Lily smiled at him and straightened up. 

"I won't be for long." She said, heading towards the girl's dormitories. "Have many pleasant dreams, Sirius. I know I will!" And winking at him, she ran up the stairs with her book leaving Sirius looking deeply confused behind her.