Disclaimer:
Characters and Song not mine, nor is the musical, The King and I.
Enjoy!
*****
James and Lily had only been friends for a short while, if that is what you could call them. Lily would never had let the arrogant James Potter warm up to her if it hadn't been for the pushing of her dear friend, Alice.
Now that they talked, Lily found him not as arrogant and he had stopped his annoying arrogance and asking her to go to Hogsmeade with him with every single ounce of energy he had. She actually found him...quite soothing at times, and funny, instead of annoying and rude. She didn't know what was wrong with her, maybe she really had been judging him wrong these past seven years.
It was a cool evening by the lake, and Lily sprawled out on her back on the lush and springy ground, her fiery hair swarming about her face. She hummed to herself as the sun began setting, the moon peaking out from it's hiding spot and the wind whisping by in gusts. She heard soft footsteps and turned her head, the grass brushing her cheek with a tickle.
James was approaching. His raven hair fell into his eyes and glasses, colliding with the stunning hazel. His muscular arms clothed by a jacket. She gave him a small smile, turning back to face the sun and sitting up. He sat down next to her, propping his arms on his knees. He said, his voice low and almost attractive, "Hey, Lily."
"Hey, James." She mumbled, "How did you manage to get out here with out Black?"
James gave a soft chuckle and joked, "I had to tell him that I was going to work on my assignment for Flitwick. He wouldn't dare come with me if I was doing something learning-wise."
Lily laughed, "That is true."
They fell into silence, silence that they both seemed to enjoy. As the sun disappeared beyond the distant horizon of the lake, the air grew colder and Lily shuddered as goose bumps went up her arms. James took his jacket off and draped it over her arms. Lily pulled it around her chest, mumbling, "Thanks."
James nodded. Silence once more came and James then sighed, and then gave a small laugh, "Do you have a secret that you haven't told anyone?"
Lily looked at him with a smile and a quirked eyebrow. She was silent for a moment then said in a slightly urging voice, "Yes..."
James smiled into the lake which now gleamed with a small outline of the crescent moon. James shrugged and they couldn't help but laugh.
James found Lily a wonderful person to be around, sure she was almost all brains but she had a wonderful sense of humor and was just of pure, striking beauty. James couldn't help but see himself in her bright, emerald eyes. She was full of life and he regretted that they couldn't have gotten to know each other sooner.
"Well?" James asked, bumping his shoulder into hers on purpose, an action urging her to tell. She bumped him back and said, "Well what?"
"What is it?" James said with a laugh.
Lily blushed and looked back to the lake, hugging the jacket closer. She finally confessed, "I can't dance."
James looked at her with an odd look, "What? You can't dance? Do you mean that you can't...or you are you just embarrassed?"
"I'm not embarrassed...I just can't." She laughed with a shrug. James couldn't help but laugh. She stared him down with a smile, "What? What can you not do, Mr. Perfect in Everything?"
"What?!" James gasped, "You think I'm perfect? Nah."
"Really? Then what can you not do?" Lily urged in a sassy way that completely defined her. "I mean, you are Quidditch Captain, you were a chaser, now you're the best seeker. You are handsome and-"
She cut off realizing what she said. She bit her lip and looked away with a blush. James had to stare into the lake to be able to not jump with joy at what she just said. Lily mumbled, "Sorry, I-" Her voice faded away.
James said, "I'm not perfect. No one is."
Lily wouldn't look at James. They entered silence. Then James suddenly said with a happy voice, "Come on, I'll teach you."
"Teach me what?" Lily asked, finally lifting her eyes to his hazel ones.
"To dance!" James exclaimed.
Lily blushed and looked away again. James pouted and jumped up and down, "Come on."
James took her hand that was laying on the grass and pulled her to her feet. He said with a boyish smile, "It'll be fun."
Lily rolled her head and eyes, giving in, "Fine."
"But I'm not going to teach you. I'm going to make you figure it out." James said, leading her into an open space of green grass. They stood in front of each other, James standing well above her, Lily's head only reaching his chest. He stared down her waiting for her to make a move. She finally took one of his hands and placed it on her waist and lifted his other.
Lily took it in hers and placed her other on his shoulder, then asked, lifting her head, "Like this?"
"No." James whispered in a husky voice, he lowered his hand on her waist. Lily gasped and looked to her waist. His hands, so large and calming on her lower hip made her heart flutter and she suddenly felt as if she could feel the heat leaving from James' body, even though they hadn't moved closer together.
Lily looked up as James began moving his feet in steps. She let him lead and found herself learning.
They were silent, then he asked in a soothing voice that startled her, "See? It's not that hard."
She swallowed a lump in her throat and croaked, "No."
She stepped on his foot every now and then and he would wince softly, Lily apologizing automatically and James dismissing it. James stopped and smiled to her. Lily beamed, "I did it! Was everything right?"
James couldn't help but put on a husky smile. His voice was low and captivating when he murmured, "No."
"What was wrong?" Lily asked, wanting to know so she could fix it.
James placed his hand back on her hip, "We don't dance like this." He motioned to the large amount of space between them. He pulled her body up against his, closer than needed. Lily gasped and moved her head from side to side, not knowing how to react. James' husky voice flooded through her ears, "We dance like this."
He took her hand in his and began to dance again. Lily didn't look at him, her face flushing again. James couldn't help but look down upon her, so close to him. He smiled, "See?"
She could only open her mouth and close it again, nodding.
They danced for what felt like ages, but wonderful ages. James spun her around the lush grass, his hand a butterfly on her waist. He loved having Lily's small hand on his shoulder, feeling so light. Pitch black covered the grounds until no one in the castle could possibly see them. The only things they could see were the soft shimmering of the lake, and the outline of the one they were dancing with.
James looked into her eyes, shining up at him with that striking green. He stopped dancing, his breath tickling over her nose. He let his eyes flutter shut in temptation. James began to lower his head, meeting her lips.
"No..." Lily pulled away and turned away from James. She pulled his jacket around her tighter, "I-I'm sorry. I j-just-"
"No, it's..." James turned around, completely humiliated. He rubbed the back of his neck and lifted his face to the sky, squeezing his eyes shut in aggravation. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't h-have..."
"No, I'm sorry." Lily turned around. She began to walk away, staring at the ground. James heard the soft crunch of grass, and he turned his head abruptly to see Lily jogging quickly up to the castle.
He ran after her and caught her by the arm. He took her hand and bowed in a funny way, "My lady, may I have this dance?"
Since James had been friends with Lily for only a short while, he had to learn how to draw Lily back to him. And that is exactly what he did, he reeled her back to him like a fish caught in a net. Lily smiled and nodded with a curtsy. They resumed their position and continued dancing.
They danced for what felt like forever. It was most definitely nearing midnight, but neither cared. At one point, Lily let her head fall against the smooth plane of James' chest. She sighed against it. James lifted his head to the sky and smiled before he placed his chin upon her head.
James whispered, "Do you want to head back in soon?"
Lily was silent for a few moments then breathed heavily, "No..."
He had to smile at this.
Lily felt something flood through her. She lifted her head from his chest and stared into his hazel eyes, stopping.
"What?" James asked. Lily let her gaze move from his lips to his eyes. He could see what she was doing, but he wouldn't fool himself. If she wanted it, she would make the move. He had tried and he had embarrassed himself. "Lily..." He whispered, placing a hand at the back of her neck, looking down to her.
Lily's breath grew uneven and she looked away from him, but one of her hands moved to the arm that was holding her neck. She rubbed her thumb over his arm, looking away.
His hand tickled her hair; she lifted his gaze to his. She wanted it, she didn't know why it came all the sudden. She moaned in a whisper, "James..."
He didn't let her speak as he lowered his head to hers in a kiss. The second their lips touch, Lily let herself be engulfed into his arms, wrapping her arms around James' neck. She enjoyed it; she loved the feeling of his lips on hers. And she thought that maybe...just maybe...that this could be the beginning of something.
Or perchance,
When the last little star has left the sky,
Shall we still be together
With are arms around each other
And shall you be my new romance?
On the clear understanding
That this kind of thing can happen,
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