18 December 1976, Platform 9 3/4, King's Cross Station

[lilium_evansiae]

The last day of term passes very pleasantly. Even at NEWT level, most of the teachers don't expect too much attention from students the day before Christmas Break. Dinner is cheerfully noisy, spirits are high, and everyone is talking about holiday plans. Slughorn's party is a giddy whirl of lights and music and mistletoe and James. Afterwards, Lily and her roommates stay up far too late, laughing and gossiping and exchanging gifts and eating the fudge Mary's mother makes and sends the last week of fall term every year.

Lily is yawning the next day as she makes her way down the corridor of the Hogwarts Express, so it's probably just as well that the biggest crisis she's asked to deal with is a window that won't stay closed in a compartment full of Ravenclaw first years.

She's on her way back to the prefects' compartment after charming the reluctant window shut, when a door to her right slides open and someone hisses, "Psst." A second later, James pulls her into the otherwise empty compartment and kisses her.

It's so very easy, kissing James.

Sometimes, she worries that it's too easy, because it seems like she could fall for him without half-trying, in that dizzying utter way of falling that it seems far too soon to even be aware of, nevermind considering. And it's not that she doesn't like him (because she really does) or doesn't want to like him (because she rather likes liking James), it's just that they're only sixteen and, even knowing what she knows about boys with her eyes and his hair, sometimes this all feels very ... fast.

(Except it's not, not really. They danced around this for so long before they ever made it official. She's not sure exactly how long, possibly all the way back to the night her asked her out at the end of the Universe, and certainly through all letters and conversations over the summer and fall, even the ones that went horridly awry.)

The break will be good for them, Lily decides a half an hour later, in the prefects' compartment, as they reach the outskirts of London and she swaps the Hogwarts robes she's worn over her Muggle clothes for her coat. Or, if not good than at least not bad. It will give things time to settle a little, give them both time to catch their breath (metaphorically and otherwise).

That's her theory until the train reaches King's Cross, anyway. The Hogwarts Express comes to a stop and Lily folds her robes and puts them in her suitcase as students spill out onto Platform 9 3/4, greeting parents and calling farewells to each other. Lily picks up her bag and steps out into the corridor to find James waiting for her, leaning against the windows opposite and smiling.

And then all she can think is, Oh, I'm going to miss him over break.

James takes her bag from her, swinging it like it doesn't have five textbooks at the bottom of it and carrying it off the train for her. He sets it on the platform and turns back to offer her his hand as she gets off the train. She's starting to get used to things like that, the Society chivalry and mannerisms that are second nature to him, even if she still doesn't quite expect them.

"Thank you," she says, smiling at him once she's standing next to him on the platform. She doesn't let go of his hand, though. Not just yet.

Because oh she's going to miss him over break.

Comments

[alotofgood]

"Right," says James, smiling at Lily, "well. I guess this is it, then."

He only briefly glances back towards the train where Sirius, Remus and Peter are still hanging about, gathering their bags and exchanging 'see you later''s and 'have a good holiday''s.

Sirius, of course, will be spending the holidays at the Potters, having told his mum he'd prefer a Dark Arts-free Christmas to her utmost chagrin (to put it lightly). But James isn't so sure he'll be much fun; he still hasn't lightened up entirely since goodness-knows-when now, and any mention of Lily was usually met with the rolling of eyes and sometimes exasperated sighs.

[lilium_evansiae]

"Yeah, I guess so," Lily says, squeezing James' hand a little. "I'm going to miss you, James.

"You'll write me, yeah?"

[alotofgood]

James squeezes her hand in kind, as a sort of reassurance — and a promise.

"Of course," he tells her, his smile widening. "You'll have an Owl at your house nearly every day if I can manage."

He may only be half-teasing.

[lilium_evansiae]

"No argument here," she says.

He can write every day, if he likes.

She won't mind in the slightest.

"Don't let Black get you into too much trouble."

Lily pauses, and then grins at him.

"Don't you get him into too much trouble, either."

[alotofgood]

James laughs.

"I'll try, mum. Thank you," he says, mock-serious.

Then he laughs again, leaning in to give Lily a hug.

[lions_and_witches]

Speaking of mums ...

"James — there you are.





"Oh! Excuse me. I didn't mean to interrupt."

One may notice that while her expression is sincerely apologetic, there's something of a glimmer in her eyes.

[lilium_evansiae]

Except that that would require one to make eye contact.

Lily has developed a sudden, intense interest in shoes.

Her own, James', those of the people on the platform around them ...

[alotofgood]

"— blimey, mum!"

James nearly jumps a mile.

"What are you — I mean — hi."

Oh, Merlin.

It's a bloody good thing he hadn't been kissing Lily.

[lions_and_witches]

Florence smiles serenely.

Innocently, too.

"Hello, James," she returns, shifting her (amused) gaze from her flustered son to her flustered son's companion.

"I don't suppose you'd like to introduce me to this lovely young lady?"

A beautiful girl with long, straight ginger hair.

Hmm.

[lilium_evansiae]

Really, it's not at all like they were doing anything wrong.

It's just a little ... awkward. That's all.

Awkward.

Right.

Gryffindor bravery it is.

"Hello. I'm Lily Evans."

[lions_and_witches]

"Lily," Mrs Potter repeats. "What a lovely name."

She extends her (graceful) hand towards her.

"It's very nice to meet you."

No, she won't say she's heard all about you.

(Even if she has.)

"A friend of James', then?"

[alotofgood]

James runs a hand through his ever-messy black hair.

This is not exactly the way he planned on telling her the news.

Certainly not in the middle of King's Cross Station, amidst Hogwarts students returning home for the Christmas holidays.

"Uh, actually —"

[lions_and_witches]

"Lily, there you are," Geraldine Evans says, as she approaches the group. "Sorry, Cliona said she thought you were up near the front of the train, so I was waiting there."

Geraldine kisses her daughter's cheek and then turns her attention to the others.

"Hello," she says, brightly. "I'm Geraldine Evans. I'm Lily's mother."

[lilium_evansiae]

"Mum, this is Mrs Potter," Lily says, with only a slight hesitation as she realizes she doesn't know James' mother's first name. "And this is her son, James."

There's a longer hesitation, and then she continues, "James is my boyfriend."

Well, one of them has to say it.

[lions_and_witches]

"Call me Florence," Mrs Potter says, turning her cheerful attention upon the newest member to join their group. "It is such a joy to meet you, Geraldine.

"And you too, of course, Lily."

[alotofgood]

"— yeah."

James gives his mum a glance.

"I was just about to tell you — yeah. Lily is my girlfriend."

Oh, Merlin.

He straightens, gathering all his Gryffindor courage, and offers Mrs Evans a bright and confident smile.

"Hi," he says, offering his hand. "It's really brilliant to meet you, Mrs Evans."

[lions_and_witches]

"It's lovely to meet both of you," Geraldine says, stepping forward to take first Florence's hand and then James'.

And under the cover of stepping back to stand next to Lily, she adds in a (mostly) whispered aside to her daughter, "He's very cute, dear."

[lilium_evansiae]

"Mum," Lily says, in a horrified whisper of her own.

Oh, God.

[alotofgood]

James suddenly finds himself blushing against his will, all while trying not to laugh.

He has no idea what to say — and rendering him speechless isn't always easy to do.

[lions_and_witches]

Oh, but my dears, Florence Potter has a couple of questions yet to ask!

The embarrassment and speechlessness isn't over just yet.

"So, how long have you two been — ?"

You know.

Because the last she heard, her son was still pining (not too discreetly) over this very girl.

[lilium_evansiae]

Oh, don't worry, James. You're not the only one blushing here.

"Um, since right around Halloween," Lily says.

More or less.

[lions_and_witches]

So, not terribly long.

"How lovely," Florence remarks, still cheerful.

[alotofgood]

"... right. Lovely," James agrees faintly.

"Er. Mum. Maybe you could possibly check on Sirius? Make sure he hasn't — gotten lost or something.

"I'll come find you both in a second?"

[lions_and_witches]

Geraldine smiles.

She knows a hint when she hears one.

"Lily, dear, I'm going to go pull the car around.

"It was very nice to meet you, Florence. And you, James."

She looks forward to hearing all about you on the way back to Milton.

"Happy Christmas.

"Don't stay too much longer," she adds, to Lily. "We don't want to be getting back too late."

[lilium_evansiae]

Lily nods.

"I'll be along in a minute or two," Lily says, and her mother heads for the barrier back into the rest of the station.

[lions_and_witches]

"Yes, well."

Florence smiles at the two teenagers with a very clear sense of fondness.

"I suppose that's my cue to leave as well, isn't it?"

If the further looks from her son are anything to go by, she really ought to get going.

But not before: "I hope to see you again soon, Lily."

She means it.

[lilium_evansiae]

"I hope so, too, Mrs Potter."

Maybe not immediately, but soon.

"Happy Christmas."

[alotofgood]

"You too," she says brightly. And then she's off to 'find Sirius Black' — who happens to only be standing by the now empty Hogwarts Express.




James lets out a breath.

"Do you feel like we were just caught in a mad whirlwind? Or is that just me?"

[lilium_evansiae]

"Something like that, yeah."

Mad.

Whirlwindy.

Yeah.

"Your mum seems nice."

[alotofgood]

James nods.

"Yours, too."

He shakes his head.

"That ... wasn't exactly how I thought I'd tell my parents you and I are going out, honestly.

"Because I know she'll get home and tell my dad before I even get to open my mouth."

[lilium_evansiae]

"I'm probably about to get asked around three hundred questions about you, between here and home.

"Though my mum already knew we were dating, so that might have happened anyway," she adds after a moment's thought.

"You hadn't told your parents yet?"

[alotofgood]

James shakes his head, 'no'.

There weren't terribly many opportunities to.

And — well, it's not really something he'd feel comfortable with putting in an owl.

"When did you tell them?"

[lilium_evansiae]

"I dunno," Lily says, thinking about it. "A week or so after our first date, when I wrote to them.

"'There's this boy and I think I really like him' or something like that."

Possibly exactly like that.

[alotofgood]

"Ah."

James' expression brightens considerably at that.

"That's all right then, isn't it?"

He laughs.

"Well, I suppose the worst of it is over now. I'm sure my parents can find new ways of embarrassing me, but the initial bit is over with. And that means —"

He reaches forward to wind an arm around Lily's waist; then pulling her close, he kisses her.

It's still polite and proper as far as a 'public' kiss goes, but James had been vaguely hesitant to kiss her at all with his mum around unawares.

[lilium_evansiae]

Lily laughs. "In for a Knut, in for a Galleon?" she asks.

She kisses him again, a bit less properly.

(But only a bit.)

"See you in a fortnight, James."

[alotofgood]

"I'll miss you, Lily," James says, hugging her.

"Have a happy Christmas."

[lilium_evansiae]

"You, too.

"Write me.

"And good luck with your mum," she adds, in a whisper against his ear.

[alotofgood]

James closes his eyes and pauses — just for a moment.

Then he nods, stepping back to smile at her.

"And you with yours. And those three hundred questions. If you need any help, you know how to contact me.

"But I'll definitely write you."

[lilium_evansiae]

"Good. I'll set aside some bacon for Aether, then.

"Right, Mum's waiting, I should go."

She waves to Mrs Potter, waiting down the platform with Black, then leans in and kisses James' cheek.

"See you, James."

[alotofgood]

"See you, Lily," James returns.

He waits until she's gone before he heads over to his mum and Sirius.

(And Remus and Peter who seem to have waited around for a goodbye as well.)

He meets eyes with his mother and suddenly doesn't think answering three hundred questions about Lily would particularly be a bad idea, really.