Flirting In Potions Class, February 1977

[lilium_evansiae]

"If there are no more questions, you may find a partner, turn to page 357, and begin. One of you should record your observations at each stage of the preparation," Slughorn says. He pauses (and they all know it's a pause, for dramatic effect, and more is coming.) "Oh, and twenty points to the team that produces the best Epione Potion."

Lily likes the days Slughorn has them work in pairs.

Because (and she knows this is petty and childish, but she can't quite help it) it means that the one person in their year who might be as good at Potions as she is (and her former best friend) is going to be stuck working with the dead weight that is one of his fellow Slytherins.

And Lily?

Well, Lily gets to work with James.

Comments

[lilium_evansiae]

Lily has gone faintly pink.

(She may or may not be on her way to being roughly the same color as the great clouds of smoke their potion is not emitting.)

She is very focused on measuring out essence of violet.

She just misspoke.

That's all.

She knew it was violet.

[alotofgood]

Of course she did.

Of course.


James reaches for his bag then, pulling out their next class' textbook and grabbing the small loose-leaf from it.

He passes it to her without a word.

On it is a rather fancy but well-crafted doodle. (He's had practice.) And in the middle of all the swirls and curves and lines is Lily's name.

"We could almost hold one of those art-shows Remus talks about, with these two," he says.

[lilium_evansiae]

Lily studies the paper he's passed her for a moment.

A rather long moment.

And then looks over at him, and smiles.

"Only if we wanted Black and Perdita to mock us for the rest of the year."

[alotofgood]

James snorts.

"Well, that's not likely to happen," he says. "Especially since I get such a brilliant reaction from 'Sirikins'.

"Yeah, even still."

[lilium_evansiae]

"Yeah, I suspect that will never stop getting a reaction, will it?"

Lily shrugs a little.

"You've just got a really good name, you know?"

[alotofgood]

"So do you," James says, beaming only slightly.

Okay, maybe a little more than slightly.

[lilium_evansiae]

"Right.

"So, if we've settled that, we probably ought to get back to our potion, yeah?"

She can't kiss you in the middle of Potions Class, James.

Much as she might want to.

[alotofgood]

"All right," says James.

Who is completely not reluctant, no.

At least there's always after class, which — by his count — isn't too long from now.

(Because, no. It's not exactly favourable to snog in the midst of Potions, right before their professor and classmates, no matter the circumstances.)

"So ... I don't suppose I might find another bit of artwork in your Charms textbook, would I?" he asks conversationally, and wholly innocent.

[lilium_evansiae]

"You'd be better served to look in my Transfiguration book, really," Lily says, starting to slowly stir their potion anticlockwise.

That is, after all, James' subject.

"If you think you can get it away from me ... "

[alotofgood]

James laughs, admittedly touched.

"Really, now?

"I may have to be a bit 'Bond' about it, but I think I can manage to steal it away from you.

"Even if only briefly."

[lilium_evansiae]

"Guess we'll see ... "

Please, he can totally steal the book.

Never mind Bond.

He's a Marauder.

And he's James.

(And if he need confirmation of that last fact, he check inside the back cover of most of her textbooks.)

[alotofgood]

"Right. We'll see."

He grins.

(And yeah. He's just going for a little modesty — but.

He's James Potter. Prongs.

He can totally do it.)


"Ah," says Slughorn, who has made his rounds to come by Lily and James' table. "Brilliant work, you two. Now, that is quite the lovely shade of indigo."

[lilium_evansiae]

"Thank you, Professor," Lily says, grinning at James across their cauldron as Slughorn continues to the Ravenclaws' table.

So many reasons this is her very favorite class.