Work Text:
February 1977
Lily’s eyes roamed the common room as she made her way down the girls’ staircase. A couple third-years sat directly in front of the fireplace in their winter robes, giggling away. Her eyes moved to the middle of the room where a group of fifth-years consisting of Mary Macdonald and friends played Exploding Snaps with blankets wrapped around themselves. One of boys sneezed causing one of the cards to fall over—a small explosion ensued, singeing his eyebrows. Lily threw a pitiful smile his way. Her eyes finally made their to the corner of the room where a recognizable black-haired boy sat.
She strolled up to him, a grin on her face. “Where’s the rest of your posey?”
“Hello to you, too, Evans,” Sirius said tapping his quill against the small table he made use of. Glancing up from the crossword, he offered her a small smile and motioned for her to take a seat (she did). A year ago, sitting next to Sirius Black would have garnered the pair quite a few stares. Now, people were used to the sight of Lily Evans and the Marauders. When she wasn’t around her best friend April, she could often be found working on puzzles with Peter, studying with Remus, booing James’ Quidditch practices with Sirius, or practicing spells with James by the lake. A year ago, she never would have thought that she could love these boys so much.
Sirius took her out of her thoughts, gaining her attention once more. “Remus is upstairs sleeping; poor bugger isn’t feeling well today. Peter is in detention for being late to McGonagall’s on Tuesday. And James scheduled a last-minute Quidditch practice before we defeat Slytherin next week.” He raised his eyebrows at her. “He should be back soon, if you were wondering.”
She gave him a look—the look that only friends who truly knew one other could decipher. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she lied. He shot her a knowing look but remained silent as she grabbed his newspaper from the table and separated the crossword from the rest of the Daily Prophet. She placed the crossword back on the table and began scanning the articles.
He focused his attention on the crossword once more, filling in another answer. “Nothing interesting today.”
“No deaths you mean?”
“Not much of anything—not sure whether that’s good news anymore.”
She opened her mouth to reply when the sound of footsteps approached and a new body slumped next to her, nudging her slightly.
James grinned down at her, “Hullo, Evans.” He shot a smile at his best friend, “Padfoot.”
“Potter,” she grinned back. “How was Quidditch practice?”
“Rather productive.” The corner of his lips turning up. “You see, when some people,” now grinning like the Cheshire Cat his eyes drifted to Sirius, “don’t boo my Quidditch practices, the team actually memorizes our moves.”
“Yeah, you should really work on that issue,” she quipped back, green eyes shining.
Sirius snickered as James gazed down at her affectionally.
“I should,” was all he said.
The James’ look, soft and in awe, sent a shiver down Lily’s spine—which is definitely, surely, one hundred percent platonic.
“Cold?” he asked.
Again, she lied. “A bit.”
Sirius grinned wickedly at her. A look his best friend missed. “It’s the coldest day of the year, Prongs.” Seeing she was bundled in her warmest winter coat with a red turtle neck underneath and her favorite maroon and gold scarf wrapped around her neck as many times as it would allow, it wasn’t surprising that Sirius wouldn’t let the cold comment pass. “You should probably get her a blanket.”
“Right,” James said standing up. “I should probably change anyway.” A moment later, he disappeared.
“Lily gave him a stern look, “Sirius.”
“What are you up to?”
“Nothing,” he said innocently—far too innocently. “As a friend,” he emphasized. “I thoughtfully suggested that our other friend should warm you up a bit, Evans.”
“Oh yes, how thoughtful and with no ulterior motive. How gracious of you.”
“I know.”
“You git.”
“I’m feeling so much love from you.” She couldn’t help but laugh.
“What’s so funny?” James asked, reclaiming the seat he had vacated. He wrapped a large blue blanket covered in white deer around the two of them, his shoulder brushing against hers. Another shiver passed through her.
“Are you all right, Evans?” he asked, concern in his voice.
“Fine, just cold,” she said before making a remark to Sirius that she only half-recalled, even as she said it.
He gave her a strange look before throwing his arm her shoulder and running his hand up and down her arm. “Is this okay?” he asked, a hint of blush creeping up his neck.
“Of course, friends—“ she cleared her throat, not sure where she was going with the rest of her sentence. Friends platonically put their arms around you and move their hands up and down your arm to prevent you from dying at the hands of Scottish winter because the look in their eyes made you shiver? Lily didn’t think she could pull that off so casually.
He was so close that she feared he could feel the way her heart thudded frantically, in such a way that she almost believed it was possible for her heart to escape her chest. After all, if magic was real, was one’s heart fleeing because James Potter looked at them like that really out of the realm of possibility?
And even as he chatted away with Sirius, he would look down at her with that look that she couldn’t quite understand. When he’d look away, she would watch him. Watch the way he’d talk with his free hand, as if he were a puppeteer putting on a show. Watched how animated he’d get to the point of his glasses almost, just almost flying off his face. It took all of her will to stop herself from adjusting them herself. For once, she could actually make out the spots where his dimples appeared and note the hints of green and blue in his hazel eyes. It was making her breathless. For Merlin’s sake, it wasn’t fair how fit she found him right now. Not fair at all. (Platonically, her brain reminded her. Liar, she felt her heart say with each palpitation).
He was so close that she could smell the faint hint of pine tree and mint and a mixture of an earthly smell (was that wood?) and leather whose combination had no right being as intoxicating as it was.
Without realizing it, she moved closer to him. (Sirius Black 1 | Lily Evans’ self-restraint 0).
“I’m going to see if Moony’s awake,” Sirius said swinging his bag over his shoulder.
“Bye,” Lily heard herself say.
There was a silent moment—a moment where she looked up at him and he gave her that smirk that she swore could save them all. For a moment, she tilted her head and for a millisecond he eyed her lips, leaning down. A second that came and left as the footsteps approached. “James! Lily!”
“Hi, Wormtail,” James glanced up at the smallest member of his group. “How was detention?”
Sirius Black 1 | Lily Evans’ self-restraint 0 | Unknown karmic retribution 1.