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Lily Evans was on a mission. She’d made a decision, slept on it, and she still wanted to ask James. The idea made her a little nervous, but nervousness can be good, powerful even. Remus and her had talked this through and it seemed like a good idea. Was it a good idea? What if he said no? Not because he didn’t want to go; Lily knew that he did. However, James has been nervous around her lately. Nervous in the way that people accidentally say, “No.”
James was sitting at the Gryffindor table, no friends in sight, but it was on the earlier side, 8:30 in the morning. Sirius liked his “beauty sleep” and Peter wasn’t known for waking up early. Remus has been trying to ‘read more lately.’
Lily took a deep breath before approaching him. “Hey, James,” She said.
“Hey.” Then, he looked up. “Oh. Hi. Hello.”
She laughed. “Hi.”
“What do you- how are- do you want to sit down?” He said.
“Sure.” She sat down next to him and prepared herself for the conversation.
She thought he’d say something more, but he didn’t. He was busy eating a scone.
“So, erm,” She cleared her throat, “Do you have a date for the Yule Ball?”
He stared at her. His mouth was falling slightly agape and she wondered if he figured out what she’d come to talk to him for. She sat there, patiently, and tried to smile, letting him take his time answering. He, shortly after, said, “I don’t- I don’t know. I don’t think so? Do you have one? You’re going with Remus so I think that you have one.”
She shook her head. “Not anymore. He’s asking someone else and so am I.”
“Oh. Who?”
“Well, for me, hopefully, you,” She said.
He stared. She let out a slight giggle, but she tried to stifle it.
“Do you think you’d want to go with me, James?”
He stared at her again. This time for longer. She truly wondered if he was okay. She was ready for him to say, “No” and her to have to say, “Are you sure.” However, this didn’t happen because he just stared and stared and stared.
“James?”
“Yeah, erm… erm… would- you would- you want- wait.” He paused. “This would… you’d want to… dance?”
She laughed. “Yeah, James. I’d love to dance. I’d love to dance with you if that’s an option.”
“Yeah, that’s definitely an option,” He said, nodding over and over.
She smiled. He didn’t say no, which is a definite plus. She considered for a second staying and enjoying her breakfast with him, but he seemed to be looking at anything at the table except her. So, she thought that she’d give him a break.
“I see Dorcas and Marlene, so, I’m going to eat breakfast with them,” She said. “Unless, of course, you’d want me to sit here.”
“No, eat with your mates. It’s fine,” He said.
She took that as her answer and stood up. “Okay then. I’ll see you at the dance.”
“Yeah, see you then.”
“Looking forward to it.” She couldn’t help but revel in the shock on his face from that statement.