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Lily Evans had been in love before. But it had never been like this. With Pandora Rosier, though, everything was different, so different. It was so easy, so effortless.
They'd first officially met when they had perfect patrol duties together that year, but Lily had been eyeing Pandora for a while before that, too. They had started talking quickly and soon after, they started calling each other friends. But Lily always yearned for more.
Now, before their hangout, Lily was desperately trying to figure out which hair band looked the best on her. They had agreed to meet up on Wednesday before school ended to walk around the school grounds so Pandora could show Lily magical creatures. Naturally, it made Lily anxious, so currently, she was either pacing the room or standing in front of the mirror.
"Lily, please, calm down," Emmiline sighed. She was sitting on her bed, head thrown back, with a magazine in her lap.
"I can’t!" she said loudly as she paced around the room. "Today's my chance. I have to look perfect."
"You already do," Mary said, picking up Lily's bag and showing it into her hands. Her patience must’ve reached it's boiling point. "Now go. You don’t want to be late, do you?"
"Are you sure I look good?" Lily had always been insecure about her weight. With her friends and Pandora, she could forget everything, she could be the most confident person in the world, but she would still be insecure about her weight.
Marlene raised her eyebrows. "You look like a queen, Lils. You will kill it," she cheered and got up from the armchair. She pulled Lily into a hug. Mary and Emmiline joined.
~•☆•~
Pandora Rosier couldn't stop thinking about Lily Evans. She was, undeniably, perfect, and Pandora was in love with her. Madly in love. What was she supposed to do with that?
"Pandora!" Dorcas raised her voice to get her friend's attention. "If you dont go now, you'll be late to your date with Lily."
"I'm not even sure if it's a date," muttered Pandora distractedly. "And I have to find my wand."
Evan picked up a wand from between the cushions of an armchair and handed it to his sister. "Are you bonkers? Have you seen the way that girl looks at you? She's totally crazy for you, Panda. Don't you worry."
"How sure are you?" Pandora asked. No matter how easy everything was with Lily, Pandora knew she was weird. It was something she could live with, something her friends loved her for. But, her weirdness had been misinterpreted and disliked many times before.
"I wouldn’t encourage you go if I wasn't sure she liked you," Regulus chimed in. "And besides, you know that I won’t let her hurt you, right?"
"Yeah, yeah," she whispered. "I really should go now, then."
Before she stormed out of the Slytherin common rooms, Barty patted her on the shoulder and yelled out after her, "Good luck, you weirdo!"
That was one of the things Pandora liked about Barty. He always told things as they were, but he could make the worst things sound wonderful, and the best things sound repulsive. He made her weirdness into something good.
~•☆•~
Pandora came to the lake panting and catching her breath. Lily was standing under a tree, smiling and blushing when she saw the other girl.
"Hi," Lily said.
"Hi." Pandora smiled.
They went in for a hug, then they both backed off slightly, then they actually shared an awkward hug. For a while, they walked side by side, hands brushing occasionally. Lily's freckeled cheeks always blushed, and Pandora would look to the other side.
From time to time, Pandora would break the silence to go on a short rant about a magical creature they saw.
"Am I annoying?" Pandora asked. "I know I can be, sometimes..."
"No, no, you're not! You're absolutely not annoying, Dora! I adore listening to you," Lily exclaimed. She looked at Pandora with a soft look in her green eyes. "You're so compassionate and knowledgeable about everything... it's amazing to listen to you."
Pandora smiled and blushed a bit, which made Lily blush.
"You know, you’re the only one who calls me Dora. All my other friends call me Panda."
Lily looked down and smiled. "I know. I wanted to have a special nickname for you."
Their knuckles brushed again and this time, Lily had the courage to take Pandora's hand into her own. Pandora halted and the readhead felt her heart start beating harder.
"Is this okay?" Lily asked, immediately letting go of Pandora's hand.
Pandora took Lily's hand back into her own. "No, it is. Just... you actually like me?"
"Yeah, I do. I thought it was obvious. That you... needed time to warm up to me. To accept that you liked someone fat."
"Lily, you're not fat," Pandora protested. She let go of Lily's hand and cupped Lily's waist. "You're beautiful. And you're pretty and smart and kind."
And then, she leaned in to kiss Lily.
It was absolutely amazing. Lily put her hand on the back blonde's neck to pull her in closer. Their lips moved in sync. Lily parted her lips and sighed, let out a soft breath on Pandora's upper lip. Then, Lily's toung slid into Pandora mouth, her hands on the other girl's waist. Pandora's hands moved to redhead's upper waist, near her chest.
The two girls parted, heavily breathing, hands still on each other's waists. Lily chuckled, then Pandora, too.
"Gosh, I am so in love with you, Pandora Rosier."
"I am madly in love with you, too, Lily Evans."