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James flew down to the ground, setting his broomstick down as he grabbed his water flask and took a seat on the grassy pitch.
Dorcas came flying over, taking a chug from her own flask.
They sat in silence for a moment. James, using his t-shirt to wipe the sweat off his face, whilst Dorcas checked over her broomstick.
"So", James placed his elbows on his knees, leaning forwards slightly.
"So?"
"You-uh-hang out with Evans, huh?"
Dorcas blinked.
"I suppose?"
James nodded slightly.
"She talk about me?"
"We mostly just talk about our classes and exams. McKinnon or Mary would probably be better people to ask that question to."
"Right."
Dorcas glanced over to James, "You used to be close to McKinnon, right?"
James slowly turned to her, a smile spreading across his face.
"You like her."
"What?" Dorcas frowned, "No, I don't!"
"You do!"
"I'm just making conversation!"
James' grin grew and he shuffled forwards.
"I like Lily."
"Yeah," Dorcas scoffed, "You're not subtle."
"I mean, I like Lily, and that's why I asked you about her. And then what do you do? You ask me about Marlene."
Dorcas glanced away.
"Hey, at least you have more of a shot than me."
Dorcas turned back to him, studying his face before speaking.
"You really think that?"
"Yeah", James shrugged, as if it was obvious, "We're friends now, promised I was over her, that we could just be friends without any of those complications."
Dorcas smiled, "We're not even friends."
"That makes it easier, no? You have nothing to lose."
"Lily wouldn't stop being friends with you just because you admit you have feelings for her."
James shrugged again, "It'd complicate it, though. She'd pity me."
Dorcas laughed, "I can't imagine anyone pitying you, Potter."
"Hm", he hummed in thought, "Either way-"
James stood up, brushing grass off his legs.
"I'm not making the first move."
Dorcas took another swig of her drink before grabbing her broomstick and following suit.
"Another loop?"
"Yeah", James' grin returned, "Race ya?"
"You're on."
-
"You do know there's no match or practice at the moment?"
Marlene huffed as she followed Lily up the stairs to the Gryffindor Quidditch stands.
Lily carried on hurrying up the steps as she spoke, "James said he was practicing his turning with someone."
"So we're spying on him?"
"No! I'm just... coming to watch and support him."
"Right... because that's what friends do."
"Yeah."
Marlene buried her hands in her pockets, "And Sirius didn't come because?"
Lily blushed slightly, replying in a quiet tone, "He thought it was a bit strange."
"Hm", Marlene slowly nodded, "The guy obsessed with James thought it was strange."
Lily finally turned around, "Oh, shut up... Y'know I like guys playing sports."
"I thought James was just your friend", Marlene smiled.
Lily rolled her eyes and turned back around, making her way up the last few steps.
The two glanced over to the pitch, eyes following the two figures flying around.
"Is that?" Marlene squinted.
"Meadowes", Lily seemed to relax slightly, sitting down in the stands.
Marlene glanced at her.
"You were jealous."
"What?"
"James told you he was practicing with someone but didn't say who, and you thought it was a date with another girl."
"I did not!"
"Y'know", Marlene glanced back at the two figures, "Maybe it still is a date."
Lily snorted from behind her.
"What?" Marlene questioned, "I mean. She's smart, good-looking, into sports, super annoying. Pretty much James' type, no?"
"She's a Slytherin, Marls. James loves that house rivalry nonsense; he'd never date a Slytherin, especially one on the Quidditch team."
Marlene shrugged, "Rivals in love. Kinda hot, isn't it? Passionate fighting and arguing leading to hot make-outs."
Lily let out a laugh.
"What?"
Lily raised her eyebrows, looking Marlene in the eye as she spoke.
"The only person I've ever seen Dorcas passionately fight and argue with is you."
"Oh, shove off it", Marlene huffed.
"Well, it's true. James likes Dorcas. I mean, other than being a Slytherin, they get on."
Marlene turned away, before quickly turning back.
"He's staring at us."
"What?" Lily quickly stood up, pushing Marlene out the way.
"Okay", Marlene snorted, eyes following James' line of sight, "I meant he's staring at you."
The two figures moved closer and closer, until in hearing distance.
"Lily?"
"Hi", she smiled at him.
"Hi", he smiled back.
Marlene's eyes were locked on Dorcas.
"Meadowes."
"McKinnon."
Dorcas glanced at James before hitting him on the shoulder, whispering something.
His cheeks went slightly pinker, and he began to move closer and closer, until his feet reached the wooden floor of the stands.
He passed his broomstick to Marlene.
"What?"
Dorcas stared at her, "Want to race?"
Marlene quickly grabbed the broomstick and followed Dorcas without a look back.
James glanced at Lily.
"You're here."
"Yeah."
James grinned, a cocky grin on his face, "Came to watch me, did you?"
Lily smiled.
"Yeah."
James' eyes widened slightly, and a hand reached up to his hair.
Lily bit her lip before continuing, "I kinda thought you might be on a date."
"Oh- a date practicing quidditch? Lils, I'm way more romantic than that."
Lily smiled, "Oh yeah? Would've thought the pitch was your dream wedding venue."
James laughed, beginning to banter back, before he paused, frowning slightly.
"Wait- why would you come here if you thought I was on a date?"
Lily paled slightly, "Oh. That."
James put on a humorous, cocky tone again, "Jealous, are we?"
Lily snorted, hitting him lightly in the chest, "You wish."
James grinned before taking a seat, dragging Lily with him.
He looked up to where the two girls were flying.
"She's good, Meadowes, I mean", James leaned back in the seat, "I should book another practice in before our match next week. Edgecombe could do with some more drills on the snake's tactics, and I need to check with Pomfrey if she thinks Patil's leg is healed enough to play."
Lily placed her hand atop James'.
He turned to her.
"You'll do great, stop fretting."
James lifted the hand that Lily wasn't currently touching and mimicked zipping his mouth shut.
Lily let out a small laugh before flipping over the hand in hers so that she could interlock their hands.
"You'll beat them", she said earnestly, "I know it."