“He shook his head at his friends curious glances and continued to gaze toward the front of the hall. James didn’t know where she was, but he knew that someone else’s eyes were travelling over her figure, and it made his blood boil. He’d been able to resist publically claiming her for almost two weeks, attempting to satiate his desire for her in the few hours when they were alone, but it was no longer enough. He’d lost; he couldn’t stand the other boys looking at her and thinking they could have her for their own; nor could he stand the thought of her thinking he didn’t want her with every single cell in his body.
James glanced over at Julia, who was glaring at him with a fierce expression. “Julia… don’t’ give me that look. Of course I still like her. Lily is a clever girl… sneaky, cunning… wonderful, brilliant, adorable, sexy, beautiful, breath-“
“For Merlin’s sake, enough!” laughed Sirius. “We all know what you think of her! And it’s pretty obvious she wants you to do something about it; so what are you going to do?”
Almost as if on cue, Lily walked in the doors to the Great Hall. She hadn’t even gotten past the first row of students when she was caught by Linghold, who proceeded to turn around and talk to her about something or other, his eyes traveling over her figure hungrily. Lily was trapped by his conversation, nervously twisting her fingers and biting her lip as her eyes flickered to James’ figure at the front of the room. She had replaced her sweater, but it did little to distract from the way her skirt fluttered around her legs. Several younger boys leaned away from their tables to stare at her, reminding James of dogs drooling over a biscuit.
“She wins,” he muttered quietly, jumping to his feet and ignoring the questioning looks from his friends. He strode quickly down the center aisle, straight to where she was standing.
“… should come with us, Lily; I haven’t talked to you in ages. What else are you going to be doing?” Linghold was asking as James approached.
“Er…”
“She’ll be monitoring student behavior, with me,” said James, giving Linghold a stern glance.
“Since when do the Head Boy and Head Girl monitor behavior on Hogsmeade visits?” asked Linghold skeptically.
“Since now,” said James, turning his eyes back to Lily. “Evans, I need to run off for a minute… would you mind keeping an eye on the hall?”
“Of course not, Potter. Might I ask where you are headed?”
“Just up to the common room; I forgot my transfiguration book up there,” he said matter-of-factly.
“Will you come back?” she whispered, biting her lip and twisting her hands behind her back.
James laughed and shook his head, nothing the laughter she was fighting back as he looked her over. “‘Course I’ll come back; I owe someone five galleons from a bet, I have to pay up,” he said, stepping beside her so he was in full view of the room. James smirked as Lily’s lips press together in her effort not to laugh at him; he stepped very close to her. “You win,” he breathed.
James snaked his arms around her waist and pulled her flush against him, causing her to gasp slightly. He laced his fingers through her hands that were still behind her back before tilting his head and pressing his lips to hers firmly. She released her hands from his and tangled them in his hair, feeling her knees buckle as his tongue traced against hers with the softest of pressure. The room grew quiet very quickly.
“It’s about bloody time!” shouted Sirius, breaking the silence and causing sniggers to erupt throughout the hall. He stood up on the table and started clapping loudly, and was soon joined in by the rest of the Mauraders, Julia, and several other onlookers. James kept his eyes closed as he kissed Lily, lifting her off her feet and twirling her once before releasing her.
Lily’s knees felt weak as James set her back down. She knew her face was flushed with color, but she didn’t care. The feeling of him holding her, claiming her, acknowledging that she was his, was more wonderful than she had ever imagined; though she did question her judgment on agreeing to kiss him in public as the sound of wolf whistles and cheers filled her ears.
James leaned down and kissed her quickly again, squeezing her waist and ruffling her hair playfully. “I’ll be right back,” he whispered before turning to the rest of the students. “Back to work, nosy gits,” he said, causing the whole hall to erupt with laughter.”
Chapter 22 “Yours” from Before the Fawn, a James & Lily fanfic
