Chapter 10 – The Walk and Talk
Lily and James walked around the lake and an awkward silence prevailed until James broke it.
"Well?" James demanded.
"What?" Lily asked forging innocence in her voice.
"Don't play with me. Why did you avoid me?" James asked.
"You're so nave James! Seriously I never imagined anyone, any boy for that matter, would mind if I avoided them," Lily said.
"Thanks for that. But I still didn't get an answer!"
"You find every way to embarress me, don't you?"
"Well, I can't help it if it embaresses you now, can I? So go on tell me."
"FINE." Lily stopped on her tracks and turned to face James. James was astounded by the way she looked at the moment. Her green eyes were blazing and her blood red hair curtained her perfect face.
"I'll have to start from the beginning," Lily started, "The reason I was avoiding you was because I was confused. And the reason I was confused was because Snape asked me out. You asked me out for the first time in our 4th year. And to be frank, I seriously didn't like you, let alone fancy you. You were extremely handsome and smart and famous, no denial, that was about everything a girl can ask for. But you were big headed and egoistic and that was the biggest turn off for me.
You tried to get me to date you for all these years but I had nothing for you. Then came the seventh year. You were in the Head's Compartment looking as good as ever, and asking me to become your friend. I thought you had changed. You had changed. You were a good Head, good wizard and best of all, a good Friend." Lily paused and then continued. "And then Snape asked me out and I refused. Why? He was the meanest person I've ever met. He had nothing I desired of. One fine day you asked me out. And I, as conventionally as ever, refused. It was spontaneous for me. I didn't think. I refused. But it made me think. I turned down Snape as I hated him and I had I reason. But you? You were a lot better these days. You were the ideal man."
James eyes widened in shock.
"That made me confused. That made me think. That made me realize. I had nothing against you. But I didn't want to accept. You know, I couldn't accept the fact that I had actually fallen for your charm, the James Potter Charm."
"Cheers, Lily. I need that compliment," James said dryly and Lily laughed.
"Well that's the reason. I know it is stupid. But… I couldn't…you know," Lily stammered looking at him.
"I understand," James said and pulled her into a hug.
"You do?" came Lily's muffled voice.
"Mmm-Hmm," James replied and let her go and took a step back and in a formal voice asked, " So Lily, there is this Hogsmede weekend approaching…I was just wondering. Would you go out with me?" James asked.
Lily faked thinking and said, "Alright then, I'll meet you at the entrance at 11AM."
And then they laughed. It seemed so familiar. Just like the evening in the Quidditch pitch. And both of them knew that they had just encountered another evening, which they would never forget in their whole life.
They walked back to the castle hand in hand, ready to surprise their friends, they reached the entrance hall and Lily stopped.
"James I need to tell you this. I've spent 6 years hating you and its not easy to like you now. So give me some time and space, Alright? I swear I'll catch up," Lily earnestly.
"Anything you ask for, Sugar," James said with amusement in his voice.
"Sugar, urgggg,"Lily rolled her eyes and dragged him back into the Great Hall where their friends were waiting for them.