Harry Potter Valentines Story

This story won first place in a Valentines Day Harry Potter short fanfiction contest. Oh, and I wrote it. Enjoy, and Happy Valentines Day to all of the people I love!

The Right Moment

“I couldn’t believe it! Here I am working hard and she just sits and picks up The Quibbler? Did she really have time for that? I realize we were just administering Skele-gro, but… James? Are you listening?”

“What? Erm, I mean, of course I am.” James smiled guiltily. “So what did you do?”

The redhead sighed. “Nothing. I know I should have said something, but it’s easier to just get the work done than to pick a fight…”

While Lily vented, her boyfriend nervously fingered the ring in his pocket, trying vainly to pay attention to the lovely witch’s words. It was difficult. All he wanted was to get it over with, but it wasn’t the right time. Of course, it would certainly catch her off-guard to ask now.

Plus, he and the others went to so much work getting the surprise ready. Sirius and Peter should be setting up the last of the preparations at this very moment. Remus especially would be disappointed if James changed the plan for no good reason. Is an emminent heart attack a good reason? He’d have to wait. But it was killing him. And he felt really guilty that he wasn’t listening to Lily very well.

Rats, she’s stopped talking and is now looking at me unhappily. Rotten boyfriend I am. The messy-haired boy took his hand out of his pocket and ran it through his hair. He was glad he was wearing robes –- they hid his shaking knees. “Maybe you should talk with Campbell. Go over her head. Otherwise, she’ll never learn; she’ll just keep letting you do all the work.”

“The only thing she’ll learn is that I run to the Head Healer when I have a problem. I think that would just make her mad and even more dangerous.”

James shrugged, just relieved he’d said something that made sense. “If you say so. You understand girls more than I do. If it were me and some bloke, I’d have it out with him and be done with it.”

Lily sighed. “Sometimes I wish women were like that. She just gets so defensive and catty, and she’s worked with Campbell for ages. It’s not that she does a bad job, she’s just lazy unless someone’s watching her, and I am tired of feeling like I’m baby-sitting, but I’m the youngest one, and whenever I say anything…”

Almost there now, James’s mind started wandering again. He never thought the time during the eight blocks to the park would seem to last so long! It had seemed a good idea when he and his friends were discussing it. He wanted the proposal to be special, but he didn’t have a lot money and he’d already spent so much on the ring.

Maybe it’s better this way – she’s not thinking about marriage or relationships at this moment. After all, the proposal itself won’t be a surprise. We’ve been talking about this for months. I know she’ll say “Yes.” At least, I think I do. Oh criminy, what if she doesn’t? But this proposal business…

It’ll be over soon. The hazel-eyed boy clasped his hands together in an effort to keep them away from that accursed pocket again.

“Sorry James. I know I complain about work a lot. I’ll stop. What about you? How was your day?”

“Not bad. Erm… yeah. It was good.”

Lily gave James an odd look.

“Here we are! The park!” It was a little too enthusiastic and James knew it. Calm down, he told himself. Make it less obvious. “Mind if we take a little stroll?”

“I thought that’s what we were doing.”

“Oh, erm… right.” This seemed to be going downhill fast. He needed to save it. “Erm, Remus found a job today.”

“He did? Why didn’t you tell me! We should all be out celebrating! What is the job? Teaching?”

Good, she’s distracted again.

James scratched his left leg. It was starting to ache – he needed to relax or his whole body would clench up. On the one hand, Lily is a Healer, so she could help me. On the other, I want the proposal to be the memorable moment – not my passing out. “It’s just a janitorial job, working nights at the Owl Emporium. The pay is lousy, but he’s glad to have something.”

Lily shook her head. “I still don’t understand how he lost the job at the Primer school. Remus is really smart; he’s dependable and caring. Why is he having such a hard time and why would he settle for something like that?”

“Must be a reason,” James said a little absently.

“It’s ridiculous. I know it’s been almost a year since he worked, but he deserves much better than…” Lily stopped dead in her tracks. “What in the world?”

She had just spied “the target” as James’s friends had started calling it. It was by necessity a different lake, but there was the same checkered blanket, picnic basket with cold chicken, chips and biscuits, and floating candles. The finishing touch was the spilled butterbeer. He had been so upset when he had found the mess waiting for them on their first date, but Lily had been so good about it. It was her favorite memory of that day – she claimed she had met the “real” James at that moment: strong and determined.

Just has he had on their first date, the first thing the messy-haired young man did was march right over to the spilled liquid, point his wand and said “Scourgify!” Then he turned and motioned Lily to join him on the blanket.

Lily laughed. “It’s perfect! Thank you, James. It’s just what I needed.”

The nervous boy smiled and replied, “Least I could do after the day you’ve had.”

“You are so good to me. I don’t deserve it.” Lily leaned over, kissed her boyfriend on the cheek, and squeezed his hand. “Aren’t you worried about the Muggles catching us, though? We are in a public park.”

“Oh no. Sirius spent all day putting wards up so that they wouldn’t be problem.” Speaking of which, there’s probably a dog and a rat in the trees somewhere watching this. Of all the times to have an audience…

She tilted her head. “‘All day?’” The girl’s green eyes sparkled. “This isn’t just today, is it?”

Oh no, this is it. This is the moment. Don’t faint. Don’t die, James commanded himself. “No, Lily. It’s not just today. It’s everyday. Every day you’re in my thoughts and every night you are in my dreams.”

The beautiful girl blushed.

“Every day when I am at work, I can’t wait to see you, and then when I see you, I can’t remember what my day was like before I saw you. It seems a far-off fantasy because you are my reality. I just want to be with you all the time.”

“Oh, James…”

The visibly trembling boy slowly shifted until he was kneeling next to the girl he loved. He took a shuddering breath and swallowed hard.

“Lily Evans.” Please say yes, please say yes. “I love you.” I’m going to pass out. “Will you do me the extreme honor,” Why isn’t she smiling? “of marrying—”

“YES!” the redhead screamed before the last word was even out. “Yes, yes, YES!” She threw herself into James’s arms and started laughing. “A thousand times yes!”

Tears streamed down the relieved and surprised man’s face. Did she really say “yes?” I can’t believe it! I am too bloody lucky. He could never have believed that he could be so happy. This feeling was better than flying! Lily was smiling now. She gave him a number of short pecks on the lips, and then he held her close for one long, slow kiss.

When they parted, both were breathless. The two just looked at each other for a moment in wonder. How is it that such a perfect woman could possibly love me? James asked himself in gratitude. They relaxed and sat back, just drinking in the complete contentment of the moment. There were so many questions, so many things to settle surrounding the wedding and setting up a life together, but there would be plenty of time for that later. Right now, they loved each other. That was all that was important.

Then James shifted slightly and realized he had forgotten something. I knew I would mess this up! he silently berrated himself. He smiled sheepishly as he pulled the ring out of his pocket. Lily blushed again and giggled. “You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?”

He didn’t trust himself to speak anymore. He simply slipped the ring on his fiancée’s finger and kissed her again.