Jily | I Can't Love Him

Butterflies for Breakfast

Gryffindor Tower was alive with laughter, dancing and celebration. The Hobgoblins were screeching through a gramophone, many people in the crowd sung along rather awfully. One fourth-year seemed to be sprouting a different song entirely. Lily was struggling to hear herself think over the blaring music. Fortunately for the rest of Hogwarts, an Imperturbable Charm had been cast on the Fat Lady's portrait, soundproofing the common room.

Mimi Pritchard enchanted a tapestry that stretched across the entire wall to replay the best highlights of the game. A crowd favourite was when one of the Slytherin Beaters missed the Bludger and ended up whacking himself in the face.

A group of students, namely the Marauders, had raided the kitchens and brought back enough food to feed a dragon. Someone had snuck fire whiskey into the punch; it was quickly disposed of by Dorcas Meadowes after a drunk first-year almost fell into the fire.

Lily was sitting by a window, away from the heart of the party, sipping happily on her fire whiskey-free punch. She was watching with amusement as Sirius danced on a small, rickety coffee table next to an armchair surrounded by the group of giggling fourth-years who had sat in front of Lily at the match. With a snap and a shriek, Sirius fell with a flap of arms; his fall was broken by Remus Lupin, who had been walking past.

"Thanks for that, Pads," Remus said sarcastically, glaring daggers at Sirius.

Sirius laughed and offered him a hand up from the ground.

Lily's eyes wandered away from the pair to two girls dancing in the middle of the room: Marlene and Jackie. She smiled fondly and searched for the rest of her friends. Alice was sitting with Frank; Lily wondered if they would ever actually get together, rather than always dancing around the subject.

"We don't wanna rush things," Alice would say every time someone asked her.

Mary was huddled near a tapestry snogging the face-off of who Lily could only assume to be Eoin Wiggins—judging by the arm in a sling.

Desperate to erase that sight from her memory Lily looked around the room once more and settled on the food table. It was currently being raided by a group of fifth years, an oversized tabby cat and two of the Marauders, Peter Pettigrew and James Potter.

Sighing, Lily put down her goblet. She supposed, after a month of avoiding eye contact in the halls and going to the library whenever he was in the common room, it was about time she faced her fears. Truth be told, Lily had forgiven James for what he did a week after their argument, which she regretted. She had just felt too guilty to talk to him until; plus, he still got on her nerves. Swallowing her pride, Lily stood up and slowly made her way through the crowd.

James had his back turned and was talking to Peter. Lily jumped at the opportunity to think of what she wanted to say but her mind was blank. Peter caught sight of her and scampered away, mumbling something about the bathroom to James.

Now was her chance.

"Nice flying today, Potter," Lily said as she tapped James on the shoulder.

He jumped and whirled around, eyes wide. "Evans?" he asked, evidently confused as to why she wasn't glaring at him from across the room. "Thanks... Are you not mad at me anymore?"

Lily shook her head. "You were just looking out for me, albeit irresponsibly, but all the same. I see that now. Thank you."

"You're welcome." He smiled. "Does that mean I can sit next to you in Potions again?"