Hero of the Story || James Potter x Hermione Granger Fanfiction

27 | something always brings me back to you

xxvii.

something always brings me back to you

(Gravity by Sara Bareilles)

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March 11, 1978

"Have you ever thought about dating James Potter?"

Lily's eyes widened as they landed on Hermione. "Is that a trick question?" she deliberately asked, her eyebrows knitting together at the middle. "I mean, you are dating James Potter now, so will my answer really matter?"

Hermione bristled on the grass, fully turning her body to look at Lily. "Just answer my question, Lils," she ground out with a frown.

"Merlin, what's gotten into you?" the redhead murmured, scanning the grounds, possibly in search of an escape. Hermione patiently waited as the Head Girl's cheeks reddened in embarrassment. Her fidgety actions already spoke volumes of what Lily's answer might have been in response to her question, and Hermione's heart jumped. Perhaps, there was still a chance for James and Lily to get together.

She ignored how loudly her heart was beating or how shaky she had become. She ignored the brief image of James' mesmerising, hazel eyes or how his warm hand felt whilst holding hers.

Ever since she'd gotten Ravenclaw's Diadem, her desire to protect Harry at all costs blazed like the burning fire she'd directed at the Vanishing Cabinet. Regulus hadn't contacted her since that day, as Hermione had reassured him she'd still think of a plan on how to procure the next horcruxes. Hence, with that task pushed to the back of her mind, Hermione was confronted with another obstacle – get Lily and James together.

Never mind what she felt about that, of course.

Lily finally sighed and closed her textbook, setting it aside on the grass beside her. She didn't meet Hermione's eyes but instead stared at the Giant Squid, which was performing various strokes across the Black Lake.

"Well," she slowly started, "I did think of cracking last year. I told you he's tolerable now. In fact, lately, he's more than tolerable and you and I both know why that is." Lily's green eyes pierced her meaningfully and Hermione looked away, her cheeks flushing red.

"And, you know, it's undeniable he's handsome," Lily continued with a low voice, her face scrunched up as if pained to even say the words escaping from her lips. "Sometimes, I admit, my eyes do stray in his direction when I know he isn't looking, just to admire how square his jaw is or... or how ridiculously amazing the glasses make him look." Lily chuckled and shook her head. "I know I insulted him once about always running his hand through his hair to make him look freshly windswept after a broomstick ride, but Merlin, James Potter can really pull off the 'stylishly dishevelled look', don't you think?"

She was expectantly looking at Hermione for her answer, but the brunette only nodded once, not trusting herself to speak.

"And, like what you've told me, I've actually managed to see the other sides of James Potter." Lily stretched her legs in front of her and smiled. "It disconcerted me a bit because he'd always been the pompous toerag for me. But Potter does really have a sweet, kind side to him. A diligent side even. A brilliant side – you should have seen him during Transfiguration and Charms, Hermione. He's – well – he's these different kinds of people all at once and it made me wonder why he never really showed those sides to me before."

Hermione snorted and copied Lily's position. "Perhaps because he has a bloody reputation to uphold," she joked with a small grin. "You know, 'arrogant sod with an ego the size of the sun and stylishly dishevelled hair'. His fangirls would not have been able to take it if James wasn't all that after all."