The Stag and The Harpy | James Potter

Date

Lily stares at James as he sits across from her in Madam Puddifoot's tea shop. Lily spent the last five minutes gushing about a recent book she's read while James offered short responses. She sighs and says quietly,

"James, your tea is getting cold."

The boy jumps slightly, like he's been stirred away. He smiles bashfully at the red head, mumbling, "Sorry, Lily. I'm a bit distracted."

"I noticed," The girl laughs, causing James to relax slightly. The thought of Phoebe and Gideon Prewett snogging plagues his mind, and he struggles to push it away. He desperately tries to think of something else and finally says, "Do you have plans for summer?"

"I'm just trying to get through exams," She responds easily, shaking her head. "It's all I can seem to think about. That and Phoebe I suppose."

James smiles and raises an eyebrow, beckoning for her to continue. Lily sighs before saying hurriedly, "I just feel like I need to prove that I didn't mean what I said. She is certainly not a slag."

James scoffs, "I'm not sure about that. She's off with Gideon Prewett right now."

Lily looks reasonably surprised before she smiles a little and says gently, "She and Gideon are...Phoebe's never been one to commit. That's not to say she gets around like you and Sirius though."

James let's out an offended grunt, taking a sip of his tea. Lily rolls her eyes and continues, "You know it's true. Phoebe doesn't do that though. She lets boys have their snog from a Veela and then moves on. She thinks they're all blinded by her DNA. Me and the girls know better though."

"She thinks boys only like her because she's a Veela?" James asks incredulously. Lily nods.

"Well, it's true for a lot of them. It's an old wizards challenge, to kiss a Veela. She got tired of boys asking during 3rd year. That's when she decided to just kiss who she liked and not get too attached in case the boy didn't truly like her."

James bristles and clenches his fist around his tea cup, scowling at the thought of boys using the girl for a game.

"She and Gideon are just friends though. It's kind of like Sirius, but she doesn't snog him anymore because they're like siblings. She says it got weird once she realized how much they had in common." Lily concludes, laughing slightly.

James cocks his head and asks, "Like what?"

Lily, ever the nervous talker, easily continues, "The expectations set on them. Sirius is supposed to be the perfect pure blood. He's supposed to be in Slytherin and not hang out with half bloods or creatures."

James nods, listening intently. Unconsciously he eagerly soaks in the information about the girl that bothers him nonstop.

"Phoebe is supposed to be the perfect example of a Veela. She's supposed to be graceful and composed. She's been taught to be sexy, but not too sexy. Just enough to trick men into continuing the bloodline. It's rather odd how two families are set on being pure but are on opposite sides. It's a miracle she and Sirius found each other."

James sits back in his pink chair, mulling over the new information. Lily peers across from him, hiding her smile behind her teacup. The James Potter she knew would not silently stew on information the way he is now.

"She's really gotten in your head?" She asks with mirth, delicately setting down her cup.

James shakes his head and smiles slightly, "Merlin, Lily. I'm a fool. Here we are on a bloody date and we're talking about your friend."

"Our friend," The red head corrects, grinning slightly as James flushes.

"I'm not sure about that," He mumbles, rubbing the back of his neck. Lily's grin grows, relaxing as the pressure of the afternoon is lifted off her shoulders. She'd never really fancied the bloke, but knew she owed it to him and Phoebe to try. She could see now that James Potter was not nearly as obsessed with her as he had been a year ago. In fact she had a rather good guess as to who occupied most of his thoughts.

"Oh, James," She chides playfully. He looks at her confusedly, expecting more words but the girl across from him just laughs and shakes her head. He expects his heart to leap from his chest like it had at the beginning of term when he'd seen Lily smile for the first time at something he'd said. His chest does get warm, but it feels like it would when he'd joke around with Alice and Marlene. He hadn't even batted an eye when she'd appeared in the common room earlier, ready for their date. He was too consumed by his anger towards Phoebe Griffin and the tosser she was currently snogging.

James sighs gustily and says, "I'm an idiot."

Lily's grin morphs into a smirk.

"You fancy, Pheebs." Lily replies smoothly, finally bringing words to the growing emotion he'd been feeling for months.

"I do not," He says quickly, glancing around to make sure no one heard. "I just tolerate her a little bit more."

"James, what color are my eyes?"

"Green," He answers quickly. Lily clicks her tongue against her teeth and says playfully, "you mean they aren't the color of a field in spring after a beautiful rain shower? Because that's what you've been telling me for six years."

James scowls and replies grumpily, "Whatever, Evans. I think Griffin is a fine friend. That's it."

"If you say so," Lily jeers.

The pair enjoy the rest of their afternoon, although it goes significantly different than James had planned for all those years. Lily pecks him on the cheek instead of the lips and he doesn't hold her hand. Instead they make a truce, deciding on being good friends. Both seem quite happy with the arrangement.