A loves work - jegulus

Chapter one - Yule ball

James stood in the mirror, fixing his messy hair and getting ready to ask out the one and only, Lily Evens. In just a few hours the Yule ball would start and he was certain lily didn't have a date, and neither did he.

James had been pinning over the red-head for years and always tried to ask her out. She always rejected him. Despite this, he never game up, he always told himself that maybe one day, she might finally say yes. His ego was way to big for his own good and it didn't help that Sirius always hyped him up.

He got out of the bathroom and walked over to Sirius, who was sitting next to and cuddling up with his boyfriend (Sirius boyfriend is also known as Remus if that wasn't clear). Remus saw the curly haired boy come out of the bathroom and decided to speak up.

'Hey prongs' the werewolf said, 'I'm guessing your going to go and ask out a certain red-head'

James slowly nodded while biting his lip and then looking to the floor and mumbling some things under his breath so the other two people on the red gryffendor couch right in front of him wouldn't hear.

'James mate, don't you think it's time to move on, she doesn't like you and you have been asking her for months, she isn't going to say yes now' Sirius said butting in on the conversation. He said this with a stern, unsure look on his face. He said this with caution as not to hurt James.

James did know this and it hurt him inside a lot but he did love Lily (or so he thought). 'yeah I know but this is my last chance and I may as well take it.' He said closing the door behind him

James walked out of the dorm room and down the stairs, looking around for he girl he wanted to ask to the ball happening in about 4 hours. He looked around and slightly smirked when he saw her by the fire. He strutted over to the gryffendor, trying to look cool and to impress her, failing at both those things. She just so happened to be talking to her friends. 'Hey Evens' James said standing behind her, His voice was flirty but you could tell it was forced.

The girl flinched not expecting someone to be behind her. 'What do you want Potter' she replied in an angry tone. Lily was still mad at him for the prank he did on Snape months ago but the boy seemed to forget that happened. James got taken back by this but didn't show it much. 'I want you to go with be to the ball in a few hours' he said cockily but his confidence soon faded once her saw the angered look in her eyes.

Lily was FURIOUS. She unexpectedly went off at James saying how he should move on, how he pranked Snape, that she hated him and would never say yes to going out with him. James was so upset and embarrassed so he didn't just want to stay there or go up to his room. He wanted to be alone, he wanted to be away from everything. He left the common room without saying a word, tearing up and he didn't know where to go.

He walked for about 10 minutes but he didn't quite know where he was going to. He looked upwards and saw that he was at the bottom of the stairs to the astronomy tower. He hesitated but walked up the stairs and once he got there he leaned over the edge of the tower, his hands folded on the railing. Oh how he wished he had some fire-whisky. Accio fire-whisky. A bottle appeared in his hand. He took a large gulp and just watched the stars. Before he knew it, the bottle was empty and he was now closer to the edge, body against the railing and watching the stars. 

'Maybe you shouldn't drink too much, you might fall over the edge' A voice said jokily behind James. He jumped at the sudden noise. The voice was calm but firm, soft but sharp, quiet but loud enough to hear normally.