It's You That I Want | L. Evans

3.

Lily

Lily tightened her ponytail in the mirror for the third time. She didn't know why she was trying so hard to look casual. That was the whole point of casual, to not try at all. But she didn't want to look like she didn't care. She took off her sweater so that it was just her button-up, loose tie, and skirt. She glanced in the mirror one last time and then walked out of the bathroom.

She walked over to her bed and pulled a couple of her books out from under it. As she was getting a quill, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in!"

Cassie slipped in through the door, shutting it behind her. She took a look around before looking at Lily. She smiled. "It smells good in here."

"Mary's scented candles. And we get flowers often. A lot. But it makes it smell nice in here."

Cassie raised her eyebrow. "You get a lot?"

"Well," Lily smiled, "Mostly Mary. I only get them from James."

"Would you want to get them from somebody else?"

She grinned, mostly to herself. "Stop stalling."

Cassie shoved her hands into her pockets. "Just asking, Evans."

"Well, where do you want to start?"

"What's the hardest Potion?"

She twisted her mouth to the side, thinking. "The one you got quizzed on in class."

"Evans, you think I remember?"

"It was earlier today! And from what I remember, you were pretty much an expert on it."

Cassie sighed. "Draught of something."

"You seriously don't remember?"

"Don't give me that look, Evans."

Lily laughed. "I wasn't doing anything."

"Mhm."

"Okay. Can you at least tell me the ingredients? Like you did in class."

She shrugged. "Again. I don't remember."

"Wait, I'm a bit confused here. You were an absolute genius on this in class today, you answered the question perfectly correct, knew everything about it, but now you don't remember? How is that?"

"Look, Slughorn was right. I wasn't paying attention, like, at all. But when he put me on the spot, I didn't know what to do. That was until I glanced at you and suddenly I remembered everything. I already knew one of the ingredients, but seeing you? I don't know, it just. . . brought everything back. Maybe it's because I looked at you and thought, 'Hey, if I were more like Lily Evans maybe my parents wouldn't think I was such a fuck up!'"

"That's a bit heavy." Lily didn't know what else to say. She wasn't necessarily close to the other girl. She couldn't really have said, or done, anything.

"Yeah," Cassie whispered, looking down.

"Look at me."

Cassie looked up. "I've been looking at you."

"Just keep looking at me."

Cassie held eye contact with her. Good, Lily thought, this is good. She hoped this would work. 

"What's your favorite color?"

Cassie rolled her eyes. "Serious-"

"Hey! What'd I say?"

She locked eyes with her again. "Sorry, Evans. Purple."

"When's your birthday?"

"Everybody knows this already, but November third."