Jily One Shots

Love Potion

James

1. Bring water to boil.

2. Add 7 petals from a red rose.

3. Add 5 drops of violet and stir anti-clockwise 12 X.

4. Add 4 cloves and reduce heat to a simmer for 12 minutes, stirring clockwise 3 X every 3 minutes.

5. Bring mixture back to boil for 7 minutes, without stirring.

6. Add 2 canary feathers.

7. Reduce heat to simmer again for 10 minutes, without stirring.

8. Add three newt eyes, remove from heat, and stir anti-clockwise until the potion is cooled.

James read the last line of instructions again, making sure he hadn't missed anything, then took a step back from his finished potion with a proud smirk on his face.

"Hey James." He jumped at the familiar cheery voice and his hand shot to his unruly hair as he turned round to see his favourite red-head carrying a plate of chips and a flask of pink lemonade which he presumed Padfoot had stolen for her from the kitchens.

"Hey," he greeted, watching Lily as she elegantly tied up her flowing red hair. She caught him staring and James dropped his gaze.

"Whatcha doing?" she asked, peering curiously into James' cauldron. "Love potion?" She took a whiff and smiled. "Campfires...new books...the ocean and...." Lily stopped talking and glanced at him before looking away, her cheeks tinged pink.

"Have you done yours yet?" he asked her after a moment and she looked back at him.

"No, I meant to do it last night but Professor McGonagall gave us so much homework that I'll have to do it tomorrow." She sighed, but smiled at him then her eyebrows raised. "In fact, I've been meaning to ask you about question 7, it's quite hard. I don't know if you've done it..." She trailed off as she went off to find her homework and James started pouring some of his pink potion into a flask to save for Potions class.

"Here it is." Lily returned, holding a piece of parchment which already held many lines of elegant writing. "Could you help me with it?"

"Sure," said James smiling and he gently took the parchment from her hands. "You see..." he stopped talking when he saw Lily biting her lower lip in concentration.

She looked at him curiously and he swallowed, trying to look away from her distracting pink lips and back to the homework.

He began to describe how to answer the questions, avoiding eye contact with Lily who was watching him with so much enthusiasm that he knew if he looked at her, he was a goner.

"You have amazing eyes," Lily blurted and James' eyes shot to her face.

She smiled and leant forward, so close that James could see the flecks of gold in her brilliant green eyes.

"And your hair is so soft-looking, I just want to run my fingers through it," she said in such a husky voice it made goosebumps appear on his skin.

"You're so smart and funny and kind," she whispered, leaning closer with each compliment.

She beamed fondly at him and James couldn't stop the smile breaking out on his face too. Was this actually happening? Was this the moment he would finally get with the girl he had liked for almost seven years?

"I really, really like you," he swallowed as she said those words which were music to his ears. There was now no more than an inch between their faces and he could feel the warmth of her skin and her sweet smell of strawberries and vanilla that always left him wanting more.