The Baby Project

The Best Date

It was a few weeks back into the term, and Ara and James had been getting along really well. Over the course of last year, they had learned how to communicate better with one another, and it was showing. They weren't having petty fights in the halls or glaring at one another during class when they were mad. Hyperion and Scorpius were happy that they had grown up, especially their sister, and were happy again. 

Lily walked with her brother to class while discussing the upcoming quidditch match when they saw Ara coming running down the hall with a huge smile on her face. 

"Hi darling," James took her hand and kissed her on the cheek when she arrived at where they were standing. 

"Hello," Ara smiled warmly at her boyfriend before looking at Lily. She was really looking for Mary, but she knew that Lily would be just as excited and was happy to tell her. "So Mother owled me that we are throwing another ball this year. I am not really sure why she needed to tell me since we throw one every year, but then at the end of the letter, she said that everyone would need new ball gowns and that since we were getting older, she thought dates would be appropriate. Plus, that means we get to go..." Ara didn't have time to finish her sentence because Lily was now jumping up and down screaming. 

"Shopping!" Lily was so excited. She loved getting dressed up, and she was a little older now, which meant that she would be able to wear something a little more mature and not something so little girlish. 

"I don't know about Lily having a date, though." James had his brow furrowed, looking back and forth at the girls standing in front of him. 

"Well, why not?" Lily had her hands on her hips, a pout forming on her face. 

"You are still little, and I don't want guys to take advantage." James pulled her in close into his body and hugged her tight. He was her big brother, and to him, she was always going to be little. He wasn't quite sure how his mother and father dealt with the fact that they were all growing up. Or how Mr. Malfoy dealt with the fact his daughter was old enough to date. 

"Speaking of dates," Ara was looking at James now, "I was wondering if you wanted to go to Hogsmeade this weekend? Just the two of us."

James grinned and pulled Ara in close as he had just done with Lily; he kissed her softly. 
"I'd really love that," he whispered in her ear. She smiled and blushed, and both forgot that they were standing in a crowded hallway. 

"Guys," Lily was standing there impatiently, knowing full well that they were not listening to her. 

"Mr. Potter. Ms. Malfoy." McGonagall was walking by. 

The couple split apart immediately at the voice of their Headmistress. Ara could barely lift her eyes off the ground, but James stood there was a grin on his looking at McGonagall. It was like a sharp pain in her heart. He looked so much like his father and his grandfather. She remembered doing something similar to James Potter and Lily Evans in their 7th year. And now here she was doing it again. Only this time, she knew their love wasn't going to be broken up and split apart by war. It wasn't going to be cut short because of darkness looming about. It made the pain in her heart from those lost students she adored so lessen. They had made it; they had made it through the darkness. 

She smiled at them and then continued walking down the hall. She should have said something, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. She was happy that they were in love. She was even happier though two wars had passed, and people were still finding love and happiness within one another. 

"You both are so lucky you didn't just get into trouble." Lily figured they had been standing there in that same spot long enough, and it was time to get to class. Quidditch was forgotten about, potions clearly in her mind now.