The First Date

James sat bolt upright in his four-poster bed. Was it time yet? "Lumos," he whispered, pointing his wand light at his wristwatch. Midnight. He felt a jolt of excitement. With his invisibility cloak tucked under one arm, he slipped out of bed and tiptoed to the door. He was reaching a hand to the knob when a voice suddenly made him jump.

"Good luck," the voice whispered. James sighed with relief.

"Thanks Padfoot," he replied. He made his way down the spiral staircase, his heart thumping madly in his chest. Looking around the common room, he found her standing by the fireplace, the light glowing around her pretty frame. She turned and smiled at him. He walked over.

"Hey, so um...what are we doing tonight? Why so late?" she asked curiously.

"Well, I'm going to take you on a nighttime tour of Hogwarts. It'll be fun," he replied. He felt the words sounded stupid coming from his mouth.

"Won't we get caught? And we're head boy and girl," she said anxiously.

"No, it's okay! I have an invisibility cloak. And...come on Lily. What's wrong with a little risk?" He smiled mischievously although, truth be told, he was a little nervous too. He couldn't bring the Marauder's Map this time. It would raise too many questions. Oh well. They'd just have to be extra careful.

"Okay," she conceded. "Let's go then."

"Trust me Lily. You'll like it," he said, throwing the cloak over her and himself.

They climbed through the portrait hole and tiptoed down the corridor. James inhaled deeply the sweet scent of Lily's auburn hair. He marveled at how close she was to him at the moment. It had only been two years ago when she had punched him in the face for trying to put an arm around her. She had to have been really angry to resort to muggle fighting. But now everything was different. Now, she was here with him on a real date.

They were in the Entrance Hall now.

"Where are we going?" Lily asked.

"You'll see," James replied.

They went through a door and down a flight of stairs. They ended up in a stone corridor full of beautiful paintings of food. James stopped at one of a gigantic fruit bowl. He reached out a hand and tickled the pear. It gave a chuckle then turned into a doorknob. James turned it and opened it for Lily. Inside was a spacious hall with four long, wooden tables.

"James!" Lily gasped. "Are we in the kitchens?" James nodded. "How do you know about this place?" she asked, staring around at the hundreds of busily working house-elves.

"I have my ways," he said, giving her a wink. She blushed noticeably, giving James a sense of pride.

Suddenly a dozen house-elves rushed at the two of them.

"Would sir and madam like some tea? Or Biscuits? Cake? Pudding? Pie?" one of them squeaked as the others revealed platters of scrumptious cuisine.

"What would you like, Lily?" She seemed overwhelmed.

"Um...well how bout some...butterbeer."

"Is that all miss?" the house-elf asked, seeming a bit disappointed.

"Well okay. Let's have some chocolate cake. Strawberries on top. Vanilla ice cream on the side and...is that good for you?" she asked turning to James.

"It's fine with me," he said, chuckling a bit.

They sat down at one of the wooden tables as the house-elves laid before them each a large slice of cake. Lily took her fork, plunged it into the mass, and lifted a morsel to her mouth. She giggled pleasantly, and James laughed too, glad that she was enjoying herself.

As they at they chatted about several things. Quidditch, the impending N.E.W.T.S, and their families.

"We were all surprised when I got my letter. At first we thought it was joke or something, but then we went to The Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley and...we knew it was for real. My sister Petunia hated me even more after that. I don't know why. Even now, when I'm home, she calls me a freak about fifty times a day. I used to threaten her with fake spells just so she would leave me alone." James laughed.

"Well at least you'll get to move out after this year," he said.

"Yeah that's true. Well...should we be going then?" They had finished their dessert, and Lily was eager to see what else James had in store.

"Yeah! There's still another place I want you to see," James enthused. They covered themselves with the invisibility cloak and slipped out of the place. They were creeping across the entrance hall when Peeves suddenly shot out of the opposing wall. Before they could think to move, he rushed right through them. Immediately feeling their presence, he stopped dead with a visible smirk.

"Who's there? Ickle students are to be in bed." He adopted a false look of seriousness. "Should tell Filch, I should," he threatened. James and Lily exchanged terrified glances.

"Run," James mouthed. Lily nodded and sprinted with James up the stairs. Peeves, hearing their footsteps, screeched at the top of his voice.

"Students out of bed!! Students out of bed!!" he screamed. He followed close behind as they ran down the hall, rattling and banging on the suits of armor. They were just at the end of the hall, when Filch suddenly appeared from behind the tapestry facing them. They skidded to a halt in order to avoid colliding with him. Lily stifled the urge to scream. She and James edged back along the wall, James gripping her hand painfully. Peeves was still cackling horribly at the other end of the hall.

"Where are they Peeves?" Filch barked. Peeves continued to tumble around in the air without answer. James and Lily edged back some more until they reached a tapestry. They both knew a stairway was hidden behind it, but could they risk going through it?

"Tell me Peeves!!" yelled Filch. Peeves sat upright in the air.

"Filchie Filchie. You ought to be nicer to me," Peeves sang.

"Let's go!" Lily mouthed furiously. In one swift motion, she swept the tapestry aside and dashed up the stairs, pulling James behind her. Filch, seeing the movement, raced after them. James and Lily reached the above floor and immediately hid behind a large statue of a hippogriff. Filch emerged.

"I know you're here," he said warningly. He walked past them cautiously, his fierce eyes gazing all around. Then Lily had an idea.

"Quietus feet," she whispered, pointing her wand at her feet. She repeated the incantation for James' feet. James grinned at her before they both raced away from Filch. The pattering of their feet was completely inaudible.

"I can hear your voice!" Filch yelled. "Where are you?" They could see him snatching wildly at the air before they disappeared around a corner. They didn't stop running until they reached the Fat Lady.

"What on earth...oh nevermind...it's you again," she said glaring down at James.

"Cornish pixies!" James and Lily said together.

"Don't you ever think you'll get caught?" the Fat Lady sighed as they scrambled through the portrait hole. Lily took the charm off their feet. For a while they just stood there, gasping for air. Lily spoke first.

"James, I can't believe this. We almost got caught!!" she said, her voice rising.

"Look, I'm really sorry. I didn't think something like this would happen. It just..." James sighed. "I'm really sorry Lily." He seemed very disappointed with the whole thing. They stood in silence for a few seconds. Lily looked at James intently.

"Listen, it wasn't your fault," she began. "Besides, it was an um...interesting adventure. I don't get that too often." She paused. "I had a nice time with you." She moved closer to him. "Let's do something again sometime." She gave him a half-smile then kissed him briefly on the mouth. "Goodnight James," she said, walking toward the spiral staircase.

"Night," he managed to croak. He felt like a burden had been lifted. He skipped to his dormitory, grinning and stifling the urge to cheer.