Wizarding Betrothal

Lily's parents arranged her marriage to a wizard when she was born, and sealed the deal with a binding magical contract! Nobody counted on Lily choosing not to cooperate! Someone's heart will get broken. Will it be her own? Lily / James, AU

For the life of her, Lily could not remember what they said his name was – a fact she had realised with chagrin somewhere between her first and second helpings of roast beef. Lily / James, AU

He looked kind of pathetic standing there, hair already falling back into his face, looking down at her with a sad sort of passion. That’s when it hit her: the solution she was waiting for. Lily / James, AU

It was only the second time Lily had ever even seen James. Sure their infant friendship was founded on a proposed marriage…but still, they barely knew each other. She didn’t owe him anything, especially not personal information about her life. But, then again, just last week she did invite him to try to make her love him. What a mess. Lily / James, AU

“I’m…are we friends?” she asked. It had never occurred to Lily that James considered her one of his friends. If she had ever stopped to think about it, she probably would have classified James as one of the ‘cool adults’ in her life…but as a friend?

“As flattered as I am to hear you finally admitting that I could take any guy I wanted away from you, I’m disgusted that you think I would want that bastard. As far as I’m concerned, you can have Black all to your horny little self.” Lily / James, AU

Mouth hanging open and brows scrunched together, James gaped at her statement. She could literally see his brain straining to form an adequate answer. Lily considered giving him a way of escape, but feared that if she lost the chance, she might never get an answer at all. Lily / James, AU

“James is a sharp guy,” Laura said. “He knows that guys at Hogwarts, like Benji, who see you every day, have an advantage over him. He’s afraid that some prince charming is going to come along and steal your heart while he can’t hang around scaring them off.” Lily / James, AU

How would she recognise Love if she saw it? In the movies, Love looked like amazing self-sacrifices, passionate kisses, and daring rescues. Lovers felt their devotion in every fibre of their being and couldn’t bear to be parted or reunited without buckets of tears. Lily didn’t know anybody who acted like that. Lily / James, AU

Oh, how she wanted to tell him. And oh, how she couldn’t bear to tell him. What would Benjamin do if he knew about James? A vicious battle had been waging in Lily’s mind for months. It looked like it was starting to get bloody. Lily / James, AU

The long-legged friend settled Lily onto the sofa nearest the fire, and passed her a cup of hot tea. Grinning like a maniac, he sat back on the footstool in front of her. Lily / James, AU

“Would it be so horrible…being with me, I mean? Do you hate me that much?” He wasn’t looking at her – in fact, he seemed fascinated with a frosty bush – but his face was dead earnest. Lily / James, AU

“But there’s only two ways to answer that sort of question from a woman, mate. You either dodge or you lie. With a nice girl like Lily, that means you dodge. Anything else just gets you into trouble!” Lily / James, AU

“I mean, you keep complaining that he shouldn’t be chasing you around if he’s not in love with you, right? But isn’t that what dating is all about? Falling in love? Who waits to fall in love before they go on a date?” Lily / James, AU

Lily couldn’t shake the nagging sense that something was wrong. Up ahead, she could see her friends motioning for her to hurry up. Oh well. Whatever it was, she would think about it later. Lily / James, AU

“But you can’t win the Cup if you don’t win games.”

Two girls were hidden within the tightly drawn curtains of Laura’s bed, tucked away under the blankets, and deep in a hushed conversation. With the fluency exclusive to fifteen-almost-sixteen year-olds everywhere, they discussed a time-honoured question. “Do you think he likes me?” Lily / James, AU

“Poor little Lily,” he said.

“Did you realise that we’ve known each other for almost a whole year?” James said. “It’ll be a year in just a couple of weeks. It seems like you’ve been a part of me for so much longer than that.” He lifted her hand and kissed her palm, lighting fires all over her body. Lily / James, AU

By the time that Lily was dressed, made-up, and styled to perfection, she was certain that adulthood was within her reach. And when she flooed into the strange parlour, packed to the chandeliers with beautiful people, throbbing music, and dizzy adrenaline, she felt the firm pulse of independence within her happy little fist. Lily / James, AU

She could do whatever she wanted, sure, but there had to be consequences to swallow, and it was a jagged pill to take. Lily had been determined that she wouldn’t answer to anyone. In the end, she still had to answer to herself, and that was a lot harder than she would have expected. Lily / James, AU

“If he treats you like a child, it’s because you act like one.” Lowering his wand, Sirius paced a small circle, wrestling with his temper. “Every time James tried to treat you like an adult, you’d just run away, making it perfectly clear to everyone that you still need to grow up.” Lily / James, AU

Sirius began their descent from the clouds in a broad spiral, lazily circling the Quidditch pitch as he brought the motorcycle nearer to the ground. A lone figure was zooming between the goal posts, and Lily sucked hard on her teeth as she watched him. There was no going back. Lily / James, AU

He’d discovered that it was a bit of a neighbourhood tradition for young couples to carve their names together into the paint, and he’d been tickled to participate in such a charming Muggle custom. Lily had rolled her eyes the whole time until, when finished, James gave her the most toe-tingling kiss she’d ever received. Nearly two years later, it was still their favourite spot to meet. Lily / James, AU