“Don’t waste your time, Jamie,” she said coldly.

He taught her to play, explaining the players, and the points, and the penalties, and she didn’t really listen to everything, but it turned out that he was right.”

For her birthday, he got her a self-inking quill with ink that changed color based on her mood, and a notebook to match. “For your stories!”

He hugged her while she hugged herself, sheltering her from the rain, and she let him; she pressed her face into the cotton of his pajamas, and burrowed into the warmth of him, into the smell of soap, and the thump of his heartbeat

“What’s Quidditch?” His eyes went as big as saucers. “Only the greatest, most bestest sport in the WORLD!”

“Let’s make our wedding fun. We’ll have the ceremony on broomsticks. And the cake will be chocolate instead of lemon raspberry!” She laughed. “I don’t want to get married.” “You have to!”

“I should warn you,” he said. “I’m really, really good at kissing.” She snorted. “Prove it.”

Lily sat up on her elbows. “Could Jamie come to play at our house?”

Lily bit her lip. “I might’ve snogged James.” “Lily!” Emmeline gasped. “How was it?” Marlene asked. “Kind of fantastic, actually,” Lily said. “I mean, like, really, bloody fantastic.”

He kissed her again, and it was soft, and chaste, teasing. He stroked her cheek with his thumb, and his nose bushed her nose softly, and gave her another kiss, and another.

Lily saw Sue then, and a part of her felt suddenly bad. But before she could pull away from James, he tightened his hold, and turned to greet Peter, bringing her along with him.

Did James like her that way? Would he want to date her? He hadn’t exactly been eager to snog her. But he’d done it, and he’d seemed to like it, too. She’d liked it. She’d really, really liked it. Did she want to date him? She wanted to snog him again. She knew that.

She was dragged with him, of course, falling into his chest with an oomph. She groaned, then gasped, and stared at him, staring at her in shock. “I’ve dreamed of this moment!” He frowned. “Of—?” “You fell!” she exclaimed. He huffed. “Dreams do come true,” she said, sighing.

“Can I ask you a question?” “We don’t have time for your questions, Lily,” he said. “This isn’t a long, dark tunnel.” She elbowed him. “What’s your question?” There was a smile in his voice.”

“I think we’re finished.” She glanced at James. “Thanks, ah, for your help.” He blinked at her with naked, owlish eyes, and swallowed. “Sure.” She left the dormitory.

“Lily, you just have to remember that your husband is you partner. He’s your way to survive this war. You can’t fight with him. He’s your one.”

“Lily?” He shifted up onto his elbows, frowning at her. “Have you come to murder me in my sleep?” he asked, sour. “I came to say I’m sorry.” He was quiet, breathing still heavy with sleep. “I’m sorry, too.”

“Do you want to be friends with me?” he asked, nervous. “Yes.” He grinned.

“He did it wrong,” James said. “Lily, seriously. He did it wrong.” “Can you do it right?” “What?” “Kiss me,” she said, “and tell me what to do. How to kiss you back, or whatever.”

“I know that we’re young,” he went on. “I know that we don’t have jobs, and things are—are so up in the air right now with the Order, and everything, and people are going to say that we’re young,