033. 29 october 1976. night.

October 29, 1976 — 23:56 hrs
Hogwarts, Scotland
Boys dormitories


There's a brief second, once James enters the boys dormitories, when he actually considers not telling his best mates what had transpired tonight.

Only because a part of him is still in disbelief, and telling anyone aloud will make it untrue, or will wake him from what may or may not actually be a dream.

But that only lasts for less than a second.

When he heads into the room, he's unsurprised that none of his best friends are asleep yet.

Sirius is sitting by the window, as usual, reading a magazine. (James only briefly notes that it's one of his Quidditch periodicals; so that's where they keep disappearing off to.)

Remus is on his bed with one of his usual musty, large hardcover books.

And Peter is turning dials on his wireless radio — with no channels playing any of Celestina Warbeck's classic hits, thankfully.

"I've got a date," he announces, closing the door behind him. His expression is pure and absolute delight; it's like he'd been given three Christmases in one go.

Only Remus looks up, curious.

Sirius waves a hand to show that he heard something, but otherwise keeps his eyes to his magazine. "'Bout time," he says coolly from his perch. It's obvious this week has been about getting Sirius Black's reputation to go back to 'Sirius Fucking Black' from 'Sirikins'; the careless tone is almost a little overdone. "Who is it, then? Demelza Francis? That girl's been eying you since last year — you'd be doing the whole world a favour by getting her to stop fawning over you."

"No," James says. "It's not Demelza Francis." He's grinning, saying nothing, until Remus puts his book down with a quiet fwump against the covers and frowns.

"So, who do you have a date with, then?" is the obvious question, which is asked by Peter from his side of the room. He puts down his wireless.

"No," says Remus immediately, shaking his head. "No, you didn't."

"What?" Sirius finally looks in James' direction. "What is it?" The two of them meet eyes. His grey ones widen. "No. You're fucking kidding me."

"What?" asks Peter. "I'm missing something here, aren't I?"

"Well," says James, ignoring Peter's obliviousness, "we haven't exactly decided on when yet, but — I reckon it'll probably happen the first weekend of November."

He feels silly, really silly, but the best sort of silly, like he could do something incredibly, incredibly reckless and live — without a scratch — to tell the tale.

Lily Evans is impossibly brilliant and her effect on him is clear.

Peter suddenly guffaws. "Merlin's beard, you have a date with Lily Evans, don't you? That's why you're all — and that's why Remus and Sirikins is all —"

"Oy! Don't call me that —" Sirius seethes, but Remus laughs.

James does too.

"That's right, you dim git," says James with a wide grin. He starts to pull off his red and gold jumper. "I've got a date with Lily Evans."

I've got a date with Lily Evans, he repeats in his head.

He repeats it over and over.

"You sly dog!" Sirius says. "No, wait. That's me." (Remus rolls his eyes.) "You stalwart stag! How on earth did you manage to con her into finally saying 'yes'?"

"I don't know," says James. "Honestly. I just — I was coming back from the pitch and she caught me and we talked, and it sort of just led to me embarrassingly pouring my guts out, and then she said 'yes'."

Remus smiles. "James," he says, "that's brilliant. That really, really is brilliant."

"That'd explain why you weren't back here after dinner," says Sirius.

"Well, you weren't at dinner at all," Peter adds.

"That's all right," James says. He has the warm, comforting feeling of shepherd's pie and happiness in his stomach. "I popped down to the kitchens with Lily."

Sirius blinks. "The kitchens? The Hogwarts' kitchens?"

"Yeah. What other kitchens are there?" James starts to change into his pyjamas.

"It's 'Lily' now, is it?" Remus' smile widens, cheekily.

"Well, I can't go on calling her 'Evans' now, can I? It's not — I don't know …"

"Boyfriend-like?" Peter fills in.

James finds his face heating against his will. He laughs it off with a slightly embarrassed, "Yeah, I guess." He rubs his face. "Anyway, Lily's a great name."

"It is," Remus says.

Sirius clears his throat. "Right. Well, that's brilliant you got a date — finally — with Lily Evans. But you've got a game tomorrow, don't you, mate. Captain Potter needs his beauty sleep, and I expect Gryffindor to win the game tomorrow."

"Of course," says Remus.

James grins. "Right. I suspect we'll do all right."

She said 'yes'.

He can do just about anything.