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. 

"We should get to class too," Ara smiled. 

They walked together to Transfiguration, and when they sat down, they started talking about what they were going to do in Hogsmeade. James said they should walk around and have lunch, nothing fancy. Just spend quality time together. All the time last year that they had missed out on, both wanted to be able to make that up. Ara agreed, and it was settled. It was Thursday, so it was only two days away, and Ara was so excited. She couldn't wait. 

After class, Scorpius and Hyperion met up with their sister and best mate. "So what are you guys doing this weekend. The lot of us are thinking about going to Hogsmeade." Scorpius hoped they would join them. 

"Scorp," Ara frowned. She loved going in a big group, but she really wanted to go with just James. Next time they could all get together. 

"Mate, we were actually going to go on a date." James was sporting the same frown as Ara. Neither brother cared, really. Both had figured that was the case but knew they should offer the invitation, just if they weren't.

"It's alight. We figured as much." Hyperion went in the opposite direction of the group. He had an open period and needed to get to the library to find a particular book. James, Scorpius, and Ara though had Potions and needed to move on if they were going to be on time to class. 

Saturday came quickly to the delight of James and Ara. They headed to Hogsmeade in the early afternoon. They wanted to beat the crowd of students that were bound to be going. James realized that it was his sister's first time to go to Hogsmeade was feeling guilty, but she assured him at breakfast that it was alright, and they would have plenty of chances to go together. 

"So, where do you want to go first?" Ara was holding onto James's hand tightly. She missed these kinds of days with him. Just the two of them talking and wandering about. 

"Why don't we go to Honeydukes and then maybe a couple of other stores before heading to Uncle George's shop and then to lunch. Is that alright?"

"Of course. But I thought your Uncle was at his shop in Diagon Alley this month?" 

"Oh, right. I guess we don't have to go. I was hoping that we could see him." James looked sad. He always missed his family more than he let on, and he was thrilled when both of his siblings came to Hogwarts. His first year without them was terrible. He never told anyone that, though. Not even Ara. 

"Well, we should stop by and see if he is there. Maybe he will be since it's Lily's first time. He would most likely love to see her. You know how the two of them get along so well." Ara squeezed her boyfriend's hand and kissed him on the cheek. She knew deep down he missed everyone so. The Potter's and the Weasley's were incredibly close, and she knew even with all the family at Hogwarts, he missed his uncles. 

They walked through Honeydukes, and James bought Ara some of her favorite candy and even got some for Lily. He knew that she would probably get some herself, but he wanted to make up for missing going with her. Ara was having a great time. She loved being with James with no distractions. They talked about class, what they wanted for Christmas, and how excited she was to go to the ball. James knew they could go together as dates this time, and he was trying to think of an amazing way to ask her to the ball. It needed to be special. 

When they finally got to George's store, it seemed overly crowded, and both thought it would better to come back after lunch. They were just there to see George anyway. 

"James!" George was walking around the back of the store when he caught sight of his nephew. He wasn't supposed to be here today, but Lily had guilted him into coming to see her, and he couldn't deny her request. She was, after all, a light in his life. She understood him by far more than any of his other nephews or nieces, and he loved her dearly for that.