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[Hogsmeade is something she usually finds herself looking forward to. Something she links arms with her friends with and spends long hours dragging each other across shops, taking long drinks of butterbeer and talking about classes and other classmates, about purchases. It's a tradition she's had ever since third year with them.

And yet...This one particular occasion is a little different. After half an hour, she's waved them off. She couldn't focus on the conversation, and while this wasn't entirely unsual, it had nothing to do with her school work or her Head Girl duties. Which generally was. She'd been so...Put out ever since she'd discovered James Potter had been Head Boy with her, and she'd have to work with him for the entire school year.

He was as insufferable as he'd always been, arrogance oozing from his every pore and incapable of taking anything she said seriously without adding some sort of come on to it. Except...For one very noticeable difference. But one she couldn't quite put her finger on. Inexplicably he seemed less like the boy she'd known, and more...Well, he'd seemed a little older.

So consumed is she with pondering this out, that she doesn't even really realize she's bumped chest first into the arm of the boy in question. She backs up a step, embarressed and ready to apologize, until his identity registers. Then her eyebrows furrow slightly in irritation]

Sorry, Potter.

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[They should all just feel grateful that none of them are mind readers right now, alright?

She does stop immediately in her tracks when he decides to continue the conversation, instead of just pretending she hadn't heard him, or just waving him off with a yes and continuing on her way, like she might have before.

She turns slowly, on her heel to face him, and arches an eyebrow slowly. Clearly curious despite herself, maybe he wanted to talk about something important like rounds?]

...Not at the moment.

[ Oh and that look he gives her is dangerously sly. Like he's got some ideas cooking in his head (and he definitely does, but that shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who's known James for more than five minutes), and he is planning on acting on them.

He leans against the wall, and lifts a hand up towards his hair before he seems to think better of it and lowers it. One of the hardest habits he's been trying to break this past year.

He clears his throat, and forces himself to look more serious and less like he's about to ask her out... Even though he's about to ask her out. Again. ]

Good to hear. You've been working yourself absolutely ragged lately. Not that anyone could tell by looking at you, of course. You look perfect as always.

[ Laying it on a little thick there, James. ]

I could buy you a butterbeer. Sort of a thank you from the rest of us Gryffindors for your hard work.

[ The joking look was completely gone at this point, and he was speaking with what sounded like real sincerity. ]

No, that's-

[It's immediately on her tongue before she even really processes what he's saying. Habit and a real desire not to stick around, not to do this dance that will end not other way, before she's oddly touched.

Being a prefect and then a Head Girl is often a thankless, resented job. The younger ones who doesn't understand why she has to be strict and enforce the rules, why she always takes the Marauders to task when the school thinks so highly of them, for giving them detentions.

To hear that someone recognizes her hard work, especially from someone who shares the burden, and is doing it as an appreciation? She can't help but be genuinely flattered. And he sounded so sincere. And James might be many things, but she'd never have accused him of being two-faced.

Slowly she smiles, it's not as wide as his, but not as warm, but her entire countenance radiates that she's pleased. And, she reasons logically, he asked to buy her a drink, he did not in any capacity ask her out. It was a gesture, a kind one. There was definitely no harm in accepting, so she moves back towards him with a nod]

On second thought, I'd like to accept.

[ Oh poor, innocent Evans. While it might be a genuine gesture on James' part, it didn't mean it wasn't still some attempt to get a date out of her. He was enough of a gentleman (at this point) that he wouldn't try to put a move on her while they were out... Well, okay he would, but he had enough sense now to stop when she was clearing giving him "if you keep it up I will hurt you" look.

Mostly he wanted to spend time with her, whether it went anywhere or not he really liked Lily. He could ask her out until his face turned blue (and he had), but it didn't mean she was ever going to say yes. As much as he'd love for her to accept one of his many, many attempts to ask her he also respected her enough not to push when she said no.

He looks so pleased when Lily says yes though, his grin stretching as wide as it possibly can across his face. ]

The Three Broomsticks then?

Yes, thank you.

[Because while she's certainly not going to judge anyone for going into the Hogs Head, and maybe only a little bit for going into Madame Pudifoot's, the Three Broomsticks in general is just one of her favourite places in Hogsmeade.

She isn't even thinking about how it's true of most students, especially if it's cold out, and that they're very likely going to be seen sitting together and quite alone, without the other prefects or James' friends lurking about.

She may though, kick herself later when the rumour mill starts up. Still, his grin is a little infectious this time, and she can't help but answer it, just a bit, before she turns on her heel and starts to lead the way]

[ If it helps his case at all the idea that more people will see them there isn't really part of James plans. It's not a bad thing as far as he's concerned, of course, but he isn't trying to set her up for some rampant school-wide gossip. Really it's more that he pays attention (arguably took much attention), and he has a pretty good idea of where Lily likes to spend time when she's out with her friends in Hogsmeade.

One of the easiest places to find her? The Three Broomsticks.

Of course that doesn't necessarily mean it's her favorite place, but it's not an unreasonable assumption to make. She can't mind it if she goes there to grab a drink from time to time.

Either way, he'll be patting himself on the back for a job well done and taking a few big steps to catch up and walk alongside her. ]