“I forget again. Why am I doing this?”

“You have a way with words… and with women,” cheered James as they walked down to the lake. Sirius felt a little burden with the amount of confidence James was giving him. With any other woman he would step up to the challenge. But with Lily, after that night at the tower, he would rather crawl out of existence.

James yanked Sirius next to a tree. He pulled out an old hearing aid that he took from his Uncle. He instructed Sirius to perform the charm, to which he said the words then tapped the small device.

“OK. You should be able to hear our conversation. You’ll just say what I need to say through your wand, and I’ll hear you from the earpiece.”

Sirius heaved a sigh as he shook his head, “Are you sure this is will work? I mean, what if she catches you? I just think if you spoke from your heart, she’ll appreciate it more then it coming from me-“

“Sirius, come on! You saw the way I struggled with that poem to her. And after what happened, I don’t think I can find the right words to – SHE’S COMING!”

James pushed Sirius out of sight then casually leaned up against the tree. Lily looked over and gave James a faint smile as she walked to the edge of the lake. James stood there, unable to move from his spot. But Sirius motioned him to move in her direction.

THIS IS YOUR PLAN REMEMBER! He mouthed to James.

James stepped a few feet towards her then stopped. Lily just sat on the boulder, watching the sun set over the water.

“How are you?” Sirius relayed in his wand.

“I’m fine,” whispered James.

“Bloody hell, James! ASK HER HOW SHE IS!”

James tentatively looked at her as he tried to make a sentence, “How are you, Lily?”

“James, I…I don’t feel like talking right now.”

James held a very dejected look while trying to respond.

“I understand,” Sirius said through his wand. James said the same back to her. “One day I hope you’ll understand what really happened.”

“I know, James. I just have a lot to think about right now.”

James held his rejected stare. “I understand,” he mumbled to her.

“But I want you to know,” Sirius prompted, “that I’d never meant to hurt you nor would I mean to. Remember the poem, Lily? All I want is to be with you. And as I humbly stand here next to you, all I can do is hope that your heart hears me.”

As James relayed the message he was almost at a lost for words. He never realized how moving Sirius’ words could be.

“Even now, I envy the moon for making your skin glow and how it touches your sweet licorice lips,” said Sirius.

Something struck James very hard at those last words. As he watched Lily walk away, he noticed something familiar in her dark silhouette.