Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. I'm not JKR, and if I was, all the Harry Potter books would be some half finished word files on my computer.

Lily Evans was worried. It wasn't unusual for her to be worried, what with school, Head Girl duties, and endless pranks from the Marauders. But this worry wasn't one of his usual worries. She was worried about her new boyfriend, James Potter. Thinking that it would be romantic, she had asked him out on the full moon. She had found a little shop in Hogsmeade with outdoor tables and wanted them to go on a date there; but when she asked him, he had turned red and mumbled something about having to "do something else" that night, so he couldn't go.

"I just don't get it," she complained to her friend in her dormitory the next evening, "this is the second time this has happened. Do you think he's cheating on me?"

Her friend, Christi, snorted and said, "Lily, he spent six years chasing after you. Do you think that he's just going to go and cheat on you as soon as you start going out with him?"

Lily knew that Christi was making sense, but she wasn't thinking rationally at the time.

"Listen Lily, I have had many boyfriends, and none of them has loved me, or even liked me, as much as James loves you."

Lily studied Christi for a moment. With shoulder-length, curly blonde hair and clear blue eyes, she was easily one of the most popular girls in the school. She had, had so many boyfriends in her seven years at Hogwarts, she couldn't even count them.

Lily, on the other hand, had long red hair and deep green eyes. She wasn't very interested in dating, but even if she had been, James would have scared off anyone who came near her.

"I just don't know, I mean what if I was just a challenge for him? What if he's just a very good actor?" Lily asked.

"Lily! Breathe!" Christi put an arm around her best friend's shoulders, "Maybe he's old fashioned, maybe he wants to ask you out. Don't worry, whatever it is, I'm sure it's nothing."

Across the school, in the Great Hall, four boys were having a similar discussion.

"I just don't get it!" James Potter said over the noise of Great Hall, "Why is she always asking me out on a full moon!"

"Maybe she thinks it's romantic? Girls are funny like that." Answered his friend, Sirius Black as he inhaled a baked potato.

Remus Lupin put down the knife he was using to saw through his rare steak. "I don't want you to blame me, but I realize that this is all my fault. If it wasn't for my, how do you put it, James? Oh yes, my 'furry little problem' then you could go on this date with Lily. I'm sorry."

Sirius said, "It's not your fault, mate. It's mine. If I was only big enough to control you alone, Prongs would be able to go on that date."

Peter Pettigrew said, "No, it's my fault. If I wasn't only a rat, I could help more."

"No, it's isn't anyone's fault. I'm sorry I dragged you guys into this." James said, as he ran a hand through his unruly hair. He got up and left the table, leaving his friends behind him.

"Maybe I'm going crazy," Lily sat by herself in front of the common room fire, "I am talking to myself."

It was late, almost midnight. Everyone had already gone up to their dormitories. Lily was the only one left in the common room. Christi had stayed in the common room with her, until she fell asleep over Quidditch Through the Ages.

"Go on up to bed," Lily had said as she stirred her, "Madame Pince will have a fit if you drool on her book." Christi had nodded sleepily and gathered her things.

A noise coming from the corridor shook Lily from her reverie. It sounded like someone was arguing with the portrait Fat Lady. But who would be up this time of night?

Lily rose from her warm seat and pressed her ear against the covered hole that was the entrance to the common room.

"Listen, I know it's late, but we both want to get some sleep, so how about you just let me in?" someone was saying.

"No, I'm strictly forbidden to let anyone in who doesn't know the password. You shouldn't even be out this late at night. I should report you to the authorities," the Fat Lady replied.

The person sighed in exasperation, "I'm the Head Boy! Who are you going to report me to? And how am I supposed to know the new password if no one bothers to tell it to me!" the person said.

Lily jerked her head away from the entrance. What was James doing up so late?

"Well I don't care if you're the ki-omf!" Lily jerked open the entrance halfway through the Fat Lady's sentence.

"James," she said, "what are you doing up so late?"

"Um, quidditch practice," James said quickly.

Lily gave him a look. "Oh really? Well all the other members of the team came in hours ago."

James ran his hand through his hair nervously. "Well, I went for a walk to the kitchens afterward."

"I hate to interrupt," the Fat Lady said grumpily, "but if you two are planning to stay up all night, please be so kind as to take it inside the common room, so I can get some rest."

"She's right," said James, "if you would be so kind?" he added, gesturing toward the portrait.

Lily sighed and said, "Dispute."

"Finally," said the Fat Lady as she swung to reveal the entrance.

"Well, I'm beat. G'night." James said once they were both in the common room. He pecked Lily on the cheek and turned toward his dormitory.

"Wait!" Lily cried out. She figured this was as good as time as any to discuss what was going on. In fact it was a better time than any, because no one was around to eavesdrop.

James turned around, "What?"

"We need to talk."

"Does it have to be right now," James stifled a yawn, "I'm bloody exhausted."

"Yes, it has to be now." Lily led James over to the loveseat in the corner. "I want to know why you keep declining my offers to go out."

James sighed and rubbed his eyes. "I'm sorry, Lily. I've just been so busy lately."

Lily thought this was an acceptable reason. He did look rather tired, with bags under his hazel eyes. "But why couldn't you go out with me. I've been just as busy, but I've found time for a date."

"I've just had some stuff to do."

"What kind of stuff?"

Lily's constant gaze was making James nervous. "I really can't tell you, Lily. It's, well, it's a secret that I have to keep."

"James, you know you can tell me anything. I won't care." Lily was getting frustrated.

"Lily, I'm allowed to keep secrets from you. Don't you have secrets that you're keeping from me?'

The tables had turned. "Um, well, yeah. But still why won't you give me a direct answer?"

"Why should I give you a direct answer if you're being a hypocrite!" James was standing now, walking to his dormitory.

"Just where do you think you're going!" Lily yelled.

"To bed!" James yelled back. "I don't want to listen to this!"

"Fine! You don't have to!"

"Fine!"

"FINE!"

James stormed up the stairs and slammed the door. Lily collapsed on the loveseat and wept.