Try Outs

"Too tall," Sirius remarked dismissively as he flipped over to the next sheet. James gave a deliberate nod of agreement, and Remus rolled his eyes at his two best, but not necessarily mature, friends.

"You guys, this is seriously stupid," groaned the one with the proclivity to roll his eyes in a show of disapprobation.

"Of course it's 'siriusly' stupid. I am the brains behind this operation," grinned the one with the shiny dark hair and the handsome smile, who also just so happened to be auditioning girls for the roll of "Sirius Black's Winter Ball Date." James too was in search of a companion for the Ball, but had had no luck thus far.

"That's a tacky line," Remus remarked, rolling his eyes once more before returning to reading his book in his lounging position against a rather large Beech tree by the lake.

"Not as tacky as that skirt, Padfoot," James said conspiratorially to Sirius, with a nod in the direction of the blonde girl standing hopefully in front of the two most eligible bachelors in the school. Sirius tilted his head to the side before letting out a disgusted noise.

"Right you are Prongs. That shade of magenta is abominable," Sirius said, tossing poor young Katie Smythe's file to the side.

"Ladies, we're taking a five minute recess, but we hope to see you all back after that," James called out with a wink. The thirty or so girls who'd been waiting in line giggled and sauntered off in the direction of the lake. The velvet rope separating the boys and the contestants, invisible to the eyes of teachers, made it so any girl who stepped within their circle was magically bound as their date to the ball. A tricky piece of magic, but James and Sirius hadn't had much trouble with it.

"What a remarkably bland group," lamented Sirius as he looked through the remaining applications. James seemed rather uninterested, but no one seemed to take much notice. The papers contained information including height, weight, eye color, extracurricular activities, and grades.

"I have got to say. This is undoubtedly one of the most prick-ish things you guys have ever resorted to in all our years of friendship," Remus said. "It's sickening to watch."

"Oi, Remus, I asked you if you wanted to go with me, but you said you'd rather hang round with Peter in the common room," Sirius said. James whipped out his binoculars, or something of the sort as he began scanning the crowd of hopefuls afresh.

"Actually, I have a date, thank you very much," Remus said. The Marauders disguised their surprise poorly. It wasn't really that Remus was bad looking, but the truth was that he rarely got out much.

"Well then, congratulations Moony. Who's the lucky bird," James asked. Peter looked a bit jealous.

"Annabelle von Blume," Remus replied without looking up from his book. James's jaw dropped, and even Sirius lost composure.

"What? That hot blonde chick that Lily hangs round with all the time," James demanded in shock.

"The very one," Remus said, smiling for the first time that day. His eyes suddenly acquired a dreamy quality that was at once sweet and utterly grotesque to his friends.

"How'd you manage that one Moony," Sirius asked, as crowds of girls began advancing back toward the Marauders, hungry gleams in many of their eyes.

"I said, 'Hello Annabelle, nice to see you. You look great today, that dress really compliments your eyes. Anyway, I was wondering if maybe you'd like to accompany me to the Winter Ball,'" Remus said flatly, though unable to suppress a smile at the ridiculous expressions on his friends' faces. Excepting Peter, who was rather peeved that it was apparent he'd be alone in the common room the night of the ball, his dear Remus nowhere in sight.

"WHAT! That works," James cried in disbelief, while running his hands through his hair hurriedly; the girls had returned to audition once again.

"Well, welcome back my lovely women, to The Winter Ball Tryouts: Sirius Black and James Potter Edition." Sirius had meant to continue with his completely flagrantly conceited, stupid speech when a certain red haired, green-eyed witch entered their midst.

"What in Merlin's name is going on here," Lily demanded in a huff. She marched right past the velvet ropes and into the boys' circle. A hint of triumph gleamed in James's eye.

"Well, darling Lily, you've just made yourself my date to the Winter Ball," James smiled charmingly. Sirius gave him a congratulatory high five. Lily uncurled her clenched wrists and stared ahead blankly, before feeling furious again.

"What the hell Potter? You can't just go around declaring that people are your dates without even asking. And you certainly should not be comparing girls like they're cows in a pasture," Lily exclaimed.

"So you do know what's going on here," James cocked an eyebrow and folded his arms. Lily rolled her eyes, in a move reminiscent of Remus.

"Of course I do. The whole bloody school does. It's beside the point Potter. I won't let you do this," Lily stated coolly.

"Oh really, someone's rather important aren't they," Sirius snorted. "Too bad you've already been bound by a very effective, and might I add irreversible spell, as James's date, Lily," Sirius smirked. He was glad Lily was being forced into submission; she was always acting as though she was so much better than James.

"What! Explain, now," Lily snapped. The girls in the line began to get agitated at waiting, and at the fact that it appeared as though James was taken.

"Well, there happens to be a little charm on this velvet roped circle that binds whichever girls allowed in it bound as my date to the dance," James said. Remus felt a twinge of sympathy for Lily, but couldn't help being a little happy that James appeared to be on the verge of having his dream date for the next dance. He was one of his best friends, after all.

"Well, you or Sirius," Peter said meekly, just loud enough that Lily could hear. James slowly turned his head toward Peter and looked as though he might slice his head off right then and there.

"Wait a second, you're saying I can choose Potter or Black," Lily said, a smirk forming on her mouth. "Well then, I choose Black," she cackled madly.

"WHAT," James cried in protest.

"What," Sirius shrieked.

"What," Lily asked innocently. "I'll let you know the color I want for my corsage ASAP…Sirius darling," Lily giggled, prancing off and hopping over the velvet rope giddily. The boys stared out into the distance, each feeling unique emotions.

AN: Sooo, hope you liked it. I intend this to be a multichapter fic, and I can update quite often. Please, please, please review, whether or not you liked it, and if you want me to continue, please let me know. Thanks very much. ~Gabby