Chapter One: Invitation

"NO!"

I hear this word a lot and although it was for the umpteenth time that I had asked her, I still felt rejection wash over me and take control of my thoughts for a split second. However instead of being a gentleman, I put forth my charade of pig headedness and replied, "Come on, I know you dream about me, I know how much you secretly want me!"

She rolled her eyes and frowned, "If it were between you and a Blast Ended Skrewt, I'd still pick the Skrewt". She turned on the spot and I watched her walk away with her head held high. That perfect waist length scarlet mane of hair rippling as she took each step. When she walked away like that it sent chills down my spine and I couldn't help but take a quick intake of breath despite the fact that I knew how much she loathed me.

"Good one mate" a voice said snapping me out of my reverie, "I'm sure if you ask her one more time, she'll just magically say yes". This witty reply came from my best friend as he stole a piece of my breakfast bacon. His name is Sirius Black.
He and his family are pureblood's and they were all in Slytherin, but somehow, Sirius manage to break the chain and is a Gryffindor like me. He had storm gray eyes, brown messy hair, a casual manner and a lazy signature grin that seemed to make girls lust after him.

"Don't worry mate, one day I'll get into her knickers," I said as I winked at him.
Sirius smirked back at me and said, "Yeah you wish".
It was funny that he said that, because it was true, I wished so badly that I could have Lily Evans. Not just for a night, but forever. This might sound stupid but I just knew that Lily Evans was the one for me, and I just needed her to see this too.

So, I guess it's time to introduce myself, I'm James Potter, Pureblood, not that I care, and I am in my fifth year of Hogwart's School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry

"James"
That beautiful hair
"James Potter"
Those beautiful eyes
"James!"
That beautiful smi- "JAMES POTTER, I do not wish to have to ask you again, what is the answer to Question 3B about Human Transfiguration on page 394?"
"I'm sorry Professor, I don't know" I replied hastily without registering the question.

To be honest it was funny that I didn't have an answer to Minerva McGonagall's question, because, as it is, I am an Animagus; a human who can turn into an animal at will. Sirius and I had figured out how to do this in second year and it took us until end of fourth year to perfect it, however she had caught me off guard,

"That's right Potter you don't know because you were too busy staring at Miss Evans. Please, wipe the drool off your face and PAY ATTENTION"
Naturally, I was mortified at having been outed by McGonagall, but I grinned lazily at Lily as if to say no big deal but instead of scowling at me as usual, she smiled at me, just a tiny smile, and looked away. My heart stopped.

"Ha-ha" laughed Sirius bringing me out of my momentary lapse of being, "You're going to have to do a better job at hiding your testosterone from Minnie, mate" he smiled at the joke. I sighed inwardly, Sirius was a stud, but he had no idea how to treat girls. He had one, one day, then two days later onto another one. I was starting to think he was incapable of having a girlfriend, though many tried.

Unfortunately I had picked up his bad habits of rudeness around the ladies, which is why the one girl I truly seeked attention from, pretty much hates my guts. As I said Sirius had been with many girls over the years and nearly all the girls at school wish they could have a piece of him. I knew that even though Sirius loved the attention from them, he kind of wished they'd leave him alone sometimes, "Girls are too high maintenance" he once told me and I couldn't agree more.

After Transfiguration, Sirius and I walked down to the Black Lake to do some "studying" as he liked to call it. Really he just used this time to stare around at nothing while "obliviously unaware" of girls staring at him. Our friends, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew, soon joined us and I immediately struck up a conversation with Lupin about my Transfiguration homework.

It was a few minutes later when I heard them laughing, I could pick out her tinkling laugh anywhere. It was Lily with her three friends, Alice Prewett, Nymphadora Tonks (or just Tonks as she like to be called) and Emilia Wood. Tonks was Sirius' cousin and both she and Emilia were on the Gryffindor Quidditch team along with me and Sirius so we all knew each other quite well. Alice on the other hand, wasn't someone I knew as well. She was an oddity and I never would have picked Lily or Emilia to be friends with such a girl. However I knew how she came to be there, Lily had been compassionate enough to befriend the lonely girl in first year and they had been best friends ever since.

I could see that whatever humour from their conversation that had caused Lily to laugh was gone. It was obvious that Lily was having an argument with Emilia and I was a little startled when Emilia started to point at us vigorously. Lily glanced up and saw me staring but it seemed that there was not going to be any more smiles from her today, she had a scowl on her face and looked slightly apprehensive. It seemed that Emilia had finally won whatever argument that she and Lily were having as the four girls started to walk towards us, Emilia at the front with Tonks bounding by her side and Lily and Alice walking slowly behind.

"Hello Boys!" Emilia called happily;
"Hi Emilia" Sirius and I called back simultaneously.
"We were just coming to invite you to a little... sort of get together later... would you be willing to join us?" she asked,
"That depends on what kind of get together this is Emilia" Sirius replied fondly.
"It's a party, one you'd approve of I'm sure. Only it's in a secret location and it will start later tonight, are you boy's game?"
"Emilia" replied Sirius exhaustedly, "Did you seriously just ask that question? Do you seriously think that I, Sirius Black can't handle a bit of sneaking around? HA! Don't make me laugh sweet pea, we'll be there"
"Perfect!" cried Emilia and she sat down to have a conversation with him.

Lily was still standing awkwardly next to our little group even though her three friends were sitting comfortably having conversations. I looked at Lily and gestured for her to sit next to me. Instead she frowned and went and sat next to Sirius who casually put an arm around her shoulder, "How's it going Red?" he asked
"I'm good thanks Sirius" and she gave him a warm smile
As she did, I felt a stab of jealously towards Sirius, why couldn't she smile at me like that?

Sirius looked at me and let go of Lily. I didn't know what look I wore on my face but it was obviously enough for him to realise I was unhappy and he sheepishly grinned at me. I looked away and pretended to be absorbed in my homework until the bell rang for afternoon classes,
"Well we'd better go" said Tonks, "We'll let you know the details about tonight in the common room after classes okay?" she smiled that goofy smile that matched her cousin's so well,
"Yeah so make sure you're in the common room at about six okay? We'll meet you there" said Emilia with a flirtatious grin directed at Sirius.
Sirius and I both nodded and watched as the girls walked away.

"We'd better not get caught, or my prefect status might get revoked" said Lupin faking seriousness
"We won't, how many times have we gotten caught?" asked Sirius,
"Only about 23 times?" I replied laughingly,
"Exactly, none, and anyway we've done worse, and we need to kick start our term, this is the perfect way to do it" he said with a mischievous smile.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any recognizable characters. Everything is J.K Rowling's. The only thing I own is my original story lines/plots. I may have used some quotes or references that I also do not own. J.K Rowling is the amazing writer who thought of everything.

Author's Note: A little note from me, just wanted to say that guys, everyone loves a review. Even just a couple of words, if you can take ten minutes out of your day to read my story than you could take another thirty seconds to write me a review. Reviews are not only for my benefit but for any of you who follow my story, leave me a review and then I'll know what need to change and what you want to see happen.

Thanks muffins, Amy