Everyone knew that Lily and James were probably the most talented spell casters in their year. Then again, they had the most experience with jinxing each other. James and his friends were rather proud of their prankster reputation, and the whole school knew that while Lily may rival James' spell work, no one could surpass the Marauder's pranking abilities.
"Evans, I know you enjoy imagining you can do everything," Sirius said, hiccupping. He refills his goblet and takes another large swig of whiskey. "But seriously, and I should know because I'm Sirius, you can't match my amazing prankabilities!" He boasted, chuckling slightly at his pun. A doe-eyed girl nearby laughed with him. Lily just shook her head at him.
"I don't imagine I can do everything," She said defiantly, stealing his cup and draining it. "I know I can. And I know that if I put my mind to it, I could out prank any Marauder."
"Come on Lils," James said, leaning against her. "I mean yes, you're freaking fantastic with a wand," Someone whistled in the background, but James waved them off. "But if there is one thing that a Marauder can do, it is maraud! And I'm pretty sure that means we are the pranking masters." Lily swatted James away from her and grabbed her goblet.
"Repleo," She said, pointing her wand at the goblet, which refilled itself with whiskey. She downed the glass in one large sip. "Do you want to bet?" She asked, leaning far too close to James. He stared at her, his eyes dilating as he looked at her lips and their proximity to his.
"Oh Evans," He said softly, finding it difficult to meet her gaze without turning red. "I don't think you want to do that. We Marauders prank lightly, but as soon as a bet is in place, we are ruthless."
"Well, I am not betting the Marauders. I'm betting you, James Potter." Her voice was more of a purr than anything. James was beginning to think very impure thoughts.
"I'm the most competitive of us all." He warned, moving even closer to her. Sirius had lost interest in the conversation a long time ago and turned instead to whisper into the ear of the doe-eyed girl. Remus watched Lily and James with amusement, not sure that they realized how close they were getting to each other. Their faces were inches away, and Remus wouldn't be surprised if they ended up snogging by the end of the night. That, or getting into a shouting match of course. He turned away from his two friends to go talk to Serena Swan.
"Do you remember how competitive I am Potter?" She asked, looking at him through her eyelashes. "So, do we have a bet?"
"You're on Lily Evans," He hummed, gaze flickering between her eyes and lips.
"I'm going to enjoy beating you Potter," She said, smiling and biting her lip. James was practically drooling.
"Hey Mooney," James called, not taking his eyes off Lily. Remus groaned and apologized to Serena before going over to where James and Lily were making out with their eyes.
"Yes Prongs?" He was not nearly drunk enough to handle a drunk Lily and a tipsy James.
"I need you to write something down for me. I need to make sure Evans here remembers this promise when she sobers up." James still refused to take his eyes off Lily. She wouldn't look away either. Remus had a bad feeling about this.
"Is this something Lily's going to regret when she wakes up tomorrow?" He conjured a piece of parchment and a quill anyways, wanting to hurry and get back to his date.
"Oh yes," James said hastily. "She challenged my honor Mooney. We can't have this. She challenged me to a prank war." Remus groaned loudly.
"No, I say this is a bad idea! We do not need you two trying to kill each other again. You guys are talking to each other, you guys are friends, and you're practically making out in the middle of the common room. Please don't make us suffer through more fighting."
"It's not fighting silly Rem." Lily said, finally tearing her eyes away from James to look at Remus. "I said I could prank just as good as James or better. And I intend to kick his ass. I want to get it in writing so James can't back out when he realizes the mistake he made." Remus resigned and agreed to write out the terms.
"What are the stakes?" He asked, and James and Lily looked at each other again.
"I haven't thought about that," Lily said after a minute. "Honestly I just want to prove that I can beat James at his own game."
"But a bet needs stakes my dear Lily!" James cried, and screwed his face in concentration. Lily took the opportunity to refill both of their goblets. "How about, if I win, you have to streak naked through potions class." James looked smug.
"Is that just an excuse to see me naked James Potter?" She said, her face turning a shade darker.
"Lily!" He said, sounding outraged. "Yes, yes it is."
"Okay how about this," Remus interjected before this got out of hand. "Whoever loses owes the winner a favour. It can be anything that the winner decides, as long as it doesn't completely violate the loser. Deal?" The two thought it over for a moment before both agreeing to the stakes. Remus had both of them sign their name on the parchment and then rolled it up and slid it into James' knapsack sitting on the nearest chair. Seeing how everything was settled, Remus turned back to find Serena.
"When I win," Lily said, sounding cocky. "I'm going to make you wear a miniskirt around school."
"Oh you'd like to see me in a miniskirt wouldn't you?" James said coyly.
"I would!" A voice shouted from across the room. It was Sirius, who had tuned in to that part of the conversation.
"Oh Padfoot you've seen me in sexier outfits than that!" James called back with a grin, and Sirius barked laughing.
"The red thong was my personal favourite." Sirius said with a wink. James blew him a kiss in response.
"Hmm I change my mind, I think I know what my favour will be when I win." Lily's words pulled James' full attention back to her. His intoxicated imagination had him thinking dirty things.
"When I win, I'm going to kiss you." He said softly, leaning in close to her again. Their faces were so close, his breath was hot on her face.
"So you're going to wait to kiss me until this war is over?" Lily teased. "Well I guess you're never going to kiss me." James couldn't tell if it was a taunt or a challenge. His mind couldn't fully process the consequences, and found himself leaning even closer to her. Lily closed the distance between them, but only barely. She brushed her lips against his, almost completing the kiss. James was fully ready to deepen the kiss, but Lily pulled away.
"If you win this bet," Lily said coyly. "You'll get your kiss." With that, she stood up unsteadily and turned to go up to her dorm. She sashed her hips and James couldn't help but stare with longing. She had almost kissed him, and that alone was enough to get him physically and visibly worked up. He left the party quickly after that, his mind hazy with alcohol and Lily Evan's lips.