AN: Not mine!

The Importance of Being Frank

James had gotten over her. It was common knowledge that James Potter had a large, borderline stalker-like, crush on Lily Evans but at some point, like most obsessions, it faded. It might have been when he stopped learning something new about her every day, or when his exams became too overwhelming and he had resigned to stare at his books instead of her hair but what's important is that it happened. School ended and her absence from his life made her fade even more.

Upon return to school at the beginning of Seventh year, she burst back into his life again, but not in the same way as before. Over the summer she had mellowed; James' antics did not annoy her as easily as before and this took away from the chase in his eyes.

That was, until the beginning of October.

--

James and Sirius Black were sitting in the common room on a cool Saturday morning. They were waiting for Remus and Peter so they could head off to the first Quidditch match of the season, Ravenclaw v. Slytherin, when Lily and her friend Marlene came down the dormitory stairs talking loudly.

"I'm telling you, Ravenclaw's going to win today," Lily said.

"Of course they are. Why would you listen to me? It's not like I'm a Gryffindor chaser, or I know anything about the sport or the like? It's exactly the correct response to refuse to believe me when I tell you that Slytherin is going to wipe the floor with Ravenclaw today," Marlene facetiously replied.

"Haven't you ever heard of the underdog?" Lily shot back. "The good fight? A come-from-behind victory? I'd put money on the game today"

"Put your money where your mouth is, big girl!"

Lily sighed. "I said 'would.' I'm broke."

Marlene stood silently in the middle of the common room for a moment. "One spell, 24 hours. Winner's choice. That's what I bet you."

"Anything? Big teeth, yellow hair, uncontrollable yelling voice?"

Marlene pondered this for a moment. "No loud voice. I want to embarrass you in class on Monday and even I'm not cruel enough to have you yelling at McGonnogall."

"You're on." They shook as they left the common room. James and Sirius who had been listening to this affair looked at each other.

"Your girlfriend's going to her ass handed to her, mate."

"Shut up Padfoot. She's not my girlfriend."

"He's right," Remus chimed in. "Our Prongs hardly thinks of his dearest Lily anymore." Peter faked a swoon and the three of them could hardly make it out the door with James yelling on their tails.

--

As predicted, Ravenclaw lost spectacularly to Slytherin and the four boys overheard Lily and Marlene at breakfast the next morning.

"I'm sorry, Lily. I couldn't hear your question over the sound of me winning. What did you ask?"

"Stop gloating you cow! It's unbecoming of you. What are you going to do to me?"

"Are you nervous I'm going to change your hair?" Marlene kid.

"Honestly, yes."

"Nope, I stayed up last night looking for it." Marlene passed Lily a piece of parchment with a spell and it's properties scribbled down on it.

Inibitio Revelar - When performed on an individual, this spell allows one to act as they'd ideally like to.

Lily was confused. "What does this mean? Ideally like to?"

"It will release you of your inhibitions. You will act as you really want to, say what you really want to, the like."

"So it will make me do stupid things? Couldn't you just confund me?"

"No, that's not it. You won't be doing anything you wouldn't do otherwise. This spell isn't going to make you have lesbian sex with Alice if you're not attracted to her alrea--"

She was cut off by the groan from all the male students in earshot.

"Shut it you pervs! Get your own conversation! As I was saying, it will loosen your mind, loosen your actions and loosen your tongue. You're going to be gutsy and ballsy and impulsive and we're going to get to see what you think."

"Could you please talk like a normal person!?"

"You're going to say funny shit and I'm going to laugh."

Lily chewed on her spoon while she thought this over. She couldn't think of anything she was afraid of doing, and it wasn't like she had a choice. "Okay. Midnight?"

"I'll see you there." Marlene left Lily on her own to think about what she really wanted. Less than one minute later, Lily was unfortunately sandwiched by James and Sirius.

"We heard what Marlene's going to do to you," Sirius goaded.

James added, "Who are you going to tell off first?"

Lily's eyes got wide as she realized that she had a few rather nasty things to say to a few people and her life might be easier if she never said them. "Shit!"