Sirius's Top Ten

I know this is short, but it's just a prologue really, and besides, I have this thing against long, long chapters. Please R&R, the next few chapters will be up within today.

J.K. Rowling owns every character, aside from ones you'll meet later.

Thoughts are in italics.

Chapter 1: Lucky Number Ten

"Well... err... thanks, I s'ppose." James Potter said somewhat groggily, running a hand through his messy, jet-black hair as a girl climbed off him, leaving him grasping for air. Thank God that's over. James thought to himself as the girl stared at him in utmost admiration. Boring as hell, that was.

"No problem James! It was great!" the girl gushed, fidgeting randomly and squinting her brown eyes to hide tears of happiness.

"That it was ..." James tried to agree, but pausing as he tried to remember the girl's name. It started with a 'B'... Realizing his memory wouldn't bail him out this time, he put on one of his infamous James Potter smiles. "It was great... you!"

The girl twittered happy and dashed off, presumably to tell her friends. As soon as she was gone, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, two of James' best friends at Hogwarts, appeared from behind one of the many scarlet plush couches in the Gryffindor common room. In his hand, Sirius held a roll of parchment, and grinned smugly at his friend.

"Well done mate, you've almost finished my list!" Sirius said in a mock-awe tone as he plopped down in the armchair next to James. "You're my hero!"

"I'd be worried if I were you." James said cockily. "I've only got one more chick before you become my slave for all of next year!" He had a very smug grin spread across his face – he had just realized how easy this was going to be.

"I can't believe you two!" Remus said in disbelief at his friend's actions. "James kisses ten girls – "

"My top ten girls." Sirius interrupted, winking at James.

"Top ten?" Remus inquired, looking puzzled and feeling even more so.

"I've made a list," Sirius explained, putting on a game show voice. "Of the Top Ten Prettiest Girls at Hogwarts!"

"If I snog all ten, old Padfoot here will be my slave for all of seventh year." James finished, and regaining his cockiness, leaned back in the armchair, tipping it backward on the chair's two back legs, looking very relaxed. "Speaking of which, who's lucky number 10?"

Sirius grinned mischievously and caught Lupin's eye, winking to let him know this would be good.

"Err... Let's see..." Sirius unrolled his parchment and ran his finger down the list. "You just finished with Brenda Halbert..."

"That's who she was!" James announced aloud to himself. "I knew it started with a 'B'!"

"Ah, here we go Prongs, number ten – Lily Evans."

Caught by shock, James leaned a bit too far back, and the chair tipped over completely. Struggling to regain his composure as Remus and Sirius laughed, her popped his head over the fallen chair, causing his friends to laugh harder, his normally messy hair flipped backward.

"Evans?" James repeated, still shocked slightly. "I would have though Cassidy Flemmings, or – "

"Flemmings I'm saving for myself." Sirius coughed, trying to stop laughing. "Besides, I guess you haven't realized, but Evans is pretty."

Remus nodded in agreement. "She's my partner in Potions, and she's quite smart... Nice too."

"But Evans? I don't think I've talked to her directly since the third year!"

"Well, I had to make it a bit of a challenge, mate. Besides, Lily made it on the list, and we're only two weeks into the year, and if I'd put another charver on the list, I would have lost for sure!" Sirius said with a laugh, eying the shocked expression that seemed permanently plastered to his friend's face.

"They aren't all charvs. I rather fancied that B..." James faltered, having forgotten the most previous girl already.

"Brenda?" Remus offered with a sly grin, causing James to look away, knowing his case was hopeless.

"Well Prongs, master of women, I leave you to your devices." Sirius said, with an almost straight face, before rolling up the parchment and trotting off to the dormitory that he, James, Remus, Peter Pettigrew, and another boy in their year, Oliver Field shared.

"What are you going to do?" Remus asked curiously, studying his friend intently.

"Several things. As for Evans, I'll need a bit of your help. You say you're Potions partners..."