Chapter One: The Plan

A/N: Okay, so I know that I still have a few unfinished stories to complete, but I just can't help starting new ones! I hope you like it! Oh, and btw, if there are a few incorrect details in this fanfic please notify me by reviewing or sending me a PM! Thank you xx

James is honestly a jerk. He thinks that messing with Severus will give him a good impression, does he? Well, he's wrong. He and that Sirius Black are the trouble makers of Hogwarts, and I do not intend to pay them any attention, if not the amount that they already deserve. Defending Severus hasn't really gotten me anywhere, but I had felt like it was the right thing to do. That is, at the time.

~0~0~

It was a free period, and I was sitting by the lake with my friends. It was our final year at Hogwarts, and I planned to make it as worthwhile as possible. Right now, I was flicking through my Defence Against The Dark Arts textbook.

"Lily, James Potter is staring at you," giggled one of my best friends, Julia. I rolled my eyes. As if I was going to pay any attention towards him.

"Oh Julia, for Merlin's sake, I couldn't possibly care less whether or not he is looking at me." Julia gave me a knowing smile, while I ignored her.

I was getting bored, even though it was a nice day. Brilliant rays of sunshine were reflected upon the calm waters of the lake, making me feel warm inside. So I decided to chance a glance towards Potter.

Ugh; I almost regretted it at once. As usual, he was playing with that old Snitch. It annoyed me so much that he always sat under that same tree near the lake. Almost as if...he was trying to impress us. I immediately shook that thought away.

At the moment my brilliant green eyes made contact with his hazel ones, his free hand leaped to his black hair and he continued to mess it up. What confused me was why on earth he did that every time I glanced at him.

I barely noticed the shade of his eyes; except that it made me flinch when I stared at them. There was just something about him that intrigued me. I felt a rustle beside me.

Julia was heading back inside along with Harriet and Chelsea. She turned around, gesturing towards me.

"C'mon Lily, it's time for Ancient Runes," she exclaimed. My gaze turned away from James as I picked up my textbooks and began to head inside with my friends.

~0~0~

James' POV:

What is it with Lily? She's obviously playing hard to get. I turned to Sirius.

"Hey Padfoot, you've had plenty of experience in the girl category, haven't you?" Sirius gave me a dazzling smile.

"Of course! What would you expect from an attractive guy like me?" I threw an old Potions textbook at him, which he cleverly dodged.

"Hey! C'mon Prongs, I'm not to blame for my good looks! Do you want advice from me or not?" He teased.

I chuckled. "Okay okay, just be sensible and stick to the subject." Remus gazed at us with a strange expression.

"What's wrong, Moony?" I asked earnestly. He shook his head, a little too quickly if you ask me.

"Nothing. Just concentrate, won't you? Remember my role is to make sure you guys stay in order," Remus stated with authority. Then he returned to studying for the upcoming midyear examinations. I hadn't even laid a single thought on the exams. I guess I've been too busy to even care.

Sirius laughed, laying a firm hand on Remus' shoulder, making him cringe. I knew exactly how that felt. "Moony, relax! You worry too much. You need to loosen up a bit more." I decided to join in.

"And we're the right people for you to hang with!" Remus did not look at all convinced.

"Hello, stick to the subject, remember?" Peter reminded us. Up until now, I hadn't even noticed Wormtail.

I gave him a grateful smile, and then turned to Sirius expectantly.

"Okay, so you wanna impress Lily," Padfoot began. "Actually, more than that. I want to eventually...you know, ask her out on a date," I added sheepishly.

Sirius grinned broadly. "I take it that she doesn't return your interest?" I nodded impatiently.

"So then...just come straight out and ask her." There was a prolonged silence. I found my voice again.

"Just like that?" "Yes! Come on Prongs, I know you can do it." Remus looked up.

"And remember to not bother Snape," he pointed out helpfully. Sirius snorted.

"Why not? Snivellus deserves some fun, doesn't he?" I thought long and hard.

"But Lily doesn't like me when I'm like that. Maybe I could just do it secretly. You know, behind her back or something. She won't know." There was a surge of confidence in my voice as I spoke.

Remus shrugged, clearly bored of the whole conversation. Sirius agreed with apparent enthusiasm. "Right on, Prongs!"

All three of us stared at tiny Peter Pettigrew. He gazed back at us nervously.

"Wormtail, what do you think of this matter? You have to come forward and have your say for the decision to be final; after all, we are the Marauders." There was a little strain of pride in Remus' voice as he said that.

"Uh, okay! Sounds great," smiled Peter.

This was it. The decision was final, as Moony had phrased so shrewdly. I stood up and walked inside with the Marauders at my side.

A/N (2): Like it? Or not? Please R&R!

Read on to find out if James' plan will work or not...or will Lily make it even harder for him?