'Let it go!' I was saying. ' She will never ever ever go out with you.'
'Yes she will! You gotta give it tiiime …' Prongs said slowly.
'Listen mate. You've got to stop asking her ! Girls don't like being pestered. And you've been pestering her for six years.'
'Yeah, well, you'd know wouldn't you…' Hah! An insult! Is that how this ignoble lovebird repays my counsel ?? By calling me a … a … Pro-sy-toot ?
'You've got to stop asking her out !! You've got to prove that you don't need her and she does !' An idea suddenly pops into my head! A brilliant, wonderful, un-fally-eu-ble plan! If he says yes. 'Unless, of course,' I say slowly, 'you aren't capable of doing that. That must be the problem! You have an Askinglilyout-itus.'
'No I haven't.' James says stoutly.
'Then how come you have to ask her out every hour ? Of every day? Of every week? Since six years?' I'm getting there ! It's going to work! I'm grrrreat !
'I don't have to.' A second's hesitation. A casual second's hesitation.
'I bet you… Five galleons. One day of you not asking her out.'
'You're on.' I did it! I did it! I did it!
'When one day ?'
'Tomorrow!'
'But tomorrow's her …'
'Birthday. I know.'
The next day :
'Hey Evans !' Aaaa ! Doesn't he know what a bet means ?? Has he confused it with German word Bett, meaning bed ? Oh, dear! I think he has… Don't ask me how I know that.
'Betbetbetbetbet.' I mutter in his ear. Don't say I'm not a good mate. I just lost five Galleons there. Five perfectly good Galleons that were going to go towards Snaping dung-bombs.
'Umm… You, er, dropped your … quill ?'
A little later :
'Look ! Look at all her friends saying Happy Birthday…''Yes, well … They're not going out with her yet are they?' I said matter-of-factly.
'They're girls, Sirius.' Well, you never know.
That evening, at dinner :
'I can't do this !' Prongs was complaining.
'Told you so.' I said, trying to goad him into winning the bet. Which was weird. 'Cause I wanted to win the bet too.
'Come on James.' Moony said. 'You can do it! Just don't look at her too much.'
'Oh thanks a lot, Moony.' I said grumpily. Moony shrugged.
'He boasts less than you.'
'Evans !' James called out, unable to resist temptation.
'No James, no!' Moony moaned. Talk about a best mate. Although I guess James is his mate too…
'Do you want to … Ow, Wormy, stop kicking me !' Way to go Peter! ' Um … Pass the gravy ?'
One funny look later, James had gotten away with it.
That evening in the common room :
'Hang on where's James ?' He was gone… If he had gone to see Lily, that would be bad !
'He's gone to see Lily.' That's bad …
I turn around to see James leaning over her armchair and talking to Evans and smiling. And guess what ? She was smiling back. I try and tune into their conversation (dog's ears, very useful) and good job I catch the last of it :
'So Saturday at three, then Potter?' What? What? Do my dog's ears deceive me ??
'Sure !'
'Ok, bye … And happy Birthday!'
'Thanks ! I was wondering … Never mind …'She stands up, kisses him on the cheek and sits down, yet again immersed in some book. That'll ensure he doesn't mind all right.
Poor love-struck Prongsie wanders back to us, a soppy little grin on his soppy little face.
I poke him unceremoniously in the arm.
'You owe me five Galleons.'
'Oh yeah. Here.' He digs five galleons out of his pocket.
Oh well. My plan worked more or less … Prongs got Evans, Evans got Prongs and I got ten Galleons for dung-bombs.
A/N : Well didja like it ? Review to tell me I can just totally imagine Sirius and James betting, just like Fred and George in OotP film … 'K well thanks for reading anyway.
Leurrve Padfoot R.