A/N: Hello everyone! So I've written (...and published) this out of order, but hopefully it will make sense in the end... Enjoy!

The Chase(r)

Chapter 1

The first Quidditch match of the season was fast approaching. The tension between the houses was growing each hour as spirits rose and rivalries thickened.

The teams, Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw, were nearly equally matched, each with certain advantages. Even though the traditional rivalry was Gryffindor and Slytherin, these teams each had excellent chances, making the pressure all the greater.

As the Gryffindor seventh years left potions Friday afternoon, wearing their uniforms and the Gryffindor House Pride pins Marlene had made, they could feel the pulse of the final count down begin.

Twenty more hours.

Lily, somewhat distractedly, and Marlene went up to Gryffindor Tower to change.

"I'm excited."

"Well of course you are, Marlene. You're playing," Lily laughed, disregarding her own thoughts quickly.

"I know! I love this! The anticipations of it all, the butterflies," Marlene looked at her. "Oh come on, Lily. I know you love it too."

Lily smiled at her friend as they entered their dormitory, her eyes conveying a message.

"Oh I do love it. But every time I show it Potter's head inflates like wicked and I hate when that happens," Lily sighed. "I mean, he's almost bearable when he's humble and working hard, but then his mates come along and it's just the same old same old.:

Marlene raised her eyebrows. "You're very perceptive, missy."

"What?" Lily asked defensively. "I want to have a good seventh year, and in most scenarios that means the Head Girl gets along with the Head Boy."

"And unfortunately for you the Head Boy is James Potter, yeah yeah." Marlene waved her hands at Lily. "Well if you're not going to be spirited for the team captain, at least be spirited for me."

Lily sighed. She wasn't getting out of this.

"Fine. Hand me that shirt, will you?"

The boys left Potions in a slump. It had been a terribly long week and Slughorn's new essay did not aim to change that.

Peter was huffing because of the essay. James was exhausted because of the heckling from the Ravenclaws and Slytherins. Sirius was tired from the extra Quidditch practices James was holding. Remus was gloomy because it was a first quarter moon tonight, meaning there was only a week to plan their outing, and because all of his friends were being gits.

"Guys, me must look so boring. And lazy. And… normal," Rums said, trying to stir up the conversation as they walked aimlessly upstairs.

"We should plan a prank. A good classic on, like the ones from years ago," Peter suggested. "But this time it won't be to impress Evans," he added, looking pointedly at James.

"Peter, mate, we don't have time," James responded. "Plus, none of our pranks were for Evans."

"Oh Prongsie, you're so daft," laughed Sirius. "Of course they were for Evans!"

James rolled his eyes.

"Can we not right now? We have a game tomorrow and I really would like to focus."

"Yeah, focus on Evans," Sirius whispered to Peter so that James couldn't hear.

"That's it." Remus stood up. "Okay. Let's talk Quidditch, bet's stay on the game. But let's have some fun."

Lily and Marlene were joined by Mary in the Common Room as they tried to get a start on their weekend homework before dinner. The games always took up most of the day and the festivities—win or lose—took up… well, the rest of the weekend.

"Lily, what are your ingredients for the Potions essay? Because mine are j—"

There was a blast from behind them as the portrait hole flew open, revealing four sopping wet boys.

"Oi!" Lily yelled turning around. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Oh hey, Evans," Sirius cheered.

"Oh. It's you lot," Lily sighed.

"What in Merlin's name happened to you?" Marlene asked.

In walked the four Marauders, smiling and laughing, robes soaked through and hair dripping.

"We took a walk," Peter said with a grin. "Out side."

"It's not even raining," Mary said, peering outside. The clouds were covering the sky, but they weren't ominous; more of a blanket - with no hint of rain whatsoever.

"Oh, is it not?" Remus asked, also looking out the window.

"Evans." James acknowledged her for the first time. "I promise we didn't do anything you wouldn't do," he said with a grin.

Her emerald eyes looked at him disbelievingly. He smiled at her automatically, unable to stop even if he wanted to. He loved that look. It showed him that she was paying attention, maybe in some far off land she even cared whether or not he was telling the truth.

He had just gone back, Lily noticed. He appeared to have changed over the summer. Clearly not, she thought. She was glad, though. She didn't want to deal with… liking him on top of everything else.

Lily seamed satisfied with this answer, or at least she couldn't come up with a response, so she resumed her work. But Mary wasn't done.

"Oh just tell us, then."

"We did a lap around the Quidditch pitch," Sirius said.

"You know, to get in spirit," Remus added.

"Hey!" Lily whipped back around, looking directly at James. "I would not to that!"

As fine a flyer as Lily Evans was, she positively hated playing the game. The heights and the near vertical dives and the fast paced flying made her feel so nauseous. Not to mention the fact that if she involved herself with Quidditch it would just give Potter another reason to be enamored with her.

"Damn, Evans," he said, laughing at her. He thought he noticed her smiling a bit. "You caught us. You would not fly a lap around the pitch to get in spirit."

"Oi! That's not why I wouldn't do it!"

"Are you sure, Evans?" James continued. "You don't like spirit much."

Lily stood up subconsciously. Why was she making a big deal out of this? He was James Potter and he did not need any more of her attention.

"I like spirit!" Lily yelled defensively.

"Oh and what do you call that? A scarlet shirt and a scarf? Original!"

Lily looked at Marlene with wide eyes. Marlene just laughed. Of course he had noticed Lily's outfit change. She didn't know why Lily was so surprised.

"I can never win, can I," Lily said, defeated.

"No Lily," James began. "That's not true—"

"That still doesn't explain why you're sopping wet," Mary realized.

"And that, Miss MacDonald," Sirius said with shining eyes, "is for us to know and for you to find out."

The four boys trooped across the common room to the boy's staircase - Marlene could've sworn she saw James look back at Lily before he turned the corner - leaving the three girls disgruntled and annoyed.

A/N: Well that was fun.

Remember to keep track of the chapter numbers as you read, because I posted them out of order!

Thanks for reading! Please review! :)