Chapter One

The Bet

Disclaimer: I own nothing

"Lily, will you go out with me?"

"James, haven't you asked that question enough to know what the answer is?"

"Oh, come on Evans, why not?"

"Why not? Well, let me think: Your hair is like a birds nest, the way you're always running your hands through it, because you think it's so cool. You think you're so great, but all you do is bully people and show off! You can't seem to get it through your thick skull that-"

"Hey, Eliza" Sirius asked from his place by the common room fire "What do you think the odds are that Lily'll say 'yes' to James sometime?"

Eliza scoffed "Judging by the example you see here? Never."

"I don't think that's quite true" Said Jen from Sirius's other side "I think Lily really likes James, she just doesn't want to admit it because she's said" Jen stopped a moment to listen to Lily's words "Because she's said that he's a 'conceded twit that couldn't pass a single test if he wasn't copying off his friends' for so long."

"Conceded twit…" Sirius muttered "That's a new one"

"Well," said Eliza "You're right about her liking him, but she'll never say yes to him if he keeps acting this way."

"Of course she'll say yes to him!" Said Sirius "You want to bet?"

"Sure" said Eliza "I'll bet you five galleons that Lily will never say 'yes' to James"

"And I'll bet you five that she's the one who asks him out, and soon, too."

"Five Galleons to both of you that James will win her over by the end of the month!"

"I'll take that bet"

And they shook on it.

That Evening

"Lily," James asked, getting down on his hands and knees "Your eyes are like the stars, your hair is like the fire of-"

"No, no, no!" Interjected Sirius "You're doing it all wrong!"

"I did it just like you told me to…" James said, getting up from where he had been kneeling "Can we do this later? My knees are getting tired, and I still have homework to do."

"And I'm tired of standing here with this red wig on having James try to ask me out" added Remus, attracting quite a few stares. "Can I leave now?"

"No!" Cried Sirius "I will not rest until James here has learned how to ask someone out properly"

"Well can I at least take this red wig off-"

"No!"

"But it itches-"

"No!"

"But you said-"

"No!"

"Come on Sirius" James pleaded "just give it a rest"

"Do you want Lily to go out with you or not?"

"Of course I do, but do you really think she'll like-"

"Of course she will! Now, again"

Sighing, James got on his knees again

"Do you know why Remus is wearing a bright wig red wig?" Lily asked, trying not to appear too curious

"Who knows?" Jen answered, glancing over at the marauders from her side of the common room "Probably something crazy, you know how boy are."

"I suppose…"

"Hey Lily?" Asked Eliza in a teasing tone

"What?" Lily asked absently

"Are you staring at James?"

"I am not!" Lily said, blushing furiously.

"Lily and Ja-ames sittin' in a tree" Jen sang, batting her eyelashes and making ridiculous kissing noises"

"Be quiet!" Lily hissed, going, if it was possible, even redder "Someone will hear you!"

Ignoring Lily, Jen sang on "First comes love, then comes marriage-"

"Hush," Whispered Lily franticly "Be quiet! Ssshhhh!"

"That's not all, that's not all, I saw them-"

"BE QUIET!" Lily shouted "DO YOU HONESTLY WANT EVERYONE IN THE COMMON ROOM TO THINK THAT I LIKE-" Lily realized that she had been shouting this, and yes, it was possible for Lily to go even redder. "Um… Marinated Ceviche and aged Gouda?" Lily finished tentatively to her staring audience.

"Come on, Lily" Eliza said, feeling sorry for her friend "Let's go up to bed, I don't know about you, but I'm tired"

"Um, yeah, let's go" Lily said. Her face now matching her hair, Lily practically sprinted to the dormitory.

"I've got an Idea!" Sirius proclaimed loudly

"Does it involve me getting to take off this wig? I think I'm having an allergic reaction to it."

"Nonsense! You just need to get used to it."

"No, seriously, my skin itches and I think my tongue is swelling up."

"Too bad, the show must go on!"

"Sirius, we're not performing a show."

"Well, we should."

"Oh, oh, can I be in the show?" Peter asked, jumping up and down in excitement

"No, I don't think so; you don't have the right "look" for an actor. You look like the personal assistant who caters to my every whim type."

"Oh cool!"

"Yes, yes, I know; the life of an actor is an exiting one."

"Wow, when do I start?"

"Well, I think I can fit you into my busy schedule- Hey, where did Remus go?!" Sirius asked indignantly looking around.

"I think he went to go take care of his allergic reaction."

"Well," said Sirius, turning back to Peter "In that case you can start right now. Put on that wig"

"Wow, this is so exiting! Just give me a moment to rehearse." And, wig in hand, Peter ran off to practice.

"So, what was your idea?" James asked after a moment of silence.

"Well, since Lily just said she liked raw seafood and aged cheese…"