Title: Ulterior Motives

Author: Lady Snowmoon

Rating: will be M, currently erm...T?. M-rated chapters will be clearly noted (B: I hope!) Still getting used to this rating system!

Summary: James has always wanted Lily. Now, Lily's decided she wants James - for a slightly different reason. To get another guy. But what are his motives for wanting her?

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all associated characters belong to J.K.Rowling and all the other companies involved. No copyright infringement is intended. This story has been written for entertainment only, and no money has changed hands. The storyline and original characters belong to the authors. No part of the story or any original characters are to be used without permission of the authors, nor is this story to be archived without permission of the authors.

A/N: This chapter has been edited. Now it makes a little more sense, I hope. Please review oxox

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

'I hope she Charmed it properly,' Alice muttered, chewing her hair nervously and staring up into the sky. The chants of 'Go Gryffindor!' constituted most of the background noise, and so no one could hear the three girls whispering and muttering to each other, all focused on one player in particular. Alice checked her watch again, and wondered for the tenth time where Lily was.

'Of course she Charmed it properly,' Bec replied confidently, surveying the sea of students swathed in their house colours covering the stands. 'Come on, Lily!' she looked at her watch.

'Don't grin,' Rachel warned her. 'It makes me nervous.' Bec responded with a huge grin, and Rachel rolled her eyes, a well-practiced manoeuvre.

'Surprisingly, none of this is helping me feel any better,' Alice interrupted, chewing even more furiously on her hair. Rachel grabbed her wrist, pulling it and stopping Alice chewing further.

'Don't do that. Relax.'

'Rach, get your wand ready,' Bec instructed.

'Yeah, okay…' Rachel suddenly laughed, and Alice looked at her inquisitively.

'What?'

'It wouldn't surprise me if Lily didn't attach it,' Rachel commented, grinning. ''Cause you know what'll happen if it's not there?'

'What?' Alice asked, suddenly looking nervous again. Bec smirked, understanding Rachel's meaning.

'We all get a gawk at the bits of James Potter that only Lily wants to see.' She squinted into the sky.

'Exc-use me?' came a voice from behind them, and all three turned to see Lily grinning. 'What makes you think I'd want to see James' bits anymore than you guys would?'

'Where have you been?' Alice exclaimed.

'I got stuck in that damned team-room! I Charmed his broom...it's lucky we didn't charm that Shooting Arrow we saw in the Broom shed, guys, it was the wrong one...but couldn't get out before the team came in again. And of course someone insisted on staying in there so I couldn't show myself. Peter bloody Pettigrew. For God's sake. He left a couple of minutes ago, I practically ran here to meet you!' Lily talked quickly, running a hand through her lustrous red hair as she spoke. 'We ready to go yet?'

'Not yet, he hasn't been in the right position,' Alice replied.

For the next few moments, all the quartet did was stare at the figures flying above them. Lily could see James swooping around, his hair streaming back, looking very athletic and full of himself. Rachel kept her wand ready, secretly pointing it out from under her robes. Waiting for just the right moment.

'Hey, look, Lily!' Rachel was pointing to the Slytherin stands, where a tall boy was talking animatedly to a girl sitting next to him. 'It's Adrian Leroy. Looking good today…or should I say every day…'

Lily giggled. 'Oh, is he over there? Hand me the binoculars!' But Rachel was holding them higher so Lily couldn't reach.

'Nuh ah, why should you get to perve all the time?'

'You can perve on Remus!'

Rachel blushed. 'Hey – ' she began, as Lily laughed.

'Rach, now!' Bec cried suddenly, as James Potter swooped into the necessary area. Rachel muttered the incantation, and waved her wand. Alice, Bec and Lily grinned delightedly as the spell hit right on target, revealing a roll of parchment at the end of James' broomstick.

'Yes!' Alice cheered, watching as the parchment trailed like a ribbon behind James Potter, largely displaying the words, 'You know you wanna ride my broomstick!' with an arrow pointing back at James, followed by a caricatureof James which grinned sleazily and winked every few seconds.

Laughter practically exploded from the stands. The four girls watched as James desperately turned and tried to read the writing. But when he was flying fast enough for the parchment to remain open, he couldn't turn around enough. And when he hovered and was able to turn around, the parchment fell and he couldn't see the words.

'Lily, you're a genius!' Bec enthused, laughing, and Rachel put on a hurt look. 'Alright, you're a genius, too. That was good aim!' Rachel still insisted on looking pouty, but Lily could see how entertained she was.

The Quidditch match had actually been put on hold to allow James to land, and to get the parchment off his broom. Clearly, teachers would be looking for a culprit soon, and none of them wanted their moment spoiled by a month's worth of detentions. They watched with interest as James stared at the parchment, and their laughter was only encouraged by his shout of anger, and his violent ripping of the parchment in half.

'We spent ages on that!' Rachel cried in horror. 'I wanted to keep it for the common room!'

…

'Do we deserve high-fives or what?' Lily practically shouted as they walked to the common room after the match, (which Gryffindor had ended up winning 200 - 50, much to the frustration of the Hufflepuff team). She was grinning broadly, and gave Rachel, Alice and Bec, the three girls she considered her greatest friends in the world, two high-fives each.

There was Alice, who was Lily's best friend. She was of medium height, with long black hair that she tended to chew on as she worked, or when she was worried. As a result, bits of it often seemed to have a rather frayed appearance. Despite this, she was an attractive girl, even if she was sometimes a little lacking in common sense.

The two girls other girls were her other best friends, Rachel and Rebecca, or Bec, as most people tended to call her. Rachel was tall, almost as tall as the infamous James himself, which was saying something. She had long, curly brown hair, hazel eyes, a slight overbite, and a tendency to yell things instead of saying them.

Bec was almost her exact opposite; being somewhat shorter, with medium-length blonde hair and perfectly straight teeth, the result of years' worth of dental work as a child. Both of them had a wicked sense of humour, something that often came in handy when thinking up ways to insult, or play pranks on, James' group of friends.

Alice, Rachel and Bec were Lily's best friends in the world. And, she thought, they made up a gang that were a match for the 'Marauders' any day, something that made her smile smugly as she considered the success of their latest prank. The Marauders, James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew, thought they were the best gang of troublemakers and adventurers in the school, but Lily knew her group gave them a fair run for their money.

'Hey, look'. Rachel's snigger interrupted Lily's thoughts. She looked up in time to see a rather disgruntled looking James Potter heading down the hallway towards them. He was still wearing his Quidditch robes, and carrying his expensive new broomstick. Lily smirked.

'Well, hello,' she called out to him. 'Where do I sign up to...uh...ride your broomstick?' James looked annoyed, but was trying to dampen it.

'Well...someone thought they'd play a trick on one of us. Must have chosen the wrong broom...' He ran his hand through his hair, messing it up even further than the wind already had.

'Did you ever think, Potter...has it ever entered your mind...that they chose the right broom?' Lily asked with disdain. 'The picture was of you, remember! And anyway, I'd have thought you of all people could appreciate a good joke when you see it.'

'Oh, yeah, sure,' he replied sarcastically. 'It's a great joke...would have been much better if they'd chosen the right broom instead of mine.' He shook his head. 'I mean...who would want to prank me?'

'Gee, I don't know,' Rachel muttered. ''Cause it's not like you prank anybody else.'

James apparently didn't hear her, his focus still on Lily.

'Any idea who it was?' Lily asked him innocently, and he shook his head, running a hand through his messy, black hair.

'Not a clue.' He looked at her, and raised an eyebrow, looking a little concerned. 'Anyway...did you find it that funny? 'Cause...I wouldn't want this to affect...you know...us.'

We have an us! Lily thought incredulously. Presumptuous much?

'Us?' she repeated aloud. 'Oh…no, I'm sure we're not much affected by this…' James regarded her a few moments.

'Why do I get the feeling you've just completely missed the point?'

'Possibly because you didn't have one to begin with?' Lily returned. James frowned, and pantomimed being stabbed in the chest.

'Now, that was painful. And possibly undeserved.'

'Possibly?' Bec repeated, raising an eyebrow, at the same time Lily said,

'Undeserved?' James sighed melodramatically and turned to Rachel.

'I'm not doing very well here, am I?'

'On a scale of one to five and six eighths? One being terrible, five and six eighths being great? You just scored in the negatives,' she replied cheerfully. 'But don't worry, James! There's always next week!' Rachel laughed loudly at her own joke.

James' attention, however, was diverted. Lily thought he was looking at her, until she realised his eyes were actually focused over her shoulder, a scowl on his face.

'What?' she asked, about to turn when a very familiar voice spoke.

'Isn't this cosy?'

Adrian!

He appeared next to Lily, a smirk on his handsome face. Lily could feel her heart start beating just that little faster from his presence.

'Beat it, Leroy,' James threatened, his voice low. All humour had vanished from his voice. In fact, Lily noted, his entire countenance had changed. Adrian laughed.

'Right, Potter. I'm going to take orders from you.' He turned towards Lily, and gave her a grin. 'Besides, I don't think my being here is entirely unwelcome.' Lily smiled back at him, in what she hoped was an alluring way.

'I can assure you…'

'I can assure you,' Adrian interrupted smoothly, eyes lingering on Lily's for a few more moments before he turned to James. 'That you don't have to worry about my presence in your…territory…any longer.'

'Lily,' Bec murmured. 'We really have to get going now.' Lily glanced over, and Bec discreetly pointed to her watch.

No…no, Bec, we really don't.

Although, another glance at Adrian and James sizing each other up swayed Lily's opinion in the other direction.

'Right,' she said slowly.

'No, Lily, wouldn't want to leave Potter on his own,' Adrian said with a sneer in James' direction. 'I have a meeting now, anyway.'

'Didn't know a Dark Wizards meeting was on now,' James said scornfully

'Now, Potter. Why would you ever need to know that?' Adrian asked.

'Get lost, Leroy.' James turned back to Lily ' I – '

'I'm sorry, is this a weak attempt to mock the fact that my robes cost as much as your house did?' Adrian broke in.

'You wish. You know who…' James trailed off. Adrian raised an eyebrow.

'Continue, Potter. What's that about your…parents?' James looked defiant. Lily wondered what on earth was going on.

'Nothing,' he finally replied. Adrian smiled.

'Really?'

'Lily,' Bec said, more insistently. 'I really think we have to go.'

'As do I, can't be late for potions. Evans, Others', said Adrian, by way of goodbye. He bowed slightly to them all, except James, who he graced with a sneer, and then walked purposefully away down the corridor.

Lily watched his progress.

Wow. He's…wow. He is so…so…good looking.

She was brought back down to earth by Alice.

'Others?'

'You can't expect him to know everyone!' Lily exclaimed airily. She noticed James was staring at her with…an undistinguishable expression. 'What?'

'Nothing.' Lily shrugged.

'Whatever. Let's get to the Great Hall, guys, time for a game of cards before dinner.' She wiggled her fingers at James in manner of a wave. 'Bye now.'

Lily could distinguish the look James gave her then: he was extremely irritated.

'Yeah, bye,' he said, before whipping around and storming off in the other direction.

'Poor guy,' commented Bec as they watched him. 'Being teased by Leroy, I almost feel sorry for him.'

'Almost; how generous!' Rachel laughed, and Bec pushed her.

'You know what I mean!'

'It's his own fault for being an irritating sleaze,' Lily responded scathingly. 'He's been asking me out every Friday for God knows how long, and I'm sick of it! Plus he and his Marauder friends think they're just so wonderful. The best at pranks, the best looking, the smartest, the...the...whatever! Adrian's not that bad, anyway', she added as an afterthought.

Bec sighed. 'Yes, we all know you like him,' she said. 'If you ask my opinion, though, James is a far better choice. At least he's not a Slytherin. Plus, he's like…devoted to you. And he's funny'.

'But then I'd have to go out with him,' Lily complained. 'And…and…' But she had obviously thought of something, because she began to grin. 'Actually...that's given me an idea.' She stopped walking, and held her hands up as the idea started to click into place.

'What kind of an idea?' Alice asked her, sounding a little wary. Lily laughed, and gave her a wink.

'The best kind.'

Bec and Rachel groaned in unison.

…

Lily and Rachel were stretched out in front of the lake, occasionally throwing bits of bread in there for the Giant Squid. It was Friday afternoon, a week after the Quidditch prank. The sun was shining, but the days were quickly getting distinctly colder. The air was crisp and refreshing on Lily's face, but she couldn't help but grumble to Rachel about how damp her bottom was getting.

'Where are the others?' Rachel asked, after laughing a little at Lily. She'd stopped, however, when she noticed the wet patch on her own backside.

'Alice got detention for knocking over her cauldron, and Bec got detention for getting mad that Alice got detention for knocking over her cauldron.' Lily raised an eyebrow and regarded Rachel. 'So it's surprising you're here, because I saw you having trouble keeping yours on balance, too.' Lily grinned.

'Yes, but I'm not as obvious as either of those two. Bec was practically shouting, and I didn't exactly knock over my entire cauldron.'

'If Remus hadn't caught it, you would have.' Lily laughed to herself as she saw her friend go slightly pink at the mention of Remus' name.

'Oh, that is not true.'

'Oh, yes it is,' Lily returned, grinning at her friend's obvious discomfort. Rachel refused to reply, and pointedly looked away from Lily. Lily grinned.

'Rach, I had this idea in the hallway just before…you gotta tell me what you think, 'kay?' Rachel nodded.

'Mmmm…'

'You know how I really like Adrian, right?'

'Yeah, who doesn't?' Rachel replied. 'He seems to have a bit of a thing for you, though. And knows your name.'

'Well, yeah, I know he's pretty darn selective with his girls and all…but I really want him…and I was thinking, I wonder if I'd have a better chance if he had a reason to ask me out, you know?'

Rachel sat up. 'I think I catch your drift…' she said, looking intrigued.

'Like for example I could…I don't know…date James for a while? And maybe it'd prompt Adrian to ask me out, if he sees me with another guy he hates?'

'Yeah…' Rachel looked thoughtful. 'Wouldn't you be worried, however, that he'd only be dating you so you wouldn't be with James?'

Lily shrugged. 'I could play it by ear when the time comes. Anyway, don't you think it's worth a shot? I mean…the Yule ball is coming up soon, and I can't think of a better accessory to have on my arm than Adrian Leroy!'

'James Potter would be just as hot an accessory!' Rachel giggled. 'Right?'

'For God's sake, Rachel!' Lily looked straight at her friend, who was wearing a maddening superior look. 'I do not have any interest in James. He is a boastful, arrogant, irritating prat. He is not someone I could ever like, or love, and don't you ever forget that. This is for Adrian's sake.'

'Okay, okay! I get it. I was just teasing.' Rachel smiled, and Lily's slight irritation faded away.

'So...what do you think?'

'I think it definitely has its merits.'

'And its downfalls?' Lily asked, and Rachel smirked in reply.

'Mostly merits. It's definitely a good idea, I have to give you credit for that. Guys like Adrian want the girls they can't have.'

'This is ridiculous: I'm making myself unavailable to get the guy I want,' Lily commented, putting her head to one side and grinning. 'There's something wrong there.'

'Your idea.'

'Your approval,' Lily shot back. Rachel shrugged.

'Don't argue with what works.'

…

After dinner, Lily was walking back to the common room by herself, the remaining three lagging behind in the Great Hall so she would be alone when James approached her, as he always did on Friday evenings.

She'd told them all of her plan to go out with James to see if it would make Adrian jealous, and maybe even ask her out. God knows he's taken his time if he likes me, she thought.

'Don't go overboard at first!' Alice had warned. 'He won't trust it...go easy on it. You can build up to more dramatic later.'

But who cares? Lily thought to herself. It's not like we're going to last long as a couple…

'Hey, Evans!'

Right on time.

'Hey, Potter,' she said as she turned around. James was walking...well, swaggering...up the hallway towards her. 'Let me guess...you're going to ask me out again, aren't you?' He grinned.

'Well...maybe...all depends on your answer.'

'What if I were to say yes?' Lily ventured, and watched his expression change subtly, and he looked a little hopeful.

'Then...I would definitely ask you out.'

'And what if I were to say no?'

'Then I would definitely ask you out.' Lily smiled a slow smile.

'So...no matter what I say you're going to ask me out, then.'

'That's right.' She made a show of crossing her arms across her chest and tapped her foot.

'Well. Go on then.' James looked a little surprised.

'By this stage you're normally telling me to go away.'

'And has it ever worked?' Lily reminded him. She continued to tap her foot. 'Hurry up.' He laughed.

'You've never been so keen for me to ask you out before.' Lily felt a flash of irritation.

'Trust me, it's going to fade fairly quickly if you don't get it over and done with.' Oops, Lily thought, inwardly grimacing. That was a bit harsh. But James didn't pay any attention to her acrimonioustone, instead continuing to smile, even if a little uncertainly.

'Alright, I'd better be quick then.' Lily nodded. 'Lily, would you go out with me?' Lily's smile returned: a slightly suggestive smile that she saw made his breath hitch.

'I'll think about it.' His eyes widened, and he looked at her in complete shock. Lily knew from that point she had definitely won.

'You...you will?' he finally gasped. Lily nodded, making a show of lowering her eyes and slowly scanning the length of his body, finally returning her eyes back to his face.

'Yes...yes, I certainly will.' He gaped at her, for once at a complete loss of what to say. Lily was intensely amused, and wished she could take a picture of this memorable moment. James Potter, lost for words in front of a female.

Shaking his head, he finally seemed to get control of himself again, but unable to take his eyes off Lily.

'Good...great...that's...that's great! Good, I'll...uh...I'll see you around.' Lily nodded and gave him a little wave, turning to go. As she walked away, Lily made sure she moved a little more lithely than usual, taking advantage of her slim body.

From the sound she heard behind her, she knew James had seen.

Lily smirked as she walked down the hallway, a definite bounce in her step.

He is so easy to play.