Chapter Three:
Lily was the only person left in the stands after the Quidditch practice ended, surprising enough. The sun was shining on a pretty Saturday afternoon. She had her head bowed over a newspaper.
"Hi, Lily." James Potter sat down next to her. "Do you mind if I sit here?"
"Not at all," she replied. She looked awkwardly at the paper, and then back at him.
"Um...did you see the Quidditch tryouts? Marlene's cousin, Amos, made it."
"Oh!" Lily said. "The egotistical one! The only first year."
James laughed. "Is that how you categorize people? Egotistical or not?"
Lily shrugged, blushing a little. "Um...no. He is though."
"Yes, yes. He is," agreed Potter.
There was a short silence. Lily broke it eventually, saying, "You've changed over the summer, James. Since when did we go to first name basis?"
"Since I called you Lily and you called me James instead of 'arrogant toe-rag'," James replied, his face void from expression.
Lily laughed awkwardly. "Yeah...about that..." she looked at him, catching his eyes. For some reason, she was stunned by them. She had never been stunned by his perfect blue eyes before. They were just so...perfect. And beautiful. "Um...about that...I'm really sorry. You're not that way anymore."
"I used to be, though, and if you judge me for being that way, it's okay."
"No, it's not," Lily said quietly. "It wouldn't be fair."
A smile crept across James's face. "You've changed too, Lily."
"Heh," Lily laughed a little nervously. "In a good way or a bad way?"
"A good way. Definitely a good way."
She blushed. "You changed in a good way too."
James took a deep breath and turned towards her. "Lily, I-"
"James!" someone shouted. "James!"
Sirius, Remus, and Peter rushed up to him.
"Oh, hi, guys," James said, smiling at them.
"Um, were you going to tell me something important?" Lily asked.
James frowned a little. "It can wait. Are you leaving?"
"Yeah. See you later?"
"Sure." What he wanted to say so badly, as he watched her walk away-she was so perfect and beautiful-he wanted to tell her how he felt about her.
"James, James, James!" shouted Sirius. "I did it! I did it!"
"What'd he do?" James asked Remus.
Peter squeaked, "He asked her out."
Remus nodded. "He asked Jenny Marlie out."
"No kidding!" James said, grinning. "You asked her out? I'm guessing the answer was..."
"YES!" shouted Sirius, Remus, Peter, and James in unison.
James laughed. "Congrats, mate! When is the first Hogsmeade weekend?"
"Next weekend," Sirius replied promptly.
"Where're you taking her?" James asked.
Sirius blushed a deep crimson, and Remus laughed. "You won't believe it. He's taking her shopping and then to Honeydukes!" Remus snorted.
"NO KIDDING!" shouted James. "WOW! You must be really serious about her-ha ha, get it? Serious!"
Remus rolled his eyes, laughing nonetheless. "Those get so old, James."
"Yeah, but he's never taken a girl to Honeydukes, he always took them to the Three Broomsticks!" James said gleefully.
"Let's go eat," Sirius said. "I'm starving."
"So, I saw you talking to Lily," Remus said. "What were you talking about?"
James frowned a little. "I don't really know. It was...different. She's been really stressed out lately."
"You still LOVE her," Sirius said, grinning.
He sighed, nodding.
Sirius laughed, and Remus elbowed him. "Ouch! If you guys don't stop elbowing me, I'll have permanent rib damage!" he cried, rubbing his chest and wincing.
"Somehow, that is where you always get hit, Padfoot," James said, grinning. "Like that one time in Quidditch, in third year. Remember? You were playing as a Beater, and you were trying to make sure I didn't get hit, and you fell off your broom and the Bludger-"
"Shush, Prongs, we know," Sirius said, flushing.
They eventually made it to the Great Hall to eat.
"I love food," mumbled Sirius. "We should have a party tonight. Raid the kitchens! Invite the girls! Get some firewhiskey."
"Sirius," Remus said warningly.
"Oh comeon, Moony!" whined James. "You won't let us have any fun!"
"Lily won't like it," Remus said instantly.
James frowned, leaning back in his chair. "She won't, will she?"
"Oh come on, Prongs!" whined Sirius. "You've got to be kidding me! A party! A back to school party! With girls!"
"Sirius, you've got a girlfriend," Peter admonished.
"Okay, then we can invite her too. I promise you we can have a lot of fun with Jen and us Marauders and Lily's group." Sirius sighed, looking at the doors. "She's so beautiful. Did you see the way she looked at me earlier?" He jumped up suddenly, knocking over his juice and making his chair fall backwards. "Look, there she is!" He rushed up to Jenny.
"He's almost getting to be like Frank is with Alice," Remus said, grinning. "And they've been dating for what? Two hours?"
James snickered.
"I wouldn't laugh if I were you, James, considering the way you are with Lily," Carolyn said easily, sitting next to Peter.
"And Remus with Marlene?" asked James.
Remus blushed. "Marlene doesn't like me."
"But you like her!" Carolyn laughed. "Oh, she'll love to hear that. She thinks you're something special, Remus, she really does."
"What's your girls problems?" snapped Remus. "All you girls ever want to talk about is us and boys and it doesn't really matter!"
"Ignore him," James advised. "He's just upset 'cause he's too shy to ask Carolyn on a date."
Sirius walked over, his arm linked with Jenny's. "Come on, let's eat."
"Well, I'm done. You two enjoy yourselves," James said. "I'll go prepare for tonight's party, Sirius."
"Ooh! YAY!" shouted Sirius, jumping up and down like an excited puppy.
