A Clever Plan
One bright, but chilly afternoon, James, Remus, Sirius and Peter, were lounging on the chairs in the common room, moaning about N.E.W.T.s.
"I see no point in revising, I usually do fine without having to revise," Sirius said, yawning.
Remus rolled his eyes good-naturedly at him.
"I agree, Sirius," Peter said.
Sirius mimicked Remus at this comment. He nudged James.
"Prongs, are you even listening to us?"
"Yes, of course," he responded.
"What did Wormtail just say then?"
James hesitated, and sighed.
"Sorry, guys, I was thinking about other stuff. I'd better go to my detention with Filch," he said, sighing again.
The other, three Marauders watched him carefully as he sloped out of the common room. They shot each other a concerned look.
"We've got to do something about this," Remus said firmly.
Carmen and Sarah came towards them, looking interested.
"Do something about what?" Sarah enquired.
The three friends looked up at them.
"Do something about James and Lily," Peter told them.
Carmen and Sarah glanced at each other, before smiling keenly at the boys.
"So, what do you suppose we do?" Carmen asked, her eyes glittering mischievously.
They all huddled together, and discussed the plan in which to get Lily and James together.
Lily was sitting in the library, doing her homework; her books sprawled out all over the table. She glanced up from her work to find her two best friends walking towards her.
"Hi Lils," Carmen and Sarah said, smiling.
"Hey," Lily replied quickly.
Sarah and Carmen sat down opposite Lily, and whispered animatedly to each other. Lily looked up at them, and scowled.
"If you're going to be in the library, at least keep it down a bit,"
They turned towards her, both with an elated beam plastered on their faces.
"What's with you two today?" Lily asked.
"Nothing," they answered in unison, but their ecstatic grins told another story.
Lily heaved a sigh, and put down her quill.
"I'm not going to be able to concentrate properly until you tell me,"
"You won't believe us," Sarah protested.
Lily shrugged and continued to gaze intently at them, until Carmen couldn't stand it anymore.
"Fine, James still really fancies you, Lily," she said.
Sarah shot Carmen feigned glare, and kicked her under the table. She looked back at Lily.
"Ouch! You didn't need to kick me," Carmen whinged.
Sarah ignored her, not taking her eyes off Lily, who was staring into space, her face filled with an expression of pure surprise and hope. After a few minutes of complete silence, Lily spoke.
"Does he really still like me?"
Sarah and Carmen nodded enthusiastically. Lily smiled broadly, her eyes sparkling with happiness.
"How do you know?"
"We overheard Sirius, Remus and Peter talking about it this morning," Carmen lied smoothly. "I think you should go talk to him."
"What if he's still the arrogant, mean person, we used to know him as?
"He really isn't Lils, Remus says, that, apart from the odd prank now and again, he has really grown up – Sirius didn't look too pleased though!" Sarah said. "I agree with Carmen, just talk to him."
Lily breathed out nervously, stood up, and glanced apprehensively at Carmen and Sarah, who nodded encouragingly at her. She picked up her books and work, and walked rapidly out of the library.
Sarah smiled gleefully at Carmen, who beamed widely back, giving her a high five.
"The plan is working," Sarah muttered to Carmen. She smiled triumphantly.
James came back from his detention with Filch, looking tired and annoyed.
"Hey Prongs, how was the detention?" Remus asked.
James flopped down on a chair, and ran his fingers exasperatedly through his already tousled hair.
"Absolutely awful, couldn't have gone worse, it was cleaning the trophies again. I swear, Filch must have a non-clean charm on them especially for my detentions, because, however much I scrubbed, they just would not get clean," he explained, groaning.
"Ah, don't worry, least it's over now. Plus, your day may pick up," Sirius said, trying hard not to grin.
James looked confused.
"How might it pick up, Padfoot?"
"Oh I don't know, maybe something good may happen," Sirius said, innocently. Peter chuckled in the background.
James frowned slightly. Suddenly, the common room door opened, and Lily came in, holding many books, and looking unusually happy. She smiled at James, and walked up to him, placing her books on the table on her way.
"Hi, can we talk, in private?" she asked timidly.
James nodded. She turned to walk out of the common room. James spun round, giving his fellow friends a shrug and went to follow Lily.
Once they were away from prying eyes, Lily stopped and faced James, her breathing become shallower, due to her nerves. James fidgeted with the sleeve of his jumper, looking anywhere except directly at Lily.
Lily plucked up her courage, and put her hands on James', making him look up unexpectedly. She smiled, and took a step closer towards him. James' heart rate quickened, as she did so.
"James," she said softly.
He stared at her in disbelief at the use of his first name.
"Yes?"
Lily didn't answer, but looked into his deep brown eyes and sighed with contentment. James smiled, and positioned his right hand on her waist, pulling her gently to him. Lily's feelings suddenly burst, and she flung her arms around his neck and brought his head forward to meet hers, the space between them disappeared abruptly, and before they knew it, their lips had met in a soft, sweet, chaste kiss, which filled their bodies with warmth and pleasure.
James moved his hands, so that they were both around her waist protectively, Lily's were hugging his neck lovingly. They fit together perfectly, like jigsaw pieces. Their kiss soon grew more passionate as they grew more confident. James tenderly pushed Lily forward, so she was pressed firmly between the wall and James, with no way of escaping. Not that she wanted to escape.
Lily ran her fingers slowly, through his soft, jet-black hair, making it stick up even more than usual, while James rubbed his hands intimately down her back, causing a pleasurable shiver to flow up her body.
After maybe several minutes, though what seemed like hours, they broke apart, their hair mussed up, and their lips quite swollen. Lily laughed nervously as she realised what had just happened. James' eyes were wide.
"I'm sorry Lily – "James began, but Lily put her fingers to his lips.
"Don't be. I'm not," and she pulled him close for another deep, intense kiss.
Watching, with great difficulty, from beneath James' invisibility cloak, were Carmen, Sarah, Remus, Sirius and Peter, who were all grinning from ear to ear.
"Well guys, we've done it!" Sirius whispered. They nodded happily.
Mischief managed.
