A Slap, Laughter and Kisses
James burst into the compartment where Lily sat with Remus and her friends, closely followed by Sirius and Peter. "EVANS!" He bellowed to the girl sitting opposite Remus. "Over hear Potter." Came a half exasperated half amused voice behind him.
"EVANS!" He yelled again as he turned to face Lily, trying to ignore the sniggering from the rest of his company. "I have done it!"
"Done what?" Lily asked, her eyebrows rose in confusion over her perfect green eyes.
"James Potter has in his hand Twenty Facts about one, Lily Evans." James said, a grin breaking across his face, lighting up his deep hazel eyes, dangling a piece of parchment in her face, some of the ink still glistening on the page. Lily was taken aback. She hadn't expected him to complete the challenge so quickly, or even take it up in the first place. She was impressed, even though she would never admit it.
"OK then, let's hear it." She smile that James loved so much teasing the corners of her mouth. James cleared his thought importantly as Peter and Sirius sat in two of the available seats.
"Fact number one, Lily Evans sleeps with a picture of Professor Slughorn under her pillow. Fact two…"
The smile on Lily's face shrank with each statement James spoke and, if he had been paying attention he would have noticed Remus shaking his head, trying to catch his friend's attention before he went too far.
"Fact number 23 James Potter has discovered that Lily Evans-"
"Potter," Lily interrupted "Why are you talking in the third person?"
"Well if Evans had waited, James would be able to answer that question." James continued, smirking as he turned over the parchment and read from the other side. "Fact number 35, Lily Evans is extremely attracted to men when they talk in the third person." He looked up at Lily and winked at her. Remus was now shaking with silent laughter, tears rolling down his face. The wink had done it Lily rose from her chair and slapped James across the face.
"Ouch! Evans what in Merlin's name was that for!" Yelped James as he felt his eyes water with pain. What had he done wrong?
"That, James Potter, was for having the audacity to walk in here and think I would be impressed with these lies! Like I would be so over come by your charisma or big headedness that it wouldn't matter that you didn't even bother to try and find out anything about me!" She thundered. The train slowed as it pulled onto the platform. She grabbed her stuff, closely followed by her friends, and left the train losing herself in the sea of faces crowded together to welcome their loved ones home. The Marauders however, made no effort to leave Remus was now howling with laughter and Peter and Sirius where laughing so hard they had collapsed onto the floor.
"Oh yeah, very funny." Snarled James as he watched his friends laughing at his pain and humiliation.
"It is. It really is!" Choked out Sirius as he struggled to pull himself together.
"I'm sorry Prongs," Started Remus as made his way to leave the compartment. "But I did try and stop you. Who knew Lily had such good slapping skills?
"So you're talking to us again are you?" Asked James glowering.
"I think you have had enough punishment." Replied Remus smiling. "But you do know that this was Snape's plan all along?" He added frowning. "You should have realised he would try something like this..."
"Thank you detective Moony," Said Sirius sarcastically, "What a little greasy haired git." The four boys entered the compartment where they had been sitting at the start of the journey, grabbed their luggage and dragged it off the train, loaded their trolleys and made their way towards the barrier that would allow them to enter muggle London.
"Snape would do anything to stop Prongs and Evans getting together." Peter added wisely. "We all know he has been in love with her for…well forever."
"Yeah we should have wised up." James admitted bitterly. "Well I'll get Snivellus back, don't worry about that." He added darkly. And with that he ran at the barrier and disappeared through it. A few moments later and he was standing in Kings Cross Station with Peter, Remus and Sirius waiting to be claimed by their parents.
"So how are you going to get the information on Evans now Prongs?" Enquired Peter.
"I don't know… I'll have to think of something good. I don't want to be on the receiving end of another slap."
"Forget it Prongs," Remus said. "The only way you will be able t find out enough about Lily is if you…you stalk her or some-"
"MOONY YOU ARE BRILLIANT!" Yelled Sirius, a wide grin braking across his face. "Let's do it! Let's stalk Evans!"
"Padfoot," Remus started shortly. "I don't think that that is a very good idea."
"Why not? We have everything we need! The Cloak and six weeks of free time! It will be easy!"
"I agree." Peter added, beaming.
"Padfoot I could kiss you! I really could! In fact-" James ran at Sirius.
"Prongs I told you before you are not my typ-" But too late, James had thrown himself at Padfoot and placed a huge kiss on his face.
"Euuurgh! Prongs you are disgusting!" Yelled Sirius, whipping frantically at his cheek while Remus and Peter laughed.
"Come on Moony, what d'you say? You're good friends with Evans and you will be able to keep us out of trouble. We really need you…" James tailed off smiling at his friend.
"Oh…Oh fine! But just to keep you three out of trouble! But I really think that this is stup- Euuurgh PRONGS!"
James had launched himself at Remus too and planted a big kiss on the cheek.
"Prongs are you sure it's Evans you are into? I mean you do like girls right?" Sirius asked smirking.
"Oh very funny Padfoot." James laughed ruffling his messy hair before making his way to the approaching figures of his mother and father. "Come on Padfoot, their here. I'll send and owl to you about when we start!" He called over his shoulder.
"I wan payment for this Prongs!" Bellowed Remus as Sirius and James ambled their way through the crowds of muggles.
"You know," James said as he approached his parents. "I think Remus is actually looking forward to this."
"I know he is." Laughed Sirius. "He may be a prefect but he is a Marauder first and fore most."
