3.

"Let me get this straight; you want to snog me."

"Aha."

"At a party, in front of dozens of people."

"Aha."

"To make your boyfriend jealous."

Lily bit her lip anxiously. "So you'll do it?"

Sirius Black raised his arms over his head in a languid stretch before propping his feet on the desk beside them. "Sure. Why not."

Lily sighed with relief, giving him a thankful grin. "Brilliant. Thank you."

"There's just one problem," Sirius added gravely just as she began to relax.

Her face fell. "Oh?"

"Well," he said thoughtfully, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "I'll kiss you, sure. But what makes you so confident I'm going to invite Johnny boy to this party, anyway?"

Lily frowned, but not too hard, as she needed to remain on his good side. She reached down into the bag by her feet, revealing the jingling money tin and placing it on the desk. She had been hoping she wouldn't have to pay him after all – that he might do this one favour in good faith – and that she and the girls would still be able to afford their gramophone. So much for that plan…

Sirius dropped his feet from the table as she opened the lid and he leaned forward in his seat to examine the contents.

"Forty galleons," she said proudly, pushing the tin closer to him. "Rumour has it you've been denied your inheritance. I'm sure this is more than enough incentive to invite John to the party."

He released a low whistle, fingering a few of the coins before dropping them back into the tin. "Yes, this will do nicely. Very nicely."

Lily tried hard not to sneer. "Spend it wisely," she told him curtly instead. "It was supposed to be a gramophone for my dorm."

"Will do," he grinned, reaching out to take the tin. But Lily snatched it away quickly.

"You'll get it all when you've fulfilled your end of the deal."

He narrowed his eyes, falling back into the chair. "So, when do you want to practice?"

Lily scoffed. She should have expected this from Sirius Black. "Very funny. I'm sure you we mange just fine without it." But surprisingly, when she looked back up at him after tucking the tin away in her bag, he did not appear to be smirking in his usual fashion. He looked rather serious. "You really think you need practice?"

"We," he said firmly. "We need practice, not me. You can't really expect to make Johnny boy jealous if he sees us bumping noses."

She laughed. "Are you that bad? Really, with your reputation, I would never have guessed."

He rolled his eyes. "Stand up."

"What?"

He rose sharply to his feet. "Stand up."

She did so hesitantly. His eyes were set determinedly upon her lips and he cocked his head to one side as he towered above her.

"I am not," he said in a deep voice, taking a slow step toward her. "Nor have I ever," he added, coming closer again. Lily gulped as the back of her thighs came in contact with the desk. She was trapped. "Been a bad kisser."

"Oi!"

He laughed as she yelped, dropping back into his chair. "See? It's not comfortable is it - kissing someone you don't know."

"That was not kissing," she huffed, crossing her arms across her chest defensively as she too sat back down. "No one gave you permission to touch my arse!"

Again he laughed, running a hand through his glossy hair and looking disgustingly alluring. "Evans, Evans, Evans," he sighed. "Of course I'm going to touch you. This has to look raunchy; heated; sexy."

Lily closed her eyes briefly. "Don't ever use those three words when talking to me again."

He chuckled softly. "If you want him to be jealous than you have to give him a good reason to be. A quick peck on the cheek isn't going to do much, is it? He needs to see a bit of a show – like there's been something going on for a while. Make him wonder what really goes on in Gryffindor Tower after he's bid you goodnight."

Lily leaned closer, intrigued.

"It should be the kind of kiss that makes the entire room jealous," he continued huskily. "Not just Willis. The kind of kiss that causes every male in the room to ruin his best trousers. You should be touched in places he's never touched, and you should touch me in places you've never touched him-" He paused, raising one eyebrow. "Have you ever-?"

"None of your business," she cut him off.

He smirked. "I'll take that as a no."

She huffed. "You were saying?"

"In short," he said, sitting back in his chair, his husky voice all bust disappeared. "It should look like sex with our clothes on."

His crudeness alarmed her but she did her best to play it cool. "I agree."

"Great. So you think you can do that without practice, do you?"

She sighed, pursing her lips in thought. She did not like the idea of kissing this boy more than was necessary, but there was no way in hell she could make all that look natural. "Fine, we'll practice."

"Good," he nodded, getting to his feet once more. "But you can't be all prudish on me, Evans. We're doing this properly. I have a reputation to uphold as well." She quickly followed suit, determined to show him she way anything but a prude. However, she did not quite elicit the response she'd been hoping for as she sharply grabbed for his bottom and he gave her an odd look. "Not right now, Evans."

"Oh," she said sheepishly, quickly retracting her hand. "Sorry."

"Inappropriate behaviour in the library!" cried a shrill voice. "Get out! Get out!"

"Shit," Sirius swore. "Pince."

Lily could not help the giggle that escaped her as he grabbed both her hand and her bag, dragging her as fast as she could run out of the library.

Lily tried hard not to grimace as John left a wet trail of kisses along her jaw before moving on to her neck. She had not counted on this being so difficult, but every time he tried to kiss her she could not get that awful image of Judy Webster smirking at her out of her mind. He was making her dirty; leaving traces of Judy on her skin. It made her feel sick. Spending time with him was far more challenging than she had imagined; and it was only the second day back at school.

"John," she said, trying to pry him away gently, without giving in to her instincts to slap him around the head. "John, I have rounds to do, I have to go."

He pulled away reluctantly, fixing her with that pouty look that, at one time, she would have done anything for. "Come on Lily, let Potter manage on his own for a change; you're always covering for him."

"And if I did then I'd be just as bad, wouldn't I?" she said, giving him a firm look. He sighed and released his hold on her waist, linking his fingers with hers as they started off down the hall.

"How about tonight?" he said after a moment's silence. "After your rounds; there's a broom cupboard on the third floor-"

She actually snorted. "I'm not having my first time in a broom cupboard," she said hotly. "Besides," she added, trying to regain her composure. "I'm still on."

"Still?" he cried exasperatedly.

"I can't help it," she snapped rudely. "I don't control these things, do I? Give it another day or two."

Two more days to come up with a better excuse as to why she suddenly didn't want to sleep with him. Though really, if he had better sense, surely John would realise it was nearly impossible for a girl's period to last twelve days…

"Well it had better finish soon," he said in a sulky voice. "I still owe you a birthday surprise."

Believe me, she thought bitterly, you already gave me one of those

"Hey, wasn't that Emmeline?"

Lily glanced down the hall to where John was pointing. She could not see anyone but the unmistakable sound of canoodling could not be ignored. Just wonderful. How many times had she told those girls not to go running around with random boys after hours? Now she was going to have to take points from Gryffindor else John should complain of unfairness. She had already deducted ten from a Hufflepuff half an hour ago.

"Great," she groaned as they approached the tapestry that hid a well-known snogging corner. "Should I knock?"

"Allow me," John mock-bowed, before wrenching back the tapestry.

Lily almost screamed.

"Oh my God! Emmeline? Sirius?"

Emmeline struggled to untangle herself from Sirius' grasp as the tall boy turned lazily toward their intruders. "Evans, fancy seeing you here!" He glanced at John with a knowing look and Lily swore she would hex him if he dared try anything stupid. Although, really, he'd already done that…

"I'm sorry Lily," Emmeline gasped, though she could not stop smiling. "I thought you had rounds on the seventh floor tonight."

"I do," Lily gritted out, sending a nasty glare at both of them. "In ten minutes."

"Oh... Oops."

"Oops, indeed," Lily huffed. "That's a point from each of you." John cleared his throat meaningfully and Lily sighed in frustration. "Five points from each of you."

Emmeline finally had the grace to look mildly apologetic but Sirius merely looked rather proud of himself. Lily could not wait to get back to the common room tonight. She was going to absolutely blast them to bits. How could they be so stupid? John knew that Emmeline had a crush on Sirius, and if they had finally gotten together there was no way Lily would steal her best friend's man…

The entire plan was ruined.

"Please, Remus, I'm begging you, please!"

"I'm sorry, Lily," the sandy haired boy replied apologetically.

Kneeling at his feet she grabbed for his hands, wringing them tight. "Please!"

"I would," he replied awkwardly. "But…I really don't want to."

Lily groaned in defeat, dropping herself into his lap. "I'm doomed."

"Practicing?" a smarmy voice called from the boys' staircase. "And here I was thinking you were such a prude Evans," Sirius continued, approaching her from behind. "Yes, giving head will definitely make Johnny boy jealous."

Lily sent him a rude gesture over her shoulder before slowly pulling her head out of Remus' lap and flopping down onto the rug. "He won't do it," she muttered into the carpet.

Sirius released a long breath as he dropped into the second armchair of almost empty common room. "Will you relax, Evans?"

"Relax?" Lily all but screeched, lifting her head suddenly. "Relax? I paid you forty galleons, you thief!"

"Technically you haven't given me any yet-"

"And you!" Lily continued, sensing movement to her right and spotting Emmeline and Dorcas descending the girls' staircase a moment later. "What is wrong with you? You're just as bad. Couldn't you keep from jumping each other for just one month?"

"I've said I'm sorry, Lily," Emmeline replied meekly, settling herself on the arm of Sirius' chair as he wrapped an arm around her waist. "I really am. I didn't mean to – well I did – but you know-"

Yes she did. Emmeline had had a crush on Sirius for ages; she should be thrilled for her friend, not cursing her. She sensed Dorcas settle beside her on the rug and she reluctantly pulled herself to a sitting position. "Fine, fine," she sighed. "But what am I meant to do now?"

"Can't you dump him the old fashioned way?" Remus suggested.

"No!" Dorcas cut Lily off before she hand the chace to speak. "She's going to crush the bastard; really kick him where it hurts."

Remus shifted awkwardly in his seat. "Remind me never to get on the bad side of any of you girls."

Lily groaned loudly, kicking her feet on the rug in a mini-tantrum. "What am I going to do?!"

"It's not the end of the world," Sirius said casually. "Juts find a replacement."

"I've been trying," Lily growled, sending Remus an ugly scowl. "He's not cooperating."

"I'll do it."

The entire group turned in unison to see the newcomer standing at the bottom of the stairs.

James Potter.

Lily felt Dorcas nudge her discretely in the ribs.

"You know," he added, raking a hand through his unruly hair before folding his arms across his chest. "If you want."

Lily finally drew her eyes away from the handsome boy to give Sirius a glare. "You told him?"

"Are you kidding?" Sirius snorted. "A hot bird offered to pay me to kiss her – I told everyone!"

Lily's eyes were wide in a mixture of rage and alarm, and thankfully Emmeline gave her boyfriend a smack on the shoulder. "Sirius!"

"Oi!"

"He only told the dorm," Remus cut in before the girls could get any more violent.

Meanwhile James stood alone by the staircase still staring adamantly at Lily, awaiting her response. She turned back to him hesitantly. Standing there she clearly knew he was the best choice – he had been the original choice – the most popular guy in school. But Lily had shot that idea down fast. It was so awkward. The rest of the group had fallen silent, waiting for Lily to respond. "Look, James, I don't want you to think-"

"You're offering money, right?" he cut her off. "I'm saving for Quidditch tickets; I could do with the extra cash."

She was speechless for a moment. He would do it for the money. For the money. Just when exactly had James Potter stopped fancying her? Had she been so arrogant as to believe he still had feelings for her after all this time? It was only then that she realised he hadn't asked her out in over a year, and she still held it against him? What was wrong with her?

Slowly, she nodded. "Okay… Thanks."

He nodded too, unfolding his arms but only to stuff his hands in his pockets. "Right. See you for rounds tomorrow then." And with that he disappeared back up the staircase.

Lily glanced at Dorcas, who gave her a slight shrug.

"Cool."