"Do I have bad breath?"

"No."

"Merlin! That means I do. As a friend, you're probably just trying to spare my feelings."

"I swear, if your breath smelled. I would tell you."

Currently, in the girls' dormitories, Lily Evans and Marlene McKinnion were having a discussion or more like Lily ranting about her recent date with the mischievous and charming, James Potter.

"But you might want to spare my feelings."

Marlene rolled her eyes and put down her quill to glare at her friend. She would have to finish the essay for Defense Against the Dark Arts later then. "Trust me. I'm not. And if you're so concerned why don't you just ask him?"

Lily stopped pacing the room and looked up at Marlene with her eyes bulging, "Absolutely not. I'm not going to ask him why he hasn't kissed me. I'll look desperate."

"Yes, wouldn't want that." said Marlene, sarcasm evident in her voice. It went unnoticed however as Lily contemplated asking him completely.

"No, I couldn't. I'd look ridiculous."

"As if you don't already."

"We've been on five dates already. And it plays out well everytime. We laugh, we talk, we have witty banter and then just when things are turning romantic he does...nothing. Can you believe one time he shook my hand? Like I'm his mate or something."

Marlene put her hand over her mouth to muffle her laughter. And everyone thought that James and Lily's relationship would be smooth sailing. If only they knew the two hadn't even kissed yet after two months.

"It isn't funny, Mar!"

"It is a little, Lily. He bloody shook your hand, its obvious why he hasn't kissed you yet!"

"Why?"

"Because he's planning something romantic. He's just messing with you so you won't expect it."

"What do you mean he's not planning something romantic?!"

"I mean he's not planning anything rom-"

Marlene covered Sirius mouth and scowled, "You do realise that she's now expecting James to do something spectacular, right?" They were in the hallway, discussing their best friends' predicament.

"Now, who's fault is that?" He said, his voice muffled by her hands. She reluctantly took her hand off his mouth and replied,

"Do you know how frustrating it is when you like someone and you know they like you but they refuse to make a move?"

His lips curved into a suggestive smirk, "All the time."

"Not now, Sirius. You have to tell James to stop being a wimp and kiss her."

"Easier said than done, McKinnion."

"Why? Has he never kissed a girl before?!" She said with astonishment. Lily's ego would inflate like a balloon.

Sirius raised an eyebrow at her, "Of course he's kissed a girl. Even Peter has kissed a girl before. Not a very attractive one but that besides the point."

"So, why hasn't he kissed her?"

"Well, I didn't know until last night..."

the previous night - gryffindor boys' dormitories

"Prongs is back!" said Peter.

"How was it?" said Remus.

"How was the snogging?" said Sirius.

James ran his hands through his hair but not in a way that meant he had done something naughty with Lily. More of the opposite.

"What's the matter? Did she take your glasses again?" asked Sirius.

"No. It was my fault. I'm an idiot. I'm a fucking idiot! She probably hates me now."

"Are you talking about Lily?"

"Of course he is. Did you show her that weird thing you can do with your ears? I told you not to show her that-"

"I didn't show her the ear trick, Remus! Even though its a cult classic and she would've loved it. I just-I'm such a twat."

"What did you do, mate?" Sirius sat up on his bed as did Remus and Peter. James wiped his face with his hands and lifted his glasses to the top of his head before they plopped back down on the bridge of his nose.

"I-I haven't kissed her yet."

If moral support was what he was expecting, he got the opposite. Laughter erupted in their room and James glared at the lot of them. Peter was holding his stomach as his face began to turn red. Remus and Sirius fell back on their beds, laughing nearly just as hard.

"Thanks. Thanks so much, I knew I could count on you all to make me feel better."

Remus quieted down at first, "We're not laughing at you, well maybe we are," He let out a chuckle, "But its not to be cruel, though we know you'd do the same for us. Its just that you would talk about Lily and everything you guys would do together as a couple. That you'd practically never let her up for air once she was yours. And you haven't even kissed her after two months." After the last sentence Remus began to laugh again as James turned to Sirius who had brushed the hair from his face to look at him with a simple smile on his lips.

"Thanks, Moony. And people assume you're the nice one of all of us."

"Prongs; Moony, although harsh does have a point. Do you remember when you made me paint my chest with a 'Lily, will you go out with me?' and follow her until she accepted."

"Actually that was me." said Peter.

"Doesn't matter. Sacrifices were made, it was spiritually all of us, trying to help our dear friend. Anyway, it just doesn't add up that you haven't kissed her. Does her breath smell?" The room was now silent, with the occasional Peter giggle.

"Of course not."

"Does yours?"

"No! I just-we were out yesterday and it was perfect. I made her laugh, I made her smile, I did everything right and then we were in the common room. All alone and she was so close and then I just didn't know what to do."

"You get choked up whenever you're about to kiss her?"

"I know I sound dumb and I don't know what I'm going to do. She's going to break up with me, I know it. What boy makes his girlfriend wait to be kissed?"

Sirius got up with his chest puffed out and his head held high, "A boy who has friends who will help regain his honor with the woman he loves. Don't worry, just relax, I'll take care of it."

present

"You'll take care of it?"

"Yes. Just make sure to bring your girl and I'll bring my boy to the Astronomy Tower tonight. We'll let them hash it out and they'll be jumping each other's bones in no time."

"And you think this will work?" Marlene asked with uncertainty.

"The little faith you have in me hurts, McKinnion. Nevertheless, my plans are foolproof."

"It better." Marlene turned away from him to walk to the Great Hall before he called to her.

"You know Marlene, I love our banter. I've always loved a strong woman."

"Oh shut it, Sirius."

The plan Sirius had involved locking them in the Astronomy Tower and apparently thinking that everything would be okay.

Except James was incredibly nervous and regretted letting Sirius control anything in his life. Lily was shoved inside the room and was shocked to see James.

"Hey, stranger." She grinned.

He smiled back weakly as she skipped over to him, "Hey, Lily. I need to talk to you."

"And it had to be immediately, huh? Typical." She said a smile still on her lips. According to Marlene, this was supposed to be James' special night that he had made her wait two months for. Saying she was excited would be an understatement.

"I just wanted to explain something to you. I wanted to apologize."

"For what?" She placed her hand on his arm and he almost lost what he was about to say.

"For taking this long to..." His hand found its way to his hair again as heat rose to his cheeks.

"To?" Her face lit up again but then dimmed when she saw his face, "James, what's wrong?"

"I-I don't know, Lily. That's the problem. I'm great when I'm with you, on cloud nine practically and then whenever you touch me beyond holding hands or the thought of kissing you just..."

"Just what? Do I make you uncomfortable?" She began to bring her hands back to her side until he grabbed them and pulled her closer to him.

"No. No, not ever. I just, don't know what's wrong with me. Its just whenever you're near me, I can't think, I don't know what to say. And honestly, all I want to do is kiss you, every chance I get. And yet I can't. I ju-" Her lips cut him off as she dropped his hands and cupped his face.

It wasn't a tongue kiss but it wasn't a simple peck. It was a perfect balance of shutting him up and taking a stand. Lily pulled away though James seemed to never want to stop kissing her now that he has and rested her forehead on his.

"You're amazing, you know that?" He whispered, still itching to have his lips on hers.

She shrugged slightly, "I might."

He chuckled lightly before kissing her again.

Outside of the door, Marlene was pacing anxiously while Sirius leaned against the door, listening.

"Are they arguing?" She asked.

"No. They're snogging. Mission accomplished, McKinnion."

She let out a sigh of relief and stopped pacing, "Thank Merlin."

"I think we should have our own celebratory snog, don't you think?" He smiled and walked over to her.

"I think you must be delusional, Sirius. Because that's never going to happen."

He bit his lip to keep from grinning which failed, "Shame, I remember Lily saying almost the same thing to James."

A|N - Don't know if there was enough Jily but I'll write another chapter for next week to make up for the lack of it in this.