Against All Odds

Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 4: Incognito

"I can't tonight," James said, pulling his Quidditch robes up over the back of his head. "I have a prior engagement."

It'd been three days since Lily had decided to steal the Marauder's Map, but James seemed to be avoiding it at every turn.

"A prior engagement," Lily repeated skeptically, blatantly eyeing James's bare torso as she casually leaned back against his bedroom door. "That wouldn't include, say, meeting Sirius by the Whomping Willow at midnight, now would it?"

James sighed. "So you did hear us at dinner last week. I figured as much, what with all of your ridiculous snooping." James smiled. "Really, Lils, do I look like someone who keeps his secrets hidden in his sock drawer?"

Lily glanced at James in awe. She'd been so quiet! And she'd been so certain that he'd still been asleep! "How—" Lily started, recovering her voice as she spoke. "How in the world do you know about that?"

James huffed, indignantly. "Well, you weren't exactly stealth about it, were you?"

"I thought you were asleep! Were you—" She paused. "Were you pretending to be asleep so you could spy on me?"

"Hold on," James said. "You get caught snooping around in my bedroom, and I'm the one who's spying? Forgive me if I don't follow your logic, Lils, but that's a little unreasonable. If there was something you wanted to know, you could have just asked."

"Ok then," Lily agreed. "Who is Sirius planning to prank tonight at the Whombing Willow?"

"No one," James said honestly. "This isn't like that."

"Oh yeah?" Lily asked, approaching James and sliding her arms smoothly around his still-bare waist. "Then what's it like?"

Slowly, James drew in a breath. "It's not a prank, Lils. I promise." As James spoke, he placed a finger underneath Lily's chin and tugged gently, prompting her to meet his eyes.

"So, then, you're not planning to cast some horrible hex on Severus?" Lily asked innocently. "Because you know how I feel about—"

"No," James replied. "It's nothing like that. It's just—" James groaned, frustrated. "I want to tell you," he started. "But it's really not my secret to tell."

"Then who's secret is it?" Lily asked, biting her bottom lip in the way that James loved.

"I can't tell you that either."

"Well, then, what can you tell me?" Lily asked coyly. "I need something. Otherwise, I might be tempted to do more investigating."

At the word investigating, James froze. That simply wasn't an option. Not with this. Not when the stakes were so high. And especially not after they had so nearly averted disaster last spring when Snape had decided to do some snooping of his own.

"No," James said sternly. "No investigating. Not tonight. Promise me that you won't leave the castle until I get back."

"No deal," Lily said playfully. "I have a map to find. With or without your help."

"I'll get you the map." James offered, all lightheartedness completely drained from his voice. "Whatever you want. Just promise you won't come outside."

Lily narrowed her eyes. "Just what are you involved in, James? If it's something dangerous—"

"It's not," James interrupted. "Not as long as we don't get caught." He paused. "But if you come outside, I don't even want to think about what could happen."

"I don't," Lily started. "I don't understand what you mean."

"I know," James said, reaching his hands under Lily's school robes and pulling her closer. "And I hate that—" James paused, finally glancing down at the tight black leotard Lily had on under her cloak. "What are you wearing?" He asked, slightly confused. "Is that—" James smiled. "Is that a catsuit?"

At the look on James's face, Lily threw her head back and laughed, feeling both sexy – and a little bit sheepish – at the same time.

"Maybe," Lily admitted. "I was trying to look incognito. You know," she clarified. "For when we stole the Marauder's Map."

"Time out," James said. "You actually own a catsuit?"

"Of course not," Lily replied. "I transfigured it from an old pair of gym shorts! Isn't it great?"

"Sure," James agreed. "Very sexy. I think, though, that since I'll be handling the map situation from now on, it might be best to get that off of you before it cuts off your circulation. I can help if you'd like. I happen to have some spare time before rounds. And between the two of us, you're way overdressed."

Fighting the overwhelming urge to melt into James's arms, Lily shrugged. "Just get back the map, James, and then maybe I'll let you undress me."