"I still don't like it." Arabella whispered to Yumi as it was currently six in the morning. The two were holding a hushed counsel on Arabella's bed as the rest of the dorm slept peacefully.

"It's not exactly up to us if Lily decided to forgive him," Yumi replied in the same soft voice, toying with her loose raven hair that fell roughly past her shoulders.

"But if he hurt her once, who's to say that he won't hurt her again?"

"James did explain that it was Trina who kissed him." Yumi pointed out.

"Yes, and that may be his explanation if any more of his ex girlfriends care for a snog." Arabella pointed out. Yumi had to admit that the story was a little sketchy. What with Trina, who had been in love with James since the girls had first started sharing dorms, suddenly very supportive of James' new relationship, only to utterly destroy it weeks later.

She sighed, "Even if you're right about being skeptical over Trina, what if James really l—" Yumi paused as Arabella shot her a look, "likes Lily? Otherwise why would he even bother trying to get her back?"

"It's some sort of clever ruse or exciting game?" Bella offered.

"You're awful!" Yumi cried, before remembering the time and lowering her voice, "How could you think so lowly of a person?"

Bella shrugged easily, "It's Potter and his little group of idiots—the Marauders—I mean, honestly, with a name like that what should we expect?"

Yumi frowned, "Either way, it's Lily's choice. If she wants to take the risk, there must be some reason for it. And maybe, just maybe, she likes him as much as he seems to like her."

A sigh, "I know. I know, I know, I know, but—" here Bella looked pained, "as Lily's friends, don't we have some obligation to keep her from something that could really hurt her in the end?"

Recognizing the look that she had seen on Bella's face just that one time before, Yumi sighed, knowing she would have to give in, "So what do you propose we do?"

"A test."

Yumi shot her a funny look, "A test? Call me naïve but I don't see how James' skill in Arithmancy is going to prove anything other than…his skill in Arithmancy."

"Not that kind of test, a different sort of test; a test of—" here Bella snorted, amused, "true love, if you will."

"Are you mocking me?" Yumi asked with a furrowed brow.

"Yes. But that's beside the point," Bella nodded, ignoring the other's glare.

"But just what kind of test could that be?" Yumi asked, "And how do we know it won't make things even worse?"

Arabella pursed her lips, "We'll make it a simple test, and we'll obviously tell Lily about it. I mean, if he really does lo—like her, he won't fail, now will he?"

"And if he does fail?" Yumi asked warily.

A small frown, "Then maybe Lily will come off a little less hurt than she would otherwise."

Yumi sighed as well, anxiety permeating the whole of the bed, "All right. I'll help, for Lily."

Bella nodded, a frown on her own face, "For Lily."

-

"Lily…" Arabella started awkwardly as the three settled down for breakfast. She paused, scratching her cheek idly as Yumi shrugged helplessly back. Lily blinked at her two friends' antics.

"What is this all about, guys?" She asked cautiously, pouring herself a glass of orange juice.

Arabella coughed diplomatically, "In light of recent events concerning one James Potter, Yumi and I have come to the conclusion that—"

"Bella, if you're going to say something, please don't beat around the bush in that way you do when you so desperately want to say something."

"We want to test James, Lily." Yumi said, paraphrasing the whole speech Arabella had planned. The latter looked rather miffed at having been cut off while Lily eyes them both strangely.

"Test? Call me naïve, guys, but I don't think—"

"We've been through all that." Yumi sighed with a wave of her hand.

"Then what kind of test?" Lily countered, suspiciously.

"Arabella coughed again, "A test of true love?"

Lily made a face, "I don't love him."

"Well we can't very well call it a test of true like, it doesn't sound right."

"Well you could have called it—arg, the name's not the point, it's the principal—"

"Lily," Lily paused as Arabella looked gravely at her, "this is the only way I'll let the matter rest peacefully."

And recognizing that look, Lily sighed, already regretting it, "All right. What is it?"

"At around noon, James will be accosted by a certain Ravenclaw. We'll then observe if he stays faithful to you."

"I trust him, so fine." Lily replied with a shrug. It wouldn't be too hard to warn James before the appointed time.

"Splendid!" Bella responded, finally helping herself to some breakfast, "Oh and Lils?"

"Yes, Bells?"

"No telling James about it. We'll be watching." Lily blinked. "And no magic." Lily inwardly cursed.

Yumi nudged her shoulder. "I'm sure things will turn out fine, Lily. Don't you fret! You said you trust him, after all, right?" She asked, optimistically before pouring herself some milk. Lily smiled weakly back.

"Morning, emerald eyes!" James said cheerily as sat down in the seat across from her, the other Marauders in tow. She gave him a half smile as she saw Bella glancing at her through the corner of her eyes. Lily forced her smile wider, wondering what the hell she was going to do about this little predicament.

-

Lily chewed nervously on her quill as she tried to concentrate on Professor Binn's history lesson, but failed as her mind once again wandered to the "test of true love." She grimaced at the name. As if anyone could fall in love so quickly.

James prodded her with his wand, looking quizzically at her look of dismay. She waved him off with a smile. It was no use trying to tell James, in person or otherwise. Arabella and Yumi had taken to watching her like hawks, and anything like a note or a wave of her wand would appear too suspicious. But what more could she do?

Idly, she looked around the room, looking for some sort of distraction from her dilemma. James was currently playing tic-tac-toe with Sirius, and it looked like he was winning from Sirius' frown. Remus was diligently taking notes, at least at first glance. Upon further inspection, it appeared even Remus couldn't handle Binn's lesson on the history of broomsticks and was doodling pictures of animals with little interest. Peter was watching over his shoulder, snickering every once in a while as they talked under their breaths. Yumi was slumbering away, peacefully, next to Lily, and Arabella seemed struggling to keep awake as well, though she proceeded to valiantly try taking notes, quill slipping and leaving smudges every once in a while.

Lily mentally noted to ask them about their drowsiness later. For now, Lily decided with dismay, the best thing would be to come clean to Arabella and Yumi about the bet and her deal with James. They would be angry, of course, and they had every right to be, but they would also understand—eventually—probably—possibly.

But it was her only course of action, at this point. The clock struck twelve, signaling the end of class. Students rushed out as fast as humanly possible.

"Hey Bella, Yumi, I need to tell you both something!" Lily said, tailing the two girls as they walked quickly out of class.

"Later, Lily, James just got received a note that someone wanted to meet him alone in the library at lunchtime. When I talked to her before, Linda she said she didn't mind having to—ahem—seduce him, to put it much lighter than she did."

"Well of course not," Lily thought with a groan, aloud she said, "Wait, but Bella!"

"Hurry!" Arabella called behind her and she and Yumi hurried to the library. With a groan of frustration, Lily followed.

"I really, really need to tell you something!" Lily whispered as the three crouched behind a bookcase. They had a perfect view of James as he waited impatiently for whoever the note sender was.

"Shh! You can tell us later!"

"But…"

"There's Linda!" Yumi whispered urgently as Linda Anderson walked in, eyeing James coyly.

"But!" Lily tried desperately one last time.

"Shh!"

"Hello, James." Linda said as demurely as she could manage. He raised an eyebrow.

"Hullo, Linda." He replied simply, running a hand through his messy hair. "So why did you send that anonymous note?"

"James, I'm in love with you." Linda said, getting to the point. He blinked.

"Wuh?"

"I want you. I need you." She replied, inching closer to him. He backed away until he met the bookshelf. He was beginning to look desperately around him as she advanced, pinning him to the shelf.

"Linda, I have a girlfriend!"

"It's okay; she doesn't have to know," The Ravenclaw replied earnestly, placing her hands on his chest.

"But I will." He said with a tone of finality. Linda frowned before stalking away. Lily breathed in sigh of relief before turning to her friends. "I told you I trusted him." Arabella sat there, shocked. Yumi seemed complacent.

"Well, I suppose that settles it." Lily said as nonchalantly as she could manage, getting up and dusting herself off, "Shall we get down to lunch now, girls?"

"Yes, let's." Yumi replied, getting up and stretching her legs.

"Bella?" Lily, tried, offering her hand. Arabella blinked out of her stupor and took it.

"Yes. O—of course."

-

"James?" Lily inquired curiously as she approached the Marauders in the common room. It was after classes and the four had settled in to a game of exploding snap.

"Hm? Oh, hey Lils!" James exclaimed, smiling brightly as she came into view, "Try to start this next game without me, guys."

"Oh no, whatever will we do without you, Prongs?" Remus deadpanned as he dealt the cards.

"I suppose we'll manage, somehow." Peter said, shaking his head.

"I only hope time will one day heal the wounds you've inflicted upon us." Sirius sobbed into his sleeve. Remus and Peter patted him on the back.

"Oh sod off, you guys." James muttered as Lily laughed good-naturedly.

"So what is it?" He asked, leading her away from the crowds so that they could talk in private.

"Uhm," She started awkwardly.

He smiled, "I saw your wand sticking out behind the bookshelf."

"Oh thank goodness!" She cried, sighing in relief, "I was so afraid that you wouldn't."

"Oh ye of little trust, Lils?" He asked in mock indignation, "You didn't think I'd actually cheat on you?"

She smiled wryly, "Like you didn't actually snog Trina Cannon?"

"Do I detect a note of jealously in the fair maiden Evan's voice?" James asked, holding a hand to his ear.

"I believe you've misheard, my good rusted knight," Lily teased with a smile, "though if you heard a note of sarcasm, I can assure you that that was there in bucketfuls."

He laughed and she smiled back, "Well, that's all I really had to say. So…good night, James." As she turned to leave, James instinctively grabbed her wrist. His mouth seemed to shut down as she stared quizzically back at him.

"James?"

"I—I wouldn't have done it even if I didn't see you, you know."

"Pardon?"

James turned his face away, "With Linda, I mean."

Lily blinked, "Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yes, okay, James," Lily repeated, rather bewildered, "Uhm…Good night."

"Good night." He repeated, watching her walk away from him. He wasn't quite sure what came over him, actually. It was something said on impulse when he saw the disbelief in her eyes; he just felt the need to justify himself. And strangely enough, James realized that he was telling the God honest truth. A Marauder telling the truth! No longer in the mood for a game of cards, James walked into his dorm room.

"What is she doing to me?" He asked, sliding down against the door until he was sitting with his head in his hands. The ball was in less than a week, now, and after that…after that…

He suddenly jolted his head up as he realized one very important fact: the Christmas ball was on Christmas, the gift giving holiday.

"Oh bloody—"

Luckily for James, Santa would never hear the rest of that statement as at that exact moment, Sirius flung the door open, sending James flying, head first, into the carpet. As the rest of the Marauders poured into the room, pointedly ignoring the body on the ground, James idly wondered if he could ask Santa for better friends this year.

-

A/N: Less bitchy!Bella! Hurrah! Chapter is longer than before as well, and the entire end conversation between James and Lily was pretty much changed.

Rest of A/N deleted for reasons that won't really interest anyone. Ta!