A/N: I had a lot of fun writing this chapter, so I hope you all like it as much as I do. Also, I have decided that the story was very James-Lily and that her friends and the other Marauders need their own little stories too. So look out for that in the chapters to come.
"Uh, hi Lily." James had finally found Lily in the library, hidden behind a huge pile of books. They had been avoiding each other since the er 'accident' that occurred down in the kitchen. "James, not now. I'm studying." Lily didn't glance up from her Ancient Runes essay. James looked around awkwardly. "It will only take a minute," he finally blurted out. Lily sighed and looked up. Big mistake. His hazel eyes were piercing and she found herself sinking into them. "Fine," she said slowly, being careful not to lose her self-control. James took a deep breath.
"So there's a Hogsmeade wee-…"
"Stop!" Lily interrupted him. "James, I'm not even sure what that kiss meant. I don't really want to go out in public, and you know…" James looked like an injured puppy. His face was twisted with sorrow and his eyes were now piercing with anger. "I get it, Evans." He stormed off before Lily could finish explaining what she'd meant. She looked down at her essay and then scrunched it up. She pelted it across the room, screaming like a baby. "Lily Evans, out of the library at once." Madam Pince looked outraged and Lily didn't need telling twice.
The next day was Friday; the day before the Hogsmeade weekend. Lily hadn't mentioned James' offer to anyone and she stared off in thought about whether she should go actually go with him. Too late. James walked into the Great Hall followed by the Marauders and to everyone's surprise had some Ravenclaw hussy draped off his arm. Everyone in the hall went silent. James' obsession with Lily was about as well known inside the walls of Hogwarts as was the name of Dumbledore. To see him with one of him many fan girls (he and Sirius both had many, many screaming girls running after them) was just unheard of.
Lily seethed, her face turning a brighter red than her hair. "Uh, Lils are you okay?" Alice asked carefully. Lily turned and glared at friend. "No I bloody well am not." She grabbed her bag and stormed out of the hall. "Anyone care to explain?" Alice asked the other girls who all looked as dumbfounded as she felt. "Something's wrong and we need a plan," Amelia said, staring after Lily's red hair. "I have the perfect plan," Emmeline winked at the girls and began to give out orders.
The next day, Lily sat on her bed. "Surely, you all don't have to go." Lily's eyes welled up with tears. Mary and Dorcas ran out of the dorm before Lily could guilt them into staying. They both loved Lily but they believed Emmeline's idea was a much better way of dealing with Lily's emotions than to have her cry her eyes out. "We'll be back soon. Just need to top on some supplies." Amelia wrapped a calming arm around Lily's shoulders and gave her a small squeeze. "We'll be back before you know we're gone," Alice added. And with that, Lily was left alone.
Emmeline directed her friends through the village. They were on their way out of the Three Broomsticks when they ran into the great Marauders. It wasn't unusual to see them running around Hogsmeade with girls chasing after them, but today was different. Sirius was missing (most likely off shagging some brainless blonde) and James had his tongue locked with a girl who seemed to have forgotten most of her clothes. Alice coughed and James pulled back from the girl. "Uh, sorry ladies," Remus looked sincerely apologetic. "We'll get right out of your way."
"That was extremely awkward," Mary said as they walked up the path to Hogwarts. The other girls nodded their agreement and hurried up to Gryffindor tower. Emmeline lead the way up to their dorm and spotted Lily curled in a ball, still in her pyjamas. "Hey Lils, guess what?" Emmeline said, barely able to control her excitement. Lily looked up. "We're having a girls night in!" As was the plan, the five girls dropped their bags and jumped on top of Lily. "Geroff," a muffled voice said. The girls shifted slightly. "GET OFF!" Lily screamed but she couldn't stop herself from laughing.
"So first things first," Emmeline said, pulling Lily out of bed. "Makeover!" Somehow, by the end of the evening, the six beds were all joined and the girls lay across them. "Who's up for a game of Truth or Dare?" Marlene asked, admiring her bright pink nails. Everyone shouted their agreement and shuffled into a circle. "I'll go first," Marlene continued. "Mary, truth or dare?" Mary considered her options for a moment before choosing truth. "Fine, out of all the boys in the school, who do you think is the hottest?"
"Merlin, that's easy," Mary replied casually. "That Amos Diggory has the best body I have EVER seen.
Okay, now it's my turn." Mary looked around the circle before her eyes stopped (dramatically) on Emmeline. "Em, truth or dare?"
"After the last dare I got, I've got to choose truth."
"Who's your current crush?"
"Sirius bloody-gorgeous Black," she answered. "But alas, he does not look at me."
"So your plan is?" Alice asked.
"Well, I heard he was staying at Hogwarts over Christmas and I thought I might stay back and enjoy the view." Everyone giggled; partly because of Emmeline's theatrical answer and partly because of all the butter beer they had drunk.
"Now, Lily," Lily stopped laughing and began to worry by the tone of Emmeline's voice. "Truth or dare?" Lily usually always chose truth because she was a bit scared of what her friends might make her do, but she felt like if she picked truth she'd have to spill her guts over why she was so upset. "Dare," Lily said confidently. Emmeline's smile grew even bigger. "I'm so glad that is your answer. In that case, there is only one thing for it… I dare you to kiss James Potter." Lily thought in that moment that she had actually died. "Right now, and I want to watch to make sure it actually happens."
'Oh no, no, no!' Lily thought to herself as she was dragged off to her doom.
