Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter books or movies. That's all J.K Rowling's and Warner Brothers'

Once in a While

Chapter Ten- Second Chances

Lily approached a door, and James opened it for her. Lily was carrying her books, and James offered to take them for her. Lily was sitting down to eat, and James stopped to ask her friend how her stomach was feeling. Surprisingly, she felt a stab of annoyance on that occasion, but that was stupid. Why should she be annoyed that James Potter was talking to Emma and not her?

James himself, however, found the next few weeks exhausting. What was McGonagall talking about when she said that a little politeness doesn't cost anything? It was costing him something, quite clearly. He could actually feel the years piling onto him! He had found a way to relieve some of his pent up tension however - by hiding a dungbomb in Remus' bed.

"Aargh! What the… Prongs!"

James laughed and dodged the offending item aimed at him as Sirius entered the room.

"Evening Gentleman!"

"Where've you been?"

Sirius grinned superiorly, lying on his bed with his hands behind his head. "You may ask, Mr Prongs, you may ask."

There was a moments silence, where the other three waited expectantly. Eventually Peter broke it, "So.. where have you been?"

Sirius sat bolt upright, still grinning, "Getting some… erm… 'Arithmancy tuition' with young Miss Fisher!" His eyebrows wriggled suggestively, in a way the gave the impression that they were completely separate from each other.

James and Remus both groaned loudly and turned away, busying themselves with other activities. James grabbed an old jumper of the floor, examining it and wondering whether it would be too gross to wear it tomorrow, and Remus waved his wand over his bedding in an vain attempt to remove the smell.

Peter however, looked confused, "But… you don't take Arithmancy!"

His roommates turned and stared at him for a moment, waiting for Peter to catch on. Eventually his small mouth turned into a little 'o' of comprehension and he blushed pink. Sirius let out his familiar bark of laughter and swung his long legs off his bed. He stretched his arms above his head, and then froze, sniffing the air like a dog picking up a scent. A look of disgust grew on his handsome features, "What's that smell?"

"Moony's bed."

Sirius looked disgustedly at Remus, "Dude! There's a bathroom right there!"

"It was a dungbomb, Pads."

"Sure," sniffed Sirius to James, "that's what he wants us to think…"

Remus groaned and buried his head in the now odourless pillow. "Kill me now, Peter."

"Yes, Kill him now Peter!"

"Yes! Kill! Kill!"

The two ringleaders of the group staggered across the room and collapsed against each other, breathless with mirth. The swiftness of the change in mood was remarkable – one could only assume that James' good behaviour had made him giddy, and Sirius was… well… just Sirius.

Remus' head emerged from the pillow, his hair sticking up madly at the front as a result. This teamed with his gravely serious expression gave the impression of a furious hedgehog, and did nothing to relieve the others condition.

"Gah! gah!" Cried James, past the point where he could use recognisable language, and gesturing first at Remus, and then at his own hair in a desperate attempt to convey his meaning.

"Yeah!" howled Sirius, "It looks like… like…"

"Silenco!" muttered Remus with a flourish of his wand, and the two taller boys fell completely silent. For a moment they continued to laugh, their faces stretching and eyes streaming, until the fact that no noise was escaping seemed to dawn. The laughter died and was replaced with a look of confusion, when they started straining their throats in a hopeless attempt to yell in each others ears. Remus' mouth twitched in spite of himself, and the werewolf gave a snort of laughter.

Realisation dawned, and the two turned to stare at him. There was a beat where nothing happened, and then they began to silently threaten Remus with a wide range of gestures – some of which the teen had never even see before. He watched calmly as his friends waved at him, fighting an overwhelming desire to laugh but displaying only complete calm, before picking up his schoolbag and walking to the door.

Remus twisted the golden handle and raised his eyebrows at Peter in a questioning gesture. Peter glanced nervously at James and Sirius, before smiling slightly, shrugging, and walking out the room. As Moony followed behind him, he allowed the two a glimpse at his wide grin before the door shut behind them.

Sirius and James both watched him go with utmost horror etched on their features. Their heads swivelled to look at each other, and the two faces asked the same question: How in gods name where they going to get their voices back now?

As one they barrelled towards the door and wrenched it open. The common room was, for once, empty - with Remus and Peter nowhere to be seen. With mouthed curses, the two flew towards the portrait hole, ending up staggering into the corridor. They ignored the Fat Ladies cheerful greeting and hurried along, reaching the end of the corridor and stopping. After a brief but completely silent argument, they turned left, almost colliding with a group of seventh year girls coming the opposite direction. Lily Evans was among them, which was strangely convenient, though no' one noticed it at the time.

Lily smiled at the two friends, though it seemed to be more directed at one than the other. "Hey James. Black."

Potter seemed to be gesturing madly towards himself. Or at his throat, to be more precise. Lilly stared at him, her shaped eyebrows lowering in confusion. "What is it?"

James rolled his eyes and began to wave his arms around even more madly. Black had also taken it upon himself to join in, and in one swift movement smacked James upside the head. James opened his mouth, gasping in pain, and quickly spun round to retaliate, punching Black hard on the arm. Sirius blinked, looked annoyed, and shoved James. James blinked, looked annoyed, and shoved Sirius. And Lily had no choice but to watch as this peculiar scene continued to play out before her, like some sort of bad sketch show on a muted television... Muted?

"Um…" she raised a hand, paused, and rapped James on the shoulder, "Why are you guys so quiet?"

The fight was immediately forgotten, and both boys turned to stare at her wildly. Then they started, in a weird unison, to make frantic slicing movements across their throat. Lily stared at them, and the motions sped up. Then it clicked.

"Oh right! Yeah, sure. Hang on," she scrabbled in her bag and produced her wand, flicking it neatly at first James, then Sirius. Both boys gave a strange gargle and clutched at their throats, humming experimentally as Lily tried not to laugh.

"What happened?"

"Remus bloody Lupin! That's what happened!"

"Remus?" Lily laughed loudly, "Really? I didn't think he had it in him!"

"Well, there's lots of things you don't know about us Evans," grinned Sirius.

Lily rolled her eyes, but more in amusement than annoyance, and shifted her bag further onto her shoulder, "I bet there are Black. And I can't say I'm too upset about it."

Sirius laughed and heard several other voices laugh along with him. That was when he remembered that there were in fact, several girls around. It would be polite of him, he thought, to give Prongs some alone time with Evans. It was what a good friend should do.

"Can I escort you lovely ladies back to the common room?"

There was a collective giggle, and Sirius found himself swept along by the gang of girls, leaving Lily and James alone. They stood in silence for a second, James running a hand nervously through his jet-black locks and Lily putting her wand away. She looked back up and examined him for a second before opening her mouth to speak.

"Oh James. I was going to tell you. At the next meeting I need to find someone to help me with the graduation stuff. You know, the things I wanted to do a few weeks ago…" She attempted to keep the annoyance from entering her tone, in respect to her improved relationship with Potter, but didn't entirely succeed. She took a deep breath before continuing, "So I need to you put a place aside for the next meeting so I…"

"I'll do it!" The eagerness was obvious in his voice.

"Sorry?"

"I'll help you out."

"You?"

"Yes… Come on Lily, don't look like that! I promise to turn up!"

"Well," Lily glanced around, but no escape route was shown to her. Could she really trust him not to ruin it again? He had changed during the last few weeks… "I suppose… Fine! 4 o' clock tomorrow in the Library then."

"Great! Library, 4 'o clock. Got it." James grinned happily and raised a hand in a goodbye as he left the corridor after Sirius.

Lily was left staring at the place he had been, feeling slightly stunned. She couldn't believe she had just given James Potter a second chance! Something she had vowed she would never do! Her resolve was definitely slipping…

However, the Head Boy did seem different now. He was being polite, friendly, almost kind. She couldn't actually remember the last time she'd had to yell at him… Well, she could. It was when he got that detention. Lily almost winced at the memory, embarrasment flooding her. Could it be that she was slightly harsh with him? And he had looked quite cute standing there earlier, looking at her like he really wanted to help…

Suddenly, as though shocked back to sanity, she shook her head briskly and set off down the corridor, leaving the thought hanging in the air behind her. Something was definitely changing – Lily just wasn't sure she approved.

A/N: Chapter ten! It's a milestone! Lol! I think you should all congratulate me with a lovely review telling me what you think! ;) I promise to reply to them all!