A/N (07/03/08): I've revamped the entire story, correcting the grammar and storyline. I've also added 5 new chapters. Feedback would be brilliant as always.

Chapter 10 – Balzaar and The Banshees

"Oi, Evans" Lily heard James Potter shout from the end of the table. She decided to completely ignore the apparent lack of James' manners, and continue with her breakfast.

"Lily. Lily" he carried on.

"What, Potter" Lily snapped back annoyed.

"Get Joe Thomas for me" he asked pointing past her towards the first years end of the table.

Lily turned round to survey the group. She wasn't entirely sure who was who, but the 10 or so first years had sorted into smaller groups of friends, bar one boy, who sat solemnly. He was reading a book, whilst eating.

"Erm… Joe Thomas?" she asked curiously at the first years.

The lone boy looked up shyly, "Yes?" he replied quite timidly.

"James Potter wants you" said Lily motioning back up the table.

The first year looked up towards James, who standing up peering down the table towards him.

"Joe, come on" shouted James, waving him towards the end of the table.

The first year nodded and stood up. Quite embarrassed from the attention he was now receiving. No-one had ever sat with the Marauder's for a meal. Lily had been asked by James, but always declined instantly.

As Joe walked up along the table towards the boys, with most of the eyes in the hall upon him, James and Remus parted slightly allowing him to sit between them. He quickly sat down, and James ruffled his hair with a smile on his face, causing the boy to laugh a little.

Lily watch curiously at the five boys now perched at the end of the table. The Marauder's seemed to have welcomed the first year into their group with open arms. Soon they were all laughing and seemingly having a good time. From what Lily could see the first year was joining in, telling jokes and listening attentively to the others.

Lily looked back down the table, to see most of the first years he was sat near staring with open mouths. An expression that echoed throughout, not only the Gryffindor table but also the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw ones too, especially on a few of the girls faces.

As Joe got up to leave for his lesson, all four boys shook his hand in an informal, friendly manner. Lily watched as the young first year walked down the aisle with a noticeable spring in his step. A few of the first year Gryffindor's got up and hurried over to him as he walked, talking excitedly to him.

As he walked through the doors, he looked back over his shoulder up towards James, who winked and gave him a thumbs up, causing the first year to smile as he walked out the hall.

Lily got up to leave a few minutes later once she'd finished her breakfast, and was halfway down the corridor when a voice called her back.

"Lily" echoed James' voice down the corridor. "Hey, Lily!"

Lily stopped and turned round to see James half running towards her.

"Hey" said James coolly, smiling.

"Hi" replied Lily, feeling a tinge of blush reddening her cheeks

"Can we talk?"

"Sure"

"In here" said James; motioning towards an empty classroom.

"So, what do you want to talk about?" asked Lily, unsure of James intentions.

"The Christmas Ball" said James simply, "I've got us Balzaar and The Banshees."

James clearly wanted to impress her, and she presumed that the name should mean something. However, she didn't have a clue what James was currently talking, a fact that was easily portrayed by her face.

"Balzaar and The Banshees … the band" said James, reiterated.

"Sorry James, I'm a muggle born, I don't know much about magical music" said Lily.

"Oh, right, yeah" said James trying to look sympathetic, "sorry, I forgot."

"Are they good?" asked Lily truthfully.

"One of the best" said James, "they're one of the best bands around, and they're notoriously hard to book for private shows."

"Oh, right. That's good then, the rest of the students should like them" said Lily, trying to hide how impressed she was at not only his coup, but also the fact that he had planned well in advance. "Do you mind if I ask how?" she asked.

"Ah" said James, now fidgeting with his tie. "Erm … I … I mean … Erm, it's probably best if you didn't know."

"You've not done anything illegal have you James?" asked Lily.

"No" said James defensively nervous. Lily picked up on this immediately and arched her eyebrows questioningly. "Well, nothing bad illegal" explained James.

"James, what have you done?" asked Lily furiously trying to keep her temper in check, which was becoming increasingly difficult due to James making an apparent mess of his explanation, and more so their organisation of the Christmas ball.

"It's more a case of what I saw really" said James regaining a slight confidence. "When I was in first year, I was Maraudering at night, when I stumbled across something peculiar in a supposedly empty classroom."

"What?" asked Lily curiously.

"You remember Richie Bandows don't you? He was Head Boy when we were in first year. He was going out with Samantha Jones, the reporter; she was the Head Girl at the time. They're getting married this summer; very big news."

"Yeah I remember him" said Lily.

"Well I caught him in a very compromising position with a girl, who wasn't the Head Girl."

"No" gasped Lily.

"Yeah, so we made an agreement. That when the time came, I could call on any kind of favour from him as long as I kept my mouth shut; plus a fee of 10 galleons of course."

Lily surveyed James face, he was most definitely telling the truth. "You blackmailed him?" asked Lily.

"I'd call it a gentlemen's agreement" said James. "Besides, we're only Head's once. We've got to make the most of it; and there's only you, me and the two participants who know about that event, and it would probably best if it was kept that way."

"Ok, then" said Lily.

"Well I better be off then, things to do and all that" said James cheerfully.

"James?"

"Yeah?" said James.

"What was all that about at breakfast this morning?" asked Lily.

"Why?" said James, looking expectantly, "what happened?"

"You lot, the Marauder's with that first year" she stated.

"Oh, right" James sighed with relief, "I thought I'd missed something."

"I went for a stroll last night after midnight. Anyway I ended up at the Astronomy Tower, and I found him there."

James took a moment's pause, as if he was contemplating continuing, before carrying on, "He'd been crying. He's a Muggleborn, he's homesick a little, and the other kids aren't really too friendly towards him. So I had an idea, and it worked."

"No one has ever sat with the Marauder's at meal times. For seven years we've enforced that rule, even the first years know that. So I thought if we let him sit with us, maybe a few of the kids would think he was cool and stuff, and be nicer to him."

"It worked as well I think, there were a few envious glances shot at him earlier. I just hope it doesn't turn into jealousy and he gets bullied or anything. I got the idea from Peter in first year. He was getting bullied in the first couple of days, so me n Sirius stepped in and took him under our wing."

Lily was taken back by the genuine sincerity of James actions. She had to admit; sometimes he would do things for other people that not many would dream of. Remus, Peter and Joe; James had gone to great lengths to help them. She couldn't help but admire how he treated his friends.

"Lily …."

"Uh, what" said Lily as she snapped back to reality.

"I said I've got to go to Quidditch now, so I'll see you later for patrol" said James, looking at her confusedly.

"Oh right" said Lily, as he began to walk to the door, "Hey, um, where are you going? There are no Quidditch practices booked for this morning; I've checked."

"Yeah I know" said James, smiling as he turned back to face her, "but I've got to work on some tactics for the team; as good as we are, we could be better. See you."

Lily watched as James walked out of the door. She smiled; she smiled and inwardly laughed at herself. Maybe it was her fault that she'd never seen this side of James before.

"Hey guys" said Lily, as she sat down on the couch next to her friends up in the Gryffindor common room.

"Hey, Lils" said Emma, not looking up from her book.

Michelle sat studying Lily, before speaking, "What's on your mind?"

"Have you guys head of a band call Balzaar and The Banshees?" she asked.

Both girls looked up incredulously at her. "Of course we have" said Michelle "they're probably the biggest band in England at this moment. They're incredible."

"Oh right" said Lily, determinedly not smiling.

"Why?" asked Emma scrutinising her.

"Nothing, James just mentioned them in passing, that's all."

"God, could you imagine if he got them to play at the ball this year" said Michelle longingly, "that would be absolutely amazing."

"Fat chance of that though" said Emma, "You've got to be Minister of Magic or filthy rich to get a private show."

"Yeah" said Michelle, nodding her head in agreement, a tiny glazed look appearing on her eyes. Obviously she was still thinking about the band.

Lily bit her lip and turned away at her friends reactions. James had surprised her yet again this year.