Disclaimer; I do not own ANY part of Harry Potter, story and all – but I do own this plot…

James and Lily have always been mortal enemies – but what happens when they decide to settle their arguments by dares and challenges– and go through the consequences the losers face?

Chapter 10: Tricks, necklaces and Sirius.

Winter had come and gone peacefully. Lily had gone back to her parents' house for Christmas and James and Sirius had camped out at the Potters – with frequent visits from Remus and Peter. So, Spring flew around the corner, bringing with it a whole load of exam stress and palpitations.

"This is what we do," Sirius said, whispering to Remus, Kitty, Reid and Peter. They were gathered at dinner and had a few quiet minutes before the famous couple would argue their way down. "We trick both of them into thinking that the other likes them. So, like, James thinks Lily loves him, and vice versa." Kitty burst into peals of laughter, her chest heaving up and down.

"I'm sorry, sorry," she said, in between bouts of snorts. "How do you plan to do that exactly? We've," she motioned to Reid and herself, "have both tried to convince her that she likes him - for what seems like an eternity!"

"Well, you obviously don't know how to deal with things like that," Sirius said, smirking. "But I'll tell you my oh-so-brilliant plan,"

"I don't know how you and brilliant can be in the same sentence," Remus said, grinning at Sirius' scowl, "But please, do go on."

"If I wasn't so psyched up about this, I'd eat you," Sirius said, pouting with his legs crossed. Reid smacked the table with her palm, looking at them impatiently.

"But you are psyched up, so tell us what your master plan is before I make you!" she growled. Sirius stared at her, a small mischievous grin crawling up his face. "What!"

"PMS?" Sirius asked; his voice all knowing.

"Maybe," Reid grinned, flicking back her shoulder-length hair. "So, get on with it," she downed another piece of chicken. Sirius cleared his throat, as if he was making an announcement to the whole school.

"Last year, and I know this because I was with him, James bought a small diamond pendent – and he still has it," Sirius started, his voice low and serious. The rest of the 'gang' were listening intently, the voices of other groups rushing over their heads. "I also know he's not planning on giving it to anyone soon, well, because I told him to keep it. So, what we do is-,"

"Give it to Lily, saying it's from James!" Kitty said excitedly, her voice exceptionally high. "That's brill'!"

"I know it is," Sirius said, smoothing back his hair in a preening sort of way. A group of girls sighed, fluttering their eyelids at Sirius as he did that. "It feels so good to be handsome,"

"I…don't know…" Remus said, thinking. "What if Lily – like, I don't know, find out? What if they find out?" he said again, this time more clearly.

"Ah, that's the most brilliant part of the plan," Sirius said. "We tell them it was a practical joke – but until then…" he raised his eyebrows. "Oh, come on guys, it'll be a success!"

"Fine,"

"Alright,"

"'Kay,"

Kitty, however, just squealed.

There was a clatter of dishes as both Lily and James sat down on the bench at the same time, glaring at each other. Sirius looked at James, then Lily, then back at James. "Jeez guys, what happened? Your making out session didn't go as planned?" Two glares were sent his way immediately.

"Not now, Sirius, not now," Remus hissed, elbowing his friend in the ribs. Sirius winced.

"Ow!" Sirius muttered, kicking Remus in this shin. "It's not my fault Jamie's in a bad mood,"

"Oh really?" Remus said, an eyebrow raised as he rubbed the spot that Sirius had kicked. "That comes as a surprise,"

"No – it's not Padfoot's fault," James said, a grin appearing on his sullen face. Sirius took this opportunity to stick out his tongue in an 'I told you so' way at Remus. "It's…something else," Sirius looked at James expectantly, his elbow resting on James' shoulder.

"Which is?"

He rubbed his face in a tired manner, as if life was being drained from him by the second. "Aren't you also going to ask why I came down late?" he said to Sirius, who nodded. "Man. I know you too well, it's scary."

"Stop trying to avoid the question, James," Sirius said, smacking James slightly on the back. James looked at Sirius accusingly.

"I'm pretty sure that's where your expertise lie, not mine," James said, folding his arms. "Okay, okay, I'll get on with it," he said, backing off slightly at Sirius' glare. "Right, firstly, I wouldn't be late if it wasn't for Lily's mistake at potions,"

"Why, what did she do?" Sirius said, knowing that Lily was listening, though she was talking to her friends. He intended to start a fight between them – again. After all, that was what he practically lived for. Well, that and a million other things.

"There're too many things to list," James said, his voice purposely arrogant. "She's worse than Malfoy," That final word seemed to trigger Lily's suppressed anger once again, making her literally jump at James.

"What do you mean I'm worse than Malfoy?" Lily said, reaching for his neck. He backed away slowly. The pair suddenly had the attention of the whole of Gryffindor. "What do you mean?"

"Lily! Calm down!" Reid hissed, grabbing Lily by the arm. James had his own wand out, though he was practically unable to cast any spell due to the fact that Sirius had a tight hold on him.

"Let go of me," Lily said coldly, her anger finally down to a safer degree. She jerked her arm out of Reid's hold, her eyes still fixed on James.

"What's wrong Evans? You scared that you might get told off?" James taunted. "Or worse! What would you do if they took away your prefect badge?" he said mockingly. It seemed as if their relationship had gone back to pure and deep hatred.

"Shut up," Lily said witheringly, looking away. James opened his mouth to make another wise-ass remark, but Sirius clamped his hand around James' mouth to prevent anything stupid from coming out, as was typical.

"Not now, Prongs, if you know what's good for you." He hissed as he dragged James away, struggling to keep his best friend in a tight hold. Lily walked off, her hands tightening into fists.

And, for some absurd reason, none of the professors chose saw this scene.

The Gryffindor common room was deathly quiet as Lily walked in, a scowl imprinted on her normally serious face. If she had had the chance, that oh-so-famous head of James Potter would be have been violently severed from his head downstairs. Preferably by using something heavy. With spikes.

She entered her dormitory, kicked off her school shoes and jumped unto her bed, her eyes closed. How she hated him. His attitude, his smarts, his all. The only thing that she didn't absolutely hate about him was the way he looked. Sure, he wasn't the most sought after boy in the school (unlike his best friend), but he wasn't the ugliest either. Girls liked him because he had this unmistakable aura of power surrounding him. Power and attitude. There was no use denying it. Potter was sought after due to his cockiness and his arrogance.

Some girls just found that trait attractive. She just found it annoying and unbearable. And sometimes it wasn't even just that. She always had the feeling that James could see through all her books and studies, that he could see that she wasn't a genius like some people thought, that he could tell when she was really having a hard time. And she resented him for it.

Or did she?

Pushing a lock of red hair behind her left ear, she opened the book that had been left on the side of her bed and picked of from where she'd stopped.

The next day:

James entered Transfiguration smiling with an insincerity even a toddler could see through. "Evans," he acknowledged, purposely dropping his books onto the table with a heavy thud.

"Potter," she said with equal hypocrisy. Silence fell over them soon after, both intently listening to McGonagall. Sirius leaned backwards to talk to Remus.

"You see that?" he whispered, breaking what little concentration Remus had. "He's actually listening to her," Remus placed his quill down slowly.

"Isn't that a good thing?"

"No," Sirius muttered, "It means that there is something insanely wrong with him," Remus looked amused, his nose twitching like a dog's. "Time of the month again, Moony?"

"Soon," Remus nodded, fiddling with his quill, "Sounds like you're analyzing James,"

"Wonder what's wrong with him," Sirius muttered thoughtfully. Remus rolled his eyes, trying to ignore Sirius, "Maybe it has something to do with Lily!" he said, smacking his fist into his hand.

"No, Sirius, no," Remus commented sarcastically. Sirius looked at him, wide eyed.

"So you think it's something else?"

"I've officially given up all hope on you,"

Sirius laughed softly. "It's okay Moony, most people think like that," he crossed his arms and leaned backwards in his chair. "What they don't know, is that I have loads of knowledge here," he tapped his forehead softly, grinning as he did so.

"What about common sense?"

"Uh…none…?" Sirius grinned innocently.

"You will have to work in pairs as this incantation is a rather difficult one and is usually only used with aid." McGonagall walked down the aisle of the classroom slowly, gazing at her class with her hawk-like eyes. "This time, your work will be graded as one, that is to say; you will be graded as a pair instead of as an individual,"

"We're being graded already?"

"Yes, Ms. Robinson, we need to start now. Now, if no one has any other questions, we must proceed. Remember, there will be no exceptions." She said sternly, once she had gotten to the front of the class again, "To make things easier, you will have to work with the person sitting next to you. I don't want groans or sighs, just the sound of working. You will have until next lesson to finish writing up about this spell and figuring out how to cast it. Start now,"

James and Lily just stared at their desks, unable to move.

okay. so i lied. nothing big happened here - i thought it would, but it seems i need more chapters inbetween .any way. I LOVE YOU GUYS! please keep reviewing! I love all you guys - i swear. Man, i've passed the 100 review mark. I'm so happy, please review...i want to continue this story, and i'm scared i won't be motivated...thanks!

AZT