Remus headed back to the common room after yoga. Lily had gone off to wherever she went. He was trying not to pry, but it was starting to drive him insane. He was beginning to think he would have to accept that there were places in the school that Lily knew about that he didn't. More shockingly, there were places she had discovered that the Marauders hadn't.

He said the password and climbed through the portrait hole. And stopped in his tracks when he saw James sitting in one of the armchairs.

"Alright, Remus?" James fair to shouted. Remus blinked. James had been weird ever since he had found out Remus was friends with Lily, but this was especially pronounced.

"Yeah," Remus replied in a friendly tone. "How are you?"

James nodded. "Good, yeah," he said. "So, where've you been?" he asked in a faux casual voice.

Remus raised his eyebrows. "I was just down on the grounds with Lily," he said.

James looked ready to explode. "Down on the ground? Is that some euphemism for shagging?" James shouted indignantly. "I'm sure she wouldn't think so highly of you if she knew this is how you talked about her."

Remus blinked. "On the grounds, James," he clarified, waving a hand toward the window. "As in the Hogwarts grounds."

"Oh," said James. "Right. So, no shagging?" he asked, voice soft and – if Remus hadn't misinterpreted – a bit hopeful.

Remus stared at him. "James," he said carefully, "is it possible you like Lily?" he asked.

James shook his head quickly, lifting both hands in a gesture of surrender. "No, course not, mate, I wouldn't try to steal your . . . you know. Obviously you've got a prior claim."

Remus opened his mouth, but couldn't make any words come out. He tried again. "Umm . . ." Well, that was an improvement at least, he thought. It was a sound after all, if not actually a word.

"Right," said James, shoving his hands through his hair and looking desperately awkward. "I'll just," he gestured vaguely toward the stairs and turned to go, seeming absolutely miserable.

"I don't," Remus shouted, panicking. When James stopped, he rushed on. "Have a prior claim, that is. I mean, we're friends, but that's it. She's a bit like my sister." Remus knew he was babbling, but couldn't seem to stop. "At least, well, I don't have a sister, and Lily doesn't like hers. But I'm assuming it's how it would be if you had a sister and you got on well with her."

James turned around, smiling brilliantly. "Really?" he said.

Remus nodded. "So, I take it that's a yes to liking her?"

James' smile vanished. "Yeah," he shrugged unhappily. "But it won't really matter will it. Even if she's fair game," he said, "she still thinks I'm a right bastard."

"Wanker, actually," Remus corrected with a grin.

James' eye widened. "She's talked about me?" he said.

Remus laughed out loud. "Only you," he replied, shaking his head, "would be excited that a girl you like has talked about you, when what she did was call you a wanker."

James shrugged. "Well, that's just basic biology. If you can show me a bloke who doesn't wank on occasion . . ." he trailed off, clearly unwilling to contemplate it any further or any level.

Remus chuckled. "Fair play, I suppose. But I don't think she meant it in the literal sense."

James nodded, accepting. "Has she said anything else?" he asked, excitedly.

"Only that she thinks you're full of yourself and you always have to shout about it," Remus responded apologetically.

"Right," James nodded. "So, if I were going to work on the problem over the summer holiday, that should be my focus then, yeah?" James asked. "You know, getting my ego under control?"

Remus stared at him. "You're embarking a self-improvement plan over the summer?" he asked, disbelieving.

"Well," James shrugged, "I know I haven't really got a shot, but I figure maybe if I practice being a bit more modest and . . ."

"Considerate," Remus suggested.

James nodded. "So she likes blokes who are considerate, eh?" he confirmed, appearing to file this away.

"I think most girls like blokes who are considerate," Remus returned, smiling.

James looked unconvinced. "I dunno. Mostly I think they go for confidence. It's why Sirius and I have never had any trouble." He shrugged. "But with Lily, I'm so far in the hole I'm willing to try some unconventional options."

Remus stared at him. Shaking his head slowly, he ventured another question. "How exactly are you going to practice being modest and considerate over the summer?"

"Don't know, do I?" James responded. "That's why I'm doing it over the summer, yeah? So when I come back, maybe she'll just think I'm a different person."

Remus sighed. "I don't think she'll just forget all the other stuff because of one summer away, James."

"I know," James nodded. "But maybe she'll think I've grown as a person, like. Women are always on about how they want to change a man. Maybe if I get a bit more in line with what she likes, she'll forgive me for all the other stuff?" He ended on an uncertain but optimistic note.

Remus gave him an apologetic look. "I wouldn't get your hopes up too high, mate." He clapped his friend on the back when James stared down at the ground. "But anything I can do to help."

James looked up immediately. "Really? Fantastic," he said, not waiting for a response. "So you said she doesn't like her sister. Is there a story there? What else can you tell me about her?" He asked, right on the heels of the other question.

Remus immediately regretted his offer to help. This was going to be a very long summer.


Sorry to disappoint Miss ViviFontaine, but I'm inclined to agree with Ms. Jackson, Kri, and AwesomePants2.0.

GrowingHope, I thought about it, but I think James would have a hard time dating someone one of his friends had dated. He's too loyal. Clearly I don't think this about Sirius, but that's just because he's a bit of dog. No pun intended there, honest. I couldn't think of a better description.

-Naj