"Lily, leave James alone before I report you as a stalker!" Sirius cried as Lily and James entered the common room later that evening.
"No need!" James replied grinning enthusiastically.
Sirius's eyes darted from James, to Lily. "No way!" Sirius wolf-whistled and danced on the spot.
"Told you my plan was brilliant!" Sirius smirked arrogantly.
"Plan?" Lily frowned at James.
"Just an idea to win you back…" James reassured her nervously. "Sirius, your plan rubbish!"
"Ye, well, I don't have a degree in women do I?" Sirius didn't seem insulted at all on the matter. Lily laughed.
"You're not supposed to agree." Sirius replied dangerously.
"Come off it! You know you're useless! I mean, you bought Susan a monster-eating book – mm, ye, really romantic!" Lily snorted.
"How am I supposed to know that she doesn't like monster-eating books?" Sirius whined, convinced that it had been the perfect gift.
"Next time, just don't bother with gifts." Lily reassured him. "And same goes for you James."
James giggled nervously. "They were mainly Sirius's ideas…"
"Oi! Don't go shifting the blame, matey! You went along with them!"
James shrugged and grinned at Lily, who seemed rather amused.
"Well, anyway, I'm off to bed." Lily glared at Sirius until he looked away resignedly. She kissed James on the cheek and whispered goodnight.
James walked over to Sirius, and collapsed on the chair next to him.
"Well done, mate!" Sirius smirked, nudging James on the shoulder. "But next time you want advice, I suggest that you stand a mile away from me."
"I'll remember that in future." James winked at Sirius.
Tonight had been rather unusual, but perfect all the same.
"Oh God…a letter from my Mother." James cringed and opened the envelope.
"Aw…little Jamsey-wamsey has got an ickle letter from his mummy!" Sirius patted James on the head.
"Don't be so immature." Lily said, sitting down next to James in the Great Hall.
"Hey!" James winked at Lily, who grinned back. Remus looked at Sirius confused, who smirked back.
"They're getting married!" Sirius cried. Remus's eyes widened, as he looked sharply from James to Lily.
"Shut up!" James hit Sirius hard on the back, making him choke on his toast.
"Not yet anyway." Lily giggled. James looked flabbergasted at Lily, who laughed even harder. "You never know…"
"Marriage is for old people. I don't plan on getting married as soon as we leave school!" James pleaded.
Lily returned to her toast looking rather disappointed.
"So, you two…like…together?" Remus questioned quietly.
James beamed and cuddled Lily. Remus turned away to check his bag somewhat hastily.
People around the Great Hall watched in amazement at Lily and James, who seemed such an unlikely couple.
"So what did mummy want?" Sirius smirked.
"Oh…nothing out of the ordinary." James crushed the letter into his pocket and looked around the Great Hall. Snape was watching him maliciously.
"Oi, Sirius. Snivelly's staring again."
"Stupid git." Sirius sneered. He stood up and turned to face Snape. "Oi, Snivelly! Stop perving at James! We all know you fancy him, but there's no need to stare!"
Snape blushed as the Great Hall sniggered.
"Sirius, sit down for goodness sake!" Lily yanked Sirius's arm.
"Why do you always protect him?" Sirius questioned.
"Why do you insist on insulting everyone?" Lily cried angrily.
"Look, if people were normal I wouldn't have a problem."
"And what exactly is your definition of normal? You're hardly classified as normal!" Lily began rising to her feet, followed by Sirius.
"I'm normal compared to snivelly gits like Snivellus!" Sirius sneered.
"And what about Marcus Fluous? I suppose a first year like him deserved-"
"He had it coming! Lily, if you're going to lecture me on my behaviour, you can join Professor McGonagall's scheme to stop me. I'm sure she'd be more than enthusiastic! Capisch?"
Lily looked at James, and then dropped back onto the bench.
"You do know there are more subtle ways of dealing with things, Sirius! Perhaps even ignoring them!" Lily whispered.
"How can I ignore Snivellus, he's a total-"
"Ye, but the more you attack him, the more likely he is to back! Don't you see? It's a never-ending cycle!"
"If you're suggesting that we kiss and make up, you've got another thing coming!" Sirius barked.
"I'm not suggesting anything of the sort. I just wish you'd be a little more mature about the matter."
"I'm a teenager. I'm not ready to be old and mature, thank you very much."
"Urgh…" Lily growled, and picked up her bag. "Coming?"
"Erm…" James looked from Lily to Sirius. "Ye…come on Sirius."
Lily seemed unhappy about Sirius tagging along, but knew that there wasn't a James without a Sirius. Sirius was part of the bargain.
They all left the hall, heading towards Care of Magical Creatures.
"Flippin' heck! What's Kettleburn got?" Sirius pointed at a large creature growling from within a heavy metal cage.
"Oh, ignore that. That's for my next lesson." Professor Kettleburn reassured Sirius.
"Right! Today, we will be observing the characteristics of various different pests. In pairs, would you pick a box, and label the different qualities of what you find within. So, off we go!" Professor Kettleburn summoned the boxes, and placed them in front of the class.
"Come on now, choose a partner!"
Sirius looked eagerly at James, but Lily grabbed James's arm, and hurried him towards a box.
Sirius stood back, and peered around for another partner. Peter scurried over to him.
"I'll be your…your…your partner!"
"Oh great…" Sirius replied mockingly. "Go fetch a box then!" Sirius shouted regressively. James looked back at Sirius sympathetically, and mouthed SORRY.
Sirius rolled his eyes, and waited for Peter to return. James was now tickling Lily, who laughed contently. They seemed to be enjoying themselves…but Sirius was feeling replaced.
"Here's the box!" Peter squealed enthusiastically, before tripping up. The contents of the box were emptied on Sirius's head.
"Youtwat!" Sirius cried violently, pushing Peter over.
"Dear, dear…" Professor Kettleburn wondered over to Sirius, to help remove the pests now eating away at his hair. "But language like that won't make anything better."
Sirius remained silent, anger slowly boiling up inside of him. Peter rubbed his backside and watched anxiously, unsure of what to do.
"Be a good boy, and shut up while I do the work, alright?" Sirius said bitterly to Peter, who sat on the floor timidly.
"Yes, sir…"
"Right…I'll tell you what to write, wormtail. Got it!"
"Yes…"
Sirius peered over at Lily and James, and felt the need to throttle something. He looked desperately at Peter, but thought it best to ignore them. Peter looked frightened enough as it was.
James would never replace Sirius; they were practically brothers…or was everything going to change now that Lily was in the picture?
