A/N: Hopefully, you can relate this back to, like, Chapter 2, I believe. :) (Wow, it's already been thirty-six chapters! :0) This happens the day after - it's in context, but I'm just making sure you remember . . . if you don't, I suppose you don't have to nessecarily read it again - it pretty much states what went on, although vaguely and in the words of a distressed teenage girl. :/ Uh-oh...Haha.

Happy reading!

Quidditch, Among Other Things

December 14, 1976

Lily, Dorcas, Emmeline and two of the four Marauders - James and Sirius were absent, as they were on the Quidditch team - made their way down to the Quidditch pitch on a snowy December morning, anticipating the well-awaited match between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Emma and Remus held hands, murmuring to each other and Peter, Dorcas and Lily started up their own conversation about who they thought would win.

"Well, of course I'd like Gryffindor to win, but that Slytherin team has really got some good players this year." Dorcas said, somewhat definatly.

Peter and Lily shared an amused glance. Lily hadn't really gotten to know Peter that well during her six years of Hogwarts, simply because she thought he was rather awkward and nervous all the time - but she found he could be alright sometimes this year. (Especially when James and Sirius weren't around for him to shadow.)

"I think you're just saying that because you're put off with Sirius." Lily said knowingly, smiling at her friends reaction.

She scowled and huffed, "I am not! He's just - well, he - I - we kissed last night, Lily! At Hogsmeade!" she admitted hysterically.

Lily raised her eyebrows and her eyes widened. "I thought you were on a date with that bloke David Waters!"

"I - I was," she said desperately, "But then it went horribly, because Sirius was there, too, and then we both left our dates, and then he met me outside, and then - and then he kissed me, and then I ran away, and then we had a row this morning, because he wanted me to date him but I wasn't ready and - "

"Merlin, Doras, slow down! What in the world are you on about?" Lily exclaimed as they made their way onto the stands. Peter still walked on the other side of Dorcas, listening in quiet surprise.

"What's going on?" Remus asked, hearing Lily's exclamation.

"Nothing." Dorcas grumbled as they sat down. She put her chin in her hands huffily and Lily bit back laughter at how childish she was acting.

"Dorcas, I'm sure you two will make up in no time. That's what always happens with you two." Lily assured her.

"And then they'll have another row." Emma muttered, and Dorcas shot her a look.

"Sounds like another little couple we know." Remus added, holding back a boat of laughter as Lily was the one who shot the look this time.

Remus snickered along with Emmeline, noting, "We're not very popular today, are we?"

Lily scowled. "James and I are not - "

That's when the two Quidditch teams came out of the dressing rooms and entered the pitch. The stands erupted in cheers and whistles. Jimmy Winchester, a flambouyant thrid-year, was named commentator for the game, and his high little voice strung out through the picth.

"Hello? Is this on? Professor, I don't think it's working - "

"For Heavens sake, Winchester, everyone can hear you!" everyone heard Professor McGonagall exclaim exasperately. Laughter glided through the stands.

"Oh. Oh, right. Well, hello there, my fellow peers! I . . ."

Lily tuned the third-years squeaking out and looked toward the field. James and the Slytherin captain, Zachary Farlow, shook hands, James sporting a fake cheery smile. Madam Hooch reminded them to keep a clean game, and, after a mocking wink from James to Zachary - who sneered, not amused at all - they flew off.

However, something happened just seconds after the game started and the stands clapped. Sirius, who was Beater, called for a timeout, and James looked at him like he was completely mental.

Lily could read James' lips as he shouted, "Have you lost it, mate?"

"Oh, this is not going to be good. . . " Remus trailed off with an incredulous smile, shaking his head. His fellow Marauder made his way to the Gryffindor section of the stands, his eyes fixed on Dorcas Meadowes.

There were some angry yells, some surprised giggles, and some wolf-whistles - most of which came from the boys on the team - as Sirius hovered over to Dorcas on his broom, a rather guilty, but determined expression on his face. Lily covered her mouth to keep from right out laughing at Dorcas' expression, and her other firends were in no better shape. She looked completely lost for words, just staring at him with a mixture of amazement, rage and embaressment.

"Dorcas - " he started, but that was when she came to her senses.

"What in the name of Godric Gryffindor are you doing, Sirius?" she hissed, standing.

"I can't play without knowing you'll go out with me." he explained, not fazed by her anger at all.

"Oh, my god. . . ." Lily heard Emmeline mutter with a giggle.

"Well, that's a lost cause, Sirius. I told you where I stand - "

"Dorcas, you know you don't mean that," he said, hovering closer to her. Lily felt the urge to look away from the intimate moment, but found she couldn't. "And if you really, truely do - tell me now. Because this is the last time I'm willing to ask you."

Dorcas stared.

"Will you be my girlfriend?"

There was a collective round of 'aww's' that came from the Gryffindor girls nearby, and some rather rude shouts from the boys.

But, to Sirius and Dorcas, it seemed as if only the other existed. Lily glanced back at the others, and they were all looking on with anticipation - they all knew how Dorcas felt. But they also knew that she was not one to speak her feelings, and also stubbornly resisted them - especially under this kind of pressure.

"Sirius, I - " she started, then deflated, "I can't."

Lily pressed her lips together. She had seen it coming.

"C'mon, Dorcas," he begged quietly, "Don't do this."

Dorcas just swallowed and sat back down, looking down at her intertwined hands. Lily let out a breath, shaking her head slightly, but she knew she should stay out of it. She expected Sirius to get back to the game, and just suck it up - stay depressed and deal with it later.

But that is not what happened.

"Alright, then, Meadowes," Sirius said, and Dorcas looked up at him in surprise. He had a new glint in his eye - the kind the Marauders got when they were up to no good. Lily's eyes went wide and she knew this was going to lead to either a clever victory or a massive failure. The whole student body occupying the stands went quiet except for murmurings here and there. Not even the teachers, not even Madam Hooch, said anything. "I see how you're going to play this. Going to deny your feelings and all that tragic love shit - okay. I understand. But know this - " he murmured, leaning dangerously close to her. "I'm still a Black - Black's get what they want. And you, Dorcas Meadowes, are what I want."

Dorcas sat there, stunned for a moment, before she broke out of her reverie, and stood angrily. She put her hands on her hips and contorted her face into a scowl - the normal expression Dorcas wore when Sirius was around. He grinned back at her, shaking his head.

"Sirius, I'm aware of this," she snapped, "You've told me many times, alright? And my answer has been, and will always be - "

"What if I told you," he talked over her, smirking, "That if you refuse to go on a date with me, I will walk away from this game right now, and Slytherin automatically wins the House Cup?"

Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs roared unhappily, and Sirius winked at an enraged-looking Dorcas. Lily imagined Sirius should be much more afraid of this Dorcas - the angry, desperate, emotional Dorcas. But it seemed he wasn't fazed whatsoever.

"You can't expect me to - "

"Oh, yes, I can."

The Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs continued to holler shamelssly, most along the lines of, "Go on, say yes then!", "C'mon, Meadowes, go out with the bloke!", or "Oh, please, Dorcas, he's hot! Don;t act like you don't want to!".

Lily and the others stared wide eyed at the scene, and she had a sinking feeling that Dorcas would still hold. She knew Dorcas well enough to know that no one, not matter what, would sway her judgement. She would do what she wanted in the end. Dorcas opened her mouth, then closed it, then opened it, then closed it, then -

"Alright!" she yelled, "Alright. But don't think this changes anything, I - "

Sirius cut her off with a kiss full on the mouth, and her eyes sprung open wide in shock. However, Lily could see that she was forcing herself not to smile. The whole student body erupted in cheers and wolf-whistles and Sirius pulled away, backing up on his broom towards the field with a huge grin on his face, still watching her. Dorcas sighed and sat back down, fighting a smile. Her friends stared at her openly.

She glanced at them, then did a double take.

"What?"