Another mini series, this one only two parts and fairly straightforward. Enjoy :)

NO! :

Autumn 1973

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Lily is sitting alone by the fireplace scribbling notes for her fourth year Arithmancy homework when suddenly two shadows fall across the page: one tall and lanky, the other short and stocky. She glances up, annoyed to find Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew grinning identically at her.

"Yes?" she asks shortly.

"Here's the thing, Evans," Sirius says distastefully. "James likes you. And, however iffy our own feelings may be for you, he's our best mate, so we'd like you to give him a chance."

Lily snorts. "Don't be thick, Black. I'd never date Potter."

Peter sighs. "Told you," he mutters out of the corner of his mouth to Sirius. Lily, however, glares at both of them until they fidget a little, then begin to sidle away. But from across the common room she sees James waving his hands frantically at them to go back to her, as a red Remus bows his head studiously low over his papers.

"Um . . ." Peter stutters for a moment. "Reasons to say yes. Well, he's . . . he's fun! Never a dull moment with our James!"

"No," Lily replies in a surprisingly reasonable tone.

"He has great hair!" Sirius points out, flipping his own unbrushed mop over his shoulder. Lily chuckles.

"Ri-ight," she drawls. "No."

Peter grins broadly. "He's oh-so-handome!"

"You guys," she forces through gritted teeth, "Are really trying my patience."

"Best of all," Sirius crows, "You get me 'n Peter 'n Remus as best friends by association!"

Lily's eyes widen. "Okay, that is enough!" she yells, standing bolt upright and sending her Arithmancy books crashing to the floor. "NO I will not date Potter; NO I do not think he's fun; NO I do not think he has great hair; NO I do not think he's handsome; and NO! I do not want you guys as friends by association!"

Across the common room, she hears James coughing and sputtering; sees Remus, from the corner of her eye, hastily patting his friend on the back. "Well," Sirius says, looking a little taken aback, "I guess that's that, then." He glances nervously at Lily. "We'll, ah, be going to tell Pro-James, now."

"Like that's necessary!" Peter mutters, following Sirius away. Lily stoops and begins to collect her Arithmancy papers, all blinding anger and excruciating embarrassment and bloody Merlin Sirius and Peter I hate you and James and even Remus.

And without bothering to set her things in order, Lily, aware of all four boys' eyes on her, stands ramrod straight and sweeps away. Unforgiving.