Main Prompt: Lily/Sirius

Secondary Prompts: 2.[action] tripping over something, 9.[trope] fake dating and 4.[trait] angry

Word Count: 1557

~wWw~

Lily Evans didn't know Sirius Black that well, or any of the Marauders for that matter. She kind of knew Remus, as they would sit together in the library, studying. He was also in each of her classes and she knew that he had a preference for chocolate. Lily worried about him constantly as he occasionally missed class because of a mysterious illness. She would always make sure to write her notes extra neatly on those days and offered them to him when he returned. He would always thank her and make a crack about Sirius, James or Peter's writing. Lily thought of him as a friend, and she didn't have many of those.

Lily thought it was odd when Sirius approached her one day after Transfiguration. They didn't really talk that much. Sirius Black was a well-known player within the Hogwarts community and Lily had no interest in being his next conquest, but this seemed different than most other interactions she had with Sirius. He seemed as if something was on his mind. It was a little odd to see the normally happy Gryffindor subdued.

"Sirius, what's wrong?" Lily asked, slightly concerned. She didn't want to scare him away.

"Lily," Sirius said, pausing for a second, as though weighing his words. "Have you ever fallen in love before?"

Lily looked at him confused. Was this just another one of James' plans to get her to go out with him? She wasn't sure but she was sure that Sirius looked scared, like a little boy who had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

"I don't think so," Lily replied after a moment of thought. "Sirius, what's wrong?" Sirius looked back and forth across the corridor, making sure no one was watching them. Seemingly satisfied, he turned his attention back to Lily.

"I think I found the one," Sirius whispered, Lily just barely catching what he said.

"Not that I don't care, Sirius, but why aren't you talking to the other Marauders about this? Why not ask James, Remus or Peter?" Sirius's face tightened at the mention of Remus, but Lily pretended not to notice. "You have all these people who you are much better friends with, so why did you come to me?"

Sirius took a deep breath before speaking. "You've seen James attempt to try to get you on a date. I'd rather not have the same experience with my crush." Sirius's face twisted in pain as he spoke. "Look I'd rather not bring you into this but I don't have anyone else to go to."

Lily started to shake her head, the 'no' forming on her lips because she had no idea how to give anyone relationship advice, having had no experience of her own.

Sirius grabbed her hands, stopping her from stepping away. Desperation filled his eyes and Lily could see the panic in his expression. She couldn't bring herself to walk away from that.

"Please help me," he begged, his voice cracking as the words came out. Lily stared, having never heard Sirius ask anyone for help like this before. "I... Lily, please. I don't know if I can... I can't live without him." As the words slipped from his lips, his eyes widened in terror. "Fuck. I didn't mean to..."

"Sirius," Lily said in her most reassuring voice, looking kindly up at him, "I don't care if you're gay or if you're bisexual. You're a Gryffindor and us Gryffindors stand together. Anyone who has a problem with you has a problem with me okay? I'll help you, but you still haven't told me what you actually need."

"I need you to pretend to date me," Sirius said, immediately looking down after he spoke as though embarrassed by his request.

"Why me? Why not one of the other girls?"

"Because you're kind and even if you don't wanna admit it, you'll end up with James."

"Yeah right," Lily said with a laugh. "Okay, so who is the mysterious guy?"

"Remus," Sirius admitted. He didn't look up at Lily's face, he merely turned away and walked off into the crowded hallway. Lily stood there wondering why he left so quickly and how she hadn't realized it before. She wanted to help Sirius but she didn't know his plan and she didn't want to lose her friendship with Remus.

~wWw~

In the following days Sirius avoided Lily as much as he could, and it was a lot. He turned around every time he saw her, almost running in the opposite direction even if it was the opposite direction from where he was supposed to be going. But after only three days she cornered him in the hall away from all of his friends and out of sight so no one else would hear them.

"Sirius Black," Lily hissed, "you've been avoiding me. You really thought that I would think differently of you for liking Remus. Really?" Sirius looked terrified.

"Look, you're still the same old Sirius Black I've always known," Lily continued. "This doesn't change who you are, and it shouldn't change people's perceptions of you. When it comes down to it you're a nice guy, and sometimes you make mistakes but everyone does that. So what I'm trying to say is yes I'll help you." Lily grinned at the taller boy.

"Thanks Lily, you're the best!" Sirius said, with a large grin.

"Sirius. How will this help anything?" Lily asked, watching Sirius's face.

"Remus. He gets jealous easily," Sirius explained. "When he had a crush on Marlene he got really jealous of her boyfriend, and I've suspected it when he is around me but I'm not sure. This will hopefully confirm it."

"Okay, makes sense," Lily replied with a small smile. "So, we're just doing this to incite a reaction." Sirius nodded his head at this. She felt better about that, Remus was her friend and she didn't want to lose his friendship.

"Can I?" he asked, holding his arm out to her. Lily nodded, impressed by his chivalry, and took his arm. He led her out to the Great Hall where a few other students were congregating for dinner, they still had a couple more minutes before dinner would officially start so Sirius waited with Lily outside of the door. Both of them knew they would be at the top of the rumour mill rather quickly. Lily didn't mind it too much, she was very loyal to her friends and Sirius was definitely someone she now counted as a friend, and if she needed to date him for a bit, so be it.

Lily and Sirius were engrossed in their conversation, but Lily didn't miss the look of betrayal that James shot Sirius as he passed, or the flash of sadness in Remus' eyes, as he looked between the pair. She was sure that Remus looked just as betrayed as James when he looked at her, and she felt guilty because they were friends. She didn't like tricking him. But hopefully, this would have a happy outcome and Remus would forgive her.

"So I'll see you on Saturday for our date?" Sirius said with his signature smirk as he led her to the Gryffindor table on the far side of the hall.

"Of course, I'll be waiting by the stairs for you ready to start making memories," Lily said with a slight smile. Sirius fake gagged at the last part causing her to let out a tiny giggle. She moved to give him a hug, whispering in his ear as she did so. "What? You don't like my attempt at being like one of your groupies?"

"No, I asked you for a reason, please don't ever say anything like that again," Sirius whispered back.

"Fine," Lily said with a grin, pulling back from the hug. She slowly pulled her hand from his, making it appear as though she was reluctant to leave him for her own spot at the dinner table. She walked backwards towards her spot, continuing to look at him. Well, she walked backwards until she tripped over one of Sirius's groupie's feet. She stumbled backwards, her feet rapidly trying to stabilize herself. It didn't work and she ended up on the ground, her elbow smashing against the stone floor. Both Sirius and James were by her side in an instant helping her up, James glaring at Sirius. Lily gently rubbed her elbow, attempting to hide her wince as she did so. But her pain escaped neither of the boys.

"Come on, you're eating with us. Let's go," James said, gently leading her over to Sirius's spot.

"Give me a second I have something to deal with," Sirius said, turning towards the girl that had tripped Lily.

"What was that for?" Sirius asked, his voice dark.

"Nothing, it was a mistake," the girl said looking down at her feet not wanting to further anger the most popular boy in Hogwarts.

"I sure hope so," Sirius said, turning back to Lily who was now sitting in his seat. He sat down next to her and took her hand in his own. Lily glanced around, noticing the obvious jealousy on Remus' face. Maybe, just maybe this would work, Lily thought to herself, that is if Sirius survived James attempting to kill him. But that sounded like a problem for another day.