A/N: I still don't own Harry Potter or any related characters.

The upcoming duel was all the Gryffindors could talk about the next few days. Luna worked with James on defensive spells, she was still ahead of her classmates in defense.

"What if..." James started to say. Luna rolled her eyes.

"He'll play fair, it's an honorable duel, besides, Lily will hex him if he doesn't. Please tell me you're not thinking of doing something stupid."

"Me?"

"Really? Do I have to ask, James. Do this the right way, show Lily you're actually serious about her."

"I'm sirius about you," Sirius yelled from the other side of the common room. Luna sighed blowing her boyfriend a kiss. He blew one back. James glared at the pair.

"You're supposed to be helping me, not flirting with him."

"I think you've got the charm down, James. If we keep practicing we'll just end up tired, and hungry, and is it dinner time yet?"

"Close enough, let's go. You coming Remus?"

"Just got another half a length to go."

"Which essay?"

"Professor McGonagall's. It's the one on the theory of animal transformations."

"Sirius, go help him with it, you turn into the a dog."

"So? That doesn't mean I understand how it works." Sirius had scooped Luna up, holding her in his arms.

"Fine, Remus, come on, we'll help you after dinner." Remus nodded putting his book down. Sirius carried Luna from the room, leaving her chair behind. Lily quickly shrunk it and slipped it in her bag.

"Do you really think James can beat him?" Sirius asked as he set Luna down in a chair. She nodded slowly.

"If he doesn't goof off about it, yes, I think he has a chance."

"I still can't believe you have two guys dueling over you," Marlene whined joining the table.

"I didn't ask for this," Lily stated. "It was James' idea."

"Think he'll win?"

"Luna thinks he has a chance."

"Luna's an idiot. Wish she would've stayed where she was. Everything was perfect before she hovered her butt in."

"What did you say about my girlfriend," Sirius asked standing and glaring at Marlene.

"I said she's an idiot." Luna reached up and grabbed Sirius' arm pulling him back into his seat.

"Ignore her! I'm not having you get detention defending me. It's a sweet thought though," she whispered running her fingers thought his hair.

"But she..."

"Ignore her, we both know I'm not an idiot."

"That's debatable, you're dating him," James laughed. Luna glared and threw a roll at him.

"Now who's going to be getting trouble?" Sirius asked. Luna gave him an innocent look.

"Enough both of you," Remus said. The pair settled down to eating their dinner, Luna trying to ignore the looks Marlene kept giving her.

"Potter, Black, Luna." The three of them looked behind them.

"Snape. Did you need something?" James asked.

"Just making sure you're ready for our duel tomorrow. I'm guessing Luna's been helping you?"

"Of course, she's amazing, not as amazing as Lily, but still." Luna watched as Severus studied her for a minute.

"She is pretty interesting," Snape commented walking back towards the the Slytherin table. Sirius narrowed his eyes in his direction.

"Don't tell me you're jealous because he gave me a compliment," Luna laughed.

"Of course not, why would I be jealous of a stupid Slytherin," Sirius huffed causing Luna to laugh louder.

"I'm done, want to head back?" she asked her boyfriend. Sirius looked at her and the large plate of pie in front of him.

"I'll take her, I've got her chair," Lily stated unshrinking the chair and helping Luna into it.

"I'll see you later, Sirius. Remus, you wanted help with your homework?" Remus followed the pair of red haired girls back to the common room.

LLLLLLLLLLLL

"Think he'll chicken out?" Sirius asked. Luna shook her head, Lily stood next to the couple waiting for James and Severus. They had decided to hold the duel on the Quidditch pitch, since no one was using it that morning.

"Think one of the professors will find out about this and put a stop to it?" Remus commented.

"No, we didn't tell Peter about it," Luna muttered. She was still certain Peter had ratted her and Sirius out for making out in one of the alcoves.

"Here comes Severus," Lily whispered watching the young man walk towards the group, his black robes billowing behind him.

"I hear James," Remus added.

"Alright guys, this needs to be a fair duel, Remus has agreed to referee, does anyone object?"

"No," they both stated.

"Good, now, pick seconds."

"Sirius," James said immediately. Severus looked at the group nodding. He could easily have brought someone from his own house.

"Luna," he said calmly. Luna blinked but nodded.

"Take your places, bow." The duel ended before either student had much of a chance to do any damage to each other. James blocked most of Severus' spells with decent shield charms, Severus only used verbal spells even thought Lily and Luna both knew he could things non-verbally. The duel ended when James managed to deflect one of Severus' spells straight back at him before he had a chance to dodge. He ended up on the ground. James walked over and looked down at him.

"Do you conceded, Snape?" Severus considered it for a moment before nodding. James reached down and pulled the Slytherin boy to his feet.

"Are you both alright?" Lily asked rushing over. James's robe was scorched around the hem and Severus had the start of a bruise on his cheek where the spell had hit him.

"I'm fine, thank you. Potter, Lily," Severus stated before stalking from the field.

"Lily, want to go the dance with me?' James asked with a crooked smile. She rolled her green eyes.

"Infirmary first, and yes, you won, so I'll go with you."

"See, told you Padfoot!" James yelled triumphantly as Lily led him inside.