`*`*`*`

Step Three: Learning From Mistakes

The next class was concluding, with not very much mishap from James and Sirius.

Lily smiled, "Wow, you guys are doing so well!"

"Yeah," added Grace, "we're really impressed."

"Well," said Sirius, "our four-legged friends are very important. We should keep earth clean for them."

Grace looked like she could have kissed him. "I'm buying you butterbeers for that!"

Sirius smiled, "It's a date! This Hogsmeade weekend!"

"This time we won't be late," James added.

When they left, Lily turned to Grace, "That was almost too easy."

`*`*`*`

Someone tapped James on the shoulder. He turned to find Leslie Halloway, a very popular brunette.

"Yes?" he said.

"Well, Gwen and I were wondering if you and Sirius wanted to meet us for a butterbeer this weekend."

James put on a flirtatious smile. "We would be honored."

When she left, he ran up to Sirius. "Sirius, guess who the two hottest guys in the school are going out with this weekend!"

"Lily and Grace," responded Sirius.

"Damn, no! I forgot about that!"

"What'd you do?"

"I accepted invitations from Leslie and Gwen."

"LESLIE AND GWEN?!"

"Yeah, but now that we already had plans…"

"THE Leslie and Gwen?!"

"Sirius, it's Leslie and Gwen," said Remus. "That is what James said."

"I know, but we have to go with them! This is way too big to turn down."

"But what do we do about Grace and Lily?" asked James.

Sirius thought for a moment. "Well, we could cancel."

"Imagine explaining WHY we're canceling to them."

"Good point. We could go out with both of them."

"At the same time?"

"Yeah, happens in books all the time."

That should have been their hint that things were doomed.

`*`*`*`

They met Leslie and Gwen, and started leading them to a table. But Grace and Lily were only two tables away.

Sirius turned Gwen around and said, "You know what? I think this table has too much sunlight. Sunshine can kill you, so lets go to this darker part right here."

James caught his drift, "Yeah," he steered Leslie away from the table, "too much sun isn't fun."

"But I love the sun!" insisted Gwen. "We should sit there!"

"Me, too!" agreed Leslie.

"But, er, James is allergic to the sun," said Sirius.

"I'm what?! What a load of- oh, I mean I am. I always break out in those nasty hive things," said James.

"But you play Quidditch outside," said Gwen.

"Yes, but I, er, take a potion for it, and I forgot today," said James.

"Oh," said Leslie. "Well, in that case we'd better sit in the darker area."

James and Sirius were so relieved that neither saw the amused look that Gwen and Leslie passed.

"Well," said Sirius, "James and I are going to go get drinks. You two stay here." He smiled at them.

They went over to Lily and Grace's table.

"Hey," said Sirius, sitting down.

"Sorry we're late!" said James.

"It's okay," smiled Lily.

"What does everyone want?" asked Sirius jumping up. "James and I will go get it."

"Butterbeers," said Lily and Grace together.

"Great," said James, also standing up. "We'll go get them."

Sirius and James went over to the bar, and got four butterbeers, which they then walked over to Gwen and Leslie's table.

"What took you so long?" asked Gwen.

"James tripped," said Sirius.

"Yeah, Sirius tripped me," said James. "It was horrid, I hit the back of my head on a table."

"You poor baby!" cried Leslie.

James smiled. "I'll manage alright, I think."

"What?" Gwen asked Sirius who had been staring at her.

"Did it hurt?" he asked.

"Did what hurt?"

"When you fell from the sky?"

"No. I don't fly."

"That's not what I meant," said Sirius. "What I meant was that you looked like an angel."

"Did you? Oh, thanks."

"Er, Sirius, I have to use the lavatory. Will you accompany me?" asked James.

"Fine, fine," said Sirius.

They walked over to Lily and Graces table.

"Hi," said James, "what'd we miss?"

"The butterbeers," said Lily.

"What?" said James.

"You didn't bring back the butterbeers."

"Oh, RIGHT," said James.

"Must have slipped our minds. Speaking of slipping, James hit his head on the bar. That's probably why we forgot. He was dripping blood, I had to take to him into the bathroom," said Sirius.

"But James is fine right now," said Lily.

"Oh, yeah. Er, I healed him with a spell!" said Sirius, sounding proud of himself.

"Yeah, I was in a lot of pain," said James.

"Oh, you poor thing!" said Lily. "Well, Grace and I can go get the drinks."

They both started to get up until James and Sirius shouted, "NOOOOO!" together. Then, they (Grace and Lily) sat down surprised.

"I mean," said James, "I'm fine now. I mean, you're always telling us about how we can't treat girls right. We should be the ones getting the drinks, right?"

"I guess," said Lily. "If you're sure you feel all right."

"Of course I do. Sirius is an excellent healer."

"I am, he's right," said Sirius, standing up along with James. They left.

"Wow, that was a REALLY good lie. I was almost convinced," said Grace.

"I know," said Lily. "This is going to be really interesting."

James and Sirius stayed with Gwen and Leslie for about five minutes, then went back to Lily and Grace with the excuse that they were getting more butterbeers.

"But you haven't finished yours!" protested Gwen.

"Yes, but you have, and we need to get you new ones!" said James.

"A true gentleman!" smiled Leslie.

They left, and got the butterbeers, looking pleased with themselves as they came to Grace and Lily's table.

"What are you two smiling at?" asked Lily.

"And why are you so damn late?" asked Grace.

"Long line," said Sirius.

"But there's no line," said Lily.

"Not right now," said James, "but there was."

"Yeah," said Sirius, "it was bad."

"I haven't seen a line," said Grace.

"You couldn't see it from there," said Sirius. "It was outside."

"Outside? Why?" asked Lily.

"It was! I have no idea why," said James.

"Alright, we believe you," said Lily.

Lily and Grace left to go to the bathroom then, and James and Sirius ran back to Gwen and Leslie's table.

They were talking just fine until two shadows crossed the table.

"Well, well, well, we leave the table for just one second and look what happened," said Lily.

James and Sirius gasped, they knew when they'd been had.

"What are you talking about?" asked Gwen.

"Potter and Black here. They left our table when we went to the bathroom," said Grace.

"But they've been here, with us," said Leslie.

"What a coincidence," said Lily, "they've been with us this entire time!"

"We can explain!" said Sirius.

"Oh really?" asked Grace.

"No, not really," said Sirius, looking down.

"Well, while you and James think of something, we're gonna go. I'm sure we have a lot to talk about," said Lily.

After they left, James turned to Sirius, "We are so screwed."

"Yeah," said Sirius. "You know this is gonna mean extra lessons."

`*`*`*`

"Wow, that has got to be one of the more interesting times in my life!" said Leslie.

"They went to the 'bathroom' about five million times. I mean, I was just about to tell them how obvious they were! They were good at lying for the most part, though," said Gwen. "How'd you know they'd try to do that?"

"Oh," said Lily, "a little birdy told us."

"Oh Gwen," said Leslie, "you know they can be complete arses."

"True, they can be," said Gwen. "It would be so great if the female population would ignore them until they changed!"

All four of them smiled at once.

"Do you think we could pull it off?" asked Grace.

Leslie laughed, "Could we? They'd never be the same!"

`*`*`*`

A/n: another chapter!!!! yay! i think i'm toturing james and sirius WAY too much. too bad i don't intend on stopping anytime soon.

besides, it's their own faults.

PhoenixTears- yeah, i think that males should think of how they treat women.

OriginalProxy- god, i hate those stories that have britney spears songs in them! it's the seventies, not the ninties people!

sissy-6- as usual, thanx for the review!

i o u a name- i forgive you for the whole story thing. i understand that it was probably just a coincidence. or maybe you read my story and forgot that it wasn't ur idea. it happens.

citrus scented- i hope you found what happened to them ammusing. i am trying to keep it funny, thanx for letting me know i succeeded!

Angl- i hope you like this chapter better that the others, as well!

MoonFaith- i will try to work the donkey thing in!