`*`*`*`

Tales From a Broom Closet

~*~*~Back Tracking~*~*~

"No, I don't think I will," said Grace.

Outside, two people walked away, but Lily Evans and James Potter were fully stuck in a closet.

"That's not what was supposed to happen," said a perplexed Lily.

"I really hate Sirius right now," said James.

"Not as much as I hate Grace!" exclaimed Lily.

"No, it's definitely less than I hate Sirius!" argued James.

"Not possible!" countered Lily.

They continued fighting over whom hated whom more before Lily said, "Come to think of it, right now I hate Sirius, too."

"Just as I hate Grace," said James.

Then they looked at each other laughed.

"We're being just as bad as them!" said Lily.

"Isn't that something like the reason why we were about to put them in here?" asked a laughing James.

It was after this comment that they both realized that they were in a broom closet. Together.

"Er…" said Lily, "so…"

"Yeah…" said James.

"Maybe we should try to get out," suggested Lily. "Oh no!" she then exclaimed. "Grace took my wand!"

James couldn't find his either. "Sirius took mine!"

Lily began pounding on the door. "Let us out! Let us out!"

"They put a silencing charm on," said James, sinking to the floor with his head on his lap.

"How do you know?" asked Lily.

"Because I heard them," said James. "They can be very tricksy."

"And false," added Lily. "Now what are we supposed to do?"

"Stay here until they let us out," said James.

"I know, but it's gonna be at least morning until they let us out! Where are we gonna sleep?" cried Lily.

"Here," said James.

"Stop being so obvious!" said Lily. "That was a rhetorical question! Why can't you just freak out and be pessimistic, like me?"

"Because you're too much fun to watch," smiled James.

Another one of those awkward silences prevailed.

"What are we supposed to do until they come back?" asked Lily.

"We could sleep," suggested James. "Or talk."

"About what?" asked Lily.

"Well, about our lives. All I know about you is that you've got a friend with one hell of a punch and an even better kick."

"Okay," said Lily, "you start."

Lily slid onto the floor next to James, and they talked for a really, really, really long time.

Somewhere into telling him about her life, she stopped. "James?" she asked.

"Yeah?"

"Why did you have my picture?" she asked.

James was bright red, and didn't answer to start off. "I… er… that is…"

"You don't have to tell me," said Lily.

James sighed. "You see, it's like this…"

A long paused ensued, which Lily broke with a "Yes?"

James seemed to be thinking for a bit. When she said that, he turned with a look of decision on his face. He leaned over and kissed her on the lips.

Lily was shocked for a few moments before she started to enjoy it.

They had somehow moved against the door when it was opened. They tumbled out to Sirius, who said, "Good morning my little sunflo-wer-er-ers!" he finished in shock.

Grace, who was right next to him exclaimed, "Bloody hell!"

"Padfoot," said James getting up, then helping Lily, "you have awful timing!"

Sirius let out an enormous grin, and turned to Grace. "Guess who owes me fifty galleons!"

"Guess who I owe a slap if he doesn't stop gloating in a minute!" countered Grace.

"Ah, so you admit it," Sirius said.

"We did bet on it," Grace grumbled.

"You bet on us?" cried Lily. "That's so low! Oh, and mean, stupid-"

"What'd you bet on?" asked James, and Lily continued on listing the things that Grace and Sirius were.

"How long it'd take you to get together," said Sirius. "And I won! You got together now!" He turned to Grace again. "They got together now!"

"We aren't together!" said Lily, who had just finished off her list with Gollum-like.

"Oh yeah, you were just snogging in a broom closet for fun," said Sirius.

"No!" said Lily. "We're just not together."

"Oh yeah?" said Sirius. "They why'd you decide to snog in a broom closet instead of the common room?"

"You put us in the broom closet!" exclaimed Lily.

Sirius paused for a second. "Why were you snogging, then?"

"Er…" said Lily, turning ever redder.

"Well, James?" asked Sirius. "Maybe you can answer."

James glared at him before grabbing Lily's hand and pulling her away. "Lily and I need to talk. Alone," he added when it became apparent that Sirius was going to follow.

"Fine, fine," said Sirius. "Be that way. So Grace, where's my money?"

"Lily just said they weren't together yet. That means he hasn't asked her out yet. I owe you nothing," said Grace.

"Well, that's cheap! You play really dirty, Greenleaf. Say, why don't I talk to you alone," he said.

"What do you think we're doing right now? Doesn't look like there are a lot of people to me," said Grace.

"No, I mean alone," said Sirius.

Grace snorted. "Dare to dream, Black," she said.

"Oh, I will," said Sirius. "Say, I wonder Lily and James are doing."

"That was a quick change of subject," commented Grace. "I don't think you'll be able to find them. Even if you did they'd stop talking."

"That's what you think!" said Sirius. "Come on," he grabbed her arm and began tugging her to the Room of Requirement, "we've got people to watch."

`*`*`*`

"Lily," said James once he had her alone with him, "about earlier…" He raked a hand through his hair.

"Yeah, what about it?" she asked.

"It was because… well, you see I did it because… I- er- like you," he mumbled out, turning red.

"What?" asked Lily. "I couldn't understand you."

"I like you," he said a bit louder.

Lily turned bright red, but she began smiling. "I like you, too," she said.

A smile graced James's face. "Really? You do?"

Lily nodded.

"Then… er… will you… erm… will you go out with me?"

"I'd be glad to," Lily responded, damning whoever invented blushing.

James looked shocked for a second before he finally came to. "Really? You will? That's great! Wow! Er…"

"James," said Lily, "shut up and kiss me."

James shrugged. "Yeah, alright."

He complied.

`*`*`*`

"Whatever happened to their manners?" asked Sirius, as he and Grace watched from a screen that might have been a television, but was actually a picture frame.

"I still can't believe that you can look on anyone in the school you want!" cried Grace. "Wait… you've never looked at me, have you?"

Sirius bluntly ignored her question, his gaze fixed on the frame. "Wow, James looks like a good kisser!"

"Thinking of kissing him?" asked Grace.

He was pulled out of his reverie. "No! Of course not! I'm just surprised that he's been holding out like that. He doesn't seem the sort."

"Sort?" questioned Grace.

"You know, sexy, charming, manageable hair, the initials S.B.," said Sirius.

"You think you're a good kisser?" asked Grace.

"Wanna find out?" asked Sirius, licking his lips.

"I'd rather burn in hell for all eternity," said Grace.

"Suit yourself, there's lots of girls who want a piece of this," said Sirius.

"You poor, sick soul," said Grace. "You've been seriously misinformed in your pathetic life, haven't you?"

"I'm not sick," said Sirius. "No colds, dragon pox, or anything. Madam Pomfrey just checked me up last time I went."

"Sirius, sometimes your stupidity overrides anything I've ever seen before," said Grace.

"Oooo! Lily looks like a good kisser, too! Look at that!" said Sirius, transfixed on the frame.

Grace said the spell that turned the screen off. "That's enough for now."

"But Grace," whined Sirius, "it was just getting to the good part!"

"You sound like a three year old! Anyway, I'm sure they'll be snogging enough in the common room due to their new relationship," said Grace.

"You admit it!" cried Sirius. "You admit that I win! You owe me money!"

"Not so fast, Black. You said that if they got together last night I had to pay you. They didn't get together last night; they got together this morning. It looks like you are the one that owes me the money," said Grace, crossing her arms.

"You play dirty, Greenleaf. But, so do I! For you see, technically I owe you nothing!" said Sirius.

"What? Yeah you do!" cried Grace.

"No, I don't! You said something about it taking two days. It only took twenty-four hours," said Sirius, imitating her by crossing his arms.

"I have a solution!" said a painting behind them. They turned and were shocked to see that is was of Dumbledore.

"Er, yes professor?" said Grace.

"I think you should give me the money, that way everybody wins," said painting-Dumbledore.

"How do we win if we're giving you are money?" asked Sirius. Grace nudged him. "What? I'm just saying…" he hissed.

"He's a professor!" she hissed back.

"Well," said the painting, "then neither of you is right and I get some money!"

"I must admit that I never thought I would hear you say that," said Sirius. "Wait 'til I tell James! I wonder where he is right now."

"You're kidding, right?" said Grace.

"Why, do you know where he is?" asked Sirius.

Grace sighed. "Do you have the memory of a goldfish?"

"Oh, he's with Lily! Thanks for reminding me!" cried Sirius.

Grace looked at him confused. "How did I remind you of that?"

"Well, you said goldfish, and I like watching goldfish swim around. I also like girls. What do I do with girls? We snog. So then I remembered, Lily, James, snogging! Right!"

Grace rubbed her temples. "Remind me never to ask you anything ever again."

"He's rather confusing, isn't he?" asked Dumbledore.

"You have no idea," Grace replied.

`*`*`*`

Lily and James walked up to lunch hand-in-hand, laughing at something or the other.

Grace and Sirius were waiting for them outside the Great Hall.

"Hiya mate," said Sirius. "Lily, I have newfound respect for you. You too, Jamesie." He then skipped off into the Great Hall.

"What was that about?" asked Lily.

"Don't even ask. Sirius Black has the most messed up mind I've ever seen," said Grace. "I found this out today."

"Only today?" asked James. "You don't catch on real quick, do you?"

Grace didn't seem to hear him, but Lily could tell she had when Grace said, "So, you and Lily were snogging all afternoon. Sirius tells me you're really good. Is there any reason he would know?"

James turned red, and reminded himself that Grace couldn't take jokes, which Sirius had already told him.

Doesn't catch on real quick, does he?

`*`*`*`

"What took so long?" asked Sirius when they all walked in. "I've been here a minute more than you people."

"A whole minute?" asked James.

"Yeah! All alone," Sirius hung his head in mock solemnness.

They sat down to eat and Sirius spoke again. "So, are you two a couple?"

Grace raised an eyebrow at him, and he winked at her. She glared back at him, but pretended nothing had happened.

"Yeah," smiled James, wrapping his arm around Lily's waist, "we are."

"You couldn't have waited another day, could you?" muttered Grace under her breath.

"What was that Grace?" asked Lily.

"Nothing, just commenting on how lovely the weather was," said Grace.

"So," said Sirius, looking at Lily, "how'd he ask you?"

"Sirius!" cried Grace. "That's personal!" She added to him in a whisper, "Besides, you already know."

Sirius ignored her. "Fine, then is he a good kisser?"

Lily was bright red. "Yeah, he was good."

"Good, he looked great! I mean, I'll have to take your word for it," said Sirius.

"Sirius," said James, "were you spying on us?"

"Of course not!" cried Sirius.

"Sirius," said James in a warning tone.

"Define spying," said Sirius.

"You were spying on us?" shrieked Lily. "Why were you spying on us?"

"I never said I was spying on you!" cried Sirius.

"But you were!" said James.

"Define spying," Sirius repeated.

"Sneaking up on us, possibly under the protection of invisibility, and watching," said James.

"Oh, no I didn't do that," said Sirius. "No sneaking or invisibility involved."

"You were watching us, though? How?" asked James.

"A magician never reveals his secrets," said Sirius.

"You were watching us?" asked James.

"That's low!" said Lily.

They walked out when they were done hexing him.

"Sirius," said Grace, "remind me never to take you to a poker game. Oh, and purple is your color. You should wear your hair like that everyday."

`*`*`*`

A/N: Sirius gets beaten up and hexed an awful lot, doesn't he?

i posted because i love you all so much! the next chapter should be out v. soon (i have a thing against the # 13, so my 14th chapters always come out quick). anyone want lots of fluff? tell me if so!

does anyone want me 2 email them when i post? cuz that can be arranged!

thanks for all of the marvelous reviews!

LoverOfAllThingsLegolas: technically NOT the first reviewer, but maybe this time, right? oh, and i did notice the whole s.b. thing. creeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeepy!

JerseyGirl03: yeah it was a set up! (it took him SO long 2 ask her out ;))

i o u a name: i also saw PotC the day it came out. i can't wait for return of the king!!!!!!! it's gonna be great!

sailorsunandchildofthesun: damn straight he's the hottest guy in the world! lol

Willow23: you're like lily!!!! you'll be in a chapter sometime soon. i haven't decided when to put it yet, though.

Cassandrah Potter: you liked the essay?! thanx for telling me! i was worried about it!

BastsCleopatra: i'm glad you love it! that makes me happy!

The Bronze Snidget: wanna work out our problems? tyou could give me an idea for a story and i could write it...

Horse-Obssesed: thanx 4 the fairy tale idea! i think i'll take you up on it!

irina: your friend told you about it?! omg that's so awesome! that made my day!

Carmel March: dumbledore won, are you mad? lol

sissy-6: whatever happens, it will be a complete ending, no worries!

Neo-Queen Serenity: here it is! i hope you liked it!

Manny2003: hope you liked the broom closet!

Sparxlie Pixie: i'm a poligamist, 2! (grace would kill me if she knew...)

LunaMoon7: grace loves legolas. technically greenleaf isn't his last name, but i told her i would write it for her!

Melly: glad you liked it!

macedonia: hope you enjoyed it!

Lady J.: that be great! i'd love your ideas!

soupie: faves list? i luv ya'!

Unhealthily-Obsessed: lily and james require no food. they're special-like.