A/N:  Yay!  Chapter three!  I think this is about one chapter a week!  Btw, there's going to be four of them, in case you were wondering.  One more thing: I love getting all those wonderful reviews of yours!  But most of you people say simply: "WRITE MORE!!!", which I happen to be doing anyway. Would it trouble you greatly to tell me what part of this you liked, or didn't like, so I know what works for the future?   Hope it's not too much of a bother. Enjoy!

Dedication:  To the people at SugarQuill.Net, who taught me the meaning of the word 'prat', and to my French teacher, Mme.  Riviere, who's help is essential to Remus' speech.  J

Disclaimer:  It's all JK's.  You  know that.

Operation Amour

Assuming a casual pose, Sirius strode over to where Remus and Peter were sitting.  "Let's go.  James just went off with McGonagall for the detention."

            The three went one at a time up the stairs to the boys' dormitory.  "Anyone there?"  Peter asked timidly.

            "Coast is clear," Remus muttered.  The Marauders sat down and the meeting began-well, tried to anyway.

            "It doesn't feel right without James…" Remus sighed.  "Part of me wants to rush down and tell him we're having a Marauders' meeting."

            "I agree!" said Peter quickly.

            "'Course you agree, whatever involves James getting in on stuff, you agree to!" Sirius growled.

            "Stuff it, Padfoot." Remus said.  "Let's get down to business.  So why'd you call the three of us here?  And why isn't James invited?"

            "Well, for starters, have you noticed how he's been acting lately?  Kind of in a dream state, like he doesn't hear a word we say?"  Sirius asked.

            "Now that you mention it, yeah, I did notice that.  I figured it would pass in a day or two." Remus replied.

            "Well, it hasn't.  My dear Marauders, I believe old Prongs has finally fallen."

            "He doesn't look bruised to me," Remus said amusedly.

            "Very funny, you prat.  I mean, he's fallen for a girl."

            "What?"  Peter looked shocked.

            Remus' forehead wrinkled for a minute, then his brow uncreased.  "Are you talking about Lily Evans, Siri?"

            "Good call, brainiac!" Sirius said dryly.  "Yeah, I mean Lily.  And I think she likes him back.  You notice what she's been doing the last couple of days in class?"

            "Unlike James, Padfoot, I happen to have been concentrating on my schoolwork instead of on people of the opposite gender."

            "What about what happened in Ancient Runes on Thursday?"  Peter squeaked.

            "Yeah, what did happen?" Sirius asked.

            "You mean you don't know?  Remus feigned utter astonishment.  "And here I thought you were finally coming up with some useful evidence, and lo and behold, you have none.  Surprise, surprise."

            "Come off it, Moony!  I know something happened, I just don't know what."

            "Well, James was taking some very interesting notes that day, if you know what I mean."

            "So was Lily," Sirius said thoughtfully.

            "What do you mean?"

            "She's been sketching a picture of him for a while now; she was at it again earlier today in the common room, while you and James were playing chess."

            "And you know this how?"

            "Because I walked by and saw it."

            "But what does that have to do with her liking him?" Peter ventured.

            "You know, Wormtail, that's the first intelligent thing you've said this entire conversation."

            "Sirius!"  Remus glared at the black-haired annoyance.

            "Sorry, Pete.  You know I didn't mean it, right?"

            "Course," Peter said faintly, although Remus noted that his face was a bit pale.

            "Aaaannnnywaaayy…" Sirius brought the conversation back on topic.  "Her face got all red and she crumpled up the paper when she thought I had seen it.  So I say we get the two lovebirds together.  How about you?"

            "I'm in," Remus said.  "Peter?"

            "Sure."

            "Great!  Then let's pick a name for this plan!"

            "Padfoot, the name comes after we decide what to do.  It's more important that we-"

            "Yadayadayada.  The name's most important, everyone knows that. Let's call it Operation Something…"

            "Operation?  That makes it sound like a rescue mission!"

            "But it is!" Sirius protested.  "We're rescuing these poor lost souls from their hopeless dreams and turning them into realities!"

            Remus rolled his eyes.  "Fine, whatever.  Then how about we call it Operation Amour?"

            "Amour?" Peter asked.

            "French for love, Pete.  What do you say?"

            "Perfect, Moony!  Operation Amour, it has such a nice ring to it!  Now, you know what tomorrow is?

            "Sunday?"

            "Yeah, but what else?"

            "You mean that it's the next Hogsmeade weekend."

            "Exactly.  I say that we invite Lily to go with us on our little run-around, then we desert the lovebirds at a table in the Three Broomsticks.   We can take the Invisibility Cloak so that they can't find us later."

            "So many risks in that, Padfoot.  What if Lily doesn't want to come with us?"

            "If you ask her, Remus, she'll come.  She's known you longer than any of us.  And Peter can get the cloak while James' still serving detention, then distract him so he won't want to go on a kitchen raid tonight."

            "What will you do, oh Master Plan-maker?"

            "I'll sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor!"

            Remus sighed.  "You know James will kill us when he figures out what we did."

            "You have to take risks in my profession, Rem."

            "Fine."

            "What do you say, Wormie?"

            "I'm in.  B-but please don't call me W-wormie."  Peter said rather boldly.

            "You have my word on it.  Now let's move, people!"

            A half hour later, the three plotting Marauders met back in the dormitory with success.  They couldn't wait for tomorrow…