I don't own J.K. Rowling's characters, or her initial infamous original ideas, plots, settings, etc. Plot of this story = mine. End.

It's been like, an hour. I'm pathetic and bored.



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"James Potter, most wanted, cleverest, devilish lad at school," Sirius said, raising his cup high. "Gryffindor Quidditch captain and Chaser, and one of the many contributors to the reason of tonight's celebration!" A wild cheer rose among the Gryffindors, who were completely basking in their glory. "To James, our Seeker David Morgan, our Keeper, Jon Harrow, the lovely Sevenrock sisters Marielle and Arlene—"—he paused as both sisters kissed him on a cheek simultaneously—"—and to our arse-kicking Chasers, Catalina Mercado and Vijay Rajah!" Catalina jumped into his lap, giggling insanely. They roared in approval after each name was called. "To them, to Quidditch, and to the sealed fate of Gryffindor house!"

They all raised their glasses of butterbeer, laughing as if they still couldn't quite realize the fact that they won they cup, and toasted.

James smiled, still a little disbelieving himself as he reached for a Pumpkin Pasty. He'd already seen when Sirius and Remus had done to the Chocolate Frogs; they'd tested one on Peter, and he was croaking for days afterward. Stifling a laugh, he bit into one, but almost immediately spit it out.

"What the bloody hell did you do to these?" he cried, taking a drink from a water flask he hid in his dresser in case of such an emergency.

Sirius grinned. "Aaah...those. Not quite sure, really. One of the girls left their perfumes lying around, and I guess I sort of...tipped it into the box the other night?" His crooked smile grew wider. "Nothing fatal, I'm sure. Bit of a nasty taste, and it'll leave you smelling like a pretty lass, but that's probably all."

A bit angry and embarrassed for not having foreseen something like that coming, James rolled his eyes and reached into his pocket for some sweets he'd smuggled from Hogsmeade. This perfume's going to stick for ages, he groaned, knowing all too well the taunts he'd get from irritable Slytherins. Sirius is a dead man if I can't get this stuff off. He headed out to go to the toilet.

Before he could go through the potrait hole and escape the din of the partying, he heard a light voice call after him.

"Thought someone like James Potter would think beyond just trying to wash perfume away with plain water." It was obviously a girl. Her voice was smooth and quiet, yet still at the same time strong, maybe a little threatening.

He turned to face her. Though he'd been on numerous dates and had an endless number of girls on his tail, he couldn't remember ever seeing this one. He was caught off guard by her small, almost sarcastic smile, her bright red hair, and her emerald eyes. And she's in your house, he thought wryly, blushing a little. She was surrounded by stacks of books and parchments, with transfigured items littering the small table she worked at.

She blinked, confused by his blank, somewhat admiring stare. James Potter, caught off his guard? There's a sight you don't see everyday... But after a second, she regained her composure, slightly shaken by his countenance and her silent reply to it, and went on.

"You're smart. Popular. Captain and Prefect to boot. Of course you'd think of a spell to get rid of that feminine smell, right?" James noticed that the girl put a slight stress on Prefect. She must be the girl Prefect from Gryffindor... Quite a biting one. Pretty, too.

He cleared his throat, raking his mind for a response. "And you assume that I'm going to the toilet simply to wash it off?" Which he intended to do, but he wouldn't let her know that.

She bit her, lip, stifling what sounded like a laugh, and said. "You're a boy. You have a boy's mind. I don't reckon you'd know a spell to get rid of such a thing."

James rolled his eyes again. "Fine," he conceded, tilting his head. "And I suppose you'd know a spell to get rid of strong odors?"

"Actually I do."

"Big surprise there."

"D'you want my help or not?"

"Sorry."

She smiled smugly and drew her wand.

"Scentus eradicatus."

As soon as the words left her lips he could smell the perfume fading. He breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thanks, erm--"

"Lily."

"Lily--"

"Evans. Lily Evans." She rolled her eyes with as much expression as James did. "I've only been in the same house and classes as you for five years, you know."

He blushed a little. "Sorry," he muttered, flushing more. "Haven't really seen you around." He shuffled his feet, suddenly conscious of his frayed robes and not-so-regal-looking slippers. For a suave player you're not that high maintenance, he told himself. Hearing her cough loudly, he forced himself to look up at her.

"So why aren't you joining in the festivities?"

He thought Lily laughed. It sounded a lot like it, but something was off. It didn't meet her cold green eyes.

"I don't have time for something frivolous as that," she said simply, returning to her work. "I do what I need to keep myself on top of things. Busy, at the very least." She peered at him almost suspiciously.

"Don't you have a date tonight, Po--"

"James, if you will. And no, I don't. I just won the Quidditch Cup two hours ago."

She made a face. "Exactly."

"It's not like every girl likes me."

She looked up from the Potions essay she was writing, looking annoyed and exasperated.

"You're handsome, popular, witty, and smooth. Any airheaded witch could fall for you."

James shifted a little. He couldn't help smiling at what she said, feeling a bit selfish in the pride he took from Lily's words.

"So you think I'm handsome?"

Lily was startled by his question. She looked up sharply from her parchment, her hand moving so quickly that she knocked her inkwell over.

"Dammit, you twit, look what you made me do!" she spat, trying to mop up the table with her robes. Idiot. Why are you getting like this in front of stupid James Potter?

He was quite pleased at the effect that he had on her, and her was about to make a comment on that until he saw the fury in her eyes.

"Sorry," he muttered immediate, performing a charm that removed inkstains. "I best be going now. Thanks for your help with that perfume."

"Molly won't be very happy when she finds out someone laced your food with her favorite scent."

"Molly?"

"The other red-haired Gryffindor who hangs around with Arthur Weasley."

"Oh." He was feeling quite stupid now.

"And James?"

"Yes?"

"You are the most obnoxious, cocky thing on earth. You owe me. Big time."

"Thanks. I think you're a stuck-up girl who loves her books too much. Goodnight, Lily."

Unbeknownst to her, he conjured up a layer of pudding under her bed's spread in her dormitory, and chuckled silently as he strode away.