A/N  Hi everyone.  Sorry this took so long.  I've just been busy with school and stuff.

To remind you whats happened,

James is still trying to win Lily over her to no avail. Lily is being a stubborn wench. Sirius is going out with Claire Lily is going out with Amos There's is going to be a christmas dance (organised by James and Lily) and Claire and Emily are forcing Lily to go shopping. Err, it's been so long that I've forgotten most things of any importamce.  Hopefully you dudes remember more than me.

Anyway nevertheless please review.  See you next chapter!!!

Over Inflated Jerk

Part 10

Lily Evans just so happened to be the type of person who hated to shop.  From an early age, Claire and Emily had done everything within their power to alter this but after seven years nothing had changed.  It was really very frustrating, not just for Claire and Emily, but for Lily too.  Lily at this particular moment was being dragged about hogsmeade in a manner which she considered most unorthodox.  Her wrists were red and sore from her 'friends' tight grip and after numerous attempts she had not yet escaped.  She fumed silently as they passed the ice cream parlour.  "Couldn't we just for one minute?"  She pleaded to her captors.

"Absolutely not!"  Claire exclaimed.  "There's work to be done.  You do realise this is our last chance to get dresses for the dance.  It is next Thursday you know."

"Of course I know."  Lily grumbled, "It's me who's been organising it."

"Well there you go!  You do want to look nice don't you?"

Lily muttered something incoherent.  Emily was sure she heard the words 'curtains' and 'customise'.   Luckily she didn't put two and two together and settled on the theory that Lily had finally cracked.  It had been a long time coming.

Things could simply not get worse Lily decided as the trio stumbled into Madam Malkins store.  Until, "Oh bugger!"

"What?  Not pleased to see us Lilykins?"  It was Sirius, James and Remus.  They didn't stock clothes small enough for Peter so he had gone elsewhere.

Lily turned to Emily and Claire.  "Please," she said, "its one thing to force me into shopping but this – this is just cruel." 

Claire grinned at her sympathetically.  "Sorry hon," she said "but this is the only place that sells decent stuff."  Lily glared at her.  They were doing this on purpose.  She knew it.

"Hello dears."  Said who they supposed was Madam Malkin.  "What can I do for you?" 

"It's for her." Emily said pointing to Lily who scowled back at her.  Claire whispered something to the plump old lady who gave a merry laugh and then beckoned the girls over to a row of what even Lily admitted were beautiful dresses.  The marauders looked on in utmost interest.

"You'd look just ravishing in this one dear."  Madam Malkin exclaimed extracting a fabulous dress from the rack.  There were 'Oohs' and 'Aahs' from all the onlookers including Lily.  It was simply gorgeous.  The material was made of silk and was so delicate that it literally floated.  It was a creamy colour colour and there was the most intricate detail on the bodice.  "It's beautiful." Lily breathed.

"Made by the Elves of Eminton."  The old lady said proudly.  "Extremely hard to come by these days.  Very rare."  Lily hadn't a clue who the Elves of Eminton were, but she assumed they must be good.  She could tell by Claire and Emily's awed expressions that they must be.  Maybe it was like the wizard equivalent of Versace or something.

"Why don't you try it on?"  The old lady said, "You'd be the belle of the ball in this."

Lily obligingly went into the dressing room and slipped it on.  It really was breath taking, she felt a million dollars in it even though that morning she hadn't even brushed her hair, let alone put on any makeup.  It brought out every curve in her figure and she sweared that most of them hadn't previously existed.  Shyly, she stepped out of the dressing room.  

There was an amazed silence.

"Lily, you look absolutely sensational."  Remus said.  Sirius nodded whilst eyeing her up and down approvingly.  James didn't seem capable of saying anything and simply opened and closed his mouth in a most inarticulate manner.  Lily was a little disappointed, she had for some reason wanted him to compliment her.  But that was nonsense; the jealous looks from Claire and Emily were more than satisfactory. 

"My dear," Madam Malkin said, "you really must take this dress.  I could never imagine it looking more fabulous on anyone but you."

"How much is it?"  Lily asked slightly timidly.

"Umm, well, it's quite expensive."  Madam Malkin said evasively.  "But I'm sure it would be worth it.  It does look beautiful on you."

"So how much is it?"  Emily said impatiently.  "I'm sure we can afford it."

"It's, well, it's a thousand galleons." Madam Malkin said.

"What?"  Lily exclaimed.  "A thousand galleons just for a dress!"  She looked at her friends dismayed.  Their money couldn't even pay for a quarter of it.

"Yes, it is a shame."  Madam Malkin said, "But it is made by the Elves of Eminton.  You get what you pay for."

"I'm sorry."  Lily said disappointed "but I can't take it.  I don't have nearly enough money."

"I'll get it for her."

"What?"  Lily said turning around.  "Oh, your still here."  James rolled his eyes.  "I'll take it for her."  He said to Madam Malkin, flashing her a smile.  To his disgust she turned all fluttery and giggly.  "Oh how kind of you" She simpered.  "Isn't that nice dear?"  She said turning to Lily.  James wished his charms worked so well on a certain 'other' person as he fumbled around for some sort of card in his pockets.

"James, don't be so ridiculous!"  She said looking at him incredulously.  "There's no way you could afford to waste a thousand galleons."

"Yes, well I wouldn't be wasting it."  He said grinning at her.  "Anything that can make you even more gorgeous than you already are, is worth more than a thousand galleons."  Lily gaped at him.  James took her silence as an opportunity to carry on.  "I didn't think it was possible for you to look any more beautiful, but I've been proved wrong.  You really do look incredible."

Lily shook herself out of the trance she'd fallen into.  "James, honestly!"  She said.  "I really can't let you spend a thousand galleons on me.  I insist!"

"You can have it at half price."  Butted in Madam Malkin, seeming eager to help.

"That's still five hundred galleons."  Lily said.  "James, you must be mad."

He shrugged as he handed his card to Madam Malkin.  "Probably, but we're dancing the first dance together and if you're going to be standing next to me, I'll need you looking good."  Lily glared at him.  Trust James to make this about him.  "Of course," he said taking back his card, "If you really insist, I wouldn't want to upset you."  He pocketed the card.  "Come on chaps, let's go."

"Wait just one minute."  Claire called after them.  "Lily didn't mean it, she's just being stubborn.  Don't listen to her James."

"Sorry,"  James said an infuriating smirk teasing his lips.  "All I want is for Lily to be happy and if the dress won't please her, I don't see that there's much point in buying it."

"She never said that."  Claire pleaded desperately.

"Shut up!"  Lily said defiantly.  "I don't need his charity."  She glared at James demurely.  "I can find a dress just as nice elsewhere."  But James was gone, laughing as the door shut behind him.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."   Madam Malkin said smiling suddenly.

"Do what?"

"Buy another dress of course."

"Why ever not?"  Lily asked surprised.

"Because he's already paid for it my dear, and I'll bet my bottom dollar that he'll be back before the evenings over to pick it up."

*  *  *

Lily snorted at the old ladys words later that evening.  As if James would do that.  If he could afford to randomly splash out five hundred galleons on her then he was just as likely to forget all about it.

"You know, I reckon she's right."  Emily said dreamily.  "Wouldn't it be so romantic if he did?"

"Bah!"  Lily said moodily.  Secretly she was a little pissed off that James hadn't given it to her there and then.  Of course she had intended for him to get it just not straight away.  It had been the most stunning dress, but James had an annoying habit of catching her out like that.  Lily stamped her foot angrily. 

"You do realise this is your own fault."  Claire said somewhere from the depths of her wardrobe.  If you weren't so stubborn and could just learnt to accept things-"

"I will not accept charity."  Lily said.  "Especially not from James Potter."

"If you weren't so stubborn," Claire continued ignoring her, "then you would have that dress, that absolutely sensationally, gorgeous dress and you wouldn't be contemplating customising curtains."

"I think their jolly nice curtains actually."  Lily said obstinately.  Claire rolled her eyes.  Lily really was impossible.  "Besides, he was only going to buy it to buy me.  And I am not somebody to be bought.  If James Potter really loves me, I'm sure he can come up with something better than that. "

"Don't you think he's already tried?"  Claire said severely.  "The poor guy.  To keep being shot down and yet he still keeps trying."

"Whose side are you on here?"  Lily said angrily.

Claire ignored her.  "You could wear this I suppose."  She said holding up one of her old dresses "But it will never measure up to the other one."  She sighed.

"Oh for Gods sake.  It's only a dress.  You really are controversial at times Claire.  To think that Voldemorts out on the loose and all you're concerned about is a dress."  She shook her head.  "Maybe you should be rethinking your priorities."

"Stop trying to change the subject, Missy."  Claire said.  "Just admit it.  You loved that dress and you are very pissed off that you wasted the opportunity of having it."

Wasted.  What was it James had said, "I wouldn't be wasting it, Anything that can make you even more gorgeous than you already are, is worth more than a thousand galleons."  If it hadn't been James who'd said that, it really would have been quite romantic.  But it was James who'd said it.  And although she hated to admit it, it had seemed quite romantic.