Title: The Bet
Chapter 4: Higher Stakes
Summary: Sirius and James realize this is going to be harder than they thought.
After breakfast, which Remus hadn't shown up for, James and Sirius made their way to potions. Potions was the most useless and most ridiculously hard class they had, not that they would ever admit caring about their grades.
"You know, this is kind of boring, Padfoot," James said, eyeing on of the students up ahead.
"What do you mean mate? We're just walking down the hall."
"Yes, I know, but my life has come to command a kind of inexplicable interest. Walking down the hall can be so much more my friend," he put his arm around Sirius' neck and turned his head so that a greasy haired boy was in his view.
"Ah, Snivillus," he said in realization. He drew his wand. "What shall it be this time?"
"See how he carries his books? All in one arm and then quills and ink in the other? Bad way to go about things, don't you think?"
"I see. Teach him a lesson about carrying things the wrong way?"
"Exactly dear Padfoot, exactly." Several students were now looking at them nervously. They always had a certain gleem in their years when they were plotting something and this was no exception. A few girls jumped when Sirius aimed his wand and muttered the spell, but soon everyone was roaring with laughter. Except Lily and Caroline, of course. The boy they had cursed was now lying on the ground with his things spread across the hallway. No one stooped to help him as he struggled to wipe the ink from his eyes. Most people just stepped over him or around him and went to class.
Lily and Caroline stayed behind until only James and Sirius remained, clutching their sides. Snape had already gathered his things and hurried into the classroom.
"James Potter!" Lily yelled through gritted teeth. He immediately looked up and came over to her.
"Yes my love?" He was grinning ear to ear. "Did you enjoy our little show?"
Caroline on the other hand strode over to Sirius and slapped him hard across the face. "I can't believe you!" He tried to speak, maybe to apologize, but Caroline didn't give him the chance. "You are the most despicable and disgusting person I have ever ever met! If you ever try anything like you did last night again or anything like what you just did again I will curse you from here to Diagon Alley and back. Don't think I won't." She pushed him and he tripped over his robes and fell to the ground. His mouth was hanging open in disbelief as she walked into the classroom.
"You know very well I did not enjoy your show. Unless it is just one of those things that can't get through that mop you think is hair, Potter." Lily was yelling into James' face.
"But Evans...we were joking around!"
"You were trying to hurt him. To humiliate him. One day it's going to come back to you. When it does I will be the first to laugh. I will be." She looked ready to hex him until he couldn't talk, but she just clenched her fists and stormed into class.
James walked over and picked his friend off the floor. "What was that all about."
Sirius gave him a look of amazement. "Don't tell me you missed everything that just happened. They hate us. We can't mess with Snape if we want them to give us a chance."
"But it doesn't matter anymore," James cried. "We already lost the bet."
"Prongs, you and I both know that this is about more than a bet now. It's more."
"No..." James trailed off, trying to keep the lie alive. He didn't chase after women this way. They came after him and even if they didn't or if they said no he wouldn't care. Nothing more than schoolboy girl chasing. Nothing more. Sirius just looked at him and they walked into class together.
When they got into the class only two seats were empty. Unfortunately they were right in front of Lily and Caroline. Before they could sit down the professor hissed at them that they had detention. The two of them didn't bother protesting; they had worse things than a short detention on their minds. Lily and Caroline looked at each other and smiled. They were proud of their work. Maybe Sirius and James had learned something.
"Today we will be making truth potions. You should partner with someone you trust. Therefore I am making assignments," the class groaned and Sirius and James' faces grew even more worried. If the professor knew anything about the scene in the hallway she would be sure to pair them with the girls. She started to name of pairs. "Sirius and..." she smiled wickedly. "Caroline. James and Lily."
Lily and Caroline looked at each other. "This will be hell," whisper Caroline.
"At least your not with James!" Lily hissed back.
James groaned. "Paired with Evans of course. What could be better?"
On the other hand Sirius was smiling because he had a plan. He never thought he would pull inspiration from James' girl charming technique.
Chapter 4: Higher Stakes
Summary: Sirius and James realize this is going to be harder than they thought.
After breakfast, which Remus hadn't shown up for, James and Sirius made their way to potions. Potions was the most useless and most ridiculously hard class they had, not that they would ever admit caring about their grades.
"You know, this is kind of boring, Padfoot," James said, eyeing on of the students up ahead.
"What do you mean mate? We're just walking down the hall."
"Yes, I know, but my life has come to command a kind of inexplicable interest. Walking down the hall can be so much more my friend," he put his arm around Sirius' neck and turned his head so that a greasy haired boy was in his view.
"Ah, Snivillus," he said in realization. He drew his wand. "What shall it be this time?"
"See how he carries his books? All in one arm and then quills and ink in the other? Bad way to go about things, don't you think?"
"I see. Teach him a lesson about carrying things the wrong way?"
"Exactly dear Padfoot, exactly." Several students were now looking at them nervously. They always had a certain gleem in their years when they were plotting something and this was no exception. A few girls jumped when Sirius aimed his wand and muttered the spell, but soon everyone was roaring with laughter. Except Lily and Caroline, of course. The boy they had cursed was now lying on the ground with his things spread across the hallway. No one stooped to help him as he struggled to wipe the ink from his eyes. Most people just stepped over him or around him and went to class.
Lily and Caroline stayed behind until only James and Sirius remained, clutching their sides. Snape had already gathered his things and hurried into the classroom.
"James Potter!" Lily yelled through gritted teeth. He immediately looked up and came over to her.
"Yes my love?" He was grinning ear to ear. "Did you enjoy our little show?"
Caroline on the other hand strode over to Sirius and slapped him hard across the face. "I can't believe you!" He tried to speak, maybe to apologize, but Caroline didn't give him the chance. "You are the most despicable and disgusting person I have ever ever met! If you ever try anything like you did last night again or anything like what you just did again I will curse you from here to Diagon Alley and back. Don't think I won't." She pushed him and he tripped over his robes and fell to the ground. His mouth was hanging open in disbelief as she walked into the classroom.
"You know very well I did not enjoy your show. Unless it is just one of those things that can't get through that mop you think is hair, Potter." Lily was yelling into James' face.
"But Evans...we were joking around!"
"You were trying to hurt him. To humiliate him. One day it's going to come back to you. When it does I will be the first to laugh. I will be." She looked ready to hex him until he couldn't talk, but she just clenched her fists and stormed into class.
James walked over and picked his friend off the floor. "What was that all about."
Sirius gave him a look of amazement. "Don't tell me you missed everything that just happened. They hate us. We can't mess with Snape if we want them to give us a chance."
"But it doesn't matter anymore," James cried. "We already lost the bet."
"Prongs, you and I both know that this is about more than a bet now. It's more."
"No..." James trailed off, trying to keep the lie alive. He didn't chase after women this way. They came after him and even if they didn't or if they said no he wouldn't care. Nothing more than schoolboy girl chasing. Nothing more. Sirius just looked at him and they walked into class together.
When they got into the class only two seats were empty. Unfortunately they were right in front of Lily and Caroline. Before they could sit down the professor hissed at them that they had detention. The two of them didn't bother protesting; they had worse things than a short detention on their minds. Lily and Caroline looked at each other and smiled. They were proud of their work. Maybe Sirius and James had learned something.
"Today we will be making truth potions. You should partner with someone you trust. Therefore I am making assignments," the class groaned and Sirius and James' faces grew even more worried. If the professor knew anything about the scene in the hallway she would be sure to pair them with the girls. She started to name of pairs. "Sirius and..." she smiled wickedly. "Caroline. James and Lily."
Lily and Caroline looked at each other. "This will be hell," whisper Caroline.
"At least your not with James!" Lily hissed back.
James groaned. "Paired with Evans of course. What could be better?"
On the other hand Sirius was smiling because he had a plan. He never thought he would pull inspiration from James' girl charming technique.