Chapter 3: The Deal

It was the middle of May, 'The Marauders' had played in Hogsmeade a week ago and were working on their demo album. There were prefect meetings three times a week, and exams were about a month away. Lucky for the sixth years, they took their O.W.L.s last year and their N.E.W.T.s were next year.

Lily was starting to get burnt out with all of her prefect duties on top of her normal 10 hours of study every week and regular classes. Besides that, she was taking an extra class on Thursday nights with Professor Dumbledore.

James was less busy than Lily was, even without being a prefect or studying. Besides his regular lessons and homework, James had to schedule and plan quidditch practices, schedule band practices, and plan pranks. Any free time he did have was spent writing more music.

Lily and Remus walked into the common room after another prefects' meeting. They entered , quickly finishing a discussion about the meeting and separated to find their friends, Lily heading upstairs to her dorm and Remus heading over toward the fireplace.

"Hey guys! Where's Peter?"

"Hey Remus. Peter went up to bed already," James said, setting down his potions essay.

"I think I'm heading upstairs, too. I'm beat."

"Rem! What about the you-know-what to you-know-who in you-know- where?"

"What are you talking about Sirius? We didn't plan any pranks for tonight."

"We didn't?"

"No Siri. 'Night Rem." James yawned. "I think I'm going up, too. Good night."

"Well!" Sirius looked offended. "What am I going to do if you're all going off to sleepy-dream land? Hmmm?"

"You know, Sirius, I don't really care what you do right now. Just don't keep me up." Remus turned and walked up the stairs.

"That goes for me, too. Sorry mate." James turned to follow Remus. Sirius glanced around then got up and walked out of the common room, heading down the corridor.

Lily was carrying a few of her books down to the common room. She wasn't paying complete attention to what she was doing as she was checking through one of her books for a piece of parchment. She tripped on a stair, falling, her books crashing on the stairs in front of her. 'This is going to hurt, a lot' she thought. She closed her eyes tight just before crashing into something soft and falling to the floor with a thud.

"Ughh!" Lily opened her eyes and glanced down. She was surprised to see James' scared and startled face.

"Are you okay, Lils?"

Nobody, except Gwen and Eva, called her "Lils." She didn't mind hearing James say it.

"Umm, yeah. Yeah, I'm okay. You?"

"I've been worse."

"Right."

"Umm, Lils?"

"Yeah James?"

"Not that I mind or anything, but you could probably get off me now."

"What? Oh, right. Sorry James." Lily quickly got up, gathered her things, and went to the couch in front of the fire. James sat beside her as she opened her transfiguration book.

"What are you doing?"

"Studying, what does it look like?"

"You need to loosen up and stop working so much. You're going to take every night after meetings or class off until Monday."

"James, it's Wednesday. That's five days."

"That's right. You need some time off."

"James, I really don't think I need you telling me how to live. I'm a big girl."

"Lily, I'm worried about you. If it makes you feel better, I won't prank anyone until Monday either."

"Absolutely no pranks until Monday?"

"None, as long as you don't study at all until Monday."

"Deal. This means I get time off of Prefect watch this week, too."

"Good. Here, I'll help you carry this upstairs."

James was waiting for Lily when she got out of class Thursday night. He was going to put his plans into action.

"What are you doing here, James?"

"Well, Lils, I have a plan."

"You said no pranks!"

"It's not a prank. To make sure that we're both sticking to the deal, we're going to spend each night together."

"Oh. Okay. So, what are we going to do?"

"First, we go to the kitchens."

"The kitchens? Really? Is it allowed?"

"Well, technically, no. Aren't you hungry?"

"Yeah, sure, I guess."

"Good!" James, taking her bag and grabbing her hand, led her down to the kitchens.

James and Lily's week flew by. It was Sunday night, the last official night of their bargain. Lily was waiting by the fire like she had for the last couple nights. She regretted that this would be their last night to just hang out.

James came down the stairs carrying his drumsticks. He walked slowly to where Lily sat.

"Hey Lils," he said hesitantly.

"Hey James! I was waiting for you."

"Yeah, sorry."

"No, it's all right. I don't mind."

"Right." Lily noticed he seemed a little cautious.

"James, is everything okay?" She asked concernedly.

"Huh? Yeah, well. Umm, Lily. Look, I know we were supposed to hang out, but tonight was the only night I could schedule practice and I have to go. How would it look if I scheduled band practice and then didn't show up?"

"Oh. It's all right, James," she said cheer fully.

"I'm really sorry Lils! It's just—"

Lily interrupted him, "No, I mean, if it's all right, I'll come with you."

"You want to listen to us practice?" He was a bit surprised.

"Of course! I love to listen to you guys play!"

"Okay, but we better get going." James put his arm around her waist as they left the common room.

When James and Lily got to the room on the seventh floor where 'The Marauders' were practicing, Sirius, Remus, and Frank were already playing while they waited for James. Peter was setting water next to each person. As James walked in, they were ending the song they had been playing.

"Hey guys, it sounds good. Sirius, you finally finished that one?"

"Hey Jamesie! Yep, it's finished. Hey Lilikins! Whatcha doing here?"

"She's gonna listen to us tonight."

"Oh, just couldn't get enough of me jammin' on my guitar, huh?"

"Oh Sirius, how'd you know?" Lily replied sarcastically.

"All right! James are we gonna get started?" Remus cut in.

"Yes, c'mon, Jimmy my boy. Let us begin," Sirius said with an air of aristocracy.

"Sirius?"

"Yes Frankie?"

"Less talking, more playing, eh?"

Sirius ginned. "Right."

James was now sitting behind his set, and Lily was sitting on a sofa in the front of the room that she hadn't noticed was there.

"All right, umm, Sirius, let's run through your songs first. We're gonna start with Perfect, then we'll do One Week, Stacy's Mom, Animal, Addicted, Free, and Hold On.

James started the song Lily recognized as the one they had been playing when she and James had arrived. They went through all of Sirius' songs, stopping every now and again to change or fix something.

"Good! Sounds great! Sirius are you all right with all of them? I think you're gonna sing all of them at the ball."

"Sure J, I'm good. I mean it's not like we practice 'em every day or anything, but yeah, I'm okay."

"Yeah, funny! Shut it. Actually all your songs are mixed in. I didn't think I could sing 48 song myself."

"Oh, c'mon Jamesie! Sure you could! I mean, since you are the greatest!"

"Yes! Of course he is, Frank!"

"WHAT?" Sirius yelled as the others struggled to hold in laughs. "I thought I was the greatest! Lily! I'm the greatest, aren't I?"

"Why, Sirius, of course you're the greatest."

"I thought so."

"James is just better."

"Lily!"

Trying to hide a blush, James ended Sirius' whining by suggesting they play Remus' songs.

"Hey Remmy?"

"Yes Sirius?"

"Did you finish that one you were writing? You know, 'Big Yellow Taxi'?"

"Yes, Sirius, I did. Why?"

"We should start with that one. I like it."

"All right then. James, when you're ready."

James started off and they went through Remus' and then Frank's the songs.

"James, did you finish the one for the seventh years?" Frank asked, taking a drink of water.

"Yeah, how 'bout we run through it with just music, then again with lyrics. Then, well, I don't think we'll have time to record." James passed around the music and they studied it quickly.

"'The World's Greatest', huh? Looks good, J. Let's do it." Remus set the music in front of himself.

They went through the song several times before setting it aside and packing up.

"All right you guys. Good job. Next time we'll definitely record some, but we really need to make sure we're ready for the ball."

"Don't worry, Jamesie! We'll be ready, mate." Sirius threw an arm around James' shoulders, walking with him toward the door.

"Yeah, James! You worry way, WAY too much!" Remus came up on his other side, and they stopped in front of the door.

"Frank coming up beside Sirius, joined in. "You really should relax more often, James."

When James would have started to argue, Lily walked up behind him, putting her arms around his waist and leaning on his back. "You know, they're right. You're all tense, James. You need to loosen up some. Come over and lie on the sofa, and I'll give you a back rub."

"Oooh! Oooh! Me first! Me first!"

"No Sirius, you still have a potions essay to write."

"But Remmy!"

"No buts, Sirius. Now c'mon."

"Fine! But you owe me one Lilikins!"

"Okay Sirius, but only if you finish that essay tonight." Sirius nodded in response and all but dragged Frank, Peter, and Remus through the door. Lily said a silent "Thanks" to Remus as closed to door behind them.

"Now, James, lie down on the sofa." James stood, staring blankly at her.

"James," Lily grabbed his hand and led him to the sofa, "lie down on the sofa." He sat.

"James!" Lily said sharply.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, sorry Lils." He lied down, and Lily sat beside him. She leaned over and began rubbing his shoulders.

"Oh Merlin! Lily, where did you learn how to do this?"

"My mum owns a salon. I used to work on weekends and during the summer. I still do when I'm home."

"Wow. You are a goddess. Have I ever told you that?"

"Not recently." Lily giggled softly.

"Well, you are!"

"Thank you, James, but relax. You're still tensing up."

"Sorry."

"No more talking. Just relax."

"Sorry."

"James!"

It wasn't as if Lily didn't like feeling James' muscles flex, but it made it difficult to work on his back.

"You know, I didn't know we had a potions essay due."

"That's because we don't, James. Sirius fell asleep again and Professor Owens assigned him extra work."

"Oh, that's right! I remember now. Poor Padfoot."

"Padfoot? What's that about any way? I've you guys call each other by some kind of nicknames? What are they for?"

"Oh! Umm, All five of us have one. It's kind of a band thing. Sirius is Padfoot; Peter is Wormtail; Remus is Moony; and Frank is Feathers."

"Who are you?"

"I'm Prongs."

"Hmm. Okay, I'm done." Lily stood up, stretched, and sat down when James made room for her.

"And why are you Prongs?"

"Why? I dunno, ask the guys," James laughed.

There was one of those awkward pauses when both people are kinda shy and don't really know what to say. You know, the kind where everybody shifts uncomfortably.

"When's the last quidditch game?" Lily asked, breaking the silence.

"The first Saturday in June, Gryffindor versus Slytherin. It's for the Cup."

"Right, it's down to us and Slytherin, isn't it." Lily glanced down at her hands. She had been fine talking to him when she didn't have to see his face. Now, looking into his eyes, she was lost and had this fluttering in her stomach.

"Yeah, but we don't need to worry. I mean, we have an excellent team. Remus, Frank, and Eva are superb chasers. Gwen is unbeatable in the goals, and Sirius and Mundungus could hit the snitch with a bludger."

"Yeah, not to mention, we have a seeker that's never been beat." Lily glanced at him. 'Aww, he turns such a lovely shade of red when he's embarrassed. Though, I didn't think he could be embarrassed.' Lily thought.

"Um, right. So, how're plans going for the ball?"

"Fast and easy. We're almost done. That reminds me! We ended up finding somebody else, so we don't need you guys to play anymore."

"WHAT?? Lily, I had a bunch of new stuff for the ball, we were looking forward to it! Oh no! The guys are gonna be so mad! How could you do that?"

"James! I'm kidding. Call down!"

"Oh. You know, you are really evil!"

"But, that's why you love me!"

"Yes, well, you know what they say, opposites attract."

"Are you telling me you're an angel?"

"Aren't I though?"

"James?"

"Okay, so maybe not, but you are. And that means I get to be bad, right?" James leaned over, put one hand on her waist and brushed his lips over hers. She closed eyes and a moment later was laughing uncontrollably.

"James!" She gasped in between laughs. "James! Stop! You prat!" James was pinning her down and tickling her.

"Not until you say the magic words!"

"I have a few magic words for you, and none of them will leave your face the way it is! AHHH! James, stop!"

"C'mon Lilikins, say 'James is the greatest in the world!' C'mon, it's easy!"

"All right! All right! James is the greatest!"

"'In the world!'"

"James is the greatest in the world! Thank you!"

James got off the couch and held his hand out to her. "Let's go to the kitchens, I'm starving."

"James, you're always starving," Lily said as she took his hand and stood up. "Let's go."

They both grinned as they walked out of the room and down to the kitchens.

A/N: I am unbelievably sorry for the huge wait for this chapter, but it is finally done! I can't make any promises on when the next one will come, but I get out of school in less than a month and I will hopefully have a ton more time to write. Thanks so much if you are sticking with this and to any new readers. All reviews are extremely appreciated! Luv y'all!