Valentines Hijinks

by: Midnight*Starfire

Disclaimer: I own nothing about Harry Potter.

A/N: I have decided to never discontinue any of my stories,(except maybe one). I had actually discontinued four of them, but I brought back three. So I'm rushing through the final chapter of this. I see no point in putting in a lot of work into something no one is reading anyways. Perhaps later on I shall revise this and make it longer. But until then I just want to complete it.

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Chapter Four: James the Poetic -OR- Operation Jealously

February 9th, Wednesday.....five days Valentine's Day....three days from the ball...

James had slaved all night trying to write a poem for Lily. But every time he wrote a line, he crumbled up the parchment and throw it away. So far had gone through about ninety parchments and seventy five quills. Everything came out sickeningly mushy or sounded dirty. One piece of work, James had really liked, Remus had laughed at. When James asked why, Remus had told him he doubted any girl wanted to read a poem about her breasts. Especially not someone as hot- blooded as Lily.

"How is this, Remus?" said James holding out his latest creation.

"Your eyes are green like pickles and your hair is redder than a tomato....." read Remus aloud.

Silence.

"James I don't think poetry is your thing," said Remus politely.

James snatched the paper from his hands and through it into the pile. The pile had grown so large due to James's indecisiveness, that Sirius was actually jumping off his bed into the pile. Again and again. Peter had been doing this also, but Sirius had "accidently" tripped Peter right as he went to jump off the bed. A loud crack reverberated through the room. Sirius had dragged Peter down to the hospital wing just to find out that Peter broke his wrist. After finding out his aliment, Sirius hurried off to continue doing what he had been doing before.

"Why don't you just write it , Remus," suggested Sirius as he threw himself off his bed and into the sea of papers.

"Because this was Prongs's idea," retorted Remus, "I may be the most studious out of all of us, but I do not have a way with words. Why don't you try to help instead of destroying the room?"

"Naw," said Sirius as he climbed off the floor, "I think I'm going to go get some desserts from the kitchen, and I made up this huge story and now all the House Elves think I'm Dumbledore's nephew. They practically throw food at me."

"I wondering if the throwing is a good thing," said Remus.

"Who cares!" exclaimed Sirius as the door shut with a snap.

Remus took the quill from James's hand, "Try something like this," he said.

~*~*

Meanwhile in the girls's dorms (Hestia, Lily, Alice, and Emmeline's room to be exact)

Emmeline was furious. She had tried on several different sets of dress robes and found nothing that pleased her. Lily combed threw the pile, deeming all of the dress robes worthy minus an old off white set that looked more like something that would go on a dining room table. And a greenish brownish blob that would make one look like something from a swamp. Who would have ever bought that to begin with?

"Em? What's wrong with this one," she asked holding up a soft violet.

"My chest looks to small in it," Emmeline complained. Lily rolled her eyes thinking that could never be a problem for chesty Emmeline.

"Why don't you like this one, I think it's lovely," said Lily holding up a bright blue one, with silver glitter.

"It's too flashy," responded Emmeline indicating the silver glitter.

"Hmm," said Lily nodding her head, "And this one?" said she holding up a electric yellow one.

"Not all blondes look good in yellow, I looked too bright. Like a pineapple," said Emmeline sounding rather airheaded.

"A pineapple?" asked an exasperated Lily.

Emmeline nodded fiercely.

Lily held up a risque scarlet one that had slashes all over it and said, "Let me guess, you liked this?" she asked.

"I almost did," said Emmeline, "I like how revealing it was, but it doesn't fit the occasion."

Lily held back a laugh.

"Can I wear this one?" asked Lily holding up a satin light pink one.

"Sure," said Emmeline, " I didn't like that one on me, I've grown taller since it got it and it seemed too short."

Lily looked at the long hemline and laughed, deciding it probably wasn't too short for Emmeline. Being wealthy, like Emmeline was, meant that she never wanted to where the same thing more than three times.

Alice came was searching through her truck and finally she found it, "Em, come here," she ordered.

Emmeline got up off her bed and walked over to her, eager to see whatever it was that Alice had.

"How about this one," said Alice holding up a beautiful silk emerald green set of dress robes.

Emmeline's eyes widened and her mouth nearly hit the ground in awe. "My favorite color!" she said.

Hestia emerged from a closet dragging her truck behind her. "I brought some dress robes too. However, I don't remember which one's I packed. I don't think I packed my nicest ones," she said. Hestia's family wasn't exactly wealthy , and she felt embarrassed about it. But no one ever remarked on it and made her feel bad, especially not her friends. Hestia opened her truck and pulled out two dresses robes, a dark blue one that was made of a flowing material and a bright orange one that would flatter no one.

Eventually everyone decided, Emmeline was to where the emerald one, Lily choose the soft pink, and Hestia and Alice traded, because Alice wanted dark blue while Hestia wanted the vivid violet one Alice brought.

"Lils?" asked Alice.

"Yes?"

"Are you still going with the quidditch captain of the Ravenclaw team?" questioned Alice.

"Uh huh," said Lily noticing her the tone in her friend's voice.

"Well...the thing is," began Alice.

"What thing?" asked Lily.

"I heard he's back with his ex-girlfriend and I saw them kiss earlier," Alice blurted out.

Lily was silent.

Then she was outraged, "I'm not going with him! How dare him!" she yelled.

Lily put down her dress robes and sat on her bed, pulling her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them.

Hestia looked from Emmeline to Alice and decided now was as good of time as any to ask.

"Lily, I have someone who you could go with, that would like to go with you. Plus you could get back at Alexander, these two are enemies. Alexander would be real angry to see you with him," said Hestia.

Lily thought for a moment, wondering who it could be. Then she realized who all of her friends with going with and remembered who Alexander's greatest enemy was.

James Potter.

"No! Absolutely not! You can not make me go with Potter," said Lily defiantly.

"Alexander would be overcome with jealousy," said Hestia dramatically.

Silence.

"Oh come on Lils, Potter's not that bad. I've been around him lately because of Sirius and Potter is hilarious," said Emmeline.

"He's cute too," added Alice.

"And he's been a real nice guy lately," said Hestia.

Lily looked at her three friends and gave a defeated sigh.

A little while later....

Lily found herself waiting outside the boys' dorms, where Hestia had told her to wait. Somehow they had convinced her to ask James to go with her. A couple years ago this would have been suicide, last year this would have just been unthinkable. This year....why did it not seem so bad? Lily leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. When would James show up?

"Lily?"

Startled from her reveries Lily lost her balance and fell to the ground. She looked at James from the ground, mortified. He smirked at her as extended his hand, intent on helping her up. Stubborn Lily did not receive his help, instead she helped herself up and scowled at him as if it was his fault she lost her balance. James couldn't help but smile at Lily's attitude. "Are you alright Evans?" he asked sweetly.

Lily nodded slowly. "I have a proposition for you, Potter. Best not to let it go to your big fat head though."

James's smile dissipated, "Proposition?" Why the hell did he even bother with her?

"Yes," Lily said, "Are you too dense to know what that means or something?"

James's straight face became a scowl, "I do not need your insults," he said. Why had he bothered to write her a poem?

"Sorry," Lily mumbled. "Look here's the deal. My date for the ball suddenly decided that his ex-girlfriend was more appealing than me, so I need to go with you to make him jealous."

"Why should I do anything for you?" asked James seriously.

"Because I know you want to help me," said Lily.

"Why would I want to do that?" questioned James.

"You have been obsessed with me since first year, when you ran me over on the train," replied Lily.

"And you say I have a big head? Listen to you! I would not call it obsessed," said James, now very vexed.

Not being obsessed was a lie, James recalled the time he had done Sirius's homework for a month just so Sirius would cut a lock of Lily's hair in potions. James had been attempting to create a forbidden love potion but gave up that attempt after being black mailed by Remus, who had found a photo of James when he was young. In the photo James was dressed up as a girl, because his older sister thought it would be comical. Remus had insisted that it wasn't worth getting expelled.

Lily abruptly smiled, "This is how it always begins," she said.

"What's that?" asked James, deep in thought.

"You and I fight over nothing, it's always been this way. We fight just because we have nothing better to say to each other," was it just her or did Potter look really good today? Those big hazel eyes, that perfect smile...and he smelled so good too...

"Look Lil, all things put aside, I don't think you know me that well," he said. 'Now would be a perfect time to read that poem,' James thought.

"Oh really? Since when did you stop hexing people for fun or cursing Snape?" she asked.

"Encase you did not notice I have not hexed anyone in a long time. I know longer curse people for fun or because I can. And Snape is a lost cause, whenever I leave him alone, he comes to bother me. Admit it you hate the smelly, greasy bastard as much as I do," said James.

Lily's lips formed a small smile, "He ought to wash his hair," she said.

"Tell you what Lil, let's start over completely. Give me today to get to know me, and if you find somehow that I'm still that arrogant jerk you hated than I will leave you alone. I cannot be held responsible for screwing up tomorrow as that is a totally different day entirely," said James smiling.

Lily's smile widened, "I guess it would not hurt, but only on one condition."

"What's that?"

"STOP CALLING ME LIL!"

Nearby, spying was Emmeline and Sirius. The two were sitting in chairs by the fire, that were not in the sight range of Lily and James. Sirius had pastry strains on his black robes, because the house elves had pummeled him with sweets when he tried to steal some, and he had not yet changed. Emmeline watched with a delighted smile, while Sirius looked more confused.

"Wonder what they're saying," said Sirius.

"It looks good whatever it is, Lils is laughing at something. And I mean come on, it has to be good because she has not strangled him yet," said Emmeline.

"Hmmmm," was all Sirius said.

James then pulled out a piece of paper from his robes and held it behind his back.


Sirius leaned forward so far he fell from the chair. Lily and James looked around at the commotion but not towards Emmeline and Sirius. Sirius quickly picked himself up and sat back in the chair. "Uhh Emmeline."

"Yeah?" she asked.

"We cannot let James read his poetry to Lily. If Lily hears that you can kiss any sort of truce between them goodbye," said Sirius.

"What's the easiest way to do that?" asked Emmeline.

Sirius thought for a second and to his surprise nothing was happening.

Suddenly Sirius jumped up and raced over to James , snatched the paper out of his hands and ran out of the Gryffindor common room. Emmeline couldn't help but laugh at the fact that Sirius runs like a girl.

Lily looked around, 'gee I wonder what that was about,' she thought.

James then explained that Sirius was anxious to copy his homework and he had stolen it. Secretly James planned to jinx his friend later. Casting an all over itching spell in front of Emmeline sounded rather appealing.

~*~

Lily and James spent the remainder of the day talking, and to Lily's surprise Potter was not too bad. Okay not half bad.... okay so not bad at all. She wondered why she had not noticed all his good features before: he was intelligent, he was good looking, he was funny, he was good looking, he was sweet when he wanted to be, he was good looking, he could be real helpful like when Lily was confused in advanced potions, and most of all he was good looking. During charms Lily had been wondering what Potter looked like without his glasses, true they did fit his face, but she wanted to see. Reaching over swiftly she removed them, as he looked down studying the assignment for charms. As he looked up at her Lily felt her heart flutter and she scolded herself for it. He was even better looking without the glasses! Was it possible...that she, Lily Evans, liked James Potter? James smiled at her and she proceeded to knock over her ink well. The rest of the day went like that as well. James smiled, and Lily did something incredibly stupid to embarrass herself. Hestia who was present during an incident when Lily knocked over her goblet during dinner, deduced that the plan had worked. Operation jealously had been a success.

~*~

It was nighttime, Lily and James were sitting in the common room, finishing potions essays together. Lily would wrote a few words and look over at James who looked involved with his studies, bite her lip and look back down. Then, James would look up at Lily, study her for a second, smile and look back down. Nearby, Sirius was napping in a chair by the fire, that he was sharing with Emmeline. Remus was reading and Hestia and Emmeline were talking. They also watched Lily and James sneak looks at each other and decided that they were great match makers.

It appeared that James had finally won Lily's attention, by helping her all day in classes, and making her laugh and smile. Yelling at Malfoy and Snape when they called her a mudblood and uttering some evil obscene threats when they tried to steal Lily's bookbag. He had been the perfect gentlemen all day and when they had some extra time he even began teaching Lily how to play quidditch.

"Lily?"

"Yes, James?"

"Could you please read to me the ingredients for the cure to the invisibility potion?" asked James.

"James could you hold on, I'd like to finish this paragraph before I lose my train of thought," replied Lily.

"Just real quick," he said.

"James I -" began Lily stubbornly

"Please Lily!" pleaded James looking straight into her eyes.

"Fine,"snapped Lily.

"One hair from a unicorn's tail, a beasel, a stem from a poison rose, a drop of vampire bat's blood, Lily would you go to the ball with me, three earthworms,...." Lily's voice trailed off.

Wait a second!

She re-read the lines she had just previously read and stopped at one line.

Lily would you go to the ball with me?

She looked up at James, and her smile began to widen as she nodded her head yes.


-M*S


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The epilogue shall be posted soon!