Okay, sorry that it's been so long since I updated. I'm horrible, I know, trying to do two stories at once, and I got caught up in the other one, and now I'm thinking of starting ANOTHER one, which is just insane but I can't help it, sooo... we'll see where that goes. In any case, then my internet was down for a bit, so I couldn't post it... I'm sorry. Crazy internet. It drives me batty. One day.... Something drastic will happen to it... bwhahhahaha.... But until then, my utmost apologies. I hope this chapter makes it up to everyone... So enjoy, and please review to let me know what you think!

By the way: this story is only going to last for a few more chapters, because I realized that once James and Lily are together and then married and blah blah, I'd just rather only deal with my other one, because the plot lines will be loads more similar then. So yes... Just a bit more.... You'll see. Whahahha. Yes, so review please, anyways. Thanks!

Changes

Chapter 8 - Hogsmeade

'James, Lily knows your hair is out of control. Why are you bothering more with it?'

James turned around to glare at Sirius, who was lounging on his bed, watching James struggle to pull a comb through his hair with a smirk.

'Then she'll appreciate the effort even more,' he replied stiffly, turning back to the mirror. From the bed, Sirius snorted.

'Trust me, mate. Your effort completely backfired- I think it looks worse,'

'Does it?' James peered worriedly into the mirror.

Remus came out from the bathroom, towel around his neck. He rolled his eyes at the two, then told James, 'it looks cute all messy,'

Sirius and Peter burst into laughter.

'Lily will adore you,'

Peter looked up, frowning. 'Why are you going through this anyway? It's not as though you're going to Hogsmeade today with Lily,'

'I know. But maybe we'll run into them and I can persuade her to grab a Butterbeer with me, or something,'

Sirius rolled his eyes. 'Yeah. Maybe.'

It was a windy, crisp day as Lily made her way down the windy streets of Hogsmeade, accompanied by her Miranda, Cassidy, and Bella. The four friends joked and laughed as they enjoyed their day off immensely.

They were in the midst of listening to a tale Bella was recounting- some incident that had taken place at a bar over the summer- when they were interrupted.

'Hi, Lily,' James said eagerly.

Lily smiled at him. 'Hello, James. Fancy seeing you here,'

James shot her a brilliant smile. 'I'm surprised you haven't noticed, but on the indicated days, all third year and above students come here,'

'And, amazing-- that includes you,' Lily rolled her eyes.

'Amazing,' James repeated, shooting her another charming grin. Behind him, his three friends were rolling their own eyes.

'Cut the to the chase, Potter, and ask her for a butterbeer,' Sirius called out. James turned red, but ignoring it, turned around and yelled back,

'Give me time, Black old buddy,'

'As much as you need, mate,' Remus interjected.

James turned back to Lily. 'I have really wonderful friends,' he said.

'So I noticed,'

James just smiled at her. After a moment, Lily furrowed her eyebrows. 'Are you going to ask me for a butterbeer or not, Potter?'

'I don't know, Evans. I don't know if I'll make a fool of myself,'

'You've made a fool of yourself countless times in front of me,'

'Don't worry, Potter,' Bella said with a grin. 'She'll definitely accept you,'

'Really? Well, then, Lillian darling. Want to grab a butterbeer?'

'Didn't we agree you wouldn't call me Lillian?'

'Why so we did. My apologies. So, Lily dahling. Want to grab a butterbeer?'

'Don't say dahling. It scares me.'

'But you're such a dahling I have no choice. Will you come?'

'I will, but I have no idea why,'

'It's because I'm charming,'

'No, you're a flirt,' Lily tossed back easily as they started down the street together, waving to their friends.

'Oooh, Evans likes the flirty ones, does she?'

'Who said I liked you?'

'I see it in your eyes... dahling,'

'I think that's your reflection,'

'You're so clever, dahling,'

An hour later, Lily knew she should be heading back to find her friends, but she was having too good of a time with James. He had entertained her with stories of past pranks, how Peter always seemed to be the one caught by the Hogwarts caretaker, a man named Filch, and was currently talking about Sirius' dating fiasco's.

'So then, Sirius, all confused, asked her what school she went to, right? And the girl gives him a funny look, and names some university, and Sirius goes, 'I don't think I've heard of that one. Are you on vacation?' "

Lily laughed. 'So wait, he didn't know she was a Muggle?'

James grinned. 'Nope. I guess we forgot to mention that to him... Anyway, so then she says, 'well, yes, I am, but I'm surprised you haven't heard of it. After all, Cambridge University is rather well known, isn't it?' "

Lily choked on her laughter.

'Poor Sirius. Finally he asked, 'Cambridge? Um... I don't think I have, you know. Is it... Is it in Asia?' "

'What happened?' Lily asked, shaking her head. 'Did you manage to convince her that Sirius was just insane, or something?'

'Well, no... In fact, she decided then that Sirius was just trying to be clever, so she laughed, and Sirius decided to drop the subject. Well, that and she said she needed to make a phone call, and he put two and two together.'

'I suppose there were death threats flying when he got home?'

'Well, yeah, sort of. I mean, Sirius loves to be entertaining, but not when he doesn't understand the joke. He likes to be at least partially in control of the situation. If he had known she was a Muggle, he would have had a blast. So anyway, he was furious with me when he got home, but I managed to blame Remus, and when Remus arrived, he blamed me, sooo... In the end we both blamed Peter, who was vacationing with his family in Switzerland, at the time, and when that happened, Sirius knew that it was us, but by then, he was over his anger. That's a good thing about Sirius: he really doesn't stay angry for long,'

'So now, is that a rule or an observation?' Lily grinned, eyeing him.

'For the most part, it's a rule. But he breaks it for those few special people: you know, Snape, Bellatrix, Lestrange,'

'Do you always refer to Bellatrix by her first name?' Lily asked, only half-teasing.

'Yes,' James said bluntly. 'There's no need to constantly remind Sirius of his relation to her,'

'His... So their last name isn't just coincidence?'

'No,' James frowned, then nodded. 'Ah, right. You're a Muggle-born. Well,' he frowned again. 'They're cousins,'

'Cousins? So-- wait, hold on, that means Narcissa is, too?'

'Yeah. I'm surprised you didn't know that. You seem to know a lot about ... people,'

She shrugged. 'Is his mum... Are they like Sirius?'

'Nah. Do you know that bloke, nasty little fifth year, hangs out with Snape and Avery, named Regulus?'

'Hmm... Dark hair? A bit scrawny and pale?'

'Yeah. That's Sirius' brother,'

'I never knew he had a brother,' Lily said softly.

'Yeah, well, he doesn't really like to talk about him. Anyway, Sirius' mom disowned him when he got into Gryffindor, so last year he finally got sick of them and ran away,'

'Where to?'

James grinned. 'Well, he'd been spending the majority of the holidays at my place anyway, ever since first year, so he just made it official,'

'Did they.... care?'

'Who, his parents? Nope.

'That's so sad,'

'I know. It makes me glad I have a sort of perfect family. You know, my parents and I argue, and I wish I had a sibling, but...'

'No, you don't want a sibling,' Lily said darkly.

'Do you have any?' James asked, looking interested.

'Just one. A sister,'

'Older or younger?'

'Older,'

'Is she like you?'

'What do you mean?'

'I don't know. Lots of things. Is she a witch?'

Lily laughed; she couldn't help it. 'No. And she'd probably kill herself if she was,'

James looked confused. 'Why?'

'You know how there are some magical folk who don't like anyone whose not a Pure-blood?'

'Sure,' James said.

'Well, it's like that, only vice versa. She hates wizards and witches and... well, anything that's not normal...Which means, obviously, me,'

'Your sister hates you?' James asked, looking rather dumbfounded.

'Yes,' Lily said, beginning to wish that she had never brought it up in the first place.

'How can anyone hate you?' James looked rather indignant.

Lily rolled her eyes, flushing slightly with pleasure at the compliment. 'I've heard it's quite easy, actually,'

'Well, I disagree,' he said flatly.

Lily smiled at him, and the instant grin that spread across his face made her stomach flop.

'That's lovely to know, dear. If you ever meet my sister, be sure to mention it to her, mmkay?'

'I will,' he said, grinning even more.

That evening, she wasn't sure whether to be annoyed or pleased that her friends had known she would be spending the day with James the moment she went off to get a butterbeer with them. And once they told her that, she felt a bit sorry she hadn't taken the opportunity to kiss him.

But there was still the ball.

Lily couldn't remember ever being so excited for something in her life.

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Okay, well, I really hope that the formatting and all works, because it hasn't been with my other story, and that's driving me insane, too. I hope this chapter was worth the wait... Stupid internet..

Anyway... PLEASE please please review. It means a lot to me.

Thanks!

Arod