Disclaimer- It's not mine. I am only using her brilliance to spread a little joy on those who can't wait for book six. Myself included.

A/N—Sorry, sorry it took so long to update. I've been on vacation for four weeks, then I came right home only to start volleyball training for 7 hours a day. Not that that's really a good excuse, but I did try. The next update should be quicker, promise.


A week or so had passed, and life started to get exciting around the castle. As promised, Snape ended up in the hospital wing for a couple of days, and Sirius ended up with a few more detentions to add to his repertoire. The first snowfall of the season came, surprising everyone who was just getting accustomed to the nippy winds of autumn. Of course, the Marauders were at large again, and nothing seemed to dampen their spirits anymore.

"Good evening, Mr. Potter."

Professor McGonagall nodded at James as they passed in a corridor. However, James lightly put a hand out and stopped her.

"Professor!" He looked at her for a minute, as if studying her. "Did you get a haircut ma'am? Or perhaps new glasses?"

McGonagall's eyes narrowed and her mouth pursed into a very thin line. James wondered briefly if one day her mouth will go so small it will simply disappear from her face. Now that would be a sight to see, he thought. One hell of a story to tell to his grandchildren. If he ever had grandchildren, he mused.

"No Mr. Potter, I'm afraid I have not." Her tone was strict, and she made to leave, but James took a step back with her.

"It must be the robes then. They simply bring out your eyes. You look stunning tonight." He charmingly smiled and made sure not to break her piercing gaze. McGonagall looked down to see that she was wearing the customary black robes.

"Alright. Out with it Potter," she said firmly. "What is it that you want?"

And it was exactly that way that James Potter got a pass into the restricted section of the library.


"What, pray tell, are you going to do with a pass to the restricted section of the library?" Lily asked, her lips pursed but her eyes twinkling. It was early on a Tuesday morning and she, Sirius, James, Remus, and Peter were the only Gryffindors up.

"Nothing short of making trouble, causing havoc, instigating chaos and ensuing panic. What else would you expect?" Sirius replied, taking a bite of his eggs. For the past week Lily had been spending all her time with the troublesome four. Little by little she was getting to know them, finding out their many interests and talents.

Holding in a laugh, Lily let her eyes wander to where Dumbledore sat, talking animatedly to McGonagall. If the headmaster was surprised to see his head students getting along well, he didn't show it. Dumbledore merely sat from his position at the high table and watched the young Gryffindor's laugh over a private joke. Lily caught his eye, grinning, and they looked at each other for a moment before Dumbledore winked and turned his head.

The five of them finished up their breakfast, and slowly made their way back to Gryffindor Tower to relax before classes. All the while they chattered about simple things, who's dating who and how Ernie Kendall walked into the prefects bathroom only to find it was already occupied by Jessica Theil. Their chatter was interrupted, however, by Lily's friend Meg bounding down the staircase in front of them.

"Lily, Lily!" she called anxiously, skidding to a halt. Panting, she quickly regained her breath. "Merlyn, Lily you will never in a million years believe what I just heard!"

Lily raised her eyebrows in question but remained silent. When her friend had bouts like these, she reasoned, it was better just to let her do the talking.

"Alright, well I was walking down the steps to the Common Room, right? And I saw Lisa Stephens on the couch crying because Paul Nykin broke up with her. And, oh Lily take a guess why he broke up with her. Go on, guess."

Lily stood there, dumbstruck. "Er-" Personally, Lily didn't give a damn why Paul Nykin broke up with Lisa Stephens.

"It wouldn't happen to have anything to do with the fact that she's dyed her hair so blonde a bloke practically needs sunglasses to look at her would it?"

Meg shot Sirius an annoyed look.

"You, Lily, you!"

The response to May's earth shattering news wasn't quite as shattering as she thought it would be. In fact, it didn't shatter at all.

"Lily, this is Paul Nykin we're talking about. Only one of the most romantic, sweetest, tall dark and handsome guys to grace these old castle walls! And he wants to date you! I heard he's going to take you out to L'Amour next Hogsmeade trip."

"Er- do I get any say in this? At all?" Lily got no answer. "Didn't think so."

"You have to go Lils. If you don't... well just think of what you'd be missing. This is like, a huge step for us as girls! Only the best get asked out by Paul." All of the Marauders rolled their eyes at this. "And I'm your best friend, Lils. And this is just as exciting for me. In fact, it's almost like it was me who got asked out for this Saturday."

Lily looked pleadingly at the Marauders, who stayed strangely quiet.

James spoke up first, albeit quietly.

"Who knows, Lils. He could be the one," James said with a coy smile.

"Or maybe not." Sirius said quickly, glancing at James. "Maybe there's no such thing as the one. Or maybe, you already found him."

"Yeah," Remus said swiftly, a smile on his face. "Never know, Lils. He could be right under your nose."

"Exactly, Lily! As in Paul Nykin right under your nose." Meg exclaimed.

The smile wiped off of Remus' face. "Er-I was thinking more along the lines of-" James pressed down hard on Remus' foot, and gave him a look that clearly urged him to stop.

Meg ignored the guys, and put her hands on Lily's shoulders, forcing Lily to concentrate. "Look, just promise me that when he asks you, you at least consider it. Please?" Meg shamelessly pouted, and finally Lily caved.

"Alright, I'll go. I mean, you're exactly right. How many girls have a chance to go out with Paul Nykin?"

Sirius shook his head as Meg squealed, pulling Lily in for a hug.

"I, for one, will never understand the complexities of woman," Sirius sighed.

"Join the club, Padfoot. Join the club." Remus said, clasping Sirius on the shoulder as they continued to make their way to the tower.


The next few days passed quickly, and before the students of Hogwarts knew it, Friday evening had come. The school was buzzing with gossip after Paul asked Lily to Hogsmeade in the middle of the Great Hall, and no one was more excited for the weekend than Meg.

"Honestly, Meg. You're going to get yourself so worked up, you won't even be able to sleep. And it's not even your date." Sirius pointed out. James and Sirius were lazily sitting on the sofa in the head's common room, watching Meg and Lily pick an outfit to wear for the next day. It was late, about nine o'clock, and Remus and Peter had taken James' invisibility cloak in order to sneak down to the kitchens to get everyone a snack.

"I know, I know. It's just..." Meg sighed and flopped down on the couch next to them. "I haven't been asked out on a date in forever, and now Lily's been asked out by Paul." She let her eyes wander. "I just want it to be perfect for her."

Lily shot Meg an appreciative smile as she held a dress up to her and twirled around, looking for Meg's opinion. She shook her head no, and Lily rummaged in her dresser for another dress.

Sirius sat and watched as their silent conversation took place, taking in Meg's expression. She was a pretty girl, with subtle features and a not so subtle personality. However, she always seemed to have admirers, and Sirius found it hard to believe she hadn't been asked out.

"So, who are you going to Hogsmeade with tomorrow then?" James asked, puzzled as well.

Meg gave a meek smile. "Just me. I wouldn't go if it weren't for the fact that I need to buy a few presents. Last year I waited until our last Hogsmeade trip before Christmas to buy presents and it was a madhouse there. This year I thought I'd get an early start. Plus, it's way better than sitting around here alone. You're going with Molly Pantra, aren't you?"

"Yeah, otherwise I'd gladly go with you. I could do with some Christmas shopping too." Sirius said regretfully.

"No problem. I don't need a pity date anyway." Meg replied evenly, her eyes not meeting his.

"I didn't mean it that way, you know that. A bloke would be lucky to take you," Sirius said truthfully, and Lily raised her eyebrows pleadingly at James.

"How about you go with me Meg. Not as a pity date or anything," James added quickly. "It's just, I'm not going with anyone and Pete and Remus have girlfriends, so I'm all alone too."

She contemplated his offer before agreeing with a smile.

"But what will I wear?" she said exaggeratedly.

"Girls," Sirius muttered, shaking his head. "And you!" he said, looking at Lily. "Have you found a dress yet?"

"I'm looking, Sirius. I just can't find the right one." Lily said, frustrated with herself.

"I guess telling you to just choose the one on top wouldn't help much then, eh?" Lily shook her head no at Sirius. "Nah, I didn't think so."

"When did you move all of these clothes down here anyway?" James asked as Lily dug through the large mound of dresses that were piled on the floor.

"Since I started sleeping here," she replied, holding up a blue dress.

"Nope," Meg said, and Lily threw the dress back into the pile.

"Which was how long ago?" James asked.

"Oh I don't know. A week maybe? Just not last night, I spent it with Meg. This one?"

"Here, why don't you choose a couple then go try them on? That way we can see them properly." Meg suggested, and Lily grabbed a few dresses and disappeared into the bathroom.

There was a silence once Lily left the room, and Meg took the opportunity to look around. It was her first time in the head's room.

"Are these yours?" she asked, picking up a set of keys that were resting on the end table.

"Yep. Would you believe me if I told you those keys open any door in Hogwarts? Except Dumbledore's office of course. His place has some pretty heavy enchantments on it."

"Do they really?" Meg whispered, now looking at the keys as if they held the answers to everything. Sirius, however, rolled his eyes.

"No. You shouldn't have believed him see? Those are simple house keys to the Potter mansion."

"It's not a mansion." James muttered, embarrassed. Meg swatted James on the shoulder.

"I guess I should learn not to believe anything you say from now on." She said, grinning.

"It's not me, honest. Usually it's Sirius you have to worry about. But neither of us lies on the big stuff. And we're getting better, you see. In fact, Sirius is sounding more and more like Remus every day."

"Speaking of, where is he?" Sirius asked, glancing at the door.

"No idea, but I'm starving-..." James trailed off as Lily stepped into the room. The three of them couldn't say anything. She looked absolutely beautiful.

"That's the one," James said quietly, not taking his eyes off of her. Meg nodded while Sirius wolf-whistled. The dress looked amazing on her. It was black with waves of ruffles that cascaded down her legs. It was strapless and made of the softest fabric. Lily couldn't help but grin and do a little twirl.

"Are you guys sure it's not too much or anything?" Lily said, fumbling with her hair, trying it this way and that.

"It's perfect," James said. "If he doesn't fall in love with you, Lils, he'd be crazy."

A slight blush crept up on her cheeks, and she thanked James.

"Well then," Meg said, standing up and stretching her arms out. "We'd better get to bed then, Sirius."

Sirius smirked suggestively.

"Not together you daft twit. Honestly," she rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't think of sleeping with you if we were the last human beings on Earth." She said and helped pull Sirius up.

"Ah, you have to admit you love me deep down." Sirius said, and picked up the Marauder's Map from the end table.

"Nope. Not one bit." Meg remained adamant, and the two playfully bickered all the way back to Gryffindor Tower, all the while dodging the blasted Filch.

"Well, I guess it's just you and me. Are you sleeping here tonight then?" James asked, breaking the lingering silence.

"Yeah, I guess so. I don't really have a safe way to get back to the tower, do I?"

"Right. Well I'm staying too, so I suppose tonight will be the first time we really share sleeping quarters."

"Think we're up to it?" Lily asked, grinning at James.

"I think we might make it," James responded, flashing her a charming smile. Lily felt her knees weaken.

"I guess I better go get a shower...do you mind?" Lily asked, and James shook his head no, so she disappeared into her bedroom to grab clothes to sleep in, only to return to James empty handed.

"James I don't have any pajamas," she said, her eyes not meeting his as she nervously stood in front of him. "In fact, all I have are those dresses. I left everything else in our old dormitories from last night. Stupid really."

"Here, I'm sure I have something around here you can wear. It's no problem, really."

Lily blushed even more at the thought of sleeping in his clothes. She meekly nodded and followed him slowly into his room.

"I have tons of shirts, bit I don't know if I have any shorts down here, its not like I need them in this weather anyway. You know, we really ought to just move all of our stuff here, it would definitely make more sense that way. Here's a shirt," he said, tossing her a long-sleeved white button-down shirt.

"This will be fine without shorts. It goes down almost to my knees see?" That part was a bit of an exaggeration. The longest parts of the shirt reached a good six inches above her knees. Truthfully, she didn't want to end up wearing a pair of his boxers too. That would have been embarrassing.

"Alright then. You had better go get a shower and some sleep, tomorrows a big day, you'll want your rest and all." James said, playfully winking at her.

"Yeah, I definitely don't want to miss out on my beauty sleep. Thanks James!" she said cheerily, and left his room to go shower.

"Beauty sleep is one thing you definitely don't need," James muttered after she had left, running a hand through his hair and collapsing back onto his bed.


That's all for now. Next chapter will have Lily's date and how that goes, and also more about the prank the boy's are planning. And I do promise, it will be up sooner!! Please, don't forget to review!!