Lily, Sara and Norma were getting ready for the Hogsmeade trip. They were due to leave in a half hour, so they girls were making sure they all looked just so. Norma was wearing a light pink tank top and jean capris. Sara was wearing a deep blue shirt with a jean skirt. Lily still had no idea what to wear.
"What about you're green top and the Sara's skirt?" Norma suggested.
"Uh, I got a pumpkin juice stain on the skirt last week that won't come out. Sorry, Lils." Sara said. "But you could wear my jeans that you love. You know, the one with the embroidery at the bottom?"
"But with what top?" Lily said.
"The green one. It looks cute on you." Norma said. "And I'll French braid your hair, if you like."
"Thanks, but no thanks. I heard Sirius say he liked long hair, so I'm wearing my hair down." Lily said as she put on the green shirt. "I can't believe I'll have to spend time with Potter, though."
"But you'll look extra cute for Sirius." Sara said handing over the jeans. "Wow, that shirt really brings out your greens eyes. It looks great."
Lily smiled. "Are you sure I look good enough for Sirius? This could be my big chance!" Lily said.
"Don't worry! It will be awesome! And we'll be there to make sure Potter stays away." Norma said. "Come on. Got to get some make-up on. Only fifteen minutes!"
In the common room, James and Sirius were playing a game off chess while Remus read. "So, what do you think will happen with the girls today?" James said.
"I think Lily will shout her love for you from the hill top and start making out with you." Sirius said laughing.
"C'mon, Padfoot, I'm serious." James said. "This could be my big chance with Evans."
"Maybe if you start calling her Lily instead of Evans she'll be nicer to you." Remus said without looking up from his book. "Every thought of that, James?"
'No, she'd have to stop liking Sirius to go out with me.' James thought. "Yeah, maybe you're right, Moony." James said.
"Whoa, this is serious. Prongs is doing something that resembles thinking!" Sirius said. "What's going on up there?"
"Lily." James whispered as the girls walked down to the common room.
"Hey guys. Are you all ready to go?" Sara said. Remus put down his book.
"Of course." Remus put his arm out for Sara. Remus was supposed to take Sara, and Sirius to take Norma, so Lily would be left with James.
"Hi Sirius." Lily said. "Shall we go?" Sirius shrugged and walked with her. James gave him a look and Sirius cleared his throat.
"Oh, well, actually, I have to talk to Norma aboutâsomething." Sirius said leading Norma to where Sara and Remus were standing with the rest of the Gryffindors to go to Hogsmeade.
"I guess that leaves me and you, Potter." Lily said.
"I think of it as us." James said putting his arm out like Remus had done. Instead of taking it like Sara had, Lily just walked away from James to catch up with Sirius. James sighed and caught up with the group.
"So, Sirius, what did you want to talk to Norma about?" Lily asked.
"Oh, wellâjust a question about the paper for Defense Against the Dark Arts. That was hard, right?" Sirius said, looking for James.
"Yeah. I got Exceeding Expectation, like Sara." Lily said, excited to be talking got Sirius. "I don't know how Norma got Excellent."
"Lily, you shouldn't run away from someone." James said catching up. "It could be considered rude."
"Did you just call me Lily?" she asked James. "Isn't it usually Evans?"
"Well, I thought I'd try something new." James said. Then he saw Remus doing a big no with his head. "I meanâ. uh, I just thought it was mean."
"Wow, maybe there is some human in youâJames." Lily said. She smiled at him and walked to talk to Sara and Remus. James smiled about his quick recovery. The six of them talk all the way to Hogsmeade. Then they split up because the boys wanted to go to Jonko's Joke shop. The girls went ahead to get some butter beer. "It's weird, I haven't spent much time with Sirius, but I'm having a great time." Lily said.
"Yeah, why haven't you been talking to Sirius?" Sara asked. "This is you big chance!"
"Well, I've been talking to James." Lily explained simply.
"Potter the Prat? Why?" Norma asked. "And since when do you call him James? You always call him Potter."
"Well, he started calling me Lily, so I started calling him James." Lily said. "He actually is funny."
"Uh-oh" Sara said.
"What?" Lily asked. "He actually can be funny."
"Looks like we might have a Princess to go along with the Prat Prince." Sara said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Lily asked crossing her arms.
"You like Potter!" Norma said laughing.
"What? I do not!" Lily said. "You guys know who I like."
"Speak of the devil." Norma said as the boys walking in, pockets filled with dung bombs. They sat down. James on one side of Lily and Sirius on the other.
"Sirius, can I talk to you for a sec?" Lily asked him. She gave Sara and Norma a look saying, "I told you so."
"Uh, I guess." Sirius said. He took a sip of Butter beer and followed Lily outside.
"Ok, uh, Sirius, I just want to say that since, well, it seems like forever. But really it was since the beginning of this year, I sort of liked you and wondered if you want t go out with me maybe?" Lily said.
"Oh, wow. Uh, that's a surprise." Sirius said. He looked at Lily for a while. 'She is cute.' He thought. 'But you best mate likes her. But what if you do too?'
"Look, I know James likes me and all. So if you don't want to go out because of that, I understand, but" Lily said. "I think that would be a shame, if you liked me, I mean."
'So you go out with Evans for a while. Prongs would understand.' He thought. 'I'll dump her and let James have her later.' Sirius leaned down and kissed Lily softly on the lips.
Inside, sipping butter beer, James saw Sirius kissing Lily. He spit out his drink and ran outside. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" James asked.
"I'm going to take that as a yes to the earlier question, Sirius." Lily said quietly.
"Prongs don't be mad." Sirius said.
"Too late." James said. "You know how much I liked Lily!"
"Look, James, I know all that, but I don't like you. You can be nice and funny, but I like Sirius." Lily said taking her boyfriend's hand. "And if I want to go out with him, that's not your choice."
"Go out? Like boyfriend and girlfriend?" James said. "Padfoot!"
"Look, James, like Lily said, it's not your choice." Sirius said.
"But I can chose my who are my friends." James said. "And who are people who lie to me." James walked away. Sirius ran after him calling his name. 'So I get a boyfriend, and he runs off to get another boy.' Lily thought. 'Typical.'
Sara and Norma ran out. "Did what just happen really happen?" Norma squeaked.
"Yes! It's official!" Lily said.
"I can't believe it!" Sara said. They all jumped and yelled.
"Excuse me, but what happened?" Remus asked, not seeing what had happened like James had.
"Sirius and I are going out!" Lily shrieked. It was exciting news, after all. Remus watched the girls shriek as he wondered how awful James must be feeling.