Chapter 3: Say Hello to Courtship

Love can make a person to the craziest things. It can make one rob a bank of 30 million. It can make the toughest and coolest in the West Side cry. And it can make a seventeen-year-old wizard form a big, complicated plan to win the heart of his fair maiden.

James was sitting in Muggle Studies, doodling. The professor was droning on and on about the Muggles in the eighteenth or nineteenth century, and James was bloody bored. He was almost wishing that he had a Dungbomb or two.

"Now,"" the professor continued in a monotone, "let us take a look at the elaborate courtship rituals of Muggles in this time." He pointed his wand, and an image appeared in the air beside him.

James looked up from his doodling—and wondered idly how Lily would like it if he did that.

After all, she is like that. She's the type of girl who doesn't just give her heart away, but wants the guy to work for it. It was one of the things James admired about Lily.

Something inside his brain suddenly clicked. Of course! James woke up instantly. He'd use this stuff to woo Lily!

Immediately, James was paying attention, scribbling notes like a stenographer gone mad. This was it! The key to his future! His professor stopped speaking and stared in amazement. James Potter had never paid so much attention in Muggle Studies—he actually never paid attention at all. He normally just sat there and yawned. But this—this was...

"Well, the professor finally spoke, "nice to see you finally listening, Mr. Potter."

"Just continue!!!"

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

"What do you think?"

Sirius and Remus stared at their best friend as though he had just announced that he was moving to Tibet to become a monk.

"Did you steal any mead from Hagrid?" Sirius finally asked.

"How much of it have you had?" Remus added.

"I haven't had any mead!" James protested.

Remus quickly felt James's forehead. "He must have a very high fever! He needs the hospital wing, stat."

"I am not ill!"

"Who hexed you? Was it Snape? Tell me, Prongs!" Sirius demanded. "Do not be ashamed!"

"I HAVE NOT BEEN HEXED!!! ESPECIALLY NOT BY THAT GREASY GIT SNAPE! I'm perfectly healthy, I'm right in my mind, and I am not drunk! I'm being serious here!"

Sirius shook his head. "My dear Prongs, the mere fact that you just said you plan to woo Evans through these grossly out-of-date ideas proves you've completely lost all your marbles."

"Why? They don't sound so bad."

"You are honestly going to, let's see, stand under her window with a GUITAR and SING?!"

"I do have to remind you, Prongs, that you are terribly tone deaf." Remus leaned over Sirius's shoulder to scan the parchment of Ancient Courtship Rituals. "Besides, poetry?"

"Alright, maybe I'm not so good at this, but I know Lily will at least appreciate the effort," James shot back defiantly.

"Exactly, after she laughs you out of the wizarding world!" Sirius countered.

"She won't, I know it! Lily's got a better heart than that!"

Remus moved to stand in between James and Sirius. "You two, enough."

"Maybe you're right, Padfoot," James said slowly. "Maybe I really have gone daft. And maybe I'll get laughed out of Hogwarts. But I want Evans to see that I really am working to capture her heart."

Sirius released his breath slowly. Prongs could be so bloody stubborn. "Well, if you do plan on going through with this madness, you might as well have someone to share the humiliation with."

"What have we got to do?" Remus asked James tiredly.

James beamed. "Yes! Thank you! You really want to help me do this?"

"Prongs we've sworn since the very day we met on the Hogwarts Express in first year that we'll be best friends through thick and thin. This represents the thick," Sirius replied.

"It means we must help you," Remus chirped.

James couldn't help letting out a small cheer. Not only did he have the surefire way to finally get Lily Evans to like him, but he also had a winning team on his side!

AN: To my reviewers:

drumer girl90- Here you go. :)

Hogwarts-fanatic91- Thanks a lot! :)

Alcapacien- Really? I'm glad you think so. :)

SnoopyViz- Thanks! :)

Remembrall- Don't hex me! Please! :) I'm glad you liked it and thought it was funny. :)