Idea#1: Singing a Sweeter Song

"This is monumentally stupid," Remus muttered.

"You and me both, brother," Sirius muttered back. "Our friend here definitely needs a therapist."

"Ssh!" James hissed. He was pacing, his black work robes fluttering behind him. "This requires serious concentration, you know."

"Let me kill myself first before I do this," Sirius begged.

"I'll die first. Gladly," Remus agreed.

"Or let's get one of those Dementor cloaks."

"At the very least, we'd be unrecognizable."

James fixed a pleading look upon his best friends. "Come on, mates. I thought we were in this together."

"Why'd you remind us?" Sirius whined.

"Besides, you wouldn't be unrecognizable even if you mummified yourselves in tea towels. The school knows you too well."

Remus read over the lines James had copied onto a piece of parchment—and shuddered.

"Why couldn't you have picked a nice SOLO piece? Why'd you choose one with BACKUP SINGERS??!!"

"I'd be tired if I sung that much. I need a little assistance," James answered.

Sirius cringed. "These lyrics are so, as they say, corny."

"Wait, Lily just went into her room!" James called. "Position yourselves, men!"

"Bloody hell."

James lifted his wand and aimed it at the window. Something plinked against the glass.

The three boys instantly heard a flurry of rather loud squawks from inside the castle.

"What the bloody hell—" Alice, one of Lily's dorm mates and another Gryffindor seventh-year, threw open the window. She spotted James, who was mouthing, "Get Lily."

"Lily!" Alice shouted. "There's something you have to see!"

"Me?" came Lily's faint exclamation.

James gulped. He turned to Sirius and Remus, who had somehow managed to have ski masks popped over their heads.

Lily leaned out the window.

"Tell me why," James belted out at the top of his lungs.

Remus and Sirius looked at each other, swallowed, and opened their mouths. "Ain't nothin' but a heartache."

"Tell me why!"

"Ain't nothin' but a mistake—tell me why."

"I never want to hear you say."

"I want it that way!" all three chorused.

Whistles rang out from inside the castle. The Marauders whirled around to see Dumbledore, McGonagall, and some of the other professors clapping.

"Well, we thought of giving you detention for being out after hours, Mr. Potter, but you gave such a satisfactory performance that we'll just let you off for now," Professor Dumbledore intoned.

He turned to go, and stopped. "By the way, excellent backup singing, Mr. Black and Mr. Lupin."

Remus and Sirius whipped off their ski masks, faces tomato-red.

"Thank goodness you took those off," Professor McGonagall added, a twinkle in her eye. "We were starting to think you were Muggle robbers."

xxxxxxxxxxxx

"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS THE MATTER WITH YOU?!"

Sirius and Remus winced as they watched James take an earful from Lily.

"Have you got any idea how bloody embarrassing that was?" Lily flopped down onto an armchair, a frustrated look on her face. "Well, I suppose it was more humiliating for you, but—oh gosh!" She buried her face in her hands. "Merlin, you were normal yesterday!"

"I'm sorry," James ventured meekly.

Lily stood up and headed for the stairs to her dormitory, then paused when she passed Remus and Sirius.

"Nice voices, you two. And where'd you get those ski masks? I'm going to need some tomorrow."

Nervously, the two boys handed their masks over and bade Lily good night. When James opened his mouth to speak, Lily held up a hand.

"Not now, Potter. I'm not in the mood."

She stomped upstairs.

"She hates me," James sighed.

"I'm thinking that was not such a good idea," Remus commented.

AN: I know they didn't have Backstreet Boys back then, but what the heck. That was the corniest song I could think of at the moment. :)

And of course much thanks to my reviewers:

SnoopyViz- Don't want you to get in trouble with your parents, alright? :) And I'm really glad you liked that chapter!

fille-chica143- :D

Alcapacien- Well... :D

LupinLover99- Wow, it's great to see you! :) I'm so touched that you took the time to read and like it even though it's not your favorite pairing. :)

natalie- You're good... :) Lily's girlfriends will make their appearance very soon, and well, I definitely couldn't make Lily bookworm-y...poor her if I did. :)

S.O.B.O.R.E.D- Thanks! :)

stephxd- Thanks a lot! :)

marauderbabe289- Thanks! :)

Muzzy-Olorea- Yes, that's exactly how I envision her. :) Let's just say Lily has changed since she started hanging out with James and his crew. :) And I'm glad you think my portrayal of the Marauders is good. :)

God bless, y'all! :)