Hi-i. . . Yet another chapter.

-- grins – I love you reviewers. LoL.

James's POV

"Yeah. But then again, I might change my mind," she added thoughtfully.

"Why's that?"

"Well, before that I just wanted to do muggle jobs. Like, last year I wanted to work in a beauty parlor. But before that I wanted to be a primary school teacher. Oh, and before that I wanted to be an entertainer on a cruise ship. And I wanted to do nail art. There was also my whole actress/singer phase, but I think every girl goes through that, doesn't she?"

I wouldn't know. I'm a guy.

"Wow. You sure are ambitious," I laughed.

It was quite amusing, the look on her face. And the way she said all of that. It was as if she were now torn between which job she wanted to do again.

"Right, drinks," Sirius announced, sitting down. He had somehow managed to juggle seven butterbeers in his hands.

A minute later, Tess and Helen joined us again.

Then Remus and Peter came back from Zonko's, with a considerable amount of stuff each.

And. . . There was a silence as we all sat there, sipping on our butterbeers, and staring into space.

This sure wasn't uncomfortable at all.

"Ooh," Lily suddenly said, breaking the silence.

It took me a second to realize that she was looking at me. "I wanted to be a party planner when I was fourteen as well. Oh! And one of those people who works at concert venues. That way, you'd be paid to help famous people."

I looked at her blankly for a second, before snickering quietly. I had to laugh at that.

Here we all were, not having a clue what to say to each other, and Lily carries on talking about what she decided she wanted to work as when she was younger.

Of course, this totally confused the others. Well, not Tess and Helen, but I had a feeling that they'd had that conversation with her before, as they merely smiled and rolled their eyes.

"What've I missed?" Sirius frowned.

Lily's POV

Tut. When we went into the Three Broomsticks, everyone abandoned me. So I was on my own with James.

What were we supposed to say to each other?

I still didn't like him because of his little 'lowly sixth year' comment. Is it my fault he happened to be a year older than me? Not even that. Probably a couple of months.

Still, I had to say something. Did I mention I hate silence? It bugs me.

"So, erm, what are you doing when you leave school?" I asked. I'd debated with myself for a while whether to talk to him or not, but finally I decided to, just be nice.

"I dunno," he shrugged, not looking that bothered.

Fine. I'd tried.

We went back to the silence. Then-

"You know what you want to do yet?" he asked, after a moment. He didn't look like he cared or anything, but then again I didn't really care when I'd asked him.

But of course I knew what I wanted to do.

"Oh. I want to work at the Ministry. In that section where you help with Charms."

"Really?" For some reason he looked surprised.

Did he think I was thick or something?

I could work for the Ministry. It's what I'd always wanted to do.

Then I remembered it wasn't, exactly.

I want to be something different practically every day.

"Well, before that I just wanted to do muggle jobs," I said thoughtfully. "Like, last year I wanted to work in a beauty parlor. But before that I wanted to be a primary school teacher. Oh, and before that I wanted to be an entertainer on a cruise ship. And I wanted to do nail art. There was also my whole actress/singer phase, but I think every girl goes through that, doesn't she?"

He looked a bit clueless about that, but laughed.

"Wow. You sure are ambitious."

Yep.

I smiled at him, and then looked up when Sirius returned with the drinks.

Okay, so maybe he'd called me and teased me, but. . . maybe James isn't that bad. Besides, if I'm gonna be dating Sirius, I have to get along with his friends don't I?

James' POV

Over the next few days, Sirius got closer to Lily.

But the weird thing was. . . so did I.

Not in the way Sirius was or anything – nuh uh.

No, I just got to know her a bit more. We're always teasing each other, but she's okay.

So are Tess and Helen.

"-So tonight me, Sirius and Peter will just come and meet you in the Shack as usual, but then we'll-"

"Shhh... okay," Remus nodded. We were on our way to the Common Room, having just returned from a detention.

Though I don't think accidentally-on-purpose setting your teacher's chair on fire is really worth a detention. That's harsh.

"Hey, how was it?" Sirius asked when we walked up towards his seat near the fire. He was sitting with Lily, Peter, Tess and Helen.

This was a bit of a surprise.

We'd become friends yeah, but we didn't all hang around together that much. We were still in different years.

"The detention? Alright, I s'pose..." Remus replied. "I could have been doing better things with my time, but still."

"Well, that's because you're naughty boys," Helen teased. "What did you do, again?"

"Accidentally set McGonagall's chair on fire," I said.

Lily turned and smiled at me. "Sure it was accidental."

Well of course it was.

"Right! I'm glad you agree. It was funny though... you should have been there."

"And risked dying in the flames? Yeah, hilarious," Lily giggled.

"You wouldn't have died," Sirius said.

"Exactly. No matter how much I would have wanted you to, you wouldn't have died," I teased, putting a hand on her head and messing her hair up.

I've found out she really cherishes her hair. It has to be perfect all the time. Ha.

"Ja-ames!" she whined, getting me the reaction I wanted. "God, not everyone wants their hair to be as all over the place as yours!"

The cheek of her.

"Eugh!" I cried, looking at my hand in mock disgust. "When's the last time you washed your hair Lily?"

Like I said, she loves her hair. So that didn't go down well.

"Leave her alone," Sirius grinned at me, while Lily just scowled.

What? Hadn't she started it?

I shrugged and sank into an armchair in front of the fire.

"You're such an idiot," Lily said, inspecting her manicured nails.

"And you're such a brat," I replied matter-of-factly.

I told you we've become closer.

A couple of days ago we'd have actually meant those things. Well, meant them nastily. She is a brat. But in the nicest possible way, of course.