Chapter Twenty Five

James was grumbling obscenities under his breath as he stormed into the dorm room, where Sirius was resting his eyes. He heard muttering enter the room and opened one eye to see a very angry James, then closed it again and smiled.

"Problems, Prongs?"

"Yeah. Do we have to marry women?" he said, throwing himself onto his bed. Sirius burst out into laughter.

"Well, I hope you're not planning on marrying a man, mate!"

"You know what I mean, Sirius. It just seems that these women are more trouble than they are worth."

"Well, what's the problem now?" Sirius asked, sitting up in his bed.

"I'm in love with Lily." James said, causing Sirius to laugh out loud again. "Damnit, I'm serious, Pad. I really think I'm falling in love with her. But she's being so bloody impossible right now! After all the hell I've given her, I guess I deserve it now, but it just kills me to sit n the same common room with her and Travey-poo, giggling and cuddling . . ." James growled under his breath before continuing. "It burns me to the core to see her with that creep, when I know that I could treat her so much better."

Sirius sighed and walked over to James bed, patting him on the shoulder. "I'm sorry, mate. I truly am. And don't hate me for this, but I've been thinking . . ."

"Don't hurt yourself there." James said with a smile.

"No, seriously, I've been thinking about this for a while, and I think I've got an idea of how you can get Lily. It will take some planning, and the girl will have to be in on it, of course, but I think that we could pull this off."

"Well, would you mind telling me what this grand idea is?" James asked in curiosity.

"Well, how about we get you a fake girlfriend?"

"Sirius, I could get a real girlfriend in five seconds if I wanted to."

"No, not a two-day fling, James. Seriously. We'll get a girl to be your 'girlfriend' and tell the whole school you're a couple, spread it around like wild fire. Then we will find out if Lily really does care for you. If she does, she'll get crazy jealous and dump Travis."

"Only one problem there," James said. "She does care for me, you great prat! I'm just a dear friend." James said in a mocking tone, running a hand through his dark hair.

"Hey, it was just an idea." Sirius said, going back to lay down on his bed, closing his eyes once again.

After a long moment, James finally spoke. "Well, it wouldn't hurt to try, would it?"

Sirius opened his eyes and grinned. "Of course not!"

"But who should the girl be?"

"I don't know. And if we are going to do this, it's got to be totally top secret. Lily and her two little buddies, those best friends of hers, can't find out about this." Sirius said, coming back to James' bed.

"Don't be so sure there, Padfoot."

Sirius and James turned to see Remus walk in the dorm. "Why do you say that?" Sirius asked.

"Well while you two were gone, I overheard those two girls talking. They think that Travis is a creep and they're totally on your side when it comes to Lily." Remus said, also taking a seat on the edge of James' bed.

"Really? Well, maybe we could use that to our advantage." James said thoughtfully.

"But are you going to be helping us with this scam, Rem?"

"Yeah, we're not going to break any school rules or anything?"

"Of course, I'm going to help you. I'm tired of both Lily and James looking so miserable without each other. And no, to my knowledge, you're not breaking any school rules, which is why I insist on going along with this plan."

"We're ridiculous, you know that, Moony?" James laughed. "Here I am, Head Boy, and I'm asking you about school rules. One would think that I should know those things."

"Yes, one would think." Remus said, shaking his head.

"Okay, everybody. You ready? Let's get this thing started." Sirius said, pulling the Marauder's Map out of his trunk and walking back to the bed. Just as he lifted his wand, he paused. "Wait a minute - where the bloody hell is Peter?"

"I don't know." James said.

"Yesterday, I saw him talking with Snape and Malfoy." Remus pointed out.

"That can't be healthy." Sirius said.

"Yeah, Wormtail is greasy enough. He definitely doesn't need to hang out with those two slimy Slytherins."

"Oh, well. It won't be the first time we've done this without him. I solemnly swear I am up to-"

They all became silent as they heard footsteps on the stairs, shoving the map underneath James pillows when Frank walked in.

"Hey, Frank." Sirius said.

"Hey, guys." he responded, wandering over to his bed.

"So Frank," Remus said, winking at his friends. "I've been meaning to ask you . . . what's going on with you and Nancy?"

"Nothing." Frank smiled. "We're just really good friends."

"Well, what does your girlfriend have to say about all that?" Sirius asked.

"Oh, he broke up with her a while ago. Said 'the long-distance relationship wasn't working.'" Remus said.

"Well, duh!" Sirius said. "That would explain the whole page of parchment that says 'I love Nancy' twenty times over."

"What!?" Frank said incredulously, turning many shades of red.

"And that would also explain the fact that he talks about her in his sleep." James said with a grin.

"I do not!" Frank said, turning away.

"It's true, mate." Remus said.

Frank's face contorted, like there was some sort of inner struggle, his ears bright pink. He finally sighed before he began to speak. "Well, I think . . I might . . . I kinda . . ."

"Oooooh!" They all said. "Mate, we were so just kidding!" Sirius said laughing.

"Damn you!" Frank yelled with an embarrassed smile, throwing a book across the room at the three laughing Marauders. "Damnit! I should have known you lot would have some sort of trick up your sleeve."

After the laughter subsided, James said, "But you really do talk about her in your sleep."

Frank only shook his head with a laugh.

"So, do you really like her, Frank?" Remus asked, slowly approaching.

"Well, I'm not sure right now." Frank said in a frustrated voice. "I mean, I know that everyone says she's such a little slut, but I don't see that side of her. She's different around me. And I'm just not sure if that's the real her or not, so I didn't really want to get attached, you know?" Suddenly he laughed. "Why am I telling you all this?"

"Good question." Sirius said nodding. "James, this is the other thing that we're going to spread around like wild fire."

"No! Please don't tell any one, I don't want her to find out just yet. Besides, I haven't even told Travis yet."

James eyes narrowed and he leaned back on his bed, his face expressionless. "Travis." he said coldly.

---

"Hey there, Lily." Remus said with a smile as she rounded the corner of the corridor.

"Hi, Remus. How are you?"

"Fine. A little nervous about N.E.W.T.S, though." he said falling into step beside her. It was obvious that she was heading for the library, so he had to do this quickly.

"Oh, me too. I'm no where near as prepared as I want to be."

"Too many late nights with Travis, eh?" Remus said. He hadn't meant to be harsh, but she looked at him with a hurt look before slowing her step.

"Lily, I wanted to ask you something, and this is strictly to curb my curiosity. I won't tell James if you don't want me to and you don't even have to answer me if it's too personal. But I was just wondering how you feel about Jam-"

She covered his mouth with her hand before grabbing him by the arm and pulling him out of the hallway and into an empty class room. She then shut the door and turned to face him, looking very apprehensive.

"Remus, you and your friends, and my friends, and James - especially James, need to understand that I'm with Travis now. You cannot keep throwing James at me." she said quietly.

"But?" Remus said with a knowing smile.

"But . . ." she sighed and looked away. "I don't know, Remus. I was seriously considering talking to him about . . . us, but then his parents died and then this whole prophesy thing happened . . . I mean, what the hell? I'm just a muggle-born girl and now I'm a witch with the power of life and love and . . . I'm going to save the world and lose my family . . . love will be my demise? Remus, I'm bloody scared!" she said in a wavering voice.

"I do care for James, Remus. You have no idea how much I do. But if my ability to love also has the ability to kill - I don't know! I don't understand any of this, so I don't want to put any of you in harms way." She sighed and wiped at the tears that were forming in her eyes. "I don't love Travis, of course I know that. But if I give into love now and something happened to James . . . I would never forgive myself."

Remus just sat there, listening intently.

"Do you understand, Remus?" She said, taking a step closer. "I have very strong feelings for James, but I'm scared and confused and . . . I just don't know what to do about it."

"I understand." Remus said gently, pulling her into a quick hug. "I'm sorry you have this burden, Lily."

"But I guess it all comes with being 'Lily Marie,' right?" she said with a bitter smile.

"Maybe. But you're strong. You can take it."

"Only for so long." she said, thinking of that day in the woods, watching James suffer . . . that was more than she could take. She never wanted to see that again.

"So, I'm guessing you don't want me to tell anyone all this?" Remus said, opening the classroom door.

"I would greatly appreciate it." she said, beaming at him.

"All right, I promise." he said, crossing his fingers as he shut the door.

---

"Hello there, Ladies." Sirius said, sauntering up to Jenny and Nancy at a table in the library.

"Go away, Sirius." Nancy said in disgust as he took a seat.

"Oh, come now, Nancy dear. I thought we had put our bitter past behind us. Besides, you've got Frankie-poo now, right?" he said mockingly.

Nancy only gasped. "What do you want, Sirius?" Jenny asked wearily.

"Well, I need your help, but I'm gong to ask a question first."

"Make it quick." Nancy snapped.

"Of course, your ho-ness." Nancy gasped again, but he only continued with a smile. "What do you two think of Lily and Travis?"

"Ugh. He's a total creep. Reminds me of someone else I know." Nancy said pointedly.

"He really is. He flirts with girls all the time, then claims to be loyal? Whatever!" Jenny said.

"So you're all for them breaking up?"

Both nodded emphatically.

"Great. Me too. So . . . what do you think about Lily and . . . James?" he said.

"James is a great guy." Nancy said immediately. "And it's obvious he cares about her, always complimenting her and stuff."

"Yeah, he's a really sweet guy, I totally agree. I'm all for Lily and James." Jenny said.

"So are you two up for helping me in my plot to break up Lily and the King?"

Both girls nodded.

"Excellent. Now with the plan - Nancy since you're already taken by Longbottom; Jenny are you willing to give up your single status?"

Nancy blushed and gasped, and Jenny was taken aback.

"Um, yeah, but not at risk of getting ripped to shreds by my best friend."

"She'll get over it." Sirius said, waving her off. "But speak of the devil, here she comes. Listen, you two just keep that in mind. Do not say a word to Lily. And when we're ready, we'll contact you, okay?"

Both girls nodded.

"Great. It was nice doing business with you, ladies." he said, shaking Jenny's hand, but when Nancy pulled away, he only winked at her. "We'll be in touch." Then he rose from his seat and walked away, passing Lily with a "Hiya, Lily!" before exiting the library.

"What was that all about?" Lily said, a confused look on her face as she sat down.

"He was just giving Nancy a hard time, as always." Jenny said.

"Guys are only trouble." Lily said, shaking her head.

"Especially Marauders." Nancy said, earning a kick under the table and an evil glare from Jenny that Lily missed.

"Ain't it the truth." Lily said shaking her head and opening her book.

---

A/N: Wowzers. That was a long chapter!

Thanks SO MUCH for all the reviews! I love to hear from you guys, and your reviews just make me want to post more all the time! If only I could... oh well. Review some more and I'll post some more! -huggles-