James

"What'd you do to her Prongs?"

"I dunno, Padfoot."

I grabbed my bag and slung it over my shoulder, still in a bit of a daze. What did I do?

"Girls are so weird," Padfoot said as he and I followed the crowd out of the classroom. "One time I even had one follow me in the loo. Not like I minded or anything..." he smiled slyly.

I nodded in agreement, not really understanding what I was nodding to. Why was Lily acting so weird? Sure she'd been acting strange before, but today...eesh. I asked Padfoot what he thought about the whole Lily thing.

"Isn't it obvious?" Moony asked, catching up with us outside the classroom.

"What? That Lily is a total nutcase?" Padfoot asked.

"You two are hopeless," Moony muttered, shaking his head.

"That's why we have you," grinned Paddy. "So, tell us oh wise one, what is so obvious?"

"If you two can't figure it out I'm not going to tell you," Moony said.

I groaned.

"Really!" Moony exclaimed. "You two really should pay more attention, I mean -"

"Please Moony, spare us the lectures. I'm not in the mood to hear about how I should pay more attention or act more mature or -"

"Go jump off a broom?" Padfoot suggested.

"Yeah, or that," I grumbled.

Moony rolled his eyes and walked off in a huff.

"So," Padfoot said, turning to me. "When are you going to ask Looney Lilykins to the ball anyhow?"

"I dunno. Waiting for the right moment," I replied.

It was true. I didn't just want to walk up to her and ask her out like I did in the past. I wanted to make sure everything was perfect. I wanted the perfect timing, the location, everything. I wanted her to make sure she'd say yes.

"Ah, gotcha. Well, c'mon, let's go get some lunch," Padfoot said. "I'm starving."

"How many times have I told you two not to get behind on your homework?" Moony asked exasperated.

"How many times have we told you not to tell us?" Padfoot snapped.

"Yeah Moony, lay off. There's not a lot of time left for homework while your trying to win the Quidditch Cup and be Head Boy," I grumbled.

"That's no excuse for Sirius," Moony said.

"I'll give you an excuse if you don't shut up," Padfoot growled.

"Well then, I guess you don't want to see my notes. I'm off to bed," Moony said firmly.

"Good ridance!" Sirius shouted, throwing a pillow at his back. "Like he'd let us see his notes anyways."

I scratched my head and looked down at my parchment. I was supposed to be explaining about moon stone and it's properties, but for some reason I couldn't make anything come to mind. I sucked on my Sugar Quill and tapped my foot, trying to think.

"Padfoot?" I asked hopefully. "You got anything?"

"I was just going to ask you," Padfoot said. "And since when do you trust my answers?"

"Since I became in need of getting this done so I can sleep," I said, yawning. I wasn't lying about the Quidditch and Head Boy bit. Hours on the Quidditch field and patroling the halls really did take a lot out of you.

"I hear ya," Padfoot said, yawning as well. I looked around the common room. We were the only ones still up. "Infact, I'm going to bed right now. Even if I do finish this tonight, I doubt any of the answer I'd put would be right I'm so tired."

"Padfoot," I teased, "Your answers aren't right anyways."

"Yeah, yeah," he grinned. "Anyways, you coming?"

"No, I gotta finish this tonight. I have Quidditch bright and early then Head Boy duties tomorrow. No time to finish it later," I scowled.

"Want me to stay with you?" he asked, yawning again.

"No, one of us should at least get some sleep," I said.

"Alright then. See ya," Padfoot said, marching up the dorm steps.

I sighed and looked back down at my essay. I dipped my quill (not my Sugar Quill) into the ink and began to write. The sooner I finished this, the sooner I could get to bed.

Finally, well past midnight, I did it. Yawning, I rolled up my essay and slipped it in my bag along with my quill, ink, and books. I was about to get up when something caught my eye. Someone was coming down from the dorms. The girls dorms.

"What...what're you doing up?" I asked as Lily sat down beside me on the couch.

"I couldn't sleep," she said softly, smiling. "Why're you up?"

"I've been up. Finishing my potions essay," I replied cautiously. I didn't want to say anything that might scare her off.

"I still haven't done that," Lily said.

"But it's due tomorrow," I said, a bit surprised.

"I've had a lot on my mind," she answered, almost in a whisper. Then she laughed.

"What?" I asked, now confused. Did I have ink on my face?

"Oh, nothing. Really," she smiled warmly.

I smiled back.

Then it hit me.

This was it.

I looked into her eyes carefully. Her eyes were my favorite feature about her. Piercing emerald green, almond in shape, and always alive. I could've gotten lost in them..but I couldn't. Not now, anyways.

"Hey, Evans," I said nervously. "Er, I mean, Lily. Whatever. Look..I was you know, kind of wondering if maybe, that is if you don't already have plans, if you'd..well..like to be my date to the Graduate Ball?"