Author's note: I am VERY happy that everyone seems to like this so far. I can't tell you how happy it makes me to check my email and see reviews. As promised I'm getting this chapter up as fast as I could. And I didn't have time for review responses in the last chapter so they are on the bottom of this chapter sorry it's short again, but there will be another chapter up tomorrow, I promise. Enjoy!

"Potter you are one strange person."

"Longbottom just shut your mouth."

"Why'd you bring me if you're just going to tell me to shut up?"

"You'll have your uses…trust me."

Frank Longbottom glared at the black haired boy standing next to him. He and James Potter were standing near the bar in the three broomsticks. The room was dimly lit, but enough light was coming down from the lights on the ceilings to allow Frank to see James acting like his usual entertaining self. James was looking intently at Lily Evans and her date, some Slytherin the Frank knew, but couldn't recall a name for; he usually didn't worry about Slytherins. They were at a distance from the two, and hidden from the girl and her date by a large plant. 'So Potter doesn't want them to see us…' Frank reflected.

He didn't really know why he was so intent to watch the two eat and flirt, but he wasn't about to ask either, knowing Potter it was something to do with a prank he was about to pull on them, and he'd soon know anyway. James had found him studying on the lawns just awhile ago, and convinced him to come to Hogsmeade with him. So far he was regretting it; he could be attempting to pass that Transfiguration test he had tomorrow.

'Oh well, eventually he'll deicide to do something, he can't stare at her forever.' Frank mused.

So while James was trying to burn a hole in the back of the blonde Slytherin's head, Frank was amusing himself by counting the marks on the ceiling. There seemed to be quite a few of them.

'1…2…is that a mark or a bug? I wonder why Potter brought me here anyways…all he's doing is staring at Evans…3…4…'

Frank glanced at James who was still watching Lily like she was something new and unusual, "Potter can you please explain to me what we're doing here?" Frank yawned; he really wished he had told James that he couldn't come today.

'5…6…it is a bug…it moved…or maybe it just seemed to because I keep staring at it…' Making a puzzled face, he squinted at the small black spot on the ceiling

"We're here to make sure that Ms Evans has an interesting date, and you know as back-up Marauder you're required to be here if I ask you to be." James spoke as though Frank should know all this already, but didn't glance away from the table with the red head at it.

Frank looked away from the ceiling and stared at the riveted looking boy quizzically, "I don't ever remember signing up to be a back-up Marauder."

James looked up at the sandy haired boy an annoyed look on his face, and Frank grinned, "Wow…so your eyes aren't glued magically to Evans?"

"Quiet," James growled, he quickly calmed down and spoke as evenly as he could, "Other than the four of us there's only two more of you in our dorm, you and Russell, and Russell annoys me so you've been elected, feel special."

Shaking his head, he smiled, "You realize that you all take this Marauder thing way to seriously right?"

James looked taken back, "You remember the cabbage incident?" James looked at the shorter boy, an almost evil look in his eye.

Frank gulped, "Yeah…why?"

A smirk spread across James' face, "You think just anyone could pull that off, right under McGonagall's nose like that?"

Remembering the previous year when all the school's cabbages had mysteriously resisted getting cooked. Professor McGonagall and all the house elves had to chase them for days. Smiling he remembered that Dumbledore found it funny. It made sense now though. For days Black had complained about the amount of cabbage they were serving, and Frank had always suspected the Marauders, his suspicions were confirmed now.

"So that was you?" Frank asked carefully, eyeing the tall boy warily.

A cocky grin quickly spreading across his features, relieving Frank, the other smile was starting to scare him, James nodded, "Pretty good eh?"

Frank nodded, "Alright Potter, I'm game as long as I get credit for what we do…know make a little bit of a name for myself."

James was slightly surprised, Frank was usually quiet, slightly sarcastic at times yes, but he didn't really expect him to want credit for anything. He imagined he would help, but wouldn't want his name mentioned for fear of being caught. "Sure Frank, you do that work, you get credit." James grinned; devil may care attitude shining through, "let's get crackin'." James rubbed his hands together grabbing a drink off the counter, and grinned at his accomplice, leaving Frank to wonder just what he had gotten himself into.

Sometimes there are situations in life that seem like a slow motion train wreck…from inside the train. That's how Lily felt about her date with Jonathan. It had started out smoothly (after the "Potter incident"). Jon was the perfect gentleman she had hoped he would be, and they had walked into Hogsmeade looking like the perfect couple. His arm draped around her shoulder, both of them laughing and flirting, it seemed to be great. Things were good when they arrived at the Three Broomsticks too. They found they shared common ground in Charms, so a discussion of them got the pair to the pub. Unfortunately it seemed that it was the only subject they could talk about. They had been sitting at the table in the dimly lit side of the room for five minutes without a word passing between the two of them.

The last thing that she had discussed with him was working on a new charm that allowed the user to blend in with their surroundings, after she had explained to him what her theories on it were, he had become very quiet.

'Maybe he really was impressed with it, and he's just thinking about it.' Lily considered. He did look like he was in deep thought, and when she was talking about it he seemed to really pay attention. Lily smiled; maybe she had found a boy that she could talk to about things she was interested in.

'He is really cute, wonder why I never noticed it before…maybe because he was always rude to me…where did the change come from? Maybe he finally just grew up…'

"So…" Lily started; surprised when Jon jumped as though he forgot she was there. 'Maybe he was too interested in my charm…wow…'

"Do you live in London?"

'Nice question Lily…your first date, you should be flirting and having fun…he probably thinks I'm a geek who just likes Charms now.'

"No actually, Camden, it's very close though. Where do you live Lily? Maybe over the summer we can…go somewhere. There are some nice parks in Camden." His response sounded emotionless, but Lily ignored it, 'leave it to me to ask a boring question.'

"Islington, so we're just a borough away from each other. It would be lovely getting together over the summer. I've been to a few parks in Camden, they're quite nice."

'I sound like my mother…'

"Interesting, yes they are. I hope we can go to a few this summer." Jon smiled at her, and they once again fell into a silence.

'Well at least he's interested in seeing me again…'

Lily looked around the room, she liked the atmosphere. Well…she did…that is until she saw James Potter staring at her.

'What's he doing here? And what is he doing looking at me like that? You know what? I'm not going to give him the satisfaction of knowing he's bugging…because he's not. I'll just ignore him.'

"So Jon, you seem strong…do you work out?" Lily put her lips around the straw in her drink, and smiled at him through her eyelashes, trying her best to look desirable. If it registered in her mind that she was doing this for James' benefit, she didn't allow herself to acknowledge that.

The blonde Slytherin grinned smugly, "Sure do, you like that?"

Lily smiled around the straw and nodded. She took a sip, still trying to play the part of the flirty girl. It didn't work. No sooner did the drink reach her throat, that she began coughing. And not a polite little cough, a full on coughing fit, the kind where you can't catch your breath, and your eyes start to water. Jon stared at her, lost and not knowing what to do. And out of nowhere Lily's night in shining armor came to her rescue.

"If you weren't so busy making oogly eyes at Barbie boy then you wouldn't be choking Evans." James Potter said through gritted teeth, while pounding her back with his hand.

"I-none-none-of-you-business-owww- st-st-op." Lily was being pushed forward in her seat every time James hit her back, her hair was flying forward, and she didn't want to think about what her face looked like.

'There goes my chance for a second date…'

"Fine next time you're choking and Barbie boy sits in shock I'll let you turn blue." He stopped hitting her back and looked at her a perturbed look on his face.

Lily glared at him, "I'd rather turn blue than have your disgusting hand touch me. I don't know where they've been."

A grin replaced the look on James' face, "I could tell you Evans."

He received another death glare. "You're disgusting."

He bowed, "Thank you Evans. Coming from you I take that as a compliment. It means I am doing my job towards you well."

Yet another glare was sent in his direction, he seemed unaffected by it though, if anything he grinned more.

"Well I can see my presence is no longer needed, I bid you yet another not so fond farewell boy Barbie, and his red head dragon." He reached over and messed up Jon's hair, receiving a glare, and getting his hand swatted. "Touchy, touchy," He swept into another bow, and Lily hit him in the back of the head.

"Your presence was never wanted here." Lily glared at him, "Go away."

James looked startled, "Fine don't be so pushy, I'd be careful Barbie boy, if she bites you I'm sure you'll need an abundance of shots." With a final grin directed towards Lily and a glare from both at the table, he walked back to Frank who was standing with a shocked look on his face.

"I can't believe you did that."

James shot a grin back at the table of obviously annoyed teens. "Got the hairs though didn't I?" He held up a red hair and a blonde one, Frank shook his head amazed.

Aevum- I'm really glad you liked your date. I didn't use your real name because I felt that is was odd to ask you for your last name. And I am VERY relieved to know I at least was close to what you actually look like. Thanks so, so much…you make me blush with your awesome reviews! And wait a little while, pretty soon you're REALLY going to want to shoot him.

Ace's buddy- thanks so much! I'm really glad you like it! Keep the grand reviews coming!

cath-a2ff- thanks so much! I'm really glad that you enjoyed your date (and of course you were a hottie we all know you must really be a sexy beast), and the walkie talkie thing was something I really enjoyed, a friend of mine and I do it at the mall occasionally.

crazy turtle- Thanks so much! This story isn't anywhere near done. There are a few twists coming up, some that you may see coming, and one that I'm sure no one sees coming. Glad you enjoy!

Glasshalffull- Thanks, I'm glad that it keeps you guessing, and I can assure you that there is a major twist coming. As for the twins they're fun to write about, just because they are so different and at the same time have some things about them that are the same: things that matter. You'll be seeing a lot of them.

JewelBlossom- Thanks, you'll be hearing a lot more from Jonathan Avery, you're right, there is something weird about him.

Lillian- I don't know whose funeral you were going to, but I'm sorry for your loss regardless. Hope you're ok. And thanks so much!

zippyfox- Thanks so much, I love your reviews, they rock my socks.