"So, erm, Evans, I was wondering if you'd like to go out with me." Spoke the voice of James Potter, asking that question again. He'd asked it so many times she expected it around four times an hour. It wasn't always the question; he made suggestive comments too, generally about how he'd like to shag her.

So, so, so unattractive. And very annoying it was too. Didn't he realise that she would never in a million years go out with him? Apparently not. He was too thick for that sort of thing.

Something here puzzled her. She'd said many times she'd never get involved with any of the Marauders, with perhaps the exception of Remus, because he was nicer than the others, yet she had gone and done so. And she did not understand why. Perhaps it was because Sirius really seemed to care about her, and didn't want to just get her to bed. Perhaps it was because she had found that she enjoyed spending time with him, he was funny with his arrogance, he made her laugh. Perhaps it was because he was such a great kisser, but Lily Evans was not that shallow.

She couldn't move herself to James Potter's level. But maybe she had, through doing this with his best mate…it was the sort of low-level thing that he would do.

Letting out a long breath, Lily turned to face James.

"Potter, I think you know the answer. You've heard it often enough." She said coldly, turning back to her book positioned in her lap, as she sat in the common room, flames flickering in the fireplace and enhancing the soft glow on her auburn hair.

James merely smirked, and swaggered off, looking behind him as he went.

"You'll change your mind soon enough, Evans." He stated, and then he was gone.

She'd be damned before she changed her mind. She would never in a million years snog James Potter. She'd rather kiss that pickled frog she'd seen in the potions classroom.

She and Sirius had finally discussed the issue of James, though it had taken a lot of persuading from her, a lot of pushing him away until he agreed. But what he had said had surprised her completely. Yet now she thought about it more and more, it seemed to make sense.

"Sirius, stop!" She protested, prying his hands away from her waist, trying not to laugh. "We need to talk about James…what are we going to do?" She asked, gazing at him intently, a softness in her eyes that seemed to plead for him to stop.

Sirius, seeing this look, relented and thought for a second.

"Well, we can't tell him, unless you'd like to see me with another nose, or something equally nice like that…" He said, thinking aloud, and giving a short smile. "And I don't want him to hurt you, either…so telling him is out of the question." He concluded, frowning.

Lily sighed. She did want James to know, it wasn't fair to let him go on asking her out, and liking her, oblivious to the situation. Especially as she'd seen Sirius trying to hide an infuriated look when James popped the question, with much difficulty. She didn't want Sirius to feel that way, either. So she nodded. They would not tell Potter. She could tell Sirius felt bad about it too, as James was his best friend. But they could not risk it.

Sirius opened his mouth to speak again, even more deep in thought than before. Which was quite a scary look to see, as he didn't normally do so. She might have laughed if the situation wasn't so serious. And she knew he would not appreciate it.

"Lily…perhaps…perhaps if, if next time he asks you out, you accept?" Sirius asked, looking at her hopefully, like it was a good suggestion. Lily's face contorted into disgust, and she took a step backward, as if he'd offended her. Which he had, sort of.

"Sirius, I am not, repeat not, going to go out with James Potter, especially when I'm going out with you. It's bad enough that I'm doing that, I don't want to two-time you, for Chrissakes, even if you give it the thumbs up." She scowled, knowing she was babbling and possibly not making much sense. But she just wanted to get her point across. "I really like you, Sirius…I don't like James. End of bloody story."

"No, Lily, I mean…I mean it would stop him being so flipping annoying…"

Lily snorted. As if James would stop being annoying. Sirius merely waved his hand, dismissing the matter, and carried on.

"Well…less annoying. Anyway, it would stop him asking you out, it would make him less suspicious…because believe me, he's been acting a little strangely recently. He knows something is up with me, even though he doesn't think it's to do with you…you could just agree to go on a date, or something, you don't have to kiss him or anything like that." He added, seeing the repulsed look upon Lily's face. "And then you could say you didn't want to go on another date, that you didn't like him…" Sirius gulped, smiling at Lily. "And then maybe…maybe you could tell him you like me, not him."

Lily smiled back, with a look of sympathy on her face.

"Sirius, you know as well as I do that James would never give up on me…and I'm not the one who's around him twenty-four seven." She took his large hand in her small one, and traced a small line along his thumb, softly yet purposefully. "Though I suppose I could try…" She said hesitantly, looking up at him with a wry smile.

Sirius grinned immediately, drawing her toward him.

"Ace, Lils. Only one date…and if anything happens, I'll deal with it." He assured her, nodding, and gulping. "Because I really don't want to lose you."

Lily blushed. She wished Sirius didn't make her feel this way. Again, all sensible thoughts had disappeared from her mind, and her insides were jelly. Sirius merely grinned, and the conversation was sealed as it usually was. With a kiss. Or more than one.

And now Lily was sat in the common room, feeling stupid and guilty because she hadn't done as Sirius had requested and accepted James's offer. But she was so used to turning him down that it was incredibly hard to make herself say yes.

Next time, she assured herself, she would. For Sirius. The boy who didn't want to lose her…