Toying with Potter

A/N: I hope I didn't take too long putting this chapter up. I realize some will hate me for this chapter, but just review! Pwease? I've answered my reviewers at the bottom.

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not possess that kind of talent or money!

Chapter 3: An Unexpected Answer

"Mmm…I don't know Potter," Lily said, choosing her words carefully, eyes flashing dangerously, "I mean, you haven't given me anything to go by."

"What do you mean?" James asked startled. Where was the usual 'no' followed by screams? "What's there not to go by? I'm charming, clever, handsome…"

"…arrogant, immature, a show off," Lily finished in a disgusted voice.

"I'm not that bad Lily," he said earnestly, "really! Just give me a chance! You know you want to!"

Lily looked as if she were trying very hard to suppress a smile. They had arrived at the painting of The Girl with Flowers. She was currently sleeping, but Lily paid no attention to her. She studied James carefully. Then she muttered, "I guess it wouldn't hurt to give you a chance."

James beamed at her. His hazel eyes lit with excitement and he looked as if Christmas had come early. "Oh you won't regret it Lily! Promise!"

"Remember," Lily said smirking, though James mistook the smirk for a smile, "I'm giving you a chance. I haven't said I'd go out with you."

"Ok, ok, listen, why don't you come into Hogsmeade with me this Friday. You could give me my 'chance' then."

"What?" Lily asked. "We have a Hogmeade trip that early?"

"No," James said, trying but failing to look innocent, "but I know a better way." The girl in the painting woke up and was patiently waiting for the password.

"All right, all right," Lily said, playing along, "just as long as we don't get caught! Iris!" The girl in the painting curtsied and admitted them in at the sound of the password. James allowed Lily to precede him, motioning her through with many elaborate hand gestures causing Lily to roll her eyes. Their common room was similar to the Gryffindor common room, but this was to be shared by only 2 people. There were 2 doors opposite of each other with the Head Boy and Girl's name engraved in gold on them. A fire was cracking merrily and bookshelves filled with all kinds of books surrounded the walls.

Lily smiled and she entered her room. Her dorm was huge, consisting of an immense, luxurious bed, a huge mirror and an enormous walk-in closet. Lily gave a scream of delight and started jumping up and down like a maniac, all dignity forgotten.

"Are you ok?" James voice asked from his room.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just really like this, a lot! I'm definitely going to spend lots of time here!"

She headed back to the common room and found James examining some books. He looked up and showed her what he was looking at. She saw, and not to her surprise, a book describing steps to get along with people one doesn't particularly like. She threw back her head and she and James roared with laughter.

"Oh my!" Lily breathed, gasping for breath. "I bet this is Dubmledore's work. This is great. I do kinda want to look through it sometime, you know, just for fun."

"Wait 'til Sirius gets a load of this!" exclaimed James.

"Well Potter, I'm off to bed. Don't disturb me, ok. I guess I'll see you in the morning." She didn't bother to say good night; she turned and headed towards her room. She changed out of her robes and into her nightwear, which consisted of a tank top and sweatpants. She flopped down on her bed and began to go over her plan in her mind.

Of course she still hated James, but this was payback. All those past years of humiliation would be accounted for. It was time for him to get a taste of his own medicine. It was cruel, yes this plan of hers, but she was fed up. She had been the target of more than her share of pranks, and James would be crushed for sure.

She realized, of course, that the only flaw in her plan would be if she fell for him, but she doubted this. Lily had hated James for six years now; she doubted one date would change her feelings for him. Having confirmed what she would do, she laid down on her soft pillows and fell into a peaceful sleep with a faint smirk on her lips.

"Lily Marie Evans! Get your arse out of bed and down to breakfast! Now!" James had been knocking on her door for the last 10 minutes, and he was starting to get irritated. He knew Lily throw a fit if she was late to class on their first day back. The door swung upon and Lily stepped out wearing her full uniform.

"You don't have to yell, Potter," she said coolly, "I'm never late." She laughed at James's confused expression and followed him into the Great Hall for breakfast. "So anyway Potter, we need to schedule a Prefect meeting to discuss plans for the ball."

"Already taken care of, Lily," he said with a smug smile, "I scheduled a meeting with the Prefects Thursday after dinner in the library."

"What? You actually did something responsible? It can't be! Wow Potter, maybe you'll be an ok Head Boy."

"Why thank you my Lovely Lily."

"I was being sarcastic. What kind of idiot schedules a meeting on a school night? Why didn't you schedule it on Friday? And don't call me that!"

"Well my dear, we have a date on Friday."

"Oh yeah, I forgot."

They entered the Great Hall and sat down next to their friends.

"Morning Lily, James," Sirius said in a cheerful voice. "Looking sharp Prongs. I've noticed you're still walking, and that must be good news. Good job Lily, must be the first time you haven't injured him." They all laughed and started piling food on their plates.

"What do we have this morning?" asked Kari, watching the four Marauders gobbling down piles of food.

"Advanced Charms my dear Kari," Sirius shouted, after swallowing his food of course. He grinned at Kari causing her to blush.

"Lily," Remus said, quite normally, "I was wondering when our first Prefect meeting was."

"Thursday right after dinner in the library Moony my old friend," James said promptly before Lily could even open her mouth. She scowled at him.

"Thursday?" Lauren asked, "On a school night? Lily did you let James schedule the meeting?"

"Yeah, now I know not to repeat my mistake."

"Mistake," James said. "No mistake Lauren, I scheduled it on Thursday because-"

"-Thursday was the only time Madame Pince would let us use the library," Lily cut in. She had no intention of revealing her plan to her friends now. She scowled at James and stood up. "Come on, let's head to Charms. I need to ask Professor Flitwick a question."

Her friends, looking mildly surprised, followed her out of the Great Hall. Once out of earshot, they bombarded her with questions.

"What's going on?" Lauren asked, "Madame Pince will let you use the library."

"Yeah, what's up?" asked Kari.

Lily ignored their questions and entered the Charms classroom. She closed the door after them and put a soundproof charm on the walls.

"All right, listen," she said. "I'm going on a date with Potter on Friday." She retold the conversation that took place just the other night between her and James. "He asked me for one chance to show me he wasn't that bad and I agreed."

"This is all part of some bigger plan, right?" asked Kari, "Because you've hated him for six years, and know you're going on a date with him? It doesn't make any sense."

"Maybe," Lily said with an innocent smile. "But I'll tell you after Friday, class is about to start." And indeed it was. Students began filing into the classroom. Lily, Lauren and Kari all took seats near the middle of the classroom. It was a very enjoyable subject. To their surprise, Sirius took a seat right next to Kari, causing her to go as red as Lily's hair. Lauren and Lily smiled at each other as Sirius engaged Kari in conversation.

"They do look really cute together, don't they," Lily said while smiling fondly at her friend.

"Yes, they do," Lauren said with a sigh. "I want to be maid of honor at their wedding!"

"They aren't even going out yet!" Lily exclaimed. "And while we're on the subject of couples, brief me on your newest crush. You told me you broke up with Mark Chang over the summer."

"Yes, all he did was talk about his past girlfriends. Anyway, I'll give you a big clue, he's one of the Marauders."

"WHAT!" shouted Lily, "DON'T TELL ME IT'S JAMES POTTER!"

"Somebody say my name?" James said grinning.

"No Potter, it was your imagination," Lily said.

Lauren was laughing now. "And this is the girl who's at the top of her class."

"It's Remus isn't it?"

"Duh! I really don't fancy Sirius or James, and why would I fancy Peter?"

"That's mean!" Lily said, but giggled nonetheless.

"What's this?" Sirius cried from behind them. Lily and Lauren saw that he was looking in their direction with a scandalized expression on his face. "Kari turns her back for one minute to give me the opportunity to flirt with her and you two are already whispering behind her back. If I were you I would ditch them and come hang with me. What do you say gorgeous?" Kari blushed furiously but was saved the trouble to answer when Professor Flitwick called their attention to him.

"Poor Kari," Lauren whispered, and the two giggled harder than ever.

The days at Hogwarts passed quickly and pretty soon, Lily found herself walking towards the library to conduct the Prefect meeting that Thursday after dinner. She entered to find to her surprise that James was already there.

"Acting responsibly again Potter? Twice this week I think the count stands. A world record!"

"Yeah, remember you don't like Mr. Arrogant, you like Mr. Responsible. And there's no need for sarcasm Lily." He grinned at her and they waited for the Prefects, hoping for a smooth quick meeting. The meeting however, did not go that smoothly.

"Why on earth did you schedule the meeting on Thursday? Some of us have work to get done for tomorrow!" cried one Prefect. Many nodded in agreement, but James was fed up.

"Sheesh! Why is everyone asking me that question? I do one thing responsibly and I'm still questioned about it. Can't you all just accept the damn time of the meeting? You want to know why I scheduled it today?" and before Lily could stop him he shouted, "I HAVE A DATE WITH LILY TOMORROW!"

Everyone went quite and Madame Pince looked scandalized. "MR. POTTER! That is no way to talk in a library and I am fed up with it! I forbid you from conducting any more meeting in here! I should have done it years ago! Prefects shouting what color the decorations for a stupid dance will be, arguments over what band will play, fights breaking out over what to wear! I've had enough! TELL DUMBLEDORE YOU NEED A NEW PLACE TO MEET!" She walked off muttering under her breath.

"Did that answer your question?" James asked as politely as possible to the Prefect you had asked the question.

"You could have just said that," the Prefect, a Slytherin James just noticed, muttered.

Lily giggled. "Let's get started shall we?" The Prefects settled themselves down and she began to speak about the ball. "As you know, we are to plan the Christmas ball. I know it's a bit early to be thinking about Christmas," James chuckled, "but I really don't want to procrastinate. So, how about the first thing we get accomplished today is thinking of a theme. Does anyone have any ideas?"

"Well actually Lily," James said, looking very pleased with himself, "I have one. I was thinking of a…well…a fairy tale theme. I'm sure everyone has read a fairy tale at least once in their life time, so I'm sure everyone can come up a few could ideas for decorations."

"That's actually a very good idea Potter! I really like it. I was expecting you to suggest a Quidditch theme, but that's brilliant. Well, what do you all think?"

Many heads nodded eagerly, some frowned. "Ok, tell you what," Lily said, "I'll cut the meeting short if, by next meeting, you come up with decoration ideas for Potter's theme, or you come up with themes of your own. We'll vote on the theme at the next meeting too. And I'm only doing this because I have work to get done as I'm sure you all do." All heads nodded at this and some shrieked with glee.

"Shhhhhhhhh!" Madame Pince said, still muttering under her breath.

"All right, you may go," Lily said. She gathered her materials, turned and collided straight with James. "I said you could go Potter."

"Oh Lily, sit down, sit down," he said while taking her books out of her arms and placing them on the table, "take some time to stop and smell the lilies."

"Creative Potter," she said sarcastically. "What do you want, I have to do Snape's essay. And have you thought of a new meeting place seeing as how you just lost our library privileges?"

"Actually, I know the perfect place, but I'll tell you on our date." He said the last word with such enthusiasm it almost surprised Lily.

"Someone's excited," she muttered.

"You've noticed," he said.

"Well I really have to go Potter, I've smelled the lilies long enough and one can't have too much of a good thing." She gathered her books in her arms and turned to leave, but she hesitated and turned back to face James. She stood on tiptoe and slowly kissed him. Her lips lingered on his for a few seconds and then she pulled away. "Good night Potter," and turned to head to her dormitory.

"James," she heard him call after her. She stopped and turned to face him for what would be the last time this night.

"What?"

"James," he said, giving her a lopsided grin, "my name is James."

"James," Lily repeated, smiling, and she left the library before she could be stopped again.

A/N: Evil Lily. I know you all expected her to say yes, but it's only their first day back, and things would be moving way to quickly. Anyway, please review! A big thanks to my awesome reviewers you continue to rock!

Arizona- Thanks for reviewing, was that enough sarcasm for you?

Caitlyn- I do not have a specific time I update. I try to update once every two weeks, more than that if I can try.

Tanya J Potter- Thanks for reviewing! You continue to rock! LOL

Yvonne- Yes, that's how Miss Evans is supposed to act. We will become very angry with her.

Ohepelss Oramtnci- Yes she is evil. You must be very angry with her now. You can scold her now if you want.

oceandreamz- Thanks for reviewing! How was New York?

Anyway, thanks to all of my reviewers. Coming up in the next chapter-

Lily and James go on their date.

Lily reveals her plans to her friends.

James MAY ask Lily out again, but I don't know yet.

All suggestions and comments are welcome! Happy New Year!