Toying with Potter

Chapter 6: Of Distractions and Planning

A/N: READ THIS BEFORE YOU READ THE CHAPTER! Well, I've gotten better at updating thankfully. This chapter is kind of like filler, but there are a lot of important ideas in it. There's a lot of fluff too. Just read. Oh and no one really got the movie. It was This Time Around. But for those who attempted, I'm giving you a small part.

Disclaimer: I'm going to put my faith in my readers and assume that you are very smart.

"POTTER! Will you please stop staring at Ms. Evans and pay attention!" Professor McGonagall's voice cracked like a whip through the tense atmosphere in the classroom. James jumped out of his seat and landed on the ground. He got up, grinning and blushing, and sat back down next to Lily amid the laughter of his fellow students.

"Sorry Professor. Won't happen again."

"That's what you said the last 5 times Potter! 5 points from Gryffindor! Now pay attention! Or at least pretend to!"

James let out a sigh and chanced a look at Lily. She was looking at him, and though she didn't laugh out loud, her eyes laughed for her. She gave his hand a squeeze and resumed taking notes on whatever McGonagall was teaching about this fascinating subject.

It had been several weeks since James and Lily had started going out. At first the school thought this was a joke carried out by their Heads, but as the weeks progressed, they found that it was not a joke after all. The school was crushed, or at least the female population was.

No one knew how they had gotten together. The last time they checked, Lily hated James with a passion not even Snape could surpass. And now they were holding hands and acting all lovey-dovey. Lily received much hate mail, scowls and hisses wherever she went, but that soon subsided. Hogwarts noticed a definite change in James's mood. He was now so much happier, grinning at everyone he passed. Once James's fan club saw how happy he was, they sighed and oohed and ahhed every time they passed the couple.

James received a bit of hostility from the male population as well. No one could deny that Lily was pretty, and now she was taken. However, one thing that the male and female populations agreed on was that this wasn't going to last. James was a well-known player, and his longest relationship only lasted for 3 weeks.

This is why everyone was surprised that they had already been together for 6 weeks. James still looked as happy as ever and Lily looked cheerful as well. But that was where they were wrong. Lily was smiling a lot more lately, and everyone assumed it was because she was with James. But if one looked closely enough, one could tell that Lily was actually smirking. The twinkle in her eyes was actually a glint of mischief, and many of her statements dripped with sarcasm instead of affection. But no one caught on. No one knew, except her two best friends.

What no one knew was that Lily was actually enjoying the time she spent with James. Though she didn't want to admit it and told herself over and over again that she hated him, deep down, she was quite happy. He was very fun to be around. She found herself laughing more, doors of adventure opened up to her, and she felt somewhat attracted to him. Whenever she thought of this she pushed these thoughts from her mind and stubbornly told herself that he was the same git that she has hated for the last 6 years. She constantly reminded herself of why she was actually doing this. She also told herself that she was a good actress and no one had caught on…yet.

Sometime in mid-October

"Wow this room is awesome!" a 6th year Gryffindor Prefect by the name of Chelsea Tilley exclaimed.

"Do you like it?"

"I love it, can we always have Prefect meetings in here?"

James laughed. "This is our permanent Prefect meeting place…thing. Anyway, everyone get in a chair and get comfortable. We have a lot to talk about today. So, Lily, take over."

Lily laughed and then addressed the Prefects. "Ok, at our last meeting, which was a very long time ago, we didn't get much done. We only had one suggestion for this year's Christmas dance theme. If you don't remember what it was James suggested a fairy tale theme. James and I have been doing a lot of work on this theme and it seems like a really good idea. I think we should go with it, unless one of you would like to suggest something."

A few Prefects suggested some vague ideas, but in the end they stayed with the fairy tale theme.

"Ok James, why don't you tell the Prefects some of our decoration ideas?"

"Huh? You want me to tell them?"

"Um…yeah. I think you can be trusted with this."

"Ok!" James jumped out of his seat and began talking. "Well, let's start with outside the castle. It would be really cool if we could make the rose bushes stand out more, and set a romantic mood in the garden. Now I'm not going to get into any details, I'll let you decide. Be creative. The task of decorating the garden will be given to the 5th year Prefects. You all can go off into a corner and discuss possible ideas. Keep Lily and me updated. We'll give you a couple of weeks to give us your final plans."

"Now, for the Great Hall, we were thinking of having a little stream flowing once you enter with a bridge that you would walk over to get in. Inside there would have to be a Christmas tree so what about 4 trees, one in each corner. The tables would be placed along the walls of the Great hall. The air would be filled with glitter and… and…Merlin I feel like such a girl!"

"What's wrong with that?" a 7th year Prefect, Gazelle, asked.

Lily laughed. "You put me up to this didn't you? How could you Lily?" James asked in a mock hurt voice.

"Well you have to admit it is pretty funny," Lily looked at him and smirked, "but I'll continue if you like."

"Merlin yes please!"

"Ok well…"

Later that night

"James?"

"Mmm?"

"James?"

"Mmm?"

"JAMES!"

"Wha-yes gorgeous. You need something?"

"What are you doing?"

"Essay for Wiley."

"You're actually doing work?"

"Yup?"

"Getting much done?"

"Nope?"

"Why not?"

"Because my mind keeps wandering to a certain red-head. I'd much rather be spending time with her."

"I see…"

"…James?"

"Mmm?"

"Want to get on the Quidditch pitch and fly around or something?"

James looked up. "You know how to fly?"

"Um…duh."

"Do you have a broom?"

"Yeah, which is why I suggested it."

His hazel eyes lit up. "That would be wonderful. Me…you…the night sky…us alone…no one around…I wonder what else we'll be doing besides flying."

"Mmmm…let's find out." They wasted no time in heading down to the Quidditch pitch.

Within a few minutes they were out on the Quidditch field with their broomsticks. They were bundled up in 2 layers because it was a pretty chilly night. They both mounted their brooms and kicked off hard racing around the pitch a few times.

"Come on Lily! Catch me if you can." James had to admit, Lily was a very good flier. She easily caught up to him and quickly passed him.

"Come on James," she taunted, "catch me if you can!"

They kept at this for a few moments before landing. Lily looked at the sky. The stars were beginning to appear.

"Wow, it's so pretty," she said.

"Well let's take a closer look," James suggested while pointing to their brooms. Lily nodded and was about to grab her broom before James took it from her. "Lily, do you…do you want to ride with me?" he asked a bit shyly.

"Are you sure you can take off from the ground, I mean with that big head of yours?" she said sarcastically. James pouted. "I'm just kidding James." She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. "Come on." She mounted the broom and he climbed on behind her. His hands went around her waist, grabbed the broom handle, and they took off. Lily slid back into him but James wasn't complaining. He flew so that they were a considerable height off the ground. He steadied the broom, let go of the handle and wrapped his arms around Lily's waist.

"There's Orion," he muttered in her ear.

"James," she teased, "that tickles. Oh look, I think that's Mars. Wow, it's not that bright tonight."

"Say that to a centaur and they'd have loads to tell you."

"What?"

"Long story."

"I believe I see Sirius."

"What! Padfoot is out here?"

"No silly, the star Sirius, one of the brightest stars in the Dog constellation."

"So that's where Sirius gets his name."

Lily giggled. "Well aren't you a smart cookie!"

"Cookie?"

"Long story."

"Mmm, Lily?"

"Yes?"

"I'm going to get a bit sentimental."

"What? James being sentimental? What is the world coming to?"

James smiled. "Well, I just want you to know that I'm really glad that you're finally mine. You're really great you know that?" Lily bit her lower lip and her eyes clouded. She quickly regained her composure.

"I know!"

"Now who's cocky?" They laughed and James flew back down. They laid down on the pitch side by side listening to each other breathing. They stayed that way for a long time before it started to rain. Lily sat up but James hadn't budged. The ground beneath them was becoming very muddy.

"James it's starting to rain."

"So?"

"Well let's go in now."

"Oh Lily, stop and appreciate Mother Nature once in a while!" And with that he grabbed some mud and threw it at her. It landed square on her face. Lily glared and James then smirked. "This means war you know."

"By all means."

Lily grabbed a handful of mud and shoved it down James's shirt. Lily laughed at the horrified expression on James's face when he felt the mud. She squealed when he lunged at her, got up and ran around the pitch. James being much faster than Lily, thanks to all those Quidditch practices, caught up with her easily and tackled her to the ground. Lily started giggling as James tickled her. She fell quite when he stopped. He was on top of her and they made eye contact.

"So here we are James…me…you…"

"…the night sky…us…"

"…alone…no one around…"

"…in the rain…"

"…what in Merlin's name should we do?" He smirked at her before his lips touched hers. Softly at first and then it became more passionate. His tongue gently caressed hers and his hands began to roam her body. They kept at this for a while before James pulled away. "I think we should stop. I'm drunk and I may not be able to control myself."

"But I didn't taste any alcohol on you."

"Drunk with desire Little Flower."

"That's corny James, but ok. I guess your right. Now, to pass the time, tell me that long centaur story and I shall tell you that long cookie story." James grinned.

"Well you see, this one time when Sirius and I were in detention back in our first year we were sent into the Forbidden Forest to retrieve…" and so they sat there in the rain for hours, talking and sharing long stories.

So let's change points of view and see what Sirius is doing

"Kari?"

"Yes?"

"Want to take a walk?"

"Isn't it past curfew?"

"No…we still have time." Kari looked up. Sirius actually looked very serious. Blushing slightly she nodded.

"Ok." She stood and he led her out of the Common room.

Lauren looked over at Remus and they shared knowing smiles.

"So, Kari…what's been going on?" He led her out of the castle and onto the school grounds.

"Not much…life is kinda boring. Not much has been happening. You?"

"Yeah, same here."

They walked in silence for a few minutes. Sirius worked up his courage, reached out and took Kari's hand. He held his breath, chanced a glance at her and sighed. She looked very happy and gave his hand a little squeeze. Blushing slightly she let him hold her hand.

"You know you look very adorable when you blush."

Kari smiled. They sat down beside the lake and talked about everything. They talked about family, friends, classes, and professors. Sirius beamed at her when she said wizards and witches who became an Animagus were very talented.

"So Kari, there's a Hogsmeade trip next Friday. Going with anyone?"

"Not…yet," she said, suppressing a smile.

"Want to come with me?"

Kari stared at him long and hard and pretended to think. "Ok," she said happily."

A/N: So what did you think? Lots of talk and no plot? Please review. I was kind of disappointed with my last chapter so I don't think I'll post the next chapter, which I already have written, until I get up to 50 reviews. It's just 12 reviewers. So tell your friends to read and review. Please! Thanks to all those who did review though.

Hottennispro88- Thanks for reviewing. That was a very good guess. I hope you saw your part.

Oceandreamz- When are you going to put that chapter up? I want to read it now!

Amandinka- I'm really glad that you liked the plot. I didn't know if anyone would really like it because none of the characters had any sense. And your right, I've read many stories like that so I thought I might make something new.

Codswallop- I'm glad that you reviewed and I'm glad that you liked it. But I cannot reveal what is to come.

Ocean-Poweress- No review can be a bad review…wait…you know what I mean. I'm glad that you reviewed is all. And of course James's will be crushed. But don't you think that he may deserve it? Just a tinsy bit?

Can anyone help me? How do you decorate the Great Hall to look fairy tale themed? Please give me ideas! I'm desperate for them!

Next Chapter:

Kari and Sirius go on their date

Remus and Lauren hook up

Lily gets a little surprise

Lily's 'guilt' grows

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!