The Game

A/N: okay I am soooooo sorry it has been about a month since I last updated.  By the time I get this story out there it probably will have been.  Like I already said though, things have been hectic.  Some of my friends were not being nice to me.  (Don't worry, my friends reading this story.  It's not any of you.)  It's okay now, though.  I showed them up and now I have three whole months away from them.  Also I had finals coming up and I definitely failed my algebra final.  In my defense though, she made it impossible to pass on purpose.  And last but not least of my excuses my computer crashed.  Well, really my mom's computer, but now we're just getting technical. Mine's been crashed for ages and until I clean that room out it will remain crashed.  So as you can see the fates were against me.  The good thing is this break has given me time to perfect this chapter.  You don't want to see what I had before.  I've decided to scratch the whole friends idea.  That was stupid.  Just forget it.  I know you guys really just want to get on with the story, but please at least just read my plea.  And thank you for reading this those of you that are.

Plea: Okay here's the deal.  I NEED IDEAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I have ONE idea for the next chapter.  It's not even a real idea.  It's just where they're going the next day.  It's not what they do once they get there.  PLEASE review me some ideas.  I will give you credit for them.  I'll even dedicate that chapter to you. I just need help! PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Declaimer: I think we all know I don't own Harry Potter. 

James's POV

            Lily and my friends were getting along very well.  It was as if she had always been a part of our little group.  I was afraid at first that Lily would hat them as much as she hated me simply because they were my friends.  Fortunately that didn't seem to be the case. 

            We finished our coffee in Brandon's living room, and then, drove over to the bowling ally.  We went inside and realized instantly that today was cosmic bowling.  (A/N: Did you know they had that in the 1970s?  I asked my mom.)

            We decided to split the cost of the lanes six ways, but when everyone got their money out Lily had a problem.  She reached into her pocket and took out wizarding money.  I looked over and realized she hadn't exchanged her money back to muggle currency.  I reached back into my pocket and pulled out more money.  Then. I gave it to Brandon who was collecting the money from everyone. 

            I whispered to Lily, "Don't worry.  I got it.  We can go to Diagon Ally tomorrow, and you can change you money back.  We'll make a day of it."

            "Just because you're paying for me," Lily hissed, "don't think I'm going to let you keep doing that for me.  You think you're my knight in shining armor or something.  Well, you're not.  In fact-" She reached in her pocket and took out the equivalent of the amount of money we we're all paying.  "There. Now, I've paid you back." 

            "Lily, Lily.  Relax.  I don't think I'm your 'knight in shining armor.' I was just trying to keep everything secretive." 

            Lily opened her mouth to say something, but Kristen interrupted her. 

            "James, Lily.  Come tell her your shoe size."

            With one last death glare, Lily walked up to the counter and gave the girl behind it her shoe size.  Five minutes later we were preparing to bowl.  Brandon was writing down our names.  The order went Lily, Sam, John, Brandon, Kristen, and finally me.  It was really fun; the best time I ever had bowling.  That might have been just because Lily was there, though. 

            While we were bowling I was able to talk to Kristen by herself without the others to hear. 

            "Lily needs to exchange her money back to muggle currency.  We're going into Diagon Ally tomorrow.  Wanna come?  I think it would make Lily feel better," I said. 

            "Is Sirius coming?" Kristen asked hopefully. 

            "I can ask him."

            "Alright."

            "You really like him, don't you?"

            Kristen didn't say anything.  She just smiled.  I smiled back at her.  Kristen had always felt like my sister.  I was happy she liked Sirius so much, but at the same time if he hurt her, I'd kill him. 

            "I'll talk to him; see what he thinks about you.  I won't let him know you like him though. Okay?"

            "Okay."

            "Kristen, you're up," Brandon called from the table with the score sheet. 

            We finished our game and headed back to Brandon's house.  However, I had to visit Sirius and ask my parents if we could go.  Lily stayed but I went home.  I told my parents where I was going, then apparated to Sirius's place.  I could apparate because I turned seventeen two months ago. 

            "Hey, Padfoot.  It's James.  Where are you, mate?" I called upon arrival.  I had landed in the living room where we would most likely stay to talk. 

            "Prongs!  What are you doing here?" Sirius said appearing in the doorway to the kitchen.

            "I came to get you caught up on what's been going on the past couple of days."

            "Well, it's good to have you here.  Sit, sit.  You want something to eat or drink?"

            "Do you have any butterbeer?"

            "Sure."  Sirius disappeared into the kitchen.  "So what's been going on?" he called from there. 

            "You should probably be sitting down for this.  You're not going to believe me," I said. 

            "Oh, no.  Now I'm scared," Sirius said reappearing in the doorway with two butterbeers.  He walked over, handed me one, and then sat down. 

            "Well?" Sirius prompted taking a sip of his butterbeer. 

            "Lily Evans is staying with us for the summer."

            Sirius did a spit take.  "you're right.  I don't believe you." 

            "Her great-aunt is sick and she asked Mr. and Mrs. Evans to stay with her.  Lily's not of age, yet, so she needed somewhere to stay.  My parents took her in." 

            "You're parents are really good about that; always taking in stray kids," Sirius said laughing at the last part. 

            "They're happy to do it," I said.

            "Well, I bet you're having a lot of fun.  Huh, mate?"

            "Ha. Lily spent her first there locked in her room.  She only came out for dinner where I accidentally spilled mashed potatoes on her.  Lily went mental!  She started screaming her head off.  I tried to help her clean up, but that just made it worse.  She accused me of doing it on purpose, then stormed off."

            "Bad luck, Prongs," Sirius interjected.

            "Don't I know it?  Anyway, this morning, Lily came down and said she was bored and needed someone to hang out with.  I could tell it was just that I was the first human being she saw." 

            "So, what happened?  Did you tell her off like you should have?"

"Are you mad?  Lily Evans was actually willing to spend some time in my company.  I jumped at that chance.  We went to Brandon's house and met up with everyone.  From there we went bowling.  That's where we ran into a problem." 

"Oh, no, what did you do?" Sirius accused.

"I didn't do anything!  Lily forgot to change her wizarding money back to muggle money.  I paid for her and she accused me of trying to be her 'knight in shining armor.'  I swear I will never understand her.  Well, that basically brings you up to date.  And brings me to a question I have to ask you.'

"What is it?" 

"Lily, Kristen, and I are going to Diagon Ally tomorrow.  Wanna come?"

"Sure."

"Thanks. I think Lily would kill me if it were just she and I.  Kristen is coming, but it would be better if I had two witnesses.  After all, Lily will kill me anyway." 

I paused.  Now was the perfect time to talk to him about Kristen.  "You know, Kristen really is a great girl," I said.

"Yeah," Sirius said fiddling with his butterbeer bottle. 

"I think her and Lily are the only girls in our year you haven't dated," I continued. 

"Do you want to know what I think about her?"

He knew me to well.  "Yeah.  Kinda. Just a little bit."

Sirius chuckled.  "Alright, fine.  I like her." 

"Then ask her out.  You can do it tomorrow when we're in Diagon Ally."

"Alright, I will."

"Great.  So, what have you been up to?" I asked

"I was just getting the place fixed up.  You know, making it mine," Sirius said. 

"It looks great."

"Thanks." 

I looked at my watch and saw it was dinnertime.  I said good-bye to Sirius and told him what time to be over my house tomorrow.  Then, I apparated back home. 

Praises:

Jennifer: I'm so sorry I took so long to update, but now I'm back and I should be back on track if I GET IDEAS!!! Thank you

Jakita: I'm gladyou love it I'm sorry I haven't updated in forever I hope you still come read it. Especially since if not then I'm writing this for no one.  Thank you

The all mighty and powerfulM: I'm sorry you were sick hopefully by now you're better. Thank you for reviewing

Hon Snowfire Browneyes: yeah I just talked to you so I've apologized and I hope I cleared everything up for you.  I took you're advice as you can see.  Now I have to cross my fingers and hope people respond.  Thank you

VioletGinny Girl: I am so touched that you reviewed my story even though I had updated past those chapters thank you so much I'm sorry I waited so long.

A/N: okay so know it's like 4:00 am and I'm exhausted but I'm going to ask you one more time.  Please review me ideas for the story.  All I know about what I'm going to do in the next chapter is they're going to Diagon Ally and it will be in Lily's POV.  PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!