Disclaimer: everything belongs to JK Rowling, except characters and events unrecognizable as being part of the hp series. This disclaimer applies to all previous chapters.

A/N: hey everyone, I'm back! Well, it's been a long five weeks, but here's another chapter. Thank you all for being so faithful, and still reviewing me while I was away! Oh, and a huge thanks to my new beta reader, Nat. you rock! Enjoy!

Chapter Seven

Signs of Love

For the next few days, Sirius was often found watching Lily and James shrewdly, whether they were together or apart. On one such an occasion, Remus noticed his friend and rolled his eyes. Creeping up behind Sirius, he tapped the boy on his shoulder, startling him almost off his chair.

"Looking for signs of love?" Remus asked mockingly.

Sirius glared at him and turned back to the unsuspecting couple.

"What's there to look for? It's all right here in front of us," he said firmly.

Remus raised an eyebrow and looked at Lily and James. They were busy playing a game of chess. At the moment, it was Lily's turn, and she was eyeing the board with a slight frown of concentration. As much as he didn't want to prove Sirius right, Remus had to admit that signs of affection were beginning to show. James was watching Lily with a half smile haunting his lips. His eyes lingered on her cheeks and lips, and he fiddled with a defeated chess piece idly.

With a quick "Ha!" Lily moved her queen two steps to the right, easily putting James into checkmate.

"I win!" she grinned, clapping her hands in glee. "That's two in a row, and I am undeniably the champion!"

James snorted derisively, but the smile didn't leave his face as he helped her pack the chess pieces, listening to her triumphant crowing tolerantly.

"How can you possibly deny that that's love?" Sirius hissed over his shoulder at Remus.

Remus rolled his eyes. "I don't suppose you've considered that that could be friendship? You know, that does exist between males and females occasionally," he pointed out sarcastically.

But Sirius was ignored him. Standing up, he swaggered over to where Lily and James were kneeling with the chess pieces and sank into the couch next to them.

"So, Lily," he began casually. "How many boyfriends have you ever had?"

"Padfoot!" James exclaimed, instantly turning pink, but Lily laughed.

"None, believe it or not," she told him with a sigh and an air of honesty Sirius hadn't anticipated. "Only a few random snogs at muggle parties."

"Wow! Just like Jamsie here! You may not believe it, but he's not the player everyone thinks he is…" Sirius said, winking knowingly at Lily.

"Shut up!" James hollered, ears reddening even more in embarrassment. "Shut up, or I'll tell Lily about that time with Rose Cleveland in the Arithmancy classroom-"

"Enough said!" Sirius cut in hastily, holding a finger up to his lips. "I just wanted to point out that you two have some things in common."

Lily was looking from one boy to the other with amusement, and Remus was shaking his head wearily.

"You could have started with hobbies, you know, not boyfriends," he pointed out, but Sirius simply waved a hand at him imperiously.

"Shut up, Moony," he bade him.

Remus gave a sigh of exasperation, but did as he was told.

Lily glanced over at James and then looked away quickly. Something was cooking here, and she wasn't sure what.

"What was all that about?" James hissed at Sirius later that day.

The three Marauders were lounging outside on the verandah while Lily had a shower.

"What was what all about?" Sirius blinked back innocently.

"Don't play the fool with me," James said warningly. "You know exactly what I'm talking about."

Sirius sighed. He turned to face James and gave him a mischievous grin.

"Oh come on, Lily didn't seem to mind," he said, giggling like a five-year-old.

Remus, sitting across form his two friends, rolled his eyes almost imperceptibly.

"Yeah, well, how would you know? You didn't exactly ask her, did you?" James said hotly.

"Look, there's no need to get all hot and bothered," Sirius told him serenely. "I was only joking. Unless…"

"Unless what?" James snapped.

"Unless there's something you'd like to tell us."

"Like what?"

"Like…youstillhaveacrushonLily!" Sirius blurted out, and he ran across to sit next to Remus, avoiding James' punch easily. Pulling his knees up to his chin, Sirius resumed his giggling, clapping a hand over his mouth gleefully.

"You are so immature," Remus remarked.

"I do NOT still have a crush on Lily," James hissed, but Remus noted that his friend's ears had turned a spectacular shade of magenta.

"Are you sure?" Sirius goaded.

"Yes!"

"Positive?"

"Just shut up!"

"James, you can admit it, it's alright!"

"Sirius, shut it!"

"James…"

"Alright!" James roared, standing up with his back to the door. "Fine! I have a crush on Lily! Are you happy now? Can you both just leave me alone?!"

He glared at his friends angrily, and then frowned. Remus and Sirius were now both laughing hysterically, holding onto each other and shaking uncontrollably. At James' disturbed look, Remus lifted a hand weak from laughter and indicated behind James - at the door.

With a sinking heart, James turned to look behind him, and found himself staring straight into emerald green eyes, eyes that were crowned with raised eyebrows.

"Oh shit," he cursed, as Lily stared at him.

"Yeah," Sirius added gleefully from behind him. "Deep shit!"

A/N: so, did you like it? Let me know in the REVIEW you're going to give me! :P. fifteen reviews, and then the next chapter, yeah?

Luv, Jaizar