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Beta by: ilovethedotgame

Chapter Two: A Chivalrous Stalker

To everyone out there, I am so sorry for not updating sooner! My computer broke...again...so I wasn't able to update. My computer is still not fixed and I'm actually doing this at the library. I felt so bad that I wasn't to update for you guys that I convinced my mom to let me to it here. In two days I'm going on vacation and then I'm going to camp after that, so it will be a while before I get to update again. I have stuff written, so as soon as I get back, I'll update!

Note to Self: When this map gets finished, use it to track down Lily Evans.

I love this map. It's the best thing that's happened to me since I don't know when. All I have to do is open it up, say "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," and presto! In my hands I have a highly detailed map of Hogwarts and the surrounding school grounds. We (Sirius, Remus, Peter and I) drew it ourselves in our spare time. We've been collecting information for this map for years, and finally, with the information we've gathered this year, it is complete. Okay, so it's not completely done, but we've fixed it so that we can add new things and make revisions anytime. It's just a matter of knowing what to do.

Now, this map is quite unusual. It can tell me where teachers are, where Filch is, and where the Slytherins are so I can avoid them. It can also tell me where Lily Evans is, so I can run into her by "accident". Not literally run into her, mind you, just...be wherever she happens to be.

Remus reckons that I'm stalking Evans, but I don't think so. Wanting to be where she is doesn't make me a stalker.

Yesterday, I was sitting idly in my dorm room being bored, so I pulled out the map, which we have decided to call The Marauder's Map. I scanned the parchment, looking for a certain Gryffindor redhead and there she was, in the library. So, I hurried down to the library so I could catch her before she left.

The map told me that she was in the back of the library, apparently looking for a book. Well, the map didn't tell me she was looking for a book; I assumed that. I mean, what else would she be doing in a library?

I found her straining to reach a book that was on a shelf way over her head, so I asked which book she was trying to reach. She ignored me, as usual, and continued her fruitless attempts.

Finally, she gave up, and asked me to get Where There's a Wand, There's a Way for her. I realized that I was annoying her, but I was having fun. So, I held the book above my head and said that in exchange for the book, she had to go out with me.

She pleaded with me for a couple of minutes before she decided that kicking me in the shins was the best way to get what she wanted.

Does she have metal plates in the toes of her shoes? I'd like to know, because that really hurt! Another bruise obtained by trying to ask Evans out. Just my luck.

She actually thinks that ignoring me and pretending I don't exist will solve her troubles. I laugh at her.

I like Hagrid. I've known him since the second day of school when I was assigned to have detention with him. I had to help him gather some plants that the potions teacher needed. He often invited the guys and me down to his hut for tea, and the other day, I received an invitation.

Normally, I would have told the guys that we were invited, but I noticed, with my super radar vision, that Evans had also received a letter from Hagrid. It was too good to pass up!

So, later that day, I positioned myself at a strategic spot in the common room where I could see Evans as she left. Evans decided to take her friend Hestia (who I dated once, don't ask) with her, so I followed them to the main entrance of the castle and then waited until they were safely inside Hagrid's before going up to the door myself.

When Hagrid opened the door to admit me, Evans choked into her tea and dropped her biscuit. Hestia caught the biscuit before it hit the ground and slapped Evans on the back a few times. With the same hand that held the biscuit, how smart was that?

I had a nice time at Hagrid's as I always do, and I had an especially nice time since Evans was there. Not that she talked me, but she was there, and that's enough for me.

I hope I run into her there again.

On our way back to the school, I decided to take a chance and ask Evans out. Do I even need to say what her answer was?

Someday her answer will be yes.

Someday.

Hogsmeade has to be one of the best places in all Britain. Honeydukes, Three Broomsticks, Zonkos and the Shrieking Shack. What more could a guy of my age want? Well...Evans, but that's a whole different matter.

Walking around the busy streets with your friends, enjoying warm butterbeer together, life doesn't get much better. Until you get to spend the Hogsmeade visit with Evans, that is.

Sirius, Remus, Peter and I had just walked into the Three Broomsticks when I spotted Evans and her friends sitting at a large corner booth. The booth was big enough for all of us, so we joined them.

Being the chivalrous, kind-hearted soul that I am, I graciously paid for Evans' drink.

In all seriousness though, it's only right that the guy should pay for girl. It's Gryffindor chivalry and it's been drilled into me since the day I was born. It's only fitting.

Either Evans does not understand the concept of chivalry or she just doesn't like me being chivalrous, because she sent a nasty glare my way. I smiled back at her, trying to hide that fact that her glare was scaring me.

After we finished our drinks, we meandered around the village and eventually ended up at Honeydukes. I bought everyone a slab of chocolate in another attempt at being chivalrous. Evans seemed happy that I bought everyone some and not just her...

We decided to just wander for a while so I started talking with Hestia about Evans. According to Hestia, I need to know more about Evans as a person, whatever that's supposed to mean. When I asked how to do that, she told me to talk to her and shoved me between Evans and Remus, who were walking in front of us.

Yes, that looked quite chivalrous, butting in on someone else's conversation. I'm sure it earned me lots of points with Evans. If there were points, I don't doubt that I'd be in the negatives. I don't know why, but that's the impression that I'm getting.

So, I did the only thing I could think of in the situation. I gave Remus a look, which clearly said, "Get away from her." I did apologize later and explain the situation to him.

Anyway, I had to start a conversation with Evans, so I brought up the only subject that came to mind: Quidditch.

I nearly had a heart attack when Evans said that she liked quidditch, but didn't really understand it. In spite of my shock and near death experience, I took this as an opportunity to impress Evans with my knowledge of the game. I think she understood what I told her, she seemed to anyway.

Everything was great. I was having a good time, she seemed to be having a good time, but then I blew it. I asked her out. But I asked nicely! I said please!

She told me to leave her alone. I said that I was sorry, but she didn't believe me and stormed off, presumably back to Hogwarts.

Hestia smacked me hard upside the head after Evans was out of hearing range. "I said talk to her you prat! Not ask her out!"

My head still hurts. Funny...I always thought of Evans and her friends as very quiet, non-violent people....

Seeing how Evans is a bit angry with me at the moment, I've planned to lay low for a while. Say, a couple of days.

That should give her time to get over whatever's bugging her.

As usual, I was bored in History of Magic (who isn't?) and as usual, my mind began to wander and as usual, it wandered to the beautiful Miss Evans.

Okay, that's officially enough 'as usuals' to last me the rest of my life.

Anyway, while Binns droned on about the Goblin Wars of 1869, I decided that just because I'm "laying low" doesn't mean that I can't hang around Evans. She doesn't have to know I'm there.

I'll only get in trouble if she sees me, but if she doesn't know I'm there, she won't get mad at me. So, really, everyone gets to walk away happy.

Merlin, I love my invisibility cloak.

Contrary to what Sirius believes my parents did not buy me this cloak because I'm spoiled rotten. It's been passed down several generations in the Potter family. Since I'm the only child, there was no big debate about who got to inherit it. Normally, I would have received the cloak either upon my coming of age or when my father dies, but my dad felt that I was ready to shoulder the responsibility. I'm glad he thought so; it makes my life here so much easier.

Mostly, I use it to sneak down to the kitchens and nick a bite to eat, but every once in a while, the guys and I use to it play a prank. Lately, I've found a new use for it, but I won't say here what it is; it's too dangerous to do so until I've placed some sort of security spells on this notebook.

I don't think that anyone in my dormitory or even Gryffindor House would read my private writings, but I don't want to take any chances.

Well, Sirius would read it, but he already knows what I can't write about, so it's okay.

Speaking of Sirius, he doesn't know about this notebook yet, which is the only reason that he hasn't tried to read it or write in it yet.

I can't keep this a secret for much longer. The guys are already suspicious of me. Right now, I simply pull my bed hangings closed, but Sirius has an odd habit of yanking people's bed curtains open at random times and saying "Hello" in a very pleasant manner. Well, he only does it to me, Remus and Peter.

I'd better be careful; Sirius could be lurking outside of my curtains at this very moment. That's a scary thought...

Because I'm not home and don't have access to my documents ( I had this chapter on a disk, lucky for you guys) I can't respond to reviewers. Well, I could, but I'd have to look all them up and I don't have time since I have places to be. I'm really sorry about that, but I promise that next chapter I'll respond to reviews.

What I can say in general is that yes, James is clueless, but as you know, time will fix that. And yes, his entrys will become more detailed and more mature over time to show how he's changing. My thanks to all who reviewed last chapter! I really didn't expect that many reviews! :-)