A/N: I think I found my inspiration…I just don't know what it is. But (in my opinion) my writing improved in this chapter. Well I hope you're enjoying this story because I really love writing it, even if you don't.

Disclaimer I do not own Harry Potter.

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James grumbled (seemingly) at the excess of homework surrounding him. Care of Magical Creatures (make a list with 50 points on why a Minotaur was special for the Ancient Greeks), Divination (create a sun chart recognizing the different phases of the sun in each zodiac sign), Potions (put together the recipe to create an anti-aging cream the way muggles make it and compare it to the wizarding treatment), History of Magic (who were the first wizards to decide on separation from the muggle-world and how did they go about doing so?) and Transfiguration (what are the proper steps to becoming an animagi?)

That last one is easy enough.

However, the only reason the homework was so irritating was because James had other things on his mind. Word of the St. Valentines Ball had gotten out, and he was furious (more like jealous) to find a large list of boys constantly asking Lily to be his date.

And even worse, Lily flirted with each and every one of them. But when HE asked her, she had laughed and reminded him they were only friends.

"Since when did she get so POPULAR?" James groaned, throwing his quill angrily to the ground.

"Since she met Amelia and Alice," Remus said. "Besides, what're YOU whining about? You're not exactly being chaste (for lack of a better word) with those girls all asking you to be their dates."

"Mooney here is right," Sirius laughed, deciding to mimic James's earlier attitude towards one of those girls. "Why, Sandy, you have such beautiful complexion! My name's not Sandy; it's Sarah. Oh…well Sarah you have LOVELY green eyes! My eyes are blue…"

"Sirius, must you constantly remind me of my worst moments?" James sulked.

"Well you have so few that, yeah, I do."

James sulked even more when Lily walked through the Portrait Hole followed by some sixth year Gryffindor nearly begging her to go with him to the ball.

"…And you have such LOVELY green eyes and your complexion is so perfect and your lips are luscious and your hair is fiery…"

Lily, by the look on her face, didn't care in the least bit.

"He sounds like Prongs here," Sirius whispered to Remus loud enough for James to hear.

"Shut up Sirius."

"…And you're really quite smart and you have great style and did I mention you have LOVELY green eyes?"

"Oh someone please save her!" Remus laughed.

"LILLERS!" Sirius exclaimed, bounding over by her and interrupting the droning boy, who looked surprised to find himself in the common room.

"Well, think about it," he said, waving and hurrying upstairs.

"Oh THANK YOU!" she shouted happily, hugging Sirius. And then she ran away to her dormitory.

"She didn't even look at me," James sulked. "I haven't had an actual conversation with her since Sunday. Four whole days passed with barely any interaction at all! I think I'm slowly dying of deprivation. Remus, why don't YOU take her to the ball?"

"WHAT?" Remus exclaimed at James's sudden, desperate idea.

"Well, that way, I wouldn't have to worry about some bloody stranger…touching her or…hurting her. And since she already rejected me, someone who I can t rust should go with her."

Remus sat back, deep in thought. "Would you really not care?"

"Well, you're one of my best pals. Of course I wouldn't care, especially since it was MY idea."

"She'll probably suspect it you know."

"Better to fail trying than to fail not…trying?"

Remus laughed. "Fine, whatever you say."

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Lily threw a pillow at Amelia, who continued to laugh hysterically.

"IT'S NOT FUNNY!" she screamed.

"Remus Lupin, best friend of James Potter asked you?" she laughed. "And what'd you say to him?"

"I told him to tell Potter I don't need a baby-sitter. Now STOP LAUGHING!"

Amelia settled down a little. "Well it's better than Sirius asking you to go with him."

"There's no denying that," Lily replied with a slight shudder.

"Have you said yes to anyone yet Amelia?" Alice asked, already knowing the answer.

"Of course not, the male gender is only a distraction from more important matters," Amelia replied with a smug smile.

"Aren't you ever going to get married and have children?"

"No." Amelia's voice was firm, closing all efforts for the conversation to continue.

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"The Quidditch match is tomorrow," the girl said, making sure to thrust her upper body towards James. He was cornered in the common room, with no one around to save him. "I'll be there cheering you on." She batted her eyelashes at him.

"Who ARE you?" he asked, seeing an expression of hurt and anger cross her face. Without a response, she turned around and stomped away.

"Nice one," a voice said from the couch in front of the fireplace.

"Evans," James acknowledged, taking a seat next to her. "What're you doing up this early?"

"Reading," she said, pointing to the book in her lap. "What about you?"
"Escaping Sirius's ranting."

"Ah. Well, we have something in common there. Bella's thrashing around up there because of Sirius."

"He's rampaging because of Bellatrix." He looked at the book in her lap, reading the cover upside-down. "Lord of the Flies. No Shakespeare Evans? I'm ashamed."

"There's more literature out there than Shakespeare," she retorted.

"I wouldn't know."

"You know, reading every once in a while won't kill you. It'd probably save you from pulling some childish prank and getting in trouble."

"Me? Get in trouble? BLASPHEMY!"

Lily smiled with a slight chuckle. "So who's your date for the ball?"

"I think I'm going to go solo," he said. "What about you?"

"I'm going with a Hufflepuff named Amos Diggory. He was rather sweet in asking me."

"And why do you say that?"

"Because he said he's liked me for a while now, not just ever since Amelia and Alice decided to overtake my life."

"And that's sweet…why?" James asked, trying to keep his jealousy from appearing on his face.

"Because all the others only asked me because of my appearance. They're shallow and don't REALLY like me. But Amos DOES like me, and he's the only one who does."

"What about me?" James proclaimed.

"You don't count."

"Why not?"

"Because I already KNEW how you feel, and we already discussed it. Therefore, you don't count. Now, if you don't mind, I think I'm going to get some breakfast."

"Oh but what if I do mind?"

"Then I rather pity you."

"Pity me all you want Evans. I'm not going to leave you alone at ALL today."

Lily blew him a teasing kiss and rushed out the portrait hole.

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"James, leave me alone!" Lily yelled behind her at James, who had lived up to his words. There wasn't a single moment where James wasn't within five feet of Lily. She had made the mistake of thinking she could escape him by running into the girls bathroom.

James had still followed.

"I told you I wouldn't leave you alone at all today," he smiled, casually walking behind her.

"You pathetic, worthless, insufferable prat!"

"Why don't you just hex him?" Amelia asked, also irritated with James.

"Because I already have two more detentions to serve," she replied.

"He's infuriating, really," Amelia scowled.

"I noticed."

"Is there any chance at all that he'll leave us alone?"

"Nothing's impossible."

"Except for one James Potter," Amelia sighed. "You don't mind if I leave you to suffer him alone, do you?"

"Go ahead," Lily replied. "This is my problem and I'll deal with it, sorry, HIM, myself."

That plan failed.