Disclaimer: Jo Rowling owns everything you recognize.

All right, everyone. Here's goes chapter one. Hope you like it. Keep those reviews coming!

Chapter 1

Dating and Conversations

"Ah…," Sirius breathed, "Another year at good ol' Hoggy Warts."

"Another year for pranks and full moons to abound," added James.

"If it weren't for all those pointless classes. They ruin everything," said Peter.

"N.E.W.T year…," muttered Remus from behind the leather cover of his book.

"Oh darn it, Moony," Sirius groaned, "You've reminded me of our bloody exams. It's only the first day of classes!"

"Never too early," shrugged Remus, eyes still scanning the parchment page of his book.

"Early, Shmurly," Sirius rolled his eyes.

"James," squealed Peter suddenly, "You're Head Boy this year, aren't you?"

"Glad you've caught on quick, Wormtail," Sirius shook his head, grinning. James gave his friend a mocking glare and replied very slowly.

"Yes…Peter…I…am…Head…Boy…this…year." Sirius cackled wildly and Peter gave a confused smile. James stole a glance down the length of the table. It didn't go unnoticed.

"Look, James, face the facts. Lily Evans is never going to go out with you. So I suggest that you give…up! Catch my drift? Just give up!"

Sirius' jaw dropped. "Since when has former perfect prefect extraordinaire, studies-three-months-before-exams Remus Lupin told anyone to give up!"

"Now, now Moony," put in James, wagging his finger in Remus' face, "You should know me by now. I'm no quitter!" He shot another glance down the table, where Lily Evans was pointedly laughing with her friends.

o.o

"Bloody arrogant prick!" Lily growled the moment James Potter looked away.

"Oh come on, Lils, you know you like it," grinned her best friend slyly.

"Like what, Kath, like what? What could I possibly like about James Potter?"

"Oh, I dunno…," replied Kath, rolling her eyes, "Let's think. He's only the Quidditch captain, brilliant, Head Boy and…oh! I think I've forgotten something, he's bloody hot!"

"Ugh…he's a stalker…complete stalker," muttered Lily into her porridge. Kath rolled her eyes again.

"Don't roll your eyes at me, missy!" Lily hissed, "It's N.E.W.T year this year! I can't have him screwing up my exams!"

"You're such a drama queen, Lily Evans."

"Something I could say about you, Miss Kathy Levine." Kath stuck out her tongue.

o.o

The owls arrived ten minutes later, swooping in and upsetting pumpkin juice and porridge all down the hall. A large, puffed-up tawny with the red Postal band around its ankle soared down and circled James' head three times before settling down comfortably before him. "Ooooh! Who's it from?" grinned Peter, leaning forward excitedly.

"Just my mum, she always uses the same ribbon," said James, untying a pink-beribboned scroll from the owl's leg.

"My mum never writes," Peter whined.

"My mum doesn't either and it's the best bloody thing I could have wished for!" Sirius added. "So what's it say, James?" he continued.

James scanned the parchment.

Dear James,

Your father and I hope that you arrived safely at Hogwarts. I would like to remind you that I can't even begin to count the number of disciplinary notices I received from your professors last year. Do not put another toe out of line, understand? One more note and you're coming straight home, young man! BEHAVE YOURSELF!

Love,

Mum

P.S. Please tell Sirius that his cousin Andromeda has had her baby. She and Ted have named the little girl Nymphadora. She's an adorable little thing!

"Nothing much to report," said James. "The usual, you know, 'do not put another toe out of line'. You guys know the drill. Oh, and you're an honorary uncle, Sirius."

"What?" yelled Sirius, grabbing the letter from James' hand. His lips moved as he scrolled down the page, finally arriving at the postscript. "Nymphadora! Nymphadora! I always knew Andromeda had a place in her heart for strange names, but Nymphadora! The poor thing's never gonna live it down."

"That's because you won't let her," said Remus, clamping his book shut just as McGonagall arrived at their table, distributing schedules.

"Precisely," Sirius replied with a sly grin.

o.o

"You know," murmured Lily, peering down at her schedule. "The one thing that would have made my life easier would have been allowing me and Potter to be in different classes. But no, Gryffindors of the same year are in every single class with each other…."

"Except for Arithmancy, Remus is the only Marauder that's taking Arithmancy."

"…I mean, it's bad enough that we're Heads together and have to patrol corridors."

"Moonlit strolls with James Potter…do you know how many girls would kill to be you?"

"Kath, are you on my side or what?"

"I didn't know there were different sides."

"Of course there are. There's the 'Go Out With Him' side and the 'Don't Go Out With Him' side."

"Does that mean you're considering which side to join?"
"No, no, no!" squealed Lily rather loudly. She lowered her voice as the people around her stared. "I am the bloody Prime Minister of the 'Don't Go Out With Him' side."

"Okay then," said Kathy calmly.

"Which side are you on, Kath?" asked Lily suspiciously.

"Whichever side doesn't get me yelled at," Kathy replied. Lily folded her arms and huffed contentedly. Boldly Kathy continued, "Although…." Lily shot her a warning glare, but she pressed forward. "Although if you and Potter went out then we could go on double dates."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Lily said, ominously soft.

"It means…," Kathy faltered a little, "It means that Sirius and I will hang out with you and James."

"But there is no Sirius and you…," Lily's eyes widened when Kathy didn't respond, "Is there?"

"Well…there might be…something of the sort…."

"What does that mean?"

"Well…all right," Kathy surged into her explanation, "He asked me out on the train. I was sitting by myself waiting for you to come out of the Heads meeting and he was there and…well…it just happened."

"Oh, Kaaath," Lily moaned, "This is Sirius Black, the Sirius Black, the man who never keeps a girlfriend for more than two weeks. You're going to get your heart broken."

Kathy grinned. Lily was always like this; she never trusted boys, ever. "You know what this means, don't you?" she giggled slyly.

"Enlighten me."

"It means that for the next two weeks, or however long, Sirius and I are going to be attached by the hip."

"More like the lips," Lily muttered.

"And you're attached to my hip and James is attached to Sirius' hip so you and James are going to have to hang out all the time." Kathy cackled gleefully.

"Oh, that's low, Kath," Lily shook her head and sighed.

"I know, but it's completely brilliant."

o.o

"James, you are going to kiss me when you find out what's happened."

"I seriously doubt that, Sirius."

"Just tell the stupid story, Padfoot," Remus laughed, "The suspense is killing me."

"Alright, don't grow fangs before your time, Moony."

"The full moon's next Friday," Peter supplied. "I checked my textbook."

"The full moon is a beautiful thing," James sighed happily.

"Anyway…back to my story."

"Okay, okay, fine, tell the bloody story."

"Okay. I asked Kathy Levine out," Sirius dropped the bombshell. Peter squealed with delight and Remus patted Sirius on the back, but James looked completely unimpressed.

"So?" he said. "You've asked out millions of girls before."

"Actually three hundred and twelve is the exact number but…this one's important."

"Why is this one important?" James humored his excited friend.

"You're the thickest numbskull I've ever met, Prongs! You don't see it!"

"No…." James thought for a moment. The answer was beginning to dawn on him.

"Okay. There are three reasons," Sirius ticked them off on his fingers. "One, Kathy Levine is hot as hell. Two, she's the only brunette in our year that I haven't shagged. Three, who is her best friend?"

"Lily…," James said slowly. Then it clicked. His eyes brightened and the dusty wheels of his brain began to turn again.

"Exactly, my friend. Kathy is best friends with Lily Evans which means that we will all be spending much quality time together, giving you the heaven-sent opportunity to win over your lady love."

"The one you're obsessed with," Remus put in.

"Since when am I obsessed?"

"Since two years ago, mate."

"Right…." James was thinking. He would get her this year, he swore. He was seventeen now, mature and of age. Lily had to see that he was "commitment" material, right? Well, maybe.

o.o

"Look, they're leaving for Potions, we'd better go." Kathy drew her school bag over her shoulder and took a last swig of pumpkin juice.

"Wait," said Lily, "I have to check you up." Kathy grinned as she turned to face her best friend.

"Hair?" Kath recited.

"Check," Lily answered. They had gone through this routine ever since Kathy had started dating in fourth year.

"Eyes?"

"Check."

"Complexion?"

"Check."

"Lips?"

"Little gloss on the corner." Kathy brushed away the little wayward shine from the corner of her lip. "Check," Lily said.

"Clothes?"

"Absolutely perfect." Lily smiled.

"So you're okay with this, Lils? Please be okay with it?" Lily looked into her best friends pleading, smiling face and plastered a big grin across her lips.

"It'll be good for you." Lily stowed away her personal qualms about this relationship and picked up her bag, setting her face as the Marauders, led by Sirius, moved toward them.

"Hello, beautiful," Sirius deep, mature voice made Kathy, as Lily noticed, beam. Kath replied with a long, seductive kiss across her boyfriend's lips. Lilyrolled her eyesand tried not to look at the person who was staring at her.

Secondspassed slowly as the two continued their little snogging session in the middle of the hall. Alarmed first years were giving them a wide berth. Finally Lily put a firm hand on Kath's shoulder. "Class," she murmured softly. Kathy broke away from Sirius and turned on her heel. Sirius moved a few easy strides and took her hand as the odd group began to walk toward the dungeons.

"Isn't this an interesting situation?" Lily closed her eyes for a moment and tried to breathe calmly, controlling her annoyance. The voice at her shoulder had seemingly deepened since the last time she had heard it. She continued to walk, quickening her step just a little, but James kept stride with her. She deigned to reply.

"Yes, it is."

"They were always bound to get together."

"Yeah," said Lily, glancing at the affectionate couple, "I guess they were."

"Look, Lily…." A hand grasped her shoulder. She started a little and turned to him. He was taller, she realized. She had thought she might have gained an inch or two on him over the summer, but he had grown just as much. She stared right into his deep brown eyes. They were rich, she thought, she might have fallen into them. "I know you think I'm an immature prat, and I probably am, but I can change. You know that, right? I'll show you." As he spoke she became very aware of the strong, firm hand on her shoulder and she felt the place where he was touching her burn. It was rather uncomfortable, but at the same time pleasant. He let go of her and started to walk forward. Slowly she began to walk too, but slower than before. She was thinking.

He had changed, she decided. He was different somehow. But more than that, he had, just now, for the first time, spoken to her seriously. He'd spoken to her without stupid jokes and even stupider pranks. For the first time, he'd spoken to her like a man might.

o.o

All right, so there it is. What do you think? Please critique it for me…reviews rock! I'm afraid that at the beginning Lily was a really annoying…what do you think? Hope you guys like it!