"It didn't work guys." Harry sighed as he slumped next to Sirius and Remus the next morning.
"Oi, Harry, have you forgotten which House you're in?" Sirius cocked an eyebrow. "The other tables are going to be talking if they see you over here."
Harry snagged a piece of toast with an uncaring shrug. "What's your point?" He smirked. "It's not like you don't enjoy the attention."
He buttered his breakfast as Sirius grinned. "So true Potter." He leaned back in his seat as heads began turning in their direction.
Remus shook his head and turned toward Harry. "What didn't work Harry?" He asked, referring to the teen's first words.
Emerald eyes darkened. "I confronted him and he was a right bastard about the whole thing."
The werewolf winced in sympathy. "I'm sorry my advice wasn't any help."
Sirius jumped back into the conversation. "You see, I told you Rem, Slytherins are a whole different issue." He grinned. "They aren't like you or me, they're snakes."
"Excuse me." Harry scowled. "Yeah, I'm still here."
The Gryffindor continued with a laugh. "What you have to do is follow him."
"Follow him?" Harry repeated with a frown.
Remus shook his head and buried his face in his hands. "Not anther one of his stupid ideas." He groaned.
"Come on Moony, I have good ideas." Sirius pouted.
"No, you have foolish ideas that get people hurt or in trouble."
Harry looked between the two.
"So I have to follow him?" He repeated.
Sirius laughed. "You see Moony, Harry likes my ideas."
Remus shook his head. "Which only proves how alike he and James are." He retorted.
"Who's like me?" The elder Potter demanded as he sat beside Sirius.
"Harry is." Sirius replied. "Remus says it's because you two are stupid enough to listen to my ideas."
"Aw Moony, Padfoot has good ideas." James laughed.
The amber eyed youth snorted and turned toward his orange juice. "So where is Peter this fine morning?" He effectively changed the subject.
James shrugged. "Don't know." He shot a glance over his shoulder. "Could've sworn the little bugger was following me."
Sirius scoffed. "Of course he was, Wormtail has a crush on you Prongs." He said with a blank face.
Harry sniggered as James seemed to pale. "You're not serious are you?" He gulped.
"Of course I am." Padfoot replied in hurt voice.
James shakily stood. "He has been following me a lot lately." He admitted. "I…I have to go." He said hurriedly as Peter suddenly showed up.
He brushed by the Pettigrew without a "good morning", causing the latter to frown in confusion. The chubby boy sat and sent a worried glance at his friends.
"What's wrong with James?"
Sirius pulled a sad expression, his lower lip quivering for show. "I don't know, he asked if I was Sirius and I said yes." He sighed heavily. "Then he ran off."
Harry burst out laughing at his side and Remus looked skyward with a shake of his head. "Why me?" He sighed.
"That was brilliant!" Harry smiled. "Very Slytherin."
"Eh, I don't know about Slytherin." Sirius chuckled. "Just doing my daily work, being a Marauder isn't easy you know."
Peter gained a worried expression. "We have to do work?" He squeaked.
Sirius rolled his eyes. "No you prat, I was joking."
"Oh." He seemed relieved.
Harry turned away with a shake of his head, his eyes wandered toward his own table and caught a dark gaze.
He's watching me! A thrill passed through him as Snape turned away.
The wild haired boy smiled to himself. Perhaps Sirius' idea had some merit; surely it couldn't hurt to try.
Fine. He swore silently. You want to play hard to get, then I'll simply follow you until you give in.
He smiled happily to himself as James stormed back into the Great Hall with an angry expression.
"You liar, Padfoot, I can't believe you told me he had a crush on me!"
Sirius leaped from his seat before James could hex him and waved at his friends. "See you later mates, looks like I got an angry Potter on my tail." He laughed gleefully.
"Get back here" James cried.
"But Prongs, you asked me if I was Sirius! And last time I checked I was!"
There was a soft sigh as Lily sat beside Harry. "Boys." She shook her head.
Boys indeed. Harry's eyes made their way toward the Slytherin table once again. If I play my cards right I'll have the boy I want by the end of the day.
His inner voice laughed evilly as he stuffed the rest of his toast in his mouth, time for his plans to commence.