Lily?

What?

McGonagall told me Dumbledore wants to see us in his office soon as possible.

DAMN IT! What does he want to see us for?

My God. Little Lily Evans just swore.

Shut up. I'm not a goody-two-shoes.

Really?

Yes.

How so?

I swear.

Not swearing does not define a goody-two-shoes

Erm…ok…I…er…well…

Out with it.

I don't always get good grades.

Oh REALLY?

Shut up. I don't like admitting it.

And just what class are you failing, Miss Lily?

Er…Ancient Runes.

I'm happy to help you. You know, like a tutor, or something.

Oh. Ok. Thanks, James.

Right. Well, shall we go to Dumbledore's office before lunch?

I suppose so. But what does he want to see us for? We just had a Head meeting with him.

I dunno what it's for! I'm not a Seer, I'm failing divination.

YOU ARE NOT!

Er…yes, I am, actually.

My god, James! All you have to do is make up things!

Wow. Little Lily Evans LIES TOO!

Come off it.

Any other things you'd like to tell me, Lily? You might want to clear your conscience…

What do you think I have to tell?

Er…

I'm not hiding anything. No, no I'm not. I'm a completely honest person. When I have feelings for someone, I tell them.

Ok…

OH MY GOD! MCGONAGALL'S COMING! SHE'S SPOTTED US!

You are SO inexperienced.

…………

Wow. You handled that really well.

The art of Flattery, my dear Lily.

She actually BOUGHT IT. The, "oh, we were just comparing notes on your wonderful lecture," crap.

They don't call us the marauders for nothing.

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James and Lily cautiously entered Dumbledore's office. At once, Dumbledore turned towards them and gestured at the chairs across from his desk. They quickly took a seat, nervously glancing around the room.

"Well, lets get straight down to it, then," Dumbledore chirped. "Your little Ministry…er…escapade was covered by the Daily Prophet, as I believe you saw. Well, I'm afraid they are quite determined to get an interview with you two. I tried to fend them off but it was to no avail. Miss Skeeter tends to get what she wants. So, alas, you must meet her in the entrance hall this afternoon after your last class."

James swore under his breath as he angrily grabbed Lily's arm and led her out of Dumbledore's office, her blushing all the while.

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"Er…James? Why are you so angry about this interview? I mean, its just an interview, I'm sure this Skeeter woman is very nice indeed…"

"Lily. God, you are so naïve. Rita Skeeter twists your words around. She always makes you seem like you are completely different from what you really are."

"Oh…" Lily trailed off cluelessly as they turned the corner. Lily gasped as she took in the sight of the strange woman. Rita Skeeter was in a bright yellow dress robe, her long fingernails clicking against her bag as she tapped her foot and sighed. Suddenly, she spotted them. Lily gulped nervously.

"Oh hello, children!" Rita announced boisterously. "Wherever have you been? I've been waiting for you!" She sang in a false, sugary voice one would use with a baby.

James grimaced. "Sorry to keep you," he said politely, "but we were in classes-"

"Oh come now, no excuses. Shall we go in here and start, then?" Rita cooed, opening a door and gesturing for them to enter.

"Er…Miss Skeeter, that's a storage cupboard," Lily said, giving Rita an odd look.

"In with you now, darling. No time for small talk." Rita shoved a scowling Lily through the door. James, glancing nervously at Rita, hurried through the door himself. Rita entered behind them and sealed the door with her wand.

"Well. You two don't mind if I use a Quick-Quotes Quill, do you?" Rita asked them merrily, brandishing a green quill.

Lily stared at her indignantly. "We bloody well do! Those things twist your words around! What do you think you're doi-"

"Oh, large temper, hasn't she, James?" Rita asked delightfully. "First off, how old are the both of you?"

"Seventeen," James responded, giving Lily a shocked gaze.

"Right, fifteen. Now, why did you two decide to go to the ministry?"

"Voldemort killed my parents. I wanted to get revenge," Lily said, giving Rita a suspicious look.

"Well, wasn't that a foolish thing to do!" Rita trilled. "Did you know then that you would most likely be blown to smithereens by the darkest wizard of all time?" she asked animatedly, as if this was a most casual thing to say.

"We weren't going to get killed. We obviously survived, as we're standing right in front of you! Or are you going to lie about that too and say that we're ghosts haunting Hogwarts, or something?" Lily asked, giving Rita an insolent, determined stare.

"My, my," Rita said, a flash of anger in her eyes. "You're parents obviously never taught you to be polite. What about you, Potter? Were you scared when you entered the Ministry?"

"Well, er…sort of. I mean, who wouldn't when they're about to take on Voldemort?" He paused, craning his neck to see what the quill had written. "HEY! I was not 'quivering in fear'! And yes, I do say his name, but not because 'I'm boasting of overcoming him'!" He shouted indignantly.

"Ignore the quill," Rita said, losing all false sweetness. "Shall we move on, then?" She asked, in her normal sickeningly sweet tone. "You two are in love, correct?"

Lily and James glanced at each other awkwardly, then looked away from each other, blushing.

Rita grinned maliciously. "Oh, it's true, then."

"No. No, we're not in love. We're just…erm…friends," Lily murmured awkwardly.

Rita ignored her. "Is it true, James, that you have pursued her since third year?"

"Er…yes."

"Was she quite cruel to you?"

"Well, er…yeah. But I don't blame her. I was quite cocky then," James said nervously, ruffling his hair.

"You don't have to stick up for her, James. I want you to tell the truth," Rita said in the reassuring tone one uses with a disobedient child. "What kind of things would she do to you?"

"EXCUSE ME! IS THIS REALLY NECESSARY?" Lily asked, glaring at Rita.

"Hush, dear, I'm trying to talk to your boyfriend," Rita said in a dismissive tone, gazing at James, who was shifting uncomfortably. "Go on, boy, what did she do?"

"Well…er…"

"Oh come on, out with it now!"

"She would…er…she would…smack my face sometimes. But, um, only when I deserved it. I was horribly immature back then. Er…would hex people for the fun of it, actually. That's when she would yell at me. So it was justified."

"Oooh, I see," Rita said interestedly. "So are you two dating now?"

"Er, well, no…" James said awkwardly, barely above a whisper.

"But we are very good friends," Lily added, putting a dramatic emphasis on the word 'friends.'

"And how do you feel about this, James?" Rita asked sympathetically.

"Er…I'm…fine with it?"

"Lily, are you in any way interested in James?"

"WHAT? NO!"

"That sounded like denial, darling!" Rita sang, smirking at the embarrassed look on Lily's face.

Lily glanced at the Quick-Quotes Quill flying across a piece of parchment. "I did not admit that I am madly in love with James! This is unbelievable!"

"You two live in the same dormitory, do you not?" Rita asked, ignoring Lily's outburst.

"Well, yes we do. But we don't sleep in the same room or anything…" James rambled.

"Of course not. But are there any…interesting stories?" Rita asked, her mouth curling into a malicious smile.

Lily blushed. "Well…er…there was one time…"

"Yes, dear?" Rita asked impatiently, looking at Lily as if she were her new best friend.

"Well, I accidentally walked in on James in the shower once. But, er, it was an accident."

"Of course it was, darling," Rita purred. "Have things…heated up at all between you two since the incident at the ministry?"

"No. No. Not at all," Lily said quickly, averting her eyes from Rita.

"Right," Rita continued skeptically. "Now, you were about to die for Lily, is that correct, James?"

"Um, yes," he said nervously.

"Has she thanked you?"

"Yes."

"What did you think about in that minute you were about to die?"

"Er…I dunno, I don't really remember. Er…quidditch, I suppose."

"Quidditch?" Rita asked, raising an eyebrow. "Are you sure, Potter? You were not thinking of the undying love you have for Evans?"

"Um…no," James muttered, shifting about uneasily.

"You are one of the infamous marauders, correct?" Rita asked, moving on to a new topic.

"Yes," James grinned, regaining his pride, puffing out his chest.

"And you are quite popular amongst the girls?"

"Quite right," James agreed, puffing his chest out even farther. Lily rolled her eyes, suppressing a laugh.

"Is it true that one night in October a crowd of…er…fangirls ran after you and your friends?"

"Yes."

"Was Lily one of those girls?"

"LILY? HELL NO!" James cried out of surprise. "She wouldn't be caught dead belonging to one of my many fanclubs."

"Quite right," Lily nodded.

"Didn't you have a boyfriend, Lily?" Rita asked interestedly.

"Er…well, yes…" Lily said, flustered.

"And it didn't work out?"

"Well, no…"

"Why not?"

"Er…erm…well-"

"It was a mutual thing," James said quickly. "They decided to just be friends." Lily shot him an appreciative look. "Look, isn't this supposed to be about what happened at the Ministry, and not our love lives?" James asked angrily.

"Right. Of course, how did I get so off course?" Rita laughed merrily, flashing a toothy grin. "Well I think I've got all I need anyway, so why don't you two run along and play?" James and Lily raised their eyebrows at each other. "Thank you ever so much for meeting with me!" Rita smiled, shaking each of their hands. "If you're lucky, this just might make the front page!"

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James and Lily wandered about Hogwarts castle on their rounds, each staring at the other, neither talking.

Suddenly, James cleared his throat. "So…that was awkward."

"What was?"

"The whole Skeeter thing."

"Oh. Right. Yeah, it was. I can't believe that woman! She is just so, so…audacious! I really don't think I like her! She just forces things out of you!" Lily cried in fury.

James laughed. "I warned you, you know."

"I know. It's just…I wasn't prepared for that."

"Ah, I know. Its like aurors are interviewing you as a suspect for murder."

"You've done interviews before?" Lily asked interestedly.

"Oh, a few, but not important ones. They were merely interviews with my fan clubs for their stupid newsletters," James grinned.

"Ah, yes. Your fan clubs. Must be flattering to have people devote all their spare time to you," Lily remarked.

"Well, actually, it's very startling. I don't like having to hide out behind tapestries between classes."

"Oh," Lily said, nodding. "Oh. Well, I suppose you're right. I mean, I wouldn't know-"

James snorted.

"What?" Lily asked, narrowing her eyes at him suspiciously.

"You have fan clubs too, Lily."

"I do?" she asked, genuinely astonished.

"Well, not fan clubs per se," James admitted. "Men aren't too big on fan clubs. But you certainly have a lot of admirers."

"I do?" Lily repeated, still surprised.

"Oh yes. Loads of them. They glare at me whenever I come near you." James grinned at the expression of satisfaction on Lily's face.

"Do they really?" Lily smirked. James laughed and they walked on in silence for a while, each staring at the other periodically.

"Er…Lily?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you going to Hogsmeade with anyone?" James asked casually.

Oh no, Lily thought. Here it comes. He's going to ask me out. He is going to ruin everything! I haven't even sorted things out with myself yet! I'm not even really sure I have feelings for him! And now he's asking me out! WHY?

"Er…not yet, no. And you, James?" She asked nervously.

"I don't have any plans yet, either," he said, and left it at that.

Lily stopped walking in alarm. He didn't ask me out. HE DIDN'T ASK ME OUT. So does he not like me anymore? Did he just…forget? WHAT IS GOING ON?

James suddenly turned around. "Er…alright, Lily?" he asked concernedly.

She looked up at him, looking surprised she was not alone. "What? Oh, yeah. I'm fine, thanks," she said awkwardly, running to catch up with him.

She took a deep breath, and edged closer to him. He raised his eyebrows but said nothing. They walked in silence for the remainder of the night, each surreptitiously edging a bit closer to the other when they got the chance. By the time they reached their dormitory, their arms were touching the other's, and they were out of breath and flushed, although they were only walking.

Lily turned to face James, inches away from his face. She closed her eyes and sighed, breathing in his scent. Suddenly, she opened her eyes and moved her head slightly away from James'.

"Right," she said awkwardly, as James was watching her amusedly. "Well, see you in the morning, then."

"See you in the morning, Lily," James replied, watching Lily walk inside the dormitory with intense interest.