Author's Note: Okay, so once again, it's taken me a while to post - this time simply because it took me a while to write. Sorry for the wait, but hey, here's the next chapter! Which I hope will give you all some good laughs!

As always, thanks to my lvoely reviewers! Keep it up, you make my day:)

Chapter 8: Shameless Flirting

Sirius Black glanced furtively at the clock. Four minutes and thirty-six seconds. The girl sitting across from him was, apparently, capable of holding a dirty look on her face for a very long time. He was determined to see just how long, but… this was getting boring. Showtime.

"Does it hurt?" he inquired curiously.

Chloe's eyes narrowed, if possible, even further. "Does what hurt?"

"Keeping your face all scrunched up like that. It doesn't look comfortable."

Chloe's mouth fell open.

"Oh no, now, that's not much better!"

"You prat. I am busy giving you a dirty look, and you have the nerve to interrupt me with one of your pig-headed comments. I should really…."

Silence.

"What, no stupid comeback?"

"You weren't done talking. I find it impolite to interrupt people."

The usually collected Chloe nearly sputtered. "But you…."

Silence.

"Yes?"

"Damn you, Black, you're ruining my argumentative skills! You're supposed to interrupt!"

"Huh?"

"Oh, never mind!" Chloe resumed her Dirty Look.

"Aww, no, you're much prettier when you're arguing!" Now she was positively glowering at him. "Look, I'm sorry! Can I make it up to you, love?"

"How?"

"Maybe… by taking you to the Halloween Party?"

Chloe was about to retort that she wasn't going, when she realized… this was a perfect chance to prove to Lily that she wasn't as uptight as she seemed.

"Okay… fine. I'll go with you. But under one condition."

"Anything for you, love."

"Don't ever call me that again."

Right before she turned to corner into the library corridor, Lily found herself grabbed and dragged into a secret passageway. With a shriek, she spun to hex her captor, only to look into the grinning face of James Potter.

"What do you think you're doing?" she shouted.

"Saving you from a very painful fate."

"Oh, and that would be?"

"Walking in on a smug Sirius Black with a very angry Chloe Patterson."

"That was kinda my intention."

"No, trust me – Sirius would kill you if you ruined this."

"Oh, and why, exactly?"

"Because he plans on asking your good friend to the Halloween party."

Lily burst out laughing. "Well, in that case, she'll most likely kill him." She leaned up against the wall. "So… what did McGonagall want this morning?"

"Oh, she… it was nothing. Just a little family matter."

"Oh?"

"Well, it's…." He looked reluctant to say anything.

"It's okay, you don't have to…"

"No, it's just hard to talk about. It's… my family's become kinda a priority target to Voldemort."

Lily clapped a hand to her mouth. "Oh my god, that's… that's terrible, James, I'm so sorry!"

"Mh, thank you… wait, did you just call me James?" He gave a roguish grin.

"What? No, never… okay, yes… so I was trying to help, okay? Sorry for trying to make you feel better!"

"I'll tell you a secret." James leaned in close to her and whispered, "It worked."