CHAPTER SIX: Development on the Fronts

Over the next few weeks Lily saw less and less of James Potter, which suited her just fine. She avoided him at all costs, and as it turned out she was very skilled at this. His attempts to catch her alone in their common room, a classroom, (or any other conceivable location) were usually thwarted by her running away, or making sure to have group of friends with her at all times.

One day she casually mentioned to her friends, "so, I've been thinking about this whole boy thing…"

"Yes!" Phoebe burst out, "give us details!"

"What on earth? All I said is I've been thinking, not shagging like a mad whore," Lily pointed put. "Anyway, I've been thinking. I think I know the perfect person for my plan."

"Who, oh my gosh, who?" Kyrie asked expectantly, giggling as usual.

"Ok, don't scoff, let me explain… I think Sirius would be perfect."

"Sirius… Black?" Claire asked incredulously.

"Do YOU know any other Siriuses?" Lily scoffed. "Anyway, I think he'd be just right, because I mean come on, he's a total man-whore, he's fairly good-looking—"

"Fairly? Let's be honest, he is delicious!" Phoebe interjected.

"Okay, he's delicious," Lily added with a little smirk, "He's easy, fun, and, I dunno, he just fits my description. We would mutually use each other with no hard feelings attached! Pretty much, it's perfect."

"You realize there is like, a MAJOR flaw in your plan, right?" Claire asked, being far more sensible than Kyrie and Phoebe as usual.

"Yeah?" Lily asked defiantly.

"He's only James's bestest mate in the entire world. Hello." Claire pointed out.

"Oooh. That's true. And like, best mates just don't do that to best mates," Phoebe added.

"Do what?" Lily asked innocently, knowing the answer all along.

"James is like, totally in love with you, which is so sweet, and Black would never betray his best friend like that. It's just mean," Claire said, pointing out the obvious truth.

"I think it's FABULOUS," said Kyrie, "I mean, who doesn't want to shag Sirius Black? Of course, personally I'm more in favor of the sexy Lucius Malfoy, but I wouldn't object to Black either—"

"Okay okay," Lily cut in. "But what if… James didn't have to know?"

"Lily, you're crazy if you think Black would go for you at all," Claire toned in, the Voice of Reason. Lily protested in an offended type way, but Claire toned back in loudly: "Not because you're not a babe, but because he just would never do that to his dearest Prongsie, whether James knew OR NOT."

"Hmmph," Lily grunted.

"Hmmph is right, but you're just gonna have to deal with it."

"Tough luck, chum," Phoebe comforted her. "I, on the other hand, would have nothing in my way to shagging Sirius… no pesky James Potter messing things up…" Phoebe smirked jokingly.

"Oh shut up you prat," Lily said as she shoved Phoebe over in a playful way. "I'll get my way, you'll see," she said and smiled.

"So Prongs, my man, I noticed you haven't been seeing much of Lovely Ms. Lily lately," Remus asked one evening as they all lounged around in James's common room.

"She's been avoiding me, can you believe that?" James huffed.

"Actually, yeah bud, I can," Sirius teased.

"Oh shut up. No, but seriously, she's stepped up her game, I never manage to see her any more. How is she doing this? I thought I was the one with the invisibility cloak, not her."

"Actually, Prongs, you don't really have one right now. I sorta' borrowed it… you know I get hungry at night, and it's so hard to get down to the kitchens without it…" Peter started in.

"Yeah yeah, just give it back, you twat. But there are MORE pressing matters," James said, trying to get his friends to care about his girl problems.

"More pressing than food?" Sirius asked in disbelief.

"Yes, Lily. Lily is always more pressing than food. Yes, I would die without food, but I think I'd die without Lily. And speaking of which, I've been feeling a bit sick lately, do you think it's Lily withdrawal?" James rambled on.

"I think you're mad, but that's different." Remus added dryly.

"Haha. Ok, I need a game plan though guys… help me out. Pleeeeease," James begged piteously.

"Ok, I have an idea," Remus said after a moment of thought. He put down his book and looked at the Marauders with a look that meant business. "Now, don't start in on me like I'm crazy… but what if one of us, besides James, sort of, I dunno, got… closer with Lily, and I dunno… got to know her maybe? Then reported back to Prongs?"

"A: what does 'get closer' mean? And B: what makes you think she'd have us?" Peter asked cynically.

"And C: you can bugger me if you think I'd let that fly" James snarled. Clearly he didn't want anyone laying a finger on Lily.

"A: I think you know what I mean by 'get closer,' use your imagination. B: She'd have us because she's desperate. And C: I'd rather not bugger you James, thanks, I like you, but not like that " Remus replied very seriously.

"If she's desperate why won't she have me?" James asked huffily.

"Because she has this funny habit of thinking you're repulsive," Sirius replied cheekily.

"Shush, you." James said with a gesture implying he was silencing Sirius.

"I elect Padfoot," Peter added simply.

"What, why me? I mean, Moony is more her type. He's all smart and stuff," Sirius said suddenly taking this very seriously.

"And I think it's pretty clear you're all not smart and stuff… but Wormtail has a point. I mean, I don't do casual sex. And you do. Maybe it would be easier for you to woo her without any feelings attached…" Remus started, his mind whirring.

"I could never do that to Prongs!" Sirius burst out.

"He could never do that to me!" James simultaneously added.

"As long as you consented, James, I don't see how it would be a betrayal on his part…" Peter chimed in.

"You're certainly not helping," Sirius growled.

"Come on, some valuable information could really be gained out of this. It would ultimately end in your benefit, James, and nobody would get hurt… come one you two. It's a good idea," Remus weedled.

"Hrrmph," James and Sirius grunted. It was clear they were both beginning to cave.

"What do you say?" Peter asked tentatively.

"Ok, I'll give it a shot… but only if James consents," Sirius agreed grudgingly, glancing at James for an answer.

"Fine, do it, but if it goes too far, I officially get to call it off…" James said, trying to establish some sense of authority.

"I knew you'd come around…" Remus said smugly as he went back to his book. Each went back to what they'd been doing before, as though nothing had happened. Unbeknownst to them things would be happening very fast, and very soon.

:AUTHOR'S NOTES:

One: Yes, I'm baaaaack from the dead. For anyone that cares, I hope this pleases you. Hopefully I'll be doing more writing lately, and won't be struck down by the spite of writer's block again. Two: So, I hope you enjoyed. Pleeeease, I beg you, please review. Three: Yes, I totally know this was almost entirely dialogue, which I'm trying to cut down on. But then again, I haven't written anything on this story for about a year, so I'm a bit out of practice. Sorry folks.

Toodlepip!

--your Cheezy friend.