Last Chapter:

Draco,

Meet us in the abandoned classroom, on the third floor corridor tonight at 9:30; we have some planning to do.

Ps. Good prank but not good enough…

Signed,

The Marauders

Draco shook his head at their last remark, but was pleased to see that they were ready to take action; it was obvious that it was needed. He looked over at the other two. He saw them both unobtrusively staring at each other, yes action needed to be taken as soon as possible.

oOoOoOo

9:30 later that night:

Draco walked down the hall quietly, looking about for any sign of the marauders. They had to make sure that they were discreet as they could not have Harry or Ginny finding out about this.

Suddenly halfway along the corridor a hand grasped his arm and pulled him into an empty, dark classroom.

He had his wand out before his captors could even breathe a word. Draco lit the tip, to look at his kidnappers, only to see the marauders standing there looking fearfully at their professor and his trained wand.

Seeing who it was, he lowered his wand, "Don't you four know that it is never a smart idea to grab someone as highly trained as me unaware, it could just be your life you know." Draco said calmly.

The four just gulped and looked at their feet, clearly feeling incredibly stupid.

"Whatever we best get on with this, before Harry and Ginny realize where I went." Draco spoke.

"Right, so what do we know?" Remus asked.

It was best that they got their facts straight first and work from there.

"Well, for one, we know that both Ginny and Harry have liked each other for ages!" Draco supplied, knowing for a fact that Ginny had liked Harry since she met him and Harry had liked Ginny since about fourth year, but he had not realized at the time.

"Well, that is the obvious." James spoke with a 'duh' tone.

"What else?" Sirius put in.

"Well, Harry is not very assertive when it comes to the ladies." Draco said, smirking. Harry was not too shabby but he lacked the confidence in approaching them. The amount of times Draco had seen Harry try and tell Ginny how he felt and suddenly back up or start turning a violent shade of red was to many to count.

He explained this to the group, and they all took a second to chuckle at the thought that their professor, who supposedly had no trouble fighting evil, had trouble just approaching a girl.

"Right, so we need to somehow find a way to make things easier for him." Remus said.

"If we must, we must!" Draco sighed, he usually got a kick out of watching Harry stammer and stumble around girls, it was one of those few things that he could hold against Harry. But this was for a good cause.

"Right. If we know what girls like and such, we could drop such hints to Harry and maybe make him more confident in approaching Ginny." James said, smiling at the brilliant plan.

The rest nodded with approval.

"There is just one problem guys." Draco spoke up.

"What's that Draco?" Sirius said.

"What do girls like?" Draco asked.

The others shook their heads and shrugged their shoulders. Damn! Their magnificent plan was botched up by the tiniest, insignificant detail. Well, maybe not so insignificant.

They pondered in silence for a minute or so, getting nowhere, when a light bulb went off in Sirius' head.

"I personally don't know, but I know someone who does." He said.

"Who?" the rest asked.

"Tomorrow, during break, meet me in the entrance hall and leave the rest to me." Sirius said, before he started walking off.

The rest of them looked on curiously, but said their goodbyes and parted ways.

oOoOoOo

The next day during break:

James, Remus, and Peter were waiting with Sirius in the Entrance hall for Draco. He was running a little late, but they were patient.

Finally, five minutes later, Draco headed down the hallway, towards the marauders.

"You're late." Sirius said, good-naturedly.

"Yeah well, a certain four prats, whose names I won't mention, seemed to think it would be funny to superglue me to my chair." Draco said, scowling.

"Really? That's awful!" James said in mock disbelief.

"Yeah yeah, ha ha, now let's get moving." Draco muttered, trying to get away from the fact that he had fallen for such a simple thing.

"Right, follow me." Sirius said.

With Sirius in the lead they headed up the stairs. James and Draco were walking next to each other, as were Peter and Remus.

"As we said before, good prank, but not good enough…" James whispered to Draco, with an evil grin.

Draco just glared at his student, and friend's future father. They continued to walk for a few more minutes before Sirius abruptly halted outside of the transfiguration classroom.

"Padfoot, what are we doing here?" James asked, confused at what his friend was doing.

"Well you see, we have a dilemma, this being that we don't know what a woman likes, so I thought that maybe we could ask one." Sirius said, proudly.

"Well, that is a brilliant idea and everything, Padfoot, but why are we outside McGonagall's Class?" Remus spoke up.

"Well, I figured, at her age, she would have some experience with knowing what a woman likes." Sirius said simply.

"So, let's get this straight, you want to get advice about women from McGonagall… you're barmy!" Draco said.

"Well, it's worth a shot don't you think, come on lets go in." Sirius said.

Without bothering to knock, Sirius strolled right into the classroom, which was void of students as most of them were out having fun with their friends in the sunny weather.

"Mr. Black, what are you doing here?" McGonagall asked in a somewhat accusing tone, wondering what the boy was up to.

He was used to such an approach from a teacher, he had gotten used to it after a while of continuous trouble-making.

"Why, hello professor, don't you look smashing this afternoon." Sirius said with a grin, he was working his charms, it was the way he got things done.

McGonagall was unabashed, after having Sirius trying to worm his way out of detentions so many times with that same face, she had learned not to remain disconcerted by it.

"Well, me and the boys here, are doing a survey for err… Muggle Studies, about human character, more specifically female, human character. So we were wondering, if you could spare some time to answer a few questions." Sirius said with a smile.

The others stood behind him, trying hard to look innocent and to suppress their laughter.

She looked on suspiciously, before her suspicion swayed to belief, with their innocent looks, "That is all very well, but may I ask why Professor Malfray is accompanying you?"

"Oh him… he just needs some help in the female department, you know, and thought he would tag along to see if he can find some answers to his troubles." Sirius lied, smoothly.

Draco blushed a brilliant shade of red, before shaking his head; this was for the good of Harry and Ginny; not to mention he could just pummel Sirius later.

"Oh well, it is good of him to admit his troubles, right so the questions please." McGonagall said.

"Yes well," James cleared his throat, "the first and only question is, what do women… like to see... from a guy?" James said, incredibly awkwardly and uncomfortably.

McGonagall looked to be in thought and then spoke, "Well, I personally like it when they are good at transforming things. You know, grass into roses, vegetables into chocolate…" She went off, with a dreamy expression on her face that clearly showed she was looking back to her past.

The five boys looked at their professor, previous and current, with disgust at something that they did not need to hear and did not want to hear ever again.

"Yeah well, uh… thanks, Professor, uh we'll be going now." Remus said, before running to the door with the rest in tow.

After they left, they all seemed to settle a little, though they all looked a little greener in the face.

"Great plan, Padfoot!" James said.

Sirius just shrugged.

"I think I am going to be sick!" Peter said from where he stood.

"Well look, maybe we just asked the wrong person. I know someone else, someone that would know a ton more than McGonagall…" Sirius said, shuddering as he said the woman's name.

After considering this, Draco spoke, "It's worth a shot I guess."

The others nodded in agreement. So, once again, they walked down the corridor following Sirius, though this time silently.

Sirius stopped again, this time outside the library…

"Sirius!" James whined.

"What? You never know, Madam Pince is a lot younger than McGonagall, her opinion could be completely different." Sirius said, defending himself.

They sighed and headed into the library.

Sirius took over the explanation, which went very similar to the one he held with McGonagall, and ended with a blushing Draco.

"So, what's the question boys?" Madam Pince inquired.

"What do women like to see from a guy?" Remus said quickly, in one breath.

"Could you repeat that?" she said.

"What do women like to see from a guy?" Remus repeated, slowly.

"Well, that is easy, they like to see a man who is good with words, poetry and romance, and they just absolutely hate it when the man only talks about quidditch, his work, and HIMSELF" She finished, quite loudly. Somehow, the marauders got the vibe that she was now talking about a personal connection with a guy.

They needed to get out of that situation as quickly as possible.

"Well, thanks for the advice." James said, and they bolted.

They were walking down the hallway now.

"Now, that was just plain scary." Draco said.

"Not to mention disturbing." James said with a shiver.

"Well, don't worry guys I have one other person that can help. I am sure they can." Sirius said confidently.

They walked up the stairs and soon were standing right outside of the hospital wing.

"Sirius, you… you… can't be serious?" Remus said, pleadingly.

"Why not? MADAM POMFREY!" He yelled.

The witch in question came up to him, "What is it this time, Mr. Black?"

"Well, we had a question for you."

"Oh, and what might that be?" the nurse asked, with suspicion in her eyes.

"We were just wondering what a women looks for in a guy?" Sirius said with a smile.

"What have you done this time, Mr. Black?"

"Nothing ma'am, I just thought that…"

"Mr. Black, asking a respectable lady like me what we like is not a way to go about wooing a young woman. Now, out, all of you!" she said, in a disapproving voice.

The boys walked out, their spirit discouraged, would they ever find someone to help them?

"Way to go, Sirius, we might have gotten somewhere, but your ego had to get in the way, as usual." Remus said, as he slid down the wall outside the hospital doors.

"Sorry guys, guess that plan was a dud." Sirius said, as he leaned casually against the wall.

Draco looked around, looking for some kind of inspiration that might just suddenly give them the answer they needed.

Peter looked around, lost in space, dreaming of being better looking. He really had no particular care about if they found the answer or not, he only went along because the crowd was. Like always he was Peter the follower, not the leader.

James sat in thought, 'Who could help them… but of course!" He looked up at his disappointed friends and grinned.

"Hey guys," they all looked up at him, "I think I know someone who can actually help." he said, with a smile.

"Who?" Sirius asked.

"Just follow me." James answered, they played follow the leader one last time and landed outside the library once again.

"Uh prongs, we already asked Pince and I don't feel like asking again." Sirius said looking fearfully at the door.

"No, not Pince, you dolt, someone much more qualified." James answered, shaking his head, before heading through the doors.

He walked quickly by the librarian and started looking through the aisles until he found the one person whom he was looking for.

He found her sitting in the back corner of the library, with a book in her hands, reading. She seemed so concentrated and relaxed, that James thought twice about bothering her. That was until he had no choice as Sirius screamed out.

"You are brilliant, James, of course she'll know!" He bellowed.

"Shh." Madam Pince said from the front of the library.

Sirius gave her a sheepish grin before turning his attention back to their situation.

The girl in question had heard this commotion and was startled out of her reading.

"James, guys, Draco? What are you doing here?" Lily asked, it was common knowledge that the marauders were not library people and why was Draco with them?

"Hey Lily, umm… well, we have a bit of a dilemma that we thought you might be able to help us out with." James said, looking hopeful at Lily.

"What subject?"

"Girls."

"Umm… I don't think I am particularly comfortable with that one." Lily said blushing, for reasons even unknown to her.

"Not for us, for Harry and Ginny." He spoke, he believed that he could be truthful with her.

"Why do they need help with girls?" Lily said, confused.

"Well, not Ginny, but Harry," Draco said, "you see, Lily, those two have liked each other since… well, forever, and we have decided to try and help them out."

"Well then, what do you need me for?"

"Well, uh, you see we don't exactly know how to help them." James admitted.

Lily smiled; it was funny to see that the three most eligible bachelors in the school were standing before her, asking for help with relationships, this was just too good. She burst out laughing.

At first, they all looked confused, before they realized just how pathetic their ordeal was, then they were sullen, 'How could none of them know what a women liked?' Well, Peter was understandable, but the others had had more than enough girlfriends, they should have been able to recite it by now.

Finally, Lily's laughter subsided and she breathed in deep before speaking, "Fine, since it is for a good cause and you all seem to be in way over your heads, I will help you out."

"Thank you so much, Lily!" James said, smiling at her.

Lily blushed from this simple action and then proceeded to put her book back on the shelf behind her in a matter of distraction from the awkward moment.

"Right, so what do you need to know exactly?"

"What do women look for in a guy?" Sirius asked, hoping to get a good answer this time.

"Well, pay close attention, okay? I am about to tell you something few guys understand," Lily said, as she spoke she seemed to look right at James, as if to tell him personally to take notes.

She need not worry, he was. Everything she was about to say would most likely tell him what he was doing wrong and why she was not yet his.

"Well, first off, we usually hate it when guys get possessive of us, like 'your mine' blah blah blah."

Well there was James' first mistake!

"We like honest, respecting guys that treat us right and show us that they care. They don't need to buy expensive gifts or show off to do so either, just be themselves."

His second mistake.

"We hate it when they get too overprotective, believe it or not we can fend for ourselves and don't always need a rescuer." Lily said, looking determinedly at James now.

There does it, his third mistake!

A.N. I was really quite fond of this chapter, so I hope you liked it. And thank you to my beta Madoleine Tolkein, so if you get the chance, thank her for being there to make the story understandable. THANK YOU, Madoleine Tolkein.

Sorry for the lack of update I was just a little behind with… life. Lol.

Cheers,

Happy reading and REVIEWING!

Petroleumjellydotone. 