"All right, so what have you come up with to get James and Lily together?" Sirus asked. Tristan narrowed her eyes.
"This was you're idea. Getting those two together is mostly your job." He sighed and nodded.
"I didn't think that you'd want to leave them to my tender mercy's but, if you insist. Now I think that we should lock them together in a closet and refuse to let them out until-" Tristan leaned forward.
"Don't even think about that, Black. Something subtle." He looked slightly hurt.
"Well, if you think you know so much more than me, give me a suggestion." She glared at him. Her blue eyes seemed to be studying him. I can't hit him. Remember, we're on a truce of sorts, well I am allowed to hit him, but. Oh hell, I want to hurt the stupid prat.
"Let's not star this, Black. I think we should first ascertain their current feelings about each other." Sirius pouted slightly, but then seemed to be thinking it over.
"It's not moving nearly as fast as I'd like," he caught the look on her face and finished hastily, "but I guess that would be a good place to start. I suppose I'll talk to Pro-James and you can talk to Evans." She raised her eyebrows slightly. She then gave him a slight smirk.
"Yes, you can ask James how he feels, and then you can talk to Lily while I talk to James." Sirius nodded slowly.
"She won't tell me anything though." Tristan shrugged, a little frustrated.
"She will. Wouldn't blame her though, you're never serious." He got a gleam in his eye.
"Yes I am, I'm Sirius. That's me." He stopped and looked at Tristan. Her eyes had narrowed.
"I swear Black, I'm this close to hitting you, don't push me." He sighed. He then gave a slight smile.
"I never thought that I'd listen to a girl that threatened to hit me." She shrugged.
"What can I say?" She pursed her lips for a moment. She seemed to be thinking about something.
"All right Black, it's settled." He nodded, coldly. Their slight banter had been replaced by the icy dislike that they retained for each other.
"So Lily, how was Hogsmeade?" Tristan asked dully, trying to keep her voice disinterested.
"It was good. James and Remus were having butterbeer drinking contestants." She glanced over at Cris and the girls started to laugh. Tristan raised her eyebrows slightly.
"How was your detention with Black?" Tristan started to laugh. She didn't need to lie about this.
"Terrible. Half the time I was itching to hit him. The bloke breaks into the cabinet and gets our wands so we can use them. We clean the place up, remain civil to each other for about five minutes and then he goes on to prank planning. I summoned my homework.." Lily started to laugh in addition to Cris.
"Well, you didn't commit an act of violence, so that's a positive step." Tristan nodded slowly. She looked thoughtful about something. She didn't seem to notice that Alia was missing from the group.
"Lily, I've been meaning to ask you. What is the deal with you and Potter, and don't get all defensive on me. I was just curious. I appreciate the bloke after spending time with Black."
"We get on well. We're friends of sorts, he's still a stupid prat… but he isn't nearly as bad as he once was. I do believe that he's changed a bit." Lily laughed and shifted a little uncomfortably. Tristan knew that this was the time to tactfully probe.
"Do you reckon he still wants you to go out with him?" Lily's face immediately changed.
"Of course not. We're just friends now. Besides there's nothing marvelous about me." Tristan shook her head, but she was smiling a little.
"Trust me, you are extraordinary. So what about you and Remus, Cris or should I say Talia?" Cris shrugged her shoulders and looked uncomfortable. Tristan knew that this was the time to stop questioning Lily.
"We're just friends. Honestly, when will you get that through your heads? We don't feel like that… About each other. We're not like Lily and James, we're not in denial." Lily huffed indignantly and was about to protest when Alia appeared from the shadows in hysterics.
"You know, ironically enough I do believe you and Remus aren't in love." She started to laugh again. "After all, why would two individuals in love not get together when they can and there's absolutely nothing holding them back. After all, that would be completely ludicrous." She started to giggle. She then stopped abruptly. Her voice was uneven.
"I'm going to bed." She promptly stripped up the stairs. The three girls exchanged glances.
"What's wrong with her? She seemed, off." Tristan sighed. Her face had no visible emotion.
"Shit." The girls stared at her, waiting for her to elaborate. She didn't say anything. She stood and left.
Alia barely talked to any of them. All of Alia's free time was spent with her new boyfriend, Andre Jacobsen. Tristan felt a darkness ebbing inside of her. She had been serving detentions with Sirius. The Two of them hadn't been doing to badly. They had slowly started to hint to James and Lily. That was the best she thought that could be done for now.
Tristan sat quietly. The ball was coming up. It would be there in a little less than a week. She had already been 'told' she was attending by Malfoy. She knew that she'd probably go with him as well. She sighed. She was walking to detention. Her and Sirius had the whole detention system down to a science.
"So James is still head over heels for Lily?" Tristan inquired while she seated herself cross-legged on the floor.
"Yup. My mate's still obsessed with the girl. I can't see why but he still does? Evans?"
"She doesn't admit to it, but she is definitely warmed up to him. If he doesn't screw up and revert to his old ways he definitely has a chance."
"So what do we do to get the two of them together? No, don't answer. I know it was my idea."
Tristan looked thoughtful. She brushed her bangs away from her eyes. He caught a glimpse of the dark blue orbs.
"I'm currently at a loss, Black. I need to go. Can you get me out of here?" He looked at her in surprise and also relief. Tonight was a full moon and he was going to have to get to Moony and Prongs. Her leaving made it easier, but he was curious.
"Going to meet that Ravenclaw for a good snog?" He mocked. She narrowed her eyes.
"I don't recall you being a mother." His eyes hardened. He knew that the barb was directed about his mother. He felt anger course through his veins. He tried not to say anything he would regret. His temper got the better of him.
"Yeah well, I like to be curious about my children." Her eyes hardened.
"Get us out of here, now!" He nodded coldly.
James stumbled back from his midnight excursion. Moony had been particularly difficult to control tonight. He had gotten in a few good scratches on his back, as well as Sirius'. He crept through the common room and was surprised to see Lily passed out on the couch. He looked at her beautiful face. He sighed and slid her easily into his arms and carried her to her room and tucked her in.
"Goodnight Lily.' He bent over and kissed her forehead. He stumbled back to his room and flopped onto the bed. He sighed and fell asleep. He was awoken by a figure with red hair shaking him.
"James! James! James! You have to get up. You're missing breakfast." He rolled over.
"Go away. I don't care about food." She started to laugh.
"James… Um… Snape is running through the Great Hall proclaiming his love for Sirius." James sat up immediately. He looked disoriented. Lily laughed harder.
"Hurry up, you'll miss breakfast." He widened his eyes and bolted out of bed.
Lily sat next to James at breakfast. She looked nervous about something. Tristan gave an encouraging glance to Sirius.
"So, Liliy-kins what's bothering you?" She glared and Tristan rolled her eyes.
"It's Lily. I'm just nervous about the… Tristan, will you help me study for Transfiguration?" Tristan immediately shook her head and shot Sirius a look.
"I can't Lily, sorry. Maybe you could ask Black, he doesn't seem to be bad at Transfiguring things." She was obviously referring to when he transfigured her homework into a rabbit.
"I can't either. You should ask James though, he's absolutely brilliant at Transfiguration." He glanced at Tristan and gave a slight nod. Lily shifted uncomfortably. She was torn between her pride of not wanting to accept help and to get an outstanding mark on her test. The latter won over. She stood to leave.
"James, will you help me study tonight?" She looked at him innocently. He stared at her in shock. He was incapable of speech. He just nodded. He wore a stupid smile on his face for the rest of the day.
"Lily, just relax. This is just practice." Lily stared at James, as if just remembering that he was there to help her. She bit her lip.
"I'm sorry. I'm just not really that good at Transfiguration. I'm better at charms." He shook his head.
"Don't tell yourself that. You're a brilliant witch. You're also very smart, you just tense. Now try again." She tried the spell again and let out a little frustrated breath. James sighed.
"Come here," She looked at him skeptically, he motioned to her and she walked slowly towards him. "Now, just relax." He slid one arm around her waist and his other arm held her arm and her hand. She sighed and melted into him.
"Now just relax and say the incantation. See it happening." She nodded slowly and said the spell again. She squealed in delight and jumped a little. She flung her arms around his neck.
"Oh it worked. Thank you, James." She smiled. He watched her in awe. Before he could stop himself he spoke.
"Will you be my date to the ball? As friends of course." She looked at him intently. It was as if she was trying to find the answer to some elaborate question. Then she walked forward and kissed him on the cheek.
"I'd love to." She turned and walked away, presumably to the library or maybe the common room to talk to the girls. They had been practicing in an empty classroom. He brought his hand to the spot where she had kissed his cheek. He grinned.
A/N Sorry for the really bad and short chapter. I have exams. Probably won't update for a little while. PLEASE REVIEW. To everyone who has been reviewing thanks so much!