A/N: This is a revised edition, because a reviewer made a good point on my characterization. Thanks to all my wonderful reviewers!

Disclaimer: I own nothing, please don't sue me!

Happy Reading!


Way Two: Flatter her – even if you don't mean it, or you can't think of anything to say

After James's rather embarrassing episode with Lily, he laid low for a while, waiting for the opportune moment to set the next step into action. Sirius, however, did not seem all that keen on waiting. He would give James a good hard poke in the ribs if Lily walked by, and was always insisting that James hurry.

"You don't want her to find another bloke, do you?" Sirius said warningly.

"Don't be thick. Of course I don't," James replied grumpily.

Lily had had boyfriends before, of course, but never anything incredibly serious. The very thought of Lily being taken by another guy got James in a bad mood, and even Sirius didn't push it at these times.

"Well, I'm just saying," he said, putting his hands in his cloak and hunching his shoulders.

James, Sirius, and Remus were taking the windy stroll to Hogsmeade village. Snow had fallen the previous night, and so Remus was in the lead, blasting snow drifts out of the way with his wand. The village trip was enormously unpopular on this day because of the cold, but a few loyal customers were making their way into town to get a warm drink or buy something amusing. Christmas break was coming upon them soon, and the three of them had neglected to do their shopping up until this point.

Finally, the threesome entered The Three Broomsticks, lowered their hoods, and grabbed a spot at an empty booth. While Sirius went up to get the drinks, Remus leaned across the table so that his head was close to James's, and spoke quietly.

"You know, Prongs, I'm not sure if this is such a good idea."

"What's not a good idea?" James inquired, though he knew well that Remus was talking about.

"I mean that ridiculous list. You know that the steps won't work. I think Sirius is just pulling your leg on this one."

"Or he thinks they'll really work." James replied.

"Yes, and in that case, Sirius is just as insensitive to women as everyone thinks." Remus said, sitting back in his booth and groaning.

The full moon was in just a few days, and James could tell that Remus was not exactly excited about it.

James wanted to comment further, but at that moment, Sirius returned with three foaming butterbeers.

"Drink up, boys," he said, "It's going to be a cold walk home."

"Cheers!" James said, and the three of them clinked their mugs together and drank deeply.

Later that night, James was sitting in the common room, lighting off some Fillibuster's Fireworks to the applause of the crowd. After the last of the sparks had died down and the audience cleared, James noticed Lily sitting by herself in the corner, reading.

The second step came to mind at that point, so he went over slowly and sat down next to her. She looked up, and when she saw who it was, put the book down on her lap and looked at him curiously.

"Hello James, long time to chat," she said slyly.

James felt the back of his neck prickle. He loved it when she called him James. Maybe she liked it if he did the same.

"Yes, Lily, long time no chat," he replied, but didn't see any reaction from her at all.

"I presume you didn't come here to interrupt my reading now, did you?" she asked him.

Merlin thought James, she's flirting with me! Act cool, use the step…

"Well, I just wanted to say that, err…" James said awkwardly, "that your shoes are very nice."

James saw the slightest twitch of a grin in the corners of Lily's mouth.

"And, I also thought that your performance in transfiguration was quite the spectacle!" James said, before realizing that she had accidentally blown up her desk in today's lesson.

Lily did not suppress her frown.

"Oh, so you're making fun of me now, are you?" she said, obviously offended.

"No! no that's not what I was saying!" James said, trying desperately to keep his cool.

Unfortunately, Sirius, who had been listening the whole time, chose this moment to approach. He put an arm around James's shoulder and smiled smugly.

He said in his cool voice, "What James really wanted to say was that your hair was looking exceptionally better than before today."

Lily raised an eyebrow and placed her book aside.

She sighed, apparently trying to control her temper, "It looks the same as it did earlier today, Black,"

"No it doesn't," Sirius said quickly.

James glared at his friend.

"What he wants to say is that it was a little on the fluffy side today –" James started.

"Yeah!" Sirius cut in.

"And it looks loads better now," James said before hastily adding at the look on Lily's face, "Not – not that it doesn't look good all the time. I mean, err…"

"James wants to date you, Evans," Sirius said, "just go out with him. Please?"

Sirius gave the puppy face, much to James's horror.

Lily stood up.

"You two are the most insensitive prats I've ever met, and I wouldn't go out with Potter if he asked me to my face!"

"Go out with me, Evans, you know you want to!" James said coolly.

"No!" she exclaimed, and James clasped his hands together in plea.

Lily merely turned and stormed off, leaving a confused Sirius and a flustered James behind. James gave Sirius a hard punch in the arm.

"Agh! I am so desperate!" he yelled, and stomped up the stairs.

James stormed into the dormitory and slammed the door. Remus was sitting on the bed, doing some homework. At the sight of his angry friend, he closed his book and looked over at James with a curious, concerned look on his face.

"What's up, mate?" he asked James.

"Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" James yelled, hitting his head against the wall.

Remus scrambled off of the bed and pried his friend away from the wall with surprising strength.

"Chill out, Prongs! You just need time! If there's any guy that can manage to pull this whole datingLily thing off, it's you. Besides, you seem to be the only one she shows interest in," Remus said, shaking James's shoulders.

James hung his head.

"You're right. I've gotta take more time into thinking about these steps."

"Exactly!" Remus said, happy that he had gotten his point.

"I need more time to plan out the next step before I take it!" James said, suddenly back to being his confident self.

Remus hung his head.

"I was thinking more along the lines of: be yourself.," Remus said softly, but he knew that James wouldn't listen once his mind was made up.


A/N: I know it was short, but i have writer's block problems. Reviews are appreciated. Thanks to all!