disclaimer: the world and (most) characters herein belong to J.K. Rowling, I'm just borrowing them.

Chapter Twelve

She should have said yes.

It took her three days to realize it, but there it was: the obvious solution to this whole mess. If it hadn't hit over the head so hard, she would have hexed herself in retribution for not having realized it sooner.

Now that she finally had though, she was not about to waste any more time.

Lily made her way around the bustling common room. Weaving in between occupied chairs, tables, and couches, and standing clusters of fellow house-mates, she finally spotted the object of her search. He was occupying one of the squishy armchairs by the fireplace, surrounded by the usual lot, but concentrated on whatever it was he was scribbling onto a piece of parchment.

Homework perhaps? She thought wryly as she approached. She came to a stop by his chair. No. Quidditch plays.

"Can I have a quick word?" Lily asked.

"Speedy." It was Black who responded, flipping a page of his - Muggle motorbike magazine?

"Expeditious," said Remus.

Peter glanced between the two uncertainly.

"James?" Lily prompted, ignoring all of them.

"Swift," James replied, without looking up.

"James…"

"Hold on."

She waited while he cleared his lap of its parchment collection of similarly doodled Quidditch plays, before standing, and then beckoned him into a quiet corner of the common room away from prying ears.

Facing each other, James gave her an expectant look.

"Yes."

His eyebrows shot up in surprise, and then furrowed in uncertainty.

"Sorry?"

"Yes, I'll go out with you."

Understanding dawned, and then was quickly wiped away by something akin to rueful resignation.

"No."

Lily stared at him.

"No?" she repeated, disbelieving. "What does that mean?"

"I reckoned you were familiar with the term," he replied. "It's a word one uses to refuse or deny a question or request."

"I know. I just wasn't aware you did," she quipped snidely.

"Or," he added. "When one wishes to decline a rubbish excuse of an acceptance by another to a previous offer."

"Rubbish excuse? - What? You want an apology or something? A you were right? Fine." She squared her shoulders. "I'm sorry. You were right. I've seen the error of my ways. You've convinced me. Yes, I will go out with you. There. Happy?" she demanded.

"I'd be happier with a little less sarcasm and a bit more sincerity," he replied evenly. "Although, I did like the 'you were right' bit."

"Yes, I imagine you don't hear that often. Look," she said firmly, "you wanted me to yes and now I have. I said it, so-"

"Was I not," he interrupted. "clear enough about this matter the last time? Shall I give it another go?"

He took a step forward.

"Don't you dare!"

Lily jumped backwards, reaching for her wand.

"You know," he mused, taking another step forward. "You never did finish telling me what it was you were going to do to me."

"One more step and I'll demonstrate," she promised, brandishing her wand.

He smirked but halted his advance.

She didn't lower her wand.

"Why are you so determined I couldn't possibly want to go out with you?" he asked, sobering and quickly changing tack.

"Why are you so determined I could possibly want to go out with you?" she shot back.

"I happen to be an excellent date," he said drawing himself up. "Which, I plan to prove to you when you sincerely accept my offer."

"Or, instead of waiting for hell to freeze over, you could just accept the acceptance I already gave you," she suggested.

"I could."

"But you won't?"

"No."

Her hand, the one clutching her wand, itched.

"Now you answer my question. Why are you sure I couldn't want to go out with you?"

"Because I'm not thick! Or gullible. Or naïve, or whatever-it-is you reckon I am-"

"Bloody-minded…"

"You expect me to believe," she continued, ignoring him. "that after six years of pranks, and insults, and being a complete arse-"

"We're back to this again, are we?"

"-you just woke up one morning with the sudden urge to take me out?"

"Of course, we can't really be back to something if we never left it in the first place…"

"You're impossible!" Lily snapped, throwing her arms up. He wasn't even listening.

"Talking to yourself?" He quipped mildly.

She scowled at him.

"I'm leaving now."

"Wait." He caught her arm. "Think about this time, will you? Please." He implored.

"Think about what?"

"Keeping an open mind-"

"I have an open mind!"

She tried to wrench her arm free but he held fast.

"Not. About. Me."

"For good reasons, too."

He sighed.

"This isn't going to work unless you move on from all of that. You can't throw the past in my face for-"

"The past!" Lily let out humorless laugh. "Six bloody weeks ago you mean?"

James dropped her arm.

"You're right. You are impossible."

"Talking to yourself?" she mocked, turning her back on him and marching away before he could catch hold of her again.

xxx

James collapsed heavily back into the armchair he'd vacated.

"Have a nice chat?" asked Sirius.

"Exceptionally," intoned James flatly.

"Looked that way."

James stared broodingly into fireplace at the crackling flames.

Talking to yourself?

He might as well be for all the listening she was doing.

It was like talking to a bloody brick wall. Except the wall talked back.

And was exceptionally stubborn.

And an all-around pain in the arse.

And, quite honestly, swiftly ridding him of whatever hope he had.

xxx

"I've been thinking."

Lily could think of several things to say in response to this announcement, but bit her tongue as James slid into the seat across from the table she'd snagged in the corner of the Gryffindor common room.

"If you can manage to keep from flying off the handle, I'll tell you what this has all been about."

Reluctantly intrigued, Lily placed down the quill she'd been using to ink an essay for Potions.

"Go on than," she said looking up at him.

"I'll have your wand first," he said, and held out his hand for it.

Lily rose an eyebrow.

"You'll get it back," he reassured.

"Scared?" she asked with some amusement. And also a bit pleased by the idea.

"Can't be too careful I always say," he replied.

"Do you?"

"Wand."

After a moment's deliberation, Lily grudgingly surrendered and James promptly pocketed it. Crossing his arms on the table, he leant forward, looking more serious than she had ever seen him, putting her instantly on edge. If the next words out of his mouth were "A wizard, a vampire, and a troll walk into a pub" she was going to hit him. Hard. Right in the nose.

But that wasn't what he said at all.

"I made a bet I could get you to fall in love with me."

She blinked.

"That's the most absurd thing I've ever heard."

"It's the truth," he said.

"I don't doubt it."

They stared at each other across the table. James seemed to be waiting for a shoe to drop but Lily had none. She had always suspected he had had an ulterior motive. Perhaps not this exact one per se, but still it came as of no shock to her. If anything, she found it perplexing.

"What in the name of Merlin possessed you to go and do something like that? Never mind, stupid question," she said before James could respond. "So, what?" she asked, "You figured you would just turn on the charm and I'd fall head over heels? Despite the fact that you've been an arse to me for the past six years? You reckoned I'd leap at the chance to date you because...what? You're you? And I must be just that desperate?"

His silence spoke for itself.

"Merlin, you really reckoned you'd have that easy a go of it, didn't you?" She scoffed scornfully, "You're an idiot."

"I prefer the term optimistic," he replied evenly.

"And had you been successful with that idiotic plan, what was to be your winnings?"

James grimaced.

"A Comet 220," he all but muttered.

"Isn't that model from about ten years ago?" she frowned.

"Five," James corrected flatly.

"Well," said Lily, "As I have not lost my self respect, or suffered any head injuries and therefore have managed to refrain from falling in love with you, what do you lose? Other than the bragging rights of winning, an ego stroke and the joy of making a fool of me, of course," she added.

"My broomstick."

"An eye for an eye," Lily mocked. She considered James carefully. "Why are you telling me all this?" she asked.

"I need your help." He said.

Now this was a shock.

"Help?" she echoed. "You need my help? How?" she demanded.

"Go out with me. Act like you're head-over-heels in love with me for a few weeks and then -" James cut himself off as Lily stood abruptly. "I cannot lose this, Evans," he said, imploring her to understand the gravity of the situation at hand she was evidently missing.

"Chin up, Potter," she said, beginning to pack up her belongings, "I do believe your parents can afford to buy you a new broomstick. And I reckon there's enough padding in that big head of yours to sustain a blow. Now: I'll have my wand back and be on my way..." She shouldered her bag and stuck out her hand expectantly, but James made no moves for the pocket her wand was tucked in. Instead, he settled back into his chair and looked up at her coolly.

"You are planning to pursue a career as an Auror after graduation, aren't you?" he said.

"So?" she demanded, thrown by this abrupt switch of topic.

"Do you know how many Aurors are witches? How many Aurors do you reckon are Muggle-borns?" He was speaking in a tone she didn't care for.

"I don't know the exact numbers," she replied testily, "but I'm aware it's a low one."

"There are thirteen witches and eight Muggleborns, out of a hundred and seventy-six Aurors," he continued in that same infuriating tone.

"Your point?"

"That was it."

"Well thanks for clearing that up, very informative of you. Now, my wand."

James ignored her order.

"You're at a disadvantage."

"Yes, however if you handed it over I wouldn't be," she snapped.

"You've already got two strikes against you before the start," James went on, "Which means you're going to need a leg-up. I've got Ministry connections -"

"No."

Lily slapped her hand down on the table.

"My parents could put in a good word for you-"

"A monetary word," she shot back.

"A favorable one," he corrected.

"And why would they do that?" she demanded. "They don't know me."

"But they know me, and I know you," he replied looking satisfied.

"No," she said straightening, "You don't." And for the second time in two days, left with the last word.

xxx

Lily was relieved to find her dormitory room empty upon entering. Settling into bed and determinedly casting all thoughts of James Potter from her mind (permanently), she fished the now crumpled Potions essay from her bag and had just set quill to parchment when a tentative knock sounded at the door.

That had better not be the speak of the devil, she scowled jumping up. Of course, boys couldn't travel up the girls staircase but she would not put it past him to know how to manage it.

It was not him she saw upon opening the door however, it was a girl. Possibly a third year judging by the looks of her.

"I'm looking for Lily Evans?" the girl said.

"You've found her."

"James Potter" - at this a red blush overtook the girls face - "asked me to give you this."

She held out Lily's wand.

"Thank you." Lily accepted her wand but the girl made no move to leave. "Yes?" she prompted raising an eyebrow questioningly.

"You know James Potter?" the girl asked haltingly.

"Unfortunately." Lily replied flatly.

The girl faltered. This was not obviously the response she had been expecting. She floundered for a moment and then seemed to take that as her cue to leave.

Lily went to close the door but then had a second thought.

"He's not worth it you know. If he asks you for a favor again, tell him to shove it. You'll be better off for it, trust me."

Then she closed the door, leaving the girl goggling outside it.

this was a twist i had not planned but decided to just go with when it presented itself.

thank you to everyone who has reviewed, favorited, followed and read! i hope you like it and will continue to do so.

that's all for now folks.

- GoddessoftheMaan

updated: 6/22/16