Lily walked into Madame Malkin's to a less than welcome sight. There was James Potter, looking distinctly uncomfortable standing on a stool in just his Snowboarding Penguin boxers. Lily couldn't help but notice he had nicely defined muscles, and even a six-pack. She mentally smacked herself for thinking of him in that way, this was after all, James Potter. But still, he did look very attractive. Argh! There she went again!

"Er, hello Evans." He said, turning slightly pink and lowering his gaze from her eyes. Lily scowled. Why did he have to call her that? She hated it when people called her by her last name. It took her back to second grade when kids would tease her saying, 'Evans? Isn't that a guy's name?'

"What are you doing here Potter?" She put on her coldest voice. She dearly regretted coming here now. Sure she needed new robes (while packing her ink had spilled all over the ones from last year), but why did she have to come here now, while Potter was here.

"Being utterly humiliated it would seem." Was he blushing? He had definitely turned pink, but that was out of character for him. Then there was the fact that he hadn't hit on her at all while she had been here. Even though they had only been standing there for a few seconds, it must have been some sort of record. Normally he greeted her by asking her out. She wondered when the sudden change in attitude had occurred.

Okay James, it's not as bad as it seems. The girl you've loved since 3rd year just walked in on you while you're half naked… Great, how could this possibly get any worse? He looked around the room quickly, scanning for Sirius, but the other boy had disappeared. Why would Sirius leave now? Normally he would jump at the chance to see him humiliated in public.

Now all he had to do was stick to the plan. Just maybe, if he didn't say anything perverted or mean he could escape this unscathed.

"Need some help dear?" a worker asked Lily.

Lily turned and smiled at her. James wondered if she had any idea the affect that smile had on him. "Yes, I need some new school robes"

"Hogwarts?" She asked. Lily nodded "Well then, just step up on the stool next to this young man and we'll get your measurements." Lily smiled again and stepped up next to James.

Maybe if he didn't open his mouth, if he didn't try to start a conversation, if he didn't try to dazzle her, he would be all right. This was his year to show her he was mature, this was his chance to prove he was better than he acted, he could do this…

"Nice boxers, Potter." Damn it! He had been doing so well! Why did she have to go and talk to him? All he wanted was for her to ignore him and let him concentrate on being normal. Most of the time she would give anything to pretend he wasn't there and she couldn't even do that now!

He needed to respond, she would expect him to. Okay, nothing perverted, just a simple thank you. Look her in the eyes, try not to pass out, don't run you hand through you hair. So many rules. Was being normal always this complicated? Smile, don't smirk or grin. He took a deep breath and, "Enjoying the view, eh Evans?" DAMN IT! He definitely had no control over what came out of his mouth!

She glared at him and he suddenly found his feet very interesting. God, he couldn't even do this right. Remus was right, he really didn't have any self-control. It wasn't his fault she was so damn pretty. He didn't want to like her. She did things to him that no normal person could ever do. Because of her, the social structure he had built around himself was threatening collapse. He, James Potter, couldn't get a girl to go out with him. She was the girl of his dreams: smart, witty, social, fun. The only problem was that she was never any of these things around him. She was always ticked off.

James rushed out the moment he paid. "Idiot, idiot, idiot!" He whacked his forehead with the heel of his hand.

"Who's an idiot?" He whirled around to be greeted by the familiar wicked grin of Sirius.

"I am. Couldn't you tell? I hit on Lily again."

Sirius sighed and slung his arm around his friend, "What happened to 'the plan'? I thought you weren't going to do that anymore. You know, make her think your head had shrunk a little"

"Yeah, I know, but I just opened my mouth and out it came."

"Why'd you say anything at all?"

"Because she said something first, and it would be rude to- wait, where were you during all this?" James looked at Sirius out of the corner of his eye.

His friend just gave him one of his trademark grins and ruffled James's hair, "I saw a rather fashionable brunette…"

"You snogged a complete stranger?" James may have had a reputation as a player, but he really hadn't had many girlfriends and he definitely didn't date girls just for a good snog, unlike a certain friend of his. Girls had just made up stories of love and tragedy, and no one believed him when he told them it wasn't true. In fact, he hadn't had a girlfriend since 3rd year, which oddly enough, was when Lily had become the only girl he ever looked twice at.

"Now, Prongs, if I had gone off for a good snog, I wouldn't be here would I? I would still be with the brunette. We just messed around a little."

James made a face, "You sicken me."