Hello everyone! Now I know that you're all probably wondering 'isn't this story supposed to be about Lily and James?' Well it is, but I have to have one relationship lead into it. For those of you who haven't figured it out, I won't mention who. Read and enjoy!

Ch.4, Crushes and Dates

Time seemed to pass quickly. The girls hadn't gotten time for another meeting, the Marauders pranked, and Len and Remus's plant had begun to sprout flowers. They were very small buds, and weren't mature enough to accurately determine the mood of a person. Melissa had been put in the Hospital wing as a result from a teething Venomous Tentacula. Soon it was November, and the Quiditch season. Everyone was excited about the first game, Griffindor versus Slytherin. And, it was a school record, Lily and James hadn't argued for a total of one week. Nor had he asked her out. On the day of the Quiditch match, Lily, Melissa, Len and Remus walked down to the pitch together.

The game went well. That is, until time out was called by James, and the team sank to the ground. About five minutes later, the chaser came up to the four.

"Hi, Len is it? Listen, we think that someone jynxed James's broom. I was asked to see if you could do anything about it." He said.

"Sure. I'll see what I can do." Len said

As she walked over to the team, she got many stares from the audience. James handed her his broom., and a Snitch. As she held them, the Snitch tried vainly to fly away. She found that his broom had been very simply jynxed to repel the small ball. She took out her wand and muttered the counter-jynx. The Snitch automatically stopped moving. She gave James his broom back, saying it was back to normal. Then, the referee came over and she reported what had happened. She was told to go up and make an announcement as to why the game had been halted.

"Hello? Can everyone hear me? Good. Now I am sure you're all wondering why the game was halted. James's broom had been jynxed to repel the Snitch. No one was caught, but in my opinion there are suspects…( she glares at the Slytherins) anyway, the game should re-start any minute now… how do I turn this off?"

The others were laughing when she came back. She smiled sheepishly and took her seat beside Remus. The game continued, and Griffindor won by 60 points. As everyone flooded out of the stadium, the Griffindor team came up to them and shouted above the cheers of the crowd "Come on! Party in the common room!"

The party was great. Len had been pleasantly surprised when there were vegetarian dishes. She was one of the guests of honour, as she had been the one to cure James's broom. She finally left the party at ten thirty and dropped into bed with her roommates, who had also just got up.

Len had been very happy when she learned that a Hogsmead day had been planned for her upcoming birthday, which was conveniently a Saturday. She made sure that she had all her work done for that day.

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Remus glanced across the Three Broomsticks to see something that shocked him. He saw Lily, Len and Melissa. But they weren't eating alone like usual, but had a bunch of seventh year girls with them. He was also surprised to see Lily tie a small, colorful and pointed hat on her head. He then saw the barkeeper, Madame Rosemerta (mother of the other Madam Rosemerta from the HP series) placing a large chocolate cake infront of Len. The cake had seventeen little candles on it. There was a small mountain of presents beside Melissa. It was her birthday!

He watched with a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as she tried to blow out all the candles. However, many girls erupted in laughter as one would not blow out. He remembered something from his Muggle Studies class. If a person did not blow out all of their birthday candles, however many were left became the number of boyfriends/girlfriends that that person had. Len placed her head in her arms, and came up laughing and blushing as she was teased. She started to open her presents and was obviously happy to get a very large bag of Sherbert Balls from Lily and Melissa. She popped one in her mouth and she floated about five inches off the floor. It seemed that Lily had charmed them to make them more potent.

"Isn't it cute Padfoot? Moony can't take his eyes off of her…"

"Indeed it is Prongs… maybe she would like to know that bit of info?"

"Oh no you don't." Remus said.

"Well, now that we finally got you're attention, would you like to tell us what you want?" James said.

Remus blushed. They ate, and happened to leave at the same time as the birthday party was having a snowball fight. It was quite obvious that Len was the target. She was soaked. However the festivities ended when a group of Slytherins came up.

"Well, we hear it's the Mudblood's birthday. Hope it's horrible, Mudblood." Lucious Malfoy spat.

Several people fumed up. But Len just said calmly ," Sticks and stones can break my bones, but names will never hurt me." In a rhyming voice.

Several people laughed at the confused look on Malfoy's face. Then, he spat as a comeback, "So I heard about you're dear old grandma. Terrible what happened to her, really. I heard it was all because of you…"

Len paused only for a second, but it was enough to see he had hit a sore spot. But she replied, "It wasn't. "

Malfoy sneered. "Oh but it was. If you weren't alive, then she would be. How does it feel to have her death on you're shoulders? The Dark Lord wouldn't've gone after you're family if you didn't exist…"

"It wasn't my fault!" she yelled, with a fire in her eyes that the Marauders had never seen before. But it was quite obvious that Lily and Melissa had, as they started to clear people away. But Remus refused to move. He didn't know that she had another side to her. He wanted to see it.

Malfoy had recoiled slightly at the look of fire she had, but he didn't back down. He continued to taunt he until it was made quite clear she had had enough. Before he could respond, she wiped out her wand with a speed that was astonishing. She yelled something, and something came from her wand and headed to the Slytherins. Malfoy was hit first. It was a very complicated jynx, but she was the resident expert. His skin started to wrinkle and he got a hunchback. His hair gradually fell out, and his eyes drooped. This happened to all the Slytherins. It was obvious that they weren't actually aging, but it sure looked like it. And Len sent another spell at them, making their robes change colour. They were laughed out of Hogsmead, while Len had a satisfied smile on her face. She turned to the stunned Marauders and other spectators. "Anyone else want to insult my grandma?" she said, tapping her wand in her hand. Not surprisingly, no one did. Then she smiled, all hint of fire gone. "Come on Lily, Melissa, lets go to…"and she walked off.

Remus was impressed. He did like that side of her, the one that had fun and didn't worry about getting caught. Now, he was even more infatuated by her.

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Surprisingly, Len had not gotten in trouble for jynxing Malfoy. She was the hero of the school, as he had not been able to get the spell off himself and was to proud to go to Nurse Pomfrey.

One day, when Len and Lily were sitting in the library, with Remus watching her them from a distance, Melissa came over to them as she had just got a rumor update. She came over very flustered. Then, she said excitedly "I just got a rumor update! Listen, Max Edgecomb heard from Lee Chang, who heard from Greta who heard from her boyfriend who shares a dorm with the Marauders, that Len has a crusher! And guess who it is? It's Remus Lupin!" she said, not waiting for an answer.

Remus froze. Len knew. ---- that kid. He glanced at her, waiting for her to shout 'what' and go to find him to confront him. But she didn't. He watched interestedly as she blushed a cute shade of pink, and her hand rose to her mouth. Instead of angrily, she spoke softly "What?" Was it possible that she felt the same way for him?

Melissa repeated what she said. Lily started teasing Len. Len continued to blush and he looked away quickly as she looked at him. But then Lily got her attention and she looked away. Remus took that opportunity to slip out of the library. It would be awkward tonight when they reported things about the plant.

Remus stalked up to the dorm and found Greta's boyfriend. He glared at him and was about to hex him into oblivion when he thought that if he was going to have any chance with her, he would have to try not to get into trouble. So he saved his complaints 'till the others returned. Just as he was thinking this though, James and Sirius walked through the portrait hole.

"That was so funny!"

"Yeah, did you see the look on his face?"

Remus walked forward and said "Guys, she knows."

"Who knows what Moony?" James said, still laughing.

"Len! She knows I have a crush on her!"

They sobered up immediately. "What? But you didn't tell her did you?"

"No. She found out through the rumor mill. But what do I do?" Remus said.

"One of two things. 1, ask her out. And 2, wait and see if because it's a rumor, she may not believe it." James advised.

"I don't know. We have to report on the plant today, so I will definitely see her again. I'll think about it." Remus replied.

The Marauders went down to dinner, and took their regular seats around the middle of the table. The girls sat not far away, but closer to the front. Then Dumbledore stood, signaling silence.

"Before we begin eating, I have an announcement to make. Due to the abnormally large number of students going home for the holidays, the Christmas Ball will be held earlier than usual. It will be in two weeks, on the second last day of term. Age limit will be…4th year and up. Of course there will be activities for the younger students as well. The Head Boy and Girl as well as all the Prefects must be present. Thank you, you may eat."

As food appeared, the whispers started. Remus just thought. What if he asked Len to the ball? What would she say?

Just as he was thinking this however, Len was mentally deciding what she would say if Remus did ask her.

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Lily looked curiously at Len. She was very quiet, more than usual for meal times. Then, she realized that she was probably thinking about the ball. Then, Len excused herself, saying that she needed to mail a letter. Lily watched as Remus watched her leave. He did like her. Maybe, she liked him too.

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Len headed up to the owlery. It was one of her favourite places, because, as you can well imagine, she has a special sort of relationship with owls. She called down an owl and handed it the letter to her mother. It clamped it in its beak, and flew out the window. Len stayed in the room for a while, but when she opened the door to leave, she came face-to-face with Remus Lupin.

"Oh…hi Remus."

"Um…hi Len. What are you doing here?" Remus asked. It was plain that he was very nervous.

"Just mailing a letter to my mom. She likes updates, you know. Even if she doesn't understand them. What about you?" Len replied.

"Just mailing a letter." He replied.

"Oh. Well, bye." Len said as she turned to leave.

Once she was just down the hall, he realized that he had just missed a perfect chance to ask her to the Ball when her friends weren't around. He turned to see her just about to turn the corner. He quickly called after her, "Oi! Len!"

She turned around, "What?"

"Er…Do you…want…togototheballwithme?

"I'm sorry, I didn't hear you. What did you say?" Len said as she jogged over.

"Er… do you want to go to the ball with me?" Remus asked, while scratching the back of his neck.

To his big surprise, she said, "I thought you'd never ask." With a smile.

Remus was startled. "Re-really?" he stuttered.

If possible, she smiled even bigger. "Yep. Did you really think I'd say no?"

"Well, great then. I'll pick you up at say…seven forty five?" Remus asked, still wondering if he heard right.

"Okey-dokey. See you around." And with a wave, she left.

Hope you like the chapie!Next one in a few minutes. Don't forget to R&R! Please!