Chapter 16- Making her Move

A/N: I own nothing.

Lily's plan to make Lauren not want to go to the dance with James wasn't going well.

There was only 3 days left until Christmas and so far she had achieved nothing.

For the past 4 days, Lily had been cornering Lauren and telling her how awful James was and that she shouldn't go to the dance with him.

"You're just saying that because you hate him." Lauren would say before storming off.

Lily had even tried to stage a loud conversation with Jordan(who, after gloating about being right that Lily liked James for 20 minutes, had agreed to help her friend in her time of need) about how James never made a commitment and after the dance, James would probably find a new girlfriend and leave Lauren in the dust.

Lauren had looked at the two girls suspiciously before leaving the great hall.

"I don't get it," Lily said that night in the common room, after another day filled with failed attempts at getting Lauren to change her mind, "how is she still going with him?"

"Lily don't worry about it," Jordan told her, "We'll think of something great that will convince her.

"I don't even know why I'm doing this" Lily said, staring across the common room at Lauren and James who were sitting with their heads together, James's left arm around Laurens shoulders.

"Because you like James. And I know he likes you. Everyone knows he likes you." Jordan replied.

Lily shrugged, "I guess."

"Come on Lily don't give up" Jordan said.

Lily looked at her friend, "Why? It's not going to work. Maybe I should just take my dress back to Madam Marlas and spend Christmas at home with Petunia and her walrus she calls a boyfriend" Lily snapped.

"Lily be serious. You can't go home." Jordan replied.

Lily sighed, ripping her eyes away from James and Lauren, "I know I cant. It just seems so hopeless"

"If you have that attitude it will be" Jordan told Lily.

Lily rolled her eyes, "I'm going to bed."

"Night." Jordan said.

Lily stood up and walked up the stairs to her dorm. Once she got to her room, she pushed the door open and saw Megan sitting on her bed writing what looked like a novel.

"What are you doing Megan?" Lily asked, walking over to her four poster.

"Writing a letter to my family" Megan said dropping her quill.

"Oh." Lily said.

"Yup. I just finished. It's a bit longer then I planned but that's ok." Megan said. "I'm going to send it tomorrow with the christmas presents"

"Cool." Lily replied.

Megan picked up the letter, rolled it up, and placed it on her bedside table.

"So," Megan asked sitting down on her bed again, "how'd it go today?"

"How'd what go?" Lily asked as she reached into her trunk for her pajamas.

"Did you convince Lauren not to go to the dance with James?" Megan asked.

Lily slammed her trunk shut, "No."

"Oh. Sorry." Megan said."I'm sure you'll convince her though."

"Thanks." Lily said, pulling the curtains around her four poster and tried to fall asleep.

A few minutes later she heard the door close, indicating that Megan had went downstairs to the common room.

-----------------

Overnight, Lily had had a brainwave.

She had thought of an idea that might convince Lauren not to go to the dance with James.

She wasn't sure if it would work, but it was worth a try. And with two days left until Christmas, she was desperate for an idea.

Lily dressed quickly and headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast. Once she got to the hall, she looked up and down the Gryffindor table for Lauren. Quickly realizing that she wasn't down yet, Lily took a seat at the table and took a couple pieces of toast and began to put butter on them.

"Morning Evans" a cheery voice called.

Lily turned around and saw James Potter and Sirius walking towards her.

"Morning Potter" Lily spat, turnign back to her toast.

"Whoa. No need to be so harsh Evans" James smiled, taking a seat next to her.

Lily rolled her eyes, "What do you want?"

"I dont want anything." James said, grabbing a piece of toast and taking a bite.

Lily rolled her eyes again and turned her attention back to her toast. A few minutes later, Jordan and Megan entered the hall.

"Morning Lily" Jordan said, taking hte seat on the other side of Lily, Megan, sitting next to Jordan.

"Morning" Lily said.

"So do you have any ideas to get Lau-" Jordan started.

"Shhhh" Lily snapped at Jordan.

"What?" Jordan asked, then her eyes, growing big as she did, spotted James looking at her. "Ooohhh."

"I have an idea. I dont know if it will work though" Lily whispered.

"Well it's worth a shot. Do you need help?" Jordan asked.

"No. Thanks though." Lily said getting up and leaving the hall.

As she was walking up the stairs, Lauren was walking down towards the hall.

Let's get this over with. Lily thought. "Hey Lauren!"

Lauren, who had been looking down at her feet as she walked, snapped her head up and looked Lily in the face. Though Lauren was a several inches shorter than Lily, the two girls stood at the same height, with the help of a few stairs between them.

"Oh, hi Lily. What do you want?" Lauren asked.

"I just wanted to talk" Lily said innocently.

Lauren rolled her eyes, "about James right? Why dont you give it up?"

"I just want to warn you about something." Lily told Lauren.

Lauren raised her eyebrows. "Warn me? Why? You dont even like me."

"That's not true" Lily said, in what she hoped was a hurt voice.

Lauren laughed. "It's not true huh? Then why did you put me and my friends in detention last year?"

"Because you were out after hours." Lily told the sixth year.

"So were you" Lauren shot back.

"But I was a prefect. It was my job to be out patrolling." Lily said.

"Whatever. So, you wanted to warn me about what?" Lauren asked crossing her arms.

"I wanted to warn you about James's mother." Lily said.

"What?" Lauren asked "what about her?"

"She has this thing where whenever James gets a new girlfriend, she thinks you're going to get married."

"So?" Lauren said.

"So you're ready to get married at 16?" Lily asked Lauren.

"Well I'm sure if I tell her I'm not ready to get married until after I'm out of school, she'll understand." Lauren reasoned.

Lily shook her head, "I dont think so. I remember when Abagail told her that. Such a shame."

"Whats a shame?" Lauren asked, a slight tinge of worry in her voice.

"Do you remember Abagail?" Lily asked.

"The one who moved to France this past summer?" Lauren asked.

"Yup. She went out with James in the 4th year. James took her to meet her parents over the summer holidays and she made Abagail look at wedding dresses." Lily explained.

"So?"

"Well, Abagail told her that she wasn't ready to get married and she cursed her." Lily lied.

Lauren stared at Lily, "Are you for real?"

"Would I lie?" Lily asked sweetly.

"Yes you would. Well you know what? I dont believe you." Lauren said. And with that, Lauren side stepped Lily, and continued down the stairs and entered the great hall.

Damn. Lily thought as she headed back up to Gryffindor tower.

A/N: Here's the next chapter. I'm sorry it's not that good. I definitley rushed on this chapter. The next two will be better. This actually isn't what I was going to do but I thought this might make it a little more interesting. THere's only two chapters left and I dont know if I'm going to finish before I start school on tuesday. I'm going to try though. But I want the last two chapters to be good and I dont want to rush. I'm sorry I haven't updated. Volleyball has kept me soooo busy. Anyway, thanks to my 11 reviewers(an all time high for me) and keep reviewing. You know the drill. 1234.

ooo00o0

Emma