A/N: Thanks so much for those of you who have left comments! If you're reading, leave a comment or something to let me know, if you would. I love feedback!
Chapter 3:
Lily tapped her foot impatiently on the cold stone floor as she glanced irritably towards the stairway to the boys' dormitory.
"Potter! Get your behind down here now! We're late for patrol duty!" Lily waited a few more moments, but no one came down the stairs but Sirius.
"He'll be right along, Lily."
"We're late," Lily snapped.
"Lily, Lily, Lily, he's just trying to look his best for you! You know how much he enjoys your late night patrols together. They're the highlight of his day," Sirius explained with a disarming smile. "Especially when you ditch patrol and go off and snog in a dark corner," Sirius continued on with a wink. Lily glared disapprovingly in Sirius's general direction.
"Sod off," she offered.
"Tsk, tsk, Lily. Where are your manners?"
"James! Get your bloody self downstairs!" Lily sighed with exasperation and turned her eyes towards the ceiling, saying a silent prayer for her sanity. She then shook her head and turned her gaze back towards Sirius. "So, Sirius, how goes the chasing of Constance?"
"I think I'm making major progress, Lily, I really do. Yesterday, I said hello, and she said shut up," Sirius looked at Lily expectantly, an obvious look of pride upon his face.
"How is this progress?" Lily asked, though she couldn't help but feel this would be a fruitless conversation.
"Well, you see, before she always used to tell me to bugger off. Now she's telling me to shut up. You see?"
"No."
"Well, but, it's obvious," Sirius explained with a puzzled look. "Before she wanted me to go away, but now she wants me to stay and be quiet. But she wants me to stay! She wants my company!" Sirius grinned pompously.
"Well, congratulations are in order then. I'm sure that's the way to win a girl's heart. You just keep on wearing her down, Sirius. One day she'll just give up and marry you, I suppose." Sirius's smile disappeared and was replaced by a look of absolute disgust.
"Lily, don't joke about such a thing. Marriage?" Sirius shuddered. "That's just cruel. Never will I ever marry. I'm much too attractive to be tied to one woman."
"Forgive me, Sirius. I never realized that the word marriage could offend someone so deeply." Lily rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"That's quite alright. Just, please, never mention it again."
"I promise."
"Good, I'm glad that's settled then," Sirius said with a sigh of relief. He then lit up as though he'd suddenly thought of a wonderful idea. "Lily, darling, why have we never been an item?" He started to approach Lily, a grin on his lips.
"Mainly because you're scum," Lily explained casually. "James Bloody Potter! I will never speak to you again if you're not down here in ten seconds!" Sirius was directly at her side now, eyeing her like a hungry dog.
"We'd have made a good couple. If only James hadn't always been head over heels for you," Sirius stated wistfully.
"James doesn't like me any better than he likes fleas," Lily returned with annoyance.
"You really think that after all this time?" Sirius gave Lily a meaningful look. She stopped for a moment to think if she really did believe that or not. James had started to seem almost sincere lately, and there were those looks he gave her. Lily was just about to respond honestly to Sirius's inquiry when she found his lips pressed against hers in a firm kiss and his arms wrapped tightly around her. Her whole body tensed as her mind raced with a million murderous thoughts. She struggled for a minute before she managed to push him away forcefully. She turned her eyes away from him as she wiped her lips with her sleeve in pure disgust. She was just about to slap him when she heard a loud noise and a guttural grunt. James had already punched Sirius hard in the jaw.
"Ouch, mate!" Sirius reeled backwards as he put his hand to his jaw tenderly. "What the bloody—"
"Don't touch her. Again. Ever. Or I will give you more than a bruise," James snarled. His eyes were wild with rage, his whole body tensed into a defensive stance.
"I just wanted to see what it'd be like! She's always been off limits," Sirius whined.
"You're scum."
"Why does everyone think I'm scum," Sirius muttered to himself as he rubbed his jaw. Lily had stood in shocked silence this entire time, and James turned to her with concern.
"Are you alright, Lily?" His eyes shone with concern as he put a steadying hand on her shoulder.
"I'm—I'm fine, James," she responded softly. James squeezed her shoulder for a moment and then turned back to Sirius.
"I mean it, Black. Touch her again and—"
"I get the point, thank you. Move along now. You're late for patrol. Oh, and do me a favor and don't tell Constance about this. Well, unless you think it'll make her jealous and it will work to my advantage. In that case, feel free." Lily couldn't help but smile inwardly. Sirius truly hadn't meant anything by it; he was just that big a pervert.
"Come on, Lily," James put an arm around her shoulder protectively and steered her out the portrait hole. "Are you sure you're alright?"
"I'm fine, James, really. He didn't mean anything by it."
"He's a bloody pervert."
"Agreed, but nonetheless, he didn't mean any harm. He just thinks with his hormones instead of his brain. Well, if he's even got a brain, that is." James turned to look at her with disbelief as he let a laugh escape him.
"Why are you sticking up for him?"
"I don't see any reason why a perfectly good friendship should be ruined over something so trivial as Sirius's raging hormones," Lily explained soothingly.
"Maybe not, but he's still an idiot," James proclaimed. "But if it means that much to you, Lily, I'll forgive him."
"Good. Let's patrol and be done with it then, alright?" The pair walked their obligatory route around the castle checking for any students who dared to break the rules.
"Do you suppose there's anyone snogging in the Astronomy Tower tonight?" James pondered aloud.
"Merlin, I hope not," Lily answered with disgust. "I don't feel like dealing with any more of that."
"Maybe it'll be empty for us then, hmm?" James winked at Lily fervently and raised his brows.
"Maybe I'll push you off the roof like I pushed you into the lake."
"I'm just kidding. You know that, right?" James questioned, an uncharacteristically serious look etched on his face.
"About snogging me?"
"Well," James laughed lightly, "I'd certainly kiss you if you'd ever let me."
"Let me put you at ease then, that day will never come. So don't worry yourself over it."
"Lily, come on, I'm trying to be serious here," James insisted as he stopped to look at her. "I mean, I'd never do something like Sirius did to you tonight. Ever." Lily paused to look at James in curiosity. She surveyed his face, looking for some sign of insincerity. She found nothing.
"I know, James," Lily responded gently. He heaved a large sigh and started to walk once more.
"I just wanted you to know that, Lily. I respect you." Lily was overwhelmed by this sudden outpouring of sincerity.
"Shut up, Potter." James just smiled slightly.
"How do you feel about Remus?" James asked this in a casual tone, though clearly he was struggling to mask his emotions.
"Excuse me? Where did that come from?"
"Well, you two have been dancing around the subject for the past few weeks."
"How would you know? Remus and I are just—we're just friends," Lily declared, though her voice wavered a bit.
"Lily, he's head over heels in love with you, and I see the way you look at him," James paused here to draw in a deep breath. He cringed a bit before going on, "You look at him like he's going to give you the world. You two really should give it a go." It was very clear that it literally pained James to say these words to Lily. He could not even make eye contact with her. His cheeks were flushed a deep red, his eyes filled with regret.
"He's a good guy," Lily replied quietly.
"He is, Lily, he really is. And you'd be happy with him," he continued on in earnest. "You would be, wouldn't you?"
"I don't know, James."
"Well think about it, Lily. Just think about it. You two would be good for each other. He's the best Marauder by far—as far as relationships are concerned."
"I don't think that's necessarily true. You all mean well." Lily thought for a moment and then added, "Well, except Sirius." James laughed heartily.
"Lily, you're one in a million." Lily allowed herself to look at James out of the corner of her eye and was surprised to find he was gazing at her fondly.
"Don't get all soft on me, Potter!"
"Sorry, Evans," James replied, snapping to attention. "So, are you going to snog Remus?" James asked with a mischievous look.
"Shove off, Potter."
The next morning, Lily found herself sitting in rather awkward silence with Remus at breakfast. She couldn't determine whether or not James had been serious last night, and so she sat paralyzed, unable to say or do anything.
"Lily, are you alright?" Remus questioned with a concerned look. "You're rather quiet this morning."
"I, uh, I'm fine, Remus," Lily replied, quickly inhaling a mouthful of eggs to avoid further questions. James plopped himself down on the bench at Lily's side with an annoyingly loud yawn.
"Good morning, love of my life. You're looking smashing as always. You know, with your eyes and my brilliant hair, our children will be unbelievably attractive. We might have to keep them out of public for a while so as not cause a stir. No doubt the press will be all over the world's most attractive children. Shall we go start making some beautiful babies?" James questioned without stopping for breath.
"If you plan on ever having offspring, I suggest you shut up now before I'm forced to take drastic action and you lose the ability to ever father a child," Lily returned, not lifting her eyes from her eggs.
"Morning, children, have you two gotten together yet?" Sirius inquired with a look at Lily and Remus as he sat down across from them.
"Subtle," James said with a disapproving look.
"I don't have time for subtlety," he explained. "Constance, want to snog tonight?" he called out in the next breath. Constance approached the table, her blond hair bouncing behind her.
"Excuse me?"
"I said, do you want to snog tonight?" Sirius repeated unabashedly, not even blinking.
"No. There are other people I'd rather snog. James, what are you doing tonight?" She redirected her big blue eyes at James.
"I guess no one's much for subtlety around here," James muttered to himself. He then looked up and smiled politely at Constance's eager face. "I've got to wash my hair," he explained matter-of-factly. Constance shot him a skeptical look. James just shrugged in response, "my hair's my trademark. I must be well groomed at all times. Besides, Lily always tells me how much she adores my clean, gorgeously styled hair." Constance looked thoroughly annoyed at this explanation.
"I think I'll skip breakfast this morning," she said coldly.
"Me too!" Sirius scrambled to his feet and followed after her.
"That's it, mate. Girls love being pursued by desperate boys," James called after him.
"Actually, girls don't love that," Lily added with a pointed look at James. "Then again, I wouldn't expect you to know anything about what girls like. Especially considering you've never been able to keep a steady girlfriend."
"You're very spunky this morning, Evans. Lay off the pumpkin juice, it's going straight to your head."
"At least my head isn't monstrously large due to a disproportionately large ego," Lily shot back.
"Touche!" James answered with a smile. "I admit defeat."
"Well, I'll just leave you two alone then," James announced with a casual stretch of his arms. He elbowed Lily hard in the side and gave her a meaningful look before he went to join Peter for breakfast.
"What are they on about?" Remus questioned suspiciously.
"Who knows?" Lily responded, avoiding his eyes. "They act like a bunch of 10 year olds."
"Lily, I was wondering," Remus began, his voice a bit shaky. "Maybe tomorrow, when we go to Hogsmeade, do you want to get a butterbeer with me?" Remus's face had turned a painful shade of red and his eyes were trained steadily on the floor.
"Remus, don't be silly, when have we not gotten butterbeer?"
"I, err—I meant," Remus began to wring his hands nervously as his face turned an even more impossible shade of scarlet. "I meant alone. Just—just the two of us," he managed to explain. Lily's lips curled into a smile.
"Is there any reason why?" Lily inquired, trying to get Remus to make eye contact with her.
"I just—I'd like to talk with you," Remus replied.
"We're talking now," Lily pointed out with a grin. She knew she was being unnecessarily mean about this, but she couldn't help herself. She wanted to get it whatever it was out of him now if at all possible, and after her conversation with James the previous night, she had a sneaking suspicion she knew what it was all about. Or at least she hoped she knew.
"Well, I know, but," Remus stopped and sighed, not able to continue. He finally looked up at Lily helplessly.
"I'm sorry, we can talk about it tomorrow. Of course I'll have a butterbeer with you," Lily spoke apologetically. Remus's face slowly began to turn a more normal shade of flesh as he smiled broadly.
"Great, thanks." James, who had been watching this entire sequence of events and awkwardness from nearby, looked rather unsettled, but when his eyes met Lily's, he managed to shoot her one of his trademark grins. He got up and walked over to where they sat, grinning the whole way.
"Just wanted to let you both know I've started the day off right. I've already managed to deduct 30 points from Slytherin," James proclaimed proudly.
"Potter, we're not supposed to use the system to our advantage," Lily scolded.
"You know you love it, Evans," James replied with a wink.
"You're an idiot."
"Yes, but I'm your idiot, Evans."