A/N: THC/The Houses Competition

House: Hufflepuff

Class: Charms

Story: Standard

Prompt(s): [Action] Being Chased and [Weather] Sunny Day

Word Count: 1,678 before the A/N

All he wanted was to escape the castle for a while. James Potter was stuck inside the library with the kid he was tutoring in Transfiguration. James had opened the window a crack to allow the warm summer air in. He should have been down in the grounds with his friends and more importantly, his girlfriend, Lily Evans. He had promised her that he would take her on a date - what that meant was a walk around the Black Lake and the edge of the Forbidden Forest. But at the last moment, James had received a message saying that the fifth year Hufflepuff he was tutoring was no longer doing Quidditch practice as their Captain had fallen sick.

"Lils, I'm so sorry, I've got to break our date. You remember that fifth year I've been tutoring? Well I thought he couldn't do a lesson today due to Quidditch practice, but apparently Bates is unwell and in the hospital wing. Do you mind?"

Lily's face had fallen, but she knew that his tutoring was important to him and had told him to go, albeit reluctantly.

By the time he saw her again, it was dinnertime in the Great Hall.

"How did Osiris get on with his lesson today?" Lily asked as she served herself a slice of apple pie that had just appeared before her.

"He is a complete dunderhead, Lils. He can't grasp even the most simplistic of spells. He is never going to pass his OWLs, I'm sorry to say. His parents are just going to have to respect the fact that he just doesn't have what it takes to be an Auror," James said with a sigh.

"Oh dear, that bad?" exclaimed Lily as she tucked a strand of her dark red hair behind her ear.

Before he could say anymore, Sirius and Marlene plopped down beside them.

"And might I ask where you two have been?" Lily asked, a brow raised as she took in the appearance of her two friends.

"Ask me no questions, I'll tell you no lies," replied Sirius with a wink.

"Pig," said Lily in mock disgust.

"Why Miss Evans, I'm hurt," said Sirius in jest.

Lily rolled her eyes.

Whilst on their patrol of the corridors later that evening, James set another date for the following weekend. Little did he know that this would also go to pot…

The following weekend was a full moon weekend; Remus was quite ill and in the hospital wing. There had been a spate of tummy bugs going around the castle. Unfortunately, there wasn't a quick cure for it, and Remus would just have to ride it out. But it couldn't have come at a worse time. The following weekend found all the Marauders conspicuous by their absence in the Gryffindor common room.

Despite the fact that Remus was ill, he was still taken down to the Whomping Willow under the cover of darkness. This time, James, Sirius and Peter had all insisted that they accompany Remus into the Shrieking Shack, just in case werewolf Remus decided to go on the rampage. Madam Pomfrey said she couldn't possibly allow it, but in the end a note from someone had arrived - though Merlin knew who had given it, since no one knew about the fact that they were Animagi. Therefore, the other Marauders had gone with him.

By the time they returned to the common room in the early hours of Monday morning, they were surprised to find both Lily and Hestia Jones still up revising. Of course, Lily was immediately on her feet and dragging James out of the portrait hole.

"Where in Merlin's name have you been?" demanded Lily as soon as they were outside of the common room.

"I've been with Remus in the hospital wing. He's had this tummy thing that's been going around and…"

"And what? It took all three of you to hold his hand?" Lily fumed.

"He was really ill, Lils," James said plactantingly. "Plus, I wasn't feeling much better."

Lily eyed her boyfriend. James put on a pouty face, and that caused her to burst out laughing.

"You bloody prat!" Lily giggled as she wrapped her arms around him. "I hope Remus is okay now."

She gave James a significant look. A look that said 'I hope he's okay in more ways than one.'

James' eyebrows shot up in surprise. Did she know about Remus' furry little problem?

"Don't look so surprised," said Lily with a grin. "Your secret, or should I say Remus' secret is safe with me."

James' jaw became slack and he stared at her. How long had she known? How did she figure it out?

"James, I've known for years," Lily said when her boyfriend didn't reply. "But it's okay, I still love Remus the same as anyone else."

She smiled at James before returning to the common room, leaving James looking like he'd been poleaxed.

They had arranged to try again for a date the next weekend. But again, their plans had been scuppered. This time because of Sirius. The damned fool had gotten into a duel with Corban Yaxley, a Slytherin.

Lily and James had walked down to breakfast together looking forward to their day, only for Peter to come rushing into the Great Hall flustered and out of breath. It took several seconds before Peter could find his voice.

"James, it's Sirius, he's in the hospital wing! You gotta come!"

Both James and Lily were on their feet in a flash and ran from the Great Hall all the way to the hospital wing.

"What happened?" asked James as they burst through the door of the hospital wing.

Remus jumped to his feet and moved from Sirius' bedside. Once he reached them, he explained what had happened.

"As we were passing the Prefects bathroom, Yaxley stepped out and started calling us disgusting names. Of course, this enraged Sirius and he drew his wand, and away Yaxley went, and Sirius chased him through the corridors. They were throwing spells at each other and I was trying to protect the other students with as many shield charms as possible. As we reached the first floor, Yaxley hit him with a spell I've never heard of before, and Madam Pomfrey is having a hard time keeping the wounds closed," said Remus as fast as possible.

James' jaw clenched in anger. Lily, meanwhile, looked on in suspicion. A moment later, Lily ran from the hospital wing, returning half an hour later with a counter-curse. She immediately handed a piece of paper to the Matron.

"Where have you been? You took off without a word," said James.

"I had a hunch." Lily shrugged and smiled. "And it paid off."

"You are brilliant, Lils," said James as he took her hand and gave it a squeeze.

For the rest of the weekend, James sat with his best friend and didn't return to the common room until late Sunday night.

"How is he?" asked Lily, looking up from her Potions book.

"Should be back in lessons on Tuesday. Madam Pomfrey wants to make sure that the blood replenishment has worked properly and that his levels are up to scratch," said James as he flopped down on the sofa beside his girlfriend. "So, want to tell me about that hunch?"

"Not really," muttered Lily.

James stared at her in disbelief. He'd never known her to be so secretive. But he also knew better than to push Lily. Not only could she curse him in a nanosecond, but she also had a sharp tongue to boot, and he didn't fancy another lashing.

Before retiring to bed, they made arrangements to try for a date again the next weekend. But Lily threatened that if he stood her up again, he would find himself in the hospital wing in a matchbox.

The following weekend dawned bright and sunny. James snuck down to the kitchens early that morning and asked the House Elves to put together a picnic basket and blanket. Once it was prepared, James snuck out of the castle and took the picnic basket down to the edge of the Forbidden Forest. By the time he was done setting everything up, it was almost time for breakfast. James returned to the common room to await the arrival of his Lily from the dormitories above.

When Lily materialised, James felt his heart hammering away in his chest. She looked gorgeous. She was wearing a mid-length bottle green dress, and she'd piled her dark red hair on top of her head. James gulped and walked towards her.

"Lily, you look absolutely stunning," said James with a huge grin.

"Thanks. So, what's the plan?" asked Lily as she took the arm James had just proffered.

"Come with me and you'll see," said James.

Just as they approached the Black Lake, James stopped.

"What's wrong?" asked Lily.

"Nothing, I just want to blindfold you. It's a surprise," said James, grinning.

"I'm not sure if I should trust you," Lily teased.

James began to pout, but Lily laughed and put her hand out.

"What?" asked James.

"Give me the blindfold, you ass." Lily laughed.

James poked his tongue out at Lily as he handed her the blindfold. She put it across her eyes, blocking out the sunny day. He waved a hand in front of her face to ensure that she was surrounded by darkness. When she was done, James took her by the hand and led her to the edge of the forest.

When they reached their destination, James untied the blindfold and gave Lily's eyes time to adjust to the light.

"James, did you do all this for me?" asked Lily with a look of utter surprise on her face.

On the blanket laid a tray of croissants, a variety of fruits, bread and jams, and two bottles of pumpkin juice along with two goblets.

"I did. Now come on, let's eat."

They sat opposite each other and began to eat. Finally, the long awaited date was happening, and neither could be happier.