"So you and Evans are managing to work together civilly then?" Peter asked me as we entered our dorm room and started getting ready for bed.

"Why do you say that?"

"You came into charms with her yesterday, and neither of you had any spell damage. You've been in a good mood since then too."

"Mmm, good observation Pete. We agreed to work together, and she said she'll help me out where she can so that's positive I'd say," I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face.

"I'm just impressed you've had multiple conversations this week with no spell damage so far," Peter told me, smirking.

"Well it wouldn't look great if the Head Girl killed the Head Boy in our first week back, would it?" Sirius put in with a grin.

"Hey! She might dislike me sometimes, but Evans wouldn't kill me! For one thing, she's too nice to murder anyone, and for another I know she loves me, secretly," I joked, grinning at them. Remus, Peter and Sirius exchanged a meaningful look which I know meant they had been talking about me behind my back. I waited for one of them to respond, but it seemed none of them wanted to broach whatever it was they had decided to say to me. I watched them with raised eyebrows until Pete ducked, Sirius shook his head, firmly and Remus rolled his eyes, then looked at me.

"Whatever it is you three have obviously discussed about me, just spit it out," I said, still smiling but with an edge to my voice. I had a feeling I wasn't going to like whatever they said next.

"Look, James," Remus said softly. "I don't want to - you know that I like Lily right? I think she's smart and funny and a great friend. I actually think you'd make a good couple if she was interested, but she's not. And I don't think it's good for you to constantly be pining over her when she seems pretty determined not to change her mind." They were all watching me carefully, waiting for my reaction.

"Don't you think I know that, Moony? My life would be much easier if I could forget about her, but unless you have a wonderful version of obliviate that erases feelings rather than memories, it doesn't seem like it's going to happen," I told him, frustrated.

"You should just focus more on other stuff," Sirius suggested.

"Yeah," Peter chimed in. "Like studying." Sirius and I both gave him exaggeratedly confused looks, until he rolled his eyes and tried again. "Oh fine, what about pranks?"

"Thanks for the suggestion Pete, but I'm Head Boy now. I really can't afford to get in trouble with pointless pranks." Sirius choked on the chocolate frog he had found under his cloak, and stared at me in horror.

"What? No more pranks? What will we even do with our time? How will anyone know who we are?" Remus shot him a withering look, and for once I agreed with him.

"I didn't say none, just less," I told Sirius, rolling my eyes. "And not for no reason. So we're back to me having no idea how to get my mind off Evans."

"Play more quidditch?" Sirius suggested

Remus rolled his eyes at that. "Yeah, like he doesn't play enough quidditch already." There was silence for a few seconds, then Remus spoke again. "Maybe you should date someone else. There's a Hogsmeade weekend in a few weeks, ask someone to go with you."

I was taken aback for a second, trying to wrap my brain around that. "You mean, ask someone who is not Evans to Hogsmeade?" Remus nodded, looking at me like I was a complete idiot.

"Well – like who? I don't like any other girls."

"That's sort of the point, mate," Sirius said, laughing at me.

"It doesn't really matter, Prongs. Just pick a girl who you get along well with and like spending time with," Remus said, like it was the easiest thing in the world.

"But – I mean isn't that bad? To ask someone out if I don't have feelings for her, isn't that leading them on?" I asked, genuinely unsure about the idea. I didn't want to give anyone the wrong idea and then end up hurting them.
"It doesn't have to be leading them on, as long as you don't lie to them about feeling more than you do. How else will you even know if you like someone if you don't spend time with them?" Remus pointed out.
"Well, I know I like Evans from being around her in class and in the common room, I've never really thought about other girls like that," I mused out loud.

"Stop being sappy mate," Sirius chided. "The whole point here is to stop thinking about Evans. So, stop comparing everyone else in your life to her and just think about people you like to spend time with. Even if it ends up being nothing, going to Hogsmeade with a girl who's a friend would be fun."

I stared out the window for a second, taking that in. "I can't believe I'm taking relationship advice from never-asked-a-girl-out Lupin and arrogant-toerag Black, but you're probably right."

"Oi! Watch it, you've definitely been called an arrogant toerag in your time too," Sirius reminded me.

"Yeah, and you've never had a date either," Remus chimed in.

"Whatever Moony, at least I've asked someone!" I told him, shrugging casually

"Yeah, ONE being the key term there," Peter grinned, then squeaked as I dived at him over my bed and started attacking him with his own pillows.