'Why do they have such good food here, I'm going to be so fat by the time I've finished seventh year!' Lily complained to Sirius, but nevertheless, continued her assault on her yorkshire puddings.

They were all eating another delicious meal after the trolley lady hadn't appeared on the train. Rumours were going round she'd caught lumbago but either way, they were all hungry. It appeared that Alice had gone out of her way to make sure Lily sat directly across from Sirius so she'd end up looking at him. On either side of Sirius, Mary and Remus while Lily sat next to Peter and Mary. Every so often, when Lily spoke to Sirius, Alice would shield one side of her face with her hand and mouth something at Mary who would burst out in giggles. And then try so hard to stop she'd go purple in the face.

'Haha I wouldn't mind!' Sirius discreetly winked at Lily, playing along with Alice's plan. This caused all three girls to laugh, if for different reasons. 'And,' he leaned over to whisper something in Remus' ear, who chuckled softly.

'Where is Prongs?' He frowned, looking around.

'There.' Peter motioned with his fork at James rolling his eyes further down the table at a stubborn and silent Marlene.

'Ah.' Remus murmured just as James stood up, picked up his plate and walked over, sitting down next to him. Nobody noticed Lily duck her head as to hide her blush.

'I swear, that girl is impossible!' James shook his head, before digging back into his roast chicken. 'One minute she's all bubbly about something and the next minute she's refusing to talk to me.'

'James?' Mary paused over her pumpkin juice.

'Uh-huh?'

'Have you ever considered dating Marlene?'

'What?' He spat out his gravy all over Sara Whiting on the next table. The ravenclaw turned around to yell at someone but one she saw who it was she smiled and waved it off. He grinned at her, making her flush a shade of magenta.

'Seriously?' Lily blinked at him in wonder. 'You never cease to amaze me. How do you even get away with something like that?'

'It's just because,' Alice picked up her napkin and folded it into a fan. 'He must be a god.' She waved it at him, laughing moronically.

'Well,' James leaned back in his chair, while Remus rolled his eyes. 'I suppose that must be it. Anyway Lily, did you get everything sorted for the masquerade over the holidays?'

'Sorted? I completely smashed it. Everythings sorted, what about you?'

'I've booked a band, but not the food yet. I need to get some opinions in front of the whole school about what they would like generally.'

She rolled her eyes.

'What?'

'Just book the food, you don't need opinions! Just party food, that kind of thing?'

'Party food?' He looked at her blankly.

'I'll do it.' He began to object. 'No, I want to. Seriously. You'd just screw it up anyway.'

'Would not!' He retorted.

'Of for Merlins sake! If you two start leaping down each others throats again this year I will physically rip you both apart. With or without magic!' Remus muttered in a dangerously soft voice that prickled the back of Lily's neck.

'Geez Remus!' Alice shuffled further away from him. 'Are you taking -how-to-be-a-crazy-phycopathic-murderer- classes this year because you'l pass with Os?'

'Haha. But no, although there is a possibility that I won't be staying for the whole of seventh year.'

'What?' Peter frowned at him. 'Why?'

'Errr, just stuff going on back at home.' He glanced meaningfully at James, Sirius and Peter in turn, although it was quick. If Lily had blinked, she would've missed it. Frowning, she stabbed a roast potato with her fork, and continued eating.

'So, Sirius,' she winced at the fuss Alice and Mary made as soon as she said his name. 'What torture are you planning to put McGonagall through this valentines day?'

Sirius glanced at James, a smile tugging his mouth.

'You'll have to wait and see, but I promise it's going to be the best yet.'

'Better than making every tile she stepped on recite a love poem that you wrote to her yourself?' Mary raised an eyebrow. 'I mean, that was, I was actually laughing for the rest of the day at that. So much that I got the hiccups and couldn't stop.' She looked sad remembering the memory. 'Then I had to go to Madam Pomfrey and get a potion to make it stop.'

Alice snorted.

After the feast, everyone was relaxing in the common rooms. In the Gryfindoor room, most of the people had headed to bed except for Mary, Peter, Lily, Sirius, James, Remus, Alice and Frank. Except that Alice and Frank were talking quietly in a different corner of the room. The rest were playing exploding snap.

Bang!

Throught the smoke, Lily saw Sirius mouth something at her, although she couldn't make out what it was. He stood up and beckoned her over, she didn't try to hide it. She stood up and sashayed over to him. He leaned over and whispered in my ear. They all looked alightly apprehensive, James even looked away. Mary pretended to be redealing the cards with Remus.

'Pretend I've said something funny, laugh. Then say we're going to bed and run towards the boys dormitory. Just do it.'

'Well,' Lily stood up, giggling, then straighting her face the best she could. 'We're,' Mary's mouth dropped open. 'Going to bed, come on Sirius!' Then she grabbed his hand and pulled him over towards the staircase leading up to the boys rooms, ignoring the shocked expressions of everyone else. For effect, she pulled his tie undone just for them to see before trying not to cry with laughter.

'SO,' Sirius jumped onto his bed, pulling Lily over with him, as they both covered their mouthes, to muffle to sound. 'Do you think they bought it?'

'Haha yeah. But you do realise they think we're going to, you know.'

He raised his eyebrows.

'Seriously Evans, and you call me immature!'

She folded her arms, glaring at him.

'Well don't tell me it's not true. And this was your intention because trust me, I know how your mind works.'

'If you know that must mean you have a similar mind.;

'Shut up.'

They sat in silence for a few minutes.

'Thank god you knew Alice was lying right?'

'Yeah. Of course, you'd never like me. I knew it was him.'

Lilys stomach churned.

'Him?'

'Well duh. But noone else knows, don't worry.'

She relaxed.

'I mean, Remus isn't as good looking as me, but well, I suppose he is bright.'

She practically cried.

'NO er that's not er, I erm. Ummmm,' he looked at her, confused, as she rambled on. 'I mean,' she coughed. 'Yes. I like ummmm, Remus.' She felt bad for lying again. That voice in her head nagged her again. She ignored it, and yawned. She was tired.

'Hey Peter, isn't it weird how James is in the head room now.' Remus' voice echoed up the stairs. James. Her stomach flipped, just as Sirius drew the hangings around them. Lily panicked.

'How am I going to get back to my room?' She hissed. 'When do Peter and Remus go to bed?'

'Er,' Sirius looked uncomfortable. 'How tired are you?'

'Very.'

'You're screwed.'

She glared at him.

'Peter and Remus spend forever- wait-what are you doing?'

Lily had unbuttoned her shirt, giving him a good view of her purple underwear. She took of her tie and just draped it around her shoulders.

'Going out, it's got to look believable.'

'Nice Evans.' He whistled quietly.

'Shut up Black.' She drew back the curtains and stepped out, without thinking.

The shower was running. Peter was in there, and Remus was in his bed reading. At the sight of her emerging half dressed from Sirius' bed, it was enough to make him start, the blush slightly at the uncomfortable situtaion.

'Ummm,' Remus raised his eyebrows. 'You can be assured that my eyes are on yours.'

'Okay, good.' Lily's voice rose an octave higher. 'I'm just going to,' she pointed out of the door.

'See you Lily!' Sirius came outside the hangings, having taken his topoff. Lily almost facepalmed, although she was glad he was playing it out.

'Yep.'

Lily wandered back through the common rooms. Glad only Alice and Frank were the last ones there, although they were too preocupied with each other to notice her. She opened the door to the heads and groaned. As James Potter was sitting on the sofa there, writing a letter.

'Hey Lily!' He looked up before flushing slightly. Lily could feel the heat rising in her cheeks too. 'Ummm, I'm just finishing a letter. Good night.' He stood up.

'Yes thank, I had no idea Sirius was so, oh.' She broke off, realising that she wasn't being asked a question. Blushing, she suddenly became very aware of her state, and the face that her shirt was open. 'goodnight!'

She got into her pyjamas. And then brushed her teeth and washed before laying down in bed. She had just fallen asleep when a thud happened, shaking the walls, and the quiet mumble of a reparo. Before all in the castle went to sleep just like her.

AUTHORS NOTE

Hi guys! So this was a long chapter, I'm sorry (I'm not really). I know it wasn't really interesting, but I needed to get some stuff across in the best way possible and I think I did okay. If you liked, please follow, favourite or review. Any is good because I keep getting PMs with ideas and it really inspires me so, yeah! :)