Disclaimer: All the characters that you recognize belong to J. K. Rowling.

"Okay Lils, spill," Gracie demanded.

"What are you talking about Gracie?" Lily questioned.

"Since when have you liked Shaun Dunstan?"

Lily blushed a little. Once the girls finally allowed Lily to leave the bathroom, they all headed up to their dorm room. All four of the other girls wanting to know more about Lily's new crush.

"Well, I don't know," she answered weakly. In reality, she did know the answer, she was just hiding it from her friends. Lily had liked Shaun since the end of their sixth year. She couldn't admit that though. After all, he was in Ravenclaw, and the seeker on the Quidditch team. Last year Gryffindor came in second place for the Quidditch Cup, only losing to Ravenclaw. That would not have looked good on her part for Gryffindor support. So, she decided to bottle her feelings inside of her. However, this was a new year, so she felt that it would be no problem to date him.

"Oh my God Lily, I think that it's so sweet that you like him!" Scarlett exclaimed.

Lily thought that Scarlett only thought it was great because Shaun was one of her boyfriend's roommates.

"Lily! Can I set you up?" Marissa asked. She looked as excited as a little kid on Christmas.

"No! Last time you tried to set me up with someone, you ended up dating him for a month," Lily replied.

"Well that was different, he was really, really hot," Marissa explained.

"And Shaun's not really, really hot?" Zoë asked.

Marissa thought about it a second, "Okay, I won't set you up Lily."

All five girls laughed, that was Marissa. She was such a flirt and got just about any guy she wanted.

Lily couldn't help but smile, Shaun was really, really hot. He was tall, and handsome. His blonde hair fell slightly in his face, it reminded Lily of Sirius Black's hair, except for the color. Shaun's chocolate eyes were to die for. He could look you in the eye and make your heart jump. But the quality that made most girls swoon over him was his figure. Quidditch training was very good for his body. He was strong and muscular. Actually, Lily wouldn't admit it, but he had many similar qualities as the Marauders. Of course looks weren't everything though. Shaun was also smart and extremely nice.

"You two would make the cutest couple ever!" Scarlett told her.

Lily blushed a little more.

"You should definitely go out with him," Gracie added. "Oh, and you should go to Hogsmeade with him. There's a trip next weekend!"

"Yeah, and I'll tell Travis to tell Shaun that he should ask you," Scarlett chipped in.

"You really don't have to," Lily pleaded.

"Don't be silly, we want to help you," Scarlett replied.

"No. Seriously, don't help. I don't want help," Lily said sternly.

"But…"

"No! I'm doing this on my own."

"But…"

"Okay, if you want to help, there is something that all four of you could do," Lily began. They all looked up at her, wondering what she wanted assistance with. "You could not look at him or giggle or whisper something to me if he's around."

---

Luckily for Lily, her friends had complied with her wishes, or at least tried. During classes shared with the Ravenclaws there were no giggles or any thing of that sort.

However, during lunch was a different story.

---

Lily was sitting with Zoë, Gracie, James and Remus, explaining to Gracie a charm that Professor Flitwick had assigned them to practice. Gracie had fallen asleep in class that day and was lost about what to do.

"Okay Gracie, do you understand now?" Lily asked.

"Yeah, I think I got it. You just flick and twist and say Lalita, right?"

"Yup that's right."

"So, Lily, Gracie, Zoë, are you guys planning on going to Hogsmeade this weekend?" James asked, his question mostly directed toward Lily, but she wasn't to know that.

"Yeah, probably. I mean there's no where else to go shopping or get butterbeers around here," Gracie responded for the three of them.

"What about you James, Remus?" Lily asked.

"Yeah, those butterbeers and Zonkos really get us going there," James replied.

Just then Shaun came up behind Lily, "Lily, can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Sure," Lily replied as she got up from her seat. She saw Gracie and Zoë send an encouraging smile in her direction.

Once Lily was out of hearing range James burst. "What the hell does Dunstan want with Lily?"

"Well, hopefully he's asking her to Hogsmeade!" Gracie shrieked.

James felt his jaw drop. The bastard Shaun Dunstan had beaten him to Lily. There was still hope though, after all, what were the chances that she would accept?

As if reading James' mind Remus asked, "Do you think Lily would accept if he asked?"

"Yes, are you kidding me? Lily's only been talking about him for week. She really likes him," Gracie responded. At that remark Zoë slapped Gracie on the arm. "Ouch! What in bloody hell was that for?"

"You are such an idiot. We weren't supposed to tell anyone that Lily likes Shaun," Zoë replied.

James felt his heart sink, how could Lily do that to him? He tried so hard to get her to like him, and she liked Shaun Dunstan. He worked so hard and all for nothing.

"I've got to go," he quickly told the group.

"I think I'll go too," Remus told them. He caught up to James in no time and asked, "why are you leaving?'

"She doesn't like me, she likes Shaun Dunstan," James responded.

"So, that's no reason to give up," Remus replied.

"What's the point, she's never going to like me."

"What the hell are you talking about? You're her friend now and last year she wouldn't even give you the time of day."

"Yeah, but now Lily's got him," James was slightly aggravated that Remus had followed him.

"Oh shut up and stop acting like a fucking baby already," there was hint of irritation present in his voice. "I mean, the chances of her staying with him the entire year are slim. And she'll have you as a friend for a long time."

James' face lit up at that comment. "You're a bloody fucking genius Moony! Once they break up she'll need a friend's shoulder to cry on, and I'll be there to help her out. Then she'll fall for me, realizing that she's liked me all along."

Remus was not sure that James' plan was accurate at all, but he decided to humor his friend. After all, it was better than seeing him mean and grouchy over something as stupid as this.

---

Lily came back to the table with a gigantic grim on her face.

"Did he ask you to Hogsmeade, Lily?" Zoë questioned.

"He sure did." Lily's smile grew even larger after this was said.

Author's Note: Hope you all liked it. Please review!