Don't Let Your Guard Down
chapter 7

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Disclaimer: I think by the 7th chapter, you should know how this goes...

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"Jingle Bells-" Sirius sang.

"Shut up Si," James groaned.

"Jingle Bells-" Sirius continued.

"Be quiet," Remus insisted.

"Jingle all the way-"

"Sirius!" Lily burst out.

"Oh what fun-"

"Stop!" Peter exclaimed.

"it is to ride-"

"Ergh!" Gigi cried out in annoyance.

"in a one horse-"

"Kindly shut up," Kacie urged.

"open sleigh-"

"SIRIUS!" they all shouted.

Sirius pouted. "I'm bored."

"I blame you," Remus said, turning to Lily. "You're the one who taught him that Muggle song."

"I didn't think he would use it to torture us," Lily pointed out.

"If you're bored Si, why don't you try doing your homework?" James asked.

Sirius looked at him and burst out laughing. "Ha! That'll be the day." James groaned and got back to reading through his essay.

"I think we should all not do homework," Sirius suggested.

"And I think you should shut up," Gigi muttered.

"Hmm, that's a good option, but I like the first suggestion better," Sirius said.

"I figured you would," Gigi mumbled, and then looked back at the book she was reading.

Lily closed her books and turned to Sirius but Sirius was already talking to her. "Ha! I got someone else to stop doing homework! I am the king, I am the best, I am god, I am-"

"I'm done with my homework," Lily said.

"Oh," Sirius said. "Can I still be king?"

"Isn't this nice?" Remus asked, looking up from his essay.

"Depends on what you're talking about. Because I can assure you that doing homework isn't nice and Sirius's singing voice definitely isn't nice. So please specify," Kacie said.

"All of us sitting together, getting along," Remus said.

"Sirius!" Gigi exclaimed, slapping his arm and snatching her essay now covered in ink away from him.

"…almost getting along," Remus corrected.

"You know what I've decided," Sirius said.

"That blue and pink are not the same color?" James asked.

"Well besides that," Sirius said, rolling his eyes. "No, I was going to say that I think it's time for another party."

"No," Lily exclaimed right away.

"But-"

"No."

"Don't you-"

"No."

Gigi turned to Sirius. "I think the answer is no."

"She's not the boss of me," Sirius insisted. He turned to glance at Lily who was glaring at him evilly. Sirius cowered, "Just one itsy bitsy party?"

"Since when have you thrown an 'itsy bitsy' party?" Lily asked, crossing her arms across her chest.

"Now is as good a time as any," Sirius said with a shrug.

"At this itsy bitsy party will there be spiked punch, every person you know, and people dancing on top of tables?" Lily asked.

"Along with the spider," Kacie said.

"The what?" Sirius asked.

"The itsy bitsy spider," Kacie explained. Everyone looked at her blankly so she turned to Lily. "So table dancing huh?"

"Naturally there will be some punch that may taste a little like alcohol, and people will be dancing on tables-" Sirius said.

"Mostly because they are drunk from the 'punch that may taste a little like alcohol,'" James confirmed.

"And not every person I know will be there," Sirius said. "Only every girl I know."

"Oh well that comforts me," Lily said, rolling her eyes.

"Come on, Christmas is in three weeks. It can be our just get through these next few weeks alive party," Sirius said.

"Almost like a pre-Christmas party," James said.

"Actually it's going to be a pre-Christmas party party," Sirius said.

"You're going to have a Christmas party also?" Lily asked with groan.

"We have to," Sirius insisted.

"Why?" Lily asked.

Sirius paused and then turned to James. "Why?"

"Because it's what we always do," James said to Sirius.

Sirius turned to Lily. "Because it's what we always do."

"People like tradition," James said.

Sirius turned back to Lily. "People like tradition."

"I heard him," Lily said.

Sirius turned to James. "She heard you."

Lily groaned. "I'm not buying this whole tradition thing. Tell me exactly why you just need to have a Christmas party."

Sirius turned to James. "How does she know these things?"

"It's like a sixth sense or something," James whispered back.

"Soooo, why are you having a Christmas party?" Lily asked.

"Like we've said, it's what we have been doing for the past several years, people like tradition, it's a way to celebrate the best holiday of the year, people get to kick back and forget about schoolwork for a little bit, I already invited almost all of Hogwarts, people like to kiss under the mistletoe and drink eggnog, they -"

"What?" Lily exclaimed.

"People like to kiss under the mistletoe?" Sirius asked.

"The other thing," Lily said.

"People like to drink eggnog?"

"Sirius," Lily warned.

"Well everyone comes up to me and asks what we're doing for Christmas. What am I supposed to say?"

"Try no for once!" Lily exclaimed.

Sirius paused. "You can do that?"

Lily growled and turned to her other friends. "Isn't anyone going to help me here?"

Everyone else exchanged looks. "People dancing on tables huh?" Kacie asked.

Lily threw her hands up in frustration. "No matter what I say, you're going to throw a party, right?"

"Yup," all the Marauders answered in unison.

"So why do you bother asking?" Lily wondered.

"Actually we didn't ask," Sirius said. "You just said no to a suggestion, not to a question."

"Fine, have the party," Lily mumbled. "Get drunk, hook up with girls, dance on tables, get alcohol poisoning for all I care."

"That's all I ask!" Sirius exclaimed.

"Oh c'mon! Sex is way better than Christmas," James argued.

"No way. Christmas is so much better than sex," Remus said. "…primarily because Christmas comes more often."

"Speak for yourself," James said with a grin.

"You get gifts at Christmas. You can't say that happens during sex," Peter noted.

"The girl is gift enough," James said. Remus and Peter just stared at him and then all three of them bust out laughing. "God I wish I believed that."

"Can we please stop talking about Christmas and sex?" Sirius asked, obviously aggravated.

All three boys stopped talking instantly and their jaws dropped. "Excuse me?"

"We're talking about your two favorite things in life," James said.

"Yeah, while I'm trying to study," Sirius claimed.

James spit out the water he just sipped. "You don't want to talk about sex and Christmas because of homework?" James didn't even care that now his newly washed robes were now covered in water that was just in his mouth.

"You've turned into a monster!" Remus cried out at Sirius.

"You've turned into an alien!"

"Worse," James said. "He's turned into Lily."

"I haven't turned into anyone," Sirius said, rolling his eyes. "And you guys have it all wrong. Sex on Christmas is best."

"With cake!" James exclaimed.

"Where did cake come from?" Remus questioned.

James shrugged, "I don't know…I just really want cake right now."

"So why are you all of a sudden studying?" Remus asked Sirius.

"I've studied before," Sirius said.

"Yeah, you've studied girls, pranks, and chocolate," James muttered.

"Well since you told me I'm not allowed to copy off your homework anymore, I decided that I should do it myself," Sirius said with a shrug.

"Fair enough," James said and then turned to Remus and Peter. "Sex, Christmas, cake, and whipped cream."

Remus grinned. "Perfect."

"Hey," Lily said as she looked up and saw James walk into their commons room.

"Oh, hey," James said, not expecting her to be there.

"Where were you?" Lily asked casually.

"Just out," James said with a shrug.

"With Nancie?" Lily wondered.

James shrugged and then he sat down on the other couch.

"Can I ask you a question?" Lily asked nonchalantly.

"Sure."

"What exactly are you guys?" Lily asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean are you and Nancie dating, just hanging out together, seeing each other when you don't have any other dates lined up, or what?"

"We're not really going out if that's what you mean. We're young, what's the point in being tied to one person?" James asked with a shrug. "Why do you care?"

"I don't," Lily said. "I was merely wondering because no one could really figure out what you two were."

"Oh," James said and then took his DADA book from the end table and opened it. After a few minutes of silence he glanced up from his book and peeked over at Lily. "I wasn't with Nancie tonight."

Lily looked up from her homework. "You weren't?"

James shook his head and then went back to reading. Lily looked at him, waiting for him to go further into detail. "So where were you?"

"With the guys," James answered, not looking up from his book.

"What were you guys doing?"

"Nothing much."

"You weren't playing a prank, were you?" Lily asked warily. James shook his head. "Sneaking down to the kitchens?" James shook his head again. "Okay, so what were you doing?"

"We were in the Gryffindor commons room," James said.

"No you weren't," Lily accused. "Because I just got back from it and you were never there."

James gulped and didn't look up from his book.

"So what were you doing?"

"Nothing," James answered quickly.

"Why won't you tell me?" Lily asked. James said nothing. "It's because it's against the rules isn't it?" James bit his lip. "God, why can't you guys just have fun while sticking to the rules? Did it have something to do with the Slytherins? What were you doing to them?"

James just tried to ignore her and pretend that he was reading.

"Potter! Answer me! I'm the Head Girl, I have a right to know if you're doing something against the rules!"

James slammed his book shut. "Look, it's none of your goddamned business okay? So get off my back." And with that, James went into his room, and shut the door.

"I can't believe I got stuck with you," Lily muttered jokingly.

"Oh, you think I'm happy that Remus isn't here, Peter chose some Ravenclaw, and James chose Nancie?" Sirius asked.

"Well why didn't you choose Gabrielle, or Frida, or Selma, or Margie, or-"

"Because according to all of them I may be good in bed, but I suck when it comes to Transfiguration," Sirius said.

"I really didn't need to know that," Lily mumbled.

"I know," Sirius said. "But that's what makes me so nice."

"Sharing unwanted information?"

"Sharing in general," Sirius corrected.

"Well do me a favor and don't," Lily said. "If anyone calls you selfish and mean because you don't share information about your personal life, they can deal with me."

"Ooh what are you going to do?" Sirius asked. "Punch them? Yell at them? Oh, even better, mud wrestle them?"

"On second thought, don't tell them to come deal with me," Lily said.

"So what do we have to do here?" Sirius asked.

"Weren't you listening when the professor was drowning on and on about it for twenty minutes?" Lily asked.

"No," Sirius said. "I was making a boat out of my parchment." He showed Lily and Lily rolled her eyes.

"It's a mystery to me how you've made it to seventh year," Lily said, shaking her head.

Sirius looked over at Nancie kissing James on the lips. "Oooh, is that what we're supposed to be doing? Because that's something I get a good grade on easily."

Lily looked over at Nancie and James and didn't say anything. She just looked down at the table and acted like she was concentrating hard on what she was transfiguring.

"Is that a no on the kissing thing?" Sirius asked, taking a step closer to Lily.

Lily stuck her hand out. "Take any more steps towards me and I will twist your arm out of its socket."

"But then I can't transfigure this," Sirius said.

"You'd probably get a better grade with your arm out of its socket," Lily pointed out

Sirius thought about it. "True…okay, twist my arm," Sirius said, handing Lily his arm. Lily just pushed his arm back to him and glanced over at Nancie and James once more.

Sirius looked up at Lily and noticed who she was gazing at. "Can I ask you a question?"

"As long as it doesn't deal with girls, food, pranks, Quidditch, my ex-boyfriends, my best friends, your best friends, or anything that has to do with me."

"Hmm, that limits my choices down to…practically nothing," Sirius said.

"That's not true," Lily said. "You can ask me why you're not able to turn this bowling ball into a saucer."

Sirius pouted. "Fine, I won't talk about any of those things you just mentioned," Sirius said. "Let's say, hypothetically, there was this…monster named James and this other monster named Lily. They usually don't get along, but all of a sudden they start to get along but then today they go back to pretending each other doesn't exist. Do you know, hypothetically, why that is?"

Lily stared at him. "Subtlety is not your strong suit."

"Well it's hard to ask a question when you have a mile long list of what you're not allowed to say!" Sirius insisted.

Lily glanced over at Sirius and then back to the bowling ball. "What were you doing two nights ago?"

"Um…I don't remember, why?" Sirius asked.

"Because I know it was something you're not supposed to be doing and I'm Head Girl. I have a right to know what it is," Lily insisted.

Sirius thought back to two days ago. "Remus's mother is sick so we went with him to talk to Dumbledore about how to get him home," Sirius said with a shrug, not bothering to look at Lily.

"Oh," Lily said, feeling a little guilty about accusing both Sirius and James of doing something against the rules. Lily looked up at James and saw Nancie walk up to the front of the room. "I'll be right back."

Lily walked up to James who only glanced for a split second at her and then back to his bowling ball which strangely looked like it had a head growing out of it. "Hey James, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for asking you those millions of questions two nights ago. It really was none of my business and…" Lily said but noticed James staring at Nancie's ass. "I'm sorry, obviously Nancie's ass has something more important to say."

"Huh? What?"

"I was trying to apologize and you were totally checking Nancie out!" Lily exclaimed.

"I was not," James insisted. "I was merely looking at her skirt...or was it pants?"

"It's robes!" Lily exclaimed.

"Oh yeah," James said slowly.

Lily exhaled angrily and started walking away. "Wait no, Lily, come back!" James cried out.

Lily sighed and turned around but didn't walk towards him. "What?"

"I'm sorry I snapped at you that night. It wasn't your fault I was in a bad mood," James said with a shrug.

"Well I deserved it," Lily said. "It really was none of my business."

James smiled at her and Lily returned the smile. "Well, I guess I should get back to our bowling ball before Sirius turns it into a monster or something," Lily said with a laugh.

"Or worse, if he drops it on his foot," James said.

Lily thought about it. "Nah, that would be funny."

James laughed and couldn't help watching her as she walked away.

"Here," James said, handing Lily a drink at the party a week later. "I got you a drink."

Lily looked at him. "You must think I'm stupid."

"Huh?"

"Are you seriously standing here handing me a glass of punch you and I both know was spiked an hour ago?" Lily asked.

James looked from the cup to Lily and shrugged. "I guess that means more for me," James said and then gulped down the glass.

"In thirty seconds you're going to be dancing on that table over there," Lily muttered.

"You'd like that wouldn't you?" James said with a wink.

Lily groaned and walked away.

"Maybe next time sweet cheeks!" James called after her teasingly. James grinned but quickly frowned when he heard the conversation going on next to him.

"She's the sweet innocent one of the group," a boy was saying. "I wonder what she's like in bed."

"You really think Kacie is the innocent one?" the other boy was asking. "I always thought Lily was pretty innocent herself."

"I always thought that too, but she's had a couple of boys come back to the Head Girl room," the first boy said. "Have you been with Gigi before?"

"Nah, not really my kind of girl."

"She's a great kisser though," the first boy said with a smile. "Here's my chance, Kacie is alone. How long should I sweet talk her before I bring her back to my room?"

"Just enough to get her to like you," the other one said.

"Good plan," the first one said and then he walked over to Kacie.

James was about to jump him from behind when Sirius came over and started talking to him.

"Is it me, or have the girls gotten hotter since the beginning of the year?" Sirius asked, taking a sip of the spiked punch.

"Sirius, you think anything with a mini skirt and lip gloss is hott no matter what time of year," James pointed out.

Sirius paused. "True…"

"What are you two doing over here in the corner?" Remus asked.

"Talking about girls," Sirius said with a shrug.

"Instead of dancing with them?" Remus asked.

"I've danced with so many girls that it's time to take a break," Sirius explained.

"And what about you?" Remus asked.

"Well I was dancing with Nancie but then she disappeared," James said.

Sirius flung his arm around James's neck. "And he'd much rather stand here talking to me."

"Oh, there's Nancie!" James explained. "See ya guys later."

Sirius pouted as his arm fell back to his side. "Apparently I'm wrong."

"But you're used to being wrong by now, aren't ya?" Remus teased.

"And why is someone as pretty as you sitting alone over here?"

Kacie looked up to see a seventh year Hufflepuff standing in front of her. "Hi Trevor."

"Ah, so you do know who I am," Trevor said.

"We've been going to Hogwarts together for seven years now. It would be pathetic if I didn't know who you were," Kacie said.

Trevor nodded in agreement. "So why aren't you hanging out with your friends?"

"Because Lily is off yelling at James and Sirius for spiking the punch and Gigi is off with some guy," Kacie said with a shrug.

"And why aren't you off with some guy?" Trevor teased.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you some guy?" Kacie joked.

Trevor laughed. "Good point. So…do you want to dance?"

Kacie looked him over and smiled. "Sure."

From across the way James muttered to himself, "Uh oh."

"James!" Lily cried out waving her hand in front of his face. "Am I invisible or do you need new glasses?"

"No, I can see you," James mumbled. "And unfortunately I can hear you too."

Sirius snickered at that comment. "Lily, we get it. We shouldn't spike the punch, we shouldn't let first years near the punch, we shouldn't let people drink so much. Is there anything else you want us to stop? World hunger? Homelessness?"

Lily growled at Sirius. "You are soooo not getting my point."

"No, I get your point. I just don't care," Sirius exclaimed. Sirius glanced over at James staring intently at something. "And apparently he doesn't care either."

Lily glanced over at him. "What girl is he staring at now?"

Sirius glanced onto the dance floor at who James was staring at. "Kacie."

"What?" Lily exclaimed, checking out where James was looking. "What's he doing staring at her?"

"Maybe he's blind and thinks it's Nancie," Sirius whispered with a shrug. Lily glared at him. "And maybe I'm an idiot for even suggesting something like that." Lily nodded in agreement.

"Hey James," Lily exclaimed. "Potter!"

James looked over at Lily. "What do you want?"

"Why are you staring at Kacie?"

"Maybe he was staring at the guy," Sirius suggested. Lily glared at him again. "And maybe I'm an idiot once again."

"That guy is up to no good," James said.

"Oh yeah, look at him. Oh my gosh! He's dancing. How dare he!" Lily said sarcastically.

"No, I'm telling you," James exclaimed. "He's just using her."

"Why do you think that every guy at Hogwarts is here to use the girls?" Lily asked.

"I don't," James insisted. "I just know that that guy is up to no good."

Lily groaned and turned to James. "Why are you so overprotective of all your friends?"

"I'm not!" James insisted.

"You're right," Lily said. "You could care less about what Sirius does. Sirius could get every girl at Hogwarts pregnant and you wouldn't have a problem-"

"Hey! Leave me out of this," Sirius exclaimed. Lily gave him a death stare. "…so I could get every girl pregnant huh?"

Lily turned back to James. "You don't give a damn about what your guys friends do. It's just us girls you feel shouldn't be dating any guy in this school."

"Okay, I never said any of that," James said. "You are totally taking this the wrong way."

"Well, then why is that guy up to no good?" Lily asked, placing her hands on her hips.

"You wanna know why?" James asked.

"I just said that, didn't I?" Lily asked obviously annoyed.

"Well I'll tell ya..." James said slowly. He paused and realized Lily would never believe thetruth, so he cried out, "He's a hired assassin. He'll kill Kacie as soon as he gets her alone!"

"James."

"Okay, no he's not. He's actually a woman," James said.

"Potter!" Lily exclaimed.

"A robot?"

"Stop it!"

"Oooh, can I play?" Sirius asked. "How about he's a monster who will eat Kacie?" Both James and Lily glared at him. "And how about I just stay out of it?"

"Good idea," Lily said and then turned to James. "When you come up with a reasonable answer as to why that guy shouldn't be leaving the party with Kacie, then you come talk to me."

"They're leaving the party?" James exclaimed, turning around. And sure enough, Trevor and Kacie were exiting the commons room. "I'll be right back." James practically zoomed to the other side of the room. "Hey guys, what's going on?"

"Um…hi James," Kacie said, obviously annoyed that he was bothering her.

"Gigi was looking for you," James lied, turning to Kacie.

"She was?" Kacie asked, looking around the party. "She's not even here."

"I know, she said to stay at the party and she'll find you when she's able to," James fibbed.

"Oh," Kacie said, obviously unhappy. She turned to Trevor. "Sorry Trevor, but I don't want to make Gigi upset."

Trevor let out an angry sigh. "It's fine, we'll get together some other time."

"Sure," she said with a smile, giving Trevor a kiss on the cheek. James glared at Trevor and walked over to the punch to refill his cup.

"I am sooo bored," Sirius complained. "Entertain me."

"JAMES POTTER!" Lily screeched, barging into their commons room.

James turned to Sirius. "I think I'm in trouble. Don't let her find me," James pleaded.

Sirius turned back to the entrance. "He's right here!" James glared at him and Sirius shrugged. "What? I said I needed entertainment."

"And you think me dying is a good way to entertain yourself?" James asked.

"For five minutes at least," Sirius said with a shrug. "Don't worry, I'll bring you back from the dead."

"How?" James asked. "By giving me CPR?"

Sirius paused. "On the other hand...you staying dead doesn't sound half bad."

"You are the lowest of the low!" Lily cried out. "I cannot believe you!"

"What did I do this time?" James asked.

"You were an asshole, that's what!" Lily shouted.

Sirius yawned. "Alright, I'm already bored." And Sirius got up and left.

"Wait! Don't leave me with crazy lady over here!" James shouted after Sirius, who obviously didn't hear him. James sighed. "What did I do?"

"I know you got Trevor to ignore Kacie," Lily said "What did you do, pay him 10 galleons to dump her?"

"He said that?" James asked. "Lily, who are you going to believe? Me, or some jerk I paid 10 galleons to dump Kacie?"

"How could you do that to her?" Lily demanded to know.

"You don't know the whole story," James said.

"What whole story? You didn't like the guy because of his hair or his clothes or something and instead of letting one of your good friends be happy, you got rid of him!" Lily exclaimed. "How much of a jerk could you be?"

James stood up. "Do you really think I'm like that? You think that I would get a guy to ignore a friend of mine for no good reason?"

"You ruined a date I went on for no good reason!" Lily reminded.

James stopped. "Oh yeah…"

"Kacie has always been the shy, innocent one. And then she gets a chance to open up and a guy actually talks to her and you completely disregard her feelings," Lily said. "You don't give a damn about anyone but yourself and frankly, I'm sick of it. So do me a favor, and stay out of my friends lives and especially stay out of my life."

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Will Lily and James ever make up? Will they ever be able to be friends for more than a few weeks? The only way to find out is to review!