Okay, so far, this was the hardest chapter to write; I've been having a writers' block for like 5 hours. I wrote a LOT of chapters this weekend though. I may not be able to update that fast again until next weekend. I may do one chapter every 2-3 days, but I also have a lot of homework to keep up with.

Chapter 11: Prongs' Good Luck

James headed back to the Gryffindor tower and joined his friends.

"Hey, Prongs, how'd it go?" asked Remus excitedly.

"Great, obviously," Sirius said, grinning, "look how pleased he looks."

"What happened?" Remus asked, and Peter peered at them interestedly, too.

James recounted what Lily had said.

"That's great!" said Remus. "I told you she would like you if you didn't make a fool out of yourself!"

James nodded, and as he chatted happily with his friends, he felt that besides the pile of homework they had, this year so far had been the best by far.

XXXXX

Severus always stayed at Hogwarts during the Christmas holidays, not wanting to endure his parents' arguing. There were many people who stayed over the holidays this year so they could prepare for the N.E.W.T.s.

Lily always went home during the holidays, and she did this year, too. Luckily, Potter and his mates (except for Lupin) had gone home for the holidays, so Severus did not have to endure their unpleasant presence.

That morning, he felt thoroughly exhausted, and decided to take a break from homework. He almost seriously considered going to the library to look for a Potions book in which he would find instructions on how to poison Potter. Potter still seemed to find enough time to jinx Severus, or make nasty remarks that everyone seemed to find awfully amusing. He was careful, Severus noticed, not to make a scene out of it when Lily was around.

Severus had made it a habit to have his wand ready whenever he caught sight of that pitch-black messy hair that he despised so much, ready to throw a random curse at him, but Potter was too quick for him – he always seemed to think of a fresh jinx to entertain the surrounding students.

The Christmas holidays ended so fast, it felt like it had just began. The students who had gone home over the holidays soon had started to come back.

Severus watched bitterly as Lily was giggling at something James had said as they were queued outside Potions. Her bright green eyes were shining vigorously, with her long, dark red hair falling lightly onto the back of her robes.

He tried not to think about her as the class filed into the room and started practicing non-verbal Shield charms.

His fellow Slytherins were goofing around, with desperate measures to disrupt the class. He tried to concentrate on his charm, but he found himself every now and then watching Lily from the corner of his eyes.

XXXXX

"Lily! Hey – LILY!"

James ran after her and caught her halfway down the corridor.

"Hi," she said, "I'm so worn-out, aren't you?"

James shrugged.

"Yes, but, you still haven't answered by question."

When she still looked confused, he added, "The one I had right before the Christmas holidays."

"Oh," she said, "Right."

She looked slightly pink.

"You know, there's another Hogsmeade visit next month," James said encouragingly. "D'you want to come with me?"

"Sure," she said, beaming. "Well, see you there."

"See you."

As James walked away, his head was spinning.

That was way too easy, he thought. And then it all came down to him. He had a date. He, James Potter, had a date with Lily Evans.

He practically skipped off to the Common Room.

"What happened?" Sirius asked as James climbed through the portrait hole. "She said yes, didn't she?"

When James nodded, Sirius said, "I knew she'd say yes eventually! I told you she liked you, Prongs!"

"What are you shouting about?" asked a weary looking Remus, who had just stepped into the Common Room.

"Prongs got a date with Evans," Sirius sang.

"That's great! Didn't I always say you would?"

None of them answered.

"Anyways, you two," Remus pointed rather accusingly at James and Sirius, "had better finish Professor McGonagall's essay."

Sirius stared.

"How can you talk about homework on such a happy occasion?" said Sirius jadedly.

"Yeah, Moony," James agreed crossly.

"Look, it's you guys who are behind with your homework," said Remus as he left the room. "Not my problem."

James and Sirius rolled their eyes at each other for a moment, and reluctantly took out their homework.

Yay! I'll try to upload tomorrow, but I can't promise. Pretty, Pretty Please REVIEW!!!!!