At breakfas, Lily was stabbing her sausage viciously, thinking dark thoughts about the blonde in front of her. Dominique had been up at the crack of dawn, preening and prattling on about how she was sure James would be waiting for her down in the common room before starting breakfast. And when she had found him in the Great Hall with the other Marauders, she had plonked her half Veela bum right next to him and had started scolding him for not waiting for her. Lily would have been laughing at the confused look on his face if the exchange student's proximity to James bloody Potter wasn't making her physically ill.

And Lily knew she wasn't looking her best that morning. She had slept fitfully, dreaming of James being attacked, bitten… she had woken up several times in the night, bathed in cold sweat, tears prickling her eyes. She knew she wasn't going to get anything out of James anytime soon – the boy was annoyingly stubborn when it came to secrets. She couldn't even focus (much) on her grand plan to get Remus and Dorcas together, so she was quite shocked when she heard James talking in a loud voice.

"So, about the beginning of school dance coming up…."

Three Marauder heads snapped towards James. Whenever he used that "almost too casual" voice, he usually had a prank in mind.

'That's going to be some dance… I already know who I'm taking' Peter surprised everyone at the table by speaking first. Lily, in particular, was shocked. Despite his popularity by association, not many girls at Hogwarts usually noticed Peter. Most of his dates had been girls interested in getting close to his friends. None of the Gryffindor girls really voiced their surprise, except for Dominique.

"Who eezzz going with you?"

'Rita…'

"Skeeter? Mate all the girls in Hufflepuff'll know about the size of your… er… tongue within a week" Sirius Black burst out laughing, while James and Remus tried valiantly to hide their smiles.

"Black!" Lily objected, disgusted, "Some of us ARE trying to eat here, you know…"

'And you're having sausage… how appropriate, eh Prongs?'

James bit his lip, trying not to laugh at the look of absolute fury on Lily's face. It was amusing to see Lily get angry when he wasn't the one on the receiving end of it. He did, however, think it was time to change the subject – he was rather fond of his best friend, and did want him alive for their next prank.

"Dorcas… Moony has something to ask you"

Dorcas looked up hopefully as Remus turned red, shooting a filthy look at his two grinning friends.

'Remus?'

"Just man up and ask her Moony… we went through this last night. Either you do it or Prongs and I will"

Remus' eyes widened with panic. Merlin alone knew what James and Sirius would do to "ask Dorcas to the dance" for him. Probably create a big banner all over the Great Hall, or shout "REMUS FANCIES MEADOWS" right before the first quidditch match. Those had been some of their milder threats.

"Dorcas – would you go to the- mphhhh!"

Remus was cut off by the pink haired Gryffindor jumping up from her seat and snogging him right at the table. Not that he minded; he was a teenage boy and he was being kissed by a girl he had been interested in for over a year, after all. The loud whistles and catcalls from James and Sirius were rather spoiling the moment, though. Reluctantly, Remus pulled away, blushing as Dorcas whispered in his ear, 'In case you couldn't tell – that meant yes'

"Our little boy, Prongs… he's all grown up!"

"Now, now Pads… we all knew this day would come…. But why did it have to come so soon?"

"It seems like only yesterday he was running around in his knickers…"

"And now he's going on a DATE!"

Lily and Emmeline rolled their eyes as James and Sirius pretended to cry into each others' shirts. Remus was red faced as Peter just laughed and Dorcas grinned. Dominique, however, wanted the attention back on her.

"Zo… who are you two taking to zis dance?"

"I don't have a definite date yet… but let's just say… I'm working on it" Lily's eyes widened as she saw Sirius look in Emmeline's direction and wink. She started to panic slightly when she saw her friend start to blush. Oh no. This was Not Good. Lily had to nip this thing in the bud Right Now.

"And you, James?"

Lily was starting to be in serious danger of losing her breakfast, not to mention her temper. She was not allowed to bat her eyes at James Potter. No wonder no one in England liked the French. French people just swanned into town and took your men. Just like that. And James bloody Potter was hers. Ask anyone in Hogwarts. Who had James been chasing for five years? Her! Lily Evans! So he was hers! So there!

For some reason, James Potter broke into a grin when he responded.

"Who? Me… I'm going stag"

Lily couldn't for the life of her understand why the Marauders roared with laughter. All she knew was that she was relieved… and disappointed at the same time.

AN: I know this is a short chap, but please r/r… I want to know what you guys think! Plus, I did think this was a good place to stop. ;)