Disclaimer: Anna is a product of my own imagination. The rest is a product of the wonderful imagination of J.K. Rowling.

LadyKnightSusan: Thanks so much for reviewing, I really appreciate it! Yeah, I can't believe she missed the head's meeting either!

Mr. Prongs: I'm highly offended that you wrote such a short review. KIDDING. And thanks! I get confused when there are so many people in the story as well, and it's even harder to write about them! Like in all these American fanfics where there are ten zillion people named Kirsten and Tala and…you get the idea. I prefer sticking to canon as much as possible, although, like everyone, I deviate.

-Scp-: Your reviews are hilarious! Thanks!

Can I just note that although occasionally I probably make a few spelling errors, I hope not too often, some of them are probably because I use Australian and not American spelling. E.g. 'colorful' as I write it is 'colourful.' Just in case anyone was wondering.

Chapter 8: Hogsmeade Weekend

"Right…alternative options, alternative options…a ball…a dance…no…"

Lily was in James' room – with James – pondering 'alternative options' to the Hogsmeade visit. Which, so far, was not going very well.

"Well, it's replacing Hogsmeade, so it has to be something…Hogsmeade-ish," James pondered.

"Yeah, how about we just grab Hogsmeade and send it over here for a day," Lily drawled sarcastically.

James grinned.

"That would be fun! Does that mean Hogwarts would be in Hogsmeade? Like, they switch places for a day? But then, would all the students be in Hogwarts when it gets swapped? So we'd just have to go to Hogsmeade anyway? Which isn't possible because we can't actually go to Hogsmeade…But then…we'd be in Hogwarts…in Hogsmeade…or the place that was previously Hogsmeade…which has an outbreak of flu, which we would catch. And then, when we went to back to Hogwarts, or the place which was previously Hogwarts, then all the contagious Hogsmeade-people would have been there for a day, meaning that we'd still get it…I reckon the people in Hogsmeade should just be put somewhere in isolation…"

"James."

"…and that way they can't spread their contagious illness to anyone from Hogwarts who happens to come into contact with…

"JAMES YOU MORON!"

"What? I'm planning, contributing, hypothesizing…"

"You are such an idiot," Lily sighed.

"At least I'm thinking of something original!"

"True." Lily couldn't argue with that.

"You know, it's actually a good idea…"

James leapt up to begin his all too familiar victory dance…

"James!"

…and sat down tentatively.

"I mean…well, parts of it. We could do something similar. Like, we could make Hogwarts like a village for the day. People can make stalls and stuff, or set up cafés, so it can be like a mini Hogsmeade. What do you think?"

"I think, Lily dear, that you are trying to describe my original idea in a different way, in order to get credit for it yourself."

Lily rolled her eyes.

"Okay, it was your idea. I'm just…changing it a little. But…it was good. Sort of. Not the bit about switching locations. That was just weird, and I couldn't understand half of what you were talking about."

James grinned, running a hand through his hair.

"I think it's time for a victory dance."

Lily stood up.

"In that case, it's time for bed…"

"No! Join me! It's so much fun!" James begged, getting down on one knee.

Lily looked down at him, hands on hips.

"James Potter, if I wanted to look like a complete moron, I would just transform myself into you."

"Fine. I'll do it myself."

And he began to act like what looked to Lily a mixture between a peacock and a hyperactive rabbit. On speed.

"Definitely time for bed," Lily muttered.

Anna and Remus were walking down to breakfast when they spotted the neon poster.

"Oh no…the Hogsmeade trip's cancelled!" Anna's face fell.

"Yeah but this sounds just as good! I bet it was James' idea," Remus grinned.

As they entered the Great Hall, Remus made his way over to James, who was already seated next to Lily and Peter at the Gryffindor table.

"Oi, Prongs! What's this Hogsmeade for a Day thing all about?"

"Oh, well, all my idea of course – oof!"

Lily kicked him under the table.

"And…Lily helped. You know. A bit."

Lily smiled.

"Yeah, everyone can get into groups and organise a stall, or something they want to do, based on something in Hogsmeade. Or you could make one up, I suppose. I already have a request that Kathleen Davis and co. want to organise a Madam Pudifoot's." Lily looked over at them with a sickened expression.

Remus nodded, looking interested.

"So what else is there?"

"Hmm…well there's loads of shops and cafés and stuff," Lily replied. "Oh, and the Shrieking Shack, although I've already got someone wanting to do that…" Lily grinned.

Remus looked disappointed.

"Oh, who?"

"Who else, Moony, but the Marauders!"

Sirius Black clapped Remus on the back, laughing jovially.

"I thought you'd like it."

Remus frowned.

"We're not going to actually…?"

"Well, Moony, as far as I know the full moon isn't for another two weeks, so unless I've been counting my days wrong, then I'd suggest you just dress the part," Sirius whispered.

"So, where are we setting everything up?" Peter asked.

Lily looked thoughtful.

"I reckon we'll set everything up outside, so they're relatively close to each other. We don't want people walking all over the castle to get to different places."

Anna sat down on the other side of James.

"I think this is a brilliant idea, Lily!" She exclaimed.

James glared at her.

"Oh, I mean, Lily and James," she corrected.

"I really hope people get into it, I mean, what if everyone thinks it's lame?" Lily looked around the great hall, which now had glowing neon posters stamped across every desk, courtesy of the late-night dedication of James Potter.

At that moment, Dumbledore entered the Great Hall, smiling merrily at the students as he walked past the house tables. Conjuring up a pedestal, he stood on top of it, and cleared this throat.

"Students! I hope you are enjoying your breakfast! Before everyone leaves, I would like to take the opportunity to remind you that the Hogwarts weekend has been cancelled, due to a terrible bout of the flu, which I would rather not extend among our student body. In light of this, our Head Boy and Girl, James and Lily Potter -"

At this, Dumbledore was drowned out by a huge eruption of laughter. Lily just stared at the headmaster in shock.

"What did he say?" She whispered to James.

"Uh, I think he just implied that we are -"

"Oh never mind!" She snapped back.

"Ahem! Sorry for that small mistake, I must admit I am becoming rather forgetful these days! I merely meant to point out that our Head Boy and Girl James Potter and Lily Evans, I apologise Lily, have with tremendous initiative organised an alternative for the weekend. I am sure you have all seen the rather…colourful posters around the school, and I hope that each and every one of you will take it upon yourself to contribute as much as possible to this day, which I am sure will be a great success. I would like to thank James and Lily for their organisation of this event. And, one again, point out that they are not, in fact, married."

James, grinning from ear to ear, could have sworn Dumbledore winked at him. Lily Potter. It had a nice ring to it.

He turned to Lily, who was madly trying to hide the deepening reddish tinge on her cheeks.

"So, when's the big day, James?"

"Dude! How'd you manage that?!"

"Are you even old enough?"

"Always knew it would happen!"

"Oh, look, it's the Potters!"

James stood up.

"I'll be sending out invitations!"

"James!" Lily hissed. "Stop it! I can't believe Dumbledore said that!"

"Oh, it was just a slip of the tongue, Lily my dear. I can't say I myself haven't often pictured us together." James winked at her.

"James, listen," Lily lowered her voice.

"Actually, let's just…get out for a minute, while everyone's finishing breakfast." And she promptly dragged him out of the Great Hall, with Anna, Remus and Peter gazing interestedly after them. Sirius just looked despondent.

As soon as they were out of the Great Hall, Lily started walking incredibly fast, and James had to jog to keep up with her. Geez, where has all my Quidditch fitness got me? I can't even keep pace with a girl.

"I've forgiven you for last night James, but you have to stop this, okay?"

She stopped still, and James collided with her, almost tripping over.

"Woah! Could you let me know when you're about to come to a complete stop?"

"James, shut up. Now listen to me. You either like me, or you don't. Not both. I know you aren't exactly a one-woman guy, and probably never will be, and you can flirt with as many girls as you want, but not me. Understood?"

James looked puzzled.

"But I -"

Lily placed her hand on his shoulder, cutting him off.

"To be perfectly honest with you, I don't give a damn that you're running around with that bimbo Kathleen Turner, but don't -"

"You're jealous."

James relaxed now, grinning broadly at her.

"What?"

"You're jealous. Of me with her."

Lily looked at him incredulously.

"Has anything I've said to you in the past six years actually gone into that brain of yours? I am not jealous, I just don't like it when -"

"When I act like I'm not interested?"

"You're not exactly acting like you're 'not interested' right now, James," she replied, raising an eyebrow.

"Well I'm not. You said it, I flirt with everyone. It's okay, I'll stop."

"Argh! You are so confusing! You say you are in love with me for six years, then you suddenly act like you don't, then kiss me, then act like everything is normal…you can't, it – it messes with my head!"

She was on the verge of tears, and James realised that he'd gone too far. Which was quite an enlightening moment for the King of, well, Going Too Far!

"I'm sorry, Lily."

She winced as he tried to hug her.

"It's just annoying, you know? I just don't understand why you do things sometimes!"

"Look, Lily, I'll be honest with you. When I told you I was over you I lied."

She snorted. "No shit, Sherlock."

"I know what's up with you and Sirius."

"James, we've been over this. We are friends. What else do I have to say to convince you?"

"I know you're friends. And I'm not referring to you two being romantically involved, I'm talking about what's really going on."

Lily couldn't believe it. Had Sirius told him?

"How do you…?"

"Aha!" James grinned, triumphant. "I knew there was something else."

Oh, bad move, Lily.

"Well, the reason I tried to make you jealous was so you'd finally admit you liked me. But, well, it didn't work. I know you don't hate me, Lily. And if you didn't like me, you wouldn't have kissed me back."

"James, that was pretty much sprung upon me."

James looked at her, his hazel eyes were not taunting, nor were they flirtatious. They were solemn and serious.

"Tell me what's going on, Lily. I deserve to know."

The tears that had been welling up in Lily's eyes finally erupted into whole-hearted sobs.

"That-that's the thing, James. Y-you do deserve to know. But I…I can't tell you. I can't tell you."

"Lily, I have been in love with you since first year. I have tried to be reasonable, I have been nice to you, I have been supportive. Yes, we argue a fair bit, but I always try and see your side of things, and I have been extremely patient with you and Sirius on this. But I can't take it any longer. Dammit! You continue to lead me on – make me think you like me and then tell me you don't. Then you get jealous when I flirt with other girls, and refuse to let me in whatsoever. I know that you have feelings for me, I'm not stupid. If you think you can admit that you do, well, I'll be around. If not…well, I'm through with this."

"So, what do you reckon you'll do for this Hogsmeade thing?" Remus and Anna were walking to Transfiguration together.

"Hmm, not sure. I could always join in with the Pudifoot Pals," she winced.

Remus laughed wolfishly.

"Not the romantic type, I see."

"Not the sickeningly revolting type, you mean. I wonder who's doing Zonko's. Or I could dress up as Rosmerta and just walk around the place, I'm sure that'd get me loads of attention."

Remus continued to grin. He loved her sarcasm, as much as other people were offended by it. And he liked the idea of her dressing up as Rosmerta even more.

"Wouldn't be a bad idea, you know…" he muttered.

"What?"

But before he could respond, they'd reached the Transfiguration classroom, and bumped into a tearful Lily Evans.

"Lils! What's wrong?"

"Oh, I just…never mind," she sniffed, attempting rather unsuccessfully to wipe her eyes.

Anna whispered into her ear. "It's James, isn't it?"

Lily just nodded numbly.

He was already in the classroom, seated at the back, his feet on the desk, twirling his quill between his fingers. He looked up as Lily entered the room, and sat as far away from him as possible. Sighing, he wished he hadn't said everything he had. He'd hoped it would make her admit she liked him, but it seemed that nothing he said or did would get her to. Maybe she didn't, maybe he'd just read all the signals wrong. He forced a grin as Sirius sat beside him.

"What's up with Lils?" He asked.

James shrugged.

Sirius gave him a pointed look.

"Don't look at me! I did nothing!"

"Potter, feet off the table this instant, please. And stop twirling your quill like you're trying to seduce someone."

James and Sirius grinned at each other. Minerva, their favourite teacher as always.

"Oh wow, this is fantastic! Everyone's put in so much effort! I can't believe it's turned out so well!" Lily and Anna wandered among the mini-Hogsmeade. Anna was dressed as Madam Rosmerta, and actually looked uncannily like her. Lily hadn't bothered to dress up but was wearing a casual jeans and a t-shirt for the occasion. They walked past rows of outdoor shops. The students had certainly taken their creativity to a new level. There were shops selling everything from robes to candy, and some sixth-years had whisked up a stall in the shape of a Butterbeer mug, selling none other than the renowned beverage.

"Oooh Zonko's!" Anna squealed.

"I bet they're just selling old Zonko products they've hoarded for the last few years," Lily replied, but she followed Lily over to Trent Montgomery and Gabriel Lucas, who were demonstrating how to use, no joke, hair-growing solution.

"Ever wanted to be a Sirius Black look-alike but don't have the patience? Well, not you can! Just use as much as you need and your hair will grow overnight!"

Anna stopped dead, her mouth wide open.

"Uh…Smirnov, isn't it?" Trent looked at her anxiously. "Is everything alright?"

"Where'd you get that?"

"Oh, my aunt makes it, it's really good you know."

"Was it free?"

"Huh?"

"I said, was it free? You know, as in some tester product or something."

Trent looked confused, but Anna was becoming increasingly agitated so he answered quickly.

"No! Well, I mean, it was, you know, free, because she gave it to my mum, but -"

"Can girls use it?"

"Yeah!" Gabriel called out, in the process of showing a greasy Slytherin how to gain precisely three inches of hair.

"It actually works better on them, cos, well, you know, it's meant for women."

Anna smiled at Trent, who almost leapt backwards in shock.

"I'll take as much as you've got."

"Sh-sure…umm, lemme just grab you a few bottles…"

Lily grinned. "I'll leave you to it."

"Sure! I'll catch up with you later. Don't tell anyone!"

"I won't!"

Lily caught sight of an all-too-familiar shack. Standing outside were none other than the Marauders themselves, inviting anxious-looking first-years inside.

"It's really not that scary, you know," Sirius was telling one girl with long plaits.

A high-pitched scream emerged from inside the shack, and the girl ran away as fast as she could.

"What have you put in there?" Lily asked him.

"Oh, Lils, that's for you to find out, go on, take a look…"

"Uh…no thanks. I don't even want to know, don't know why I asked."

"Ah well, maybe you'll venture into the real one some day."

"Or not."

Sirius grinned broadly. Then he yelled across to Remus, who was opening the creaking door for a group of second-year Hufflepuffs, who had decided it was better to go in numbers, seeing as they were being blocked from running away by James and Peter, who were looking rather intimidating.

"Oi Moony! I'm just taking off for a little bit, you alright without me for a while?"

Remus grinned.

"Well, I'm sure the first-years will be. You are incredibly persuasive, you know. We won't get as many customers!"

"What have you been doing, abducting people?" Lily asked incredulously.

"Pretty much," Sirius replied simply. "Anyway, come with me, I need to talk to you."

"That's why you're taking a break?" Lily asked.

"Yeah. Umm…Gryffindor common room should be alright, everyone's out here anyway."

Lily followed him curiously. Once they reached the common room, Sirius sat down in an armchair and gestured at Lily to do the same. She sat down tentatively.

"So, what did you want to talk to me about?"

Sirius ran a hand through his hair.

"I want you…to tell him."

"No! Sirius, that's up to you!"

"No, not that. I want you to tell him that…well, that you like him. I'll decide if I want to tell him the rest or not."

Lily was agape with surprise.

"Why?"

He smiled at her sadly.

"Because it would probably make him the happiest guy alive, Lily. He's in love with you, hell, he's been in love with you for years!" He threw his hands up in the air, exasperated.

"Every night before he became Head Boy he would go on and on about you. How pretty you are, how intelligent, how charismatic, he even had dreams about you -"

"I don't want to know."

Sirius grinned. "You're right, you probably don't. I think he'd murder me. Anyway, the point of the matter is, he hasn't stopped doing that. I mean, we don't hang out as much as we used to, I must say I'm better friends with you than I've ever been with James. But he still tells us stuff, Remus in particular. And I've denied him all these years by making you promise not to go out with him."

"Sirius," Lily interrupted, "I never promised anything, remember? I was doing it because I didn't want to hurt you."

"I know," he replied earnestly. "And that's what has made me realise that you deserve him more than I do. You actually think about people other than yourself. You've tortured yourself for years, all because you wanted me to be happy. But the thing is, Lily, that he's never going to love me back. I could love him all my life and all he'd want is you. And I want him to be happy. Most of all, I want you to be happy. He doesn't have to know, but I just want you to tell him."

He bit his lip, eyeing her hopefully.

"Will you?"

"Sirius, I can't just flounce up to him and say 'Hey James, you know how I've been telling you all these years I don't like you? Well, I actually do' and expect him to fall at my feet."

"Kiss him then. I'm sure that'd get it into his head."

"I kinda already did…"

"What?! When?"

"I'm really sorry, Sirius, I didn't mean to! He kissed me, and I couldn't help it."

"Lily, it's okay. You deserve him. And he wants you, trust me. You could even do it right now, if you wanted."

Lily looked down at her hands.

"Sirius, you don't know how much this means to me, really. Do you understand exactly how much pain you'd go through? You'd have to watch us all the time…"

Sirius nodded painfully.

"I know. But…I'll be okay."

Lily looked up at him again.

"I think you should tell him as well, Sirius. I really do."

He snorted.

"Yeah, then we can have a competition. Who will the great James Potter choose? The charming and charismatic woman with the flowing red hair? Or his idiotic homosexual best friend? It's a tough decision, to be sure, but I think -"

"Sirius, stop." Lily looked at him with a pained expression.

"You're going to get hurt, you know that. I don't want to hurt you. I want you to be happy."

Sirius shook her head fervently.

"No, Lily, I'm done being selfish. I can't be happy either way. It's fairly obvious James is not gay. Let's think hypothetically here. Say you didn't tell him you liked him and I did. He'd either think I was sick and want nothing to do with me, or he'd be shocked and get over it in ten years time. Either way, I don't get him. However, if you don't tell him you like him, then neither of us will get him. And in ten years time, presuming we're all still friends, you and I will have to put up with him being with someone else. Lily, if it were anyone, I would want it to be you. And it will be. Promise me you'll tell him."

Lily leapt up and flung her arms around his neck.

"Alright, I will. Thank you, Sirius, I won't forget this. I'm so sorry…for everything."

"It's okay," he replied gruffly. "Now, go get him. And tell me all about it when you've finished."

Lily pulled away and raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, maybe I couldn't handle that!"

Half an hour later…

"Hey boys, how's business doing?"

The Marauders stared at Anna, gobsmacked.

"How…?"

"Oh, I borrowed some hair lengthening solution from Trent here. Works wonders. Anyway, he wants to check out the Shrieking Shack, anyone want to show him in?" She glanced at Sirius slyly.

"Oh, um, sure thing…" Sirius gave her a quizzical look, before gesturing at Trent to follow him.

Anna grinned after them, before turning back to James, Peter and Remus, who were gazing at her in awe.

"It looks…wow," was all James could say.

Remus glared at him, as Anna looked more than pleased. Her hair was certainly back to its old self. Long and golden, it ended halfway down her spine, and sparkled in the sunlight. She knew it looked nice. But she didn't need flattery from James Potter.

"Remus, what do you think?" She asked him innocently.

Remus blushed.

"Yeah Moony, what do you reckon?" James waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Remus continued to redden.

"Yeah Remmie-boy, what's your opinion?" Peter asked.

"Wormtail, it kinda stopped being funny after you opened your mouth," James said. "And Remmie-boy?"

"Oh, I personally think it's adorable," said Anna, grinning. "You look like the colour of Lily's hair, Remus, by the way, did you know?"

Remus looked like he was about to die.

"Okay!" James cleared his throat. "Wormtail, I think Moony's handling this customer thing quite nicely by himself, don't you?"

"We don't have any customers, Prongs…"

James gave him a withering look.

"Peter, you and I need to check out the rest of these stalls. Now." And he promptly proceeded to drag Peter over to the Gabriel Lucas at the Zonko's stand.

"So how's business been so far?" Anna asked Remus, who was trying to busy himself brushing off his clothes.

"You know, you should wear Muggle clothes more often Remus. They look good on you. Much better than those awful robes."

"Yeah?" His eyes were darting all over the place, trying to look at anything but her.

"Yeah." She smiled at him.

And he couldn't look away. Couldn't look away from her sparkling eyes and glowing hair and soft lips tinged curled in a beautiful smile.

"James!"

He turned around, and saw Lily smiling at him.

"Lily?"

"Hang on." She held up a hand, bending over to catch her breath.

"You been running a marathon or something?"

"Something. Like. That."

She straightened, looking directly into his hazel eyes, that were looking incredibly confused. She looked him over, taking note of his ruffled hair, his strong muscled arms and that area of chest she could see due to his unbuttoned shirt that was threatening to render her unconscious.

"Well, this probably isn't the best time to tell you this, but you know, now or never," she said breathlessly.

James cocked his head curiously.

"The thing is, James, that…"

TO BE CONTINUED

Oh the suspense is killing me!

You think it's killing you. Lily's about to passionately make out with me, and I have to wait until the next chapter.

Prongsy-boy, I wouldn't count on making out with her before I get with Anna. The tension is well and truly there.

Prongsy-boy?

Blame Peter.

That's right, everyone blame me.

Well, you did come up with that ridiculous nickname, Remmie-boy.

But Anna liked it, didn't she?

Oh yeah, she did aye. In that case…

Oh you guys make me sick.

Haha! Padfoot's jealous! He's getting no action!

Yeah, I'm pretty much the new Peter.

Yeah, all you need to do now is hack off that hair of yours, sit around and stuff your face for a few months, and you'll look like him too.

So, another chapter up! I'm horrible, I truly am. But it's a long one…haha I know, no excuse for a cliff-hanger. I'll try and update ASAP! Who will be first? Remus or James? Hehe. I would greatly appreciate any feedback anyone has about my story so far. I have a feeling it may be near the end, although I have some hilarious ideas for later on scenarios, so we'll see. Perhaps a sequel will ensue. But there is certainly more to come. I'm going to try and update my other story too, Marauding Moments, because I haven't in ages. Anyway, let me know what you think, please!

SiriusLoverr