A/N: Quickly, Sorry to my readers for taking so long to update.

It was a rainy, gloomy Tuesday morning. Harry walked to Herbology with James who seemed to be deep in thought.

"Harry?" He asked suddenly. "How come Lily doesn't like me?"

Harry blinked, stopping short. How was he supposed to answer that? "Umm, I dunno." He shrugged uncomfortably. "Why don't you ask her?"

James snorted. "I don't think so. I mean anything short of dragging her in a broom closet and forcing a love potion down her throat, I don't know what to do."

Harry continued walking, contemplating what to say. It wasn't like he'd had had much luck with girls. The Cho incident had been a fiasco. "Um, I think you should be nicer to her. I mean-." He added hastily as James opened his mouth looking hurt, "You should stop trying to impress her and just be yourself. Try, uh, not being so obvious." He sounded like Oprah.

James looked thoughtful. "You think I should do that? Like compliment her and that?"

"Um, sure." Harry sighed. "She thinks you're sort of a bighead."

"She told you that?" James suddenly looked wary.

"No. Herm-No!" Harry said hastily, guessing what James had assumed. "Hermione told me."

"Oh." James paused, and then attempted a smile. "You know, you and Hermione…you'd make a cute couple. You know, for the dance."

Harry smiled back weakly. "Um thanks, but I have, uh, someone else in mind."

James laughed. "Wow, you've only been here a few days! Who is it, Nina?"

Harry shook his head. "Uh, no." It was at that moment the painting behind them shouted, "You're late for class."

Harry sped up. "C'mon, we'd better go."

The two dashed down to Herbology.

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"Nice hair Lily."

Lily looked up in surprise to see the infuriating Potter looking at her. "What's so special about it?" She demanded. "I'm wearing it the same way I always do."

"It's just nice." Lily tilted her head to see if he was joking, but he just smiled slightly and went back to talking to Black.

Lily opened her mouth and then closed it. What was up with him? Why wasn't he launching into one of his stupid quidditch stories that only Pettigrew ever listened to, or staring at her with annoying lovesick eyes? She wasn't used to this type of subtleness from him.

Shaking her head, Lily turned back to Lira and Hermione who sat with her doing their increasing piles of homework. Lira winked at her before opening her spell book. She seemed to find this whole James fiasco funny! Hermione however, was staring at Potter, Black and Lupin. It was obvious she was dreaming about one of them.

Lily leaned over. "Who is it? Remus?"

Hermione jumped like she'd sat on a porcupine and dropped her quill. She stooped to pick it up, her face red. "Wha-what? I, no! I mean-." She looked at Lily helplessly.

Lily shrugged. "Hey, don't worry. Remus is okay."

Hermione smile weakly. "Uh, thanks Lily, but I don't-oh never mind."

Lily leaned back, smiling wickedly. "So who do you think'll pair up? You know, for the dance."

Hermione shrugged. Lira looked around. "Hmm, I'd say 'mione's either with Remus or Harry."

Hermione shook her head, but she didn't say anything.

"And I'm not sure about Wesley. Petey's gonna have problems."

"That's true." Hermione said hastily turning the conversation away from her. "I think Nina'll pair up okay with Remus."

"Yeah, and Sammi and Black'll make a cute couple." Lira continued.

Hermione felt her heart freeze for some weird reason. She took a couple of deep breaths.

Lily snorted. "Cute? They'll be mauling everyone on the dance floor."

Lira smiled. "I bet Potter'll do better than them."

Lily sighed. "I just wish he'll stop chasing me. It's annoying."

"Tough." Lira agreed. "He's so hot though. And he's the best quidditch star in our year."

"Why don't you go with him?" Lily demanded.

Lira shook her head and tapped her chest. "My heart's reserved for Derek Damon."

"He was looking at you in Transfiguration." Lily said.

"Really?" Lira squealed. They began to talk furiously. Hermione sighed and buried her head into her hands.

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Harry and Ron sank into the chairs of the Gryffindor table at lunch and quickly loaded their plates.

"I'm starved!" Ron said thickly through a mouthful of beef pot pie.

Harry nodded. "And we thought we had it bad in our time." He stopped, looking around to make sure that no one had heard. "Sorry." He added in a lower voice.

Ron shrugged, looking up and waved. "Hey Hermione!"

"Hey you guys." Hermione sank into the seat next to Harry. "I was going to sit down but…" She stopped as she glanced across the table at where Sirius and Sammi were busy throwing grapes at each other.

She immediately pulled a plate of scallops over to her and began shoveling them into her mouth.

Harry and Ron took one look at her and groaned.

"More SPEW?" Ron demanded, looking rather green. "Hermione! Hasn't Kreacher or Dobby taught you anything?"

"I really don't think we have time-." Harry began.

"It's not that." Hermione mumbled through her food. "And it's S-P-E-W, Ron."

"Hermione!" Ron looked slightly alarmed. "What are you doing then? More liberation rights for what, the walking suits of armor?"

Harry quickly changed a laugh into a cough.

Hermione chose to ignore him and stood up. "Well, I'm off to the library. I think I'm the only one around here willing to do something about this mess."

"What mess?" Harry asked Ron in bewilderment. "What's she talking about?"

Ron shrugged, helping himself to a treacle tart. "Must be the time of month."

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After lunch, Lily departed for potions while the rest of them had free time-er, homework time.

"You think I'm doing all right?" James asked anxiously as Harry and Ron sat down at the Marauders' table.

"Yeah sure." Harry said grinning. "I think she's reconsidering."

The talk sank into homework topics…for about a minute. Presently it sank back into, of course, speculations on the dance.

"We're a sorry bunch. " Sirius said, leaning back. "No dates at all." He didn't seem particularly worried.

"I've got Lily though." James said quickly as if anyone else would try to steal her.

"You should ask her quickly. " Remus said from behind his book. "Before Derek Damon-."

"Oh gods!" Sirius and James said at the same time and made the sign against evil across their chest.

"I'm serious." Remus said, struggling not to give in to laughter like the others.

"I know." James became solemn again. "I'll ask her today."

The others stared. It was obvious they hadn't thought he would actually do anything to promote his relationship with Lily.

"What?" James asked in annoyance. "All I have to do is go up to her and ask her."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Sure. Just don't blame us if she decides to decapitate you."

James looked slightly alarmed.

Remus pushed Sirius and twisted around to face James. "Ask her Prongs."

"Go for it." Harry encouraged.

James took several deep breaths. "You really think so?"

"No, we just said you should but we didn't mean it." Sirius said sarcastically. He was instantly jabbed in the ribs by Remus.

Antsy with nerves, James stood up and decided to go for a walk.

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It was late afternoon. Sirius and Harry sat together by the fire, neither saying a word. Harry sneaked a look at his future godfather. Sirius looked much like he did in the scene Harry had seen in the pensieve. He was still thin, with longish casual looking black hair. Harry could never get over how different the eyes were from the ones he was so used to seeing, the ones that always held a dead look in them.

Sirius caught him looking and winked. At that moment, James came bounding in looking ecstatic. He grabbed Sirius' arm, pulling him roughly to his feet.

"I asked her!"

"Asked who?" Sirius rubbed his ear.

"Lily!" James danced around before collapsing into an armchair.

"I take it she said yes?" Harry asked, feeling genuinely happy.

James hesitated. "Well no….but she said maybe!"

The other two stared at him. Sirius rolled his eyes. "Well I guess that's better than no."

"It sure is. " James said enthusiastically, well unaware of the sarcasm in his friends' words.

Harry looked at him uncomfortably. "Well you do know that means she can say no later."

James sat up abruptly, looking wild eyed having not thought of this, and then sank back into his chair and waved his hand in dismissal. "There's only 3 days left. She won't have time to dump me and find another guy."

"Sure." Sirius said.

James looked thoughtful as he tapped his fingers against his thigh. "And neither of you can say Lily'll get picked up by Derek Damon if she does dump me because I just heard he's asked someone today."

There came a gasp among the eavesdropping girls.

Harry laughed with relief. "Hey, now we won't have to deal with any more swooning girls."

"Just break the news to Lira slowly." Sirius said grinning. "I give her 3 seconds before she faints."

"Nah, 2." Harry said and they all laughed. "Hey James, do you know who Derek asked"

"Nope." James made a disgusted face. "Probably some wide eyed blonde hanging onto his every word. Anyway, you guys have to get going or all the good ones will be gone."

Harry bit his lip. His dad was right. He had to stop stalling. If he didn't ask Sammi soon, somebody else will. He sat up and scanned the room in vain.

"What's up?" Sirius asked.

"Where's Sammi?" Harry asked, then noticing the raised eyebrows, quickly added, "I want to you know, talk to her about quidditch."

"Sure." James smirked. "Anyway, the master's here." He pointed at himself before scanning the room. "Nah, Taglia's not here. Maybe she'll come later."

Harry nodded and quickly sat back, not at all anxious to promote his feelings. "Soo…um, did you guys start the Mistletook essay yet?"

He was met with groans.

James shook his head. "Harry-." He stopped. "Hey look, Sammi just came in."

Harry's head snapped up. Sure enough, the familiar short figure was standing by the portrait hole. She looked out of breath and confused.

Harry stood up. "Wait a minute guys." He slowly walked towards her feeling as if he were in a dream. Sammi 's cheeks were flushed, and her grey eyes glowed. She caught sight of Harry and something flickered in her face.

"Er, hi Sammi." Harry began.

"Hey." Sammi smiled at him in a way that sent shivers up his back.

How was he supposed to do this? Harry opened his mouth. "Sammi, will you-."

"Hey Sammi!"

They both turned around to see Nina coming over with a very dejected Lira in tow. "Did you hear? Derek Damon's asked someone out today!"

Lira scowled. "Wonder who it is. No one knows." She sighed longingly.

Sammi bit her lip. "I know."

Lira, Nina and Harry all stared at her. "What?"

"I know who he asked."

"Who?" Lira demanded. "Tell me!"

Sammi took a deep breath. "Me. Derek Damon asked me to the dance...and I said yes."

Mua ha ha. I'm soooo mean to Harry. Ah well, no one said life was fair. Thanks to all my readers who stuck with me. Many apologies for this 2 long intermission, but I was writing another story, and then the fanfiction server woldn'tlet me upload. Don't worry, I'll continue this one if people like it.

More HG/SB to come, don't worry!

Thanks again for all the wonderful people who reviewed.