Chapter 2

Sometime after James had finished recouperating, Lily found herself sitting next to him during dinner in the Great Hall. They hadn't mentioned the incident of the full moon since, although it felt as if a weight had been lifted from them. On Lily's other side, Alice talked animatedly with Frank and Ramus. Peter sat across without talking to anyone in particular, as Sirius had purposely been ignoring him for several days following his dissapearance during the new moon. Suddenly James spoke to Lily,"So how's it going with that Diggory fellow? Haven't seen him sulking outside the Gryfindor common room recently."

"I'm avoiding him. After two dates he started trying to get very hands on. He keeps sending me owls about a third date but so far I've had a Divination paper, the dragon flu, and the joyous birth of a niece to keep me occupied." Lily recited proudly.

James snorted out some of his pumpkin juice, but when he recovered he made Lily a proposition. "I could help you get rid of him."

"I'm not going to kill Amos!"

James looked pensive. "That's another option, but no, that's not what I meant. I can help you…sabotage your next date, make it impossible for the two of you to continue…."

Lily's interest rose. "What did you have in mind?"

"I have a few suggestions. Follow me."

Marlene gave her a quizzical look as Lily rose to follow James, but Lily only shrugged. They exited the Great Hall and began plotting.

When Amos Diggory laid out the picnic blanket on the grass, he was thinking of the many ways he could try to get Lily to kiss him. So far his attempts had been unsuccessfuld, but today he felt triumphant. He thought he'd come up with quite a cleverly romantic date to get Lily to put out.

Lily approached with a grand smile on her face. She set the picnic basket down and before sitting gave a quick nod far behind Amos, where James was sitting with the rest of his friends. He winked trying to catch the little golden snitch flying about.

"My dearest Lily-flower," Amos began, and Lily was already sick to her stomach. "I am thrilled you accepted my invitation to have this little picnic. I thought we could just sit here and enjoy food and the scenery, let it inspire us and lead us…"

Lily confirmed he had no interest in ever really talking to her. "That sounds lovely. I'm actually quite thirsty. She grabbed the juice and started pouring some for herself. "Would you like some as well Amos?"

"Certaintly." He handed her the cups and started admiring his reflection on his sunglasses.

"This juice is great Amos, so refreshing." She was starting to dislike even what she was saying.

"Thanks, I added something special for the occasion."

Lily looked flustered. "What, what do you mean?"

"A little fire whiskey to get the mood going." His nostrils flared suggestively. A nervous laugh escaped from Lily as Amos too drank from the doctored drink, all in one shot.

"Now Lily," He said, getting closer, "I know we've only just started dating."-"I'm not sure I'd call it that.."-"But I'm smitten with you," he inched further in and wrapped his arm around her neck. -"That's so…kind of you." She tried to escape his clutches but the headlock was working well."Well don't you think we should take our relationship to the next level?"He began leaning in-"I'm quite sure I don't agree"-"Nonesense!" He continued his quest.

And just when Lily thought there was no physical way he could lean in any closer, the most ungracious and boisterous sound emanated from Amos's mouth, accompanied by an appropriately pungent and fetid odor. Lily recoiled and Amos rushed to cover his mouth. He started sweating, desperately trying to figure out how to recover. "Excuse me Lily, it must be the juice. I shouldn't have had so much." Lily could only purse her lips as she heard James' s faint laughter in the distance.

"Let's start again, I feel better." Amos insisted. Lily was too shocked at his persistency to slap his hands away from her shoulders. But again as he leaned in the loud burp escaped him. He stumbled back in shock, then leaned in again, and again, and again, each time with more obnoxious and malodorous results. Lily's eyes began to water."I-I-this has never happened to me before Lily." He got up quickly."I can't do this anymore. It's true what they say, that James Potter cast a curse on you. It's not worth it!" He gathered all of his belongings, shoving Lily aside to pick up his blanket, and hurried far away from her.

After Amos was a suitable distance away, Lily sank on the grass and exploded with laughter. She started tearing, and hiccups soon took over. Then James joined her, laughing as carefree as she did. Eventually they calmed down and looked at each other, both wearing goofy grins. James his head on his elbow. "I don't think he'll be bothering you anymore."

"No most definitely not, he thinks I've been cursed by you and that that was why he couldn't control his bodily functions around me."

"Why does he think I cursed you?" Now James was confused.

"I may have started a rumor myself when Ryan Montgomery ask me out in third year. Severus didn't like him, and it was the easiest thing I could think of to get him off my back." Her eyes saddened a bit but she shook out her head and put on a new smile while they stood up. "Anyway, always a pleasure doing business with you Potter." She extended her hand, and he shook it, if only for slightly too long.

"Any time Evans. You know I treasure these moments." He gave her a wicked grin.

Her heart did that fluttering again, but her expression never faltered. "I'll see you at dinner." With a wave she was off, leaving James admiring her retreating view and wishing she had stayed a little while longer.