Chapter 25: Dates

Lily ignored the stares she and James were getting as they gave their names to Filch and walked out into the grounds. The sun was shining and there wasn't a cloud in the sky although the air was still quiet chilly. Lily buttoned up her jacket and glanced around at everyone else who was making their way to Hogsmeade. To her surprise two fifth year girls were giving her looks of pure loathing as they swept past her and James flicking their long blonde hair over their shoulders as they waggled their hips and sauntered past.

James didn't give them a second thought. He had eyes only for the beautiful red-head walking beside him. He knew that some fourth year boys were shooting him jealous looks and he made them even more jealous by placing a hand on the small of her back and whispering in her ear.

"You don't mind if we do a bit of shopping first do you? It's Sirius' Birthday on Monday and I haven't actually got his present yet."

Lily nodded, acutely aware of the hand on her back.

James smiled warmly, "Then I have lunch reservations at this place Marlene told me about, it's usually not open to students but Marlene pulled a couple of strings. If you want to that is" James was very aware that it was their first date and the fact that she had hated him for the past six years weighed firmly on his mind, he wasn't going to push her into anything she felt uncomfortable with.

Lily had only had a slice of toast at breakfast and although she wasn't hungry at the moment she knew she would be come lunchtime. She admired the effort James had gone through and was silently relieved they weren't heading anywhere embarrassing.

They had a lovely time shopping and Lily bought some chocolate for Sirius and her mother - whose birthday was also coming up. She found the coincidence that Sirius birthday was on Halloween and the fact that his Patronus and Animagus form were things that represented Halloween very aptly, quiet amusing.

They had just emerged from Gladrags Wizardwear – James was contemplating giving Sirius some new underwear for his birthday, when they accidentally knocked into a group of Slytherins.

Lily gasped as bags of shopping flew everywhere. James rubbed his head after banging it against someone else's.

That other person spoke. "Oh so it was Potter's thick skull, no wonder my head is pounding." The voice belong to Severus Snape.

James scowled, "Back off Sniv...." He stopped himself from finishing that sentence, he knew what happened last time he insulted Snape, he was on a date with Lily and no idiotic Slytherin was going to stop him. "Sorry Snape I didn't see you there." He grabbed his shopping bags and separated what was his and what wasn't. He handed the other bags back to Snape. "Sorry I bumped into you we were in a hurry." He was trying to be nice but it was eating him up inside he wanted to grab his wand and hex the snivelling Slytherin to Tokyo and back but he was enjoying Lily's company to much.

Snape's black eyes moved from James to Lily and widened in surprise. "Lily..." He muttered but Lily's green eyes stared coldly back at him. He moved his eyes from one Gryffindor to the other, slowly putting two and two together. "You're not on a date with this pathetic excuse are you?"

James scowled and thrust his hand in his jacket pocket clutching onto his wand. All rational thinking had been abandoned. The fact that he was Head-Boy and duelling in front of younger students in a small village that had opened their doors in hospitality was not the way he should react. But this ignoramus had just offended him and quiet possibly offended Lily and her taste of boys.

Lily was faster however and before James could even think of a decent hex, Lily had slapped Snape. "For your information Snape. Yes I am on a date with James." She glared at him, took James by the hand and dragged him away. James risked a look back at the Slytherins and saw Snape in the same position he was in before. Stunned, open mouthed and with a greasy hand pressed to the cheek where Lily had slapped him.

He suppressed a laugh, it would have been funny if it had happened last year or if he had been with Sirius, but the fact that he was with Lily and he didn't want to get on bad side this early in the game – in fact he never wanted to get on Lily's bad side and made a mental note to always think rationally and not to mess up where Lily was involved.

Lily was still storming through Hogsmeade her teeth clenched. James managed to extract his hand from her grip and put a firm reassuring hand on her shoulder, bring her to a halt. "Thank you." He said watching the anger fade from her eyes. "Come on a cup of tea will do us both good I think,"

Lily nodded and allowed James to lead her in the direction of the restaurant.

"Mother!" Marlene exclaimed rushing into the arms of her mother. Her mother returned the hug and even extended the same courtesy to Sirius. Marlene tried to hide her smile when Sirius threw her a look over her mother's shoulders. He wasn't used to being hugged by motherly figures.

When hugs had been exchanged Joanne gestured out into the garden. "Since the weather is so nice, we've decided to eat in the garden. I'll just check with Elenea how everything is doing, why don't you give Sirius a tour. Your father's in his office and if you go into your room keep your door open." She added her eyes narrowed in a glare Sirius had seen many a time plastered on Marlene's face. The glare disappeared and was replaced by a grin again: "It's lovely to see you again Sirius. Make your self at home." She gestured around and bustled out the room humming merrily.

Marlene cracked a smile and repeated her mother's gesture. "Lounge/Dining/Communal Gathering Area thing..." She lowered her voice. "Death Eater HQ."

Sirius smiled with her and allowed himself to be half dragged into the hall. "Those double doors lead to the kitchen and that's basically the downstairs. Upstairs we have Father's office and the bedrooms." She took the double staircase two at a time and pointed out various doors all of which were closed. "Father's Office joins on to Parents bedroom. Martyn's room and my room."

Sirius looked around. The house was simple yet grand. The outside looked like a cottage but the inside looked like a mini manor. He thought back to his terraced house in a muggle neighbourhood and snorted at the irony. He glanced at Marlene who was tapping on a door with her wand.

"Come on." She said when she had got the door opened.

Following her, Sirius found himself in a decent sized bedroom. There was a door leading to what could only be a bathroom. There was a desk in the far corner and the wall that backed onto the hallway they had just come from supported three large bookcases. A set of double windows opened up into a spectacular view of Hogwarts and the surrounding forest.

"Sucks doesn't it." She exclaimed kicking off her boots and sitting on her bed. "I come home only to see it every day." She smirked and patted the bed next to her.

Sirius walked over and Marlene pulled him into a kiss. Breathing heavily he gestured to the door. "It's open won't anyone...?" He trailed off as Marlene kissed him again,

"Nah father's in his office and Martyn knocks...." At that moment however the bathroom door burst open and a jet of orange light headed in their direction. They had barely enough time to put up a shield, but once the orange light had ricocheted off and hit one of the bookcase - sending books flying, they both stood up wands poised.

The owner of the jet of light smirked and emerged from the bathroom. "Just checking to see if you're awake and prepared."

Marlene sighed and flopped back down on the bed. Lowering her shield she waved her wand lazily at the fallen books and they all flew back to their respective places. Sirius however stayed standing and gave the figure a penetrating glare.

"What do you want Mar?" Marlene asked coldly.

"Nothing." Martyn said innocently and stepped fully into the room. "Just being over protective."

There was a wheezy giggle from behind Martyn and both Sirius and Marlene looked up in time to see a stocky woman with black hair enter from Martyn's bedroom and come through the shared bathroom.

"Carrow." Sirius spat standing protectively in front of Marlene.

"Black." Carrow sneered and placed a hand on Martyn's shoulder before whispering in his ear.

Martyn nodded. "Sis this is Alecto Carrow, my date for lunch."

Marlene raised an eyebrow and took in the black haired woman with great interest. The only reason why Sirius would know this woman is because of his family name. She heard a door close across the hall. "Put your wands away." She hissed, pushing her own wand up her sleeve just as her father walked in.

"Hello Marli, I thought I heard your voice." Her father said pulling her into a hug. He smiled at Sirius and shook his hand. He then looked around and saw that Martyn and Alecto were present as well. His eyes narrowed. "All getting acquainted I see. Well shall we head downstairs? Your mother says lunch is ready." He gave Martyn a piercing gaze before putting an arm round his daughter and engaging her in a conversation about school. Sirius let Alecto and Martyn go before him not wanting to turn his back on the two Death Eaters.

James glanced over at Lily and watched as she twirled her pasta. The restaurant was quaint and set back into the village, a sign on the door prevented any students from Hogwarts from entering. But Marlene being a local had managed to pull in a couple of favours and when she said that James and Lily were the Head-Students the owners agreed and waited on the couple hand and foot. He took a sip of his wine and smiled as her eyes met his.

Lily blushed and busied herself with her pasta.

"What made you decide to say yes after six years of saying no?" James asked quietly and Lily looked surprised she didn't really know the answer to that question.

"Well put it this way if you weren't so arrogant back on the train when we first met I would have said yes years ago." Lily said thinking. It was true, this whole misunderstanding between them had started back on the train six years ago. She remembered it perfectly the discussion of houses, James and Sirius being cocky and insulting Severus. At that age she was eager to make friends and when she was put in Gryffindor and Severus in Slytherin, she'd hated James and Sirius even more for making it so they couldn't be friends.

James raised an eyebrow. "That's interesting." He mused taking another sip of his wine.

Lily smirked. "You've changed."

James looked at her expectantly. "In what way?"

Lily's face softened as she explained. "I don't entirely know. You're more responsible, and although you're still a practical joker and I have a bet running with Mary and Rebecca that say you'll be the first Head-Boy in the history of Hogwarts to get detention." James grinned cheekily at this. "You started changing last year and with everything that happened to you, the way you handled the Order and your Mothers death, you seemed so much more grown up. You weren't the cocky eleven year old on the train any more you were someone much more adult." She blushed and took a sip of her wine.

"Well thank you." James said lifting her hand and kissing it.

Lily's eyes widened. "For what?"

James smiled his boyish smile, "For giving me a chance."

"My father's not stupid." Marlene said once they had left the house. "He knows something is up but can't really do anything about it out of fear of hurting and losing the people he loves. Mr Crouch is also giving him a hard time."

"Barty's dad?" Sirius asked pulling Marlene closer and placing a arm around her waist.

Marlene nodded. "Aye. Head of Magical Law Enforcement he's basically Father's boss. And probably the main reason why my Father is still in active duty. Father announced his retirement last week so Crouch called him weak for quitting in the height of a war, he said he wants to spend time with his family before the war takes us away too." Marlene shrugged. "Everyone else thinks he's really brave and looks up to him, they think it takes a person with a lot of character to quit like this. I mean it's not as if he's got a cushy desk job, he's out there with his Aurors going after people like Alecto and Martyn. He's turns sixty next year, I know that's still young in our terms but most people at his age are not running around facing death everyday."

She smiled up at Sirius and put her head on his arm. "I think he's really doing it to keep an eye on my brother. As I said he's not stupid, he's put two and two together with his choice of friends and he already believes your family to be in league with Voldemort. Not you obviously." She added when Sirius face twisted into a grimace. "Come on." She said lifting her head off his arm "enough talking lets do something you want to do." And with that she pulled him into Zonko's.

Sirius cheered up immensely, his stocks were running low.

Peter finished his butterbeer and glanced around the packed pub.

Remus sighed at the anxiety of his friend. "They won't come in here Pete, it's just us today."

Peter turned back to Remus and smiled, "We'll have a date that will make the other four jealous." He squeaked a bit too loudly.

Remus cringed as people from neighbouring tables heard the comment. "You say that again and I'll make you sit with those Slytherins over there." He gestured to where Snape, Mulciber, McNair and Evan Rosier sat glaring at anyone who came within three feet of their table.

Peter paled and shook his head vigorously and mimed locking up his mouth and swallowing the key.

Remus shook his head in dispair, "you've just locked your mouth up then opened it to swallow the key, kind of defeats the purpose."

Peter giggled nervously and played with his bottle, lying it on the side and spinning it around on the table.

"Oh I love that game!" A girl squeaked from behind them. "Can we sit with you?" She then added and gestured to her friend.

Remus nodded and shrugged, it wasn't as if they were holding the seats for anyone.

To his horror however the two girls had friends and soon Peter and Remus were surrounded by four girls who looked to be in fifth year. They all giggled and chatted.

"So are you going to spin it or what?" the first girl asked fluttering her eyes at Peter.

Peter looked shocked, he stared at the bottle then up at the fifth year. "Huh?" He flustered.

"Spin the bottle silly, It's a game, you spin the bottle and then who ever it lands on you have to give them a dare, a kiss or ask them a question which they have to answer truthfully."

Remus and Peter both shared horrified glances. What had they let themselves into. Remus tried desperately to think of an excuse, he knew if James and Sirius were here they were laughed it off and have a good game using magic to spin the bottle in their favour. But this was one subject Remus was no good at, he didn't really have any dealings with girls. Girls had asked him out but he had always politely declined, with his condition he couldn't have a girlfriend for fear of hurting her.

He glanced at his watch. "Hey Pete, what time did we say we'd meet Lily and Marlene?"

Peter looked at him blackly and Remus wished that for once, Peter would understand and play along.

"Erm half past two?" He said uncertainly and Remus sighed inwardly with relief. It was quarter to three.

"We're late! Sorry ladies but we have to dash." Remus said standing up quickly and hauling his friend to his feet as well.

The girls looked crestfallen but waved them off happily.

Peter and Remus went straight back to Hogwarts making the silent vow never to speak to the others about what had happened.

A/N: *bounces happily on the bed* I did actually debate not putting their date in, but I figured that I could actually write something about it a split it up with something of semi-importance with Marlene and Sirius. Also I had been toying with the Peter/Remus Date for ages and then my proof reader suggested I add it in for comedic effect. Bless the boys though teehee,