DISCLAIMER:Anything you recognize isn't mine besides I am a poor college student who owns nothing so suing me would be pointless.

BLPoS

Mistakes

BLPoS

It was the end of the day and James was more and more convinced that Lily wasn't herself. He decided it was time to bring it up to Sirius on the way to dinner. Sirius was good at reading women, or at least he claimed to be. They were a corridor away from the Great Hall when James finally brought it up. James grabbed Sirius' arm to slow him down and began to speak, "Are you sure you didn't notice anything off with Lily today?"

Sirius came to a halt with a sigh. "There's nothing wrong with her, mate. You're working yourself into a fit over the girl."

"You're taking the mic, right? She was late to two of her three classes. She has been happy and smiley to me all day. She hasn't once defamed my character or anything."

"Defamed? What are you … who says defamed?"

"All I'm saying is that something strange is going on. Aren't you the least bit interested in this?"

"Honestly? No, I'm not. Why can't you just be happy that she is into you?" Sirius started to walk down the hallway leaving James behind. "You think you could just accept a gift when you see one."

James looked sharply at Sirius' retreating back, "What did you say?"

Sirius turned back to face James. "What?"

James eyed Sirius closely. "Why aren't you interested in this Padfoot? You would normally be all about getting to the bottom of a mystery."

"This isn't a mystery James! She is into you. Don't question it. Can't you just thank me and move on?"

James and Sirius seemed to realize what Sirius said at the same time because both of their eyes went wide, James' in understanding and Sirius" in horror. "I knew you were involved with this! Figures you would pull something. You better hope that this doesn't ruin my chances with Lily."

"Now you wait a bloody minute. You don't even know if I really did it and if I did do it you should be thanking me on your hands and knees. You're a real piece of work you know that, right? You realize that you're attacking your best friend over some bint who couldn't care less about you?"

James let out an angry exhale, "I've been your best friend since day one: I know when you're responsible for something and you are responsible for this. Just tell me what you did." Sirius started to answer, but James cut him off. "You know what I don't care. Just tell me how to reverse it." Sirius again went to speak, but snapped his mouth shut. "Well go ahead. Don't be shy now. You were so helpful a minute ago." Sirius mumbled something under his breath that James couldn't quite hear. "What?"

Sirius shoved his hands in his pockets and met James' hostile gaze. "Even if I did know what was wrong with Lily I wouldn't necessarily know how to fix it."

James' face turned red with anger and he spoke through gritted teeth. "What do you mean Sirius?"

Sirius scratched the back of his neck as he said, "Well I may not exactly know how to fix it."

"You have got to be kidding me." James looked Sirius up and down, "Oh Merlin you're serious. How could you not know how to fix this? This is just like you. How could you be so irresponsible? I should have known you would bring me nothing but trouble."

"Fine. I'll find the reverse spell or something and put her back to her same boring, James-hating self."

"So you admit it! You did this."

"Yes!" Sirius yelled. "I did it for you, okay. I just wanted to help you. You should have seen yourself. It was pathetic the way you were moping around. I just wanted you to be the old James again. That's what friends do."

"Well I never asked for your help and I don't want your friendship anymore."

Sirius visibly recoiled as if he was slapped. "I see." He straightened his robe around himself and turned on his heel.

James took a few angry breathes before yelling at Sirius' back. "I want her back to normal, Black."

Sirius didn't respond.

BLPoS

James decided not to eat dinner after his argument with Sirius. This was just like Sirius. James was finally making progress with Lily and Sirius had to come ruin everything. If Lily found out that something was done to her she would never believe that he didn't tell Sirius to do it. James just had to make sure that Lily didn't find out about any of this. He just had to hope that Sirius could fix it before she did anything to out of character. The common room was quiet and warm when James entered. He contemplated whether he should go upstairs a take a nap or try to get some studying done by the fire, before choosing to study. He read fifteen pages of his charms text before falling asleep on the couch.

James slept comfortably on the couch until he was shaken back into consciousness. He sat up a little too fast causing the blood to rush from his head in his haste to see who had awoken him. Lily stood in front of him lit by the dying fire behind her. "What time is it?" James asked taking in the deserted common room and dark winter sky.

Lily smiled impishly down at him, "A little past midnight. Are you ready for our date?"

James frowned before remembering that he had said he was going to teach Lily how to make hot chocolate. James laughed as he got up, "I thought this wasn't a date?" Lily's face fell as James started walking to the portrait hole. He was about to exit when he turned to her and said, "Besides, on our first date, I'm going to take you someplace really special. Well, aren't you coming?"

Lily quickly got up to follow James, smile once again present, "Where would we go?"

"I can't ruin the surprise. You'll just have to be there."

Lily gently grabbed James' hand when she caught up to him as if it were the most natural thing for her to do, "Well when is it?"

James looked down at Lily, "Are you saying you want to go on a date?"

Lily swung his hand playfully. "Sure looks that way, doesn't it?"

James smiled, "Alright, then. Next Saturday is a Hogsmeade visit. Let's make it for then."

"Are we going to Hogsmeade?"

James stopped and paced in front of the room of requirement as he answered Lily's question, "Nope." Upon seeing her look of confusion he elaborated, "For where we are going its better if we have the castle to ourselves."

James opened the newly appeared door and motioned for Lily to enter. As they stepped into the room Lily's breath caught, "This is beautiful." They were standing in a cozy sage green kitchen. The cabinets and wood furnishing were all a rich cherry wood and the counters were done in dark granite. "Did you imagine this?"

James grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl on the table. "Naw," he said while taking a bite, "this is what my kitchen looks like. So are you ready to start cooking?"

"Sure." James went over how to make the hot chocolate with Lily a few times before she tried it herself. The first couple of batches had to be thrown out, but she finally got it. Lily and James moved harmoniously around the kitchen as they finished making the final batch of hot chocolate. Lily turned off the heat and handed James the ladle, "Try it for me?"

James took a cautious slurp before nodding at Lily, "Tastes perfect." James poured the hot chocolate into the two waiting cups. Then the room suddenly changed. The kitchen was replaced by a crackling fire in a massive brick fireplace and a cozy maroon love seat. "Did you think of this?"

Lily nodded over the rim of her cup, "You can't drink coco without a fire."

James laughed as he settled onto the couch next to Lily, "How could I forget?"

Lily rested her head on James' shoulder, "It's okay. I forgive you." They sat in a comfortable silence for a while just watching the fire before Lily said in a sleepy voice, "If this was our first date, this would have been a pretty good one."

"I'll keep that in mind for next Saturday." James checked his watch to see that it was just past three in the morning, "You ready to head back?"

Lily met James' eyes then looked down. "Do you think we could stay for just a bit longer?"

James pulled Lily back to him as he settled into the couch again, "We can stay as long as you like."

Lily yawned into his chest before closing her eyes and saying, "If I wasn't careful I could fall right in love with you."

James smiled into Lily's hair, "Would that be so bad?"

Lily nodded, "Mm-hmm, especially since I swore to hate you forever." James' only reply was a soft chuckle.

BLPoS

A/N: Here is the new chapter. Please tell me what you think. There will probably only be a few more chapters (two or three) including the epilogue.