Chapter 43: Hex-date

"What do you think Jamie's up to?" Ivy asked Lily as they walked down to the dungeons for double potions.

"I don't know." Lily answered, "How do you know she's up to anything at all?"

"Have you seen the way she's been acting?" Lily thought back. Admittedly Jamie was acting strange, she'd come in late, her friends hadn't seen a lot of her, and she was up at all hours trying to finish essays that she should have finished earlier that day when she claimed to be in the library.

"Maybe it's just the stress from NEWTS. I mean they really soon." Lily said. February had ended and March was quickly coming to a close as well. NEWTS were going to be in the beginning May.

"Have you ever seen Jamie worry about exams though? I mean that would be like James and Sirius actually paying attention in History of Magic." Ivy disagreed.

"He's gotten better." Lily protested.

"Yeah. Sure." But they both knew they hadn't improved much. Just the other day they were playing spit-wad-darts. Five points if you get it through Binns without him catching you. Surprisingly they didn't get caught.

"Okay, so he's not perfect." Lily allowed.

"Clearly. Hey, what about Remus and Ambre?"

"What about them?"

"Are they going out yet?"

"Yes. Didn't you hear, he asked her out ten days ago, I think. They went for lunch." Lily answered.

"How do I not know these things?"

"I'm not sure. Ambre was gushing about it for a good week."

"Hmm." She said. Then gasped startling Lily.

"What?"

Ivy looked over, smiling at Lily. "You and James."

"What about us?" Lily asked cautiously. But Ivy was looking ahead of them at Ambre who was coming their way.

"Ambre!" Ivy called. Ambre looked up from the notes she was trying to go over. She smiled when she saw who it was.

"Hello." She said.

"Hey Ambre." Ivy replied, "Do you want to go on a study date with Remus, James and Lily?"

"You really don't have to." Lily cut in.

"Oh, um, I'd have to talk to Remus about it."

"Are you sure?" Lily asked. She had work to do and she wouldn't be able to get any done on a study date.

"Of course she's sure. We'll talk later about it." Ivy insisted talking over Lily.

"Okay. I guess I'll see you later than." Ambre said.

"Yep. See yah." Ivy waved pulling Lily forward.

"What was all that about?" Lily demanded.

"I just got you a date."

"A date?" James asked coming up behind them, Sirius close by. "With who?"

"You." Ivy told him as he slung an arm around Lily.

"Really?" he asked.

"You could so easily say no." Lily told him, a little hopeful.

"Why would I want to do that?"

"Because it's a date with Remus."

"I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that threesome." James told her.

"Yes, it would be so much more fun with me." Sirius said putting his elbow on James' shoulder. James just laughed pushing him away.

"It wouldn't be a threesome." Ivy told them impatiently. "Ambre would be there."

"So it would be like a double date?" James asked.

"Yes. Maybe Mary could go with her new boyfriend." Ivy went on.

"Mary has a new boyfriend?" Sirius asked.

"Yep. He's a seventh year Ravenclaw, so really smart. He's pretty cute too."

"Who is it?"

"Um," Ivy thought, "Lily, can you remember his name?"

"He plays seeker doesn't he?" Lily asked.

"I think so."

"Ryley?" Sirius demanded.

"That's the one!" Ivy said pointing to Sirius. "Maybe they could go too."

"Ivy, why do we even have to have this group date thing anyway?" Lily asked.

"Because, it would be so cute. You and James with all your friends and their boyfriends. I should get a date."

"Go with me!" Sirius said suddenly. Lily looked at him, he looked almost desperate.

"Um, I kind of wanted to go with this Hufflepuff." Ivy told him. "Sorry. You could go with Jamie, if you really wanted to go."

"You could go with Pete." James teased.

"No. I can just ask Jamie." Sirius agreed reluctantly.

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After classes and supper the group study date was all set up. Sirius had managed to get Jamie to go with him, Mary was going with Ryley, James with Lily, Remus with Ambre, Ivy with her Hufflepuff, Cory, even Peter was going with someone James and Sirius set him up with, she was a Slytherin named Tori. Lily had a bad feeling about that many couples all together in the library.

Lily was changing into her pajamas and then going down to lounge with James before bed. Jamie was gone but Ivy and Mary were in the girl's dormitory.

"Have either of you noticed something weird with Jamie and Sirius?" Mary asked.

"See I told you!" Ivy exclaimed. "It's not just me."

"You two are just paranoid." Lily told them pulling on her soft pants.

"I think somethings up." Mary insisted.

"Do you think there's still tension from that kiss?" Ivy asked.

"But that was ages ago." Mary reminded her.

"Want some?" Ivy asked her holding out a box of cookies her mom had sent her.

"Thanks." Mary took one.

"Do you think they're secretly dating?" Ivy asked.

"No." Mary said quickly. "I mean, Sirius isn't one to hide things like that."

"Well neither was Lily and James, but they didn't tell anyone for, what a month?"

"I am standing right here." Lily said pulling out her brush from the night table.

"I'm just saying." Ivy assured her. Lily ran her brush through her hair.

"You don't think they are, do you?" Mary asked slowly chewing on her cookie.

"I doubt it. Jamie promised you she wouldn't." Ivy shrugged shuffling through the tin.

"Right." Mary mumbled looking into her lap, brushing crumbs onto the carpet.

"I'm going to go now. See you later." Lily said swinging the door open.

"Night." Ivy called to her before she left.

Down in the Common Room James and Remus were playing a game of chess. Since Remus and Ambre had become a couple, rarely outside of class were they separated. Then was no different. Their hands were entwined, resting in her lap. She idly played with his fingers, or traced his scars, although she had no idea where he got them from she wasn't asking. Occasionally she'd whisper something in his ear making him grin and nod, or whisper something back.

"Lily! Thank my lucky underpants. This is by far, the loneliest game of chess I've ever played." James told her. Lily just smiled standing next to him.

"Come on, it can't be that bad."

"Do you see this?" He demanded waving a hand at Remus and Ambre. "And I'm still losing."

"He's been in check for the last twelve minutes." Remus informed her.

"And you haven't lost yet?" Lily asked.

"Well, I am Quidditch Captain. I have tactic."

"He's just too suborn to surrender." Ambre said, a smile stuck on her face. James glared at her, clearly insulted. But he quickly let it go.

"You used to play against Remus didn't you?" James asked.

"Occasionally. Why?"

"You could help me." He said smiling hopefully.

"That's cheating." Remus told him.

"It is not. Besides the two of you have been cheating."

"Have not."

"You've been whispering back and forth. Cheating." James declared.

"We haven't even been talking about chess." Remus said.

"Then what...? Never mind." James turned to Lily. "I like your pajamas."

"Why thank you." Lily said running a hand over the pants' fabric.

"They're very nice." James told her.

"Again. Thanks. I like your too." She said. He was wearing a plain white t-shirt and dark blue flannel pants.

"They are pretty sexy huh?" he asked making Lily laugh.

"So sexy." She giggled.

"It's your turn." Remus told him. James looked back down at the board where his king looked trapped. He blinked at the pieces trying to figure out his next move.

"I think I should just stick with Quidditch. What do you think?" He asked the room still scanning the board.

"How do you even find time to play this game?" Lily asked him.

"What do you mean?" James asked resting his chin on the table to get a closer look, as if that would give him the secret move that would let him win.

"Well you have NEWTS, homework, detention, patrolling, school, Quidditch, eating, sleeping, your friends, and me. But yet you still find time to play chess." Lily explained.

"Lily, Lily, Lily. It's very simple. I'm with you and a friend right now. I only have to worry about Quidditch during practice and weekends, I don't worry about NEWTS at all, patrolling is only every once in a while, detention can be avoided and eating is a great time to catch up on work or be with you. Leaving plenty of time for chess and sleep. Although right about now I could really use some advice on how to win."

"Bishop to F2. You've had Remus in check for a while now." Lily said. Both boys looked at the board in disbelief.

"How did I miss that?" Remus asked. But James hooted in victory telling his bishop where to go.

"Take that Moony!" James said loudly. "I win! Oh yeah!" he stood up doing a little victory dance. But Remus continued to stare at the board dumb-struck.

"But, I was winning." Remus said confused.

"But you missed it," James told him, "Haha! I win!"

So there you have it. Nothing really significant happened in this chapter. But did anyone catch the chapter title name and it's meaning? If not here you go: Hex, like hexagon, is six. Six couples going on a date. Also hex, because you all know that if that many wizards are going on one large group date something is going to go wrong. Especially if you have Mary with her boyfriend and Jamie and Sirius. And REVIEW please.