March 13th, 1977

"You lied… to me?"

James Potter rubbed the back of his neck and let out a tired sigh. He walked alongside his best mates on the way to the Quidditch Pitch. Although he was a particularly decent liar, James found it most difficult to lie to his mates. It was probably due to the fact that they were also fantastic fibbers. Most of the time, he lied with them, not at them.

The Quidditch Captain looked down at his chubby friend whose watery eyes were particularly moister than usual. He gulped before saying, "It wasn't lying, Peter. I swear, I wanted to tell you. I was just… nervous."

"Or omitting, for the sake of another potential snog with Lily," Remus Lupin clarified blandly. The prefect was surprised by the details of James' second snog with his co-prefect, but remained neutral as possible. He didn't want to over-excite James and distract him from their upcoming match.

James looked as if he was about to refute his friend's observation, but nothing came out except "this is true."

Peter crossed his arms chest and pouted like a petulant toddler. He felt oddly left out.

"And Camilla saw you two snog behind the tapestry?" asked Sirius Black.

Peter grimaced at the thought. "Seems itchy," he grumbled, unconsciously scratching his arms.

"It was actually rather soft," James revealed. "And no, Camilla didn't catch us. Your experiment with Allen distracted Evans and she ran off."

Sirius whistled. "Mate, perhaps we need to work on your snogging skills because this now twice that the bird has run away from you."

"She winked at me afterwards," James countered.

Sirius shrugged. "Maybe you passed her a twitching hex."

The tallest Marauder did his best to hold back from punching his best mate in the nose. His more rational side reminded me him that the Gryffindors needed him – he was their stronger beater. "Either way, I think Evans enjoys snogging me. It's just that, er, we're complicated."

"Yeah," Remus agreed with a scoff, "years worth of complications. And speaking of complicated, why were you giddier than a goblin with gold walking into Potions on Friday, Sirius?"

Sirius pursed his lips but chose to remain silent. This quietness was a dead give away for something juicy.

James raised a brow. "Spill it, Sirius," he demanded.

"Can't a bloke just be happy to mix liquids?"

"Only if it means you get to mix your liquids with a bird's," smirked Peter.

James patted Peter on the shoulder, like a proud father. "That was rather crude, Pete. I like that." The small one beamed brighter than a boy on Christmas day.

"Fine," Sirius said shortly, "I'm going on a date."

James, Peter, and Remus both stopped walking. This was a rather long walk to the Pitch, if one could not tell. These gentlemen truly enjoyed a good gossip session.

"A date?" Remus repeated in a low voice, as if he had spoken the Dark Lord's name.

"Yes, a date, you prick," Sirius spat.

"Like where you eat food?" Peter asked.

"And talk before shagging?" added James.

Sirius let out an irritated groan and walked ahead. "Yes! A fucking date, you arseholes."

"With whom?" James asked, catching up to his mate. This information was like a comet hurling down towards Earth. Sirius Black did not date, and everyone knew that. Shit, even the most hopeful birds knew this. In the past five years, Sirius never expressed interest in conversing with a girl unless it ended with a consensual yes to sex. James just had to know.

Sirius froze. He thought of many ways he would explain his bet to James and would tweak his words to make sure that no one would end up with bruises. However, all hope seemed truly lost. Maybe Sirius could dodge his taller friend.

"Marlene," Sirius said after a moment.

Beat.

Another Beat.

And another one.

"Marlene McKinnon?" Peter repeated.

"Do we know any other Marlene?" Sirius asked impatiently.

"I was hoping," the small one murmured, "for your sake."

Sirius looked at James, who looked like he had been hit in the face with a buldger. He bit his lip before saying, "Oh, come on, James. It's just a date."

"But you don't date," James said simply.

"I want to try."

"Bullocks."

"No, seriously."

"Punny."

Sirius rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I've come to some sort of bet with Marlene."

Peter began to bite his nails while Remus tried to hold back his laughter, because this was not a funny matter.

"A bet?" James asked incredulously, throwing his arms in the air. "What is she? A prize at a casino?"

"No, of course not! Merlin, James. I'm into her."

James let out a long laugh of disbelief. He ran a hand through his hair and tugged at the roots a bit. Before he could find some sort of counter argument or insult, his rage accumulation faltered a bit when a dark haired girl approached them.

"Hi," Dorcas Meadowes said awkwardly, putting up a hand. Her eyes darted to each of the boys before asking, "Am I interrupting something?"

"No, no," Sirius said quickly, bringing the small Slytherin girl closer to him. He maneuvered her body so that she stood in between James and himself. "You came right on time, as usual."

Dorcas glared at him as he smiled, pathetically. Sirius coughed into a closed fist. "So, Meadowes, how can we help you?"

"I was wondering if I could speak to Remus, just for a moment," Dorcas said. She didn't even look at the boy. "I don't want to interrupt an important discussion though-"

"No, please do," smiled Sirius. He clapped his hands together before moving past his two calm friends and a glaring James. "I'll see you lot in a bit. I'm pretty sure I hear my mum calling for me. Oh, yes, Walburga! Coming!" Sirius ran off in a blink of an eye.

"I'm going to murder him," James said, stalking off after him.

Peter was not far behind, leaving Remus and Dorcas alone. For the first time in weeks. The two stared at the ground for a long moment, and then finally looked at each other in the eyes. She had been avoiding his gaze for what felt like forever, so when Remus finally got a glance into those cool blue eyes, he felt a wave of relief rush through his body.

"So," Dorcas started, owning the awkwardness as she shifted her weight from her toes to her heels, "have you been all right?"

Remus tried casualness, but he was never particularly good at it. He shrugged, "Yeah, I okay. Crap. I mean I am okay." He wanted to punch himself in the face.

At least it lightened up the mood. Dorcas smiled a bit and let out a breathy chuckle. She nodded, "I'm glad."

"And yourself?" Remus asked.

"Yeah, coping. Trying to not eavesdrop on every conversation possible."

"Must be noisy in there," he said, referring to her head but pointing to his own.

"Quite. I can't help but hear voices. Including yours."

There was an intentional tone to her voice that made Remus stand up a little straighter. He knew that Dorcas was referring to the endless amount of internal apologies he tried to relay. Even though it was embarrassing and he'd never admit it to his friends, Remus was definitely not sorry for bombarding her with those sentiments.

"I know you are sorry," Dorcas revealed, obviously in tune with his mind.

"I am sorry," he said. It felt good to say aloud and have her listen.

Dorcas nodded. She began patting her hair flat, feeling a bit twitchy herself. "It's just that… I needed time to forgive you. It was hard for me to understand that you weren't doing it out of spite, but out of… care."

Remus blinked a few times, shocked at that she would even think he would try to hurt her. "I only wanted to protect you… you know, from all the shite you would've gotten from the Usupers," he explained. "I know that you can protect yourself, clearly, but… still."

Dorcas reached out to him and put her hand on his shoulder. "I know that," she said with a smile. She tapped the right side of his temple and said, "You couldn't shut up about it."

Remus smirked, trying not to think about her warm touch. "I'm glad you're listening."

She blushed faintly and immediately pulled her hand back. She bit the inside of her cheek before adding, "But don't lie to me again."

"Don't think I could if I even wanted to," Remus shrugged.

Dorcas gave him an appraising sort of look. She enjoyed his company because it felt like coming home, feeling finally at peace.

"They look sorted," noted Marlene McKinnon as she peered over her round sunglasses.

Lily Evans was unsure of what her friend was talking about, but caught on when she saw Remus and Dorcas enter the non-competitng stands together. Although Remus would normally join the Gryffindor side, it seemed he was more interesting in staying by Dorcas' side. They were laughing about something, and both of the Debbie Downers actually appeared content.

"They're sweet," Lily smiled. "It would be nice if they started dating."

"Have you ever heard of either one of them dating?" asked Marlene. "Remus is the king of Hit-it-and-Quit, but the nice way. And who knows about Dorcas."

Lily made a face. "People change," she said with an air of defiance.

The blond raised her brow and leaned forward. She sniffed Lily several times, before she was eventually swatted away.

"What're you doing?" Lily glared, crossing her arms.

"I smell bullshite coming."

"Oh, sod off, McKinnon."

"You have some dirty secrets in that hair of yours, Lily Evans. Now, share," Marlene demanded.

"I have no secrets and nothing dirty on me, thank you very much," She said irritably.

"Who did you snog?" Marlene asked next.

Lily turned a fire red, almost the color of all of her freckles. Her eyes widened as she tried not to look into Marlene's piercing eyes.

"Holy Merlin, you did snog someone," Marlene laughed wildly, clapping her hands together. "Damn, I thought I was just going to the extreme to make you upset. Ha! So, was it my cousin again or another poor soul?"

"Did he tell you?" Lily asked quickly, biting her lip.

Marlene smirked because this was as easy as singing her chromatic scales. "Oh, Lily dear, all you need is 10% of intuition to put two-and-two together. Also, I've been waiting for you two to get nasty for years now."

"Get nasty," Lily repeated, repulsed. "We are not doing that."

"Pardon me if you don't think swapping saliva and taste buds isn't nasty," Marlene apologized, "but either way, tell me about it!"

"He's your cousin," groaned Lily. "Isn't that a bit strange for you?"

"James told me the gory bits and details of his first wank and shag. Trust me, I can handle him snogging my best mate."

Lily rubbed the bridge of her nose. Luckily, she did not have time to share the post-potions episode because Caradoc Dearborn's voice boomed throughout the Pitch. He welcomed the students to another match, Gryffindor v. Hufflepuff.

"NOW, LET'S MEET OUR CAPTAINS! HUFFLEPUFF'S SCARLETT CARBON!"

Scarlett Carbon was a strong-looking seventh year with dark skin and short afro appeared from the Hufflepuff tent. She zoomed around in sharp quick movements, showing off her skills as a seeker. The Hufflepuff section cheered loudly for the well-loved captain.

"AND NOW, THE BIG-HEAD HIMSELF, GRYFFINDOR'S JAMES POTTER!"

"Jeez, Dearborn," chuckled Marlene. "Why don't you say how you really feel?"

Normally, James performed his most outlandish trick for the audience during Captain roll-call. Today, he just flew out with a stern look on his face. He flew out faster than Carbon had and waited for the rest of his team to enter in behind, on Dearborn's call.

Lily noted his tense shoulders and could even see the mean glare in his eyes. She wondered what got him so riled. She knew that he took the sport seriously, but he always had fun while flying. His enjoyment was part of the reason why it was so compelling to watch James fly.

"He looks constipated," Marlene grumbled.

"I wonder what happened," Lily added.

"It best not get the better of him," Marlene huffed. "I bet Emmeline my favorite sapphire nail polish on this game."

Gryffindor lost by 5 points.

As the Gryffindor students piled back into the locker room, the mood was dark as if a gray cloud hung above all of them. It wasn't because they lost as much as because they all played like rookies. The only reason why they lost merely by five points was due to the fact that Esmerelda Smith, their seeker, caught the snitch by falling off of her broom. Pure luck.

Some of them waited for James to give a speech at the end, about how they would do better next time with harder practice. But, the Captain simply walked back towards his locker.

"Should we talk to him? See if he's okay?" Esmerelda asked Dirk Cresswell.

Dirk wanted to say let the fucker stew in his own misery. James played the worst today, plus he fucked over Camilla. Luckily, he didn't have a chance because Sirius Black approached them.

He said, "Don't get involved. For your own good." It was rare for Sirius to act, well, serious. The two underclassmen decided to take the advice, especially since they heard a loud metal bang a few aisles down. "See what I mean?" Sirius murmured quietly before retreating to his own locker.

Down by the loud metal bang, James Potter rubbed his knuckles softly. He cursed quietly under his breath, trying to his best to remain calm and keep his emotions in check. Just for his teammates.

But, James was never really good at emotional compartmentalization. So, he sat and stewed in his own misery, guilt, and angst for fifteen minutes when all the Gryffindors left. He considered punching the lockers again, considering his left hand now. Or should he just stick to one bloody hand instead of two sore ones?

James clenched his fist again, almost enjoying the pulsating sensation in his hand. Another right hook seemed quite appealing. He didn't stop the appeal either. This time he let out a loud litany of curses though as he shook his hand. It was bleeding now.

The Captain was so focused on his hand and getting out everything on the inside that he didn't hear footsteps approach. He reached for the hem of his shirt, deciding it was finally time for a shower. He winced since his back and shoulders were sore too. The poor boy was just falling apart.

"James?"

He looked up and narrowed his eyes. "What're you doing back here?" James should've been more surprised to see Lily Evans in his locker room, but right now, he was just too bloody frustrated with everything in the world.

Lily gulped, flustered by the question. She scratched her head and said, "I wanted to see you."

James scoffed. If the ginger had come any other time, he would've been jumping for joy. Now, he felt like punching the locker again. "I'm not in the mood today, Evans."

"Yeah, seems like you're not in the mood for anything," she mumbled. Before James could retort, Lily added, with wide eyes and a slack jaw, "are you bleeding?"

James peered down at his hand. "It's nothing," he said quickly before opening his own locker to grab his towel.

Lily observed him intently. She glared at him. "You could've conjured a punching bag, I reckon."

"And you could've walked away from coming to today's match, like you normally do with everything else concerning me."

She blinked. "Excuse me?"

James slammed his locker door shut. "I already told you that I'm not in the mood today. I'm really not," he barked. "First, Camilla broke up with me, and now my Keeper wants to slit my throat because Dirk refuses to believe that it was her, not me, that initiated the much needed end. Second, I just found out that my Beater is taking my cousin out to a date-"

"Oh, dear."

"Sirius doesn't date. Marlene doesn't date. It sounds like a rom-com apocalypse waiting to happen. For me, it sounds like my best mate playing football with my cousin's heart. Or, it's my cousin who is going to literally tear out and eat his heart for a snack."

"James…" Lily whispered quietly, noting his voice rising.

"And then, lastly, there's you!" James shouted, pointing a swollen finger at Lily. He pointed at her like they were in court, accusing her of murder or some other heinous crime.

Lily, no matter how much she wanted to yell back, decided to remain quiet. It seemed like he needed this… release.

"You- you- you!" He stammered on his words, too frustrated to get anything out. The pressure inside him built like a volcano about to erupt.

"Me," Lily nodded awkwardly. "Yep, I'm right here."

"You charming, arse-kissing, beautiful, snarky, clever, demonic bitch!"

Lily opened her mouth and then immediately shut it. She was genuinely conflicted, wondering if she should feel offended or praised.

"You play me like I'm a game of exploding snap, waiting for me to pop. You snog me and run faster than a bloody snitch. And I'm just tired of it. And as a result of all three things, I played like shit today. Actual shit. I let the fucking quaffle drop six different times. SIX! I must be fucking cursed or something. Snape was probably having a field day… or he was the one who cursed me."

"Okay, now we're getting dramatic," Lily grumbled.

"No, it was definitely seven," James said, ignoring Lily's comment. "Seventh time was when I looked at you in the stands."

The air between the two warmed up and thickened, just in a matter of moments. Lily found herself feeling hotter and began pulling at her scarf.

"You were staring right at me," James went on, finally looking at her now in this moment. "And then you snapped your head away, like you always do. You refuse to acknowledge anything we've ever done, and I'm always standing here like an idiot. I'm not doing this anymore. It just cost me a game-"

This was the third time Lily had done this: got James upset or riled up and then kissed him. She jogged, grabbed him by the face and kissed him hard on the lips. She stayed their for a moment before pulling back, still holding onto him as if he were her oxygen supply.

"I'm not running this time, and I'm sorry I did in the first place," Lily whispered. They were so close that James could feel her breaths. She added softly, "I won't again, I promise."

James closed his eyes. He knew better than that, to trust a girl who's played with him for so long now. But, she was right there, making promises to him. He couldn't pass up the chance.

"I'm holding you to that," James said evenly before grabbing her by the waist and pulling her in close.

They kissed like their lives depended on it. They tasted, explored, and held each other. James was having a hard time keeping his head straight as Lily pushed him against the lockers. It was even harder to comprehend that no one was going to interrupt them this time. They had all the time in the world.

James slid his hands to her waist and appreciated the quiet moan she released from her lips. He wanted to hear it again and again. His hands slid around to the front of her body and to the hem of her sweater. He had touched her once and was hellbent on doing it again. She was smooth and cool, like porcelain.

Much to his demise, Lily ripped her lips from James. She was panting for air, and it seemed like she generally didn't breathe while kissing. He had experienced her kiss once before and remembered this from last time under the tapestry. He found it rather adorable.

James slid a hand under her sweater and even her undershirt. He expected some kind of reaction, but truthfully, he expected to be pushed away again. Instead she leaned into him more, inviting him to go further. Lily also peppered his neck with warm kisses to his neck.

When James grabbed her breast, Lily let out a tiny whimper. And yes, he was going to remember that forever now. He pulled at the bottom of her sweater, and unfortunately, she had to release herself from his neck. She smirked.

"What?" James asked breathlessly.

Lily shrugged before pulling off her sweater, leaving her in a tight white undershirt. He could see her nipples peaking through. "Hope you don't mind hickies," she said simply.

"I'll live," James said before pulling her back.

He held her by the waist and hoisted her up. Like a natural, she wrapped her legs around his hips and planted her lips back to his. He carried her over to the bench and sat down with Lily Evans hovering over him like a goddamn angel.

This was time when James' inevitable hormones kicked in, and his erection began to grow. Something must've kicked in Lily too, or she noticed and got embarrassed. James freverently hoped that she wouldn't run off in fear or something. But, instead, she did the unthinkable.

Lily Evans was grinding on him. Her hips did this slight movement in slow circles, and it was making him harder than a bloody boulder. Now it was his turn to moan.

"Take this off," Lily demanded breathlessly as she leaned back and pulled at his shirt.

The Quidditch Captain obeyed without objection and pulled off his jersey. He didn't even think too much about his soreness, because right now, he'd do anything that she'd say.

Lily let a whistle, examining his well-sculpted shoulders and chest. Chasers needed good upper bodies for catching the quaffle mid-air, and a solid core to maintain balance on a broom while doing so. James had to admit that he enjoyed the facial expression she made.

But, he couldn't let her dwell too long before kissing her again. Her ran his hands through her silky hair, something he's always wanted to do. He also held her by the back of her neck as he began kissing down her jawline and neck. James nipped at her collarbone, eliciting a louder moan this time. Her hips jerked in reaction. Oh, James would be doing this again and again.

James decided to go further but watched her facial reactions for cues. He pressed a few light kisses to her tops of her breast, more ample than he had expected. When he sucked the top of her breast, Lily groaned, "James…"

There wasn't much else better than that sound.

Except the one of a door knocking.

"Do you think we ought to wait for them?" Peter asked after the fourth try of knocks. He looked to Dorcas, Marlene and Remus with concerned eyes. "Or should we go in? They fight a lot."

Dorcas raised an eyebrow at the small Gryffindor. She lit her cigarette while giving Marlene and Remus a look. "He serious?" She asked bluntly.

"He doesn't pick up on social cues easily," Marlene revealed gently.

"They're busy, Pete," Remus said, clapping his back. "Very busy."

Peter's eyes widened. Although he knew what his friends meant, Peter still had a hard time believing that only Lily and James sat inside the locker room. "You think…?" He asked quietly.

"No, Peter," Marlene said as she headed down the stairs with a beaming smile on her face. "We know."

A/N - Hopefully there aren't too many typos and whatnot. I wanted to get this up as fast as I could. Let me know what you think! Favorite, follow, or review. Anything would mean something :)

XOXO

Rose