"What are we going to do now?" Sirius asked Remus as they walked down a random corridor, avoiding James and Lily.
"I don't-Ah!" Remus replied, startled when Alice suddenly jumped in front of him, appearing to have come out of thin air.
"Hey boys," she said sweetly.
"Alice," they acknowledged together.
"I want to help," she said.
"With what?" Sirius asked innocently.
"Oh don't give me that!" she cried indignantly. "Lily's been all mopey and sad lately, and I feel so helpless. I want to help get them together."
Sirius looked at Remus, who nodded. "Fine," he said. "Any ideas?"
She grinned evilly. "A couple," she said.
*****
"That's bloody brilliant!" Sirius cried.
"Isn't it?" Alice asked smugly.
"I can't believe we didn't think of it!"
"But where are we going to get all of that stuff?" Remus asked. "I haven't got any idea why there would be that many of those in Hogwarts."
"That's true…" Alice said slowly, her face thoughtful.
"Bugger," Sirius said. "What are we going to do now?"
"We'll have to think of something simpler," Alice said decisively.
*****
"Hello Lily," James said, walking into the Gryffindor common room.
"James," she acknowledged, not looking away from the fire.
"You didn't come to dinner," he said uncomfortably. "So I brought you a sandwich."
She looked up at him, tears in her eyes, and whispered, "Thank you."
"What's wrong?" he asked her, sitting next to her.
She just shook her head, looking back at the fire.
"You can tell me you know," he said. "I know we've had our problems in the past, but I've matured. I am Head Boy."
She laid her head on his shoulder. "I can't do it anymore James," she said quietly.
"Do what?"
"Pretend!" she cried. "Pretend I don't love you! Pretend I wasn't the girl at the ball! Pretend it doesn't kill me to just be friends with you!"
Tears were now streaming down her face.
"Y-you were the girl at the ball!?" he sputtered.
She nodded, still crying, her head still on his shoulder. "And I've really like you since that night, but all you could talk about was some other girl! Just tell me, please, who was she?"
"She's perfect," he said offhandedly. "She's beautiful, and smart, and has a fiery temper, and brings be down to Earth when my head gets too big."
Lily's was nearly sobbing by this time.
"She's amazing," he said decisively. "And perfect. And I don't deserve her. But by some stroke of good luck, Dumbledore made me Head Boy, so that I get to see her whenever I want."
Lily sat up and looked at him. "W-what?" she asked.
"It's you," he said softly.
"Me," she said, almost in a whisper. Then she groaned.
"What?" he asked, confused.
"A right mess we've made of things," she said. "Or rather, I've made of things."
He laughed. "No, we're both equally to blame. But maybe now we can make up for it."
Slowly they leaned in, closer, closer, until-
An unfamiliar own flew in and landed on Lily's lap. And another did the same for James.
Lily's said:
Dear Lily-Flower,
I know it was you at the ball, and I know I've made a mess of things, but please let me make it up to you. I would give anything for a chance to talk to you.
Meet me at the Quidditch pitch tonight at 6:00. Please.
Yours Forever,
James
"What's this?" she asked him, confused.
"I would tell you," he said. "Only, I didn't write it."
"Huh," Lily said. "Read yours."
Dear James,
I'm sorry I ran from you at the dance. I ran because I was too afraid to face my feelings. I was scared and confused, because I was afraid I might be falling for you. Please let me make it up to you.
Meet me at the Quidditch pitch at 6:00. Please.
Yours Truly,
Mystery Girl.
Lily and James looked at each other, then burst into laughter.
"You didn't write that, did you?" he asked her. Through giggles, she shook her head. "That's Alice's handwriting," she said, still laughing hysterically.
"And that's Sirius's," he replied, pointing to her note.
"What should we do?" she asked.
"Oh, I have an idea," he said.
*****
The end? I think not! Nope, one more chapter, because I want to have a little fun with their meddling friends.