BUSINESS

Lily and Marlene walked briskly across the grounds to the Quidditch field, which looked almost full already. The towering stands were packed with students of all houses, though the Slytherin and Gryffindor stayed separate, along with Ravenclaw and Gryffindor sitting divided due to the rivalry of the game. There was no shortage of cold stares. The two girls stopped quickly by the locker rooms. As they entered, Lily was met with the sight of a shirtless James. She could see the defined muscles in his back as he reached up to grab his robes from a shelf. He turned around, pulling a shirt over his head, and Lily met his eyes as a hot blush rose on her cheeks.

"Ladies." He grinned. "I shall be looking forward to tonight's victory, Evans." Lily smirked.

"Don't be so sure you'll win, Potter."

"I have motivation." He smiled once more, then swept out of the room. Marlene greeted Sirius with a hug, who nodded at Lily and smiled. Her and Marlene left the grounds to go find their seats, next to Alice Prewett and Frank Longbottom.

"Lily, I haven't seen you in a while!" Frank grinned as they sat down. She smiled back.

"That's because I take all advanced classes, Frank." He rolled his eyes, and Lily noticed Alice was holding his hand. This was ordinary, Alice and Frank had gotten engaged, though they were only 17.

"Lily!" She looked up to see Remus wading through the crowd. He took a seat by the group. "I hear there's a bet on tonight's game." He smirked. "Though this is a good way to get James to work harder."

"Yeah, yeah." She scowled, but a small smile fought its way to her face anyway.

"The game begins!" The commentator, some 5th year Hufflepuff, shouted into the microphone as 14 brooms rose into the air. Lily turned to face the game and immediately spotted James, his hair ruffling in the wind as he flew around the pitch, his eyes scanning the field intensely. Lily smiled at his concentration. She saw Sirius zip around the field a few times. The game ran on. 10-30, Ravenclaw. 40-30, Gryffindor. 60-60, tied up. Lily kept her eyes on James, watching him soar and dive. Then she saw him change directions completely, and knew he had saw the golden glint of the Snitch. She scooted to the edge of her seat, anticipation written clearly on her face.

"Potter dives... I think he's spotted the Snitch!" The commentator shouted. Lily saw James disappear behind a beater flying through the air, and then the Gryffindor crowd erupted into cheers. "He's got it! Potter got the Snitch! Gryffindors win 60 to 210!" Lily grinned and jumped up. Her and the rest of the Gryffindors raced onto the pitch. She saw James, grinning and covered in dirt. He strutted over to her, his teammates surrounding him. She smiled as he approached.

"So, Evans?" He put his hand on the side of her face. "Where's my kiss?" She grinned and kissed him on his dirt covered cheek. "OY! That's not a proper kiss!" She smiled and looked up at him.

"You're going to have to do a lot more than win a Quidditch match for that, Potter." She quickly planted another kiss on his cheek then turned away to walk with Remus back to the castle, James staring after her, smiling as he shook his head.

In the dorm rooms that night, Lily settled herself in a couch by the fire with a book. She had barely read a page when James waltzed into the room. He was carrying a butterbeer in each hand.

"Lilyflower!" He plopped down on the couch beside her. "I brought you a butterbeer!"

"I see that." She smiled at him. "Thanks." She took a sip, the golden liquid warming her body.

"I have a proposal to make." He scooted closer to her. "You know when Dumbledore announced the ball, and he said that Karkaroff and him had "business?" I say we figure out what this business is."

"James. Bad idea. You're Head Boy, you should set an example. Also, what if Dumbledore catches you?"

"I won't be caught."

"Why can't Sirius help you?"

"He's.. preoccupied at the moment." Lily sighed.

"Him and Marls." James smiled knowingly.

"C'mon, aren't you curious what Dumbledore's doing?" Lily just looked at him. "Lils, I wanna know if he's fighting Voldemort. I wanna do something."

"James, I understand that you want to avenge your parents, but-"

"Then help me. I want to fight him. He deserves to die." James's expression was hard. Lily sighed again, exasperated.

"I'll help.. a little." James grinned. "But I swear- If we get caught, I'm going to personally execute you." Her green eyes looked vibrant in the firelight. James leaned forward. Lily could smell butterbeer on him. He was staring at her. She inhaled slightly. Yep, that was definitely butterbeer. And grass.. and, curiously, broom sticks. He leaned in a little closer. Their knees were touching. "James.." Lily whispered. Their faces were only inches apart. The firelight danced in James's hazel eyes, reflecting through his glasses. His hand crept onto her knee, his other cupping her face. Lily leaned in even more, nearly closing the distance between them. Then she realized something. James's smell.. that was what her Amortentia smelt like. It was James that she smelt. She drew back, James with a questioning look. She quickly stood up, and grabbed her book.

"Lily?" James's voice was quiet. She turned and kissed his cheek for the third time that day. Then she fled up the stairs, breathing hard. James had a power over her, making her forget everything around her. She ran her hands through her hair. He was James. That was the problem. He wasn't Potter anymore. He was James, her roommate, her friend. She was terrified of what could happen if she was left alone with him in another situation like that. She was scared of her lack of control, but what scared her most of all, is that she wanted it. She wanted him.

"Karkaroff is coming tomorrow. Three days before the Halloween Ball. Those 3 days are the opportunity to strike. Today, we plan." Lily smiled up at James as he paced in front of the table in the Head common room, where Lily was seated. "We'll have to consult Sirius for secret tunnel navigation. We can use an advanced hearing spell or something to listen in on Karkaroff and Dumbledore's conversation." James looked at her. "We're going to have to be light on our feet and avoid all professors and or caretakers. I think I have a good idea of what we can do to get near Dumbledore's office."

"What?"

"Polyjuice Potion."

"But.. who will we impersonate?"

"Two Durmstrang students."

"Why?"

"That way if we get caught, Hogwarts students will be out of the question."

"Fine, sounds good. When are Dumbledore and Karkaroff having their meeting?"

"My house-elf, Cora, is yet to report to me that information. I sent her out this morning."

"Okay. Once the Durmstrang students arrive, we'll have to make quick work on getting hairs for the potion. I expect it would be best to have them the 1st day."

"This is gonna be bloody awesome." James grinned largely.

The school was buzzing with excitement the day the Durmstrang students were to arrive.

The great hall was booming with loud chatter. Lily sat beside James, with Sirius and Marlene across form them. Remus and Peter were on either side of Lily and James. Lily could see Alice and Frank down the table a bit. Dumbledore stood up and captured the students' attention.

"Professor Karkaroff and his students from Durmstrang will be arriving today, as you all know. They shall be here any second. Everyone is expected to be respectful." He gave them as stern look. Just as Dumbledore sat down, a loud pop sounded as multiple students and one headmaster apparated into the Great Hall, many Durmstrang kids landing on tables and stepping in food.

Lily yelped as a boy landed in her soup.

"So sorry love." The boy grinned and reached down to shake her hand.

"No problem." Lily said quietly. The boy was tall and blonde, and he grinned at Lily again. Her cheeks colored.

"I'm Simon."

"Lily."

"Nice to meet you, Lily." He jumped off the table and joined his headmaster. Lily looked over to James, who was frowning into his food.

"Did the tomato soup offend you in someway, Prongsie?" Sirius laughed as James glared at him. Lily shook her head and turned her attention back to the Durmstrang students. The students wore blood-red robes, and had a certain pale complexion, being from the northern part of the world.

Dumbledore and Karkaroff shook hands. Dumbledore was smiling, though Lily could see something grim in his eyes behind his half-moon spectacles. He turned to address the visiting students.

"I have constructed extra dorms on the fifth, sixth, and seventh floors for visiting students. Please go to your respected dorms now, and unpack. Your luggage has been brought up already." The Durmstrang students filed out the doors. "Alright students, once you have finished your meal, you may take today off from your classes." Dumbledore continued. A cheer came up from the students, and Lily smiled and stood.

"What should we do, Lils?" James asked her as they walked to the Gryffindor common room.

"I'm thinking we should plan for our little mission tonight, don't you think that's of minor importance?" She responded firmly.

"You know, Evans, sometimes your attitude is absolute rubbish." He grinned and moved in front of her in the hallway, placing his hands on her shoulders. "You need to have some fun." With that, he scooped her up in his arms.

"Potter! Put me down NOW!" She flailed in his arms.

"No. We're going to have fun. You don't have a choice." He carried her bridal style out the door and onto the grounds, Lily muttering curses under her breath the whole time.

"Potter, people are staring." She hissed.

"Good." Lily looked up to see where James had brought her. They were standing in the middle of the Quidditch pitch.

"NO." Lily said firmly. "Absolutely not. I am not, bloody NOT, getting on that stick." James's broom hovered in front of them.

"C'mon Lilyflower! It'll be fun!" He sat her on the waiting broom.

"No!" She squirmed, trying to get away from James's strong grip. He easily overpowered her and jumped onto the broom, sliding in in front of her.

"Hold on tight, Evans." Then James kicked off from the ground, Lily shrieking as they soared across the pitch. James was grinning widely, laughing. After a full minute of screaming her head off, Lily couldn't help but smile too.

They flew for over an hour, James grinning as Lily squealed with laughter as he executed difficult tricks. Finally James landed the broom, both of them breathing hard and smiling.

"See Evans? That's called fun." Lily smiled and rolled her eyes.

"It wasn't all bad." The two started walking back to the castle. "Now, we need to put our plan into motion. We need to get a DNA sample from two Durmstrang students."

"Wow, Lils, you've gotten really into this whole "plan". If I didn't know any better, I'd say you we're enjoying it."

"Shut it, Potter." They entered their common room. "I have an idea of who I could get a sample from." She smiled slyly. "Meet me back here in an hour." And she swept out of the room, towards the Durmstrang Dorms.