AN: Sorry it took me so long to update! Been having a bit of a writers block for this story. No movie that comes with it yet. Love

Chapter two – Blooming love

The great Lake – September the twenty-seventh. 04:20 PM.

It was a beautiful late summer day. The sun was shining, but there was a breeze to keep it from getting hot. The Gryffindor quidditch team had just finished their training, a tough one. James was a great coach, but he pushed his players hard. Remus and Peter weren't on the team, so it was James and Sirius walking back together from the pitch after a shower.

'...and I told her that, you know, she could...'

Before James finished the sentence, he noticed his best friends wasn't listening.

'Banana, apple, mango, raspberry.'James continued.

'Totally.'Sirius agreed.

James frowned, looking at him.

'Pads, you're not even listening. What's up?'

Sirius was staring at the blonde witch sitting beneath a tree near the lake. It was Mary. She had her eyes fixed on the students fooling around, absent-mindedly brushing her fingers through her hair.

'She seems off.'Sirius said.

James followed Sirius gaze. He smiled and nodded. Of course, Sirius was paying more attention to a pretty witch than to his best mate.

'You go.'James told him,'I'm meeting Lily for rounds anyways.'

Sirius beamed him a smile, clapping him on the shoulder.

'You finish that story tonight, kay? I swear I'll listen.'

'Don't make promises you can't keep, Pads.'

James smiled at him before hurrying to the castle. Sirius flattened his hair and walked up to Mary.

'Hey, Blondie.'

Mary looked up, alarmed, to see Sirius standing there, sexy as always. She could see he had been playing quidditch. Not just by the broom he had placed against the tree, but also by his wet and messy hair. It was very unlike Sirius to have a single hair out of place. That guy was more vain about his hair than any girl she knew.

'You okay? You don't seem your cheery self.'

"Oh," Mary thought, "just friendly concern. Right."

They had been friends for over a year, and until recently she was happy with that. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate his friendship, heck, she was honoured, but since the beginning of the year, she wanted more. They had written back and forth a little over summer and when he saw her on platform 9 ¾, he had hugged her. Dear Merlin, to be wrapped in those strong arms, to press her nose against his shoulder and smell his masculine scent, that was heaven. She knew she was silly to feel that way about him, with the butterfly stomach and wobbly knees, because he was Sirius Black for Merlin's sake. He never fell in love, he only fell in lust. A new girl every week wasn't exactly new to him, and Mary knew that. She knew she should stop herself and how she had tried. However, she simply couldn't stop thinking about him and certainly couldn't stop feeling. That morning she had seen him flirting with Marlene Mackinnon, a girl from his quidditch team. Mary had wandered to the lake, her thinking spot, to contemplate life, love and her next move.

'I'm fine, thanks.'

She gave him a smile, which he happily returned.

'Great! Wouldn't want to see you unhappy now, would we?'

'Nope. Good thing I'm not. Just lost in thought.'

Sirius sat down next to her.

'So.. Your family's okay too? Your friends?'

She laughed. Now, that was a first, a concerned Sirius.

'Yeah, we're all okay. Maybe apart from June, who won't admit she's more into Alex than she pretends to be.'

'Everything is more into Alex than she is now. She pretends to hate the poor kid.'

'Exactly. How're you holding up? With Reg and all...'

Mary gave a nod to the group of Slytherin sitting by the lake. Lucius and Narcissa, blonde and perfect were the Ice King and Queen. They were the head of the lovely group, alongside Bellatrix Black, Narcissa's sister and sadly enough, Sirius' cousin. The black haired bitch was currently talking to Rodolphus Lestrange, best friend with Avery and Mulciber. All bullies and future Death Eaters. If they weren't Death Eaters already. Lily's old friend Snape was hanging around with them too, big nose buried in a book he was scribbling in. Sirius' younger brother, Regulus, had joined them end of last year.

'I'm okay, too. His choice. Not my family anymore, remember? I was blasted from the carpet, like Andromeda who married a muggle-born.'

Mary touched his arm when she caught the hurt tone in his voice. He gave her a slight smile.

'I'll live.'he told her.

'I know. You got a great family in return.'

'The Potters are great, yeah. But hey, I didn't come here to talk about myself.'

'Well, I don't have much to talk about.'

His grey eyes met her blue ones and he lifted one eyebrow.

'Truly, now? Blondie who has nothing to talk about?'

'Nothing that'll interest you.'

'False. Everything you say interests me.'

She laughed, though Sirius was dead serious.

'I'm Sirius.'he joked,'You interest me.'

Mary felt flattered for a split second, before she remembered that he was Sirius Black and probably told all the girls they interested him. However, according to her new forged plan, she'd take whatever she could get.

'Well, there is this new dress shop at Diagonally, and..'

Behind the greenhouse – September the twenty-seventh.05:10 PM.

'Frank! We really should get back.'Alice giggled.

Frank sighed and unattached his lips from hers. They were hidden behind the greenhouse, where there was just enough space for a blanket and two persons. It was a spot nobody but them and professor Sprout knew about. And Sirius, James, Remus and Peter of course, thanks to their map, but Frank didn't know about that.

Sprout had accidentally told her best student, Frank, not knowing he would use it to sneak away with his girlfriend. Sprout was gone for that day, so the spot was completely theirs.

'Why?'Frank sighed, hugging Alice closer,'Sprout won't be back for another three hours.'

Alice gave him a peck on the lips, quickly pulling away before he could deepen the kiss.

'You drive me crazy.'he moaned.

She laughed, kissing the newly created hickey on his bare shoulder.

'You know, Sirius thinks we're having sex.'he told her as she rested her forehead against his, wrapping his arms tighter around her.

'We are having sex. Well, not right now, but you know what I mean. So what's the big deal?'

'No big deal. Just.. why would he think that?'

Alice lifted her eyebrows and giggled again.

'Because we are two adults in a relationship. If we weren't having sex, something would be wrong.'

Frank laughed and pressed a kiss to her nose.

'That's true. I just thought... Maybe you talked to the girls about it?'

'Of course I have, haven't you? To the lads, I mean?'

'Only with Alex. No details or anything, no worries.'

'I don't worry. I've shared some details about us. Not real specific.'

'So, you didn't mention how big it is?'

Alice smiled and licked her lips seductively.

'I told them it's more of a broomstick than a wand.'

Franks eyes widened before he burst out in laughter.

'And,'Alice continued,'maybe I told them how you never fail to make me enjoy it.'

'No wonder June tried to sweet-talk me into doing her.'

It was Alice's turn to be shocked.

'She did what?'

'Yeah, she tried. Keyword there being "tried". I didn't do it, obviously. You're enough for me.'

Alice relaxed into his embrace again.

'It was last year, anyways.'he said,'When Amos had just dumped her for Patricia.'

'Why are we still talking about June?'Alice asked, brushing her lips against his.

'Good question. Let's stop.'

'Yeah, let's.'

Frank traced her cheek with his thumb before kissing her deeply. He pulled back after a minute of intense snogging.

'I love you.'he whispered.

'And I love you. Forever.'she replied.

'And ever.'he added.

They smiled into their kiss, losing themselves in their own bubble of happiness. Alice rolled herself atop, raking her nails down his chest. Her lips attacked his neck, creating another hickey.

'I thought you wanted to go back.'Frank groaned.

He loved how she was always kind and calm, apart from when it came to sex. She seemed so innocent, but it was always a fight for dominance with them. Which she usually won. She was his lover, his tigress.

'Yeah, I did. But now I have a broomstick to polish.'

She ground her pelvis to his growing erection, before reattaching her lips to his. One of his hands slid under her skirt, massaging her thigh. They already lost their shirts during their first make-out session that day and hadn't bothered to put them back on. It made it a whole lot easier for Frank to undo her bra clasp. The only difficulty was the distraction of her fingers working on his belt buckle with much enthusiasm. Right as she finally managed to get it loose, they heard the greenhouse door open. Their movements stilled immediately when they heard Sprout happily talking to someone.

'Ah, yes. They ought to be here somewhere.'

Alice quickly sat up, snapping her bra shut, Frank hastily did his belt.

'Shirts!'he hissed.

Alice grabbed them and gave him his. At that same moment, Sprout and her guest appeared on the other side of the window, behind the dozens of plants Sprout had. Franks eyes met a very well-known pair of eyes, brown-green. Remus' eyes grew big as he spotted the couple, lying there on their blanket, trying to dress themselves. They had obviously been.. well, cosy. Sprout was still babbling about her gardenias, luckily for them. Frank pressed a finger to his lips, before pulling back his hand to pull his shirt over his head. Alice was having trouble with her buttons, silently cursing at herself for putting on a button-down.

'Are you all right, my boy?'Sprout asked.

She started to turn around the follow his gaze. Remus quickly pushed a pot from a nearby bench.

'Oh, Merlin. Sorry, professor. I'm such a klutz!'

Sprout turned back to him, drawing her wand to repair the pot. It was just the right amount of time Frank and Alice needed to gather their blanket and make a run it.

'Reparo. There we go, no harm done. Now, let's go find my gardenia's. Your mother will love their seeds, Remus.'

The library – September the twenty-seventh. 06:15 PM.

'Hiya, Lily.'

James popped up right next to her table. Lily had been in utter concentration, so she let out a startled squeal. She flapped her arms in shock, pushing her closed inkwell from a stack of books.

'Oh, God!'she screamed.

Thanks to his quick quidditch reflexes, James managed to catch the well before it scattered on the stone floor.

'Glad to hear you remember my name.'he joked, placing the pot back on her table.

She scowled at him, before gathering her stuff.

'Now even a "thank you"?'

'Fine, thank you, for saving the inkwell I dropped because you scared the living bejesus out of me.'

'Oi, it isn't my fault that you get so absorbed by your homework, you don't hear me coming.'

'I bet you sneaked up on me on purpose.'

Though James knew she was being sarcastic, he decided to play along.

'You caught me there. I did. I wanted to "scare the living bejesus out of you" so I could heroically save your inkwell.'

She laughed and he smirked. He loved how he was able to make her laugh after all these years of killer glares, snide comments and well, disgust.

'Ready for our before-dinner rounds?'James asked.

'Yeah. Just need to put these books back. How was quidditch practise? Killed your players yet?'

James smiled and helped her place back her books. Things were easy between them nowadays, thanks to Lily's precious rules and James' growing up. Lily was relieved he hadn't started asking her out again, and – even though she'd never admit it – even enjoyed his company and occasional flirting. James was still madly in love with her, but she didn't know it, like she never really knew before.

'Quidditch was great! No dead players, lots of goals and lots of goals stopped. I'm starting to believe we can kick Ravenclaw's arse upcoming match.'

'That's good. Time to kick that arse. They always win thanks to their clever tricks.'

'That was before I was captain. You'll see.'

He paused for a moment.

'You will see, right? I mean, you'll come to the game?'

'Obviously. I've never missed a match, and I'm not planning on starting now.'

He grew a broad smile.

'Good. Cheer for me.'

'Only if you play well.'

'Of course I will.'

Lily laughed and gave him a push on the shoulder. The books had been placed onto their proper shelves and the two of them headed for the exit.

'Don't get cocky there, Potter.'

'I'm always cocky. It's one of my many lovely qualities.'

'One of the annoying ones, you mean.'

They rounded one of the corners and very nearly bumped into Grace and Xenophilius Lovegood.

'Oh. Good day.'Xenophilius said.

'Hiya.'James greeted them.

'Doing your rounds?'Grace inquired.

Lily nodded and James ruffled a hand through his hair.

'Yeah, you?'

'We just got back from Hagrid's. Xeno told me Hagrid had some exotic animals, so we went to check them out.'

'Were they any good?'James asked politely.

'No, not really. Just the ordinary flobberworm and some pixies.'

Lily grew very conscious of the fact that Xenophilius was staring at her without blinking.

'What?'she asked after half a minute of staring.

'There's a nargle right next to your head.'

'A what now?'James and Lily asked, though Grace seemed unaffected by her companion's odd statement.

'It's curious. They usually travel in packs. I wonder where the others are.'

James and Lily exchanged a quick glance.

'That is curious indeed.'James said,'However, I'm afraid we must go on.'

'You two enjoy the rest of your afternoon.'Lily quipped, before being dragged off by her arm by an anxious James.

'Creepy creepy dude.'he muttered.

'Almost as creepy as all the Slytherin's combined.'Lily agreed.

'So, what's with the two of them anyway?'James asked.

'Honestly? I haven't got the faintest. She says they're not together, but they're always – you know – together.'

James grinned.

'Yeah, but so are we. And we're not a couple, are we?'

Lily swallowed and shook her head slowly.

'No, but that's different. We have to be together. Do rounds and meetings and..'

'So, if we weren't Head Boy and Girl,'James interrupted her,'you'd never hang out with me?'

'Probably not. 'Cause then I'd never know you better than the arrogant toe rag you used to be.'

'But what if you did know me better than that, like you know me now, and we weren't Heads?'

Lily thought about it for a minute. Would she? She felt comfortable around him, but still it felt like the two of them weren't at place the way things were. There was always some sort of tension, but she couldn't decide if that was a good thing or not.

'Yeah.'she then admitted,'I'd hang out with you. Don't you dare ask me out now.'

James laughed under her warning glance.

'I won't. I made myself the promise I'd only do that if you had clearly stated you wanted to.'

'Oh, really?'

'Yes, really. However, that won't stop me from making you want me.'

He gave her a sexy, crooked smile.

'I suppose you should try harder. It's not working.'

Normal people would've taken it as rejection, but James saw the sparkle in Lily's eyes. It had become part of their game. Him flirting, her teasingly rejecting.

'You do realise I'll try harder now, don't you?'

'Afraid so. You might try walking around without a shirt again.'

James lifted his eyebrows is surprise.

'What? I'm a girl. I look at muscle, like men look at tits.'

'Who says I look at your tits?'

'I didn't say "my tits", I said "tits". Big difference. You just confessed you stare at my tits.'

'Did not.'

'Did too.'

'Did not.'James repeated with a smile.

'Did too.'Lily giggled.

He laughed and sighed.

'Oh well, yeah, I do. But so what? You've got great tits.'

Lily felt her face reddening, but tried to play it cool. Otherwise he'd win, and she didn't want that.

'Thank you. But see, then it's only natural I look at your muscles. They're nice too.'

'Don't forget my arse. I've got a great arse.'

'You are a great arse.'

'That too. Admit it, though. I've got a nice butt.'

Lily rolled her eyes, before looking around her shoulder to see his behind. Fair enough, great arse. Not that she never noticed that.

'Not bad, I suppose.'

'Not bad?'James spluttered,'It's the best butt alive! Who's got a better one? I'll hex that bleeder into Neverland, so me and my butt win.'

He had stopped walking, halting Lily with him. She was laughing so hard, no sound escaped her.

'I'm sorry,'she said as soon as she was able to talk,'I was joking. You've really got the best butt.'

'I don't believe you.'

She put her hands on his shoulder and gave him the most serious look she could muster.

'I swear to Merlin, you've got the best butt I've ever seen.'

He kept playing his insulted role and narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

'If I had the power to reward you with the "Best Butt Alive Award", I would.'

That's what broke him. He burst into laughter ant took her with him again.

'Best Butt Alive Award. You win.'he laughed.

To his regret, she let go of his shoulders. Because she wasn't shaking with laughter anymore, she could support herself again.

'We should get on with our rounds. Dinner is in one hour and we still need to do the West Wing.'she said, wiping away her tears.

'And then around ten, let's do the whole castle!'he fake cheered.

'Be glad for rounds. They're the only moment you have a good excuse to spend time with me.'

'I don't need an excuse to do that.'

She smiled and shook her head.

'You never stop trying, do you.'

'Never ever.'
They smiled at each other, both secretly happy he never would.