So last chapter James asked Lily out for the first time and shocker she rejected him...

Chapter 31:

They'd almost been back at Hogwarts for a month now. Harry was so glad he didn't sit through literally every lesson with his parents or he would have been incredibly bored. He followed James on his way to potions that Friday morning. James seemed slightly more excited than normal. Harry had the feeling he was up to something – something mischievous. James sat next to Sirius at the back of the classroom. Sirius looked at him with shrewd eyes, "what's with you?"

"It's Evans' birthday tomorrow!" James replied.

"But you don't like her. So why'd you care?"

"Pranks!" James smiled.

"Argh sounds interesting…" Sirius nodded. Soon the two boys were scribbling ideas on their parchment of different birthday pranks that they could pull on Lily.

Alice and Frank were walking through the grounds. They were both wrapped up really warm. There was still snow on the ground and the black lake was completely frozen, so much so that several stupid students were sliding across it. The marauders really are reckless, thought Alice. "How are you, Frank?"

"I'm good, Ali." Frank replied, although he looked like he hadn't slept in weeks. "Thanks for coming with me to the funeral. I was so grateful that you and James were with me."

"Frank where else would I have been." Alice grabbed his hand.

"Alice, are we just friends? Or do you think there might be a chance we could be something more than that?" Frank asked sheepishly.

"Are you asking me out?" Alice asked.

"Yes, I think I am," he answered with slightly more confidence.

"Ok. Yeah, I like you too Frank." She nodded her head.

Frank jumped and pulled her into his arms, "thank Merlin you said yes. That would have been so awkward if you didn't like me back."

"I've always liked you," Alice blushed, her dark hair blowing about in the wind.

"Can I kiss you?"

"I bloody hope you do, Frank." Alice laughed.

Lupin and Peter were working on the potion in the room of requirements, "it should only take a few more days." Lupin commentated.

Peter squeeked, he was really nervous about their trip to the Slytherins' dungeons.

"Come on, it won't be so bad."

They turned their heads as the door creaked open. No one seemed to be there. Then suddenly James and Sirius appeared from under the invisibility cloak. "How did it go?" Remus asked.

"We followed some of the prefects on their rounds, Malfoy and Black were just making out so we didn't stick around for that but Rosier and Burke were talking about what they would do if they found any muggle-borns walking the corridors at night. I think we might need to warn Evans. As much as I hate her, I don't want her dead." James answered. "You might have to tell her though Remus. I don't think she'd listen to me."

Remus nodded, "anything else?"

"Yeah we saw the Lestrange brothers arguing about something. It was something to do with their father, apparently he made them get something on their arms…? I don't really know what they were talking about. But apparently it was itchy."

"Right, well I have no idea what that is but your dad might…" Remus nodded, "The potion is very nearly ready. A couple of days should do it…"

"Great. That's fantastic Remus." James smiled.

Sirius yawned, "can we go to bed already?"

"Yeah, course we can mate." James patted his friends back. The four boys hid under the cloak and made their way back to their dorm.

James got up early the next morning for his usual early morning fly. He ran into Astrix Alixate on the pitch. "Alright, James?"

"Yeah, how are you Astrix?"

"I'm good. Thanks. You come down here pretty much every morning, is that right?" Astrix asked.

"Yeah, I love flying."

"Nice. I need people like you on my team. You know how we spoke at the beginning of the year? Make sure you sign up next year, I've been watching you and your good."

"Thanks Astrix," James smiled excitedly.

"What position do you play?" Astrix asked.

"Chaser but I've played seeker too."

Astrix nodded, "well I'm seeker but we always need good chasers. I'm wondering would you be up for it if I joined you in the mornings. I'd really like to train you – get you ready for next year. You in?"

"Yeah, definitely." James felt like screaming the words.

"Cool, see you tomorrow. Same time." Astrix said before walking away.

Lily was sat at the Gryffindor table with the other first years when James walked in. He had a box in one hand. It was nicely wrapped, she noticed. "Evans, I got you a present." He said before giving her the box. She began to open it excitedly, but when she lifted the lid a horrible black spider was looking up at her. Lily screamed dropping the box on the floor. The spider scurried away. All the girls and some of the guys stood on the benches screaming. "POTTER!"

"What Evans? Don't you like him? I thought you liked hairy things… otherwise why are you friends with Snivellus?"

"You- You- You arrogant prat. I'm going to kill you!" She drew out her wand, but Alice stopped her just before she cast the spell.

"Lily there are teachers in the room!" Alice said.

"I really did think you'd like him Miss Evans. I think you should go out with me to make up for throwing my present on the floor…"

"POTTER I'm going to hex you if you don't get out of my face right now!"

"No you won't. That would involve the precious, Miss Perfect, Lily Evans getting detention and that's an impossibility." He replied before turning away to eat his dinner. Everyone were still screaming and looking for the spider, when Sirius Black walked over and picked it up, "Why are you screaming? You're scaring the poor thing."

Sirius took the spider out into the grounds and let him loose. "Well done little friend. Mischief managed."

Alice and Frank were sat working in the library. They hadn't told their friends that they were going out yet. They wanted to keep it between themselves for a few days first. Frank was sat beside Alice helping her with her defence against the dark arts essay. Lily stormed up to them, sitting in the chair opposite them. "I hate Potter!"

"We know," Alice replied, she was getting fed up of hearing about how much Lily hated James.

"Alice, I know you think I'm being unfair but I'm not… He gave me a birthday present in the Great Hall at breakfast. It was a spider!"

Alice giggled slightly, "Frank do you remember when he gave Machala a spider?"

"Machala nearly died," Frank laughed.

Lily was surprised. Why aren't they angry? "He then had the audacity to ask me out again!"

"Well if you will get all worked up," Alice replied.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you kind of always react. Quit reacting and he'll get bored." Frank answered.

Lily frowned, "Where were you two anyway?"

"Just here. We wanted to get our essays finished." Alice said. She felt Franks hand in hers under the table. He was rubbing circles on her skin with his thumb.

So what did you think? Review for me please my lovely readers and I will be ridiculously grateful.

Next chapter...

Some more Lily and James fighting...

The marauders and their polyjuice antics...

and James overhears a very important conversation...