Unofficial Portkey Archive

Chapter Nineteen

"I need a plan for Valentine's Day," James said, from behind the large book on Transfiguring Muggle objects larger than 50 sq. meters while they were flying in the air. Sirius, behind another very large book on Transfiguring Muggle objects larger than 50 sq. meters while they were floating in the sea, snorted.

"I thought you took a loan out on your life to pay for that diamond necklace of hers. Isn't that enough?"

"Well, I didn't say it had to be expensive," James grunted.

"Picnics are nice," Sirius suggested.

"In the mountains?" James asked.

"Sure, if it's warm enough," he gave a lewd smile. "And if it's not, I'm sure you two can find ways to keep warm."

"I daresay we can," James grinned.

"Why are you bothering? I mean, she hasn't asked for anything else has she?"

"No, she was dropping hints that she wanted to do something for Valentine's Day when we go to Hogsmeade is all."

"You know, ever since you got involved with Lily, you've been annoyingly perceptive," Sirius glared at him from over the dusty pages.

"Well, I don't want to mess up what I've got," James said, honestly.

"You don't have anything," Sirius corrected. "All you've gotten is a good feel up. You've not even shagged yet!"

"We're getting really close though," he grinned. "I can feel it."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say, mate. But can I drag your attention away from Miss Evans at the moment and turn you to the object at hand. We've less than 100 days until we leave this school, and yet to figure out a) what we're going to do for our Grande Finale, and 2) who's going to be the next troublemaker at the school."

James blinked at him, confused for a minute. "A and 2...?"

"Anyway, I propose we let the word out to the younger kids that we're in the market for some proteges."

"But I thought you said that we were going to teach Oliver everything we knew and just let the cool ones gravitate towards him."

"Yes, but I've been thinking about that," Sirius rubbed his chin, which wanted shaving. He leaned over his book. "As the current mood of the world is semi-anti-Muggle-born, it might do us good to have someone who's at least a half-blood in the group."

"True," James nodded. "But, that shouldn't be a qualification."

"No, no, I'm sure there are some troublesome half-bloods around," Sirius nodded. "How about we have a little obstacle course of sorts, next time we go to Hogsmeade. We can ask them to show us their stuff."

"Yeah," James grinned. "But why Hogsmeade?"

"Well, in the first place, I assume a lot of kids will want to show up, and I don't think a lot of them will be willing to go into the Forbidden Forest. Second, we can use the mountains on the edge of Hogsmeade without getting any suspicious glares from teachers and so on and so forth."

"Sounds good," James nodded, scratching on his paper. "Shall we begin spreading the word?"

"We can't do it by paper, lest your flower get into a tizzy," Sirius said. "You spend time with the younger ones, why don't you talk to them?"

"The only ones that I tutor don't have the brains to be able to keep up and fool around."

"Pete didn't either," Sirius said.

"Good point."

"What should I tell them?" James asked.

"Meeting in Hogsmeade for every bloke-"

"I think we should be an Equal Opportunity Employer, Padfoot," James pointed out, smirking.

Sirius rolled his eyes. "So every bloke and bird who thinks they have what it takes to be the next group of Marauders."

"Oh, wait, no ickle firsties or secondies in Hogsmeade," James frowned.

"Bah, if they can get past Filch, they're good enough to try out," Sirius nodded.

"But if they aren't going to want to go into the Forbidden Forest, then they aren't want to go past Filch-"

"James, there is a difference between getting past Filch and the Forbidden Forest," Sirius rolled his eyes.

"What's that?"

"Filch won't bite your head off."

"Good point."

James looked over at Lily, who had a small smile on her face. They were nearing the ends of their nightly rounds, walking down a moonlit hallway. She had been oddly quiet throughout the entire walk, choosing to just hold his hand and look at the grounds still covered in snow.

"What?" he asked, finally.

"Nothing," she sighed, giving him a secretive look.

"No, what is it?" he asked, tugging on her arm so that she walked closer to him.

"I love you," she smiled.

"Er...I love you too," he chuckled. "What brought that on?"

"I've just been thinking...about when we weren't dating," she said. "About how I never knew who I was going to be spending my evenings with."

"Well, I solved that problem, now didn't I?"

She took his hand and put it around her waist. "And I was also thinking about how I just adore Hogsmeade visits."

"Why's that?"

"Cause I always have someone to go with," she smiled, standing up on her toes and kissing him on the cheek.

"And if I have anything to say about it, you always will," he said.

"So we are going together?" she asked, grinning.

"Of course, it's the Valentine's day visit, and the last one of the year, who else would I spend it with?"

She beamed. "I'm so lucky to have you, James."

"I'm lucky to have you, Lily," he shook his head.

"No, I'm luckier."

"I am."

"I am."

"I love you."

"I love you more."

"No, I love you more..."

It only occurred to James five days later that the Hogsmeade visit was coincidentally the same day as when he and Sirius had planned the tryouts. In the first place, he was worried that Lily would break up with him (something that was on the back of his mind at all times), and in the second place, he was upset because he'd not been spending enough time with Sirius as it was. He had an obligation to Sirius as well as to the rest of his friends.

Torn between his mate and his girl, he went to the place where he could get some good advice.

"Moony, my friend, its been so long since we've had a heart to heart-"

"What do you want, Prongs?" he asked, not looking up from his book that he was reading.

"I'm actually in a bit of a bind..." James blushed.

"Whatever it is, you got yourself in, you can get yourself-"

"No, no, I know that, but I wanted a bit of advice," James played with the table.

Remus sighed. "Well, if that's the case, I'm all ears."

"All right, here's my predicament. I promised Sirius I would help him find some new troublemakers at Hogsmeade, right?"

"You two...yes, I know," Remus rolled his eyes.

"Well, it also happens that I promised Lily that I would spend the day with her."

"And why did you do this?"

"Because I'm an idiot?" James suggested. "I just wanted to know what you think I should do?"

"Have you tried talking with either of them?"

"Well, no..."

"Don't you think you should start there?" Remus said.

"Well, I don't..." he sighed. "Now don't think that I'm blowing smoke, but I'm afraid if I cancel, that Lily'll get mad at me, in which case that she'll never forgive me, and then leave me."

"James, you do realize you're overreacting, right?" Remus said.

"Probably."

"Do you think so little of Lily that you think that she'll break up with you, simply because you want to cancel a date to do something with Sirius?"

"You don't think she'll be mad?"

"No, I don't," Remus shook his head.

"Lily, beautiful, can we talk about Hogsmeade?" James asked. Lily had invited herself to his room and they were hanging around talking privately.

"Of course...planning anything for our picnic?" she grinned, happily.

"Er..." James bit his lip. He hated to take that smile off of her face.

"Yes?" Lily asked, pausing for a bit.

"Could we maybe...call it off?"

"Call it off?" she asked. "Why?"

"Because...er...Sirius wanted me to help him with something," James said, rubbing the back of his head. Lily narrowed her eyes. She had been around him long enough to know when he was lying.

"And he can't do it any other day of the month?"

"No..."

"Even though you four go to Hogsmeade every day to get candy and such?"

"I have not been getting candy," James said. "I have been saving my allowance to pay for that necklace that you so proudly wear!"

Lily sighed and walked over to him. "James, if it is really and truly something that you must do with Sirius on that day alone, then I won't mind." She kissed him lightly on the side of his ear. "But you can't tell me what it is?"

"N-No," James cursed himself for being weak in the knees as she sucked on his ear lobe.

"Not even a hint?" she whispered, nipping at it gently.

"Uuuh-uh," he moaned sinking to a sitting position on his bed. She climbed on his lap.

"Please?" she asked, kissing down his cheek, but passing his lips.

"I can't...you'll get mad at me," he whispered. Lily paused, but continued nipping at his other ear.

"I won't get mad at you, Baby," she smiled, agonizingly slowly kissing down his cheek.

"I...uh...." he whined. "We're training new Marauders," he blurted out. Lily suddenly stopped kissing him.

"For that you're skipping out on me?" she cried, getting off of his lap. He snapped his head up and realized that he had just been pumped for information.

"That's not fair!" James frowned. "You can't just do that!"

"Well you can't just blow me off for teaching innocent little boys how to become complete terrors?! I thought you had given up on all of that, after my brother?!"

"Er..." James stuttered.

"I suppose I'll just have to spend my time with someone else," Lily said, walking to the door.

"Lily!" James cried. "Don't go!"

Her only response was to slam the door behind her.

When James had huffily gone to Remus and told him what had happen, Remus had responded by telling him that he should have known that Lily wouldn't have approved of what he was doing, and that he should have lied.

"Well, why don't you ask Sirius to postpone it?" he suggested.

"Oh yes, that'll go over real well. He's already hacked off at me for spending so much time with Lily as it is."

"Well, Prongs, I don't know what to tell you," Remus snapped at him. "You asked for my advice and I gave it to you. Do with it what you want?"

"Do you think Sirius would understand?"

"In all honesty?"

James nodded.

"No, I don't think he'll understand. And he shouldn't have to."

"So you think Lily's at fault?" James asked, hopefully.

"No, I think it's your fault for promising two people the same day."

"Oh....so which one do you think that I should tell that I can't go to?"

"That will have to be your decision," Remus says.

"I can't believe I have to choose between my best friend and girlfriend," James muttered.

"I suppose every man must make that choice at some point," Remus nodded sagely. "Well, good luck to you."

He left James sitting in an armchair, pondering the value of the two most important people in his life.