"The Ultimate Bet: Higher Stakes (You Shouldn't Gamble With Fate)"
-Disclaimer: We only own TUB (heh heh). And Lily's friends. Naturally, anyone you don't recognize. Oh, and I (Natali) would like to own James and his fine self. Amanda wants ALL of Sirius when he was younger, but hey, that's just us. Welcome to our world. Don't sue.
-Summary: James Potter, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin are the most popular guys in school-with Peter to tag along as their jackass. They like to prank girls (and Snape, the "He-She"), hang around with girls, snog girls, shag girls, get pampered by girls, be drooled over by girls, basically anything with girls…
But most of all, they like to bet each other. Not every day bets, like who would win the Quidditch game. No, very interesting bets (Who can be the first to get McGonagall to curse? Who is going to be the unlucky girl to shag Snape-or guy, depending which way he flowed down the river? Who could get Dumbledore to give them condoms? And other such things as that).
Bets like... Can James get Lily Evans-semi popular, great student, goody-goody Evans to go to bed with him three different times, for 10,000 galleons?
Lily and her friends have a good time with each other. Lately, they've been daring each other to do things.
So naturally, the dares only become harder and more difficult to accomplish. Naturally, the dares become bets. Naturally, the bets become a life or death situation (financially, at least).
Lily's been given two years (until they graduate Hogwarts to be exact) to make a guy fall in love with her, then break up with him. But not just any guy. That's for her friends to decide...
So when Lily finds out they've chosen the one person that she can't stand, she figures she might as well hand over the money now.
But then she realizes...
Maybe there is a chance of success here.
Rated R for possibilities of: sex, violence, alcohol, swearing, references to any of the aforementioned. Please don't read if you're offended by any of these (but we hope that you like it!).
How This Works: Amanda and Natali are writing together. Sorry, humanity. We'll each take a turn writing a chapter. Loves and byes.
-Chapter One: Can I Borrow Your Pet Bird?-
-By Natali-
"Good Lord. He's not actually going to do it, is he?"
Sirius Black, James Potter, and Remus Lupin were huddling at a corner, watching Peter try to get into the girls' bathroom.
James snickered at Remus's comment. "Bloody hell, I do think that he is."
Sirius shook his head is disgust. "Idiot. He actually thought he could paint Filch's cat green and silver, with a scarlet and gold X on top."
"I meant to say earlier, nice touch, Remus. Tying the cat to Fawks was a brilliant idea," James approved, nodding his head. "Ah, poor Pete just broke his high heel." He chuckled as Peter's bra slipped down about his feet, skirt going with it. Girls shrieked at the sight.
"Thank you, Prongs. As for Peter. He knew that if he couldn't do it he'd have to get dressed up as a girl and get into the girls' bathroom to avoid getting heavily fined for losing his bet," Remus smirked.
"Because the Lord knows he can't get into the men's," Sirius muttered, sending everyone into laughing fits. "Can you just imagine him saying to Dumbledore, `Hello, sir. Could I please borrow your pet bird? You see, I need to tie Mrs. Norris to him. She's going to be green and silver, you see. So, if you wouldn't mind…' "
They continued to watch the mousy looking boy try to get into the girls' bathroom, but continue to get kicked out by screaming girls.
"We're cruel," James sighed playfully. "Come on, I can't watch this anymore. Maybe eventually he'll give up and we'll get our fifty knuts."
"Or maybe he'll just die. That'd be much better," Sirius suggested, smiling as he passed a group of giggling girls who sent him admiring looks. "Damn, it's great to be me."
"You're so wretched to our rodent-like friend," Remus chastised, not really meaning it. As far as he was concerned, Peter could disappear and he didn't think he'd notice.
"I'm bored," James said suddenly, taking out the Snitch he'd snatched from Madam Hooch's office. He tossed it around a bit. "Really bored."
"You always are," the other two chorused.
In their Fifth Year, and well near their prime, the Marauders were on top of the school social ladder (even Peter was known by everyone, just not generally liked). Bad ass Sirius Black, charming but daring James Potter, and sweet Remus ruled the school-at least when the teachers weren't around.
And by fifteen and sixteen, they were already gaining popularity with the girls. All of them. Except a few.
They were walking down the corridor when James bumped into a girl with red hair.
"Oh, sorry," he apologized, and kept walking.
You shouldn't gamble with Fate.
"Jerk," Lily Evans muttered, turning back to her friends. "They swear just because they're popular, they can just run into a person."
"He said he was sorry, Lily," Meggie Jenkins said. She tied a ribbon into her mahogany colored hair. "I don't know why you hate everyone so much."
"I don't hate everyone," Lily said defensively. "I don't hate you guys."
"But you would if we were popular," said Janet (or J. Mo) Harrison. "You know that's the truth. He is so nice looking though."
"Who?" Lily asked disgustedly. "James `the Jerk' Potter?"
Meggie rolled her hazel eyes. "You're so exaggerated, Lily. You're just like my stepmother."
"I think I should be offended by that," Lily frowned, twirling her wand between her fingers as they made their way to their destination.
"It's why I said it."
"As I was saying," J. Mo interrupted, "I think that he's quite nice to look at. But I prefer Sirius Black."
"As if he'd ever give you the time of day," Lily muttered.
"You're so optimistic," J. Mo muttered sarcastically. "Really, I didn't think I was all that ugly, but thanks." In truth, J. Mo wasn't ugly at all with dark, dark hair as black as night and the brightest blue eyes ever known to mankind.
"Stop shitting," interjected the sensible Brandy Postlewait as she joined them, uncovering her hood to show her light brown hair. "You're drop dead gorgeous. I'd fuck you."
"Thank you," J. Mo said dryly. "How nice of you to say so."
"Anytime. Well the trap's set. We can go in," Brandy announced as they took the stairs down to where the Potions classroom was located. "Mr. Cranston is out cold. Didn't even realize I'd spiked his biscuits with a sleeping draught. Piece of cake for you, Lils."
Lily wrinkled her nose. "If I didn't get such a high off these dares, I wouldn't do them. Can you imagine the trouble we'd get into?"
Meggie shrugged. "What's your point, my bright-eyed beauty."
"I don't know why we're not popular," Lily grumbled. "We're interesting and adventurous, more so than those bitches the whole school hails to."
"Why do you even care? Are you trying to win the `Everybody Likes Me' award?" J. Mo asked sharply. "Gosh, Lily, like it matters. I always thought we had a good time. And it's not like we're booed out of the common room or avoided like the plague."
"Whatever. Point is-"
"Shh," Meggie hissed. "You don't know if something went wrong with the draught. No talking from here on out. Lils, go put that red lacy bra on him, girl. Make sure you leave our mark on his forehead before you leave."
"Are we finally going to levitate him to the second floor corridor?" Brandy asked.
"Damn right," Lily chuckled.
"Go ass slap that prick, Lils," J. Mo said encouragingly.
"Shit, J. Mo! I don't even want to imagine doing that. I'd rather not, thank you." Without another word, Lily went into the Potion master's office and begun her work.
Fifty minutes later, Mr. Cranston was wearing the red lacy bra Lily and her friends had procured over his robes, and he lay in the second floor corridor, where throngs of students were circling him, laughing and pointing. Finally, Dumbledore reached the scene.
"Ah, the Divines have lay yet another prank for our amusement. I believe the Marauders have some competition against these ladies," he said.
"Headmaster, what makes you so sure they're females?" McGonagall asked.
The aging man pointed at his employee's forehead. "I believe that's eyeliner that drew that, correct?" McGonagall looked at the sign in question:
*(`'·.,(`'·.¸***¸.·'´),.·'´)*
>~:*.·`·. the Divines .·´·.*:~<
*(,.·'´(¸.·'´***`'·.¸)`'·.,)*
The Divines smiled at each other. Lily was rather proud of her artwork. She had to continue to sharpen that blasted eyeliner to draw it correctly, but it'd been well worth it.
"You know what this means, right?" Meggie whispered into her ear.
"What?"
"We've got to get better and better; it's what people expect."
"Oh, the Marauders must be in a snit," Brandy snickered, coming into their conversation.
"I wonder who they are," Lily mused. "Hey, where's J. Mo?"
"Oh, no," Meggie groaned. "What is she up to? We need to find her."
You shouldn't gamble with Fate.
The others nodded, scared of what their unpredictable friend could be up to. On their way out of the corridor, they passed James, Sirius, Remus, and (now male) Peter who were the Marauders, unbeknownst to the entire school.
"Did the Divines strike again?" Sirius snapped. "Oh, this is war."
"What does it matter?" Remus asked calmly, always the levelheaded one in the group. "It's not about who plays the most pranks, it's about-"
"Who pisses McGonagall off more. You're right, Remus," Sirius nodded. "Let's get to work."
James rolled his eyes at his other two friends while Sirius thought. "I have a better idea," he said in an attempt to distract Sirius. "Why not place a bet? A high bet. Very high."
"How high?" Sirius asked, intrigued.
"Ten thousand galleons high," James smiled, heading for the courtyard for some fresh air. "Who's in?"
Remus thought about it for a split second. "Count me in. I've got a savings."
"Me too. Mum will give me any amount to shut me up," Sirius agreed. "Peter?"
"I don't have that kind of money," he stammered.
"Yeah, well you never do," James shrugged. "That's all right. Just sit there and pretend you're in this. Now, here's what I was thinking. I have to get a girl in to bed with me before the week is over."
"No," Sirius shook his head, smiling as he spotted Lily and her friends catching up with J. Mo, who was running around like a maniac. "I've got something better."
Remus, seeing where he was looking, caught on. "Yeah. I like this. Go on, Sirius."
"What is it?" Peter asked, as always eager to hear.
"You have to get that redhead to sleep with you, mate. Three different times." Sirius snapped his head back to look at James. "Can you do it?"
"Can I do it?" James laughed. "Come on, it's me. Of course I can. And most definitely for 10,000 galleons. Who is she?" he asked, turning and looking for her.
"That one right there," Remus stated, nodding with his head. "The one chasing the chit with black hair. When do you have to do it by?"
"Eh, end of Hogwarts," Sirius joked. "But Jamie will probably have it done by sundown."
"That I will, mates," James snickered. "That I will."
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"What?" Lily shrieked, jumping off the grass from where she was sitting. "When I agreed to the next bet, I didn't know it was going to be that! I demand another one."
"No can do, mate," J. Mo smirked. "The lollipop's in your mouth already."
"Huh?" Lily asked stupidly.
"You've already shook on it. You're screwed."
"But… But… I don't even believe at love at our age!" Lily wailed, plopping back down on the cool grass. "How am I supposed to make some random guy fall in love with me, much less break his heart when he does."
"Not just any bloke, Lils," Brandy said, an evil gleam in her gray eyes. She nudged Meggie, who sat up and looked at the person she was indicating.
Meggie smiled evilly. "Yeah, Lils… We get to choose him."
"You really want me to lose these 300 knuts, don't you?" Lily groaned. "All right, who's the unlucky gentleman?"
"James Potter."
"NO! THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY IN HELL THAT I'M DOING THAT! YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY FORGET IT! I CAN'T STAND HIM! JUST-"
"Lily, shut up," J. Mo said lazily. "He doesn't have to fall deeply in love with you. Just a tad. You act as if it's not as easy as raising your skirt a bit and shaking your boobs."
Lily adamantly shook her head. "No, no, no, no, no, no. He doesn't even know I exist! There's just simply no way. Besides, I despise him. I might as well just give up the money now, because-"
"Hey." James Potter ran up to them. "What are you lot talking about?"
Their jaws nearly hit the floor in shock.
"Well," he said, not waiting for an answer, "I really did come over here for a reason." He turned to Lily and stretched out his hand. "My name's James Potter and I was wondering when you were free for a date."
Pompous ass, Lily thought to herself. So cocky, thinks I'm actually going to say yes. Well, guess what? I actually want to win those 300 knuts!
"No, thank you," she said crisply. "I have no interest." Without another word, she walked away.
"Holy shit, she didn't just do that!" Meggie gasped.
"Holy fuck, she did," James stared. "I've never been rejected before!"
"With damn good reason," J. Mo muttered. "You're blazing hot."
Brandy snickered at James cocked his head at J. Mo. "What'd you say?"
"That it's blazing hot out here," she lied, fanning herself with her hand. "You know, that hot November air and all."
He nodded slowly, turning and heading back for his friends.
"I cannot believe Lils just did that," Brandy said, still in shock.
"You shouldn't gamble with Fate."
"That was quite random, J. Mo."
"Yes, I know, Megs. Get used to it."
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-A/N: Ok, so that's chapter one. Next one's Amanda's. Please read and review, let us know what you think. Later!
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