A Little Wager
James Potter frantically began dressing into his formal dinner suit to get ready for the guests that would be arriving at 4:00 - only half an hour away. Swinging his dinner jacket over his shoulders he fiddled with the platinum buttons, trying to do them up, but failing miserably as he trembled slightly in excitement.
Just as he eventually forced the first button through the hole, he heard several deep voices outside his bedroom, coming up the hall.
"-and all he's going to do is try on the same old approach as he uses every time he sees her," he heard Sirius moan quietly. James frowned and listened for a response.
"Padfoot, will you please stop complaining! We'll talk to him about it later, now shut up" said Remus exasperatedly, his voice louder than Sirius' was, though it was still reasonably hushed - they must be closer to his bedroom door. As this thought entered his mind, the handle on the door turned, and Sirius, Remus and Peter entered.
"Ah, Prongs my good man," Said Sirius happily as he approached James quickly. "Been looking for you everywhere, well, not quite everywhere; we knew where you'd be, obviously - it's your house; and, of course, we know your house very well, so you would naturally be in your own room, which is where we decided to come, and we were right, weren't we Moony? Weren't we? So, I opened the door and here you-" Sirius rambled completely pointlessly.
"Padfoot, you're talking crap again. Shut up," snapped James as he battled with the final button on his suit jacket in front of a large floor-to-ceiling mirror. Sirius blinked stupidly and looked at Remus, who was frowning.
"Yeah, Sirius, be quiet," he shot at him and Sirius huffed, marched over to the bed he was sleeping in for the summer and fell head first on to it…sulking. Remus and Peter just stared after him, his eyebrows raised in amusement, then deciding that Sirius was not as exciting to watch when he was immobile and constantly sighing pathetically, he turned to watch James, who had just done up the last button on his suit.
He spun around to face Remus, his arms outstretched.
"Well what do you think?" he asked hopefully. Remus checked him over and nodded.
"Not too bad, but…" he said and James' arms fell slightly, along with his face - it was now expectant.
"But…?"
"Well; you're not wearing a tie," Remus said and James opened his mouth to say something, but Remus cut him off. "And, yes James, you have to wear a tie - its full formal wear. No exceptions!" he added sternly. James sighed exasperatedly and went over to his large cheery-wood chest of drawers to find a tie. As he searched for a tie, Remus carried on.
"Oh, and uh, your suit jacket buttons are all in the wrong holes," he said quickly, to ease the blow. James spun around, midnight blue tie in hand, and looked down at his jacket.
"What the-" he breathed. Remus screwed up his eyes awaiting James'-
"Fuck sake! Why! Why me?" he screamed hysterically, stamping his foot, as Remus walked over to him and slapped him on the back of the head, freezing his ranting.
"Haha…you got a slap that time…funny…" bantered Sirius like a little child, who was now sitting up on his bed and searching for a formal suit for the dinner.
James just shot a glare at Sirius and went to say something, but Remus began talking to him.
"James, stop getting all melodramatic and calm down," he said softly, as he began re-doing James' buttons into the correct holes.
"Yeah it's not like any of this is going to make the slightest difference," said Sirius casually, pulling out a navy blue suit. James looked at him sceptically and frowned.
"What do you mean it won't make any difference?" James asked sharply.
"I mean," Sirius said as he began getting changed, "she hates your guts, Prongs, everyone here and the entire school knows that. Making yourself look smart and 'handsome' isn't going to make her instantly fall for you."
James raised an eyebrow and laughed, in a, 'you have to be kidding me' kind of way.
"You don't think that with my talent, I could get Lily Evans?" he asked.
Sirius finished pulling on his jacket and grinned evilly.
"Why, would you like to put a bet on that?" he said challengingly. Remus sighed as he finished James' last button and went over to his own bed where he slept and lay down to watch the two boys.
Here we go…
"Oh ho…Mr Black wishes to make a little wager does he?" said James daringly. Sirius stared back at him and nodded slowly, a smile spreading the width of his mouth.
"He certainly is, Mr Potter, he most certainly is," said Sirius
"Ha! Yeah, OK then, Black, I wouldn't mind kicking your arse in another head-to-head game again," James replied tauntingly.
"Well actually," spoke Remus, and James turned to look at him quizzically. "It was both Sirius and I who are in on it…you're against us both."
"Oh," James said, looking a little surprised that Remus, the book-loving, normally more serious member of the Marauders, was in on the bet too. Then he grinned mischievously and shrugged. "Fair enough," he said, "I can take you both on…I could do with the money," he added and the other two just gave him a look, to which he rolled his eyes and sighed. "OK, well maybe I don't, but it's still be a nice trophy - I could frame it and put it on the wall," he said dreamily.
Remus cleared his throat sharply and shook his head. "I don't think so, Prongs. We're not betting for cash, or anything materialistic," said Remus defiantly.
"What? Then what the hell are we going to bet on?" enquired James incredulously. Sirius smoothed out his suit jacket and looked up at James.
"Your pride," He said simply. "If you don't get Lily Evans in your bed by the time she has to leave in a week's time, then you must swear on your entire vault, that you will not sleep with another girl until after marriage," he said mysteriously and James' eyes widened in horror for a moment, before returning to normal, a sly grin back on his face.
"Fine…however, if the both of you lose, you must never, ever again until our dying days, doubt my charm and unrivalled talent in bedding any girl I desire. Agreed?" he said smoothly and they both nodded.
"Excellent-" began James until something suddenly dawned on him. "Wait- since when was Evans staying here for a week?!"
"Since Sirius, Peter and I heard your mum talking to your dad about it on our way up here," replied Remus smugly.
"Holy shit…" breathed James as he walked in a lethargic way towards his bed and plopped down heavily.
"Yeah, I thought you might think that," said Remus.
"But at least you have a enough time to try and beat me at getting any lady to want," coaxed Sirius and James snorted.
"Yeah, OK Padfoot, if you say so." Sirius decided to ignore his comment and began adjusting his tie.
James looked over at Remus and gazed expectantly.
"Er, Moony, shouldn't you be getting ready around about now?" he asked and Remus just shrugged.
"Yeah, I suppose so…" he said and pulled out his wand, pointed it at the clothes on the end of his bed and muttered a spell, then at himself and muttered another spell. "Transperio."
Within seconds his silvery suit began materialising onto his relaxed body. A minute he was fully dressed, finely polished shoes and all.
"There. How do I look?" he asked James and Sirius who were standing and staring disbelievingly, and Peter who had just fallen over on his side trying to put on his dress trousers. "What?" he asked perplexedly and looked down at his suit. "Something wrong?" he asked innocently.
"Why didn't you show us how to do that spell? It would have saved so much time!" James yelled.
"Oh, stop whining. Maybe next time you'll pay more attention in Charms next time. And you really should…you're inaccurate in your Charm work," Remus scolded as he aimed his wand at James, Sirius and Peter in turn, muttering a spell so that their clothes fell into all the right places. He checked his watch. "Now, shall we head downstairs? We have five minutes until they arrive," he said and the other three nodded.
"Right," said James a little weakly, "Um…what…am I missing anything? What about…no, wait…where is it?" he rambled and Remus and Sirius poked him out of the door.
"Stop procrastinating, Prongs and get moving," said Remus forcefully and gave him another nudge. Sirius looked at him confusedly and was about to question him but Remus cut him off. "It means stop stalling for time," he said without even looking at Sirius.
A wave of understanding came over Sirius and he looked back at James who was now walking slowly down the hall.
"Yeah, Prongsie, you have to see her at some point…especially if want to win that bet," he added in an under tone and James instantly sped up. The three boys smiled.
Remus suddenly remembered something and called to a fast marching James, "Oh, and James mate, remember: don't seem over obsessed! You'll scare her off!" he said and James just gave a little wave, signalling that he heard him.
Sirius glared at Remus and went to give him a slap on the back of the head but Remus beat him to it. "You even dare Padfoot," he said simply as Sirius rubbed his head.
"Huh. All I was going to say is you shouldn't give James help on this," he said hotly, "From now on, on the matter of Lily Evans, he is our enemy; our target; our means of demeaning his way with the women; our prey; our-" Sirius said as though it were a political speech.
"Sirius, we're not trying to kill him or ruin his reputation. And we're certainly not going to damage his chances of getting Lily…even though I don't agree with sleeping with her just for the sake of it…however, you do nothing and I mean nothing to mess things up, you hear me?" Remus said strictly and Sirius began pouting.
"Whatever…" he huffed.
"Besides, you know Prongs…he can do all of that without our help," Remus added as an afterthought and chuckled. Sirius let out a bark and Peter just squeaked.
"Yeah, I suppose," said Sirius as they entered the lobby at the front of the house where James, Victoria and Harold all stood in waiting.
"Ah, boys…good. Come here…stand there and look smart," said Victoria very quickly. "Don't slouch, Peter dear, you'll crease your suit!" she said in a motherly tone to Peter. She looked at the Grand-father clock by the wall and let out a deep breath.
"Right. OK we have a couple of minutes before Lord and Lady Evans arrive. Now, I want all three of you on your best behaviour-" she stopped suddenly and called out as she brushed some fluff off of James' shoulder. "- Marian! - And I mean no mishaps from either of you - Marian, dear! - I'm sure you'll keep a good eye pf them, won't you Remus?" he asked as she let her hands hover around his suit, looking frantically for something to brush off or straighten out. Frowning a little at the prospect of not being able to mother him, she shrugged a little and just swept her hand over the jacket anyway.
Finally satisfied that her job was done, she looked around in a rush and hollered, "MARIAN!"
"Right here my Lady," spoke an old, motherly, kind and caring voice from behind her. A small woman in maids dress was standing with a soft, warm smile on her face and gazing at the boys all dressed in their formal attire admirably.
"Oh, Marian dear, is everything all in order? Do we have enough Butterbeer? I hear, although they're Muggle's, they really like it…Oh and what about the food? There is enough food isn't there? Oh, dear God…what if…what if they don't like the meal? I'll be a laughing stock…" Victoria rambled anxiously until Harold laid a hand on her arm.
"Honey, calm down!" he said soothingly. "Look, they shall love the meal…the food and drinks are all hand picked by Carlos, and lets face it, he has an excellent taste in fine wines and dishes. Don't worry, everything will be OK."
"Oh, I suppose you're right…" she sighed and took a deep breath.
"My Lord, my Lady, I assure you everything is in order…we have enough Butterbeer to last us the year and our own Mr Black took it upon himself to taste the meal this morning," said Marian softly and looked at Sirius, who was trying his best to look innocent.
"Well, Sirius dear?" enquired Marian.
"Lovely, Maid Marian, absolutely delicious!" he complemented and she smiled gratefully at him.
"See, my Lady, if Sirius approves, anyone will love it," she said.
"Oh, I am sorry for over reacting…I'm just…" she sighed again and put on her best smile. "Thank you, Marian dear. Do give our assurance to the House Elves that they shall not go unrewarded if all goes well - nor, indeed, shall you or Carlos."
"Thank you my Lady, my Lord," she said bowing her head at Victoria and then Harold. She then turned to Sirius and said sweetly, "Oh, and Sirius, dear…don't call me 'Maid Marian' again. Ever." She said and he smiled innocently, to which she rolled her eyes and disappeared instantly with a silent wisp of smoke.
"She loves me, really," Sirius quipped and Remus sniggered. James looked slightly disgusted and laughed a little too and Peter bobbed his head to an unheard tune, completely in his own little world.
All was silent until-
"Ah! They're here, they're here!" announced Victoria suddenly, who had been gazing adamantly out of the window by the door, making everyone jump, and Peter squeak.
James looked out of the window too and noticed a long beautiful black limousine pull up outside their house in the courtyard and his heart gave an untimely jilt of anxiety and excitement.
Lily Evans would be staying at his house for a whole week!
Suppressing a stupid grin that threatened to blind everyone, as rolled on the balls of his feet. He couldn't quite see the front of the Limousine that had pulled up and it seemed that the driver was opening the door for them around about the front because he didn't see anyone exit the car; he only heard the slamming of doors and voices.
He couldn't quite hear all of what they were saying, but he did hear a young, soft voice ask one question. "-why would either of you actually tell me where we-" it began but he heard no more as Marian appeared at the double oak doors and opened them slowly.
'Ok, here we go. Be cool, Potter…you can do this! You can win! You can-'
His thoughts were cut short as a tall, greying man with a moustache and vibrant green eyes entered the house, with a medium-height, blonde haired woman beside him who still retained the obvious featured of absolute beauty, that were more apparent in her younger days. As Victoria and Harold began saying hello and introducing the Marian to them, James' eyes fell on a sight that would never leave his dreams until the day he died - and some.
Lily Evans walked in slightly nervously, wearing a subtle, yet gorgeous, emerald green dress that brought out her amazing emerald eyes. The dress, James noticed, seemed to cling hungrily to her every curse and crevice, yet hang loosely in the areas in which you would need to get under, if it just so happens you need to unwrap what it's hiding. Like a present - a gift - a-
'-Miracle, that's what you need, mate.' Hissed a small voice in the back of his head and he silently cursed himself. He broke from his thoughts, yet his eyes never left Lily's body. She seemed to not have noticed the four boys yet. None of the guests had. Well, until now, anyway-
"And these four, my friends," James heard his dad say joyfully, as he continued to watch Lily take in her surroundings, not paying much attention. "Are our son and his friends: Peter Pettigrew, Remus Lupin-" James noticed Lily freeze and just stare ahead of her, "-Sirius Black-" she shook her head, closed her eyes and appeared to be muttering something under her breath. "- and last but not least, our son, James Potter!" finished Harold merrily and Lily's eyes shot open, disbelief written all over her beautiful face.
James froze as Lily's head turned to face him and their eyes connected. For about ten seconds the two of them stared at each other; James in anticipation to see what she'd do or say and Lily in absolute horror and fury.
'Ah, apparently she wasn't told of where she was staying for a week,' said a small evil voice in the back of James' mind.
Everyone in the lobby stopped and watched the two teenagers silent and tension filled connection.
Elizabeth Evans spoke up a little uneasily, eyes flicking between the two wide-eyed teens.
"Oh, do you two - er - know each other, then?"