1. One

Win a Date with a Marauder

Disclaimer: Everything you recognize is JKR's. I once read a story, and the theme of that one was `Win a date with James Potter' and Lily didn't enter under a false name. Just wanted to write that here anyway, because I sort of got my idea from there, and didn't want anyone accusing me of stealing. o=

I took a looooooooong break. My brain is mush. So this is probably crap. I don't have a beta. Love it if someone would volunteer to help me out. I kind of suck at grammar and stuff. I'll update my other stories as soon as I get time. My math teacher is a horror. I hate her. x.x

Oh, and please REVIEW. I'll probably update sometime this week, or at the latest, by Sunday. I'm busy all Saturday, and going to America soon, so packing. o= But yea. You probably don't care. xD

Read on. VERY SHORT.

-x-

“Olivia Forrester. Favourite animal? Cats.”

“Nope. Padfoot will no doubt not get along with a cat person.”

“Sandy Moore. Best physical feature?...”

“What's the matter? Let me see that…oh. Put that aside. We definitely have to look into that one.”

“Jacqueline Hatcher. Best first date location? Black Manor.”

“Uh uh. Most certainly not. He needs a date for the Valentine's Day Hogsmeade visit, not a bloody bride.”

“Alisha Thomas. Hogwarts House? Slytherin.”

“Perhaps not the best choice…”

“Jared Winston. Best…”

“Hang on… that's a bloke. Erm… skip that one please.”

“Natalie Forde. Favourite drink? Firewhiskey.”

“Put that in the keep file.”

“Rebecca Wilson. Ever played a game which required a removal of clothes? Yes.”

“Oh, keep that one too.”

“Stephanie Dayes. Fears? Dogs and thunderstorms.”

“No… Padfoot has a certain attachment to dogs.”

“Brianna Ramon. Ever fantasized about Sirius? If so, what was it? The answer is yes. The fantasy involved raspberries, pumpkin juice, whipped cream, scarves, mirrors…”

“Thanks, no need to continue reading that. I get the picture. Rather unwelcome picture, but I get it nonetheless.”

“Okay. Next applicant is Emily Wickers. Favourite Quidditch team? The answer is `I don't like Quidditch.”

“Oh that one goes straight to the reject pile. Don't want to give Padfoot a heart attack by showing him that.”

Surrounded in a flurry of parchment, two Gryffindors were sitting in the midst of the questionnaires, going over each one and separating them into two piles of rejects and finalists. Now, it made sense that one of the Gryffindors was there, but why was James Potter sitting there, reading the questionnaire answers with a third year?

Deanna Barns was helping James with going over Sirius' prospective dates for the Valentine's Day Hogsmeade Trip. The Marauders had started this annual contest ever since fourth year, when Sirius had gotten so many invites, he had picked them by doing a contest. James lazily pulled out his wand and vanished away the reject pile with a flick. It was getting rather huge.

He nodded at Deanna. “Thanks for helping me. I think I'll leave the rest for Remus to finish up.” After all, it wasn't only his job to pick out Sirius' date. It was also Moony's and Wormtail's. He's gone through half the ones that had been mailed; Moony and Wormtail could sort the rest of them. Deanna had helped him out because she had a bit of a crush on Sirius.

She had wanted to pick up a few tips on what would get accepted and what wouldn't for when she filled out her own questionnaire. James hadn't had the heart to tell her that when she was in fifth year and old enough to enter, Sirius wouldn't be at Hogwarts anymore. He gathered the finalists' pile. There were about 7 or so letters that he had put aside for Moony to look at.

Now you're probably wondering; what the heck is going on? The halls were buzzing with chatter and echoing with giggles. Girls were buying new dress robes and exchanging tips on the best way to accent the shape of their eyes. They were taking care to apply just the right shade of lipstick and to wear the most beautiful hair accessories. It was that time of year again.

It was the week before Valentine's Day and girls were getting ready for the annual “Win a date with a Marauder” contest. The contest consisted of three different stages. The first was obviously when the Marauder met the girls in the Leaky Cauldron and split them up into four groups. Prongs, Padfoot, Wormtail and Moony (the last one with reluctance.)

The second stage was a questionnaire that the girls had to take and mail back to the Marauders via owl mail. The third and final stage was a date with their respective Marauder if they made it that far. Over the last two weeks, the first two stages had been carried out. The questionnaires were just starting to arrive back to the Marauders and they were going through prospective dates.

The people that entered the contest were bound by a charm to see the contest to the end if they made it that far. The best part about this “contest” was that you didn't know who your finalists were until the third and final stage of the competition. The rest of the Marauders picked for you. James had no idea who he was going on a trial date with this week.

Sure, he trusted his mates to pick out someone decent, but knowing Sirius' jokester nature, he wouldn't be surprised if he ended up with a bloke from Ravenclaw. Although, that really wasn't quite all that funny. But things around Sirius were always unpredictable. Hopefully, Moony wouldn't give in to him and actually pick out someone worthwhile.

-x-

To some people predictable is boring. To others, predictable means order, control and organization. Some people look forward to their predictable day, when they get up exactly at 6:30, always get up from the left side of their bed, always bush their teeth before washing their face.

One Lily Evans, Head Girl, and female student of Gryffindor had very predictable days. In fact, her schedule all throughout fifth and sixth year had been very much the same with the exceptions of a few subjects here and there. She enjoyed her predictable life. She looked forwards to all her humdrum doings.

In fact, she had as of the end of sixth year, even began expecting to argue with Potter and reject him. It was a part of her day. It felt incomplete if she didn't. Would she ever admit that to anyone? Of course not. And when she had walked onto the Hogwarts express, on September 1^st, proudly supporting the head girl badge on her uniform, her day had turned very unpredictable.

For one thing, she certainly hadn't expected to see Potter lounging about in the Heads compartment. She had told him off with great relish, saying that “This compartment is for Heads only Potter. Get out.” If Lily hadn't been leaning against the compartment door, she certainly would have fallen as her eyes fell on what James had fished out of his pocket.

The Head Boy badge. Things had gotten steadily unpredictable from then on. Jam—Potter had actually paid attention and contributed in the Prefects meeting. He hadn't asked her out the whole time, he hadn't even complimented her on how her auburn hair looked or how her dress looked. He had done nothing.

And frankly, Lily had felt lost. What was going on? Where was the Potter she knew? This new one was altogether too different. And the new Potter stayed. By the time it was Christmas, Lily had ashamedly admitted to herself that she had fallen for him. Hard.

Maybe it had something to do with his strange humour, which always made her laugh, or his Quidditch skills, or maybe that lopsided grin that made her go weak in the knees. Or perhaps it was the fact that he didn't like her anymore? Lily didn't want to believe the last reason.

Was she really that shallow? Had she enjoyed the attention that James had showered on her? Whatever the reason was, the fact was that one Lily Evans was now crushing on one very handsome, hazel eyed, black haired marauder. Then one day, she had done something utterly foolish.

No doubt the house elves had mixed something in her morning pumpkin juice for she had entered the “Win a date with a Marauder” contest. Why would she do such a silly thing? To blatantly show everyone that she liked James? But you see, Lily Evans hadn't entered.

Meg Andrews had.

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2. Two

Win a Date with a Marauder

Disclaimer: Everything you recognize is JKR's.

Again, it's short. I can't seem to write long chapters. Sorry. )=

YAY. 22 Reviews. Second most I've gotten ever on one chapter. Care to beat the record? xD 30 reviews. I know, keep dreaming, lol.

So here we go. I'll shut up. Next update by next Sunday.

----

Eggs + Sirius' nose = an unpleasant image.

“Oi Moony, mind waking him up?” James asked, gesturing towards Sirius who had fallen asleep, face into scrambled eggs. “It looks like he's sniffing up the eggs through his nose.”

Moony glanced over at Sirius, shaking his head slightly. “He needs to start going to bed earlier. No wonder all you two do is sleep in class. You know, there are other things you can do besides snogging girls all night.”

Peter choked on his toast, and tried to stifle a giggle.

James smirked. “Yes Moony. We know there are plenty of things you can do with birds all night long which doesn't have to be snogging at all. Frankly, I'm ashamed at you. Encouraging such behaviour at school. I intend to save myself for marriage.”

“You know I didn't mean it like that, James.” Remus muttered, blushing. “And you're no saint. I hardly doubt you're going to wait until you're married.”

James opened his mouth to argue and then shrugged.

Peter meanwhile, was poking Sirius with a banana. James grinned lazily, pulled out his wand, and pointed towards the glass of water in Remus' hand. It started to float. Moony glared at him. “I was drinking that.”

James didn't reply. He continued to keep his eyes on the glass, as it floated over Wormtail's head, to hover over Sirius. He yawned slightly, before swishing his wand, and letting the water tip out of the glass.

Sirius woke up yelling, and dripping wet. “What the bloody hell was that for?!” He asked, glaring, though it was hard to see, since there was wet hair in his eyes.

James shrugged. “You still have to pick out my date. Just because yours and Moony's has been picked out, it doesn't, mean that you can slack off.”

Sirius rolled his eyes. “Shut up, Prongs. We've already picked out your date. In fact,” he paused as he looked around in his bag, before pulling out a crumpled sheet of parchment. “Here's her application.”

James glanced at it, before grinning. “Can I see?”

“No.” Moony said, not looking up. “It's against the rules.”

“Aw, come on.” James glanced from Sirius to Remus. Sirius. Obviously Sirius would be the easiest to bribe.

“I'll tell you who got picked for you Padfoot, if you hand that over right now.”

Just as Remus reached up to grab the paper from Sirius, he crumbled it into a ball, and tossed it at James, who caught it and smirked at Remus. “And this is why you should play Quidditch more often.”

He smoothened out the parchment before reading the name at the top. “Meg Andrews.”

-x-

“Deanna you have to help me!”

An arm came out of nowhere and pulled Deanna behind what she had always assumed was a tapestry on a wall, but apparently covered a secret passage. “Lily?” The third year looked up at the Head Girl, motioning frantically for her to be quiet and pointing at the back of the tapestry as someone walked past them. Then Lily took her hand and led her deeper into the passage. “Lumos.”

Deanna gave her a puzzled glance. “Is something wrong?”

“I need your help!”

“Okay… with what?”

“I heard the third years were making transfiguration potions. And I also heard that you were one of the best potion makers at Hogwarts.”

Deanna blushed. Was the brilliant Head Girl, Lily Evans complimenting her? She shrugged modestly. “I suppose.”

“I was wondering, is there any way you could bottle some of that potion and deliver it to me?”

“But why?”

Lily paused. When she'd first thought of asking Deanna for help, she hadn't actually stopped to consider the consequences. Obviously the third year would be curious. And why couldn't Lily make it herself? Well, for one, she had absolutely no free time. And second, dragon blood was needed for the potion, and the professor kept it locked up in his office, since it was so expensive.

Obviously Lily would never break and enter. And lastly, she didn't want any clues to lead back to her. She couldn't tell her friends the predicament she was in, because the marauders were sure to find out then. Mae, one of Lily's best friends was dating Remus. They weren't going to Hogsmeade together this weekend though, since James and Sirius had rejected her application and set Remus up with a loud and rather voluptuous Hufflepuff.

“If I tell you, will you promise on the ghost of Merlin you won't tell anyone?”

Deanna nodded excitedly. “Oh, I promise!” To think, Lily Evans taking her into her confidence.

“Meg Andrews is Potter's date for Hogsmeade.” Lily's face was ashen.

“So?”

“I'm Meg Andrews!”

-x-

“Alright class. Instructions are on the board. Ingredients are in the supply cupboard. You may begin.”

Deanna neatly set out her Potions textbook and all the equipment she needed, and walked towards the ingredients cupboard. “Essence of unicorn; no. Pixie dust; no. Polyjuice potion; no. Here we go.” She quickly gathered the things she needed and hurried back to her desk.

By the end of the class, most cauldrons were emitting the nastiest smelling fumes. Most students had their hands clamped on their noses. The potions varied in colour. Although it was supposed to be a periwinkle blue, most of the potions were a murky brown, some blood red and one even bright yellow.

Slughorn stopped in front of Deanna's desk. “Now, this here is what the potion is supposed to look like.” He levitated the cauldron. “If you don't mind, I'd like to keep all of yours to show the rest of my classes. Since it tends to evaporate with time, I think it would be best if the kept the whole lot. You don't mind, do you?”

Deanna hesitated before shaking her head. What was she supposed to do now? She hadn't gotten any for Lily! Just as class was about to end, she slipped back into the supply closet and pulled out the Polyjuice potion. It would have to do. She wouldn't tell Lily though. She didn't want to upset her.

Later on that day, Deanna slipped some of her older sister's hair into the potion before putting it into a flask. Lily would look exactly like Michelle.

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4. Three

Win A Date With A Marauder

Disclaimer: Everything you recognize belongs to JKR.

Woah. I’m updating after like, four months. D= Don’t kill me. But like, after Ramadan I had no creativity left. None. I couldn’t even write a paragraph without making 2846364.7 mistakes. Yup. That many. I’m not exaggerating. =|

But anyway. You probably don’t care. xD

Here’s the next chapter.

You’ll have the next one sooooooooon. This is poop. Haven’t written anything for a long time. xD

BUT YEAH. SHUTTING UP.

-x-

“Lily, hey Lily!”

Deanna called as she spotted the Head Girl sitting at the far side of the Gryffindor table, the next morning. She hurried down the hall towards her, bottle of polyjuice potion hidden inside the pocket of her black cloak. She settled down on the bench next to Lily.

“I have the potion ready for you!” She said loudly, and several people turned around to stare at them.

“Shhh!” Lily whispered. She went on eating her breakfast, looking nonchalant.

“Place it in my hand, under the table.” She said, still not looking at Deanna.

Deanna smiled widely. She felt quite important as she too filled her plate with food and imitated the look Lily had on her face. Then, she slipped her hand inside her cloak and pulled out the bottle of polyjuice potion, and then placed it on the bench between her and Lily.

Just as gently, Lily picked it up and slipped it inside her bag.

“Thank you so much!” She whispered, as she stood up.

Deanna nodded happily at her, and it was only after Lily had left that Deanna remembered that she had forgotten to tell Lily it was polyjuice potion that the Head Girl now had, not a transfiguration potion.

Deanna had decided last night that she would tell Lily the truth, instead of hiding it from her.

Oh well.

She returned to her breakfast. It didn’t matter anyway. All Lily had wanted was something to change her appearance, and besides, Lily was smart. She would be able to tell the different between the two potions.

-x-

Lily thanked Madam Pince for the book, and walked towards the door. She wasn’t quite in the mood to stay in the Library tonight. The sixth year NEWT level charms class had a practical examination tomorrow in preparation for NEWTs and the students wouldn’t stop approaching Lily with the silliest ideas.

As if she would let them shrink her, and place her inside their pocket. Or cheat using disappearing ink.

She walked at a leisurely pace, “Top 1001 Ways To Charm Your Life” tucked under her arm. It was quite sunny in the common room, and Lily gladly sat down next to one of the windows, and began reading.

She had only reached #38 in the book, when a person came up in front of the window and blocked the sunlight. Irritated, she looked up.

“Potter, get away from me.” She had to keep up her façade, after all.

“Morning to you too, Evans. Reading a book?”

“Amazing Potter. You actually recognize what this is. I must say I’m surprised, since I doubt you’ve ever read one before.”

James grinned. “Yes, that is a wonderful book. Quite fascinating.”

Lily rolled her eyes. “Do you mind? I’m trying to get some reading done before I have to head off to Herbology.”

James shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He got up and was just bout to leave when he paused and looked back at her. “By the way, do you know who Meg Andrews is? I have a date with her for tomorrow.”

Lily gave him a startled glance. Did he know? No! How could he know? “This is odd, even for you Potter. Making a date with a girl, without knowing who she is? I can imagine Black doing something like that, but…” She shook her head.

Then as if it had only just occurred to her, she pretended to look surprised. “Oh right. You’re participating in that ridiculous, “Win a Date with an Arrogant Bloke” thing, aren’t you?”

James pulled a face. “Funny Evans. I prefer to think of it as making a girl’s dreams come true.”

“Is that why you have to bind the girls that enter with a charm?”

James shook his head. “Safety precaution. Wouldn’t do for one of them to feel overwhelmed and back out at the last minute and leave one of the marauders without a date.”

“Right, because you know it would be such a huge tragedy if one of you were to go to Hogsmeade single on Valentine’s Day. The world may never recover from the shock.”

James smirked. “You never know. But it doesn’t matter because the binding charm is never a problem. All the girls that enter want to go on a date with us.” He winked at her. “I know you secretly wanted to enter, but your stubborn pride held you back.”

“Yes James, that’s it! I cant take it any more. You turn me on more than you can possibly imagine. How about we take a short break in your dorm?”

“Are you bloody serious?!”

“No. Leave me alone Potter. I could care less about your silly little competition.”

“Suit yourself Lily. But if you ever… want to take a break, all you have to do is ask.”

-x-

Lily Evans was running late for her date with James. For one thing, she had been up all night, worrying about what to wear, although she told herself several times that it hardly mattered, because she was going to be in disguise and going to give Potter a date from hell.

Second, she woke up late this morning, and then couldn’t find the bottle of transfiguration potion. In her hurry, she didn’t even notice that the potion she was taking was the wrong colour, the wrong thickness, and had a different odour. The taste didn’t matter since Lily had never had polyjuice potion or a transfiguration potion before.

When she looked in the mirror after getting dressed in a white shirt and black overalls, all she saw was a mousy looking girl, with dark eyes, brown hair and a mild acne problem. She smiled. Good.

Poor Lily.

What she didn’t realize was that while transfiguration potions (which has been later banned because of the number of death eaters transfiguring themselves into important wizards were too big) lasted until you said a specific spell. Polyjuice potion however wore off after only an hour.

-x-

Many students milled around the Entrance Hall, and in the courtyard while the teachers prepared to leave for Hogsmeade. James Potter was standing near Moony, who looked completely embarrassed as his date handed him roses.

Lily took a deep breath before plastering on a smile on her face and approaching James.

“Excuse me, James? I’m your date, Meg Andrews.”

-xx-

Annnd, done. xD

Review pleaseee. The date is coming up in the next chapter. I’ll post it by next Sunday, or before.

And yeah.

REVIEW.

I’ll be posting another story tomorrow. Go read that too. xD

Win a Date with a Marauder

1. One

2. Two

3. A/N

4. Three