Chapter 6- Meetings and Making Plans
I want it stated that I wanted to have no part in this to begin with. It's a rather stupid idea, and you'll be even worse off if she finds this and reads it. -Remus Lupin
Stop worrying, Moony. It's not good for your health. It's just a short list to help out our good buddy Prongs. What's so wrong with that? -Sirius Black
Nothing… until he somehow loses it and she finds it. -RL
Remus, if you help me write that list, you won't just be helping James. You'll be helping me too. -Ryan Miller
How will I be helping you? -RL
You'll be shutting him up for one thing. We'll all thank you for that. -RM
Hey! Is it so bad to want just a little advice from two of my best friends? -James Potter
It is when you reject another best friend's advice. Siriusly, I must know more than the two of them combined. -SB
WARNING! Over-used pun alert. (Don't make me hurt you, Si.) -RM
I think it's because it's Lily Evans we're talking about. -Peter Pettigrew
Exactly! That changes it. This isn't just another girl. This it the girl. I have to do exactly everything right or she'll never even look at me. -JP
Oh, Merlin, he's getting emotional. Help him before he starts groveling. You sound like a bloody bird. (Fireball, as much as I would like to see you try, I must state that I was being completely Sirius.) -SB
(How many times do I have to tell you to not call me that?) Ignoring the entirely sexist comment, James, she already looks at you. Not in approval, granted, but she still looks at you. Don't be such a Drama Queen. You sound like Sirius. -RM
Hey!! -SB
(:P I win.)
Be serious, you two (not Sirius). This is Lily Evans we're talking about. She's not affected at all, and unless she's an ice cube or the Potter Charm is failing me, there must be some way to get her to like me. -JP
(AHH, they're ALL doing it!!) You use anything too much and it won't work anymore, Jimmy. -RM
What's that supposed to mean? -JP
What does it sound like it means? See, Remus? He doesn't get it. He won't get it until we explain it to him. And if he doesn't get it, he'll never give it up. I need your help because… well, you'd understand his point of view better. -RM
I understand his point of view better? -RL
Yeah. The male perspective. -RM
The male perspective? -PP
She means she's never had a penis been a guy but Moony has. -SB
Oh. -PP
Please, Remus? For me? I'm giving you a poor, pitiful, I-desperately-need-your-help look right now. -JP
Come on, Remus. Just to shut him up. -RM
Alright, fine. I'll do it. I'll help you. -RL
Yes! Thank you, Moony!!! -JP
Okay, I'll start. Just to, you know, get us started. -RM
Well, that made sense. -SB
Hey, no yanking the parchment away when I'm working. And you need to shut up anyway. Alright, here we go:
FIVE STEPS TO WOOING LILY EVANS:
5.
Can you use a word besides woo? It makes it sound so stupid. -JP
That's because it is, mate. -SB
Do you want me to write the list or not? If either one of you take this away again, I'm not doing it. -RM
Liar. -JP
Yeah, you're probably right. Now stop it. -RM
FIVE STEPS TO ATTRACTING (POSITIVE) ATTENTION FROM LILY EVANS:
There, is that better? -RM
Yeah, thanks. -JP
I get to start. -RM
5. Don't antagonize/pick on/piss off Lily.
Your turn, Remus. -RM
Do I have to? Stop looking at me like that, I'm going. -RL
4. Don't attack/curse/pick on Snape in front of her.
Moony, my friend, you're asking for the impossible. I hate Snivellus and not cursing is merely a possibility I will not consider. -JP
Then you better be enjoying the single life. It's just when she's around, not all the time. You're fine as long as she doesn't find out. And didn't I already tell you not to yank the parchment away? Sheesh. Men. You never listen. -RM
3. Learn to listen.
I do listen! -JP
Yeah, when it suits you. Which means, uh, NEVER. -RM
2. Try to be more mature around her.
Ouch, Moony. I felt that all the way over here. -SB
He wanted my advice, I'm giving him my advice. -RL
Mind if I add to that? -RM
Go ahead. -RL
2. Try to be more mature (and nicer) around her at least once a day.
There, that'll make it easier on you. -RM
I'm sensing some sarcasm. Nice to know you have such faith in me. NOT. What is this, pick on Prongs day? -JP
Yes. You asked for it, Prongs. Your turn, Rye. -RL
1. Stop being such a prick.
You're sure being nice today. -PP
Yes, well. I try. -RM
-Marauders, sixth year, History of Magic Class, April 13, 1977
&-&-&-&-&
Lily and James reached McGongall's office at the same time. James nodded for Lily to go in first. She looked at him for a few seconds before opening the door and walking in. James sighed and followed her in. It's going to be a long year.
McGongall looked up as they walked in. "Evans, Potter. Take a seat." The two of them sat in the chairs in front of her desk. She looked between them sternly. "I first want to congratulate both of you on being chosen as Head Boy and Girl. We haven't had a Head Girl and Boy from Gryffindor in quite some time." James smiled slightly. McGongall claimed that she was completely unbiased, but James knew better. He knew for a fact that McGongall covered for them (the Marauders) all the time in front of other professors.
"I must stress how important it is that you are good role models," McGongall continued, looking directly at James. "You are supposed to set a good example, and I expect you to do so. This means not merely taking points or giving detention to someone you do not get along with. I expect you to not abuse your privileges. Is that understood, Potter?"
He considered asking her why she was so worried about him abusing his privileges, but decided against it. "Yes, professor," he said, looking innocent. Well, if that didn't earn him some evil looks…
Sheesh. No one had any faith in him at all. (He could just hear Ryan saying "Hm, I wonder why that is…") Well, apparently Dumbledore did, or he wouldn't be Head Boy, but Dumbledore was half off his rocker anyway.
Oh, well.
McGongall went on to explain their duties, responsibilities, and… other things that James was starting to not catch. At least until she said something that got James' attention.
"The Headmaster has decided, with recent events, that the students could use some distractions," McGongall said. "You are in charge of arranging these events. One of the best suggestions, I believe, is a ball. I do not care when you have it as long as you ask Professor Dumbledore or myself before you make anything official. Do either of you have any questions?"
James looked at Lily, who was pointedly ignoring him (for some reason). "I don't think so, Professor," Lily said. James turned back to McGongall and nodded.
"One final thing before you two leave," McGongall said. She gave each of them another stern look. "I realize you two do not see eye to eye, but the Headmaster believes that you two would make a good pair if you managed to get past your differences. I must stress how important it is that both of you try to get along. If not for my sake, at least for the sake and sanity of this school. You are dismissed."
The two of them got up and left the room in silence. After walking about halfway to the common room, James finally decided to speak up. "Any ideas about the big events we have to take care of?"
"I kind of like the ball idea," Lily said. And she left it at that. James could already tell he was going to have to practically drag any kind of information out of her.
"Yeah, it sounds alright," James said. "I was thinking we should plan something a little more original though. I mean we can do the ball too," he quickly added when Lily threw him a look, "but shouldn't we plan more than one thing? Something that would be more… oriented for the whole school instead of just the older students?"
Lily just looked at him for a second, almost like she was considering how she should answer. "Well, yes, I suppose that would probably be a good idea. The first years need a distraction just as much if not more than sixth and seventh years."
"Right," James said, happy to be getting somewhere. "Exactly."
"Perhaps we should think about it and discuss our ideas at our next meeting," she said.
"Yeah, sure." He paused and frowned. "Meeting?"
She didn't even try to pretend she wasn't rolling her eyes. "Yes, Potter, our meeting. The one we have to have at least once a week and then report to McGongall about?"
"Oh, yeah, that meeting." He tried to think of a quick cover so that she wouldn't think he wasn't paying any attention during the meeting they had just had (even though he really hadn't, but she didn't need to know that). "Well, I wasn't sure if you were talking about that meeting or the one we have to have with the prefects every week and also report to McGongall about."
She looked a little surprised. "Oh. Well, we should decide what we're going to be planning before we discuss it with the prefects, don't you think?"
"Yes, definitely." She gave him a suspicious look, like she thought he was making fun of her. "Augurey," James said to the portrait of the Fat Lady. The portrait hole swung open and Lily climbed through first. James followed her, thinking hard. He frowned and watched her walk up the stairs to her dorm. There has to be some way-
"Oy, Prongs!" James looked over by the fire to find Sirius and Peter (with Remus rolling his eyes from his seat next to them) waving him over. "Get your arse over here!"
James chuckled and shook his head as he made his way over to his friends. "You're still alive," Peter said.
"'Course he's still alive," Sirius said. "It's going to take more than Lily Evans to kill our buddy Prongs."
"I wouldn't be too sure of that," James said a little darkly.
"Sounds like it's time to pull out that list again," Remus said lightly.
"I thought you were against the list," Sirius said, smirking slightly.
"I am," Remus said. "But as long as he made me write it out, he might as well use it. It doesn't sound like he's been using it."
"Oh, shove it, Moony," James grumbled, throwing himself down on the rug in front of the fire. "I threw that stupid list away this summer." In reality, it was Ryan who had thrown it away (something James thought was a bit cheap, considering she helped write it). He still wasn't exactly sure how she had known where it was, but you never knew with Ryan. It didn't really matter that she had thrown it away though. He had it memorized.
"Why'd you throw it away?" Peter asked.
Sirius snorted. "He didn't. Fireball chucked it for him."
"I thought she burned it," Remus said lightly.
"Oh, yeah. That's right. She did, I forgot about that."
"What is this, pick on Prongs Day?" James asked. "You guys need to mark on my calendar or something so I can be ready for it."
"But you should always be ready for it."
"Because every day is pick on Prongs Day, right?"
"Naturally."
&-&-&-&-&
Two weeks. After two weeks of being totally, completely fed up of being paired with someone she didn't want to be paired with, she started giving in. No, giving in wasn't the right word for it. Not bothering with it anymore was a little better, but that wasn't quite it either.
Two weeks, three meeting by themselves, two meetings with the prefects, and eight Transfiguration classes. That's really all it took.
Not that Lily was willing to admit that she was starting to accept him. Never in a million years would she admit that. But, like it or not, she was starting to accept him. He still had annoying little quirks, but they weren't as annoying as they had been two weeks ago. They fought, but it over really stupid stuff half the time (not that all their arguments weren't stupid) and she was only arguing with him because… well, she didn't know how else to act around him.
And she had even started thinking of him (but not calling him) as James instead of Potter. Not that she would admit it, of course. It wasn't that she could really consider him a friend, but he really wasn't her enemy anymore. They were more like acquaintances. It was just… different.
She almost told Alice about it. Almost, but she decided against it for some reason. Maybe because she was afraid of hearing `I told you so.' But she knew that Alice wouldn't say that. Morgan might, but Alice wouldn't. But little did she know that it didn't matter whether she mentioned it or not, because all three of her roommates already knew.
&-&-&-&-&
"There you are!"
Ryan looked up curiously. "Were you looking for me?"
"Yes, actually," Alice said, smiling slightly. "Only we never really left the dorm. So I don't guess we were doing a very good job of looking, were we?"
"We've decided," Morgan announced. "We've decided we're going to help you play matchmaker for Lily and James. But only after they're friends. So we need your help on how to get them to be friends. That way, all you have to do is convince them to get along, and we'll take it from there."
"There's no way to get people like Lily and James to be friends," Ryan said. "If there was, they would already be friends. Thanks to me."
"Ryan, if you get enough people to work on it, they'll have to give in sooner or later," Alice said. "Preferably sooner than later."
"You sure do switch sides fast," Ryan teased.
Alice laughed. "They leave me no choice. Honestly, enough is enough, don't you agree?"
"Most def."
"Besides, she's starting to get along with him," Morgan said. "If I've noticed, then you must've noticed."
"Yup. So what's the plan? Are the guys going to be included? Because Remus would be helpful, I think. And Sirius can drive her insane enough to talk to James about it. Or do you want to go a different route?"
"We thought we'd let you figure out the details," Morgan said. "You're probably getting the most out of this, besides the two of them."
Ryan grinned, a mischievous look in her eye. The well-known Marauder grin. Most people had enough sense to know, when they saw that grin, that it would be best to just stay out of all five Marauders' way, just in case. Nine times out of ten, that look ended in a prank. "They'll never know what hit them."
"Now, that's what we wanted to hear."
&-&-&-&-&
"I need your help," Ryan announced five minutes later in the common room. Three of the four male Marauders looked up at her.
"Wheat? Needs help?" Sirius asked. "Oh, no, the world's going to end! We're all going to-"
"Ah, shut up," she said, smiling slightly as she shoved his shoulder. "I need to help with Operation LJ." One look of confusion, one look of comprehension, and one smirk. "Operation Lily and James?" Two looks of comprehension and a widened smirk. "Okay. Alice and Morgan said they'd help with the matchmaking."
"But they're Evans friends," Peter said slowly.
"They also happen to be fed up," Ryan said. "They realize Lily and James aren't as different as they seem. But they'll only help if we can get the two of them to be friends first," Sirius opened his mouth, "because they might not really be as great for each other as James thinks they are. If they can't be friends… well, you get the idea. Don't even think about saying it," she added threateningly to Sirius.
"I wasn't going to," Sirius said innocently. "I was just going to say it could be very beneficial for both of them if they're friends first."
"I knew it. I knew that's what you were going to say. No, Sirius, not `beneficial' friends. Real friends. Think you and me. That kind of friendship."
"Oh. Does that mean he gets to try out new techniques- OWW!! What the hell?!?! Ryan!"
"Prick." Ryan smirked. "You deserved it. It's your own fault, any way you look at it. No, not like that. Like how we are now, stupid."
"Remus, she hit me," Sirius whined. He stopped and rubbed the back of his head. "Hard too. I think I'm going to have a bump. Bloody hell, Wheat, you should've been a Beater."
"Don't come whining to me," Remus said, holding up his hands. "I'm staying out of it."
"But I was just asking-"
"Like you and Remus¹!" Ryan exclaimed. "That kind of friendship."
"Oh. Sheesh, why didn't you say that in the first place?" Ryan made a noise of frustration, clearly wanting to say `I did say that in the first place!' but she kept her mouth shut. "Only Remus isn't a bird. You're the bird here. `Course, you don't really act like a bird. You do look like a bird, though, `cause of-YOW! STOP HITTING ME, YOU CRAZY WOMAN!"
"That one you deserved," Remus said, trying to hide his smirk.
Sirius grumbled, rubbing the back of his head. "Prongs won't like that. Prongs won't agree to that. You realize that, don't you?"
"Have you been listening to me at all?" she asked. "Alice and Morgan have agreed to help us get Lily and James together," she said slowly like she was talking to a two-year-old. "But Lily and James have to be friends first so that we know that we aren't all crazy for ever thinking that they could get together. Only after their friends will we even have a chance of even attempting to get Lily to go on a date with him. Understand now?"
"No," Peter said.
"It really doesn't matter anyway, Peter," Remus said. "All we have to do is follow whatever instructions Rye gives us." He looked to Ryan. "You have a plan?"
"But of course," Ryan said, trying to sound offended. "I always have a plan."
$$$$
¹- Okay, I just had to say something about that since I got questions about it elsewhere. I know there are R/S shippers out there, but I'm one of them. I'm never going to be one of them. I just wanted to point out this is not, whatever you want to believe, a bit of foreshadowing. This is not a R/S fic. This is a L/J with a little R/OC thrown in on the side. I do not write slash, I rarely read slash. This fic will not have any slash. Thank you.
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