Final Year, Final Chance

It was a week after Lily had downright humiliated herself in front of the whole common room by hitting James Potter in the stomach. Lily Evans was engaged in a semi-heated debate with her friends Enid O'Doyle and Odette Jones over Sirius Black. Enid was very taken with Sirius, and felt the need to talk about him every evening.

"Well I'll give you the hot tip, he's the world's biggest prat," said Lily, as she rummaged through her trunk at the end of her bed.

"You have to be kidding me!" Enid squealed. "You don't think that he is nice looking at all?"

"Oh I know that he's aesthetically pleasing. There's no denying that. But because I know what he's really like, that turns me right off."

"You're just saying that because he's friends with Potter," Odette quipped.

"Goodness!" cried Lily, feigning shock. "That is only one of the thousands of factors that make up what I don't like about Sirius Black."

The girls giggled. While Lily loved Enid to death, she could be a bit boy mad. She and Odette got very fed up with constantly talking about those four, particularly Sirius Black.

"Those boys have been particularly quiet," said Odette

"What do you mean?" Lily asked.

"Well, with regards to their pranks and what not. I haven't seen or heard them do anything!"

"It's only the first week, Odie. They need to warm up first," Enid said.

"Yes, they're getting old," Lily joked. "Don't want to sprain any joints; pull any muscles."

"You know what I mean, Lily. Last year, they had mastered three major hoaxes, not to mention two smaller ones. Not to mention Snape had been in the hospital wing twice; and that was only in the first week."

"You have to admit, Lil. It's pretty weird," Odette added.

"Well. That's because I asked them not to."

Enid and Odette stared at Lily in disbelief. This was not at all like her. She was discussing pranks with them?

"I'm sorry," Enid apologised. "I must have gone temporarily insane. You did what?"

"Asked them not to," Lily replied. "Well not all of them, just James and I guess he spoke to them."

Odette smiled. "So when did we start calling him James hey? When did Potter the Pri-"

"What does it matter?" Lily asked, exasperated. "They're not causing any trouble! Isn't that what everyone wants?"

Lily sat on her bed, opened up the book she had been searching for and began to read. Enid and Odette exchanged looks. They crept over to her bed and sat in front of their friend.

"Lily?" Enid cooed.

"Yes?" asked Lily, not looking up from her book.

"Lily..."

"What?"

"Is there something you would like to share with the rest of the class?"

Lily looked up and laughed. "What are you talking about?"

Odette took the book out of Lily's hand and grasped the hands of her friend. "Do you have feelings for James?"

A look of shock smoothly ran over her face. "What?" she whispered.

"Well think about it Lils," reasoned Enid. "You've just started calling him James."

"Yes but-"

"You spent the whole train ride here talking to him alone."

"That's only because-"

"You laugh when he does something stupid in class."

"I can't help-"

"You're actually talking to him."

"I have to talk-"

"And there are these looks."

"I - what?" Lily was exasperated enough, but now she was puzzled. "What looks?"

"When you two think no-one is watching," said Enid with a grin. "I don't think either of you realise the other is doing it, but you are. When you both think no-one is watching, you steal a glance. And it's one of those looks that you could set alight."

"I do not!" Lily said, scandalised.

"No, I would have to agree with Enid here, Lily," said Odette.

Lily put her book down, feeling her face grow red. "This is stupid!"

"It isn't stupid," said Enid. "It was bound to happen sooner or later. You could slice the sexual tension with a bread knife."

Lily was horrified. "There is no sexual tension with James Potter!"

Odette laughed. "Whatever you reckon Lily!"

"I know how I feel!"

"I'm not so sure you do!"

Lily was dumbfounded. She knew that she did look at James a lot more than usual; he was becoming terribly funny these days, and much nicer. Could she possibly start liking someone she thought she hated?

She looked at her friends, who were smiling back at her, and then at her watch.

"I have to go and patrol with-"

"James?" offered Enid with a grin.

Lily rolled her eyes. "With Potter."

Odette put her hand on Lily's arm. "Lily, don't think we're going to judge you, because we aren't-"

"Look," Lily stood up and faced Enid and Odette. "It's all very well for you two think these things. But I am telling you right now: I can't-don't... I don't have feelings for James Potter, okay? So just leave the subject!" And she turned and left the dorms.

"Righto..." called Enid

"If you say so!" Odette yelled.

"Have fun patrolling with Jamesy-poo!" Enid shouted, making kissing noises.

Once they were sure she was out of earshot, Odette and Enid howled with laughter.

"I knew this would happen eventually," Odette giggled. "With all the close proximity, working together."

"We're going to set them up!"

"How on earth are we going to do that?"

"I reckon I know just the people to help us!"

* * * * *

"You cannot do that!"

It was the next day. Sirius and Remus were sitting in the back of the library, coming to dead-ends on each idea they created to get James and Lily together. They were whispering heatedly at each other.

"Why the bloody hell not?!"

"Not only is it breaking a thousand school rules, I don't fancy kissing James! Or Lily for that matter!"

"Oh, I wouldn't say no to Lily..."

"And I would like to see you try to look James in the eye after you have kissed the girl he's fancied since day one, pretending to be him."

"Okay. So Polyjuice Potion... a back up plan then?" asked Sirius hopefully.

"Not a back up plan!" Remus whispered horrified. "Not even part of the plan! Polyjuice Potion is out of the plan!"

"So 'plan Z'?"

Remus paused. "Make it 'W'."

Suddenly a voice came from behind them. "Having fun there boys?"

Remus and Sirius jumped. They whipped their heads around to see Odette and Enid smiling down at them. Sirius instantly flicked his hair so it fell across his face elegantly. He had a soft spot for Odette.

"Hello lovely ladies! What can we help you with?"

"Sounds like you're coming up with a brilliant plan there, Sirius," Enid grinned flirtatiously. "Polyjuice Potion, an interesting concept."

"It was just an idea for-"

"For a prank we were going to play," Remus interrupted, laughing nervously. "I know James said no pranks, but how can we resist."

Odette sighed and shook her head. "We know you're trying to get Lily and James together," Odette sighed, sitting on their table. "That's why we're here."

"We want in," Enid smiled.

"In on what?" asked Remus.

"In on getting them together."

Sirius narrowed his eyes. "I thought you hated us."

"Oh we do."

"We also hate James," said Odette.

"But we love Lily."

"As does James."

Remus looked at Sirius. "My head is spinning!"

Sirius shook his head vigorously. "So is mine."

Enid took a seat opposite Remus. "Okay, it's our last year boys. Why not finish it with a bang? Something spectacular!"

"And what's more spectacular than romance?" asked Odette, sitting opposite Sirius.

"My sentiments exactly," Sirius purred slyly to Odette.

"Oh really subtle, Padfoot," Remus said under his breath.

Sirius kicked Remus under the table.

"So that's settled then?" asked Odette.

Remus cleared his throat, suddenly becoming very business-like. "We have to state the rules and regulations first, ladies."

Enid and Odette exchanged sceptical looks. "Rules?" asked Enid.

"Well, like what we're supposed to do or say to either of them," Sirius offered.

"What do you mean, Sirius?" Odette asked, looking confused.

Sirius blushed. It was rare that he ever blushed with a girl, normally he made them blush. However, there was something about Odette that just didn't come across on other girls. Her confusion was downright gorgeous. "Well ah... what I mean is..." he stuttered.

Remus rolled his eyes. "What dung for brains means is, what can we do when trying to get them together? What can't we do? And all that jazz."

"Ah okay," Odette thought about it, reasoning in her head. "Well, obviously we can't tell either of them what we're doing, I guess."

"That's a given," giggled Enid.

"And we have to be sly about it all," Sirius pointed out. "No obvious gestures."

"And it's only guiding them to each other, so we can't say anything that'll make them suss on what we're doing," said Remus.

"So what are the rules?" asked Enid

"Get a quill, Sirius," Odette commanded. Sirius obediently dipped his quill in his ink and poised himself over the parchment, ready for Odette's (in his opinion, heavenly) dictation. She cleared her throat. "Rule one: no directly informing Lily or James the goings on of this united front."

"Rule two: No signs, songs, fake love letters or any fabricated evidence. If we want these crazy kids to fall in love, they have to discover each other. We're not to hand feed them ourselves."

"And rule three: no Polyjuice Potion." Odette grinned at Sirius.

Sirius returned her grin. "You're just jealous you didn't think of it."

Remus took the parchment from Sirius and read over it. "That's about it, I reckon."

"We have to sign this contract and make it official," said Odette.

"And a spit handshake," Enid included.

The other three looked incredulously at her. "WHAT?"

"That's what boys do, don't they? Spit in their hands and shake?"

"That's absolutely disgusting, Enid," said Odette.

"No, I have seen it somewhere." Remus nodded to Enid.

"Thank you, Remus," she sighed.

"But yes, it really is quite revolting."

"I realised that, thank-you Lupin!" Enid snapped. Remus smiled at her.

The new group of Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Enid O'Doyle and Odette Jones signed their magical contract and shook hands (no saliva involved).

Sirius let out a bark-like laugh. "Let the games begin!"