Operation Cupid

Prolouge

"POTTER!" a rather irate red-head screeched, zeroing in on the helpless ( but in no way innocent) boy who was surrounded by his usual fanclub and fellow Mauraders as he was making his way into the Great Hall for lunch.

Her screaming caused James, and everyone within a ten-mile radius, to start and look around for the person who was being maimed or brutally injured. Seeing no one, everyone but the Head Boy and his friends resumed their normal, everyday rountine (Or, at least what was normal to them), those at Hogwarts shrugging it off as another "James and Lily Row(tm)." Ever since the two had been made Head Boy and Head Girl the previous year, her tremendous dislike for him and his enormous ego had had several infamous clashes, many regarded as legendary by those unfortunate enough to witness them. (Sound familiar? (Cough "R/H" Cough) )

As of late, however, it had gotten increasingly worse, and it was almost to the boiling point...

"Oh, hello Evans! Anything the matter? " James replied brightly, quickly regaining his composure and smoothly turning around to look at her livid face. Bad idea. It just made him more nervous.

"Potter, didn't I tell you to have your ideas for The Halloween decorations planned out? Last week? I still haven't gotten them, and and the Feast and Dance are in two weeks! TWO! How are we ever going to get anything done, what with you dragging your feet and leaving everything to me..."

Amazing. Her growling was even more frightening than her yelling, If that were possible. "Um, Evans?"

Sigh. "What is it now, you lazy, good for nothing git?"

"Would you go to the Halloween Dance with me?"

"WHAT! I can't believe you would even have the gall to ask me that, you arrogant, self-centered pig..."

Not wanting to hear the rest of this increasingly volatile conversation, everyone had deserted the hallway by now, with the exception of Sirius and Remus, who remained rooted to their spots out of loyalty to James and the fear that they may need to strap Lily down and sedate her before long . At the very least, they should be on hand to move all sharp objects away from the battle arena.

Sirius, however, was doing more than simply watching the fiasco unfolding before him. Those wheels inside his head, usually reserved for making up pick-up lines and plodding through his mountian of homework, were turning. He had a plan, and if he knew anything at all about women, it would work. 'It has to,' he thought 'James is strong, but not strong enough to contend with the attacks of an angry woman. No mere mortal man ever could.' Sirius concluded sagely, wincing for his friend as Lily proceeded to hurl forks at James, who was attemping in vain to use a pan of muffins as a shield.

" Where should we hide the butcher knives this time?"

Sigh. " I dunno, Moony. I've run out of all the good hiding places."

After Dinner...

"Whew!" James exclaimed, sinking down into one of the beaten up armchairs scattered around the Gryffindor Common Room." You know, that had to be the longest row I've ever had in my entire life. Pity the poor bloke who marries her, eh Padfoot?" Silence. "Padfoot?" Frowning, he turned around to look at his uncharacteristically quiet friend. He ended up falling out of his chair in shock.

Sirius Black, self- proclaimed lover of women and all things rebellious, was studying. Arithmancy. Sirius... studying...Arithmancy? The world was ending; that was the only logical explanation for this. Next thing you know, Snape would be taking up ballet, and McGonagall would start playing the bagpipes.

"Sirius?"

He heard him this time. "Hmmm?"

Well, at least it sounded like the real Sirius."WHAT are you doing?"

"Studying, what's it's look like?"

"I've known you for 6 years. You've never studied." James reached over and touched his friend's forehead in concern. "Well, you don't feel as though you have a fever..."

"Get your hands off me, I'm fine! But, since I am practically failing Arithmancy, I feel like I should study for our test on Monday."

"Huh." Not the least bit convinced, the Head Boy turned to Remus, who was settled comfortably in an armchair, reading a book of muggle poems. "Moony, is there a test in Arithmancy on Monday?"

"I'm not sure. Why?"

"Sirius is STUDYING. That's why."

"Oh. I see your point. Well, I know the test is sometime this week, so don't worry."

Finally allowing himself to breathe, a sudden wave of exhaustion came over him. "Good. Just make sure he gets to bed, alright? I'm turning in." He yawned.

" 'Night James."

" 'Night."

"Sleep tight, James. Hey, how about meeting me, Remus, and Peter in the Room of Requirement tomorrow after lunch for a little study session?"

"Sounds good, 'night." Yawning again, he trudged up the steps.

Once he had disappeared up the stairs, Remus put down the book he had given up long ago on and turned on the dark-haired boy beside him.

"Alright Padfoot, spill."

An angelic look of innocence was attempted. And failed miserably."Spill what?"

"You know perfectly well what I'm talking about. There is no test on Monday- and you know it !"

"There's a test on Monday?" Peter asked, both trying to enter the Common Room and jam one last cookie into his pocket at the same time.

Remus sighed. "No, there's not. But this git over here (Gestured towards Sirius) told this to James, acted like he was studying for it, of all things, and arranged for James to meet all of us at the Room of Requirement for a study session! (Turned to Sirius pleadingly) Will you at least tell us what you're up to?"

"Wait just a second...Sirius? You studied? On your own?" Peter asked, so shocked he actually allowed a part of his cookie to fall out of his gaping mouth.

Sirius grinned his arrogant, wolfish grin. That same grin that meant he was up to something. "If I told you now, you'd try to talk me out of it, Moony. I know you too well. You'll have wait until tomorrow morning to find out. I'll need your help." He turned to Peter. "Your's too, Pete. This mission is bigger than all of us."

"What mission?"

"Operation Cupid."