A Life of Love

~Chapter 2~

James, Lily, Sirius, and Remus entered the Great Hall and sighed.

"Isn't this such a comforting place to be?" Remus questioned as he sat down.

"Not if you're as lame as the rest of the school!" came a voice from over by the Slytherin table.

"Not again," James said as he turned around and saw Lucius Malfoy, "Malfoy, don't you Slytherin's have anything better to do?"

"No." Malfoy smirked.

"Low life." Lily muttered.

Malfoy shot a look at her, "Mudblood."

James stood up.

Lily just smiled, "James, relax. He isn't going to do anything drastic if he knows what's good for him. I mean, if mudblood is the best he can come up with that means he's weak. At first it hurt my feelings but now I realize that it's just really stupid!"

The boys laughed.

Malfoy opened his mouth as if to say something, but was stopped by Professor McGonagall, "The Sorting Ceremony will now begin. Please take your seats."

Malfoy walked back to his seat and whispered something to Snape that looked an awful like, " I can't believe you actually like her, stupid. She's a dirty mudblood."

Lily laughed, and leaned towards James, "He like's that word, Mudblood. Doesn't he?" James nodded, then sighed.

"What's up?" Lily asked.

James hesitated but said, "I'm too big to look like a first year, aren't I?"

Lily raised her eyebrows and said, "I thought you would have had noticed by now. Why do you ask? Oh wait, don't answer that question." Lily laughed.

Last year, James somehow bewitched the first year Sorting list to have his name on it. When he was called, the sorting hat didn't think this was right:

"Potter, Jam-, What?" Professor McGonagall looked incredibly confused. Before she could do anything, the Sorting hat was already after James, bouncing off the students' heads.

"Get BACK here!" The hat called out. James was running like a mad man, jumping over the students' heads, and hopping off the benches, until he reached the door, he opened it, waved solemnly to his fellow Gryffindors, and slammed the door shut, before the Sorting hat could get out. It was a funny memory; no one ever did it again, though.

"Uh, Lily? Are you hungry?" Lily blinked her eyes. James was staring at her. She looked around. The food was already on the table, and the boys had already started to eat.

"Oh yeah." she replied and started to eat some pumpkin pasties.

The group ate in silence because they were really bored.

Finally, James thought of something to say, "I forgot to tell you guys! I'm Quidditch captain!"

He really loved Quidditch. He was a chaser himself.

Lily hugged James, "Great! You deserved it! Now we're definitely going to win the Quidditch cup!"

James was the best chaser in the whole school. If he had taken over the team long ago, Gryffindor wouldn't have had such a bad record. Slytherin managed to beat them to the Quidditch cup five years in a row.

Lily wasn't so fond of flying. She liked doing it, but she was just afraid that one day she would fall, and break her neck. Even though Madam Pomfrey could fix it up in a matter of seconds, Lily still didn't want to feel the pain.

Professor Dumbledore stood up and yelled out so everyone could hear, "Welcome to another wonderful year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! I am Professor Dumbledore, your Headmaster. I would like to announce that the Forest is forbidden to all students who do not wish to suffer a painful death." The first years gasped but Lily and the boys sniggered.

They had entered the Forest many times, because they had to go with Remus, who would turn into a werewolf every full moon.

Another werewolf had bitten Remus a very long time ago, even before his first year at Hogwarts. He would always go to the Whomping Willow, and travel through a tunnel, to the Shrieking Shack in Hogsmeade.

"Remus!" Lily whispered.

Remus looked over at Lily and said looking puzzled, "Huh?"

"When was the last time you transformed?" Lily asked quietly, so nobody would hear.

"For what?" Remus looked very confused.

Sirius looked annoyed like it was obvious and said. "Come on Stupid! Into a-,"

James covered Sirius' mouth, "Shh!" James smacked him on the head.

Sirius blushed. Under James' hand Sirius managed to mutter, "Oops." James took his hand away.

"Into what? Oh, that." Said Remus as he looked at his plate.

Lily felt bad and tried to apologize. "I'm sorry Remus. I didn't mean to bring it up. Forget it."

Remus said earnestly, "Oh no! You guys want to know because you care about me. I want you to know."

James looked anxious. "So, when did you last, you know?"

"Um, I think it was the day before I went to Diagon Alley to get my supplies. That was about a week ago." The group sighed with relief.

"Good." Lily looked where Dumbledore was talking.

"Now, would the Prefects lead their houses back to their dormitories! Oh, yes, I have one important announcement to make. There will be a Welcoming Ball for all 6^th years and 7^th years. It will be this Saturday. Thank you, and Good Night!"

James smiled. Maybe, I'll get to go with Lily. That would be cool.

"Yes." Lily muttered under her breath. Maybe James will ask me! That would be the best!

On the way up to the Corridor, the group was talking about the Quidditch team for Gryffindor this year. Sirius was a beater, so he had a lot of spirit.

"So," James started. "Who's the worst player on the Hufflepuff team?"

Sirius snorted, "Well, the whole team!"

The group laughed at the punchline. A couple Hufflepuffs walking by stared and scowled, but the group didn't notice.

Remus asked, "Um, what about the Ravenclaw team?"

Lily thought then said, "I think that Leo Chang boy is pretty bad, you know, the Beater?" Remus agreed with Lily.

"Is that why their team lost so many players in the beginning of the game against them last year?" Sirius asked.

Everyone shrugged. Suddenly, someone rushed passed Lily, making her trip and fall.

"Whoa! Lily are you alright? Here let me help you!" James put his hand down to Lily, instead but she jumped right up.

James looked at her, and widened his eyes. He had never seen anyone jump up so fast.

"No thanks! I'm fine. Who the heck was that?" Lily looked around through the group of people, and saw someone pushing their way through.

"Aren't you going to go get revenge like you always do?" Sirius asked. Lily glared at him.

"Never mind. Do what ever you want." Sirius said quickly. Lily's glares were always scary.

"No, because I know who it was and I can get revenge on that person anytime I want." Lily sighed.

"Oh, I feel bad for that person." James said. Lily looked at him.

"You feel bad for Margie?"

"Oh!" James' face graphics changed completely, "Never mind. She deserves revenge."

When they got to the Common Room, everyone was talking eagerly.

"What are they talking about?" Lily asked.

"I don't know. Hold on." James walked towards a group of guys who were also talking.

"Hey, what's up?" James asked, he turned around and winked at his friends. Lily waved.

"Well, we're just talking about the Welcoming Ball. There's a note on the bulletin board saying the Guide lines." Andy Patil said.

"Aren't you going with Lily? Everyone says so. You're one lucky guy." George Brown asked.

James blushed, "Uh, well, I don't know," he said quickly as he started backing away. "Thanks for the information." With that, James ran over to the group.

"What were they talking about? And why are you so red?" Lily asked eagerly.

"Ok, the scoop is that there are some weird guide lines for the ball. Let's go check them out." James said.

They walked over to the bulletin board and read the sheet.

"Girls must wear Gowns, or nice, clean, dresses. Boys must wear a suit? But, I don't have a suit!" Sirius cried.

"Do you think I have a dress?" Lily said. She wasn't too fond of dresses, counting on the reason that she has to wear one everyday.

"We could go to Hogsmeade!" James suggested.

Lily groaned, "I forgot that this is a ball. I shouldn't be so surprised that I have to wear a dress."

"When should we go?" Remus asked.

"Uh, how about this Saturday, we can wake up early in the morning." James suggested. All of the sudden, James, Remus, Sirius, and Lily yawned at the same time. They all looked at each other.

"Uh, I guess we ought to go to bed." Lily said.

"Okay, Good night." James agreed.

"Sleep well." Remus said, as they walked up the stairs. Sirius yawned again.

"Ditto." The group stared at him. Sirius sighed.

"Good night." Everyone went into his or her Dormitories.

Lily sighed. Does he even like me? Does he even want to ask me to the dance? She got changed and slid into her bed, not knowing what really to think.

Meanwhile, James sat in his bed, thinking about Lily.

Should I ask her to go with me?

Yes.

Who the hell is this?

Your thoughts, James.

Oh, why should I ask her to go with me?

Because I know.

Why though?

Because she wants you to ask her to go with you.

How do you know?

A reliable source.

Who is the reliable source?

That's classified.

Oh. Do you think she likes me?

Oh yea. Big time.

How do you know? Oh ya, a reliable source. But, how can I trust you? I mean, your me!

Just trust me, James. She likes you, and you like her! What's stopping you?

Nervousness. I mean, come on! I'd be asking my best friend out!

And your point is?

Shut up. I can't ask her out. Besides, you're just a thought. What do you know about dating?

Everything, James, Everything.

Uh-huh. Good night.

You're going to go with her. You're going to ask her out! She's going to say yes. Your going to-

Will you stop predicting the future?

So, you think it's going to happen? You actually trust me?

James?

James?

Good Night!!!

Oh, goodnight lover-boy.

Shut up.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The next morning, Lily came rushing down the steps to the common room, thinking she slept in late. When she got to the bottom, the house-elves were cleaning the room, and lighting the candles. One of the elves was Dinky, a friend of hers.

"Dinky, what time is it?" Lily asked as she sat down on the couch.

Dinky stopped what he was doing, "Oh! Good morning Miss Lily, Ma'am. Dinky is willing to tell you that it is 5'o clock in morning Miss! You's up too early! Dinky and Wobby still cleaning out Gryffindor Common room!" Dinky replied.

Lily sighed. She was up way too early. She opened her book, and started to read.

After about, twenty minutes, the boys came down, all the boys except James.

Sirius and Remus came and sat next to her.

"Good morning." Lily said cheerfully.

Sirius yawned, "Last night, I think James was talking about you in his sleep."

Lily raised her eyebrows.

"Oh, really?" Lily said sounding very interested, Remus nodded his head in reply.

Lily added anxiously, "What did he say?"

Sirius thought about what James said last night, "I think he was talking to somebody, asking this person if-,"

James suddenly came running down the stairs, dressed and ready. "Sorry! Am I late?" James asked, getting ready to go out the door.

Lily shook her head.

"No, your early, too early. It happened to me too." James sat down.

"So, good morning." Remus grunted, "Who were you talking to last night James?"

James looked very confused, "Huh? I wasn't talking to anybody." Then, James thought about last night. He remembered what happened. He started to panic.

"Did I say anything?" James asked quickly.

"Uh, well, yea. You had a full conversation with someone. You were talking about-,"

"Oh yes! THAT dream, well, I had a weird dream last night." James said, starting to sweat.

"What was it about?" Lily asked.

James turned a little bit red, "Funny you should ask, because, I don't remember!" James nervously. He hoped they would understand.

They looked at him for a little bit, and then Sirius smiled.

"I get those a lot." Remus agreed.

"Yea, it's like you know it was weird, but you don't remember what it was about." James' heart relaxed. He smiled, "Do you guys want to go down to Breakfast?" he asked.

Lily got up, "Yeah, let me just go and put my book away." Lily ran up the stairs.

Then, James had an odd feeling. He turned to Sirius and Remus, who were smiling

. "Do you really get those kinds of dreams?" James asked suspiciously.

They put on an evil grin and Sirius said with a note of menace in his eyes, "I thought you'd catch on that we didn't. How long have you liked her?"

James hung his head and groaned, "That's the problem though. I don't want to like her."

Remus and Sirius stared at him, "Huh?"

"I mean- argh! That came out wrong." James tried to put it more clearly. "I want to like her, and I want her to like me, but what if she doesn't? I don't want to ruin our friendship."

"Ah, leave it to us. We'll get the scoop." Sirius winked.

Remus looked at him, "We will?"

Sirius still smiled and hit Remus on the shoulder, "Of course!" Sirius said through his teeth. Remus shrugged and rolled his eyes.

Suddenly, Lily came walking down. She looked really pretty, "Sorry to keep you guys waiting, I had to wash my face." Lily smiled. She stood there, waiting for the guys to stand up.

"Uh, let's go!" Lily motioned towards the door.

The boys stood up, "Oh yea!" Sirius said, rushing towards the door.

Lily walked out second, and Remus pulled James back.

"After our last class, we'll go to the Library, and I can ask her about, you know, stuff." Remus suggested.

"Thanks Remus." James smiled.

"Hey! Are you guys coming?" Lily called back to them.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Before the Marauder's knew it, class was over, with Sirius receiving two detentions, Remus and Lily receiving many compliments from teachers on how well they did their homework, and James received, well an anxious mind throughout the day.

He was very nervous, for he wanted to know if Lily actually liked him. He kept looking at her through class, and he thought she would get prettier and prettier as he looked at her.

As, the group walked to the Library, Lily talked about the girls in their year, "You know, all the girls in my Dorm are SO mean. They use my stuff without asking, and then they never give it back. But, I don't let them get on to me, because I'm stronger and better then them. Especially Margie. She keeps on giving me the Stink eye." Lily glared at James.

"I-I-," James started to say in an innocent tone.

"I know, it's not your fault. She has a pretty face." Lily sighed.

Remus patted her on the back, "Remember? You're better than her!" Remus said, laughing in a teasing way.

"Well, I wish there was something we could do, but you know, we're not aloud to hurt girls Not that we'd want to, but just to knock some sense into her." Sirius explained.

That remark made Lily smile. They reached the library and sat down. The plan was that Remus would sit down with Lily and try to bring up James in a conversation, while James and Sirius were acting like they were trying to find a book, when they were really spying. It was again Remus' idea.

"Uh, Sirius and I are going to go find, uh, that book about, uh, plants, um ya, plants that bite! We'll be back!" James pulled Sirius with him to the bookcase that was facing Remus and Lily.

"Hey, you're looking in the wrong section. The Herbology section is over there." Lily pointed to a bookcase all the way across the room.

"Uh, thanks." James and Sirius practically ran across the room. Once the boys started 'looking' for their book, Remus started to talk.

"So, Lily. Are you excited about the Ball coming up?" Remus asked, hoping she would say yes.

Lily blushed, "Well, I guess so. Don't you want to go with Geneva? I could ask her if she wants to go with you." Lily teased.

Remus laughed. That's the same thing I'm doing. Funny.

"What's so funny?"

"Oh, nothing! Anyways, who do you want to go with?" Remus asked slyly. Lily blushed again.

"Um..." Lily began.

"Come on, Lil', I won't tell anybody." Remus begged.

"You promise? Because if he finds out, I'm killing you first."

Remus frowned, "Alright, alright. I won't tell anybody!" Remus thought about how nicely James would take this, not telling him.

"Well," Lily started to whisper. "You promise?"

Remus groaned, "I WON'T TELL!"

"Okay," Lily began again. " I want to go with..." She whispered even more quietly.

"James." Lily said it very fast.

Remus smiled, "Oh really?" Remus asked.

"If you tell him Wolf boy," Lily began with a clenched fist.

"Don't worry. I won't even let Sirius know." Remus promised. Lily hugged him. Remus gave thumbs up towards James and Sirius. They quickly came out of the bookcase. They hadn't heard a single word Lily said, but the heard almost every word that Remus said. James smiled.

"Did you find your book?" Lily asked.

James looked confused. "What book? Oh YEA! That book. No, no it was checked out." James said, and Sirius shook his head.

Lily raised her eyebrow, "I'm going to go up to the common room to take a rest. How about I meet you guys in the Great Hall at dinner time?" Lily gathered her things, and started walking out.

"Bye Lily." James said. Lily turned around and waved. James looked at her walk out, and stared at the empty space.

"JAMES! Do you want to find out what she said or not?" Sirius waved his hand in front of James' face. James' turned towards them.

"Honestly," Sirius shook his head.

"You'd think she's an angel." James sighed.

Sirius rolled his eyes.

"Yea, there's only one thing missing." James sighed again.

"What?" Remus asked, in a exasperated voice, leaning his head against his hands.

"Wings." James said, and smiled. Remus laughed. Sirius groaned.