By the Moonlight

Chapter 1, A promise made not to keep

Jade Micheal plopped herself down on Lily's bed, bouncing Lily from the impact. She smiled as she watched Lily bob up and down until the motion stopped. Jade observed her, wondering what the problem was, because Lily wasn't usually this quiet. From her appearance, Lily was obviously distressed. She was frowning deeply, and said nothing. The silence continued, which was highly unusual, for the two girls had been friends since second year, and chatted continuously. The curtains on the bed were fully drawn back on the bed, and the moonlight shone on Lily's red hair. Jade was puzzled and made a confused face.

"What's the matter, Lils?" Jade asked, placing a hand on Lily's back.

"I'm just so frustrated with James and how he's so... himself! He has been annoying me lately. And now, he has to do the halls tonight with me, since the Ravenclaw prefects couldn't do it: they had Quidditch." Lily tucked her knees up and rested her chin on them. Jade crossed her arms and stood in front of Lily, a stern look on her face.

"We can't help that James is so 'himself' lately, but as Prefects, you two have responsibilities. You have to go down stairs and face him - and Jinx him if he won't behave!" she lectured, with absolute confidence.

Lily smiled at her sarcasm.

"What? You didn't think I was serious?" Jade demanded, with a smirk.

Lily nodded and sighed, her energy sapped from the day's happenings. They had had tons of homework, and Sirius couldn't bring himself to start his Griffins essay in Care of Magical Creatures which had to be three feet long. Lily got up with no enthusiasm, and wandered over to the window sill where her wand was placed. Jade gave her a thumbs up and smiled ear to ear. Lily laughed and started to walk down the stairs, her mood slightly cheerier.

"Wait! Lils! I have an idea!"

Lily turned to see if Jade had any interesting suggestions. "What?"

"Why don't you just go down early without James? That way he won't know where you are, unless someone squeals." Jade said.

Lily raised her eyebrows and thought for a moment. She nodded and decided it was a good idea, at least for now. She quietly went down the stairs and approached the base of the stairs to the boy's dormitory. She heard the muffled voices of James, Sirius, Peter, and Remus laughing hysterically - no doubt, she thought grimly, about something stupid, like Wufflepuss hair. She shook her head at their stupidity and turned to see if anyone was in the common room. The only light was from the moonlight through the windows, and the roaring fire. The firelight lent a certain warm dimness to the room, and the maroon sofas looked very inviting. There was in fact a figure on one of the armchairs. It was Gregory Cross, the Keeper for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. He didn't seem to notice her for he seemed to be in lost in thought She slowly tiptoed to the portrait door. She winced as it squeaked when it opened. Lily opened one eye to see if Gregory had moved. To her relief, he hadn't. He was still in a daze, staring at the fire. She opened both her eyes and relaxed her face, and stepped out. The paintings grumbled and groaned, disturbed as she passed. Some were awake still, like the old woman knitting in a rocking chair, who nodded to acknowledge her. She hopped on the moving stairs; the only sound now, echoing through the halls of Hogwarts. She stepped off the stairs, heading into a dark corridor. Lily fumbled for her wand in her pocket, and found it, pulling it out.

"Lumos!" she mumbled.

The light coming from the tip of her wand illuminated the fourth floor. She listened to hear if anybody was there, and heard nothing. She walked on, shuffling quietly. Lily wondered if this was going to work. James had the map, and would know where she was, and could catch up to her quickly. A noise distracted her from her thoughts. She turned sharply, but saw nothing. She froze, her eyes narrowing. Lily heard a chuckle from her right and turned again, more quickly. She kept very still, and stood silently. Lily felt a tap on her shoulder. This time, she didn't turn; she just sent a hex backwards, whispering the spell. Obviously, it had worked, because she heard hysterical laughter from the floor. Lily could see no one, but knew who it was. She felt around for some moving fabric and finally found it. She tore it off and it revealed James Potter, clutching his stomach, and red as a rose.

"Lily! Stop it! Stop it!" She let him try to get up, but he was giggling helplessly and just fell down again. She finally took pity on him after a while and lifted the charm, shaking her head. James stood up, shaking slightly.

"Did you miss me?" he asked, brushing himself off.

"Quite the opposite, James," she said, stalking ahead.

"Look who's grumpy tonight!" James said.

"Yeah." Silence formed. They continued walking.

"You excited about Hogsmeade? It's in two days."

"Sort of. I think I might go with Jade, but she said she might be going with someone. So I might just go to the Three Broomsticks."

"Really? No one to go with?"

"Oh push off, James. You're not going to pull it off by Friday."

"Why not? I can easily make you fall in love with me."

"Yeah right, James! It's not that easy."

"Is that so?" James said, putting his hands behind his back.

"All right: I'll make a deal with you. If you do something to impress me, or if, for some impenetrable reason, I start to fancy you, I'll go to Hogsmeade with you. Will that satisfy you?"

"Entirely. And I promise you a date for Hogsmeade."

Lily rolled her eyes. "I said 'If', James, 'if' it happens -- which it won't."

"Oh, really?" James said, raising his eyebrows.

"Ugh." Lily let out a grunt, and the two prefects spent the rest of the patrol walking in silence.

* * * * *

Lily drew out a book from a dusty shelf. She was in the Library, waiting for Jade. Lily had found out that Gregory had mentioned that she had gone early and that's how James had found out. She guessed that Gregory hadn't been in as much of a daze as he'd seemed the previous night. She gathered two more books off the shelves and sat down at a desk. She dipped her quill in her inkpot and started writing her Potions essay. Lily really wondered if James would try to get her to go to Hogsmeade. She thought it was highly improbable, and he would never be able to do it. James Potter? No chance in the world. Maybe Remus out of all of the Marauders could do it, but even Remus would have to work extra hard. Lily was anxious to see Jade because she was actually going with someone to Hogsmeade. Jade was going to tell her when she got there.

"Hello!"

Lily looked up to see Jade by her desk. Lily shoved her essay aside and placed her quill down.

"Jade! Come sit, now. I want to know badly." Lily motioned to a chair beside her. Jade sat down and smirked.

"Well? Jade?" Lily raised her eyebrows, awaiting a reply. Jade fiddled with her gloves, picking at one of their several holes.

" Oh... it's... ," Jade smiled wider.

"Who?" Lily was getting impatient, and Jade could obviously see that. Lily noticed Jade was enjoying it. "Please Jade, tell me," Lily begged.

"Oh, all right... It's Remus," she said.

Lily gaped. "Remus?!?!... really? He asked you to Hogsmeade?" Lily asked.

"Yeah."

This was unexpected.

"Do you like him?"

Lily liked this.

"Sort of."

"Well keep thinking. I'll go and talk to Remus and see what he thinks."