Tales > A First Date

Sirius pounded on the boys' dormitory bathroom door for the tenth time. "Prongs, quit singing and get out of the shower!" he shouted.

"Just a minute, Paddy!" James sang out.

The other boy sighed and slumped back down onto his four-poster bed. Earlier that week–Monday right before Defense Against the Dark Arts to be precise–Lily Evans had finally agreed to go out with Mr. Potter. Of course, James had scheduled the date the same night the Marauders had been planning to go to Hogsmeade. The git.

James finally came out of the shower, belting out the last lines of P.S. I Love You by The Beatles. Where he had gotten the lyrics, this author doesn't know. But she does know that she's getting some pretty sexy images of James standing with only a towel wrapped around his waist. Woo hoo!

"This date has to be absolutely perfect," he said happily. He stood in front of a mirror and ran a comb through his unruly hair, attempting to straighten it. "Today Lily and I are going on our first date; tomorrow I'm proposing."

"I call best man!" Sirius yelled, pumping his fist into the air. He tossed his friend a bottle of hair gel. "Use that."

James eyed his best friend suspiciously as he examined the bottle. "You did something to it."

Remus finally looked up from the book he was reading from his bed. "He jinxed it to make your hair neon pink because you forgot about Hogsmeade night." He grinned sheepishly. "I–uh–might have given him the spell before I knew what he was using it for." James immediatly chucked it back at Sirius.

"Moony!" Sirius howled. "Why'd you tell him?! He deserves it for breaking the Marauders tradition!"

James said for the millionth time, "Padfoot, mate, I didn't mean to. I was just so excited I said Saturday night instead of Friday like I meant to. And I wasn't about to change it. Besides"–James started to get dressed–"she had her study group last night."

"Whatever," Padfoot grumbled.

Two hours later, Moony and Padfoot shoved their friend out of the boys' dormitory, James claiming that his hair was still too messy. Sirius shut the door and locked it. He turned towards Remus, grey eyes gleaming.

"Okay, mate. We're going to get revenge on James for canceling on us. Here's what we'll do...."

James scratched the back of his neck nervously. "So–um–Lily, how'd you do on that Potions assignment?" he asked.

"I did okay...You?" she stammered.

"Didn't do so hot. I swear it was Professor Narley's fault, not mine." He grinned slightly and covered her hand with his own. "It's really pretty tonight."

"Yeah, it is," she breathed. He leaned towards her and…

Ruff! Ruff! The barking of a midnight-black dog made James freeze, close his eyes, and curse his friends. The dog jumped in between Lily and James on the bench James had conjured up outside. He licked Lily's face and panted happily, tail wagging.

"Aww, how cute!" Lily gushed. She kissed the dog's nose. "Where'd you come from, boy?"

"A dumpster judging the smell," James ground out. Sirius barked at him and continued to lick Lily's face. James would have to kill him later.

"James, be nice. He's so adorable!" She scratched the dog behind the ears. "Aren't you, honey?" she cooed.

"Snuffles! Here, boy! Where are you, Snuffles?" Remus's voice rang out. Sirius wagged his tail once and looked towards the approaching boy.

"Lily! James! What a coincidence! I'm just looking for Snuffles here. I found him in the woods fifth year," Remus said to Lily. "And Snuffles is the only thing he'd ever come to. Except for Mongrel." He grinned at James, who was alternating glaring at his transformed friend and his werewolf friend.

"Now that you found him, take him and go, Remus," he growled. "I'm on a date here."

"Don't worry, James! We'll be on our way now. Bye, Lils! Have fun!" Remus and Sirius trotted off. James waited until they were gone and turned back to Lily. "I do believe we were about here." Just as his lips grazed hers, a familiar voice interrupted them again.

"James! Lily! How are you two this lovely evening?" Sirius asked chipperly.

The couple pulled away, Lily blushing and James glaring at Sirius. "What?" he asked in a dangerously low voice.

"I was looking for Remus and his dog. Instead I found you two." Sirius sat down in between them. "I ask again, how are you two?"

"Fine," squeaked Lily.

"We're just chipper, Sirius. Remus and Snuffles went that way." James pointed in the direction he knew Remus was hiding. "Go."

"Alright, alright. Don't need to be pushy, Mr. Potter." Sirius stood up and bowed to the both of them. "I'll be on my way." He skipped–yes, the author means skipped–away to where James pointed.

"Let's get out of here, Lily," James muttered. He took hold of Lily's hand and led her to the lake. He conjured up a blanket and sat down, patting the spot next to him. She sat down and crossed her legs.

"This has got to be the most interesting date I have ever been on," she said, smiling. She tucked a lock of red hair behind her ear.

"Best date I've ever been on…because I'm with you," James murmured. He leaned forward to kiss her again. But yet again they were interrupted.

"SNUFFLES! Come back here!" they heard Remus yell. The huge dog bounded past, skidded to a stop, then doubled back to tackle James.

"REEEEMUUUUS!" James bellowed. "Get the dog and get out of here!" Lily was doubled over with laughter at the sight of James flat on his back with "Snuffles" standing in his chest, licking his neck and face.

Sirius backed off when Remus joined them. "Sorry, mate. I let him go for one minute and he just ran over here. He likes you two."

"Apparently," Prongs grumbled. He wiped dog drool off his face. "I think the only safe place around this castle is in the common room." He cocked a hazel eye at Lily. "Want to go inside?"

"Sure." She stood up, scratched Sirius behind the ears one last time, and smiled at Remus. "Goodnight, Remus."

"Goodnight, Lily!" he called after them.

As the couple walked inside, James wrapped an arm protectively around Lily's waist. "I don't want to chance–er–Snuffles coming back and knocking you over," he lied.

"Right," she smiled. Instead of pulling away, because she obviously saw through his lie, she allowed herself to lean against him.

James told the Fat Lady the password when they reached the portrait and walked in to find an almost empty common room. A few fifth years were studying by the fire and some others were reading or talking.

"Thank you for the lovely evening, James, but I think I'm going to go to bed now," Lily said. She pulled away from him and smiled. "I'll see you in the morning." She kissed him on the cheek quickly and disappeared to the girls' dormitory.

James went to bed with a huge smile on his face. When Remus and Sirius innocently asked him how his date had gone, he just replied, "Absolutely spiffingly."