Summery: When the Marauders' spell goes wrong and turns Lily into a five-year-old girl, they have no choice but to take care of her. Unfortunately, what seems like an easy work, transforms into a crazy job when the obedient little Lily turns out to be not so obedient after all. JL

Disclaimer: HP doesn't belong to me, but the storyline is.

A/N: to new readers: welcome, to old readers: don't kill me. I'm still working on chapter 7 of "the ray in the storm", so don't worry about that. I think I'll post the chapter in the next week or two. In the mean while, I just wanted to post this sweet new story which was in my head for a couple of months. Enjoy!

Babysitting Lily

By: Ruby89

Chapter one

The snitch flied around in circles until it was only a blur of gold over the girl's head. She glanced annoyingly at it for the tenth time in the past five minutes and let an exasperate sigh. Shutting her study book with a loud snap, she pulled her wand out and muttered a curse. The snitch stopped in mid air and fell down to the red and gold carpet like a stone.

She picked it up and strode towards the other side of the Gryffindor common room, where a group of girls sat around three young men. The girl stopped in front of an armchair. A boy with unruly black hair sat on it with a tall brunette sprawled on his lap.

The girl cleared her throat loudly. After a few seconds it was visible that the couple had no intention to stop their activity. She greeted her teeth and clenched the still snitch in her palm. She took a few steps backwards and flung it forcefully at the boy's direction.

"Hell Evans! What was that for?!" Hazel eyes narrowed angrily behind a pair of spectacles. The boy rubbed the side of his jaw where the snitch had hit him.

"Oh I'm sorry, did I interrupt you?" Lily feigned surprise "I just came to return to you your precious snitch, which no doubt you nicked again. Do me a favor and stop sending this stupid thing in my direction. I'm studying. I'm sure you heard that word at least once in your pathetic life"

"Oh that's rich Evans" James snorted "you call my life pathetic when you always sitting alone, burring your pretty little nose in a book wherever you go. I doubt that you even know the meaning of having fun. After all, fun is probably against the rules in your perfect little world, isn't it?"

Before Lily could answer back, the brunette jumped to her feet and cleared her throat awkwardly. Lily's glare softened by her smile "hi Gwen"

"Hi Lily" Gwen smiled back "I was just wondering if you saw my DADA work? I was looking for it when I got… a little distracted" she cast a side glance at James beneath her eyelashes.

"Hmmm" Lily rolled her eyes slightly and sighed "did you try your bag? You said last night that you wanted to put everything in order so you won't lose anything"

Gwen froze for a second before sighing silently "of course" she muttered and shook her head sadly "I'm absolutely a lost cause when it comes to finding my stuff. Thanks Lils"

"Yeah, thanks Lils" James mimicked sarcastically.

Lily narrowed her eyes at him in distaste. It was beyond her understanding how that buffoon got to be elected Head Boy. Muttering "jerk" under her breath, she turned on her heels. She stopped when she heard the soft flutter of wings again. She looked up just to find the snitch back in his place, circling her head.

"Potter!" she snapped.

"Yes sunshine?"

"Get this thing away from me!"

James only smiled his charming lopsided grin, which she found as nearly as infuriating as the young man himself. "That's funny; I thought I just heard the grand Head Girl Lily Evans asking my help"

"Like hell I would" Lily scorned at him, but the affect was slightly ruined by her feeble attempts to catch the flying golden ball.

"You know, if you added 'please' from now and then, I would be more than happy to help you" he stopped for a second and then smirked at her "In exchange for a date of course"

"Not even in your dreams" Lily emphasized slowly, forgetting all about the snitch.

"Shame" James sighed sadly, even though his eyes continued to spark slyly when they glided down her body in an unmistakable appreciation "in my dreams you're actually quite a… willing cooperative"

Lily's mouth dropped in outrage and she flung her hand to slap him "why you miserable son of a-"

James caught her wrist before she could strike him and pulled hard. Lily stumbled forward, landing nearly flat on top of him in the armchair. She raised her head, her nose brushing slightly his. James' gaze scanned coolly the angry flush of her cheeks and the dangerous glint in her green eyes.

"Watch your language, Evans" he warned her quietly.

"Then I suggest that you watch your suggestions" she answered coldly "I'll prefer to dance naked in front of the whole school, than date you"

He smirked in response "that can be arranged, if you'd like"

She tried to pull away but for some reason her hands remained on his shoulders. She furrowed in puzzlement and tried to yank her right hand.

James arched one eyebrow questionably but met only her shocked gaze. He smiled slowly and rubbed the tips of their noses together. "why Evans!" he pretended to gasp in astonishment "I didn't know you cared! I knew it'll take only a matter of time before you won't be able to resist me"

The only thing Lily couldn't resist right now was to punch that smug expression of his face. But something was holding her put in every place she touched him.

Something like a very clever spell.

"Black!" her scream made James flinch inwardly "dammit Evans, you scream worse than a banshee" he would've clapped his hands over his ears, if he didn't found out that they were glued to Lily's hips.

"Black, put off this spell immediately. Or I will give you so many detentions; you'll do your N.E.W.T exams in the bathroom while cleaning toilets in the muggle way with a toothbrush!"

"C'mon Evans, don't be such a fun-spoiler" Sirius answered with mock-hurt voice.

"Padfoot…" James said dangerously.

"All right…" it was clear that Sirius didn't like the idea at all. He swished his wand, and Lily was finally able to free her hands. She turned around without a single glance backwards, the snitch following her loyally.

"So close…" Sirius muttered in disappointment. He raised his hands in surrender when he caught the cold glare James sent him. "I don't see why you're mad, what's the worse she could've done to you?"

There was suddenly an explosion and tiny bits of gold scattered all over the common room. Sirius glanced at Lily who stood with her wand out and pointed at the place where the snitch has been only seconds before.

-

"If Evans didn't find out that it was my fault, you would've got what you wanted" Sirius leaned on the chair's two back legs.

"What I wanted?" James repeated in disbelieve "why on earth did you think that I wanted her to be glued to me for the rest of the day?"

Sirius rolled his eyes "it's rather obvious isn't it? With your infatuation with Miss Evans, I'm surprised you even bother to ask her out and don't just pull her with you into a broom closet"

"Don't be ridiculous" James snorted in disgust "I have no infatuation with that goody-two-shoes book-lover" at his friend's skeptic look he added "I admit that she's a little pretty-"

"Gorgeous" Sirius corrected.

"Has brains-"

"Top of the year" his friend reminded him.

"Not such a bad body-"

"Fantastic legs" Sirius nodded in agreement.

"But she also has a know-it-all attitude-"

"A bad temper" Sirius added in amusement.

"A way to ignore you when you're present in the same room-"

"A little sense of humor"

"Doesn't seem to know how to relax and have fun-"

"And you badly want to bed her" Sirius commented innocently.

"Exactly! Hold it, what?"

Sirius burst in laughter "admit it Prongs, you fancy her. The chic might be driving you nuts, but you can't pretend that you're not interested in her"

"I don't. A beetle is more fascinating than that rule-follower. I'm surprised she's not clicking her heels together and salutes whenever a teacher gives her an assignment"

"The fact that you don't like her, doesn't mean you don't want her"

"We're completely different!"

"They say opposites attracted to each other" Sirius shrugged nonchalantly.

"I am not attracted to her" James hissed in annoyance.

Sirius arched one eyebrow in question "are you trying to convince me or yourself?"

"Mr. Black! Mr. Potter! Is there a certain reason why you're not working?" the stern voice of Professor McGonagall interrupted their conversation.

"We were just admiring your new haircut, Professor" Sirius gave her his most angelic smile.

"What new haircut?" James muttered under his breath. Sirius covered his mouth to hide his snicker.

McGonagall's mouth thinned to a strict line of disapproval "return to your task. I want to see your bean transforms into a plant by the end of the lesson"

"If you're not attracted to her, than why do you continue to ask her out?" Sirius asked as if their conversation wasn't interrupted in the first place.

James stared at the redheaded girl who sat two rows in front of him "I like to overcome challenges" he glanced at his friend and added with a smirk "and I'm bored".

She could feel his gaze on her.

Lily rubbed her eyes and told herself firmly to ignore. She fought the urge to turn around and look at him, knowing that this was exactly what he wanted her to do. She grabbed her wand firmly and tapped the bean gently, pronouncing the words in her mind. Unfortunately, her concentration was not so focused and she watched in disappointment as the bean just turned purple with yellow dots on it.

"James is staring at you again" Amily muttered from the corner of her mouth.

"I've noticed" Lily sighed and rubbed her prickling neck "doesn't he have anything better to do?"

"Why don't you just accept his invitation? You know how many girls would've died to be in your place?"

Lily rolled her eyes "I'll switch with them anytime they want. Perhaps I should accept, maybe then he'll leave me alone"

Amily glanced over her shoulder "he's not that bad looking" she smiled wickedly "and he's a very good kisser"

Lily stared at her and rolled her eyes "sure" she said dryly "a handsome face and the knowledge how to stick his tongue into my throat are the first two things that I'm looking in a guy"

Amily disguised her laughter by loud coughs.

"But then again" Lily continued as in afterthought "we are talking about spending a couple of hours, alone, with James Potter, outside of the school program" she shook her head "sorry, but I prefer to keep my sanity safe"

"It could be fun"

"Amily, the fact that you spent last month in a snog session with that idiot, doesn't mean you know how he's acting in a real date"

"Well, neither are you. Maybe he'll, you know, buy you small presents, pay for everything-"

"Open doors for me, carry my shopping begs and will give me a kiss on the cheek in the end of the evening?"

Amily furrowed her eyebrows "yeah, that does sounds weird"

Lily smiled "next you're going to imply that he has good intentions towards me"

"Don't exaggerate" another voice interrupted "you are talking about James Potter"

Lily turned around to look at the Ravenclaw girl behind her "since when are you eavesdropping to other's conversations, Teresa?"

The girl rolled her eyes in response "you're talking about one of the hottest subjects in this school. Besides, I can give you some tips while you're preparing for the date"

"I'm not dating him"

"You should, he's a good kisser"

Lily stared at her before asking jokingly "how's he in bed?"

"Why don't you date me and see for yourself?"

Lily froze in her place before turning slowly around to face the knowing smirk of James. She felt the heat crawling into her cheeks. How long has he been standing there?

As if reading her mind, he pulled a white rose behind his back and touched gently with its petals to her forehead. "to tell you the truth, I don't mind opening doors for you". he slid the rose around her eye and down her cheek "or carrying your bags". He stopped the feather-like brush in the corner of her mouth and raised his eyes to her "but I would lie if I said that a kiss on the cheek will satisfy me". His thumb outlined her bottom lip and a corner of his mouth angled up when her lips parted unintentionally "and I'll be dammed if I say I have good intentions towards you". He leaned down until their lips were mere inches apart "but if you want to find out exactly how I'm in bed…" he murmured "I'll be more than happy to demonstrate it in my room. Or in yours"

His last sentence was so quiet that even Amily, who pretended to work, couldn't hear it. Lily stared at him with a blank expression, trying to organize her senses back together. She preferred to cut her own tongue before admitting how alluring his proposition sounded. She could only blame it on hormones. And slight madness for even considering it.

She long ago learned to ignore the whispers, stares and giggles that followed each time James wanted to make a spectacle out of her in front of everyone. Not that it really mattered. The moment James was trying one of his tricks, it always seemed like only the two of them were in the room. Until the point she would refuse him and he would turn to another girl to 'heal his heart's bruises'. More like to sooth his ego, she thought irritably.

"Interesting" she said sarcastically "but I need to work, so if you don't mind…?"

She turned to grab her wand, only to realize that it was no longer on her desk. She jumped to her feet and stared accusingly at the handsome tall boy who stood a few steps away "Black, give me back my wand"

Sirius just waved it over his head and smiled charmingly at her "don't fret Evans, I'm only giving you a little hand with your assignment"

"I don't need your little hand; just give it back to me"

Sirius ignored her and pointed the wand's tip on the bean. Lily's eyes widened as her purple-yellow bean grew into a plant with large flowers of the size of her palm. And it continued to grow and grow and grow…

"Black, transform it backwards!" she called in alarm.

Sirius frowned "what were the words again?"

"Forget it, I'll do it" James pulled his wand out and raised it.

"Just give me my wand, before you'll do more damage" Lily stepped towards Sirius.

"Oh, now I remember!" Sirius called happily.

"No! Don't-"

"Demengo Retorus!" James and Sirius blew together.

There were two blinding flashes of bright green. When the smoke cleared, the plant transformed back as a bean.

There was a sudden gasp and a startled cry "Lily!" James watched with a weird sense of numbness as Amily dropped to the floor next to the unmoving form of the Head Girl.

-

"You think she's all right?"

James shrugged, not revealing how anxious he truly was "she was only unconscious. I'm sure Madam Fenny took care of her"

Sirius looked uncertain at that fact "If that's so, than why Dumbledore called you to his office?"

James was silent for a long time, thinking about the same question. He received the invitation to the headmaster's office later that afternoon. Knowing from a hunch what Dumbledore wanted to discuss with him about, he was thankful that Sirius volunteered to escort him there.

"Maybe Evans woke up and blamed the whole situation on me" James guessed indifferently "won't be surprised if she did"

They stopped in front of the gargoyle. "Good luck" Sirius clapped reassuringly on his back before leaving him standing alone. James took a steady breath and called the password.

He knocked on the door and waited. No sound came from the room. He turned the knob and opened the door. "Sir?"

He stepped in and looked around. The office seemed deserted. He sighed silently and closed the door behind him.

"Boo!"

Something heavy landed on him from behind, knocking him forcefully into the floor. James turned on his back and froze in surprise. On top of him sat a child- a little girl, he noticed after a second check, with waist-length red hair, huge green eyes and a wide smile which revealed a missing tooth in her front teeth.

She giggled and asked smugly "I scared ya, didn' I?"

He sat up slowly and the little girl slid to the floor next to him. She took off his glasses and put them on her nose. James blinked at her blurry image and asked "who are you?"

The girl shoved the big glasses up and grinned widely at him "I'm Lily, and who are you?"

He felt his stomach clench in a growing dread "Lily what?" he asked as calmly as possible.

Lily burst in a new fit of giggles "my name is not Lily What, silly. It's Evans. E-V-A-N-S, Evans" she shook her head and put back the glasses crookedly on his nose "you look funny" she exclaimed with a smile. Her smile faded slightly and she blinked in mixed curiosity and worry at him "hey mister, are you all right?"

James, who lay back on the floor and covered his eyes with his palm, only groaned in response.

Lily rolled to her stomach and tried to pear at his face beneath his hand "just so you know, you look like you've seen a ghost"

"Not a ghost" he muttered "but my last night at school. Now I'm sure to be expelled!"

Ruby89