Jealousy Wears a Green Mask; Chapter 7

James had known coming in that this party was not going to be his best night. He had known it when he had woken up this morning. He had known it when Remus reminded him, again, that he would have to smile and be polite to whatever slime rag Lily had on her arm. Even if it was a Slytherin. Even if it was Voldemort himself. He would have to be polite and charming because that would be the only way to show Lily that he really was mature and good and right for her. It didn't matter, Remus had reminded him in kind, slow words, if James broke every statue in the corridor after being polite, that was fine as long as James was able to keep up the pretense long enough to convince Lily.

So James had known when he left his dormitory with Peter that this night was going to be rough. Even meeting his date, Marlene, on the landing did nothing to assuage his sadness. In fact, if not for a sharp elbow in the gut from Peter, James wouldn't have even thought to tell Marlene she looked pretty. Telling a girl she looked pretty at the start of all dates was one of the most important of the Marauders' lady rules, and James had never forgotten it before. Marlene did look stunning, dressed as an eagle in a skirt made of feathers and she had taken James' demeanor in stride. They had entered the hall together to find the party already going. James had, as was appropriate, offered her a dance.

They were the first two on the dance floor but, being Head Boy and a Marauder, James was used to being one of the first on the dance floor. Within a few eight-counts they were surrounded by other students in varying degrees of inappropriate attire. James and Marlene danced for three whole songs without talking. The music was good, but James tried not to acknowledge it even to himself. Acknowledging the music was good would make him think about Lily and how she had insisted it would be. Thinking of the redhead made James bite his lip in frustration and then swivel his head around, just one more time, to see if she had arrived yet. Nearly everyone else he could think of was there. Even Remus and Mary had arrived, though from where James wasn't sure, as he hadn't seen the doors open in a while. They were standing beside the punch, looking fairly intently at the floor. James shook his head to himself; it made very little sense why they had come together at all. He wasn't sure who else Remus might've wanted to ask but surely Mary should have come with… come to that, where was Sirius?

James scanned the room one more time but couldn't find the other boy anywhere and something kicked in his stomach. Sirius had been acting so off lately, missing the start of the party was just another example. He should have been creating a new dance move, or begging Remus to let him spike the punch with contraband firewhiskey. He should have been tailing Mary around the room and begging her for a dance, especially in that dress. James blinked as it hit him that he didn't even know who Sirius was taking to the dance. He had asked of course, but… James had been so self-focused on Lily that asking Sirius about his date had been more of a matter of politeness than actual interest so when Sirius had put off talking about it James had been only too happy to let him. And he had heard Sirius rehearsing apologies… he'd assumed at the time that Sirius had just destroyed one of his possessions or abused the cloak but…

"James, are you okay?" Marlene's voice cut through his thoughts and he realized that he'd been swiveling his head back and forth in an almost manic pattern. Some of the fourth years nearest them were mimicking him, clearly thinking that this was the latest Marauder move.

He blinked and shook his head, "Marlene," James asked slowly, "do you know who Sirius is taking as his date tonight?"

Marlene blinked back and raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow, "Uh, no, not really, isn't he your best mate?"

James swore, "No, yes, I mean, I should know but, I don't. He's been acting odd lately, never around and…" James trailed off as his eyes caught sight of sparks shooting beneath the doors. That was a Marauder sign.

"James?" Marlene reached up to tap him on the temple.

He opened his mouth to tell her that he was fine, but, before he could the doors swung open, revealing Sirius Black holding Lily Evans in what was obviously a passionate embrace. James was not fine. It was a good thing, the small, still-functioning part of James's mind whispered, that he had not been holding Marlene in a similar dip when the doors had flown open as surely he would have dropped her.

It too approximately three seconds for the rest of the room to notice Sirius and Lily in the doorway. The music screeched to a halt as the band froze where they stood. There was a lot of gasping and starts of sentences like "So that's what—" before elbows were thrown and knowing looks cast, and everyone turned at once to look at James Potter.

To his credit, James did not faint. He did not rush over to hex Sirius into oblivion, though that might have had had more to do with the fact that James couldn't really feel his legs rather than some showing of character. His eyes, ripping themselves from Lily and Sirius who were righting themselves, pink and giggling, looked for Mary. Surely she would hex Sirius into oblivion. Surely she felt the same gut wrenching agony that was blooming inside James. He found her by the doors, face pressed against Remus's shoulder, her body shaking, clearly overcome by her agony. Remus had an arm looped awkwardly around her and wore a tired expression. It was the same expression Remus wore whenever one of the Marauders' pranks he'd tried to talk them out of backfired. It was the same expression he had worn when Sirius had explained to him why there would no longer be raspberry jam at breakfast. It was his tell, his sign, James knew from that look that Remus must have known that Lily was bringing Sirius.

"Bloody hell," James groaned, and because the room was still silent outside of the lovebirds' giggles, his voice echoed in the hall. Some of the girls nearest to him tittered, the blokes sent him sympathetic shrugs and Marlene, to her credit, did not waver. She patted James's arm kindly, her face poised. James felt another stab of regret at asking her, not even because it meant he wasn't there with Lily, but because he was such a bloody terrible bloke for using her like this.

"I do believe more music would be appropriate to end this awkwardness." James whirled around to find Dumbledore, quite at his leisure, sitting at the high table, eyes twinkling. He didn't seem to be in costume, but, James supposed that when you were the headmaster you didn't have to do that sort of thing.

There was another scraping sound from the stage and then the music restarted abruptly. There were two more eight counts of terrible awkward silence from the dancers before the other students seemed to realize that James wasn't going to actually do anything.

"Dance," Marlene hissed, tugging him back into the rhythm of the music. He followed clumsily, unsure where to put his eyes. Watching Sirius spinning Lily into a perfect waltz was agony but not looking at her when she looked like that, in that dress, with that mask and her hair, seemed interminably worse.

Across the dance floor, Remus tightened his hold around Mary's waist. She was coming off of the last round of laughter but until she managed to turn that beam into a frown, it was best that she kept her face pressed into his shoulder. As someone who didn't usually go around holding the objects of his mates' affections close, Remus felt decidedly uncomfortable.

"You have got to get yourself together," he muttered, not taking his eyes off James and Marlene, "You're missing the show."

"It gets better than James's face?" Marlene's voice was muffled, "I don't think anything will ever top that."

"Now he can't decide whether to watch Lily and Sirius or not, poor Marlene is like re-teaching him how to waltz," Remus smirked, then schooled his features remembering that he was supposed to be consoling Mary.

"Poor Marlene," Mary sighed, "Does she look mad?"

"She's taking it surprisingly well," Remus noted, fighting back a smile once more, "She almost looks like she's amused."

"I mean," Mary shrugged against him, "she had to know that James is mad for Lily."

"And that Sirius is mad for you," Remus added watching Sirius spin Lily around into a tango despite the music. Their eyes were sparkling with laughter but he suspected to James they would look smitten.

"Sirius is just mad," Mary tugged herself free and Remus gratefully relinquished his hold. She had replaced her grin with a blank expression, one that would befit a girl trying to hide devastation.

"Can't argue with that," Remus agreed drily as Sirius maneuvered into a striking end pose as the music came to a halt.

Still beaming, Sirius tugged Lily over to join Remus and Mary, looping a casual arm around Lily's waist as they walked. Peter appeared on Remus's left, a glass of punch and a cookie in hand.

"Wotcher Moony, Wormtail," Sirius beamed and Remus rolled his eyes.

Mary coughed pointedly, "Aren't you supposed to be terrified of my reaction right now, or something?"

Lily pinched Sirius's arm, "I told you she'd say that!"

Sirius rolled his eyes at her, "And like I told you, I've been told that I'm rubbish with girls. It would be out of character for me not to make an arse of myself at this juncture."

"Never thought I'd see the day when Sirius made a good point," Remus sighed.

"It's to do with a prank, Remus," Sirius responded immediately, "Don't go getting your day to day hopes up."

Remus couldn't help a laugh, "I'd never."

Mary was maintaining a glare at Sirius, but Remus could see her eyes crinkling in buried mirth. Lily didn't miss it either.

"I don't think you're going to be able to shout at him without breaking," Lily bit her lip, "Sirius might have miscalculated."

"There go my hopes," Remus sighed heavily.

"No worries," Mary said, voice strained, "I have a better idea." And then, as quick as a snake, she reached out and slapped Sirius across the face with the palm of her hand.

"Wha-" Remus started, but Mary had already wheeled on Lily who looked dumbstruck.

"Best first date ever," Mary hissed, eyes glaring, before spinning on her heel and running out of the hall.

"Bloody hell," Remus whistled.

"I'm going to marry that girl," Sirius's eyes were bright, one hand on his red cheek.

Lily shook her head slowly, "Yeah, we really would never work out in real life."

"As if you haven't slapped James before," Sirius said without taking his eyes off of the doors Mary had run out of.

Seeming to have no retort, Lily turned to Remus, "If this were real life, and not this delusion" she said slowly, "Which of us would be expected to run after her?"

"I can do it," Peter said from Remus's elbow, "I'm generally friendly, Mary and I are Charms partners, and Remus needs to stay here."

"Why?" Lily asked bemused, looking at Remus, "Does he have a secret weapon?"

Peter nodded, "He's the only one aside from James that can keep Sirius from lodging his foot up his bum."

"Why would we need-," Lily began, but was interrupted.

"Lily, Sirius," James's voice was way more composed than Remus had expected and he felt a rush of pride for his friend. Even if this whole thing was madness, it was good to see evidence that James really was capable of acting like an adult.

"That's why," Peter grinned, "Wotcher Prongs, I'm going to go look for Mary. Have fun!" Chortling to himself Peter scampered out.

Remus glared after him before looking over at James. Marlene was standing patiently behind him and Remus offered her an awkward smile.

"Hullo Marlene," he said, "You look lovely." She did look amazing, Remus thought privately, and if he wasn't so invested in James and Lily's love story he probably would have smacked his friend upside the head for not spending the whole evening showering Marlene in deserved compliments.

"Thanks, Remus," Marlene smiled gratefully, "Love the young Merlin look."

"It's a classic," Remus shrugged. Marlene nodded, still smiling, and turned to Lily and Sirius, who were intent on the floor, faces flushed.

"Lily," Marlene said softly and the redhead looked up, "You look so pretty. Doesn't she, James?" Lily flushed and Remus had to swallow a laugh, trying to focus on remembering everything so he could give Mary a complete play by play later.

"Pretty is too small of a word," James said quietly, not taking his eyes off of Lily even as she avoided his gaze.

"Of course," Marlene smiled, "How are you Sirius?" she asked, turning to him.

Sirius blinked, taken aback, "Alright I suppose?" he offered weakly.

"You sure?" Marlene asked, "That looked like a pretty solid smack MacDonald gave you."

"She was just upset," Lily said quickly, wrapping her hand around Sirius's.

Marlene nodded, James still staring at the pair crestfallen, "I would be too," she sighed, "Especially after how well you were getting on this morning."

"This morning?" Remus asked, things beginning to click sickeningly in his head.

"Well, lunch really." Marlene's eyes danced wickedly as she met Remus's gaze and he knew suddenly that the jig was so up. He'd forgotten to check the hall for her when the Sirius and Mary had publicly reconciled. He was going to kill Padfoot.

"Well," Remus offered quickly, "You know how quickly things can change around here."

Marlene laughed, "Oh, I know exactly what goes on. And," she added softly with a smile, "I find it's more worthwhile to let things play out on their own without interference. Goodness knows we all want the same thing."

Remus could have kissed her. He hoped his eyes said 'thank you' loud enough that he didn't have to with words. Based on the way Marlene reached out and patted his arm, he thought they might have. Together they flicked back to James, Sirius and Lily who were still silently staring in a triangle, Lily at Sirius, Sirius at James and James at Lily. Really, Remus couldn't help feeling a little bitter. They went through all this work and Lily and Sirius couldn't even play this right.

"Sirius," he said sighing, "Say what needs to be said."

"I-" Sirius started but James held up a hand.

"How long?" he asked, his voice the gruff level Remus had expected from the start.

Sirius shrugged helplessly, "I didn't know how to tell you."

"That wasn't really an answer, Padfoot," Remus commented, unhelpful but, he thought pretty in character.

"He asked me to the ball," Lily tossed her hair over her shoulder, her previously cloudy face suddenly replaced with a mask of steel, "Unlike some people, Sirius saw what he wanted and asked for it. It's incredibly attractive." She looked up at Sirius with a soft smile.

James nodded, "Right then." Remus felt that same rush of pride for James. It was taking everything in him not to say something about how James had asked for what he wanted hundreds of times over the years. But maybe that was what Lily wanted. Remus's head hurt again.

"I asked her after I'd heard you asked Marlene, but before that morning you tried to drown yourself," Sirius said quickly, voice heavy with apology, "I'm sorry mate but I thought it was open."

Remus again fought down an urge to point out that, even though James had stopped declaring his love for Lily in the common room or the Great Hall or the classroom or well, in public, there had never been any doubt among the other Marauders that James was still in love with her.

"Right," James nodded, "Well, Sirius, Lily, if you're happy, I'm happy." He put on a smile that looked like actual pain and looked at Marlene.

"Care for a pastry, oh eagle of mine?" he asked her, but his usual flirty tone fell flat. Marlene smiled gamely and Remus again wanted to speak, this time to save her from what was sure to be the most awkward muffin of all time.

"Of course," she took James's arm and together they walked off. James didn't look back, though Marlene did if only to catch Remus's eye and shrug.

Remus tuned to Sirius and Lily and debated telling them that Marlene was in on it, but decided against it. Lily looked like the only thing that was keeping her from pacing was Sirius's arm around her waist, and Sirius… Sirius looked like he was thinking.

"That didn't go like I'd hoped," Lily whispered and Remus was shaken to see her steel crumbling.

Sirius squeezed her in a hug, "Patience my dear Lily-flower," he smiled, "This is a long night, it is only fitting that there be a long game to go with it."

Remus bit his lip, "I dunno Padfoot, James looked pretty set on being supportive. You just put him in a hell of a bind."

Lily grimaced, "I guess in a messy way I kind of did just ask him to pick me or Sirius."

"As much as I hate to admit that there is any bond tighter in this world than mine and James's," Sirius said slowly, "I don't think there'd be much of a contest here."

"Worst comes to worst," Remus met Sirius's gaze, "Plan B?"

Sirius nodded, "Mary knows that's her mission, to find an empty spot for Plan B and send word through the mirror when she does." He chucked a bit of silver at Remus who caught it by some miracle and tucked it into his pocket.

"Blimey Sirius," Remus whistled, "Does James know you stole his friendship mirror?"

"I stole Evans," Sirius pointed out drily, "How much more could he hate me anyway?"

"Plan B?" Lily asked quietly, looking between the two slowly, "What is this plan B?"

"Marauder secret," Sirius answered automatically, "Don't worry your pretty little head about it."

"Should've been Plan A," Remus sighed, "Would've saved us so much drama."

"I'm ignoring you," Sirius told him shortly, turning back to Lily who still looked concerned, "C'mon Lily, James would never pick me over you if it were real."

"Which to him" Remus pointed out, "This probably is. But Sirius might be right."

"Plus by any Marauder lady rule ever," Sirius smirked, "I'm totally in the wrong."

"Can't steal each other's ladies?" Lily smiled, but the boys both shook their heads.

"Rule number one, most important rule," Remus smiled, remembering when they wrote the rules on the second week of fourth year, after they'd decided that they needed a guidebook for future female endeavors, "All school rules, magical laws and other Maruader expectations are to be viewed as void when it comes to Prongs's pursuit of the lovely Miss Evans. Nothing and no one should stand in the way of their true love."

"In retrospect," Sirius remarked, tugging Lily towards the dance floor, "That would have been very embarrassing if James ever got over her."