25

Chapter 25 Who's Green and Who's Mean?

James was disappointed when they returned to Gryffindor tower. The silly girls, still not talking to the boys, especially the Marauders, had whisked Lily Evans up the stairs into the privacy of the girls' dormitories.

Rumor was that Evans was green and spotty with pockmarks. He'd wait to see for himself, and even if it was too much, she'd get better and then maybe by spring, Plan: J.P. + L.E. would be back on.

In the meantime, he could be friendly to her, so when he asked her on a date, she wouldn't just call him a toerag, and march in the opposite direction with her nose stuck in the air.

James was totally unprepared for Evans' return tonight anyway. He still had rolls of parchment to fill with homework due tomorrow. He knew she'd be in Potions first thing tomorrow. Sluggy had been a bit shirty at the beginning of the school year about Snape and Evans having dragonpox and trying to kill them all. Suppose at his advanced age that was always a possibility. They looked fine on the train, so it was likely James would have done the same thing and came to school himself. Couldn't blame Evans for that.

Poor Moony had Ancient Runes tomorrow, so was stuck with Sirius and him hitting the books. Well, Padfoot's books were open, but he wasn't too worried about getting anything on his parchment right now. Wormtail was retelling another chapter of the Marauders' oral history to young male Gryffindors, and Sirius was more than willing to assist.

"I should get up early tomorrow in case Evans needs someone to walk her down to breakfast."

Remus smiled at him, and said, "I heard she's capable of walking, but it's not a bad idea … if she's not surrounded by the amazons."

"Why Prongs? We'll see her in Potions soon enough. Now that Sluggy's set it up for you to sit next to her and help her out, you'll see all you need to, close up and personal."

"We don't all have to get up early to, do we?" Peter asked. He didn't have a class first thing tomorrow.

Sirius smirked and said, "Safety in numbers. If Evans has joined the ladies, Prongs will need back up."

James shuddered and said, "Luckily those two don't have Potions, so I'll be able to talk to Evans on her own."

"If only someone would cast that jinx without us around," Remus complained. He was tired of the lack of progress finding the perpetrator of the Breast Baring Jinx, and was starting to agree that maybe the perv had graduated. Maybe they should look into who was a 7th last year, boys only of course, and try to inquire if the jinx had moved on to any of their new locations. In addition to the injustice of someone letting them take the blame, he was fed up with the Gryffindor girls unfairly treating them like scum. Not that he'd treat Evans unwell, but if the four of them made an effort to be sensitive and helpful to her, she was someone who wouldn't be afraid to break from the pack and treat them like people.

Lily could not believe how immature the Gryffindors were acting. The females were really ignoring the males? For the most part, that is. Seemed there were some Gryffindors just so bold that they didn't care about the open war raging about them, and muddled through it to selectively fraternize with the enemy.

Helen and Mary were still socializing with Malcolm and Evan, but were not completely happy with the Slytherins. Those two boys were still talking to other girls from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, and would invite them to their table in the library under the pretense of doing schoolwork.

If they made it a point to show up with Lily, and Lily could bring Severus, then there would be no empty seats left for other girls. They were sure that they'd let Snape join them because they had been complaining about his lack of homework assistance while he was hospitalized. Helen and Mary could not impress them on some subjects because who in their right mind would take Arithmancy? And neither got the E needed to continue Potions.

Although Lily would be happy to aid her friends and this plan was not as crazy as some they came up with, she was bothered. Both her roommates seemed serious about dating and also about seeing someone exclusively, rather than for just fun. They were talking about the Slytherins like they were commodities, to acquire and then to trade up from, if the opportunity presented itself to reach the goal of attaining a husband. Certainly they enjoyed their company, but marriage? They were only sixteen, and although wizarding Britain was small, they were sure to meet plenty of other wizards once they graduated from school.

This weekend was quidditch, and the following weekend was Hogsmeade. The plan was to get the Malcolm and Evan to commit to escort them to Hogsmeade, not just set up a rendezvous place and time like younger students did.

One thing was certain though, Helen was not going to go easy on Slytherin this weekend in quidditch. She saw no conflict of interest because the only sixth year Slytherin on the team was Mulciber, and she desired nothing more than to use his own beater bat to make it impossible for him to sit on a broom. Barring that, she'd settle for thrashing him and the rest of the Slytherin team on the pitch.

James Potter was waiting in the common room with both Remus Lupin, reading a book, and Sirius Black, dozing to catch up on his beauty sleep. He had roused his friends early to make sure they went to breakfast at the same time as the sixth year ladies, and had even prepared by bringing a white hand towel to use as a flag of truce.

Peter Pettigrew was given the opportunity, but James decided not to press him when he muttered some unkind things regarding spotty green frogs while trying to pull the covers over his head.

After a couple of false alarms as other Gryffindors descended the ladies' staircase, the three sixth-years made their appearance. Nudging Sirius first, James stood, and approached them waving the towel, and charmingly declared, "Truce. Truce, ladies?"

"Give it a break, Potter," Helen replied.

"Aw, come on," he pleaded winningly. "Wanted to welcome Evans back. I'll even carry her books to breakfast and Potions. Please."

Mary made a face at Potter, and said to her friends, "Come on. We don't have time for whatever these losers want."

Sirius blocked the exit, the back side of the Fat Lady's portrait. With a smile, he said, "I'll carry your books, MacDonald."

"I don't want them thrown off the seventh floor balcony, Black," she replied dismissively.

Lily crossed her arms over her chest. First day back, and Potter and Black were already being annoying toerags.

"At least let us walk you down to the Great Hall," Remus suggested. "We're going to breakfast too."

Helen said, "I suppose, but don't try anything."

"Us?" James replied innocently, while trying not to stare at Evans. She was green, really green.

"Uh, Evans," Sirius started. "We have Potions too, if you'd like us to try to catch you up a bit at breakfast."

Thawing slightly, Lily replied as they went down the stairs, "Prof. Slughorn did send some assignments to us in the hospital."

James added, "We also have Charms, Transfiguration, Defense and Magical Creatures together. Prof. Kettleburn's suspended again, so we can wait till this weekend to go over that."

"Yeah," Sirius agreed. He could easily let Prongs sit next to Evans, if he was serious about continuing with this mad plan.

"I have Herbology with you," Remus added.

"Maybe," Lily replied.

"Don't you think it fate that you are in all five of my classes with me, Evans?" James asked with an expectant air.

"Leave off, Potter. It's bad enough she came down with dragonpox. Don't need to remind her she's cursed with you for two more years," Helen growled.

"At least Evans is smart enough to get into more than Divination, Parkin," Sirius teased.

"We are taking five courses, Black," Mary corrected him.

Sirius smirked. They were in Charms because they only wanted to do girly stuff with them, and they were in Defense with them because the whole class had been a joke for years.

Seeing the ladies travel to the amazon section of the Gryffindor table for breakfast, the gentlemen were brave and followed them into no-man's land, ignoring the glares of those already seated.

James cockily reminded them, "We said we'd go over a bit of Potions with Evans over breakfast."

"If you start spitting food or any other grotty thing, there won't be enough of you left to scrape off the stone floor to take up to the Infirmary."

"If it's one thing a Black is known for, it's his impeccable table manners," Sirius said smugly as he took a seat across from Parkin, leaving the spot opposite the pockmarked Evans clear for James.

Nevertheless, the gentlemen restrained their natural impulses and behaved like they were having tea with their grans during breakfast. James kept reminding himself that Evans's pockmarks while deep now, would fade over time. Her solid green also served to keep him from eating too heavy. With her red hair, the effect was very unattractive. The only good thing was, no other boy would try to turn her head while James waited for her.

When it came time to talk Potions, Remus took the opportunity to speak to Helen and Mary of other things since the three of them did not have the subject at NEWT level.

Lily's questions confused James and Sirius because she was asking about things they had not covered in class, in addition to not being in the text. She became distracted as she looked over to the far side of the Great Hall and muttered, "Now what?"

They turned to see behind them, and recognized Severus Snape by his overwhelming greenness entering the Great Hall on the Slytherin side of the room. He was slumped with his usual poor posture and his long, lanky hair was hanging over his scowling face. A gaggle of younger Slytherins were flitting about him, while he ignored them, including Regulus Black.

Very few had paid the younger Black any attention when he spread the word to his housemates over the holiday that Severus Snape was someone to keep an eye on, even though he was only an inferior half-blood. Snape was all but forgotten once he was removed to St. Mungo's. Within one day of returning, the biggest remaining physical bully of Slytherin, Mulciber, had a black eye and from rumors, Snape was the cause.

Severus was surrounded by idiots. They should all take themselves over to the Hufflepuff table, and join them in a group hug. If one of these miscreants tried to touch him again, a black eye would be the least of their problems. Respecting Rosier's and Wilkes' neutrality last night during the altercation in their room, he walked past them with none of the three offering a greeting. He chose an empty section of the table, which did not stay deserted long as the younger Slytherins fluttered into seats around him.

The three Marauders at breakfast were puzzled. No one admired Severus Snape, and dragonpox was not so rare that he should be an object of curiosity. Slytherins had a queer sense of humor, so it was sure to be some sort of house prank. Snape may be an oddball, but it was rather cruel to lay into him less than a day after he returned from St. Mungo's. Still he brought it upon himself.

Rather than letting Snape sidetrack his plan, James Potter pressed on about Potions with Lily Evans. He took control of what they were covering by showing her what point they had reached in the book and what was scheduled to be brewed this morning so she'd know in advance.

Lily had already read through the textbook past this point. Severus was right, Slughorn had sent them assignments to purposely trip them up. Even though Sev shrugged it off because he said only the NEWT grade counted, Lily could not be as forgiving.

She couldn't see through the throng around Severus, but he was probably eating something, or he wouldn't have bothered coming to the Great Hall. When he rose, Lily excused herself to join him. If those children were bothering him, she could at least use her influence as a prefect to help him out without jinxing them, which was Severus's only way to pry them off if they ignored his insults.

James packed up quickly to follow Evans. He already knew where she was going because she had been distracted the whole time he was patiently explaining their Potions work. The Marauders' plans to have their revenge on Snape for this summer had been put aside when he fell ill with dragonpox. Now that McGonagall was on their backs, he couldn't just curse him from across the Great Hall, but if he hung around enough, there was sure to be a clear case for James to claim self-defense.

Frowning, Sirius got up slowly. Prongs was going to make a total ass out of himself, chasing after toadlike Evans, like she had a snitch up her snatch. He said his plan was to get friendly, not pathetic.

Remus decided to stay with Helen and Mary. They were talking, rather than trading insults. Why waste this opportunity? This conversation could lead to thawing the cold war between the sexes in Gryffindor. He didn't have a class till later, and the ladies had a little time before they needed to get to Muggle Studies. Perhaps he could walk them to class.

Regulus saw Snape's mudblood whore heading right their way. Even under the most optimal conditions, Snape wouldn't be able to attract a suitable girlfriend, but with his green face currently ravaged with pockmarks, that audacious harlot was going to be the only ride he was going to get. She was probably coming over here to shamelessly plead with Snape. Evans was so atrocious now, he probably preferred wanking to her in the dark and wearing a sack over her head. It was unfortunate that Potter and his gormless brother were too far behind her, or else he'd give everyone a laugh. Ah well, patience was supposedly a virtue.

With a cheery wave, Regulus called, "See you later, Snape," and headed to the other door to reach the staircases. He paused long enough at the door to give his brother a one-fingered salute once he got Sirius's attention.

"What's all this then?" Lily asked as she joined up with what remained of the younger Slytherins around Severus.

"Nothing," Severus replied as the others dispersed to avoid conversing with a mudblood.

"Really?" Lily asked mischievously. "I thought for a moment that the Slytherins had a rock star at their table."

He muttered, "Later."

Ignoring his marred nemesis, James reached them and asked, "All right Evans?"

Annoyed that she still had Potter tagging along, "Absolutely spiffing, Potter." For Severus's benefit, she added, "Potter and Black have Potions first thing today too."

He nodded, letting his hair fall back in front of his face before heading out the door to head down into the dungeons.

His hair was ineffective because Sirius already got more than an eyeful, making him forget all about Regulus. Shit, he thought, that spell was as evil as the rest of the book. Snape was always grotesque, but now his visible vileness was piteous. How could they let him back into Hogwarts looking like this?

On the way down the stairs, Sirius called, "Oi, Snape. You know how to spell ugly? U … U … you," he began pointing at Snape, "you … you … you."

Severus smirked, and replied in an odd voice (to the Gryffindor boys), "Good one, Black."

It wasn't good enough for Lily because she gave Sirius a punch to the shoulder. Rather than getting both toads croaking at him, Sirius pretended Lily's hardest girly punch hurt and rubbed the spot.

James frowned at Sirius. Calling someone else recovering from dragonpox ugly with Evans right here was going to mess up his plans. Why didn't Padfoot think first? And what was Snape up to, not casting something at Black in response? And what was the deal with his voice? It sounded tolerable.

Cautious that something was about to erupt, James got out a mess of words, "Uh … Padfoot, we got Potions. No time to admire … uh"

Disgusted by his best friend's incoherence over a really fugly girl, Sirius batted his eyes at Snape, "The green really brings out your eyes, Snivelly." Evans's hair were a terror with the dragonpox green skin.

Severus sneered at him, and continued towards the classroom.

"Anyway, Evans, Sluggy gave us assigned seats. There's an empty one next to mine," James said with a smile. "I'll show you where."

Lily did not want to sit next to James Potter, but it had to be better that she took that seat, rather than Severus.

Pointing as they entered the room, Sirius said, "I think you are in the back corner, Snivelly."

Severus didn't care. As long as Potter and Black were in front of him, he could keep an eye on them.

Lily went with James and Sirius to the front of the room to the opposite corner, furthest from Slughorn's desk. James shared a table with her, and Sirius sat directly behind her. Sirius did not like this at all because Evans was a bit of a prick with her prefecting, shushing, and just all around swottiness. She'd probably try to intercept every note between him and James just on principle, and be an outright bitch every time they tried to joke around. Potions was going to be hell. Old Sluggy thought the sun shined from Evans's green bottom.

Severus was in a mixed section, with Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. Wilkes and Rosier shared a table in the center of the room, like they did in earlier years.

Prof. Slughorn entered the classroom and went to his desk. He tapped the board, and today's expected potion recipe was written upon it. "All right you lot … Snape, get up front where I can keep an eye on you." Slughorn pointed to where Lily was. Pleasantly, he continued, "Miss Evans, please take that seat at the back of the room. You are more than capable of working independently."

"Professor," James complained while raising his hand to gain his attention. Frustrated, Sirius rested his head in his hands. Who wouldn't rather have Snivelly at their mercy, than Evans griping for them to shape up and keep things tidy?

Both overheard Lily muttering, as she put her items back in her bag to take to the back of the room, "Lying sack of refuse. Sev could brew circles round you and you know it."

Severus did not need to pack anything since he hadn't bothered to take anything out yet. He moved to the front of the room with his things in the same slow, rounded shoulder gait that he'd been using all morning. He was also muttering as he passed in front of Potter who was lowering his hand in disappointment when Slughorn continued to ignore him, "... fuckwitted wanker can't see shit."

Although Lily hadn't reached her new seat either, Slughorn tapped his foot impatiently, "Stop making us wait all period till you get settled, Snape."

Looking up from his bag, Snape replied with a sneer, "I've been ill. I have a note from St. Mungo's, if you'd like to see it, Professor."

"You aren't going to be able to use that excuse when you take your NEWTs, are you?"

Snape went back to pulling out what he needed without replying. He knew that Slughorn had no hand in marking OWLs or NEWTs since they were also a test of how effective he was as a teacher.

The Gryffindors and Slytherins in the class knew that Slughorn disliked Snape, and constantly praised his old lab partner, Evans, a shining example of his Slug Club, on her sterling ability to work with such a disaster, and how kind she was to assist such a talentless brewer. Snape's roommates didn't believe that crap for a second, but knew that Snape was too ugly for the Slug Club, no matter how talented he was, his looks and personality were as big a hindrance as his lack of wealth and connections. Potter and Black knew that Snape was at least good at Potions so it was rather pointless for Sluggy to maintain the charade, except for the pure entertainment value.

Rather than joining the rush to get supplies, Severus hung back so he would not be in the crush. He took his time at the table setting up his cauldron and other implements before going to the cabinet.

Both James and Sirius started to realize how sick Snape still was as class wore on. He was usually very quiet, but the heavy mouth breathing and throat clearing he was doing on the stairs on the way down, continued. James looked over to see if his archenemy was smirking at being such a noisy prick intentionally. Unlike them, Snape was seated, with his hair hanging in front of his face, and leaning on the table as he chopped precisely, but his long, bony, spider-like fingers lacked their usual accelerated speed. Sirius used to kid that Snape got that fast cutting up kittens as a kid.

After sharing a glance with Sirius, James went back to concentrating on his potion, ignoring the revolting sounds Snape was making. Things were going well for him, when James looked at the board for the next step and saw he was to add his three drams of crushed dried dittany. He had it already prepared and lifted it towards his cauldron, when Snape slapped his book hard, like he was killing a bug. James looked over in disgust, seeing that Snape's book was in such poor shape that many things could be living in it. Snape jabbed his finger at the text. James looked at his own book and then back at the board. Not trusting Snape to have changed the text of his book, he leaned over and grabbed Snape's sliding it close enough to read. It did have the same instruction as his, to stir slowly clockwise till the potion changed to magenta. Snape's book's margins were filled with scrawls, but James didn't have time to read them because Snape snatched his book back.

"Stop bothering Mr. Potter, Snape. You should have come prepared to class, instead of being a disturbance to others."

Merlin, how did hotheaded Evans put up with that for five years? wondered James. This wasn't the first time old Sluggy left an important step off the board. The students were supposed to be prepared and use their texts when this happened before. Most of the time, the class just let their potions fail in sometimes spectacular fashion. James started stirring, and turned to emphasize his motion to Sirius till his friend nodded in understanding.

At the end of class, half the students had potions that looked like Snape's, Potter's and Black's, including Evans. Since Slughorn was never wrong, the ones that caught the error didn't bother mentioning it to their classmates till they left the room.

Since Magical Creatures was cancelled, the Gryffindors didn't have to rush out of the castle to get to their next class in time. Lily walked beside Severus towards the stairs already, when James caught up to him.

"Why'd you point out the missing step, Snape?"

Shrugging, and continuing to head up the stairs because he had Ancient Runes, he said, "You would have noticed on your own if I wasn't being a distraction."

James narrowed his eyes, trying to unveil the insult contained in that statement. Trying to act like he understood it, he replied, "Right then."

Thinking he had just scored a point with Evans by not hexing her oddball friend, he suggested, "So Evans, why don't we head up to the Tower and grab our Charms books? We have that after lunch."

"I think I know where we are, Potter, but it wouldn't hurt to review."

Remembering Sirius's advice, James restrained himself from looking pleased. It was schoolwork after all.

Black couldn't take any more of Prongs being a blockhead so headed off to have some fun on his own that certainly didn't include looking at a textbook. If James wasn't careful, she'd have him working hard to be Head Boy next.

Lily called up to Severus who turned to go up a different flight of stairs, "I'll see you in Charms, Sev."

Not having as much energy, or enthusiasm as Lily, he simply replied, "Yeah."

Lily declined James's offer to carry her bag, once the two of them were left on their own to head up to Gryffindor. Not thinking of what else they could talk about other than school and the possible invitation to sit next to him for quidditch or maybe a date to Hogsmeade, once James had buttered her up some, he decided to talk about a very unpleasant subject that was of interest only to Evans. "Snape seems sicker than you, Evans."

"He is. His case was life-threatening."

James scoffed, "At his age?"

Annoyed, Lily asserted, "Yes. Why do you think I'd make something like that up, Potter? Couldn't talk, see or breathe. Is that sick enough for you?"

Backpedaling, James commented, "It's just unusual. And he's back at school the same time as you, but … even the stairs seem a bit much for him still."

"Someone thought it was a spell, rather than us catching it normally, but I don't know if there was ever any proof."

"Dragonpox isn't from a spell."

"And we're both back now because we'd risk having to wait till next September if we were out longer."

"You seem mostly recovered, Evans. Not getting winded, and here we are on our fourth flight."

"I think he was afraid that I'd sit out the year too, if he was unable to return to school."

"Why would you do that?"

Lily frowned at James. "It's complicated. He's back so it doesn't matter."

Concerned that he was upsetting her, James silently contemplated if his friends were sick. His parents wouldn't let him skip a year of school, even for his best friend, Sirius. Girls were always exaggerating about small things like they were life or death. Merlin!

After spending an hour revising Charms with Evans, James felt that she was in a good enough mood to broach the subject of this weekend. "So Evans, with Parkin playing against Slytherin this Saturday, how about you and MacDonald join us fellows in the stands cheering our team?" He was very pleased how he made it sound like they'd all be cheering for that talentless wannabe Parkin. Just because her family played quidditch forever, didn't make her any good. Gryffindor might as well write off the Quidditch Cup now, and sure as heck better study and show off in class like a bunch of Ravenclaws to get the points to win the House Cup. This mess was all Snape's fault. As soon as he was well enough, they'd set him up to lose every emerald in Slytherin's hour glass.

"Well, that does sound nice if the weather's good. Um, I don't know what Mary thinks, and I might be doing some one-on-one work with a teacher to get caught up."

James restrained himself, what does weather have to do with quidditch? Girls! "Just give it some thought, Evans."

Regulus Black spent a good part of History of Magic contemplating his absolutely brilliant idea that had formed at breakfast. If there was a mudblood that certainly didn't know her place, it was Lily Evans.

She weaseled her way into Slughorn's favorites by seducing that half-blood Snape and getting him to do her Potions work, and probably the rest of her homework too. No Slytherin needed to be a genius to figure out where to get a quick help for homework. Just ask Snape, and embedded in the insults, he'd give the answer. The hardest part was tracking him down some nights.

Evans probably gave it up to Snape first year when she found out how easy he was. If Regulus had to do Evans, the only thing that would give him pleasure would be shoving it throat deep into her gob and gagging her while she polished his nob. Otherwise, she'd talk the whole time.

Oh no, down boy! … this was no state to be in while listening to Binns lecture. Evans's green pocky face … yes, that was a turn-off. Especially when she was strutting around Hogwarts, waving her prefect badge, nagging everyone to tuck in their shirts, stop horsing around and actually reading Filch's list of banned items. Probably does Filch too while his cat watches. Yup, that's the ticket.

Annoyed that his brother and his dumbass Marauders got credit for his first jinx, he finally shared it with his best friend, Barty. He could trust Barty not to use it indiscriminately. His friend was so tightly wound, when he finally blew like a cauldron, it was going to be more than a couple girls' blouses. Reg's money was on showing his father the killing curse. Barty's father was one of those fanatical Ministry drones who never came home, and thought every little thing reflected on his becoming Minister of Magic one day.

Breasts were really so last year anyway. Regulus already had his next jinx ready. It wasn't as revealing as his one from last year, but it was a thrill to see a skirt blow up inexplicably and catch a good glimpse of knickers. Unless the victim forgot to put a pair on that morning.

Lily was able to get rid of Potter for lunch, explaining that her return meant nothing with respect to whatever altercation was going on between the Gryffindor males and females. She could deal with that after she caught up on her homework, she thought as she joined Helen and Mary. It would take a lot of hard work to overcome the Marauders' reputation for being a gang of bullying pervs, but the rest of the Gryffindor lads did not need to be automatically treated the same way.

Mary asked Lily as soon as she sat down, "Which boys are muggleborn?"

"Uh ..." Lily hesitated, trying to think. She didn't think of anybody by their parents really, unless they were overwhelming gits. That was the purebloods only. "mmm... why?"

"We're doing really bad in Muggle Studies without you, Lily," Helen said.

"We got back our essays on muggle vacations today," Mary moaned. "Seems that my wanting to drive an automobile is not what muggles do on vacation."

"And I thought mine was better because I was going to ride in an aeroplane, without crashing."

Lily made a face. She helped Helen and Mary by not letting them turn in glaring errors, but how could they not know what to do on holiday? "So why do you need a boy? Muggle dating?"

"We wish. I think we're going to have to wait till 7th year for that. We're still on muggle leisure activities."

"This section is on sports," Helen said in disgust. "They don't have quidditch, and … the muggle photos that we were shown today … boring doesn't even begin to describe it."

Indignant, Lily said, "I am aware of muggle sports."

"We have to write a lot, Lily. Do you know that much about rules and famous players?" Mary asked.

"Darn. If only you told me in advance. They had the Olympics over the summer."

"What's that?"

"A big sporting event that happens every four years with all the muggle countries sending their athletes to represent them. It's a lot of different sporting competitions like gymnastics and ice skating. Well both of those wouldn't be in the summer, I think gymnastics is possibly summer, but ice skating and dancing is definitely winter."

Her friends looked at her in confusion. "Is there anything even slightly like quidditch?" Helen asked. "We don't want to be bothered with learning a whole lot of stuff about something muggles think is sport."

"They play a lot of games with balls. I think all of them are just one ball in play at a time."

Mary replied, "Well, I guess that goes without saying. Muggles can't concentrate on numerous things and complex rules."

Lily paused, wondering if her friend ever engaged her brain before speaking. "I can name them, and tell you basic rules from when I played them in muggle school. Maybe Severus could be more help, if I can lure him over to your table in the library."

"Snape? He doesn't seem the sporting type."

"No, he isn't, but his father …" Lily halted. This wasn't going to help. They had no telly, so that's one of the reasons Sev's father was always at the pub. Severus didn't watch sports, and was never bothered playing when her and Petunia had something to throw or kick around.

"Something wrong, Lily?"

"No," she answered, trying to shake off the feeling of sadness that had started to come over her. There were people that just didn't like to play games. "How about you show me those essays?"

"Only if you promise not to laugh, and you get your friend to talk to us," Mary replied. She didn't want to talk to Snape, but if there was a chance he did know some sport well enough that they wouldn't have to make one up using the rules Lily knew, it might get her grade out its tailspin.

"I don't know if he knows enough to be helpful, but I will ask."

"And get him over to that library table tonight, before other girls sit down," Helen insisted, as she handed over her essay involving flying around the world, and all the fabulous fun she had on the aeroplane.

Lily looked them over. She doubted the passengers on that Playboy plane she had seen on television had this much fun, and room to move around. Mary's drive involved doing a lot more than concentrating on the road, and never mentioned stopping to do all these other activities so Lily guessed Mary thought she could do it all while driving at the same time. Real muggle life would be a real drag for her witch friends.

Further down the table, a late-rising Peter commented, "Evans is hideous."

Ignoring James's open-mouthed gasp, Sirius agreed, "Totally, Wormtail. Even you are too good for her."

"Padfoot! I got a great sense of humor, and I tell good stories. Girls find me very entertaining."

"Yeah, when you move in for a kiss … they laugh in your face," Sirius replied.

"Just cut it out. It'll clear up," James insisted.

"Good thing you decided to wait. Some of those marks linger for years," Peter said while nodding in thought.

"Prongs is not that shallow," Remus insisted. "And Evans is a very nice person, green or not."

"Oooh, do I sense some competition here, Moony?" Sirius joked.

James glared at Remus. He wouldn't try to make a move on Lily while James was waiting for her to be … less green, would he?

"Of course not. Our friendship is stronger than any girl."

Out of the murmured agreement, Sirius said, "And it's damn straight we wouldn't let someone as ugly as that destroy the Marauders."

"Just stop it, Padfoot. And you too, Wormtail," James growled, putting an end to this cruel joking. "I've already asked Evans and MacDonald to sit with us for the quidditch match Saturday. You are not to make stupid jokes about her dragonpox."

Sirius's face fell. "Why, Prongs? Next you'll say we have to cheer for Parkin."

Groaning, Peter added, "Can we sit in the front row of the box so I can just pitch myself over when it gets too bad?"

Sticking his finger out, and pointing it at Peter, James asserted, "I'll give you a hand, Wormtail, if you so much as dare give Evans a dirty look."

"Calm down," Remus said while motioning with his hands. "It was nice talking to them at breakfast this morning. We can all cheer for Gryffindor without turning on each other."

"I suppose," Sirius muttered.

Peter remained silent. If Sirius and James wanted to play nice with those bitches, he might as well go along with it. He didn't have to like it though.

A lot of sixth year students were taking Charms. Prof. Flitwick was rather brave having all four houses crowded into his classroom at once, rather than splitting it out into two separate classes.

Since Wilkes sat with Avery in this class, Helen and Mary gave him a wide berth. Lily indicated where Severus was sitting high in the back by himself, but they shook their heads as they headed to their usual seats. Lily hissed, "Shouldn't we go up there and ask him about the library later?"

Both Mary and Helen made faces at the notion of joining Severus Snape when it wasn't a necessity. If Wilkes and Rosier weren't with him, then absolutely not. Helen finally said, "Go head," when Lily chose to stand there, starting to cause a scene.

All four Marauders arrived together and in time to not be late, and took their usual seats together in the midst of the room. James frowned when he saw Evans sitting up in the back with Snape. "What's that?" he asked with a jerk of his head to indicate what upset him.

Remus shrugged. "They both missed a lot of class. If they can't do today's work, no one can stare at them back there without turning around."

"Who'd want to stare at them?" Peter persisted.

"Not me," Sirius agreed. Then he teased James, "You don't think they have a little something going on besides just being friends … lifelong friends, who share all their secret thoughts with each other, do you Prongs?"

James was revolted at the thought. Who would be best friends with slimy Severus Snape?

"You think she likes getting all greasy?" Peter giggled.

"No," James insisted.

"People can be friends without doing that," Remus reminded them.

"Maybe she saw something she couldn't resist, thanks to Padfoot," Peter continued with his mind in the gutter.

"Evans is not that kind of girl," James denied.

"That's not fair, Wormtail. There was some crazy rumor that Padfoot did that intentionally because he wanted to see Snape undressed, and we know how untrue that is," Remus reasoned.

Sirius's voice rose at the mention of that foul lie, "Hell yeah." All other talking in the room stopped as Prof. Flitwick entered and signaled for quiet, but Sirius continued loudly, "I do not fancy Snape."

The class broke out in laughter, and the teacher calmed them down by saying, "Thank you for sharing that, Mr. Black. Now let's get back to where we were ..."

If Lily's skin wasn't so green, she was sure she'd be red as almost every student turned to look at Severus. The Marauders really were a bunch of stupid toerags, no matter how nice they acted towards her so far today.

Once Prof. Flitwick started class and everyone's attention was facing forward, including the hostile glares from Black and Potter, Lily sneaked a sideways peek at her friend. He raised an eyebrow to her in response.

Lily went down to get their materials since Sev didn't sound too good. As she headed back up, she felt a little nervous. This was her first time partnering with Severus in Charms. She was good at this subject, but after missing so much class, what if she was rusty, and couldn't do this by the end of class and everyone else did? Lily also wanted to talk to Severus, but she didn't want to waste precious time when she was supposed to be getting this charm right, so she hissed at him when she returned, "Let's work on this first, then we can talk."

"Sure, Lily."

As time passed, Lily was getting nervous and then panicky as bursts of song could be heard throughout the classroom as others accomplished the charm, and then performed some variations. Severus had gotten a few seconds of some flute-like notes before it failed. He had wordlessly stopped it because he wanted Lily to perform it successfully first, but not so much that he did not learn it.

Time was running out, and Lily was getting frustrated. She was sure she was close, and Sev was agreeing she that she had the right wand movements and pronunciation, and encouraged her to concentrate, rather than practicing himself.

She threw her wand down and muttered, "I can't get this, and you are wasting your time when you should be doing it, Sev."

With a sigh, Severus put his wand down, and picked up hers. Leaning closer, he took Lily's right hand in his and then placed her wand in it. "Stop being so impatient," he said softly near her ear as he continued to remain near her. "You can cast this. Let's just try it together, both the wand movement and the incantation."

When Severus did not let go of her wand hand, Lily questioned, "Together?"

"It's worth a try. My mother showed me hover and summoning charms this way when I was young. Just ignore that I'm casting it too, and cast it as you normally would."

Lily felt a spark of warmth at the thought of Mrs. Snape casting spells with Severus. When she hesitated, he whispered urging, "Start any time, Lily."

Oh yeah, she thought, I'm the one holding the wand. Severus did not resist when she raised her hand, and allowed his hand to rest lightly on hers like it was just coming along for the ride. At the beginning of the spell, she heard him match her incantation and felt a tingle pass through her hand as the spell was cast. There was music, but not a song Lily knew. It had female vocals, not in English, and some matching soft instrumental with the vocal portion being the primary sound.

"Did you cast that?" Lily asked, glancing at his hand upon her wand hand still.

"Your wand shouldn't let me cast something without your cooperation."

"That's not an answer."

Severus removed his hand slowly and the song continued, but changed, with the voice fading away.

"Try it again, without me."

Lily did, and an entirely different song started playing softly. It sounded like muggle pop music, but not quite because Lily couldn't quite remember this one, even though it was familiar.

"That's nice," Severus breathed next to her. He didn't care for it, but it was Lily's.

"Hmm," Lily replied, letting it continue and swaying a little in time with it.

Originally, Lily was going to let it continue long enough for Prof. Flitwick to mark her down as knowing the charm, since he was working his way towards them, but then she caught sight of the Marauders staring back at her and Severus.

What was their problem? Couldn't she sit next to her best friend and work on a spell without them going all Neanderthal?

Looking over Lily's head, Severus gave them his best 'bring it' smirk. He had played nice all day around her, but their dragonpox, while unfortunate, was bound to make others show their true colors. Severus would love Lily no matter how she looked. It was about time for her to see how people truly were, instead of dreaming that they possessed some ounce of hidden virtue and repeatedly giving them another chance.

"Just like a filthy Slytherin. He's using Evans as a shield," James growled.

"We can get him after class, Prongs," Peter assured his friend. It had been a boring month without Snape. This would be sweet.

"His greasy hair is touching hers," Sirius pointed out in disgust, even though Snape's hair had been recently washed and was cleaner, yet just as lank and lifeless.

"Snape's been ill," Remus reminded them.

"He's been faking how sick he is. You should have heard Evans earlier," James informed them. It was just pathetic that Snape used something as simple as dragonpox to pull the wool over poor Evans's eyes because she was muggleborn.

"McGonagall," Remus muttered warningly, as Prof. Flitwick passed in front of Evans.

"He's got her believing his lies too."

After they resumed a proper distance by Severus sliding his seat back into the corner, Prof. Flitwick pleasantly asked, "How are you two doing with this one?"

"Fine, Professor," Lily replied and cast the charm flawlessly.

"Excellent, Miss Evans. And you, Mr. Snape?"

Severus cast it quietly, but the resulting sound was like a car wreck to Lily's ears.

"Good," Flitwick replied to be kind. He wasn't here to grade people's taste, or lack of it, in music.

"How about you two see me after class to see if we can set up some evening review?"

They agreed, and Flitwick continued on.

"Sev, can you meet me in the library tonight?"

"Of course. What time?"

"Um, I'm not sure. Do you know what time Wilkes and Rosier are there?"

Severus gave her a pained look. "Is it to meet you, Lily, or you need me for something else?"

"Am I that transparent, Sev?"

"I'll still meet you, but I would like to be prepared. Unless you have some sort of surprise in mind."

"Surprise? Uh, no. It's just that um... Mary and Helen need a lot of help with Muggle Studies."

"Can't you help them, Lily? I don't have much hands-on experience with muggle devices. I can recognize them quicker than a wizard, but you have a better idea of how to use them."

"It's not that complex. Let them explain it. Anyway, they want us to sit with them at your housemates' table so others can't sit there."

"I'm not looking to get into a conflict with other Slytherins."

"Don't they need your assistance too, Sev?"

"When they ask. They aren't helpless, Lily."

"Perhaps Mary and Helen want to test them."

"It's not smart forcing them into anything. I'll be in the library after dinner, and we'll take it from there."

Lily verbally agreed, "All right," but thought Severus was being a bit overcautious. It was only homework in the library.

After class, they packed slowly and waited till the room cleared to speak with Prof. Flitwick.

Outside of the Charms classroom, the Marauders chose positions using the stairs, a nook in the hallway, a statue and a suit of armor. Since Remus's heart was not in this, he chose to serve as a lookout on the stairs. Peter was chosen to keep an eye on the other end of the hall. However, he was eager to see what his pals did to Snivelly so kept his avid gaze on the Charms door, more than on the hall.

James whispered more than once to Sirius, "Don't hit Evans."

"Okay. Okay. I can tell the difference between your lady and the great greasy git, even if both of them are green."

Seeing how Prof. Flitwick was the first professor to approach them, their schedules were wide open. After a short discussion to push back this evening's library plans, they agreed to meet with Flitwick for an hour after dinner so he could assess what he needed to cover since both were good students.

Severus reminded Lily that they needed to go to Defense next, however since she was still in conversation with Prof. Flitwick, he agreed to walk with them a ways towards their next class.

Leading the way, Prof. Flitwick opened the door to the hallway and immediately sprung into action whipping out his wand to cast a shield charm. He hadn't lost his sharp reflexes after retiring on top from professional dueling after he defended his championship numerous times.

"Black!" he called, identifying his assailant who had stepped out from behind the armor to cast the jinx.

Sirius replied with a light-hearted, "Whoops!"

"And you, Potter, and you down there, Pettigrew. What's the meaning of this? Lying in wait to ambush students outside my door?"

Lily stood looking over Prof. Flitwick, completely aghast. Behind her, Severus egged the Marauders on with that same smirk from earlier.

Remus peeked to see what was going on from the stairwell, and ducked back out of sight. His friends hexed Flitwick?

Brazenly, James said, "What? I didn't cast anything. That's against school rules, Professor."

"I was just polishing the doorknob," Sirius insisted.

Lily and Severus were excused to continue on to class. Lily started muttering immediately, "That sneaky toerag. He was nice to me all day, and then when he thinks he's earned my trust, he does something like that."

Reaching the stairs, Severus asked, "Waiting to push us, Lupin?"

"No," Remus responded, saddened by the glare Lily gave him. She wouldn't think he'd do something like that?

"Better move it, Lupin, or you'll be late to wherever you're heading," Lily snapped.

"Right," he muttered, once again puzzled how things kept going wrong. Well, except for the fact that his impetuous friends did careless things, but they had always been this way. Remus was also a bit miffed that Snape preceded him on the stairs, staying to the outside of Evans and holding her elbow protectively. Remus Lupin did not push people off staircases, and did not like being mistaken for the other Marauders, who would shove Snape off for a laugh.

The three of them made it to Defense in time. Potter, Black and Pettigrew arrived ten minutes late, and tried to use the excuse that Prof. Flitwick had held them back, but they had no pass. They loudly complained when they lost Gryffindor five points each because they had already lost a total of thirty points to Flitwick earlier – twenty for Black, and five each for Potter and Pettigrew. Flitwick also promised to have a word with McGonagall regarding detentions.

Peter was bitter that Remus ran off and already sat in Defense without them. Not that he could have done something, but the Marauders should stick together through thick and thin. Peter would never have left Sirius and James.

Lily sat in the back with Severus again. Helen and Mary were seated with Rosier and Wilkes, but there were no free seats around them when they arrived. Lily did not like sitting in the back, but could now understand why Severus preferred keeping everyone in front where he could see them. From the way Black, Potter and Pettigrew glared at them when they came in, she wouldn't put it past them to jinx them in the back during class. How was it her fault that they shot a spell at Prof. Flitwick? Idiots never wanted to take any responsibility for their own actions.

After class, Lily ignored Potter as she went back to Gryffindor tower with Helen and Mary before dinner. Why did that moron think she'd fall for his sincere act twice in one day? She should have known better this morning. It's not like the Marauders would suddenly be mature after all they've done, would they? Stripping students not four months ago, and attacking muggles over the summer holiday.

Lily stowed away her things, and grabbed some fresh parchment together for her Charms session with Prof. Flitwick, when Mary mentioned, "Oh, forget about bringing Snape over in the library. Malcolm and Evan don't want to be around him right now."

Annoyed, Lily asked, "Why not?"

"Some altercation with Mulciber."

"Neither of you like Mulciber. Why are you going to let him dictate who you can talk to?"

"We could talk to Snape if we needed to, but you know, Lily, we were thinking. Could you go, as a prefect, and inspect the Gryffindor boy rooms and see if any of them have up muggle posters of favorite teams? We'll even settle for a firstie."

Logically, Severus would be pleased to not help Mary and Helen, but Lily had already asked him and just wasn't happy about this. "No, I'm not going snooping through the boys' rooms for you. Announce what you need in the common room, and see if you get any takers. And another thing, I think I'm going to sit with Severus in the library because I already invited him there."

"Can't you just uninvite him?" Mary asked.

Helen added, "It is Snape."

Ticked, Lily asked, "Oh, so it's all right for you to talk to him to introduce you to others and when you might need homework help, but cast him aside when it's convenient?"

"What's gotten into you, Lily? Why are you bothering to spend any time with him?"

"You may have gotten dragonpox, but even with that as an excuse, he's ugly all the time."

"I may have ignored my best friend to spend time with you two because you are my housemates, and that's the way things are done at Hogwarts. We're like a family. I just thought … I don't know, I just thought over the summer when you took an interest in his housemates that it would be like the six of us together. Please forgive me for being so optimistic," Lily added with heavy sarcasm for her foolishness at thinking things were going well.

"Lily, you are blowing this all out of proportion. There was a crisis in Gryffindor, so we were willing to talk to a couple Slytherins to meet nice people. Severus Snape is not one of them, and we've always told you that from first year."

"We've kept you two apart for your own good. As soon as you look better, we'll find someone for you."

"Like who? Potter? Black? Lupin?"

"Maybe Lupin."

"No way. The only Gryffindor I've seen with consistent good traits is Frank Longbottom, and he's engaged now."

"You're lucky there. Heard his mother's a real terror."

"Sev's been my best friend for years, even when I ignore him at school. I don't see why we can't continue being friends, and now that you two are occupied, I can spend more time with him. Isn't that worth something? While you two date and meet nice people, I'm not sitting here all green and pining."

"No need to be so dramatic."

"And didn't the two of you kid around in June about his … you know?"

"Who could have missed that? But that's for a witch after she's married, had a couple children and wants some excitement. Just stay on friendly terms with him, and he's sure to meet you in Knockturn Alley to show you what you've been missing."

"Yes, Lily, don't do it now with him. He'll ruin you."

"Huh?"

"You didn't, did you?" Helen asked. Seeing Lily's puzzlement, she continued, "That's a relief, you could have sounded like you went all the way with him. That would have been a huge mistake."

"Yeah, your husband would definitely be able to tell … unless you married Hagrid."

"Are you two being disgusting? I said Severus is my friend."

"Well why'd you bring up his only pleasing feature then?"

"You were raving about it."

"It was a surprise, Lily. I mean, how could he be 'your best friend' and kept that hidden from you?" Mary asked.

Helen gasped and asked, "Oh my god, you knew didn't you? And you were keeping a secret from us."

"No. He … we don't get undressed. We don't even go swimming. So stop being such pervs and talking about someone who isn't even good enough for you to sit in the library with. Why can't a boy and a girl be best friends? I'm able to be friends with you without stripping off all my clothes."

"Well you can certainly talk to him, but just remember, don't let him talk you into anything. No crap about how it's lonely being the only two green people at school, and that no one but you pays attention to him. Just friends, and try to have that friend thing fade into nodding acquaintance when you pass in the hall."

Lily threw her hands up in the air. "You are being ridiculous. And you know what, maybe I won't be a coward and let Mulciber tell me who I can be friends with either."

With that, Lily marched out of the room and headed to the Great Hall for dinner, before all the food on their end of the table slid its way down to the gluttonous boys.

James felt it was time to lay down the rules. He thought he had already done so, but obviously the rest of the Marauders did not have their listening ears on. Now he had their full attention while they were in their room before dinner. No distractions of the common room, and here he could speak loud and clear without being made fun of by the other blokes.

He paced as he talked, "First off, no ugly jokes or comments. That means at Evans, around Evans, at Snape even if you don't see Evans."

"Here now," Sirius complained. "Even Snape liked my U joke."

James grabbed his hair, messing it up in the way he didn't like it. "Don't you see, Padfoot? Who came out of that looking like the jerk? You or Snape?"

"Snivelly did. I'm never a jerk."

Peter laughed.

"Both of you shut your cakeholes. I'm trying to be serious," James insisted.

"You can try, mate. But there's only one Sirius," Sirius commented, ignoring that his cakehole was ordered shut.

"This isn't a joke," James growled.

"We're listening, Prongs," Remus said reassuringly. "Maybe we need to keep calm, and let Evans come to you. By now, she knows you're interested."

"How could she not?" Peter asked. "You should play hard to get, Prongs, just until we see how bad she looks in a couple months." Hastily he added, "Not that I expect she'd be ugly. She's always been quite the looker."

"I want to be sure she knows the offer is still open."

"While we have time, we could investigate deeper. What has prevented Evans from succumbing to your charms? If it was quidditch, you no longer spend time on it," Remus contemplated.

"Quidditch?" exclaimed James, Sirius and Peter together.

"Quidditch gets me babes, Moony," James said confidently. "You know next spring or summer I should try out for a pro team so then Evans will know I have a job lined up when I graduate."

"Excellent idea, Prongs. Shows you are responsible," Sirius agreed. "But aren't you applying for the aurors with me? We can catch slimy creeps like Snivelly together. It'll be fun."

James shrugged, "Well, Padfoot, when you are as talented as me, it's likely that more than one career path will present itself. I'll play quidditch, get wealthy and famous, and then in about ten or twelve years, I'll tell the Ministry I'm ready to do my duty and catch dark wizards."

"Yeah, wouldn't want to do it the other way around and play quidditch when you have grandchildren," Peter said, loving James's plan.

Continuing with telling his friends of his life plan, James went on, "And if Evans turns out to be Mrs. Potter, I got it all worked out in my head. We can have our first child right away, while I'm playing quidditch. Then when it's older and ready to enter Hogwarts, we can have the second one, and I'll take a little break between quidditch and being an auror to teach number one how to play quidditch so he or she can play on the house team their first year. That'll be expected with having a famous quidditch player as a father. So then, when number two is old enough to go away to school, we'll have another baby to keep the wife busy while I work. We'll just keep going like that with a new one about every ten years."

"That almost sounds brilliant enough for me to give up my dream of not marrying till I reach a hundred, Prongs."

Remus made a face. If Evans ever heard this plan, she would not be Mrs. Potter.

In awe, Peter finally took a breath and said, "That's beautiful. I want to do the same. Except the part about quidditch and dark wizards."

"Have you ever considered that your first two children might hold it against you if you name them number one and number two, Prongs?"

"If given a choice between number two and Sirius, I'd take the first one every time, Padfoot," James responded.

"That reminds me, I owe my own number two, Regulisp, a punch to the gut."

While Sirius ranted and raved over the Saturday detention he received to polish doorknobs around the castle like a rag-wearing house elf, Lily finished eating dinner while keeping an eye on Prof. Flitwick, with occasional glances at Severus.

Once again, Severus was surrounded by younger students. She'd have to ask him about Mulciber. Something strange was going on if the little snakes would stick close to him, whereas sixth years treated him like he had mange.

Severus stood right after Flitwick, so Lily followed suit to leave. She didn't spare her girlfriends any words. At this point, she might start swinging if they had any more advice.

Since Sev took the stairs at a comfortable pace, Lily was able to catch up. "What's the deal with Mulciber?"

"He talked to you?"

"No, but everyone's kind of saying things, so I thought the best thing would be to come to you."

"It was nonsense."

"What does that have to do with people avoiding you?"

"Not everyone. Avery's big mouth made me look like a hero to the little bullied Slytherins."

"Oh? What's wrong with being a hero, Sev?"

"I barely did anything. Mulciber's got two classes: Astronomy and History of Magic, and was carrying on last night because he had Astronomy later. If Mulciber doesn't sleep, he thinks no one else should. So when he didn't cut out what he was doing, I made his … picture book … slap his face. Once. He woke up with a black eye this morning, and Avery couldn't shut up."

"How does someone stay in Hogwarts with two classes?" Lily asked, trying to think up some profession that would involve those two subjects alone. Nothing against those areas, but someone only needed an 'A' take move on to NEWT level. They were treated like filler subjects when someone didn't get enough OWLs.

"If I was Slughorn, I'd make him repeat fifth year or leave. He didn't even make quidditch captain with all that spare time on his hands."

"I guess he's lucky you're not the head of Slytherin."

"Why would I want to stay in this sodding pile of stone longer than I had to, Lily?"

"You could solicit gifts like Slughorn."

"I don't need silk and satin pajamas in every shade of the rainbow, crystallized pineapple, and chocolates."

"Do you even have pajamas, Sev?"

"What for?" he asked sarcastically as he opened the door to the Charms classroom.

Their discussion ended so they could pay attention to Prof. Flitwick for however long he was willing to tolerate them. Lily was in no hurry now that no one wanted them in the library.

They got far, and by the end of their two hours with Flitwick, they were completely caught up.

Lily asked, "Did you still want to go to the library, Sev? Or somewhere else?"

"What about Muggle Studies?"

"Forget it. They exaggerated how much help they needed."

"I don't need anything from the library to complete what I have for homework, Lily. If you need to go I'll come along, if you want."

If you want? Lily thought over in her mind. How many times had Severus hinted that he could go with her wherever she wanted in Hogwarts, to have Lily reply that she didn't want or need him? "I'd enjoy your company, Sev. Oh and by the way," she added, grabbing at the sleeve of his robe. He stopped for her, and then with a quick glance around, Lily moved closer and said, "I haven't kissed you yet today." She only gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

"With school," he muttered, "if you miss a day, it's all right."

"If I miss a day too many times, I might have to resort to something desperate, and end up giant squidding you, Sev."

He took a deep breath, and raised an eyebrow in reply.

Lily already had ideas about what she wanted to do, so he didn't bother answering. She could be moody, and normally had some excuse why she didn't want him to sit with her in the library. They were about to reach it. Severus was not going to hand her the fodder, preferring for her to think up her own justification. Lily already tried to use Mulciber earlier. Mulciber and Avery were two of her favorite reasons to avoid him, as if he had some influence over them.

Rather than going into the middle of the room to look for a table, Lily turned to the side when they entered. With neither needing books, a cozy table for two on the outside perimeter would be dandy. She didn't want to hear all the muttering over the two of them being green, and definitely did not care what Helen, Mary, Malcolm and Evan were up to.