Lily Evans flounced into the common room and collapsed on a chair in the corner, exhausted after another particularly long and arduous double Potions lesson in which they'd been – well, attempting, was the only word – to bottle fame. Severus Snape was the only one who'd managed to get it to turn gold, although Lily's buttercup yellow solution was a close second and had been praised more by Slughorn, who had been diligently disregarding Snape ever since he'd stopped talking to Lily in fifth year. She knew she would have to start her Transfiguration homework before lunch, but, really, she deserved a little break and a chance to relax for a few minutes. Rummaging through her bag for the Chocolate Frog she'd won in a bet with Remus earlier (how did he manage to always have some even when they hadn't been allowed to Hogsmeade in weeks?), she glanced round to see if anyone she knew was around.
A few fifth years were discussing career paths eagerly, poring over the two official Ministry leaflets, for Aurors and Healers (the admission criteria had been relaxed the previous year: everyone knew this was because the current forces were too small to deal with the growing threat, but no one openly admitted it), and there was a gaggle of third years by the fire, gleefully cheering over a game of Gobstones, the new craze sweeping Hogwarts. Lily's eyes narrowed as she spied James Potter sitting in the opposite corner, bent over a table with another of his fellow 'Marauders', Peter Pettigrew. She sighed inwardly, wondering what new mischief they were planning, and trying to catch a few words that might enable her to spoil their fun, as Sirius always put it. Lily liked to think of it more as safeguarding the welfare of the castle's inhabitants.
"It's a really difficult spell though, Pete, and you're already loads better than you were, I'll bet you a Liquorice Wand you can do it fine by lunch," James said encouragingly to a disheartened-looking Peter, who was sitting in front of a clock that was barking the time. Lily started with surprise; James was helping someone rather than misbehaving? He looked up at her movement, hoisting a smirk onto his face and ruffling his hair with his hand. She turned away in disgust, and started eating the Chocolate Frog. Honestly, it was almost as if the git was trying to woo her by becoming as annoying as possible. An owl swooped past the window and she watched it flying over the lake, away towards the mountains. He wouldn't be so bad if only he'd stop acting like he was the best thing since self-slicing bread, she thought.