"He's at perfect liberty to kiss whoever he likes." Hermione stated heatedly.
"Sure he is..." James Potter replied to no one in particular as he pretended to read his newspaper.
"Be nice, James." Lily warned, "Hermione's going through a lot right now."
"She could just dump Ron and go out with Harry." Sirius offered for the millionth time.
Lily bestowed her baleful glare on the newcomer yet again. "Sirius Black! You've already made your opinions on my son's romantic life quite clear."
Sirius maintained his knowing grin, but showed rare tact in not replying. They all turned back to the scene unfolded before them.
"Have you?" Harry asked.
"Yes." Hermione replied, emotion still playing at the edges of her tone. "Why?"
"Well I just thought, seeing as neither of us can go with who we'd really like to, maybe we should go together, as friends."
Sirius' howl of delight, emphatic fist-pumping, and happy dancing was quite enough for Lily, who promptly sent him a Silencio and Petrificus Totalus. The thud a few seconds later was ignored by the other two present in the room.
"Sirius has a point, Lily." James stated carefully. When she started moving her wand, he continued quickly, "They always compare the Weasley girl to you, but your personality and talents are much more in line with Hermione's."
Lily, shocked by the moment of wisdom from her husband, nodded thoughtfully for a moment. "People are also quick to compare Harry to you."
James said it for her, "He's much more mature than I was at that age."
Lily continued nodding absently. She noticed Sirius' pitiful puppy face, and released him with an exasperated, "Dirty mutt!"
"See that girl over there." Hermione motioned subtly with her head. "That's Romilda Vane. Apparently she's trying to smuggle you a love potion."
"Really?" Harry glanced around Hermione to take a better look. He lacked any of the subtlety his conversation partner had possessed.
"He could do worse." James commented dryly upon seeing the girl. Sirius nodded in agreement.
Lily rolled her eyes with a muttered, "Boys!"
Hermione snapped her fingers at Harry, pulling him out of his trance. "Hey! She's only interested in you because she thinks you're the Chosen One."
Harry, in a moment of sheer James Potter, replied, "But I am the Chosen One."
Now it was James who let out a loud yell of joy. "That's my boy!" Lily rolled her eyes again, and Sirius couldn't help but think that Harry would pay for his comment. Sure enough-
WHACK! The newspaper Hermione had in her hand slapped hard against his forehead. Harry, properly chastised without Hermione speaking a word, said, "Sorry… Um…... kidding."
James fell silent the moment the newspaper found home on his son's head. Lily was wary about the silence, but her curiosity won out. Her loving husband looked absolutely affronted, while Sirius had an air of supreme amusement. Even Lily's wonder wasn't enough to ask why.
"She- She hit him!" James sputtered.
Lily nodded slowly. "Yes she did. He was being a prat."
"He was right, though!" James folded his arms, still pouting at the treatment his son had received.
"James Potter." Lily eyes flashed, "Your son was being a prat."
"He was not! He was using the Potter charm!"
Sirius' stifled laughter was ignored as Lily snatched the newspaper out of James hand. For the second time in as many minutes, a folded newspaper found its home on a Potter forehead. James visibly flinched, but still maintained the offended look.
Sirius' laughter could no longer be stifled.