Lily jumped as she felt a warm whisper in her ear. The whisper smelled like butterbeer and peppermint.

"Hey sexy lady."

It was Sirius. He stood in front of her with a smug grin on his face, arms crossed over his tight grey v-neck. His black curls were damp and hung around his face in a cute way. But no, Lily would never like him like that. On his right was Remus, who guiding James up to the dorm room, who was stumbling around, delirious.

"Sirius. Are you drunk?"

"I just had a bit to drink. Why didn't you go?"

"I have better things to do than go to some lame Hufflepuff party. Like writing that potions essay for Slughorn."

Sirius sobered up immediately. "What potions essay?

"The one about the use of Wolfsbane over the centuries. The one we've been working on for weeks."

"Oh." Sirius stared at the flickering fire for a long moment. The reflection danced in his stormy eyes. "That potions essay. Damn it."

"Yeah." Lily said laughing a little, then prying her eyes off him and back at her paper.

"Would you help me with it?"

"Are you serious?" Lily said, raising one arched eyebrow, sardonically.

"Why yes I am. Nice to meet you."

Lily rolled her eyes. "In your dreams."

"Pleaaaassee?" He begged, putting one arm on a patchy armchair to keep his balance.

"Why would I help you?" Lily asked, amused.

"Because we're friends, I'm hot, you're hot. You're smart, theres the big quidditch semifinals tomorrow, and frankly, I'm too intoxicated to think for myself." Sirius said, putting his lips close to her ears again, making her shiver.

"Fine, just this time, I'll let you copy. But you owe me a drink when you win the Semi's."

"Sounds like a plan, Evans. Looking forward to seeing your rowdy side."

"Yeah, whatever." Lily said, trying to hide her grin. Then unexpectedly, Sirius bent towards her and planted a kiss on her cheek.

"Night, Evans."

"Night, Black."

Then Sirius disappeared up the stairs, humming the Hogwarts song in an off tune sort of way leaving Lily to bury herself in her thoughts.

This wasn't how it was supposed to be. She had a huge crush on James, not on his dopey best friend. Right?