"Yeah, he's got to be the hottest fourteen year-old wizard ever," Cerise said. She twirled her golden locks around her finger delicately.

"I'm definitely taking him to the Yule Ball," her friend, Harpa, squealed. She tossed her blond head with a sigh. "He can't say no. It's almost illegal. A cute popular girl asks out a cute popular boy, and the boy says 'yes'. It's an unwritten law."

Amy stood up from playing wizard chess with Iris in the Gryffindor common room. "Whom are you talking about?" she asked. "Or, rather, fainting over." Amy put her elbows on the table between Harpa and Cerise, chewing a root beer flavored wad of bubblegum.

"Sirius," Harpa whispered. She took a sip of butterbeer and a misty look came into her light green eyes.

"How can you not have a crush on him?" Cerise asked. "You have a better chance with him than any of us. You're like, the only female Marauder. I read in Witch Weekly that it's better to be friends before being a couple."

"Well, I don't think he's all that cute," Iris said finally in a heavy Irish accent. She put her elbows on the table next to Amy's. Iris's mousy brown hair flopped over her shoulders.

"Whatever," Cerise and Harpa said simultaneously. Iris wasn't considered popular, so her vote didn't matter in the minds of Cerise and Harpa.

"Have you ever said two words to Sirius?" she ventured.

"No," Harpa said flatly. "So?" Her mouth hung open as if she were deeply offended.

At that moment, a tall girl tapped Amy's shoulder. Amy spun around to see deep green eyes and light red hair. "I'm Lily Evans," she said in a smooth voice. "Are you the fourth years? I'm sorry-I'm new."

"Iris Nittles," Iris said, shaking Lily's hand enthusiastically. "We're the four year Gryffindors. This is Cerise Veouje, Harpa DeGreer and-"

"I'm Amy Thor," Amy interrupted.

"Nice to meet you," Lily replied graciously.

"Ooh! Let me help you with those!" Iris said, motioning to the small bags Lily was carrying. She lunged for a crimson duffel bag, but was barricaded by Lily's hand.

"Oh, it's no problem," Lily assured her. "Wingardium leviosa." The bags hovered a few feet above the ground and Lily nudged them gently into the dormitory. Iris followed her with a look of astonishment and a grin.

"What do you think?" Cerise asked after Lily and Iris were out of earshot. Cerise's powder blue eyes sparkled dangerously.

"I don't like her. She's too nice; the prefect sort," Harpa muttered.

"I think she's alright," Amy said. "We need more girls in this school who don't have crushes on Sirius." She smiled in a sarcastic way and went to help Lily unpack.

Cerise and Harpa rolled their eyes. "Amy's turning geek," Harpa said, wincing.

"Definitely," Cerise agreed. "I won't stand for that."

~*~(*)~*~

At dinner, Lily stumbled into the Great Hall, looking for a seat awkwardly. Iris was by her side. "Let's go sit over there. I want you to meet my friends!" Iris squealed. She pointed to the very end of the Gryffindor table where a few misfits sat, segregated from the rest.

"That's alright," Lily muttered. "There's a seat next to Amy. I think I'll just sit there." Lily dashed to the empty seat before Iris could object.

Iris narrowed her eyes and hurried to her friends to tell them how mean Lily Evans was.

"Lily!" Amy cried. "Sit down. This is James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin Peter Pettigrew and you already know Cerise and Harpa."

Lily nodded and smiled at each introduction before sitting. Harpa and Cerise were talking to Sirius at the same time and Sirius was paying neither of them any attention. Lily turned to Amy and caught James's eye. They each turned away quickly and Lily blushed a deep pink.

"Lily?" Amy asked suspiciously. She raised an eyebrow, unsure of what was going on.

"Nothing," Lily replied with a giggle. She served herself some mashed potatoes.

"So, Lily," Sirius began, ignoring Cerise and Harpa, "what brings you to Hogwarts?" He winked at Lily and finished chewing his steak.

Lily paused before answering. "My mum and dad are Muggles and they finally decided to send me to Hogwarts last month. They've never really liked the whole idea of wizardry; that's why I haven't been here before."

Sirius nodded and the small talk continued for the rest of dinner.

~*~(*)~*~

Lily moved slowly, trusting the shafts of moonlight to guide her in the dormitory. "Amy," Lily whispered, hanging over her bed.

"Lily?" Amy asked. She blinked awake. "What?"

"Does James have a girlfriend?" Lily queried.

"What? No," Amy answered. She sat up carefully.

Lily paused and bit her lip.

"What are you driving at?" Amy asked.

"Nothing," Lily said quickly. She felt around for her bed in the dark and laid down.

"Lily?" Amy asked once she was nestled under the covers again.

"Yeah?" Lily replied.

"Go to sleep," Amy said, grinning in the darkness. She turned on her side and closed her eyes peacefully.

~*~(*)~*~

"Potions isn't a time for horseplay!" Professor Antonello scolded Peter.

"Yes, sir," the chubby boy replied, his beady eyes glossed over with boredom.

Professor Antonello returned to his cauldron in front of the class and added five beetle wings lovingly to the milky purple potion. "After adding the beetle wings, stir your cauldron three times; no more, no less."

"This class is the most boring," Amy whispered to Lily.

"Would you like to share something with the class, Amaranta?" Antonello asked with a smirk.

"Not really," Amy replied and added five beetle wings to the cauldron she was sharing with Lily.

"Well, I think you really ought to," Professor Antonello said coldly.

Amy sighed and stood. "I was only telling Lily that this class is the most boring," Amy returned.

"Very well, Amaranta. I'm glad you can share your feelings with the class," Antonello whispered. "Sit down."

Amy sat calmly and rolled her eyes at Lily. "He can be quite annoying."

Lily stifled a giggle and stirred the potion three times.

As the class filed out of the classroom after Potions was over, Sirius called Lily aside to ask her something in private.

~*~(*)~*~

"What was Sirius saying to you?" Amy asked Lily during their free period by the lake.

"He asked me to the Yule Ball," Lily replied.

"And?" Amy asked, surprised Sirius hadn't alerted her first.

"I said 'no'," Lily said coolly. She skipped a rock across the surface of the glassy water.

Amy smiled. "Wow," she said. "I don't think anyone's refused a date with Sirius." She squinted in the bright sunlight.

"I think I'm going to ask James," Lily muttered.

Amy smiled as the giant squid disrupted the lake's glassy waves. "Yeah, he likes you."

Lily smiled and stood up stiffly. "Where is he now?"

"Probably at the library with the Marauders," Amy answered.

"What?" Lily asked, confused.

"I'll explain on the way there," Amy assured her.

The pair walked across the lawn back towards the school.

[A/N: This is the new 'revised' version. Thank you to everyone who reviewed and alerted me to stupid mistakes. Thanks, Abbess for suggestions!]