Lily Evans was watching James Potter across the Great Hall with longing in her eyes. Only when he turned to look did she paste on an expression of extreme boredom and turn her gaze to the ceiling.

"You know he fancies you, Lily," Marlene muttered into Lily's ear as she took the seat beside her. "Why not just go for it?" Her voice was low and suggestive as she plucked up a strawberry, taking an overly sensual bite of it with her eyes on James, and saying as she swallowed it, "Mmm..."

"Stop that, Marley!" Lily laughed.

"Yeah, people with think you're an even bigger slut than they already do!" said a short, chubby fourth year sitting a few feet away. The chairs between them were empty, and he maintained eye contact with her. He was clearly only provoking Marlene because his friends found it extremely funny.

"I really don't see how that's possible," Marlene murmured, still using her sexy voice. It was true, of course. Everyone in the school knew that Marlene was the school slut.

"S-so are the rumours true, then?" The boy's voice had cracked. Lily would have defended her friend, but she knew better. Marlene was two years older than these boys, and she could take care of herself.

Marlene leaned toward him, and he instinctively followed suit. Their faces were and inch apart when Lily read Marlene's lips as she breathed, "You'll have to find out for yourself," into the boy's face. He looked as if he'd just seen a Veela. Not that Marley was far from one. Not at all.

"So anyway," Marlene said as she sat up to face Lily. "Why not go out with Potter? He's fancied you for years now." She tossed her hair to the side and ignored the flustered boy that was still leaning across the seats, frozen.

"I would!" Lily exclaimed, and then she leaned in a lowered her voice. "It's just that he hasn't asked me and-"

"You don't want to initiate," Marlene agreed, nodding wisely. "But doesn't he ask you out every other day?" Lily blushed.

"Not for almost a year now. It's like we're...friends."

"And Lovely Lily wants more." Lovely Lily was a nickname that, much to her chagrin, James had created for Lily in their third year. Back when he wasn't afraid to proclaim his undying love for her in the corridors and follow her around begging her for a single date.

And Lily really hadn't liked James until this year. He seemed to have grown up a bit over the summer before their second to last year at school. His body certainly had, anyway. Okay, honestly, he was irresistable. She was finally seeing what every other girl at school had always seen: The James Potter Charm.

"Oh my..." Marlene muttered, and Lily followed her friend's eyes to James once more. But the picture was different. He was sitting beside none other than Helen Robbins.

"Ugh," Lily muttered, disgusted and a bit jealous. She looked at him just as he snuck a look at her. To make sure that she was watching. He kissed Helen with such passion that Sirius Black had to get up and leave the table Hall, repulsion etched on every line of his face. Lily could have sworn Sirius had flinched when he'd noticed her pained expression.

"I know how to get him back. And to get him good and jealous," Marlene's voice was at it's very sexiest when she was at her most devious. Lily pouted a bit.

"I really don't think snogging someone in front of him will make him jealous." The girls were looking at each other, so neither noticed James trying to make sure that they were watching him. Or at least talking about him. Helen seemed totally absorbed.

Helen Robbins was probably the only person with nearly as scandalous a reputation as Marley's. And now she had herself completely wrapped around the boy who was either the first or second most eligible guy in the school. That was completely undetermined, but there were often heated debates regarding the popularity, hilarity, talent and good looks of Sirius and James. They were constantly playing leap-frog on the totem pole of popularity, but the boys didn't care. They wanted to have fun with each other. They were, after all, closer than brothers.

"Come on, Lovely," Marley urged.

"What do I do? Just say hello like always?" Lily was panicking. Marlene flashed another wicked smile.

"You, darling, will just walk beside me and giggle and smile and blush." She looked positively evil.

"But how is that going to-"

"And I'll say something that will really bother him." Lily was almost worried what insult Marlene would toss at James, but then she saw Helen running her fingers through that wild, black hair and she let go of her inhibitions.

Lily and Marlene got to their feet and made their way, arm in arm, towards James and Helen. Lily did her best to put on a convincingly girlish cover, giggling to Marlene, their heads close together. Just as they were a foot behind the happy couple, Marlene spoke up.

"Lily! You naughty girl!" The voice was good playacting, Lily thought. It sounded as if she'd accidentally said it too loud. Lily got the idea of the plan and blushed genuinely at the thought of whatever James might suspect she'd done. James pried his face away from Helen and looked after the giggling pair of girls. Helen looked offended, but James didn't care. He was only concerned with what Marlene had said. Certainly Lovely, good girl Lily wouldn't do anything that Marlene thought was naughty...

"Merlin, Lily! Even I wouldn't let Sirius Black do that to me!" Marlene said, just loud enough for James to hear. Luckily, Lily was far enough that James didn't hear the giggling cease.