'I can't believe how much homework we've got!', grumbled Marlene, flopping dramatically down beside me. 'And its Transfiguration after lunch! McGonogall's bound to give us loads as well...'

'Marlene it's only the first day after the holidays', reasoned Dorcas. Everyone knew Marlene would have loved spending her entire life as one long holiday. Not that she was an arrogant cow, she was fun to be with and was one of my closest friends. She was just a tad bit dramatic.

'First...day...holidays..!', spluttered Marlene, showering Mary, who was sitting opposite her, with pumpkin juice from head to toe.

I looked up from the book i was reading to look at Marlene. 'You know, learning troll certainly won't impress Benjy Fenwick.' I managed to keep a straight face till the end of my statement before the girls and I all burst into laughter.

Lunch was not lunch without teasing Marlene, and once we started laughing it was hard to stop.

'Who's learning troll?', someone asked. We all turned around to see Black, Potter and Lupin about to sit right next to us. Potter had that idiotic grin etched on his face again. I immediately looked away but it was quite hard, considering the girls were in ecstasy that the Marauders had choosen to sit beside us. Gee what a pleasure.

Not.

I kept on reading and ignored them altogether, in the hope that Potter would finally take this as a cue and leave me alone. I felt someone squeeze in beside me. I turned my face up to see Potter sitting in the place Marlene had occupied. I jumped with unpleasant surprise. I shifted as far away on the bench as I could, not wanting to have any physical contact with him.

'What are you reading?' he asked me in a joyful tone. I was slightly taken aback at his question. I had expected the usual will you go out with me? stuff. I turned the book so he could read the title on the cover. That is, if he could read it.

'So, have you read all the books in the library yet?', he teased lightly.

'Nearly,' I replied with much indifference, still not looking at him. Would writing LEAVE ME ALONE in permanent ink on his face finally work the magic? Or maybe hurling a plate at his head? Bad idea, it would probably hit someone else than the intended target.

'Have you gone through the Restricted Section?'

'Why don't you eat something so maybe you will choke to death and rid me of your presence?' I asked coldly.

He looked slightly hurt at this but was quick to disguise it and confidently wrapped an arm round my shoulders. I straightened up as if I had just received an electric shock.

'C'mon Evans, no need to be so cold with me', he urged in my ear. I pushed his arm off me in answer. I heard him sigh.

'Look', I said turning to face him for the first time. 'There are tons of girls here who would die to go out with you. Heck, even some of the Slytherins. So why do you have to keep pursuing me?!'

He looked at me in affectionate amusement. 'Because you're the only girl in here worth dying to go out with', he said seriously.

My patience was running thin. I turned back to my plate and started munching on an apple, refusing to even glance at him. 'Oh c'mon just this once Evans. I promise only once and...' My patience had altogether evaporated. I got up to leave but he grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me to him, so that I was sitting on his knee. I fliched back.

'Detention Potter'.

'What? Why?', he asked in surprise.

'Involuntary contact', I said. 'And if you don't let me go, it's detention every Saturday till the end of term! Which also means no Quidditch'.

'You wouldn't do that', he said in a hurt tone. 'She can't do that, can she Moony?'

Lupin who had not said a single word looked up. 'Technically, yes she can'.

James could only gape.