"Come on Lils, you're not nervous at all?" Hugo Weasley asked his cousin, Lily Potter. She snorted in laughter for a response, flicking her fiery red hair over her shoulder.
"Course not, Hugo. Transfiguration's so damn easy." Lily responded with a haughty expression on her face. "I could do it in my sleep."
"Right, wouldn't hold your breath on that one." Hugo scoffed.
The two cousins, along with the rest of the fifth years, were waiting in a chamber off the Great Hall. It was near the end of term, and all were anxiously waiting to be called in to complete their practical Transfiguration O.W.L. Most of the students were muttering spells and incantations under their breath, but Lily Potter and Hugo Weasley were not. Lily knew that she would get an 'O' on this exam, and Hugo knew that it wouldn't be very cool if he was worrying so much about an exam, even if it was one of his O.W.L.'s.
A professor entered the room and called out some students to be tested. Lily made sure that he had left before continuing the conversation.
"I mean, McGonagall is always saying how I'm one of her most accomplished students." Lily said smugly, raising her voice slightly so that it carried and most of the other students could hear her. She looked around Hugo, who was much taller than she, to see who was still listening.
To Lily's pleasure, Sofia Nott was watching her, with a look of utter disdain sketched upon her face. It was a known fact that the Nott, a Slytherin, and Lily, a Gryffindor, loathed each other on principal. But Lily seemed to have it out for Nott. Lily targeted Nott for almost all of her worst pranks and taunts.
Another teacher entered, calling out more names.
"How 'bout you Nott? Nervous?" Lily asked the girl, moving from the leaning on the wall and walked over to the other girl. Hugo followed after her.
"Leave me alone, Potty."
"Ooh, Potty. Haven't heard that one yet, have we Hugo?" Lily responded, and threw her head back for a bark of laughter. A few of the Gryffindors around them laughed appreciatively.
"Nope, she's getting much more original."
"You too, Weasel. We don't need your input." Nott said, closing her eyes to both redheads, as if they would disappear if she didn't look at them long enough. She hated Lily and the taunting that she had to endure. Maybe if she went back to reviewing, the two would leave her alone
"Getttin' even better with these comebacks, aren't you?" Lily said, trying to goad Nott like she always did. "But you never answered my question. You nervous? I've seen you in class. You're pretty bad at this whole subject. Why even try?"
More names were called, already reaching the K's.
"I've seen your vanishing before, couldn't even get the kitten all the way gone could ya? Course, McGonagall couldn't find a complex animal enough for me to work on." She said smugly. Even more students were listening now and Nott's face was red with embarrassment. She was trying to ignore everyone, but it never worked.
As if the gods were listening to Nott's silent prayers, a professor entered and called her name along with others. She moved as quickly as she could, with Lily behind her saying, "Now don't mess up too badly!"
Before she left the room, when the professor's back was turned, she made a rude hand gesture, but it could not wipe that arrogant expression off Lily's face.