Dorcas Meadowes trudged through the portrait hole looking thoroughly exhausted accompanied by James Potter and Sirius Black. The three of them collapsed onto the coaches in front of the fire tossing their broomsticks onto the floor. In front of them Lilly Evans and Remus Lupin both had their noses buried in books.

"Hey, Moony . . . Lily", said James finally as neither of them acknowledged the arrival of three of their friends. Remus started at the sound of James' voice and smiled a tired smile. Lilly on the other hand gave no sign she had heard him. James didn't seem to have expected anything more and merely sighed.

"Sorry Prongs mate, didn't see you lot come in", Remus said tossing his book onto the table and yawning.

"Where's Peter?" enquired Sirius though he did not look particularly interested.

"Kitchens. Get us some food." Remus replied. Sirius brightened slightly at the mention of food.

Dorcas did not seem to be following the conversation, she was watching Lily and she suddenly picked up her broom and poked Lily with it.

"James!" Lily cried in outrage before looking up to see it had not been James who had poked her at all.

"What's your problem then Lilly", Dorcas asked conversationally.

"Nothing, I'm just reading!" Lilly snapped hiding once again behind her book.

James picked up a copy of The Evening Prophet glanced at the front page which carried the headline proclaiming the deaths of some twelve ministry officials at the hands of Death Eaters, shook his head then screwed up the front page and tossed it at Lilly's head.

"Dorcas!" shrieked Lilly looking up to see James, Sirius and Remus roaring with laughter. With that Lilly got up and stalked off to the girls dormitories without another word to any of them.

"What's her problem?" yawned Sirius, directing his question at Dorcas.

"No idea, haven't seen her since Charms this afternoon", she replied and looked enquiringly at Remus who threw up his arms.

"Don't look at me! I don't know. Ask James it's probably his fault!" Remus cried.

"I kissed her", James said simply as he got up and strode off to the boys dormitory.

"Excellent!" yelled Sirius and Dorcas appreciatively knuckle banging each other and following their respective best friends up to their dormitories. They would of course need the details.

This left Remus to finish his book, he had to read it by next week and the full moon was three days away.

"They still not back yet?' asked Peter Pettigrew who had just come through the portrait hole clutching several pastries and holding out one to Remus who took it, taking a bite.

"Nah, all got back then they all went up to the dormitories. Something about James kissing Lilly", Remus replied offhandedly. Peter dropped his pasty.

"Wha – he. . . really?" Peter managed to choke out. Remus laughed and nodded, then seeing Peter's astounded expression shook his head disbelievingly and said "You honestly didn't see something like this coming?" Peter shook his head , "well, trust me it's been coming on for a while".

"Oh".

Remus laughed "Ah Wormy mate if you were any more unobservant you'd be blind and deaf".