The Marauders sat around the fireplace doing homework, or at least Remus and Peter were. James and Sirius had more important matter to discuss; tonight's topic, the amazing Lily Evans. Again.
"Why doesn't she fancy me?" demanded James anxiously.
Sirius just laughed.
"I'm sure it isn't the fact that she thinks you're an arrogant, pig-headed git, Prongs," he suggested lightly.
James scowled at him.
"What are you saying?" he asked suspiciously.
"Evans likes the humble, and let's face it, you're the exact opposite. She doesn't like me either, and every girl wants them some Padfoot," said Sirius pompously.
James sighed heavily.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Perhaps we should both deflate our egos a bit."
Sirius scoffed.
"I'm not the one who can't get who they want, mate. That's you." Sirius directed his attention to Remus.
"Moony, don't you have a prefect's meeting or something tonight?"
Remus turned the page of his book and didn't look up. "I'm not going. I won't make Head Boy anyway, I know I won't."
"Padfoot, it's hard to believe we've got you and me, who're too full of confidence, and then we've got Moony who doesn't have any," James joked lightly.
"Yeah Moony, Evans would be all over you."
"Would I really?" asked the voice of Lily Evans.
James's hand flew to his hair.
"Hello Evans," he said maturely.
Lily ignored him.
"Lupin, we have that prefect's meeting. If we don't show up, Black and Malfoy won't let us hear the end of it."
Sirius raised an eyebrow.
"Bellatrix is a prefect? How did that happen?" he asked in slight bewilderment.
Lily ignored him. Remus decided to answer.
"Her grades."
Sirius nodded.
"Come on, or it'll be your badge," Lily warned darkly. Remus sighed, stood, and followed Lily out of the Common Room.
In the corridor, the two walked beside each other, leaving a mutual distance. Lily and Remus were friends, that much was certain, but Lily didn't appreciate always having to be the one to uphold her duties.
The silence between them was awkward to Lily, and she knew Remus was shy. He was very good-looking, with chestnut hair and honey-colored eyes. He wasn't nearly as scrawny as he used to be and now had a muscular build, of sorts. The only thing that Lily didn't like about his appearance was the fact that he looked tired and was paper white.
"They were talking about me again," Lily noted with a sort of forced lightness that she was becoming famous for.
Remus blushed and nodded, embarrassed at his friends.
"I'm sorry about that," he murmured.
Lily shrugged dismissively.
" I just would've appreciated a little defense. Especially when they said I would be all over you, Lupin," scolded Lily.
Remus flushed a deep shade of scarlet.
Lily grinned broadly."Why are you blushing?" she demanded.
"I'm not!"
"You are so! Look at your face!" Lily exclaimed, leading him to a window.
Remus tried to hide his face. It didn't work.
Lily began laughing hysterically.
"Come on, or we'll be late," mumbled Remus. Lily grinned at his back, laughing inwardly. Remus Lupin didn't fancy her. Did he?