Year Four
"Gosh, that's creepy, James."
"What are you talking about?"
Remus sighed. "You've been staring at Lily for the past two nights."
James scoffed. "We've only been back two nights. I haven't been spending my first two days as a fourth year staring at Evans."
"But you have," Peter supplied. "Quite creepy, actually."
"Lay off him, boys," Sirius commanded. "he can't help himself."
"What's that supposed to mean?" James asked, not exactly interested, as he was staring at Lily again and one does not simply stare at Lily Evans halfheartedly.
"He's in love. Poor sod." the black haired boy sighed, leaning into the couch as though he was unsettled by that fact.
"I am not."
"What's Lily's middle name?"
"Rose." James replied without thinking.
Peter snickered. "You're whipped, mate."
"What?" he snapped his head to the other Marauders finally, now that Lily had exited the portrait hole.
"You know her middle name?" Remus asked, incredulous. "You don't even talk to her."
"I hear things."
"And remember them, clearly." Peter couldn't help but add.
"It's ironic, that's why I remembered it!" James defended.
"Admit it, you fancy her." Remus grinned in spite of himself.
James pulled a face. "No. If I did, hypothetically, It'd... only... be a little... bit." he concluded, distracted once again now that the redhead had re-entered the common room.
"You fancy her like nobody's business, mate, just admit it." Sirius urged a confession out of his friend.
"Is it just me," James talked aloud to no one in particular. "or has Evans changed over the holidays?"
Lily, unfortunately, heard him, and looked up, scowling at the boy she couldn't tolerate.
"She seems fitter, that's for sure." he said, oblivious that she could hear him.