Lily sat in the Common Room beside Joanna. Ella was once again with Sirius. Remus sat in on of the best chairs, gazing thoughtfully into the fire. Lily's eyes carefully examined the fine details of his face. His sandy-blonde hair was parted slightly off center, and his grey-blue eyes had a permanent tired look. He had a thin, pale face, but his cheeks were rosy know. "Probably from the heat of the fire." She thought aloud. Not noticing Joanna's hard brown eyes boring into her head, she continued to stare at him.

"What's probably from the heat of the fire?" Joanna asked, a knowing smirk on her face. Lily's entire face turned crimson, though this was definitely not from the heat of the fire. Remus glanced at her. Their eyes locked. She felt the heat rise in her face a \as she saw his face match hers in color. Both pairs of eyes immediately began to examine the carpet. James was outraged. How dare another guy look at his Lily! Much less Remus, his supposed friend. Remus squirmed as he felt James' hard glare heat his neck.

Sirius sat down beside Ella in their favorite armchair. Sirius looked at James as Ella read Witch Weekly while contentedly humming a new song by the Weird Sisters. "Ugh! How dare Remus look at Lily that way!" Sirius hissed under his breath.

"Oh! Remus likes Lily? How lovely, she's fancied him for ages." Ella gushed.

"But what about Prongs?" Sirius exclaimed, knowing his long-time friend was taking the news hard.

"Oh, he'll find another girl! Any other girl would go out with him at the drop of a hat!"

"James doesn't want just any girl! He wants Lily!"

"Ugh, can't you just be happy for her? Stupid Potter has been buggin her enough, and now she's found a nice guy!" her exit would have been much more dramatic if they hadn't been so squished. She nearly fell to the ground, but still managed to walk away with some dignity.

James had been giving Remus a cold stare for about ten minutes when Remus said, "I think I'll be going to bed now." A fearful look was in his normally calm eyes.

"No." There was a finality in James' statement.

"No?" Lily questioned.

"No." His reply was firm and cold.

"So he's just not allowed to leave the common room no? He has to wait for your approval?"

"Lily, please don't get involved –" Remus stuttered.

"Yes." His tone was bitter.

"Oh my gosh! Potter! I just can't … URGH!" She stomped her foot so hard the floor shook. She stormed out of the common room, the floor quaking with each step.

"Earthquake!" A first year cried as he dove under the table.