A.N. – HAPPY NEW YEAR! Sorry I took so long to update, but I've been focused on updating my other story for right now (which, by the way, you should really read!!!). Thanks to all my reviewers.

And without further ado . . . chapter eleven!

Chapter Eleven

The seventh year students finally had something to tear their minds away from the looming threat of the N.E.W.T.S., if only for a night. The Halloween Feast was fast approaching and Lily, along with several others, was really looking forward to it. While there was really no set theme to the start-of-term feast, the Halloween celebration took its lead from the holiday. Hagrid had harvested several of the pumpkins in the garden by his hut and hauled them into the Great Hall, where they had been positioned in various locations throughout the facility. Many of them had been placed in front of the High Table, so oftentimes the professors were obstructed by an enormously large, round, orange pumpkin.

Still, even in the light of the holiday the professors had not lessened their distribution of homework. In fact, if Lily was to guess, she would have said the supply was getting heavier rather than lighter.

Her tutoring sessions with James were among the things she actually looked forward to. Usually they met on Friday evenings, unless one had a particularly rough piece of homework or had been completely thrown-off by a topic that had been broached in class. Lily was reluctant to say that she and James might have been – at the very least – getting along, but they were hardly fighting as much as they once had. Their relationship, Lily often reflected, was a lot more complex than anything they had covered in Transfiguration.

Things were going well for Lily's friends as well. Quidditch tryouts were scheduled to take place two days after the Feast, and James (who captained the team) had reassured Lina that she had a fairly optimistic chance of being reinstated as Chaser. Seeing as the competition consisted mainly of inexperienced third-years, Lily couldn't help agreeing.

"That lesson was bit of a pain, wasn't it?"Emma complained as they exited greenhouse three, nursing their cut and torn fingers. Professor Bud, the Herbology professor, had decided to let them have a go with the flesh-eating plants. Unfortunately, they now had the scars to prove it.

"Do you mean in the literal or metaphoric sense?" Lily joked. "Come on guys, I'm sure it could've been worse. She could've brought out Devil's Snare or something."

Emma snorted. "Yeah, and have it kill us all. Do you have any idea what James and Sirius would do with a supply of Devil's Snare? Oh, I can just imagine it right now."

"Potter and Sirius make it their job to wreak havoc on the school anyway," said Lily. "I doubt we'd see much of a change even if they did manage to get a hold of some of the stuff."

"You'd be surprised," said Lina, who had been uncharacteristically quiet during the exchange. "You really get a better picture of some people after working with them for so long. If you want my honest opinion, Lily, I'd say you're mistaken about the two of them."

"Whose side are you on, Lin? Every time this subject is brought up, you side with the pair of them over me."

Lina grinned. "Well, I mean, you can't སྭ"

"Miss Chambers!"

Caught by surprise, the group of girls spun around to see who was addressing their friend. Professor Bud was standing in the doorway of the greenhouse; it had been her voice that had startled them.

"Miss Chambers," said Bud, "I would like to talk to you for a moment if you have the time."

Alice looked up at her friends, a flicker of fright evident in her dark eyes.

"Come on, cheer up, Allie," said Lina. "It can't be anything bad – your Herbology grades are better than everyone's."

"I guess I'll see you in the common room then," said Alice before hurrying to Professor Bud's side. Lily watched her go, shaking her head slightly.

"Allie's a really pretty girl,"said Lina, causing Emma and Lily to raise their eyebrows. "I mean, I wouldn't notice usually. It's just, with her looks she could probably land any guy she wanted. But she doesn't go after them. I just don't get it."

Emma whispered, "That's because she doesn't want to chase after just any guy. She's got her eye on one in particular."

"Who?"

"Frank Longbottom, of course! She's been head-over-heels for him since they met in fourth year – do you remember that?"

Lily smiled. "How could I forget?"

"Yeah," said Lina nostalgically. "That was the first time we ever managed to convince you two" – Lina gestured toward Alice's back and Lily – "to sneak out after curfew. You were both completely lost, and I think it was Alice who ran into that suit of armor, remember? I thought we would get caught for sure, with all the noise you both made, but fortunately, luck was on our side. Until we ran across this shy little – well, not little, I suppose, he was our age – boy. He told us he wouldn't turn us in because then he would get in trouble too. Do you remember that?"

By now, Lily and Emma had both dissolved into laughter at the memory. The look on Alice's face when Frank cornered her had been absolutely priceless.

"I swear she looked like a tomato!"

Alice skipped back over to their group, clapping her hands together delightedly as she gave off a joyful little shriek. The girls were taken aback by her behavior and immediately stopped laughing.

"What's the matter?"

"What did Bud want? You're not in trouble, right?"

"You idiot, if she was in trouble, do you think she'd look this happy?"

Alice held up her hand in a move for silence. Once they quieted, she squealed, "I'm going to be the assistant Herbology teacher!"

Three pairs of stares met this statement. Lina looked incredulously disbelieving; Emma simply gawked at Alice with a slack jaw; Lily felt a strange stirring of emotions ranging from jealously and envy to pity and pride.

"Congratulations!" said Lily cheerfully, the first to regain her senses. "We told you your grades were amazing!"

Lina scoffed and said, "Correction: I told her."

"Well don't brag or anything," Emma teased good-naturedly. "That's really cool, Allie. I know you'll have fun."

"Yes, I know. Can you imagine how great this will look on an application to the Ministry?" Alice wanted to work for the Ministry of Magic, in the Department of the Misuse of Magical Plants and Herbs office.

Lily smiled. She was happy for her friend, happy and envious at the same time. She still wasn't sure if she would be able to land a job when she graduated, but she was hopeful; being Head Girl had to score her some points.

"I'm starved," groaned Lina as the four of them headed back to the Great Hall for lunch.

"You look it, too," Lily joked. "Come on, Lin, you're always hungry."

Lina nodded. "Exactly. I'm always hungry, not always starved. This is a really low point for me, Lils – have you ever heard of a little thing called sympathy?"

Lily and Emma rolled their eyes; Alice looked too absorbed in her own thoughts. Alice was concentrating so hard that she didn't notice she was about to run directly into someone until they collided. Lily whirled around at the sound and smirked.

Alice was on the round, wincing as she rolled over to her back. Frank knelt beside her, the look on his face one of shock and embarrassment. Alice's books and papers were scattered around and being blown in the wind. Lily, Emma, and Lina hurried to catch them, leaving Alice and Frank by themselves.

--

Lily smirked as she lifted the goblet to her lips and took a sip of pumpkin juice. Emma and Lina were chatting excitedly beside her, each making up their own theories on how Alice's meeting with Frank could have gone.

Emma, a hopeless romantic, came up with this long, elaborate description of Frank apologizing for knowing her over and then confessing his deep an meaningful love for Alice. She wasn't too happy when she caught Lily and Lina sniggering.

"What?" Emma snapped angrily as Lily and Lina exploded in laughter. "It wasn't that bad! At least I was using my imagination! I'd like to see either of you top that."

"Yeah," Lily chortled, "you were definitely using your imagination."

Emma glared half-heartedly at Lily. "Shut up, Lily. I don't see you speculating on this unexpected turn of events."

Lily raised an eyebrow. "Am I supposed to?"

Emma shrugged.

"Well, I'm not as pathetic as both of you, so I'm just going to wait for Alice to tell what really happened instead of coming up with a load of unbelievable rubbish." The girls' conversations were often like this; the scoffing and name-calling was all in good fun.

Alice burst into the Great Hal and sprinted to their group, shrieking the entire way. Several students shot her dirty looks and covered their ears, but to her they were all forgotten.

"You won't believe it!" exclaimed Alice when she reached them.

Lina said dryly, "More good news for you today? Boy, do I really feel pitiful now."

Lina's words seemed to slide of Alice's elated demeanor. "No, no, I'm serious. You really won't believe this!"

"Try me," said Emma.

"Alright." Alice's face was flushed. She lowered her voice to a whisper and motioned for them to come closer, which they did, forming a huddle in the center of the Great Hall. "Frank just – he just asked me to go with him next Hogsmeade weekend!"

Lily, Lina, and Emma squealed girlishly and offered their congratulations. It wasn't every day that one of them landed the boy of their dreams.

"How did it happen?"

"Was he all sappy when he said it? Say no, just to annoy Em . . ."

"Come on, guys," said Emma, grabbing their arms and dragging them behind her. "Let's go up to the dormitory. Don't want to risk being overheard."

"Yeah," Lina agreed. "No one knows how many of Alice's jealous suitors would go green with envy, which is really a spectacularly unbecoming color when it resembles someone's flesh." Alice punched her lightly on the arm in response.

--

Much keener to cooperate after his encounter with James, Chauncey swung open for Lily almost immediately, glaring and muttering underneath his breath something about "silly girls."

Unfortunately, the common room was already occupied.

James was lounging in his chair by the fire, twirling his wand, while Sirius was sprawled out on the couch flipping through a magazine. Remus had made his home on James's desk stool and Peter sat on the ground, looking distinctly uncomfortable.

"Hey, Evans," said James casually from his spot. Remus and Peter waved their greetings.

"Welcome home, sugar," said Sirius playfully, leaping up and grasping Lily by the arm until he had her pulled down on the couch with him. "I've missed you."

"Missed you too," said Lily sarcastically, and made to stand, but Sirius held her down firmly. "Sirius, let go."

Sirius pouted. "Oh, but baby, I haven't seen you all day. It's been a nightmare stuck here without you."

"You've got Potter," said Lily. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind filling in for me; he's used to playing the female in the relationship. Oh, and Peter, you know there's an extra fold-out chair in my dorm, if you'd like me to go get it for you."

Peter hurriedly shook his head.

"You think I'd swap you for Prongs, darling?" asked Sirius with a teasing grin, his dark eyes full of mischief. "Any guy that wouldn't fall for you has to be out of his mind."

"At least we know half the guys in the school are insane, then," said Lily, rolling her eyes.

"Are you kidding?" James asked suddenly. "More than half by a long shot."

"You would know," Lily muttered.

"Look," said James in a rush, "I'm not going to be able to make tonight – I've got something I have to do."

Lily was disappointed, but she made a valiant effort not to let it show. "It's okay." She hoisted a grin that felt completely fake. "We've got all weekend, I guess, and I didn't get any particularly brutal assignments."

"I did," said James morosely.

"But you didn't even have Charms today," said Lily, still sitting in Sirius's lap.

"I had Potions," James explained. "I'm just as horrible in Potions as I am in Charms. And Astronomy, and Divination, and Muggle Studies . . ."

Lily laughed. "Now Muggle Studies I can help you with."

"You're going to have to. I've got to write a four foot essay, due Monday."

Lily grimaced. "Ooh. Harsh. What's it about?"

James rolled his eyes. "I have to list twenty different muggle appliances, explain their purposes, and tell when, where, and by whom they were invented."

"Ouch. And here I was thinking I had it hard taking care of a unicorn." Lily eyed him calculatingly. "Just how many N.E.W.T. subjects are you taking?"

"Too many."

Lily grinned. "I guess you'll be needing another firewhiskey tonight, then?"

James looked up, eyes wide and startled. "Um, what?"

"Don't think I don't know what you were drinking the other day," said Lily. "You don't get that kind of a reaction from butterbeer and pumpkin juice. And there I was, feeling completely lame with a mug of hot cocoa."

"I'll bet yours tasted better than mine though," said James, "especially the next morning." Lily laughed.

"I wouldn't know. I've never had ay, and I don't plan on having any either. It's disgusting, vulgar, and leads to irrational behavior. Not that you have to worry about the last bit – your behavior is always irrational."

"Hey!"

"Just saying." Lily shrugged. "It's devastating to think you've never realized it before."

James scowled. "I am not irrational."

"Then what d'you call it?"

James shrugged. "Over protective?" he tried. "Loyal? Brave?"

Lily couldn't help but laugh a little at the last suggestion. Counting off each on her fingers, she said, "How about arrogant? Self-centered? Conceited?"

"Do conceited people help those of lesser intelligence on their Transfiguration homework?" James asked in a tone of mock superiority.

"Do those of lesser intelligence really care what conceited people do?" Lily countered. She quoted, "'How haughtily he cocks his nose to tell what every schoolboy knows.' Jonathon Swift said that, did you know?"

"Do I care?"

"You should, as his words apply directly to you." Lily grinned an winked at James before snuggling into Sirius's arms. Sirius, for his part, looked took aback for a split-second before making his recovery.

"Aw, baby, there we go," said Sirius. "I knew she'd crack one day."

"No," said Lily, "I'm just tired and you're comfortable."

Sirius grinned broadly and James's face turned a brilliant shade of magenta.

"You don't mind if I fall asleep here, do you?" Lily asked him.

Sirius shrugged. "I honestly don't mind, though I think Prongs might have a bit of problem with it."

"And I honestly could care less what 'Prongs' wants. What kind of a nickname is Prongs anyway?"

The group seemed highly disconcerted with this new line of questioning.

"Long story," said Sirius lightly. "See, it all started the summer before our fourth year –"

"Sirius!"

Sirius held up a hand. "Let me finish." He winked at Lily. "Prongs here is still embarrassed about it. Anyway, Reus and I were spending the holidays at Prong's house. Ol' Prongsie had invited his girlfriend to spend Christmas holidays with him because her parents were out of town that week, and Remus and I were both there too. Well, Prongsie girl was pretty hot, and I was pretty determined to – y'know – so Remus and I decided we'd humiliate him in front of her. So we pulled a prank on him while he was asleep one night. The rest," Sirius eyed her, "you don't need to know."

"A little too detailed for my liking?"

"Probably." Sirius began stroking Lily's hand with one large hand. Lily would have normally told him to knock it off and hexed hm into oblivion, but she saw how angry James was getting and couldn't resist the fun.

"That feels good," Lily cooed. James cleared his throat loudly, eyes fixed on his paper though his quill wasn't moving. "Keep it up."

"This isn't fair," Sirius pouted. "You get your hair done and I don't get mine? What's the fun in that."

Lily grinned. "Alright, if you want me to . . ." She pulled out her wand and mumbled the incantation for a spell she had found in the library. When she had finished, Sirius tentatively lifted a hand to his hair. James, Peter, and Remus were determinedly keeping straight faces.

"What did you do to it? Does it look good?"

Biting down a laugh, Lily nodded. "Looks fabulous! You'll be the talk of the school."

Sirius flashed her a grin. "Cool. Can I have a mirror or something? This hairdo feels extremely weird."

"It only feels weird because it's new," said Lily placatingly, before adopting a mockingly shocked voice and saying, "You can't have a mirror! That would ruin the surprise! Now go forth among the students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and make them faint in awe at your amazing fashion statement."

"And what a fashion statement it is," muttered James, earning a warning glare from Lily.

Much to Lily's surprise, however, a slow grin began to spread on Sirius's face. Oh gosh, she thought, he's actually buying it! Ha! I need a picture of this.

"I'm sorry, Lily my love, but I must go and fulfill your wishes." Lily slid off Sirius's lap and the boy stood up, proudly surveying the room. "I shall return, friends." With that, he was gone.

Lily broke down laughing, joined by Peter, Remus, and even James let slip a few chuckles. What an idiot.

"You realize he's going to kill you when he figures this out," said Remus once he had calmed down a bit. "James, Peter, and I finally figured out never to pull pranks on Sirius concerning his hair in third year – he has one hell of a temper."

"Well," James commented, "except that time in fifth year we dyed his hair purple and let him walk around school with it for an entire day before he finally figured out why everyone was pointing at his head and laughing."

"The similarities between your prank and mine are positively alarming," said Lily.

James grinned charmingly. "Well, you know what they say."

"No, what?"

"Great minds think alike," said James, smiling.

Lily frowned. Wonderful. Now I'm being compared to Potter after one lousy prank? Not fair.

Suddenly, James's countenance morphed into one of agitated fury. He whirled on Lily and glared. "What was that all about anyway?" he demanded. Lily stared blankly at him for a second, wondering what he was talking about. "You know, with Sirius? I though you hated Sirius as much as you disliked me?"

Lily shrugged, smirking as she caught on. "You know it was all just a joke, right? You were getting so frustrated that I really couldn't help but continue with it to see how angry you got."

James glared at her. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. Now if you don't mind, I've got some stuff to do." She stood up, brushing non-existent dust from her robes. "See you later."

Lily disappeared into her dormitory, grinning like a madwoman.

A.N. – Maybe the ending was a little out of character, but I was just out of ideas and that scene sort of appeared while I was typing and frankly, I sort of like it. Oh well! Love to hear your response!