A/N: Here's a short happy chapter that doesn't contribute much to plot. Happy belated birthday to Harry and JKR!

Life at Hogwarts slowly fell back to normal – or normal by Hogwarts standards, anyway. James and Sirius took out their "stress" about their upcoming O.W.L.s on unsuspecting, less skilled people in the hallway. Sirius liked to call it "practicing." Both Remus and Lily turned blind eyes. It wasn't worth the fight.

The second Gryffindor Quidditch match was scheduled for the end of January, meaning that James once again went missing for two weeks.

"I don't know why Dana's stressing out so much," said James one night at dinner after a long and gruelling practice. "I mean, we're playing Hufflepuff!" Causing several passing Hufflepuffs to glare as they sat at their table.

Also, the school workload had increased two-fold. It seemed that all the fifth and seventh years (who would be taking their N.E.W.T.s) were doing day and night was studying.

"Are you skiving off this Quidditch match, too?" Remus asked Lily one night in the common room while they were pouring over Professor Hobday's essay on how to defeat a troll.

"No way," said Lily. "I need an excuse to have a break from all this," she gestured to the stacks of books and parchment surrounding her.

James made an excited noise in response from the fort that he and Sirius had made out of their books.

The morning of the Gryffindor-Hufflepuff match was beautiful and clear. James was in even higher spirits than was usual on match days, undoubtedly due to the fact that Lily would be cheering for him in the stands today – well, cheering for his team anyway.

Lily couldn't help but smile at James's enthusiasm. He reminded her once again of an excited puppy.

"We've got this in the bag, team!" James was saying to his teammates down the table, and acting much more like the captain than Dana. "I mean, what the hell is a Hufflepuff anyway?" James was quickly losing popularity at the next table.

Lily called good-luck to the Gryffindor team with the rest of her table. James smiled at her as he passed and she felt her stomach jump. Lily looked quickly and alarmingly away from him and down at her food.

"Everything alright, Lily?" asked Sirius, sounding as if he were trying not to laugh.

"Fine," said Lily in a rather high pitched voice.

Lily departed with the rest of the school a few minutes later. She was surprised to see Severus in the group moving toward the pitch. She hurried up to talk to him. "So, who're you rooting for?"

"Do you really have to ask?"

"Aw, but we are so going to win! I mean, what the hell is a Hufflepuff anyway?"

"Careful, you're starting to sound like Potter."

Lily smirked. "Well, have fun at the loser's end!" Lily laughed as she went back to join her Gryffindor mates.

Lily didn't know quite what had gotten into her, but she was yelling and cheering as loud as any other fan as Glenda Chittock commentated the game. Glenda had become an instant hit from the first time she commentated at the Slytherin-Ravenclaw match the previous month. She was a first year with the confidence of a seventh yeah, and a charismatic, soothing voice to match. She was a natural and would make a great radio personality, Lily thought.

Even though he was particularly more show-offy today than ever, James still managed to score two goals within the first ten minutes. The Gryffindor end went wild as he took a victory flight over the stands.

The game didn't last very long. The Gryffindor Chasers never looked any better, with James clearly leading them and calling the shots, while Dana hung by the goal posts and let him. He soon became the main target of the Beaters, who were doing everything in their power to stop Potter from scoring yet another goal. This, of course, left the Gryffindor Seeker wide open to search unbothered for the Snitch, which she caught within the first hour of the game. The final score was Gryffindor: 200, Hufflepuff: 20.

"Great job!" Lily yelled to James as she and the rest of the Gryffindors flooded onto the field.

"Thanks!" said James, clearly trying to flatten his hair.

"Leave it," said Lily, smiling, ruffling his hair playfully. "It looks good."

James eyes lit up as Lily left to go back up to the castle, even though she met Severus part way.

"Great, now he'll never comb his hair," said Sirius.