Shortly after classes began, the 6th year Gryffindors and Slytherins were sitting in Potions, waiting for Slughorn to arrive.
When he finally did, he announced, "Okay, students, we are going to start a group project in a week, which should last a few weeks, considering the potions you'll be making.
Lily raised her hand, and on seeing this, so did Sirius.
Slughorn, ecstatic to see Sirius actually participating in class, called on him.
Sirius put on a high voice and mocked Lily, saying, "Please, Professor, what potion will we be making?"
James hit Sirius hard on the head, and Lily turned around to glare at him, but Slughorn, oblivious to this, said, "Well, Mr. Black, that all depends on what I assign you and your partner."
"Padfoot, you're my partner!" James yelled.
"Actually, Mr. Potter," Slughorn said, "You just brought me to my next order of business – assigning partners!"
As the class groaned, he continued. "I'll assign groups based on skill your skill in this class. Let me see… the first group is Mr. Snape and Mr. Black, and you'll be making Felix Felicis. Mr. Lupin and Mr. Pettigrew will make Polyjuice Potion. Miss Lane and Miss Lane…"
Lily sat there, looking around at the unpartnered students. 'Please let me be with Dina, please let me be with Dina.'
"Miss Evans, you and Mr. Potter will be making Amortentia. Now before I get booed out of my own classroom, you are dismissed. Please set up times to work on your projects."
Later during the day, the Gryffindors were sitting in Transfiguration, finishing up notes.
McGonagall stood up and said, "I want to let you know about a partner project that we will be doing. We are starting our unit on human Transfiguration. You and your partner must efficiently cast Transfigurations on each other and come to me with an essay after I've seen that the changes have lasted for a week. Questions? Yes, Mr. Black."
"I've got several, actually," he said. "Do we get to pick our partners? When we talk changes, what are we talking? And you're kidding that the changes last for a week, right?"
McGonagall sighed. "No, you don't get to pick your partners. I know that you're paired up for a Potions project, so you'll remain with those partners. No, I'm not kidding that the changes should last for a week. When I say changes, I mean hair color, and hair color only, Mr. Black. If you, or any of you, change anything but hair color, I will personally rip up your diploma in front of the whole school next year, understand? Any other questions? Miss Evans."
"When is the project due, Professor?" she asked.
"At the end of our unit on human Transfiguration. The project is an out of class one, and we'll continue discussions in class."
After talking some notes on the project, Lily stormed out of the room after dismissal.
She hadn't gone very far before being stopped by someone grabbing her bag.
She turned around to face James, and, with a very icy glare, demanded, "What?"
James backed up a bit, and raised his arms. "I, uh, wanted to set up a time to do the projects."
"Fine," she spat. "Lets do Transfiguration first, this weekend. We'll set up Potions after that."
"Evans!" James yelled as Lily walked away. "Meet me in the common room after breakfast on Saturday."
"Fine!" she yelled again as she rounded the corner.
An hour later, the Marauders were sprawled out in various places in their dorm room.
James sighed. "I can't wait for this project to really start. It'll give me an excuse to talk to Evans, and she'll have to talk to me! We've got a date on Saturday."
Sirius scoffed. "I don't think a study session can really be considered a date, Prongs. And make sure Evans doesn't hear you say that or she'll hex you into oblivion. Me and Snivellus will be lucky if we both come out of this alive. I give you permission to kill me if I ask for it, okay?"
"Just don't talk and you'll be good, Pads," Remus said.
"Aw, stuff it, Moony," Sirius replied. "At least Wormtail will do what you tell him to."
Lily threw her bag on the floor next to her bed, jumped onto it, and screamed into her pillow.
After five minutes, she rolled over to see her friends staring at her in hesitation.
"Lils, are you okay?" Cali asked.
"Does it look like I'm okay? Do I have any reason to be okay?" Lily asked, beginning to hyperventilate.
"Um, no…"
Lily took a deep breath and when she was calmer, said, "I'm sorry, guys. I'm just really not looking forward to this project. I'm condemned to death by James Potter! For the love of Merlin, just kill me now!"
"Lily, hon, aren't you overreacting just a little bit?"
"Possibly, but not by much. At least you three have decent partners…"