'Dorcas!' Marlene whispered as she sat on her best friend's bed. 'Dorcas, wake the hell up!'

The shorter girl shot awake and pointed her wand to Marlene before she blinked a few times and realised who it really was. 'Mar? Is it morning yet?'

The blonde grimaced and shook her head. Dorcas scowled and looked at the window.

'Tempus.' Dorcas cast, her scowl deepening as 3:45 A.M. glowed in front of her in silvery tones.

'It's urgent.'

'It better be.'

Marlene pulled her hand and walked towards Lily's bed, where the redhead slept peacefully, slightly snoring. Lily clutched a black book to her chest, her diary. Dorcas rubbed her eyes lazily before turning to Marlene.

'Can we get this done and over with?' asked Dorcas as she waved her wand and cast silencing wards on the beds of their other roommates. 'We have a Charms presentation in the morning.'

Marlene bit her lip and motioned Dorcas to sit on her bed. 'We need to help Lily.'

Dorcas narrowed her eyes.

'In what? What could we possibly help her with?'

Marlene took a deep breath. 'I think she might be in love with Snape.'

And the following events were quite comical as Dorcas coughed and nearly choked on air. Marlene quickly slapped her back and summoned a glass of water for her friend.

'It's not April Fool's day yet,' Dorcas muttered.

'I wish I was kidding,' said Marlene.

'I mean, I can see it — but wasn't that the whole reasoning behind badmouthing Snape constantly to Lily? To separate them or whatever?'

Marlene flushed darkly. 'No! Had I known Lily was enamoured, I would've never done such a thing!'

'Hell, well, then just stop talking shit about him, it's that easy,' Dorcas rolled her eyes. 'Is that what you woke me up for?'

'We can't just leave it like that!'

'Why ever not? It's not like I was the one to tell Lily to fall for Snape or something.'

The blonde one motioned to Lily's sleeping form in many ways before she just stopped and brought her hands to her hair. 'I need to fix what I did! You can't possibly be fine with the prospect of her leaving Snape and going right straight into Potter's arms!'

The Gryffindor seeker raised her eyebrow. 'I agree Severus Snape is far a better option than Torturous Pothead, but how does that involve me? Besides, it's not as if there were only two men in Hogwarts for the straight girl.'

Marlene threw a pillow at her.

'I helped you with your transfiguration essay the other day, didn't I?'

'So now I'm Lily's wingwoman because you helped me with homework once?'

'Oh, darling, you know damn well it was more than once.'

Dorcas cracked her neck and sighed. 'Okay, okay. What do we do? I thought you were sure Snape was this evil villain trying to bring Lily to the dark with him. Truth is he's just a nerd and Lily's a nicer nerd, but one nonetheless.'

'Maybe I was wrong, maybe and just maybe,' Marlene said. 'We can make Snape look a tad nicer and force Lily to admit she's head over heels for him.'

'So, we befriend Snape?'

Marlene sighed.

'Yes, we befriend Snape.'

'What does Sev like?' Lily asked, almost dropping the jam on the table. 'Why on earth do you want to know that for?'

'Marlene's pants at potions, Lily, you know that,' Dorcas said as she pointed to Marlene, who gazed at her bowl like it was the most interesting item in Hogwarts.

'And I offered to help,' Lily narrowed her eyes at both girls. 'Why do you suddenly care about Severus' interests?'

'I tried to help her and you are doing that Ancient Runes extra credit assignment, that only leaves Snape to help her avoid her melting the cauldron during remedial Potions.'

'There are several other students that are perfectly capable to help Marlene!' Lily said, trying to eye her toast every two seconds, so she didn't drop the jam on someone else's plate.

'Slow down, dictionary, it's hardly eight in the morning,' called Julia Moore called from a few seats to the right.

'Yeah, but Snape's the only prodigy,' said Marlene, finally looking away from her soggy cereal.

'You're the one who's always badmouthing him.'

'I know.'

'If Sev accepts — which I don't think he will — I want you to apologise.' Lily said.

'If he helps me pass Potions, I might even kiss him.'

Dorcas snorted. 'No, you won't.'

'Whatever,' Lily said. 'But if he does accept, promise you'll behave.'

But Marlene couldn't answer because once the redhead glanced at her wristwatch, her eyes widened and drifted towards the toast. 'Shit.'

Dorcas tilted her head and looked at Marlene with an inquiring gaze. The blonde one shrugged and turned her neck to the door.

As four boys strutted inside the Great Hall, Dorcas and Marlene soon understood the reasoning besides Lily's swearing. James Potter's face glowed as he spotted Lily and the redhead's hold on her toast tightened, almost crumbling it.

'I'll cover you,' said Dorcas.

Lily narrowed her eyes again. 'I don't need you guys to cover me every time the wanker is annoying me again.'

Marlene sneered. 'You'll regret that.'

'Regret what?' said Potter as he glared at Michael Bennett, who sat on Lily's right to scoot over. The third-year obeyed.

'Nothing that could be of your business, Potter.'

'C'mon Evans, you don't have to be in such a grim mood in this beautiful morning.'

Lily scowled and nearly swallowed what was left of her toast. 'You just ruined it.'

The redhead nodded at both girls and moved towards the Slytherin table where Severus Snape sat on the end of the table, alone.

Both Dorcas and Marlene smiled as Lily's eyes lit up when Snape raised his gaze from whatever book he was intently studying. The boy looked to his right before he returned the warm smile when he was sure nobody was looking. Lily grabbed his bag and the shorter boy followed her out of the Great Hall.

'What's her problem?' muttered Potter as he took Lily's former seat so Sirius Black could seat beside him.

'To run off with Snivellus, I don't know what sort of girl's your type, Jamie.'

Black shook his head disapprovingly and Potter nodded to his friend's crude remarks about Snape. Dorcas felt her left hand tingle as a hex nearly rolled from her tongue. Marlene slammed her bowl down and pulled Dorcas out of the table.

'Evans' two other friends aren't any better either — even if they're Gryffindors,' Dorcas heard Black say.

'At least they don't mingle with Slytherins as Evans does.' Remus Lupin said.

Oh boy, thought Marlene. Didn't know you bunch cared so much about our social lives.

Pettigrew probably stuttered his agreement towards his friends, but thankfully neither Dorcas nor Marlene were going to stick around long enough to hear it.

'Wankers,' Dorcas muttered under her breath.

Marlene nodded, and both girls walked to the DADA classroom. Professor Graham absentmindedly looked down the windows where she could clearly see the Dark Lake. Lily and Snape sat in the front row as they fervently discussed something.

'Marlene!' Lily called as she motioned for the blonde to come. The redhead was smiling as if she had just won the fight, which knowing Lily, she probably had.

Dorcas patted her friend's shoulder and told her she'd save her a seat at their usual desk.

Marlene gulped as she approached Lily's desk.

Snape looked just as unkind as he always did whenever he was forced to acknowledge her existence. This time, however, a glint of curiosity was apparent in his eyes.

'Lily told me you wanted me to help you with Potions,' said the Slytherin.

'You're the best in our year.'

'That's exactly why I charge for my lessons,' Snape smirked. 'One galleon an hour, I offer assistance for both Potions and Defence Against the Dark Arts.' He whispered the latter as he eyed their professor who was still observing the lake from behind the glass.

'God knows kids at this school need it,' whispered Marlene, looking away from Professor Graham.

Snape nodded in agreement. Marlene's eyes followed the greasy strands of hair swaying.

'I don't normally take in Gryffindor students — well, I don't get Gryffindors asking for help at all, but even if I did, I would be wary.'

Marlene nodded. 'Understandable.'

Snape's lips quirked upwards. 'But since you're Lily's friend, I won't take your house in question.'

The blonde almost jumped in surprise. And like, literally almost jumped. She leaned on the wall for stability before she regained her breath and she grabbed Snape's hands.

'OH GOD SNAPE! I WON'T MAKE YOU REGRET IT!'

The raven-haired Slytherin grimaced at her loud tone and tried to pry his hands away. 'I still expect you to be punctual, McKinnon. Four o'clock sharp in the left corridor on the seventh floor, today. We'll discuss schedules after your first lesson.'

Marlene nodded with vigour and smiled at both Lily and Snape before she went back to the desk she shared with Dorcas in the second row.

'It went well!' she said in a hushed whisper.

Dorcas chuckled.

'I think the entire castle noticed.'

They chatted about the DADA essay that was due that day, and soon other students started entering the classroom.

Once everyone, even Potter and his lackeys, was seated, Lily bantered with Snape over who would be the one to tell Professor Graham that it was already nine o'clock.

Snape grimaced as he got up and walked towards the professor who was still somehow taller than him despite being the second most petite member of the Hogwarts Staff.

Marlene watched as Snape carefully touched the professor's shoulder, forcing her out of the trance she was in.

'Mr Snape!' Professor Graham said in a kind voice. 'I didn't even see you enter!'

Dorcas snickered and Marlene bit the inside of her cheek. Their DADA teacher not being aware of her surroundings for almost thirty minutes was not abnormal but still something a DADA professor should not do.

'Class should've already started, Professor.'

The woman airily laughed.

'Is that so?' the woman turned to face the rest of the class with a pleased look on her face. 'Thank you, Mr Snape.'

Professor Graham's white, long hair moved gracefully as she made her way back to her desk. She leaned on it and grabbed an old-looking notebook.

'Is it necessary to take attendance?' the professor asked. 'Everyone's here, right?'

Everyone nodded, rather dumbly, as they already knew Professor Graham wasn't really speaking to them. The woman pulled her wand from the holster on her thigh and tapped on the notebook.

'Everybody, put your essays on your desks.'

Everybody did. Or, well, at least that's what Marlene thought before the air in the classroom turned cold.

'Mr Black,' Professor Leticia Graham's voice lost the airy tone to it as she addressed the Gryffindor student that sat behind Marlene. 'Where's your essay?'

Marlene turned to look at the boy, just like everyone else did besides Lily and Snape.

'This class is useless,' was Black's response. 'You teach us nothing.'

Which, in Professor Graham's defence, was an utter lie.

'Maybe you'd learn something if you bothered to pay attention and –'

'Don't speak about paying attention when you need students to remind you to work!'

Professor Graham's hazel eyes turned pitch black as she raised her wand and pointed it at Black.

'Do not interrupt me, Mr Black.'

Potter shakily placed himself in front of Black.

'ARE YOU EVEN ALLOWED TO RAISE YOUR WAND AT A STUDENT!?'

The professor laughed, and her eyes returned to brown. 'This is Defence Against the Dark Arts, Mr Potter.'

'Professor,' Lily raised her hand calmly, as if the scene that was taking place wasn't. 'The other day you mentioned erklings can communicate with humans, however, none of the books I found in the library went into depth about how they were able to learn to do so. Could it be that their link to House-elves allows them to comprehend humankind? Even without regularly communicating with us?'

Professor Graham lowered her wand and smiled at Lily. 'Mr Snape, do you know the answer to Miss Evan's question?'

Snape flushed and stood up with a defensive stance.

'Erklings are believed to be the closest relatives to house-elves — I disagree. Erklings are probably more related to Dark Elves, who have more of a humanoid look to them, that's probably where the desire to eat human flesh comes from. Dark Elves are known to have the ability to pick languages up with ease, but in common all elves can speak Elvish — well, most of them, House-elves are forbidden from speaking it or learning it by magic as they chose to be loyal to humans, wizards instead of other elves.

Therefore, house-elves can only speak languages that are taught to them, most of the time by other house-elves or wizards. If Erklings and Dark Elves were related, it would explain their ability to communicate with humans fluently despite not being taught the languages. Listening to a few words will do for them.'

Dorcas' mouth hung open and Marlene was certain hers looked about the same. Professor Graham moved to her desk, and Black and Potter scrambled to sit down, hoping the teacher would not take points away for the scandal. Every student, be it Gryffindor or Slytherin, looked at Snape with wide eyes.

'Perfect explanation from Mr Snape, everyone should jot it down. Fifteen points to Slytherin and five points to Gryffindor for being able to communicate your doubts appropriately, Miss Evans.'

Most Gryffindor students stood between clapping politely for Lily and shooting Black and Potter dark glares. It was March, and Gryffindor was still losing regarding house points. Potter and his lackeys were constantly pulling those pranks of theirs and proudly dragging the house name to the ground.

'Five other points to Gryffindor for a nice attempt at distracting your professor,' the white-haired woman smiled. 'And twenty-five points from Gryffindor because of Mr Black and Mr Potter's poor attitudes.'

Dorcas rolled her eyes and gave both Black and Potter the middle finger. 'See if you keep your bitches on a leash next time, Lupin.'

Remus Lupin raised his eyebrow as he moved his chair towards Dorcas a bit.

'Believe me when I say that was embarrassing to witness even for me,' he whispered.

Dorcas shook her head and turned away from the boys. 'Wankers.'

'Right you are, love,' sighed Marlene.

Marlene wrote whatever she recalled from Snape's explanation down. But her mind was running with thoughts about Lily Evans and Severus Snape. Damn those two for distracting her so much.

Some people are gloomy and brilliant like he is, she mused. Others shine so brightly that they blind you with stupidity.

DADA was eventful that Tuesday morning. So was Marlene's study date with Snape that same day, for that matter.