On Monday, Thomas Reilly walked the halls of Hogwarts like he was king of the world. People treated him that way too. Girls were absolutely crazy over him, he was gorgeous, strong, brilliant, and courteous. Of course, he was never really any of these things before, but that is what comes with every passing fad. Poor Thomas didn't realize that sooner or later his popularity would end, but he still milked it for all it was worth. He had girls asking him out, many of them. But through the crowd of overambitious Hufflepuffs Thomas cut through to one girl walking solitarily down the hall.

"Lily, I've wanted to talk to you." Caught off guard she turned to see Thomas' bright smile, and the other girls' jealous looks.

"Hello, Thomas, haven't seen you since last week in Herbology." They had been partners the week before, he had been a nervous wreck; he hadn't even mentioned the game.

"Is that where you are headed now?" He was cautious, and Lily saw straightaway right where this conversation was headed. There was no avoiding it now, she supposed.

She answered yes, suppressing a sigh. Some boys… I guess I  can't blame him. He is just so terribly shy and nervous.

"Can I walk you there?" Something about the way he said it was so comical, she just had to laugh.

"I assure, I can walk for myself"—he frowned—"you are, however, welcome to walk with me down to Herbology." He looked so utterly relieved, Lily laughed again. And on the long walk down to Herbology she ended up laughing quite a bit more. Thomas wasn't really such a bad fellow, once you get to know him.

* * *

"Thank goodness!" Lily fell flat onto her bed as her roommates laughed. Thomas had finally stopped pursuing Lily, and she was never more content to not have a boyfriend. It had seemed like he lost interest just like that, but she could really care less. And to venture to actually understand him would only cause confusion. She repeated, as she had numerous other times since Monday, "Some boys…" She really felt no need to continue, everyone knew what she was talking about, it was just one of those universally understood things.

"Tell me about it!" Cecil said in agreement from over on her bed. Lily thought she could see a bit of an envious look on Evelyn's face in her reflection in the mirror. Of course, to Lily, Evelyn and Sirius were still meant for each other.

Laura giggled from her resting-place on the floor against her bed. "Yes, but only some boys. Others are just…" again, silence. Everyone knew who she was thinking about.

"Laura, it isn't healthy to be picturing James Potter in his underwear." Laura's eyes that had been closed now opened at Lily's remark.

"As if you'd know!"

"Well, what's that supposed to mean!" She stared at Laura, temper uncharacteristically staying normal. It was too silly to get mad about the thought of James in underwear.

"That you wouldn't even know what a guy would look like in his underwear!" Laura was in quite good humor, Lily was wondering where the hell she came up with this stuff. It was kind of amusing, in its own, weird, way.

She started to laugh, "And I suppose you've been off snogging him in the broom closet!"

No reply. Cecil and Evelyn stared at Laura.

"Or only in your little dreams?" Lily added, smirking.

War was declared, Laura came at her with a pillow, and Lily retaliated. It was all in good fun, they actually had fun arguing sometimes. Just sometimes though. Cecil and Evelyn looked on while Laura got walloped by Lily's pillow, which was distributing feathers all over the room.

Soon they had collapsed on Lily's bed, the stitches in their sides to strong from laughing to move at all. It was silly really, getting worked up about underwear. They were sixteen after all. Maybe it was just the fact that it was James Potter, Lily had no clue. Once they had quite subsided Laura turned to Lily.

"You know," she giggled, "I still don't think you could picture him in his underwear." She grinned, and so did Lily, she was not going to be outdone by Laura!

"You wanna bet!" Lily eyes sparkled with mirth.

"Yeah, and don't cheat. I could tell."

"Yeah, I suppose that comes from experience." *POOF* went the pillow on Lily's head, just making her laugh harder. "Ok, here goes."

At first her thought were broken up by random fits of giggles. She sat there trying to imagine. It didn't exactly work.

More like not at all.

Damn Laura for being right.

Well, I'll just have to try harder.  She concentrated and about a minute later began to giggle madly. Laura shrieked and sat up as did Lily almost simultaneously. By now Cecil and Evelyn had gathered on Lily's bed too. I guess it took me longer than I thought. She was practically consumed with laughter yet again.

The other girls looked at her questioningly and Lily nodded, silently proving Laura wrong. Laura, however, didn't care, Lily's nod only provoking more laughter. Laura finally calmed herself long enough to ask,

"So, Lily. Boxers… or briefs?"

* * *

Lily couldn't look at James without withholding giggles, and Laura was always soon to follow in their laughing spree. Not only did the joke help them to become friends again, it helped lighten the depressed mood that had fallen over Gryffindor since the last Quidditch match. And since Lily and Laura did have almost all their classes together, and they usually all sat near each other the laughter was irrepressible.

Needless to say, James noticed.

"I'd really like to know what is getting the girls all jittery," he asked his roommates later that day in the dorm. Remus and Sirius grinned.

"Isn't it a bit obvious Prongs?" Remus asked teasingly.

"Prongs, my boy, you really are dense." Sirius added, sighing. He had his own girl troubles.

"Any clue what they are talking about, Wormtail?"

Peter shrugged, "Well, James, it is quite obvious."

James sighed exasperatedly. "Does the whole world know something I don't?"

Sirius laughed, "Pretty much."

James groaned, "Well, enlighten me," he said sarcastically.

"My dear boy," Remus said, doing a very good impression of a professor, "I'd say that a certain fellow Gryffindor sixth-year has a crush." Remus then added, just to make it clear, "On you."

James said nothing. He just sat there, gaping like a goldfish. As he sat there he considered something. He went to bed soon after, smiling.

* * *

"Moony," Sirius whispered. "Would you just take a look at James."

Remus shook his head, "Everything just seems to go to his head."

"No you idiot, I think he really likes her!"

Indeed, James was staring intently at the girls across the table from him. Remus, Peter, and James sat in a row on one side of the table.  Sirius sat across from Remus, whispering conspiratorially across the table, and next to him sat Cecil, Evelyn, Lily, and Laura.  James looked as though he was staring blindly into space; but, if you looked closely, as Sirius and Remus were, you could see he was directing his gaze to the girls across the table on his left.  Lily and Laura were whispering and giggling like crazy, so it might have made sense to look at them once in awhile, but Remus and Sirius knew what was going on.

He stared rather intently as he munched on his toast, spilling crumbs all over himself. He was snapped out of his reverie, and Lily and Laura out of their conversation as they heard calls from the Head Table.

"Attention! Attention, everyone." Professor Dumbledore could quiet the Great Hall quicker than a teacher could their classroom. "I have an announcement that will no doubt make you all very happy. I'm sure 7th years remember the dance that took place in your first year. It was mayhem, and the Spring Party and dance was discontinued. I know you will be happy to hear that you will be receiving a dance again this year."

Cheers echoed through the great hall for a moment, but everyone soon quieted, Dumbledore obviously had more that he wanted to say. "I cannot stress enough that this is on a trial basis. Also, only fourth years and above will be allowed to attend, in order to cut down on any problems we might be facing. You control whether or not you get to have a dance or not. Remember, three weeks, April 23rd! Dates are optional!"

That last sentence didn't sit too well with the rest of the staff as all over the Great Hall girls were primping themselves and self-consciously smoothing their hair.

Laura turned to Lily, "As if suddenly changing your appearance would make any difference now. Anybody who gets who they want will probably be taken by the end of the day." Lily nodded in silent agreement, not that she particularly cared. Laura might have been boy-crazy, but Lily had learned recently that her shameless flirting was mostly unintentional. Dates would come to her, Laura thought, she had no need to go seeking them out.

Lily, Laura, Evelyn, and Cecil picked up their stuff and headed towards Potions with Ravenclaw, their first class. Today was sure to be interesting.

John was her partner in Potions, she had asked to be with him once they had started the really difficult things. Her grades had really improved since she started being his partner. They had just started concocting the potion and Lily was measuring out bubotuber pus.

That was when he sprung the question. She was so startled that she spilled about four times the extra pus into the cauldron. It was about to bubble over and explode when John threw something in it that settled it down to normal.

Lily was settling back down when John looked back at her hopefully. "Well?" He prompted.

"I'll have to think about it," she managed to stutter out. Not even 15 minutes into the day and she already had an invite. Sirius and James had watched the entire thing from two tables over. Sirius snickered and James looked at Lily thoughtfully, then returned to his potion.

The day continued like this for Lily, invitations popping up all over. She didn't get particularly many, they just came at awkward times. She was glad to see that at least Thomas had found someone and wouldn't be hounding her, he was walking down the hall with his arm around the Ravenclaw prefect, Sofia.

She didn't know why exactly she had been turning down people, but she didn't want to lead them on. And she certainly wasn't going to say yes just because they asked. But as she rested in front of the common room fire that night she heard Laura's words.  Anybody who gets who they want will probably be taken by the end of the day.

Ugh…How inspiring…

Sirius and Cecil were going together, they had entered the common room awhile ago along with Remus, who had found a Hufflepuff to go with. She was a prefect, so she had to have at least some sense. Peter had asked a fifth-year and Evelyn was going with John, Lily was surprised to note. He must have been a little impatient, too impatient to wait for her answer. And she had actually considered going with him.

She was interested to see who Laura was going with, and started to space out when someone plopped down next to her, bouncing her up slightly on the springy couch.

"James, don't you know how to be polite?"

"Nope," he grinned, "never learned." Lily just smiled and went back to reading. "So," James continued talking. "Got a date for the dance yet?" He looked a little anxious, she noted.

"No, lots of invites, but no date." She sighed, it was just a little depressing.

"Waiting for the right person, I suppose, eh?"

"Not really, I guess. I'm not sure if there is a 'right person.'" There was silence for about a minute until Lily's curiosity got the better of her. "So, James. Who are you going with?"

"Well," he began loftily, "I had ever so many choices."

"Yeah right, bet you don't have a date yet James."

"You insult me."

"Sadly, the truth about you is an insult in itself." Lily opened her book back up and commented lazily. "But don't give up hope yet, people can change."

They just sat there for awhile until James spoke up. "You know, I wasn't lying."

"Get out. You have a date? Who?" James looked a bit sheepish, and in a soft voice he answered, "Laura."