Clarissa Donnelly stumbled down the hall to the girls' bathroom. Almost tripping over a battered Standard Book of Spells, Grade Three that was lying on the ground, she mentally thanked whoever was still studying in the Commons Room for the candlelight that streamed up the stairs and into the hall.

Oh no, Clarissa realized. It could only be Lily Evans, and it had to be at least 1:30 in the morning. Groaning, the sleepy blonde trudged down the stairs. Lily, as predicted, was bent earnestly over a pile of books, and didn't even notice Clarissa's entrance.

"Lily!" Her friend said loudly. Lily started, then relaxed when she recognized Clarissa. "Do you have any idea what time it is?"

Lily shrugged. "About two-ish, why?" Seeing that Clarissa was about to reproach her for her nocturnal habits, Lily added, "Don't worry, Clariss, I've got it all figured out. If I go to bed at 2:30, I can wake up at 7:15 for History of Magic at 7:30, and that's - let's see, an hour of History - a good six hours of sleep!"

Clarissa bit back a giggle at her friend's jab at the class more commonly known among students as Naptime, attempting to look stern. "You'll miss breakfast," she pointed out.

"Nope," Lily replied brightly. "I got a care package from home yesterday. I'll have a some toffee on the way to class."

Clarissa rolled her eyes. "That's nutricious."

Her health lecture, however, was cut short by a sudden commotion on the stairs. Clarissa was sure she heard footsteps, and then some muffled swearing, but when she looked towards the sound, no one was there. She shot a bewildered glance at Lily, but her friend just looked amused.

Glancing at her watch, Lily remarked, seemingly to the air in front of the boys' staircase, "You're a bit late tonight, boys."

Clarissa gasped loudly as the tousled heads of James Potter and Sirius Black appeared in the room, although Lily wasn't sure if her friend was more disconcerted by the disembodied heads or at being caught in her pajamas by the two best looking fourth - year boys. She wondered idly which of the pair Clarissa was obsessed with this week.

"Jesus, Lily," James told her, annoyed. "We were trying to avoid you." Then he groaned softly. How had that slipped out?

Grinning, Sirius removed a silvery cloak from his and his friend's shoulders, revealing the rest of them. "Hi, Clarissa," he said, sounding highly amused. "Heard about our late night parties, did you?"

Clarissa blushed, and Lily's skin had taken on a similar color, though for a completely different reason. "So sorry, Potter," she said icily. "How inconsiderate of me to let my studying hinder your immature rule - breaking."

James looked as if he would retort, but Sirius quickly interceded. "Ladies, my ill - tempered friend and I would love to stay and chat," he said gallantly. "but, unfortunately, the kitchens beckon." Clarissa grinned shyly at him, and Lily chuckled before returning to her book. Repositioning the cloak, the boys disappeared again as a portrait on the wall swung open to let them out.

"Was that an invisibility cloak?" Clarissa wondered aloud, staring after them as the portrait hole closed.

"Uh huh," Lily replied without looking up. "It's Potter's. Those two are always going off on midnight escapades."

Clarissa looked despairingly down at her attire; a pair of silk flowery pajama shorts and her brother's football shirt. "I cannot believe Sirius Black just saw me like this." She gave an exaggerated moan and flopped onto a nearby couch. "Why didn't I sleep in my makeup?"

Lily couldn't help laughing. "So it's Sirius Black now?"

Her friend nodded. "He's so handsome and charming. And besides, James was being kind of a jerk. I thought you guys were pretty friendly."

Lily rolled her eyes. "You're asking me about the inner workings of James Potter's mind? I'll never understand boys."

Clarissa yawned loudly. "Me neither. I'm going up to bed, and you'd better be there soon, too, Lily Evans!"

"Yes, mother," Lily replied absently. She was already immersed in her studies.


Disclaimer: Almost forgot about this baby. If it doesn't belong to me, it's J.K. Rowlings'. It's pretty easy to tell the two apart.