Disclaimer: I own nothing, except for Phoebe, Sabina and plot. Anything you recognise is from the mind of JK.

"Five more minutes!" Professor Filtwick announced to the whole hall as he moved between the desks. Lily Evans looked up; she had already finished her paper and was going through it checking that everything was right. Defence Against the Dark Arts was one of Lily's favourite subjects and she always achieved high marks, but not as good marks as she received in Charms; that was the subject she excelled in. Lily looked to her left as Filtwick passed her desk and saw James Potter, the most arrogant boy in the entire school, yawn and rumple up his hair to make it look untidy. God, did he annoy her, he thought he was it!! Ok, she thought to herself, so he was a good quidditch player, he was very clever and quite good-looking, Lily remarked to herself even though she wasn't in to boys, but he was always in trouble and walked around like he owned the place. Lily then turned to her right and tried to catch the eyes of her friends, Sabina and Phoebe, but they were still scribbling hard. Sabina and Phoebe had been her friends since they had met on the Hogwarts Express more than five years ago. Lily smiled remembering the occasion. Lily was a muggle- born witch and had been very nervous about going to Hogwarts but on the train she met Sabina who had come from a very large wizard family and Phoebe who was muggle-born like her; she was never lonely again. Lily thoughts were broken by Professor Filtwick squeaking "Quills down please, that means you too Stebbins! Please remain seated while I collect your parchment! Accio!" Lily and her friends walked out of the hall and down to the lake muttering and giggling about Severus Snape who was all the three friends' worst nightmare of a boyfriend. They then took of their shoes and socks and started to paddle in the lake. Lily glanced over at the old oak tree where James Potter who was now with his friends, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew; James was showing off with the Golden Snitch, which he had undoubtedly stolen, Lily sighed. "Lily.... Lily... are you listening to me," Phoebe shouted. "Sorry I was just........." "We know what you were doing Lily," Sabina replied, giving her a wink. "What? You think.... Potter and me, no way" Lily said flabbergasted. Sabina and Phoebe just smiled. Phoebe was very popular; she had dark brown hair, that she often dyed blonde, and eyes and tanned skin. Sabina was an English rose, pale skin, blonde hair, red lips and blue eyes. Lily herself was the most startling, fiery red hair and startling green eyes that transfixed most people when she first met them. "James Potter and his little 'cronies' are the most arrogant and obnoxious people I have ever met, well, maybe except for Remus," Lily said, smiling to herself. Remus was very kind to her, he always seemed to be very quite and always seemed to be ill and often would often disappear for a few days and then come back looking even worse, if that was possible. Well most people wouldn't really care, but Lily wasn't most people, she cared a lot about the people she knew. She had found out along time ago about Remus' secret, some people would have never of spoken to him again but Lily didn't care if Remus Lupin was a werewolf or not. Lily was brought back to reality by a commotion from the old oak tree on the lawns. Lily turned to look and noticed that James and Sirius, who were both taunting Severus Snape, were causing the noise. "Honestly, those two!" Lily muttered. She really didn't care what they were actually doing but Lily knew it wasn't nice to be humiliated in front of a large crowd, also she happened to be a prefect and she didn't want to take any points from her own house. Lily strode over towards the duel, closely followed by Sabina and Phoebe. "LEAVE HIM ALONE!" she shouted. James and Sirius looked around at Lily. James' free hand immediately jumped to his hand, the arrogant idiot, Lily thought. "All right, Evans?" said James in his deeper voice. "Leave him alone," Lily repeated. She looked at James with deep dislike. "What's he done to you?" "Well," said James, "it's more the fact he exists if you know what I mean..."

Many people in the crowd laughed, Lily noted that Remus did not laugh, as she did not. "You think you're so funny," Lily said coldly, "But you're just an arrogant, bullying toerag, Potter. Leave him alone." "I will if you go out with me, Evans," said James quickly, "Go on ... go out with me and I'll never lay a wand on old Snivelly again." "I wouldn't go out with you if it was a choice between you and the giant squid," Lily retorted. "Bad luck, Prongs," said Sirius briskly, and turned back to Snape, "OI!" It all happened so fast, Snape had directed his wand at James and a gash appeared on the side of his face, spattering blond on James' robes. James immediately had Snape upside down revealing a pair of greying underpants. People in the crowd were laughing but not as much as Peter, Sirius and James. Lily was furious, even though she was temped to smile, said, "Let him down!" "Certainly," said James. Snape fell to the floor, tried to disentangle himself, but Sirius shouted, "Petrificus Totalus!" and Snape was a rigid as a board. "LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Lily shouted, pulling out her own wand, James and Sirius eyed it warily. "Ah, Evans, don't make me hex you." "Take the curse off then." James sighed deeply and muttered the counter-curse. "There you go," he said, "You're lucky Evans was here, Snivellus-" "I don't need help from filthy little Mudbloods like her!" Snape said brushing himself off. Lily blinked. "Fine," she said coolly, "I won't bother in future. And I'd wash your pants if I were you, Snivellus." "Apologise to Evans!" James roared at Snape. "I don't want you to make him apologise," Lily shouted, rounding on James, "You're as bad as him." "What?" James yelped. "I'd NEVER call you a – you-know-what!" "Messing up your hair because you think it looks cool to look like you've just got off your broomstick, showing off with that stupid snitch, walking down corridors and hexing anyone who annoys you just because you can – I'm surprised your broomstick can get off the ground with that fat head on it. You make me SICK!" Lily shouted, turning on her heel. "Evans! Hey Evans." James called after her, but Lily kept on walking with Sabina and Phoebe following behind her.