Looking at Merlyn Broderick, some would think she was an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl, though she was nothing of the sort. Merlyn was proud to say she was a witch, thank you very much, and a very good one at that. She was preparing to start her sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She was also from Aberdeen, Scotland, but was spending the summer holidays with her best friend Lily Evans in Surry.
Lily and Merlyn were as different in looks, as they were similar in personalities. Lily had dark red hair that fell to her shoulders and almond shaped green eyes, while Merlyn's black curls only came to her chin and her sapphire eyes were round. Lily was slim and Merlyn had the perfect hourglass figure. Both enjoyed school and had serious crushes on the two biggest mischief-makers in the whole school.
Merlyn and Lily were both sitting on Lily's bed and discussing Merlyn's other best friend (unbeknownst to Lily) James Potter.
"He's a big-head, over inflated, jerk-face, snake in the grass." She sputtered leaning back against the headboard. Merlyn tried not to smile. James was not a snake in grass. If that term described anyone, it was Severus Snape, he was after all slimy enough to be a snake.
"Potter isn't a snake," Merlyn said, running a hand through her curls, rumpling them. Lily made a sound deep in her throat and Merlyn continued. "and calling him one isn't going to make him like you any less. Nor you him." She added as an after thought. Merlyn stood up, stretched and went to stand at the window. It was twilight and the sky never looked prettier. Dark pink clouds drifted across the pinkish/orange sky and the blazing orange sun shone in the distance. Merlyn sighed, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Lyn? What're you thinking about?" Lily asked, coming to stand behind Merlyn. Merlyn turned from the window, searching her friend's eyes.
"Why don't you ever take James up on his offer to go to Hogsmeade with him?" She asked. Lily averted her eyes. Merlyn had a habit of making people nervous when she stared at them with those intense blue eyes of hers. Lily shook her head.
"I honestly don't know. There are times when I find him the funniest person in the world. Then there are others when he's hurt someone's feelings and I just want to take that broom of his and beat him with it." She said, her hair falling in her eyes. She came to stand next to Merlyn and stared out at the sinking sun.
Merlyn felt the same about Sirius Black, James's best friend. The only person who knew about her feelings was James. Merlyn sighed and walked away from the window. Lily needed to accept that James would probably never change, he loved pulling pranks and causing mischief too much. The only person who might be able to stop James and Sirius's reign of trouble making didn't.