"Do you still like Alex?" Remus asked suddenly that weekend. He, Sirius and Peter where sat in the Gryffindor common room.

Sirius looked surprised at the randomness of this question. "I guess. I don't hate her anyway. Why?" he asked suspiciously.

"Oh, nothing. It was just something she was saying the other day," Remus said cryptically. On seeing Sirius' look he clarified. "I was talking to her and Lily when she said she was going to dump Andrews because he was too boring for her."

Sirius looked at him. "So, she likes exciting guys, big deal. There are lots of them here. Me, you, James…I can't think of anyone else off the top of my head."

"Hey!" Peter cried offended.

"Sorry mate," Sirius said. "But you're just not as interesting as the rest of us."

Peter glared at him, deciding against saying anything he muttered "Whatever." Following it up with "And anyway, James has already got a girlfriend."

"What?" Sirius and Remus asked simultaneously.

"Yeah," Peter said as though it were common knowledge. "He's going out with your cousin."

"Since when?" Asked a stunned Sirius.

"November."

"Bloody hell."

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Lily and Alex were up their dormitory discussing Alex's sudden change of heart (Lily trying, and failing, to persuade Alex to stay with Jacob) when Marie rushed in.

"Oh, guess what?" she interrupted coolly

Both girls looked at her expectantly.

"Narcissa wasn't lying."

"About what?" Lily asked irritably.

"When she said she was going out with James."

"And why would that bother us?" Alex asked, genuinely wondering.

Marie paused before speaking. "Well I thought – Never mind, obviously I was wrong."

"Yes, but about what?" Alex asked exasperatedly.

"Oh, nothing," she answered in her annoying 'I know something' tone. Then she gave up seeing Alex and Lily's faces. "I just thought you'd be a bit more interested that the guy you like is seeing someone you hate." She was looking directly at Lily who began laughing.

"Don't be dense. I don't like James, at all, let alone like that. And as for Narcissa; I hardly know her. I couldn't possibly hate someone I don't know.

"That's not what I heard."

Lily raised an eyebrow but said nothing, she didn't have a chance; Alex cut in.

"Well you've heard wrong. She likes someone, but not James."

Marie's interest was peaked. "Oh, who?" She asked as Narcissa entered the room.

"Remus," Alex answered with a smile.

"I do not!" Lily cried defensively, though she was blushing.

Marie simply asked "Really?" in a surprised tone, to which Alex nodded.

Narcissa, who had been listening from before she even entered the room, spun from her wardrobe. "You like Remus?" she gushed. "Well that's great. How about I ask Jamesy-kins to talk to him for you?" She smiled at the thought, already heading for the door.

"No!" But Lily's protests fell on deaf ears. She turned to Alex. "I'm going to kill you," she threatened venomously. Here she got ignored, too.

Alex was fighting back laughter. "Jamesy-kins," she muttered before releasing it, causing the other two to laugh too.

--------

The next couple of weeks passed fairly easy for our group of first-years. Alex was trying to summon, quite literally, the courage to break it off with Jacob. James and Narcissa's relationship had become public knowledge, despite James' protests. Remus was recovering well. His bruises were fading fast and there were no traces of cuts on him. Sirius had managed to break yet another heart. He seemed to be going for a record of at least one girlfriend per month. Something he was managing to do pretty well so far. Narcissa, apparently, wasn't going through with her "oh-so pleasant" volunteering to help Lily get noticed by Remus. A fact which Lily was quite happy with, given that she was happy in a relationship with John Burton, a first-year Ravenclaw. Before they knew it January was drawing to a close and the time came for the first Quidditch game of the season. Knowing nothing of the game, and it not being a Gryffindor match (so feeling no compulsion to be there), Lily sat in the library doing homework. It was empty aside from her, so naturally the noises she heard from the Restricted Section made her investigate.

"Remus? What are you doing here?"

Remus jumped. "Merlin, Lily. I thought everyone was at Quidditch."

She giggled. "Sorry. I just heard noises and…What are you doing here?" she asked again.

Remus was doing some quick thinking, she could tell. "It's hard to do reading with the guys around, you know? And besides, I'm not that big a fan of Quidditch. It seemed like the perfect opportunity."

"Oh," Lily said looking at him for a moment too long. Recovering herself she said, "Well I'll be over there if you want me."

Remus said nothing; he just nodded, so Lily went back to her work. An hour later she was in desperate need of a break and was surprised to find Remus still there.

"You know," she said, making him jump again. "As fun as books can be, it's not good to spend your whole day with them. What's so fascinating anyway?"

"The same could be said for you," Remus remarked at her tired-looking expression.

She smiled. "Yes, but I'm taking a break. You want to come with?"

He smiled back. "Sure." He put the book back on the shelf. Lily couldn't help but read the words 'Determining Danger' but she made no comment about them.

The two walked in silence, with no particular destination. It was only when they were both sat in the Gryffindor Common Room that they began talking.

"So," Remus started nervously. "I think I should tell you something."

Lily looked at him with interest. "Yes?"

"Well, uh, Narcissa spoke to me the other day."

Lily's interest vanished to be replaced by a mix of embarrassment and annoyance.

"And she was saying…" he continued.

Lily looked down at the floor, 'Oh here we go,' she thought miserably. "Just forget what she said, alright? She was just trying to wind me up, and I have a boyfriend anyway."

Remus nodded. "Well that's good because there's too much going on with me right now for me to want a girlfriend." He looked at her; her eyes were still cast downwards. "But if I did, you'd definitely be in the list," he continued, taking her hand.

She looked at him now, laughing, her eyes, she hoped, were unreadable. "Thanks, 'in the list', makes me feel special." She remarked sarcastically. Cheers sounded through the open window making her look at the time. "Oh," she said standing up but forgetting to release his hand. "I need to get back to the library."

She went to move but got pulled back. She giggled nervously as she realised. Letting go she walked away, unsure whether she heard or imagined the words "You should." Either way they kept her in a daze as she made her way towards the library, fighting with the currents of people. She barely remembered John hugging her celebratory and claiming "We won, Lils. Ravenclaw won 250 to 120." Or her kissing him and passing on her congratulations.

--------

As the week went by the homework piled up once again. Lily would have given up on it completely if she hadn't seen that James was struggling to keep on top of it more than she was. This gleeful thought made her continue to struggle on, just so she could beat him in this imaginary competition he knew nothing about. Not only was she winning, but she was getting top marks too. Well, nearly. She was failing miserably in Herbology and all though she didn't mind much, "It's such a boring subject. Why would anyone want to know all about plants?" Her professor did.

"Miss Evans, could you stay behind please?" Professor Lepton asked after the last Herbology lesson of the month.

Ignoring the raised eyebrows of her friends, the questioning look from Alex and glaring at the "Ooh, someone's in trouble," form the Marauders, Lily did as was asked.

"Yes, professor?" she asked sweetly.

He frowned at her. "Miss Evans, you appear to be failing in this lesson. With a 92% average in your first month, slipping to a 34% average after five just isn't acceptable. Especially when this is compared with the 90 plus in your other lessons." He paused for breath so Lily took her chance.

"I know I'm doing badly, professor. But I really think that –"

"Quiet," Lepton ordered. "I will not tolerate such low results from such an able student. Now, whether your bad grades are due to a lack of interest in the subject, an inability to focus on Herbologys true meaning or just sheer laziness I do not know. But I do know a way to solve the problem. As of next month you will spend Tuesdays and Thursdays being tutored by Mr Lupin."

Lily was stunned. "You mean I'm getting mentored? By Remus?" Her heart very nearly stopped. "But Professor –"

"No buts, Miss Evans. My decision is final. Good day to you," he said by way of showing the conversation had ended.

She left with a short but curt "'Bye". As she walked to Transfiguration she was muttering curses under her breath, hoping to find one she could use on Lepton that she would get away with. Her thoughts were interrupted only by her near-collision with Remus.

"Talking to yourself is a sign of madness you know." He said grinning at her.

She ignored him and continued walking.

"Hey" Lily wait," he called chasing after her. She didn't stop but she did slow down. Walking next to her he said, "So I guess Lepton told you then?" She grumbled something he took to be a "yes". He sighed. "Well, I have to say, I'm looking at the plus side of it." She grumbled something again but gave him a questioning look. He nudged her slightly. "I get to spend more time with you."

She looked at him properly for the first time, smiling but hiding her shock at his rough sickly appearance. "Cute," she commented. Then continuing in a less-than interested voice she asked when they started.

His eyes darkened. "Well I have to go home for a few days. My dad had an accident and I need to help my mum look after him. We can start when I get back though, okay?"

She nodded as they entered Transfiguration.

"Ah, Mr Lupin, you found her, good. Now will you both take your seats so I can begin my lesson?" Gemias commanded as soon as they stepped through the door.