As soon as she had gone, Slughorn turned to the remaining class, face going red.

"Potter! Black! Detention for a week. And anyone else not working on their potion in one minute will join them!"
Feigning subdued expressions everyone went back to work, though they were all surprised at the anger in the usually genial face of "old Sluggy".
The rest of the class passed without incident, the students not wanting to get in more trouble. Though the incident in potions would certainly be the topic of conversation and laughter for a while at least.
"That was bloody Brilliant, Prongs!" Padfoot said, slapping James on the back as Peter snickered.

"Did you see the look on her face when she went flying?" Pettigrew asked gleefully.
"Course we did, mate. That's why we did it. Ah... it's worth the detention..." Sirius added wiping an invisible tear from his eye. James only laughed harder.
Lupin shook his head slightly.

"She could have been hurt realy bad." He said softly, glancing over his shoulder as if he expected her to pounce at him from the shadows of the dungeon.
"She's a Slytherin. I'm sure it didn't hurt anything more than her ego," James countered unconcernedly, though it didn't seem to comfort Lupin much.
Peter snickered again, delighting in the game.

"Besides." Sirius added. "She-"

Lupin cut him off.

"Had it coming? Please, Padfoot. you say that every time, but the most she did was get you back for cursing her and ruining her exam."
Sirius opened his mouth but said nothing and frowned, seeming for a moment to reconsider his actions... Finally,

"You need to lighten up, Moony, otherwise no one will like you..." he said with a chuckle.
Lupin fell silent and averted his gaze. That was exactly what he was afraid of...
James wrapped an arm around Remus' shoulder.

"Aw, c'mon Moony. It was all for fun. She wasn't seriously hurt or anything. It's all fine, right?"

He nodded, forcing a smile.

"You're going to have to watch your back now, though. She was pissed." He said.
"That's why I have mates like you! To help watch my back for me!" Sirius said gleefully. "And most of the other Gryffindors," he continued as several passed.
They all waved and grinned at the marauders, a few of the girls giggling, their cheeks flushing as Sirius winked at them.
"Terribly mature, boys. Did it take you all week to think that one up?" a voice asked from behind them.
They whirled to see the red head that James had been sweet on for years. She was tall and willowy with vividly green eyes. It was easy to see why James had been crushing on her, even when her full lips were drawn into a severe scowl.

"Alright there, Evans?" He asked, running his hand through his hair and moving towards her.
"All right enough, Potter. Is this a new record? One week into school and already you get detention?"
"I've been trying to break it for ages." he said with an unconcerned shrug.
"You're so dumb sometimes. And you three!" She muttered, pointing a finger at the other Marauders. "I just hope Professor Slughorn has something horrible planned for you two," she said, directing the last comment at James and Sirius.
Lupin bowed his head and Sirius barked out a laugh. "Can't be anything we've never done before, Evans." He said, eyes glinting as he watched a number of girls walk by. Lily rolled her eyes, moving to join the group.

"Just watch your backs."
"See ya later Evans." James said with a grin, running his hand through his hair again. It looked as though he had not taken in a word of her scolding, judging by the glazed look in his brown eyes.
She waved her hand though seemed to not notice him again after the girls started talking and giggling.
James watched her go a bit longer as they made their way to the grounds for lunch.

"Where do you suppose Lana is?" Lupin asked softly as they blinked in the sunlight.
"Why do you want to know?" Sirius asked with a snicker, elbowing James softly.
Lupin's cheeks colored slightly and he shrugged as they took their customary seats by the lake.
"She'll probably hunt Sirius down to chew him out. She seems to like ordering you around, Padfoot," Pettigrew stated, barely hiding the fact that he relished the thought of someone putting Sirius Black in his place.
He shrugged unconcernedly.

"She's had a crush on me for years." he said with a smirk.
Lupin rolled his eyes, sighing deeply. He said that about every girl ever mentioned in his presence…and most of the time it was true.

"What girl hasn't?" He asked sarcastically.
"That Halliwell." James promptly answered with loud laugh. Sirius barked a laugh again.

"Thankfully." Peter feigned a shudder.

"She reminds me of your cousin." He said. Sirius actually did shudder.

"Don't remind me."

James patted his shoulder consolingly, as Lupin pulled out a book, as he was wont to do when a conversation turned away from a topic he felt comfortable discussing.
The break period began passing slowly, James taking the Snitch he'd already nicked from the box and fiddled around, letting it go and catching it.

"So what are our plans for this te-?" Sirius began asking before he was interrupted by a loud,

"Sirius Black!"
They all turned guiltily to regard the figure stalking towards them, looking for all the world like a saber tooth tiger despite her pretty face and kind brown eyes.
"The bloody hell is wrong with you Black!" Lana shrieked, coming straight to him, her nose nearly pressed to his.
"It was only a bit of fun." he said, trying his best winning smile and taking a prudent step back.
"A bit of fun? Involving someone possibly getting seriously hurt! Oh that's bloody hilarious!" She fumed, fists clenched at her sides.
"she's a Slytherin, and she DID curse Sirius." Peter said offhandedly.
"After he attacked her!" Lana countered, turning on the smaller boy.
He winced and took a step back.

"He had his back turned." James pointed out.
"What had she done to you before that?" Lana asked calmly. Sirius cast his gaze downward.

"nothing.." he admitted grudgingly.
"Nothing. So the attack on the train was unprovoked. You bloody git! The only one who seems to have any brains in this group is Remus!" she spat.
Lupin seemed to be trying very hard to disappear behind his book as all this was going on, and what little that could be seen of his face had flushed scarlet.
"Except if he chose to use them he would be trying to convince you to stop!" She said, scowling.
He hunched his shoulders slightly and pulled the book up higher to hide his face completely as Sirius and James looked at each other sheepishly and Pettigrew made little circles in the ground with his shoe. It wasn't as though he hadn't tried to…but…what if he pushed to far and they decided he was no fun, decided they didn't want a friend like him…?
"Sometimes I really don't understand your motives, guys..." she said, taking a seat finally and shaking her head sadly.
Lupin glanced up from his book and offered her some lunch, expression apologetic. She sighed, offering him a smile.

"Thank you."
He smiled a bit in return and put his book away as James and Sirius continued their posturing as Evans and her friends strolled by. Lana snickered.

"Boys will be boys I guess," she muttered, shaking her head.
Lupin grinned as well, raising his glass of Pumpkin juice in silent accord.

"And yet, you don't do that..." she whispered to him, voice appreciative.
"I know I would get slapped." he said softly, chuckling.
"By who?" she asked, seeming slightly offended. He shrugged.

"Any girl I tried to flirt with. I'm hopeless."
"You just need confidence. Lots of girls are interested in you, I'm sure." He raised his eyebrows slightly.

"Really? Who?" he asked in bewilderment. With a sigh, she shrugged.

"Lots of girls talk..." she said, brow furrowed.
He nodded, taking a bite out of his sandwich and chewing, gaze wandering slightly across the grounds.

"I hope Halliwell's alright." He said, looking up at the castle.
Her brow furrowed more.

"Sirius can't've done that much harm, otherwise I'd never talk to him again..."
He grinned.

"After you were done shouting that is." He remarked playfully.
She offered a mischievous grin smile, looking back at Sirius.

"For some reason, shouting at him feels good..."
"He needs it, I'm sure." Lupin said softly. "Sometimes I wonder if he has a conscience."
She eyed him carefully, before nudging him in the shoulder gently.

"Everything's fine, so cheer up, Mr. Mopey Face." He chuckled and shoved her back lightly.

"If you say so."
"Good," she said with a wink, rising from the spot. He eyed her curiously.

''Where are you going?" he asked. She looked back at him with an equally curious look.

"Why are you so interested?" She asked, giving him a shrewd look. He shrugged. "Just…wondering. it seems awful soon to be leaving."
"Well, I wasn't leaving. I was just going to finish ranting at Black for your information, Remus Lupin."
He blushed slightly but waved at her imperiously. "Continue." He said, fighting back a laugh.
"You're cute when you blush like that," she said turning her attention to Padfoot and Prongs. He chuckled slightly but made no reply, instead busying himself with his lunch. She sighed again, shaking her head. Maybe he'd never get it. He chanced a look up at her. When would he work up the nerve to tell her...no...it was better if he didn't. when, no, if she found out he was a monster...
Lana sighed. At least if he wasn't interested, she could figure out some reason why from Sirius, whom she now stalked toward. Sirius flinched and took a step back upon her approach, his ears still ringing from her last tirade.
"I just want you to know, Black, that I find you annoying and swear to never speak to you again if you don't straighten up!" She said, arms crossed threateningly, eyes narrowed. He looked at her silently for a moment, seeming to consider her words.

"I'll never be matey with slytherins." he grumbled, defiant to the end. It was a brilliant joke. She just didn't get it.
"I don't expect that... but you don't have to bother them if they've never bothered you either!" She pressed, her face set and her eyes flashing dangerously.
He sighed and nodded, running his hand though his dark hair nervously. He hated it when she looked at him like that. It made him feel like agreeing to anything.

. "Alright. I'll leave Haliwell alone."
She moved toward him again and wrapped him in a hug.

"What a good boy you are!" she said with a chuckle.
He grinned and winked at her. He still had plenty of Slytherins to pick on yet...