"Okay, so I was thinking we should tackle our Transfiguration essay first, does that sound good to you?" Lily asked Remus as the two walked towards the library, their bags slung over their shoulders. It was only the second day and they were already loaded down with homework. Lily and Remus, the studiers out of both groups, had decided to skip lunch and start on the mountain of essays they had been assigned.

"Yeah. Maybe we could then do Slughorn's assignment that he set us; I'm going to need some help," Remus replied.

"Sounds good. It's a pity I'm actually good at Potions. If I wasn't, I doubt Slughorn would include me in his stupid 'Slug Club' meetings. Gosh, I hate those things," Lily responded, wrinkling her nose in a disgusted way.

Remus laughed. "Honestly, couldn't he come up with a better name? The Slug Club? Sounds revolting."

A man turned a corner coming straight at them. Remus could just make out a large round belly, and the dimly lit lanterns on the walls seemed to reflect off the man's bald head. "Speaking of the devil," Remus muttered.

Lily looked questioningly at him for a second before she realized who was heading their way. "Oh crap. Remus, hide me!" Lily jumped behind Remus, trying to make herself as small as possibly.

Lily's attempts to not be seen didn't work as well as she had hoped. "Aw, Miss Evans! I haven't had the pleasure of seeing you yet this year!" Professor Slughorn, their potions teacher, exclaimed, smiling widely.

Remus snorted quietly. "It's only the second day."

As casually as she could, Lily came out from behind Remus with fake smile plastered onto her face. "Oh, hello, Professor," she said.

"Had a good summer? Excellent," he said, without waiting for a reply from Lily. He didn't even acknowledge Remus, who was standing right beside Lily clearly trying to hide his laughter.

"I hope you're ready for this year's Potions lessons. Oh wait, what am I talking about? You're my best student. Number one. Top of the class," he complimented, smiling widely at Lily who was trying to refrain herself from rolling her eyes.

"Thank you, Professor, but Remus and I—"

"Lily, Lily, Lily, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Horace?" Slughorn interrupted, his arms held out wide as though embracing Lily as she attempted to control her shudder.

Remus snorted slightly, which he hastily turned into a cough. Lily stepped on his toes. "Right. Well, Horace, Remus and I really need to get going to the library. You know, a lot of work to do," she said.

For the first time Slughorn looked over at Remus as if he was just realizing Lily was with someone. "Oh yes, sorry, Robert, didn't see you there. Well, I better let you two be going. I'll see you some time this week, Lily," he said jovially.

Slughorn began walking away and then quickly turned around. "Oh dear, I almost forgot. Lily, the Club is having a meeting tomorrow night. I would be delighted if you would join us."

Lily rolled her eyes. "Sorry, Professor. I won't be able to make it. Have a good afternoon." And with that, she grabbed Remus around the arm and quickly walked off.

Once they were out of earshot Remus began laughing. "Jeez, Lily. He adores you. I think James has some new competition."

Lily glared at him. "Shut up, Robert," she retorted, smirking slightly.

An hour later, the two were about to leave the library to head back up to the common room; they had a free period before their next class, Charms.

"Hold on a sec, Lily. Let me grab this book for James," Remus said, pulling a book off the shelf entitled 'Charming the Charmers'. "He needs some help in Charms…even thought he insists that if you've got 'the Potter charm', you don't need some stupid class," Remus laughed slightly.

Lily wrinkled her nose at the sound of James' name. "Why are you friends with him and Black?" she asked, after Remus checked out the book, and the two were heading out of the library.

"I know it may seem like we have nothing I common, but I dunno where I would be without them and Peter. They're my best mates and they've helped me out in…difficult times. They're like my brothers," he answered simply.

"How do you possibly put up with them?" she asked.

"Years and years of practice," Remus replied, smiling to himself.

"I can hardly stay in the same room with Potter for more than a second. Heck, I can hardly stand being in the same castle as him," she said. "I mean, I thought for sure you'd be made Head Boy. I dunno why you weren't. I mean, all Potter has done so far this year is hex the mess out of Slytherins and ask me out," Lily stated.

Remus sighed. "I guess Dumbledore sees something in James that you don't. For instance, he's extremely loyal and caring."

"Yeah, only to people he likes which would be a grand total of three people…You, Black, and Peter. Oh, and I guess, Emily and Becca."

"And you," said Remus quietly, looking at Lily.

She let out a laugh, as if finding Remus' words highly unlikely. "And me? Yeah right. Maybe if he was I wouldn't hate him so much," Lily explained. "Phoenix tears". The portrait hole swung open, revealing many sixth and seventh years that had a free period at that time as well.

"Look, I'm going to go up to my dorm and try to convince Emily and Becca to get some work done. Tell Potter to meet me outside the common room at 8:45 for our patrol tonight. Thanks, Remus," Lily said as she climbed the stairs to the girls' sleeping quarters, dragging her heavy school book behind her.

Eight forty-five came…and went. Lily, who was standing outside the common room, tapped her foot on the cold stone impatiently and checked her wristwatch. Younger students kept climbing through the portrait hole, giving her looks that clearly questioned her sanity. She realized how peculiar she looked, waiting for almost half an hour outside the Fat Lady, who was taking a nap.

At nine-ten, she was about to march up to the boys' dormitories and drag Potter out by his ears when he walked casually around the corner. He jumped a foot in the air when he noticed her standing there.

"Evans," he said coldly. He had obviously not forgotten being scolded like a child after the incident with the Slytherins.

"Potter," she hissed, deciding not to make another scene as four third years turned the corner after them and gave the two Heads amusing glances. "So you finally decided to show up? I thought I told Remus to tell you to be here…half an hour ago."

"Yeah, you might have told him, but I haven't seen him for hours. Besides, just because you asked doesn't mean he remembered to—not everyone is as responsible as Lily Evans," James said, walking off down the corridor.

Her mouth agape, she ran after him. "What's that supposed to mean? Remus is, too, responsible. Or more responsible than the rest of you Marauders, anyway. Where are you going, anyway?" she demanded.

He gave her a carefree shrug. "Patrolling. What, did you forget your Head duty already and forgot what we were supposed to do as responsible Heads?" he said sarcastically. It was a far cry from the Potter who'd always flirted with her. A far cry.

"Of course I didn't forget," she said irately. "I've been waiting for you for half an hour. And in the mean time, I came up with a route we should take—"

He stopped in his tracks, spinning around and looking at her scathingly. "You made a route? You don't think I know my way around the school? Well, I promise I won't get you lost, little girl. I know my way around this castle better than anyone else, with Dumbledore and maybe the other Marauders as an exception."

"Well at least you show some humility," she said just as icily, walking past him into the darkness lit only by her wand.