Professor McGonagall was circling the class again, dropping pieces of parchment on desks as she went. Lily Evans crossed her fingers under her desk. She was fairly sure that she'd merited full marks –

McGonagall dropped a piece of parchment on her desk unceremoniously and walked on. Lily turned the paper over. An O, as usual. She grinned happily and stuffed the paper into her book bag. Maybe she could squeeze in a quick snack before Charms –

Oh no, she thought as she looked over at the doorway. James Potter was standing there again, staring at her with that same self-important grin on his face. And Sirius Black, standing there behind him, seemed to be staring at someone else entirely. Lily followed his gaze until it landed on a skinny blonde girl in the first row, who looked completely and utterly miserable. It was that Slytherin girl, Narcissa Black. Wasn't she Sirius' cousin? Why did she look so miserable?

The bell rang. Lily reluctantly slid out of her seat. I would give anything – anything! – if I could get out of speaking to James Potter right now, she thought furiously.

"Lily Evans?"

She turned. McGonagall was looking right at her.

"Please come up to the front. You too, Narcissa. I'd like to have a word with you."

Lily shouldered her bag and walked right past James' and Sirius' surprised faces towards the front of the class. Narcissa was already standing there, looking red-faced and humiliated. Of course, Lily thought furiously. Those two were always giving Narcissa a hard time. Just like they did to everyone else.

"Mr. Black, Mr. Potter," McGonagall said dryly, "if you have nothing to say to me or these two young ladies, I suggest you give us a moment, and find something more constructive to do."

James and Sirius slouched out of the doorway, but not before James gave Lily a final meaningful look.

Gits, Lily thought dismissively.

McGonagall waved her wand, and the door shut firmly. She looked at Narcissa.

"Miss Black, I must inform you that your marks thus far this term are, at best, remedial."

Narcissa gave a quick jerk of her head in assent.

"I do not understand why you are having so much trouble in my class, but it is obvious that you are not going to clear this grade level unless you have some assistance."

She turned to Lily.

"Miss Evans, I would like you to tutor Miss Black in Transfiguration. For extra credit, of course."

"Ma'am?" Lily replied, surprised. She did not understand why McGonagall had picked her. There were plenty of students in the sixth year, and many in the seventh, who were better in Transfiguration than she was. If Narcissa had required a tutor for Potions, that would have been something much different –

"Until Miss Black raises her marks significantly, I would like you to tutor her, only two or three times a week as necessary. You are a capable student of Transfiguration; you two should work together nicely."

"Yes, ma'am." Lily did not know what else to say.

"Does that suit you, Miss Black?" McGonagall asked unnecessarily.

Narcissa nodded, eyes downcast.

"Very well," McGonagall replied, "You are dismissed."

Narcissa shouldered her book bag and waited for Lily to walk for the door. But she did not walk beside Lily – rather, she hung back, as if she wanted Lily to walk ahead of her. Lily could feel rather than see the blue eyes looking ahead at her back.

"Well," she said, turning, "What day would be a good day for –"

But Narcissa Black had vanished.

Lily stared at the empty corridor. How had the girl managed to slip away so quickly? And why?

"All right there, Evans?"

Lily groaned, "I should have known," she murmured.

James Potter and Sirius Black again.

"What do you two want?" she asked stiffly.

"Same old, same old," Sirius grinned.

"There's a Hogsmeade weekend coming up," James began hopefully.

"No," Lily said flatly.

James stared, "Why not?"

"Because I'm busy," she replied.

"You don't even know when it is yet," he retorted darkly.

"I'm going to be busy every weekend you ask me," Lily countered, with a twinge of wicked glee.

James looked furious. "Come on," he said to Sirius.

But Sirius was interested in something else, "Hey, Evans, why did McGonagall keep you late?"

"None of your business."

"Come on," he said, "I saw you in there with my cousin. What did she have to say? Is she flunking out?" he asked hopefully.

Lily dropped her book bag on the floor. Cursing, she shouldered it again, "McGonagall asked me to help Narcissa with her lessons, that's all."

"Figures," Sirius said gleefully, "She really is a hopeless case."

"Who cares," James was sullen. "Let's get out of here."

"Oy, Moony!" Sirius suddenly called, to the hallway behind Lily.

The only friend of James Potter that Lily Evans didn't mind being in the presence of was coming towards them, arms laden with books, looking tired and bedraggled. His sandy brown hair was falling in his eyes, and he pushed it back almost absent-mindedly. For what she felt was probably the millionth time, Lily reflected on the secret reason why Remus Lupin sometimes looked so handsome that girls just ate their hearts out over him – and other times looked like he was inches away from dropping dead. He wasn't as darkly good-looking as James, or as tall and handsome as Sirius, but there was certainly something about him that made girls sit up and take notice.

"Hi, guys. Lily," Remus greeted her warmly, "How have you been?"

"Pretty good," she said, smiling. Out of the corner of her eye she could see James turning red with anger, "Getting ready for NEWTS?"

"You have no idea," he replied emphatically, "All of this studying – going to drive me mad."

"You look a bit run-down," Lily said, "and your hair – "

She reached up and brushed the stray lock from Remus' face.

"Thanks," he said.

James' ears were practically pouring smoke.

"Well, then," Sirius said loudly, "love to stay and chat, Evans, but Lupin and Potter and I have – some stuff to do. So we'll see you around – or not."

"Bye, boys," Lily grinned.

James turned his back and stalked down the hall without another word. Sirius followed behind as closely as he could. Remus watched them, bemused, and shook his head. "See you later, Lily," he smiled.

"Do you have a second, Remus?" Lily asked.

"Sure. James didn't seem TOO mad just then."

"I didn't want to ask you until Sirius was gone."

"Funny; I'd always thought it was James you couldn't stand," Remus grinned tiredly.

"It's not that," Lily thought for a minute, "It's about Sirius' cousin. Narcissa Black, do you know her?"

"You mean that blonde girl in your year who is always sitting by herself at dinner?"

"Yeah, that's her."

Remus frowned. "I know of her. Never spoke to her, though. She seems nice enough – although you'd never know it from Sirius. He acts like he has a personal grudge against her. Don't know why; she seems nice enough, but hardly says a word to anybody. Why? Do you know her?"

"Not exactly. I've heard Sirius saying things about his family, and I know he couldn't stand his cousin Bellatrix – she graduated a few years ago."

"I remember her," Remus said slowly, "Tall with creepy eyes. But he always seemed to get along with her sister Andromeda. Do you remember her? The awkward looking one who was nice to everybody?"

"No, I don't," Lily replied absently. "But I'm not worried about what he thinks about Narcissa – it's more of what he does to her. I see her in class every day. She always looks so – so miserable. And it's gotten worse, lately. McGonagall seems to think that she's having trouble in class, and she's asked me to tutor her, but I think it's more along the lines of trouble at home."

"She doesn't live with her family," Remus pointed out, "She lives with the Malfoys. She's betrothed to Lucius Malfoy."

"That slimy kid who graduated a few years ago?" Lily was unimpressed, "What on earth for?"

"It's a pure-blood thing," Remus explained, "People like to keep the bloodlines pure. Well, you wouldn't know anything about it, you're Muggle-born. But that's the way things have been done for centuries."

"Sirius isn't engaged to anyone," Lily pointed out.

"Sirius' dad died when he was a little kid. I doubt that his mother had an easy time selling him or his brother to any pure-blood family." Remus looked preoccupied, as if he was trying to remember something, "The Black name is old, but the fortune is dwindling. It's easier to sell Black daughters; they're not going to inherit anything."

"And the Malfoys?"

Remus sighed, "I don't know much about Lucius Malfoy. But I know that he is the only son and heir, so he's going to inherit the lot. And the family is pretty vain. I imagine a girl who looked like Narcissa and had absolutely pure blood was quite a coup for them."

Who looked like Narcissa?

Lily grinned, "Gee, Remus, I guess you've noticed more than you let on."

Remus grinned self-consciously, "What can I say? I notice a pretty face." His grin faded slightly, "But you're right; they give her way too difficult a time. Tell you what; you help Narcissa with her homework, and I'll do my best to make sure the guys don't heckle her anymore. How's that?"

"It's a plan," Lily smiled. "You'd better run catch up to them, before James notices you're gone."

"Right," Remus said hastily. "I'll see you around. By the way, Lily?"

"Hmm?"

"Would it kill you to give him a chance?" Remus was grinning again.

Lily tossed her hair, "Not in this lifetime, Remus."

"Bye, Evans."

"Bye, smartass."