:3. Cheers Darlin':
The next morning Lily and Emma got up early so there weren't many at the Gryffindor table when they sat down to eat breakfast. Lily was very excited about getting her schedule so they could start the day. She loved to read and to learn new things but Emma definitely didn't feel the same way. When it came to school the two girls were very different.
"What lessons are you taking this year, Emma?" Lily asked interested.
"Lily we've been over this. I refuse to talk about school in our last minutes of freedom."
But Lily didn't notice what she said.
"I'm taking transfiguration and…", she continued but was interrupted when someone tapped her on her shoulder.
She looked up and saw Henry smiling at her. Henry was in her year but in Ravenclaw and last year he had begun to show a lot of interest in her.
"Can I sit with you, Lily?"
"Yes of course you can", she said and smiled. Henry always made her feel comfortable and he liked to study too.
"What lessons are you taking?" he asked and Lily who was more than happy to talk about that, started to babble on.
Neither Lily nor Henry noticed that James had walked through the doors in that moment and now stood watching Henry (who smiled even more and listened very interested to what Lily had to say) with a gloomy expression.
Emma was the only one who saw James and she looked irritably at Henry, but he was too busy listening to notice.
Sirius appeared behind James.
"Hey you're blocking the way in, Prongs. Are you protesting against the school start?", Sirius asked cheerfully.
"No. It's that turd Henry Parker. Who does he think he is!"
Sirius looked over James' shoulder to see what he was talking about and sighed.
"You can't keep others from showing interest in Evans. She's pretty good looking, you know."
"Want to bet? I think I'll have a little chat with Parker."
James was almost steaming with anger so Sirius put a hand on his shoulder to calm him down.
"James, do you really think that Lily would be happy if she found out? I know a thing or two about women and it isn't a good idea to fight the girl's friends if you want her. You just have to make sure that she realizes that you're way better than that teacher's pet. Look at him. You're much better looking than him and Lily has always had a soft spot when it comes to you, if you ask me."
James had puffed himself up but now he lowered his shoulders and sighed.
"Why doesn't she ever want to talk to me?"
"Don't worry. Now that you are Head Boy and Head Girl you'll have plenty of time together. She'll soon realize that Parker isn't worth anything. I mean…. He has no humour!"
James knew it wasn't completely true but he now felt a lot better.
"Hey, you're blocking the way in!", someone yelled behind them and they both laughed.
-------
Still laughing James and Sirius sat down opposite Henry and Lily.
"Who said you could sit here, Potter?"
Lily looked reproachfully at him.
"It's a free country, my dear Evans," James said in his most innocent voice.
"I'm absolutely not your 'dear Evans', Potter! And you can do whatever you want. I couldn't care less."
"That's funny because it actually sounds like you do care," Sirius said while he filled his plate with food.
"Stay out of it Sirius!" Lily looked down and ate her breakfast without speaking to any of them.
Henry looked confused but he followed Lily's example after he received a threatening look from James. Sirius, on the other hand, was very cheerful and he flirted obviously with Emma.
They all continued like this until McGonagall came with their schedules. James and Sirius had the exact same lessons but in transfiguration andpotions they had been divided so Sirius' first lesson was transfiguration while James' was potions. Lily thought that the teachers might have done this on purpose to get a break from their never-ending pranks.
"What's your first lesson, Evans?" Sirius asked.
Lily had cooled of while she ate, so now she looked up.
"The same as you. Transfiguration."
"Thank God. Then you can help me with my homework."
Sirius gave her one of his most charming smiles and Lily couldn't help smiling back. None of them noticed how annoyed Henry, James and Emma looked at them.
"And by 'help' I guess you mean that I'll do the homework and you'll copy? Sorry, but I won't let you do that."
She tried to say it convincingly but Sirius just kept smiling at her like he knew better.
James cleared his throat.
"Better get going before the lesson starts."
"Since when do you care if you're late for class?" Lily asked surprised but James was already on his way out.
"Do you want to meet later and do homework, Lily?" Henry asked. He felt a lot more comfortable now James had left.
"Of course. We can meet after dinner. I'm sure we'll have plenty to do."
Henry smiled, said goodbye and left too.
"I have to go to the greenhouses. Are you two coming?"
Lily and Sirius got up and followed Emma.
"I can't believe you actually chose Herbology, Emma," Sirius said.
"Well, my grades are good and I kind of like it."
"I didn't mind the lessons either." Sirius looked like he remembered something funny and Lily knew that he was thinking about all the trouble he and James had made during their Herbology lessons.
"I'm off for the greenhouses now. I'll see you two later. And Lily, don't forget what I asked you on the train."
Lily nodded as Emma waved goodbye. She was right. This was the perfect opportunity to talk to Sirius without the others interrupting. But how was she going to ask him?