Lily awoke with her stomach in knots. She was late for Care of Magical Creatures! The class took place way over by the edge of the forest, near the gamekeeper's hut. She flipped out of bed in her empty dormitory and swore under her breath. She didn't even know what time it was, but her friends were clearly gone already. She really needed a watch. She quickly threw on her clothes and ran a brush swiftly through her hair. One quick look over in her mirror and she dashed off down the ever-changing staircases, cursing them if they didn't work in her favor. She broke into a run at the bottom of the staircase, flying through the giant doors, over the lush autumn grass, to the edge of the class, where her professor was already talking to the class. She crept up slowly, the professor's back to her. Everyone was peering at something in the center of the gravel-covered area.

"And that, is what a Hinkypunk looks like. Notice the transparency and the ability to throw fireballs at you. Of course there's a protective shield in the area, but in a real encounter, the fireballs would indeed harm you," the professor said. Lily gathered she must be no more than five minutes late. She thanked heavens. She worked through the class, recording the distinctive features of the Hinkypunks, as well as practicing a curse to use on them. She finished up her work and closed her books. She walked over the Hogwarts grounds, getting fresh air. Her potions class wasn't until just before lunch. She would have some time to study, she thought. Just as she was walking to her favourite tree, she remembered that she had James' robe. She summoned it from her common room and it came flying out the castle, right into her hands. She noticed James and his friends earlier, so she headed to where they were sitting. She heard a commotion as she approached the area by the duck pond. She stopped and looked at something that caught her attention. It was Snape. He was backed up against a particularly large Oak tree and looked fixed to the spot. Almost magically, Lily thought. Sure enough, her suspicions were true. Sirius Black guffawed with his wand in the air. Snape's mouth looked glued shut, as he tried to speak. Sirius muttered something and Snape's nose grew large and expanded to double its size. The crowd watching around him laughed hysterically. His eyebrow hair grew as well and then shrank back. His face seemed to contort and stretch, while the madness in his eyes grew stronger. Lily's blood boiled. She could feel her blood pressure rising, and her eyes narrowed. She defintely had enough of James Potter and pitiless friends. She rolled up her sleeves and marched up to James, who was on the other side of Sirius. He smiled when he saw Lily, as she did the opposite.

"You think you can just pick on people any bloody time you want? And you," she turned to Sirius, "Let him go!" She shouted, almost spitting in their faces.

"But, he called you a—" James started, clearly shocked.

"I KNOW WHAT HE CALLED ME, I WAS THERE!" she yelled, then lowering her voice slightly, "I also cannot just stand by while you torture someone, foul or not!" she cried, her nostrils flaring wildly.

James looked at her in awe, "But—"

"Do it," Lily whispered, in a tone that was hushed, yet murderous. She gritted her teeth and waited for his response. He gulped and nudged Sirius. Sirius returned Snape to normality as Snape gathered himself at the base of the tree.

He malevolently looked up and a flash of malice was seen in his shadowed eyes, "This isn't the end of things…" he hissed and walked off. Lily sighed slightly and turned to James.

"Here's your robe," she viciously said, throwing James' robe at him. He caught it and swallowed hard, his hazel eyes staring at Lily's green ones.

She was about to turn away from them when her expression relaxed; she spoke softly.

"You know Potter, ever since I can remember I thought you were a prat. Then the other day, I thought maybe, just maybe, you had a heart…but I can see that my intuition was right the first time," she said, her voice breaking at points in the sentence. She looked hurt and her eyes welled up as she strode away.

"Wow…that was a bit of a shocker ,wasn't it mate?" Sirius asked, trying to decipher James' expression. James mouth was slightly open. He felt horrible. Like someone had reached inside his stomach and churned the contents. Lily had actually noticed him and he blew it. He held his robe, which still smelled of her perfume. He stared at her figure, which was slowly disappearing towards the castle. He vowed to himself that he wouldn't let Lily disappear from his life.