Author's Note: Thank you for the kind words! Because you were so nice, here's some more.

Well, the weather is better today. Which I'm torn up about actually, because I can't decide if it's a good thing or not. On the one hand, the nice weather means it's wonderfully quiet in the Common Room and so I don't have to go all the way to the library to get some work done. On the other hand, I'm jealous that I can't be outside in the sunshine, because I have to work. And no, I can't go outside and do it, because firstly everyone else is out there being loud and noisy and distracting, and secondly the light relfects too much off the pages in my book and gives me a headache.

And then there's the third hand, which says that actually I wish it were raining again so that I could go back outside like yesterday, and be alone and quiet where I could relax and study a little. And possibly even have some more chance encounters with... certain people.

OK, I'm not going there. That's just not right. I'm not even going to think about it.

I am actually quite stressed about my exams. There seems so much to do and so very little time to do it in. Obviously, I want to be working but... I don't know. Something is making me very distracted. I'm willing to do anything not to be studying. Like this, for example. Instead of doing practice arithmancy questions, I'm writing in here. And I really need the practice for arithmancy. I desperately, desperately want Os in my NEWTs, but I can't seem to get up the motivation for studying for them.

This is no good. I'm going for a walk or something.

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I tried down by the lake, but there were too many people there. Too many even for me, in this 'not-work' mood I'm in.

In the end, I ended up back inside Hogwarts, in the courtyard down by the transfiguration classrooms. Mostly seventh years here, all seeming to be as stressed about their NEWTs as me, which is nice to see. Maybe I'll get some work done now.

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This is never a good sign. When Severus Snape turns up, you know that trouble is probably going to follow. Oh good grief, he's coming to talk to me. Time to stick the quill on 'record' and put the book in my bag I think...

I hope it's working. Reading back my thoughts from my encounter yesterday was highly amusing and I'd hate to have to pass up the opportunity to do it again.

Grief, it's taking Severus ages to get over here today. What's he been doing, practicing walking slowly?

"Lily." All that effort, and all he can think up is 'Lily'? "Hello, Severus." Now he's sitting down. What is it with me and the awkward silences? "You revising, Severus?"

Why is he looking at me like that, all 'put-out' and everything? He spoke to me first, heck, he even came all the way across the quad, in that slow and tortured fashion may I add, to sit here! Some people, really.

"Yes, I am. Unlike certain people, I consider the need for good marks to be high. Although, I suppose that need is proportional to what you actually want to do with them when you're finished."

My word, that was practically a speech from Severus. Usually he's so... monosyllabic.

"Mmm." Well, what can you say to that, really?

"I didn't mean-" Yes? You didn't mean what? No, it's not looking like he's going to finish that sentance. I'll just be content with him sitting and looking awkwardly at me I guess. And I can smile. That usually does the trick of diffusing awkward situations. Unless they're with James, of course, but that's another matter.

Hmm, he seems to be revising Potions. Lord knows why. Whatever you say about Severus, you definitely cannot fault his ability at Potions. It's a wonder he doesn't get more attention from Slughorn in class; he's more than proved himself, ability-wise. Maybe it's his slightly deficient personality that lets him down.

"Potions?" Well, at least I got his attention, and stopped the awkward silence-type thing. I'm growing to hate them.

"Yes." And a curt nod. Lovely.

Oh... seems like I was right about trouble. It's not Severus' fault, well, ok, maybe it is a bit, because he does provoke them but really, they shouldn't retaliate. And yes, Severus has noticed them too; I can tell because he's just dropped all his notes on the floor. I daren't help him pick them up, he'd probably just be insulted.

"Snivellus!" Whichever of those immature idiots came up with that deserves a wand shoved somewhere... unpleasant. Today, the pleasure of shouting it has gone to Peter. Which I must admit, is surprising, because usually he takes a bit of a back seat when it comes to these things. Ah, he is closely followed by Sirius, who I suspect put him up to it.

"Lily! Is something distracting you from your work?" Sirus' unmistakeable dulcet tones. Joy, joy, how to make a woman's day.

"No, thank you Sirius. Though something appears to be distracting you from yours." Hmm, and all I get for that is a smirk.

"Ah, Lily, so little you understand about the life of a happy-go-lucky man"
"It's more the life of the unemployed, resitting-his-NEWTs, happy-go-lucky man I was thinking of actually, Sirius." Now that grin... that grin is the Sirius equivilent of the Remus 'look' that I mentioned a couple of entries ago. Seriously sexy, if I'm being honest. Lord only knows why this man does not have a girlfriend. Mind you, she'd have to have the patience of a saint to put up with him.

"So little faith! And I thought you liked me, Lily!" Hmm. Let's be neutrally diplomatic. There's no need to bring his grin into this conversation.
"Sirius, sirius. My opinion of you personality has no bearing on my opinion of your ability to pass your exams"
"Very smooth. Now Snivellus, on the other hand-" And he has stopped taunting why? "Where's he gone?"

Oh, very clever, Severus. I'm impressed. Sneak away, under the cover of... well, I don't quite know what this thing is that Sirius and I do. Flirting? Kind of, but not quite, it's not quite serious enough. Banter, that's probably a better word.

"Never mind, Sirius. Better luck next time." Aw, now he's looking all put out.
"Yeah, I bet you wish me good luck... good luck for him to be somewhere I'm not. Why do you protect him, Lily? He wouldn't do the same for you."

For some reason, that thought makes me a little sad. Probably because I fear that it's true. I wish that the whole world tried to be nice to one another, but they're not. Still, doesn't stop me from trying to improve my own little corner of it.

But of course, I can't say all that to Sirius.

"Guess I'm just a nice person."

At least I'm back to comfortable silences again. They're better than the awkward ones.

"I'll leave you to revise then, oh book-queen of Hogwarts." Well, it's a better nickname than Snivellus.

And he leaves, Peter in tow. I guess, in retrospect, that it was a little strange not to see James and Remus with them. I'd expect Remus to be revising in the library; is it too much to hope that James is following his lead?

Probably.