AN: Resubmitting because most of my edits didn't make it in. Sorry about that!

AN: Hi guys! Sorry, I was hoping to get this chapter up yesterday, and then this morning, and then this afternoon . . . You get the idea. What can I say, I'm a new mom and things are busy with relatives at the Holidays. I literally had to finish typing this chapter in the bathroom to get it done. TMI? Probably so, but feel loved 'cause I wanted to upload that badly. Enjoy and review por favor!

And if you're from the US, then Happy Thanksgiving!

Chapter 4: Year Three

Lily's POV

"He's such a fox."

"Agreed," Alice nodded solemnly. "Marco de Amore is unattainable."

"I'd like to get him upstairs, if you know what I mean."

"Mare!"

"Well it's true . . ." Mary said. "Honestly, most of those Ravenclaw boys are just delish. Antoine Cantu, Rhys Abermann, Julius Sehs?" Mary ticked off her fingers. "They're all so noble looking and handsome to the max. Rhys is okay, but the other three are so yummy. The only one that's not is Hank, and he's annoying in both looks and personality."

Lily covered her giggle and threw a pillow at Mary. "Hey! That's not very nice."

"It's true."

"I never said it wasn't true." Lily said, giggling again. She settled into her pillow at the foot of her bed, staring at the other two. The soft moonlight caressed the setting. The only one missing was Juliet, who, as per usual, spent as little time with the other girls as possible to hang out with her other friends.

"I'd say Jay Baltazar is in the same category," Lily said. "but he's too standoffish."

"That's 'cause he's actually noble. Didn't you know?" said Mary. Lily shook her head. "His father is a nobleman. They have like, a mini castle in Germany or something."

Lily scoffed. "Well he sure acts like he has a castle. Way too stuck up for my taste."

"Alright, Alice," Mary said, popping a candy into her mouth. "Who would you want to ask you to Hogsmeade?"

Alice thought for a minute. "Well if you've taken all the Ravenclaws . . ."

Mary threw a pillow at her and laughed.

"Mmm, probably Kevin Rhinehart or Christian Abbott."

"A Hufflepuff girl, are you?"

Lily wiggled her eyebrows. "And an older man. Christian is a fourth year. "

"He's a chaser for the team, isn't he?" Mary asked.

"Yup," Lily said. "And very agile, I hear." The girls giggled again.

"What about you, Lily? Unless you're already going with greasy head."

"Hey! Sev is nice."

Mary rolled her eyes. "Sure. Maybe if he took a shower every once in a while . . ."

"Mary!"

"I'm just saying!"

Lily pursed her lips.

"C'mon, Lily, spill," Mary ordered. "It's been years of the two of you as 'best friends.'"

"Do you really not like him?" Alice inquired.

Lily shifted uncomfortably. "No."

"What about James?" Mary asked mischievously.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Gee, haven't been asked that one before. No, okay? Potter is just so . . . pig-headed. He's arrogant and taunts me for fun. I don't even think he really likes me," she said. "I think he does it 'cause he knows it riles me up and makes Sev angry."

Especially the last one, Lily thought. Though she was certain of her feelings toward Sev, she was starting to think . . . Well . . . Maybe they weren't so mutual.

"Mm, but that Sirius Black though," Mary said with a devious smile.

Alice grinned and nodded.

Juliet entered then, with her usual chin held proudly and her long hair cascading down her shoulders.

"Hey Juliet," Lily greeted. Juliet returned the hello.

"Hey Jules," Mary said, sitting up. "Who would you want to take you to Hogsmeade?"

Juliet hesitated and a soft blush appeared on her cheeks. "Julius Sehs," she said, smiling. Her cheeks burned brighter.

"Juliet and Julius?" Alice giggled.

"I know," Juliet heaved a sigh and rolled her eyes. She sat on her bed. "I don't know if I love it or hate it."

"I like it," Lily said decidedly. "I think it sounds cute."

"Marco de Amore is also pretty fit," Juliet said thoughtfully.

The three girls groaned. "Ugh! We know."

Lily's quill hopped out of her grip for the umpteenth time. "Will you stop it?" She swiped again for the quill and it danced just out of reach.

"Gee, Lilyflower, I thought you liked annoying things. Isn't that why you hang out with old Snevelley?"

"It's Evans, to you," she retorted, narrowing her green eyes. "And Sev isn't the annoying one! The pea-brained twit who pesters me is!"

James gave her a toothy grin. "I know you don't really mean that."

"Oh I do," she said wholeheartedly.

"We could take this outside, Red. I know you want to get me under the mistletoe." It was December, and part of the Christmas magic was mistletoe appearing above any couple when one of them thought of kissing the other.

"In your dreams, Potter."

"Oh, you know they are."

She pulled at her red flaming hair in frustration after the quill jumped away again. "UGH! Just put it back!"

"As you wish," said James. He flicked his wand with a bit of a flare and it stood stock still over her paper.

Lily swiped at it. It was stuck to the parchment. No matter how much she pulled it stayed cemented to the parchment and the parchment to the desk.

"UGH!"

"Is there a problem, you two?" Professor Flitwick looked over his spectacles at them.

"No, Professor -"

"Yes, Professor -" they said simultaneously.

"Well sort it out." Flitwick gave an airy wave of his wand. "Otherwise I'll reassign you."

"I wish he would reassign me," Lily grumbled just loud enough for James to hear. She pulled at her quill harder this time and subtlety James whispered the incantation. Because of her force, the quill flew across the room. Lily glared at James, cheeks flushing.

"Go get it." She ordered, pointing.

"Don't fancy it."

"Potter!"

James shook his head and leaned back casually in his hair to study his nails.

"Professor," Lily raised her hand. "Can I please be reassigned?"

Professor Flitwick looked at James and sighed. "Yes, Miss Evans. Switch with Mister Crawford."

"What?" Hank whined. Sirius, who was his partner, was positively elated.

James looked sour.

After she gathered her things, Lily pointed her wand at James' quill and whispered something. It pointed at him and blasted him with magical ink, spraying over his face and clothes.

Lily smirked. "That was for messing with my quill." She smiled sweetly and left.

Huffing, she sat next to Black and turned to him. "Jinx my things, and you die."

Sirius smirked. "I don't need to jinx you to get your attention." He winked saucily. Lily rolled her eyes but smiled all the same. Black wasn't so bad. Sometimes he was just as annoying (or more) when he was with Potter, but usually when she was paired with him one on one he toned down his obnoxious level. Unlike the said miscreant she just left - James Potter toned down his obnoxious level for no one, least of all Lily.

"Okay everyone, that's enough review," Professor Flitwick squeaked. "Let's get to practising. I want to see what you've accomplished over the weekend." He lined up everyone up in the middle of the room and moved the desks by magic. With another flick of his wand, the candles went out and shades drew over the window. There was only minimal light in the room. "Now, Miss Beaumont, Mister Pettigrew, let's see what you've got."

Feet shuffled and the two moved to the center.

"Lumos duo!" A light shone on Peter who froze like a deer in headlights. He moved around and the light followed. The spell connected the light from a wand to the target.

"Very good Miss Beaumont!" Maura beamed.

"Now you Mister Pettigrew." Maura's wandlight went out, and Peter stumbled over the words of the incantation, making dancing lights appear on the ceiling.

"Groovy," someone whispered in Lily's ear, making her jump. She turned expecting to see Potter, but it was Black over her shoulder.

"Care to dance, Evans?"

Lily gave him a curious look.

"Mister Black! Miss Evans! You next!" Lily shuffled forward and they both successfully performed the spell.

"Now," Flitwick pipped, "this time, I want you, Miss Evans, to hide. Somewhere in the room. Anywhere will do! And Mister Black will concentrate, imagining his target Miss Evans in his mind, and cast the charm once more. You will see, students, how the spell follows Miss Evans as she tries to evade the light. If Mister Black successfully casts the charm, she will not be able to. Her job will be to try to shake him once the spell is cast. It takes concentration during the spell to hold it, not just as you say the words.

"You have ten seconds, Miss Evans. Go!"

He cast a glowing countdown in the center of the room and Lily squealed, scurrying behind desks to find a good spot. Most students moved out of her way, but a few like Hank and Potter tried to block her. She tried to push past him and he moved in front again.

"Move Potter or I'll make you," she whispered fiercely.

"Promise?"

"I can hear you Evans!" Sirius called. Five seconds.

"Eep!" She pushed past James and ducked under some legs behind a desk in the corner where the room was darkest.

"THREE, TWO, ONE!" the class chanted.

"Lumos duo!" roared Sirius. A blinding spotlight landed on the desk Lily hid beneath. She was betrayed by her legs showing underneath. "Gotcha!"

She took off. Students moved aside as she darted past. Everywhere she ran, the light followed.

"You can't hide!" Sirius taunted playfully. She just couldn't shake him! In a desperate attempt, Lily twirled around and cast the lumos duo charm in return. The light blinded Sirius enough to distract him and the beam faltered. Lily got away.

Cheers erupted. "Well, done, Miss Evans! Well done!" Professor Flitwick said excitedly. The lights came back on. Lily grinned as several people thumped her back, still cheering. Sirius gave her a nod from across the room.

"Alright everyone!" the little professor pipped. "Let's line up and do it again! Ten points to you, Miss Evans for an inspired evasive tactic, and another five for Mister Black."

Everyone scurried to the center, eager to give it a go.

The rest of the class passed joivally as they ducked around one another casting spells and turning it into mini duel fights. There was lots of laughter and applause and it was clearly one of the best lessons they'd had all year.

Grinning, Lily exited when it was through and Sirius was close behind. They talked of their demonstration and strategy. "I have to admit, that was pretty great, Black," Lily said.

Sirius grinned and it was rather dashing. "Up until you blinded me it was pretty easy. All I had to do was think of you." He winked and sauntered off.

Lily furrowed her brows in confusion and noticed something shimmering above her that had not been there before.

It was mistletoe.