Professor Flitwick spun around as he heard the screams. Seeing Snape holding his head and screaming blue murder, and Sirius trying to hide his face under his hand, the Professor immediately jumped to a conclusion. It was amazingly correct, "Mr. Black, Mr. Potter, you two please stay in after class. Mr Snape, I suggest you go to the Hospital Wing if you are in so much pain; the class is nearly finished. The rest of the class is dismissed."

Sirius stood up and tried to tiptoe away.

"Mr Black!"

He froze.

"What did I say before?" Flitwick's voice was slightly amused, but in no mood to be humoured.

Sirius turned around, walked back to his seat and sat down, trying to look like he hadn't moved.

"I thought so." The Professor walked around to stand in front of Sirius and James, his hands behind his back. After looking up at the desk they were both now sitting at, he Summoned some books to stand on so he could look them in the eye.

"Professor," came a voice from the front of the classroom, "My ink is everywhere."

"Miss Evans," Professor Flitwick said without turning around, "you go to Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. What does this mean?"

Lily's face brightened up, "Oh yeah!" she waved her wand and the ink vanished, she tapped a shard of her inkbottle, muttering, "Reparo." And it reassembled itself again, "Next time," she said determinedly, "I'm putting an Unbreakable Charm on the glass."

James grinned at her, then wiped the smile off of his mouth as the Professor turned back to him, "Which one of you threw the dart?" he asked.

As one, both pointed at the other.

Then they looked where they pointed.

"Me?" James asked, outraged.

Sirius shrugged, "Better you than me." He grinned. James laughed for a moment, "You just dobbed yourself in, Padfoot."

Sirius thought for a second, then slapped himself on the forehead, "Bollocks!"

Professor Flitwick, however, was oblivious, "Which one of you threw the dart, then, boys?"

"I couldn't of, Professor; I was sitting over there next to Evans." James piped up. He pointed to his crotch, "See, the ink on my pants!"

The Professor raised his eyebrows, "Well, if the Head Girl can vouch for you, you are free to go." He turned to Lily.

She smirked at James and he gulped, Oh sodding hell, he thought, Of anyone to get me out of trouble, Lily is the least likely… well… maybe if I smile at her? He tried it… it didn't seem to work. James could feel the grin slipping from his face and his eyes turning pleading.

Lily rolled her own eyes and turned to the Charms Professor, "Yes, Professor, I will vouch for him. He even told Sirius to stop."

"Great, Evans," Sirius said, "Just great."

James jumped up and punched the air, "Woopah!" he yelled. He turned to Flitwick, "I'm off?"

"That's what I said, Mr Potter. You are free to go."

James bounced out of the room after Lily, waving a happy good-bye to Sirius, who was looking back to Professor Flitwick with an expression of cautious anxiety.

"No! You can't leave me here!" Sirius wailed, then another thought frisked across his mind, "Hold up!" he yelped, "What if the Head Girl was lying?"

Professor Flitwick looked at him sceptically, "Why would Miss Evans lie, Mr Black?"

Sirius twisted uncomfortably on his seat.

"Especially in Mr Potter's favour." Flitwick continued.

Sirius opened his mouth, thought for a moments, and closed it again, "You have a point." He winced, "What do I have to do?"

James slowed to get his pace to match Lily's. he was feeling amazingly nervous, "Umm… Lily?"

She turned, still walking, "What is it, Potter." It was barely a question.

"Thanks for that."

She shrugged, "It was the truth."

"I didn't think that you'd let me get out of it for a second there."

She rolled her eyes and continued, "Neither did I."

James hurried after her, "Look, Evans, umm…" He looked like he was about to say something else, then changed his mind.

Lily stopped, looking at him intently, "What is it, Potter?"

She watched with slight amusement as he gulped. The sun shined from a window across his face and illuminated his eyes and she looked away for a moment, continuing on her march to Lunch.

After a few seconds, she heard the thump of James's feet as he caught up to her, "Lily."

She turned her head to face him again, wondering slightly why she was according him so much courtesy. Then she shrugged mentally and looked around, "Potter, if you don't start saying what you wanted to, I'm going to walk away."

"Will you go out with me?"

She started to walk away. "Oh God, come on Lily, I was joking. This is like that song, where this guy likes this girl and…"

But Lily had tuned out, instead sometimes glancing at James's face - as if she was actually listening. He looked quite animated. Quite cute really. She stomped on that thought, squashing it – or trying to. It was like a cockroach!

"Don't you agree?"

"Yes, yes." Lily said, mind still on cockroaches, "They're a major pest."

James looked at her blankly, "Oh… yes. Especially in London. You mightn't think so, with all that weather. But they are…"

Lily nodded and tuned out again. James watched, greatly amused, as Lily's eyes glazed over slightly. He went back to his story, "So anyway, this guy keeps asking her…"

The two turned around the corner before the Hall. Lily came back to herself, "Um… thanks." She said, "that was really interesting. I totally agree with it. Umm… it was nice listening to you." She turned and walked away to her seat.

James stared after her for a few moments. Remus popped his head around the corner, "What was that about?" he asked.

James smiled slightly, "She wasn't listening."