Chapter 9

Lily woke up to a throbbing headache three hours later. "Oh, my head," she moaned.

"Try having mine," groaned Nichloe. Her face was pale. She looked at Lily sitting up in her bed. "Don't ask what I did this morning."

Lily blinked. "I don't think I want to know." She rubbed her temples. "I don't want to do lessons today."

"Me neither. I wonder how the boys are feeling?" said Nichloe.

Up in the boys' dormitory…

"Maybe that game of Truth or Dare wasn't such a good idea," growled Sirius. His head pounded.

"No it was a good idea," countered James. "Just not on a school night." He put his head in his hands.

"Too much exposure to girls or was the drinks?" asked Remus who seemed perfectly fine.

"Did you drink anything last night, Moony?" Sirius asked him.

"I had one bottle and that was enough for me. I don't need to drown my sorrows."

"Neither do I," said Sirius.

"Of course not, Padfoot," said Remus calmly, and rolled his eyes at James behind Sirius' back.

"What sorrows do I need to drown?" Sirius asked defensively.

"Well, how about the ones that are you being scared that Nichloe doesn't like you?"

"I'm not scared Nichloe doesn't like me."

"Of course not. How about the ones where you think James is jealous of you going out with Nichloe?"

"I'm not going out with Nichloe! And James isn't jealous, are you Prongs?" he said, turning to James.

James didn't meet his gaze.

"Prongs!" Sirius cried then clutched his head. "Ow. I shouldn't yell. Prongs, you're not jealous, are you?"

"No, I guess not, Padfoot."

Sirius looked slightly unassured. "Look Moony," he said turning back to Remus. "I was not drowning my sorrows last night. And that's final." Sirius picked up his robes for the day. "Now, if you don't mind, I think I'll try and drown myself…I mean have a shower." Sirius shook his head then walked into the bathroom. He locked the door behind him.

"Do you actually think he's gonna drown himself?" Peter asked.

"I doubt it," replied Remus. "He hasn't got the mental capacity to manage it."

"I heard that!" yelled Sirius from the bathroom.

"I doubt that too."

After the four of them had had their showers, they walked down to the Great Hall for breakfast.

They met Lily and Nichloe at Gryffindor table.

Nichloe was pale and Lily's smile looked forced.

"How are you girls feeling today?" James asked them as they approached.

"Awful," replied Nichloe. "That is the last time I ever accept an offer to do anything with you lot on a school night."

"You've learnt your lesson well," said Sirius and he put his arm around Nichloe.

Nichloe smiled at him feebly.

Lily pulled out a small piece of parchment from her bag. She read it and her brows furrowed.

"Whatcha got there, Lily?" James asked, sitting down beside her.

Lily stuffed the piece of parchment back into her bag. "Nothing, Potter, nothing."

"Ok, if you're sure. But it looked like something to me." James reached out to the middle of the table for the scrambled eggs.

Lily let out a deep breath. What she had actually been looking at was a poem scrawled onto parchment.

"Lily Evans, hair like red gold,

My love for you will never grow old."

It was lame and corny, but Lily wondered who it was from. If she trusted her instincts, it was most likely James. But Lily wished it was someone else.

"Know who it is yet?" Nichloe asked her, bringing Lily out of her thoughts.

"Of course not, Nichloe. How am I supposed to work something out within a time limit of one hour?"

"I dunno, you're the brainiac."

Lily frowned and turned back to her breakfast. She wished she did know who it was.

The bell rang to signal the start of their first class for the day, which was Transfiguration.

Lily walked towards the classroom slowly, still unsteady on her feet.

But at least she still had her dignity.

Nichloe had fallen down, giggling, and was now leaning onto Sirius as a support beam. He was doing a good job, Lily thought.

But she would never sink that low.

Lily's thoughts wandered back to the poem in her bag. She still wished it was from someone else.

A fellow sixth year Ravenclaw walked past Lily and winked at her.

Lily was startled for a moment then smiled back at him. Whoever he was, he was cute, she thought.

When they reached Transfiguration, Professor McGonagall told them to come inside immediately. She had to leave the class for a few minutes, so they were all free to chat.

Nichloe, sitting next to Lily, asked her, "So who was that guy who winked at you, hmm?"

Lily shrugged. "I don't know, to tell you the truth. But maybe he sent this poem."

"Maybe."

The four Marauders, sitting behind the two girls, were listening to their conversation with interest.

"She got your poem then," said Sirius. "That third year is one to trust. You should use her again."

"Oh no," said James. "I'll use a different person each time. Harder to trace that way, Padfoot."

"Got any ideas for your next poem, Prongs?" Peter asked.

"I've got a few up my sleeve."

"Got any ideas for a prank on Snivellus?" Sirius asked; eager to trick the Slytherin they all hated.

"I've got a few up my sleeve for that one too."