It was Tuesday, which meant no Charms class. Ancient Runes, Herbology and Transfiguration made up Lily's day. Hestia was Lily's friend of the day, with Marlene joining in Transfiguration. Together, Hestia and Lily went to Ancient Runes after a filling breakfast.
"I swear, it doesn't matter what you eat here," Hestia huffed as the two walked up the flights of stairs, "You'll work it off that day anyway!" Lily grinned, as Hestia was stick thin and never gained any weight. "How are you feeling?" Hestia asked Lily. She was watching Lily carefully from the corner of her eye, and noticed her sigh.
"I feel fine, honest. It's only the second day back, I'm not exactly stressed about homework yet," Lily teased. Hestia smiled but shook her head. "I was referring to the James situation. You haven't talked about it since Potions yesterday."
Lily shrugged. "There's nothing to talk about, really. I'm just waiting to see what he's up to…"
"You didn't let Snape get to you, did you?" Hestia guessed.
"No! Of course not. But even you have to admit that what James is doing is a first. To be honest Hest…" Lily paused on the stairs and looked at her shoes shyly. "I kind of like it. I know I shouldn't, but I do."
Hestia gave Lily a one-armed hug. "As you should. Friendship is nice, you know," she smiled. "Much better than fighting every minute!
Lily giggled. "Well, I am being patient this year. I have to concentrate on NEWTs, after all. I don't have enough time to be angry every day!"
Upon reaching the Ancient Runes classroom, Lily only momentarily wondered where James was now. She then shook her head, reminded herself that he didn't matter and there were more important things to think about.
Probably to Lily's displeasure, James had a free period with Sirius. They decided to go to the quidditch pitch for a fly, maybe even practice their skills. Sirius joined the Gryffindor team the year before as a beater, and James was thrilled to have his best mate on the team. He was so thrilled, he was even talking openly about Lily.
"You don't understand, mate," James said. They were floating above the scoring hoops, observing the school. "I think I love her. Honestly."
Sirius was quiet. "You've been saying that for a long time though," he said eventually. James waved his hand. "How do you know what love is, anyway?"
"I don't. But I feel… I can't explain it. It's good. She makes me feel good." James drifted off into his own little world, which Sirius knew consisted of Lily and Lily alone. "Surely asking her once won't ruin everything?" James wondered. Sirius grinned.
"Well if all goes to shit, I'll date you, mate."
James tried to push Sirius off his broom. "I'm serious!"
"No, I am!"
They laughed and began chasing each other around the pitch, James summoning a quaffle to throw at Sirius' head.
"You could call it the Charms Challenge," Peter said suddenly. James looked up from his homework (he did his homework, believe it or not, but only when they were in the Room of Requirement).
"That's got a nice ring to it," James murmured.
"The Challenge of Charms?" Sirius suggested, desperate to top Peter. James rolled his eyes.
"You idiot."
"It doesn't need a name," Remus said from behind a History of Magic textbook. "What you're doing isn't a game, Prongs. This is Lily, and how she feels, and her friendship. Not some trivia show about winning the grand prize."
James realised that Remus was right, but Sirius didn't understand. "But Lily is the grand prize! If Prongs wins her heart, he gets her, isn't that right Peter?"
Peter shook his head. "Remus is right," he said quickly, avoiding Sirius' glare. Sirius intimidated Peter.
"Anyway," Remus continued loudly. "Your challenges should not aim to win her heart. You're first one was out of friendly banter and it should stay that way. She can challenge you too, you know. Don't start a civil war between yourselves."
Remus was always full of good advice, James thought. But Sirius' ideas were equally tempting. "You could always challenge her into dating you for a day," he whispered so Remus couldn't hear.
"No he can't," Remus interrupted. Sirius' whispering skills were pitiful. "She can decline, you know."
"Well you're a jumble of sunshine, aren't you?" Sirius grumbled. "Right, we need a plan. Screw pranking this year."
The looks of shock on each Marauder's face, including Sirius' which clearly said did I just say that? would have been hilarious if Sirius wasn't so determined. He gathered his resolve.
"That's right. Pranking is not our priority. From now on, Prongs, my sole intent in life is to get you and Lily together."
"And if you don't succeed?" Peter sniggered.
Sirius drew himself up to full height, shook his hair out of his face, and puffed out his chest. "I'm a Black. I always get what I want, and I always succeed."