The next morning, Dumbledore announced that the Quidditch team tryouts would be held within the next two weeks so captains should speak to their Head of House and put up flyers in their common rooms for people to sign up. James' face visibly paled. Suddenly he bolted up to the Heads table and started eagerly debating with McGonagall with lots of wide hand and arm gestures.

A few minutes later, James came back down to the table looking smug and whispered to his friends, "Our tryouts are going to be Saturday morning. So we need to find one Chaser, and a Keeper, don't we?"

Sirius frowned thoughtfully and replied whilst ticking off his fingers, "Dorcas and you are the Chasers are already, Mary and I are the Beaters and Will down in Fourth year is our seeker so yeah we just need one more Chaser to make three and a Keeper and then we have our seven players"

Obviously, this caused the boys to lean in eagerly and start discussing Quidditch tactics they could use that year and how much training they would have to do to get their team to work properly.

Retreating into her head yet again, Lily thought about how they had won five out of six Quidditch cups since she had started Hogwarts.

So if they lost two players that means it was two Seventh Years right? Merlin, I can't believe I didn't go to most of the matches last year. This is so annoying, I can't remember for the life of me. OK so the Seventh Years last year... Well I remember there was a guy for the Chaser and a girl for the Seeker? Umm I think Michael Dilluan was the Chaser, yeah, yeah thats right! And then wasn't it... it was ummm Emily? Eva? Evangeline? E- something! Emmeline! Thats it, it was Emmeline Vance! SO they lost those two. They were good, James will do good to get someone of the same talent.

Soon her musings were interrupted by Marlene nudging her side, and looking slyly to the Ravenclaw approaching the table looking directly at the back of Mary's head. Whispering in Alice's ear, Lily looked encouragingly at the tall blond and smiled smugly at Mary along with the two girls either side of her.

"Hi Mary"

Mary turned suddenly and cricked her neck painfully. Rubbing it gently, she replied with a smile,

"Hi...?"

"Rob Tyler, sorry I should have said" he said blushing lightly.

Mary joined the other four girls, Dorcas had turned in her seat to look at the newcomer, in mentally appraising the boy. He was handsome, that was for sure, just not in a Marauder fashion. He had light blond hair with blue- grey eyes that seemed to be constantly twinkling. His smile was loud and vibrant without being a smirk and obnoxious like someone who knew they were attractive. He was good looking and quietly beautiful; like Mary.

"Hi Rob, so can I help you somehow?" the brunette inquired quietly.

The boy started stuttering nervously before blurting out loud enough for the boys to be distracted from their Quidditch talk, "I was wondering if you would like to go to Hogsmeade with me please?" causing a stunned silence.

Everyone was hanging onto Mary's shy glance downwards and pale blush spreading down her neck quickly. After what seemed like at least a minute for their audience but was actually on a few seconds, Mary nodded and said yes proudly. The boy smiled and then arranged to meet her later in the library to have a chat whilst doing the Charms homework. Turning back to the table, Mary gave the girls a happy look and returned to the conversation she was having before.

o.o.o.O.o.o.o

Before Mary left that night, Lily blocked the door amused.

"Lily! I need to go I don't want to be late!"

"I know Mar, just don't go into any broom closets or anything, not tonight, I have patrol and I don't want to be the one to break you up, ok?"

Mary stared Lily in the eye and though she was clearly amused, the brunette could tell she was serious. She didn't want to see her friend sucking face with someone that would be around for two weeks until the Hogsmeade visit at least. Smirking slyly and winking, Mary slipped past Lily and muttered,

"I can't guarantee anything, Lils, but I'll try"

Lily settled back on to her bed, carrying on with the 2 and a half foot essay on the effects and process of brewing a strong Sleeping Draught for Potions which was due in two days time. The remaining four girls lapsed into a comfortable silence; Dorcas reading a Quidditch magazine, Alice writing a letter to her parents, Marlene painting her nails and reading Witch Weekly and Lily doing her homework.

ooo.

An hour later both Alice and Lily were free from their activities and were chatting about what they were going to do on the Hogsmeade visit.

"I don't know if I'm going with Frank or not, I mean we haven't talked about whether we're going with friends or with each other, so I guess we'll see closer to the visit"

"I don't know what the rest of us are doing, I suppose we're going as a group so you can obviously join us if you want but we'll probably split like we normally do after a bit"

Giving up on her nails, Marly joined the two girls on Lily's bed and joined the conversation.

"I think we should ask the boys to join us. You know, new year, new visit, new friends, new friends etcetera"

"Good idea, I suppose, it'll be fun and I guess they'll show us places in a new light. Yeah, I'll ask Remus when we're on patrol later" Lily replied with a smile.

The three girls carried on their conversation for a while discussing what they would buy in Honeydukes and what they need to stock up on from Zonkos.

Eventually, Dorcas interrupted, "You realise that Mary will be on her date so she won't be with you and therefore I'm not going. I'd rather stay here" before returning to her magazine stoically.

Whilst Lily and Alice wilted slightly at the obvious rebuff, Marly hardened,

"Are we not good enough company for you without Mary? I get that shes the good one and the connection but you know what-"

"I don't know what because I don't care. Just drop it already. I'm not going to Hogsmeade"

"Fine. It'll be better that way. I'm going to the kitchens, do you two want to come?"

"Sorry, Marly, I said I would meet Frank in five minutes"

"I'll come sweetie, I'll just have to leave in a bit to meet Remus in the Entrance Hall to start patrolling"

The three girls left through the door, the tall black- haired one remaining stiff and mad until she reached the common room when she relaxed.

o.o.o.O.o.o.o

Tickling the pear, Marly was still fuming about the dirty blonde girl back in the dorm, "I mean what is her problem?! We aren't bad-"

"What's up ladies? Fancy seeing you here"

The girls stopped dead. In front of them sitting lazily in the middle of the copy of the Gryffindor table, the Marauders were smirking cheekily up at them. Stalling herself, Lily started to walk forward and sat down next to Remus which happened to be across from James. When she looked up, James winked happily causing her to smirk and turned to Sirius.

"Marly is getting mad, you know how food calms her down, Black... Well that and one other thing" she said slyly turning to look at her best friend who was slowly going redder.

"Don't you dare, Lilac"

"But I think everyone wants to know, Marly!"

"Rose, if you want to live, shut up about it"

"What's with the random flower names?" Peter finally interrupted.

"Oh, when shes being annoying or I want to annoy her, I call her flower names that aren't Lily... I don't know how I picked it up actually"

"That's brilliant. You're sexily brilliant you know?"

"Ignore Pads, we fed him an Euphoria Potion earlier and he was already happy so he's gone even happier and slightly horny" as James explained, Sirius slid closer to the black haired girl and grazed his teeth lightly against her ear, causing her to shudder.

Exchanging awkward looks, Lily, James, Remus and Peter were all distracted as a little house elf came up to them and squeaked, "Would Masters Potter, Lupin and Pettigrew like anything else?"

"No thanks, Misty, we're still working at eating your fabulous chocolate cake" James declined kindly.

"Would Miss like anything to eat?"

"Hmm? Oh right, um do you have any sticky toffee pudding?"

"Yes Miss!" the little creature said happily before running off to a corner of the kitchen.

The boys looked at her weirdly before suddenly turning to where Marlene had been pushed down to lie on the bench whilst Sirius hovered over her. The girl was whimpering slightly before cracking and bringing the boys head down to kiss him.

Clearing his throat loudly didn't help the matter so Remus resorted to throwing his bag at them. Sirius was quickly knocked off the bench and on to his back. There were a few moment of silence with the two breathing heavily and staring at the ceiling whilst everyone stared at them incredulously.

The awkward silence was only broken when Misty returned with Lily's brown pudding causing her to squeal happily and grab the spoon, thank the house elf and dig into her dessert. James looked curiously at the dessert before asking,

"OK what is that?"

"Sticky toffee pudding"

"Again, what is it?"

"You've never had it?!" Lily exclaimed with the spoon hanging from her mouth. Impulsively, Lily sucked on the spoon, cut a large piece of the sponge and leaned forward before putting the spoon into the boys mouth. James chewed on the dessert, staring into the emerald green eyes surprised as she slowly took the spoon out of his mouth, staring back.

Fuck, fuck, fuck. This isn't good. That can't... that little can't actually do that much to me!

I shouldn't have done that. That was stupid. Now I've gone and made this awkward!

Whilst the two were staring at each other surprised, Sirius managed to drag Marly from her chair and out of the kitchens whispering to her all the time. Neither Lily or James noticed until Remus declared, slightly annoyed,

"Great, now we're going to find them snogging and Merlin knows what on our patrol. Great, how awkward"

That caused the two to snap out of their stupor and look to where their best friends were a minute ago. Shaking her head slightly, Lily mused,

"I have no idea what's going on with them, Marly fancies him, I know that much"

"I know Sirius fancies her too, I don't know why he won't do anything about it though. He's always murmuring her name into his pillow at night" James chuckled.

Remus being the knowledgeable one out of the Marauders explained as if he were talking to First Years rather than Sixth Years, "He doesn't want to ask her out because A) he thinks she might say no and B) he hasn't actually committed to a relationship before and he fancies her too much to risk mucking it all up"

"Well that's ridiculous, as her best friend I know she would say yes, she fancies the pants off of him, didn't you just see her?"

"Lets hope she doesn't get the pants off of him, that might end badly" James joked, ending the seriousness.

The four chatted easily for a few more minutes before Lily announced that her and Remus had to leave for their patrol. They headed toward the kitchens entrance before she turned quickly,

"Would you Marauders be up for going as a big group to Hogsmeade? Marly and I are going and we're not sure if Alice is, that depends on Frank, but we thought it would be fun"

"Of course, we'll come. We can finally show you how to have fun in Hogsmeade" Remus said, being rarely cocky, usually it was James or Sirius.

o.o.o.O.o.o.o

Well that patrol was good, it was fun catching up with Remus and we didn't see Marly and Sirius or Mary and Rob snogging so that's all good, Lily reflected happily as she entered her dorm.

As she sat down on her bed, she heard a soft sobbing coming from Alice's beds direction, Turning her head, Lily saw that the bed hangings were drawn around the bed, as Lily rose, Alice's sobs got a little louder injected with a few hiccups. She had been crying for a while obviously.

Drawing the curtains back, Lily sat down next to the short haired girl and started rubbing her back in a light massage,

"What's wrong hunny?"

"I... I" hiccup, "I told Frank I loved him"

A/N Ok so hey guys! This is one of my longer chapter and a few bits happen here so I hope you like it! I know I usually update in two's but I'm not entirely sure that will be the case tonight; I'll try but I cant promise. Please review! And I'm still looking for a beta so if you know anyone please ask them to message me? Thanks guys:) and to everyone that has already reviewed, you've made writing this even more exciting so you're all great, have a cookie and a hug! ONE THING; on Word it said I had 2,303 words but here it says I only have 2,261 but I can't find any missing parts so I'm sorry if I've been oblivious