thirty-two - generosity
"So," Judy says, pointing a finger at Lily, "who would you be shagging if you weren't with James?"
The seventh-year Gryffindor girls are gathered on a picnic blanket on a late June afternoon by the willow that leans lazily over the Lake. Spread on the ground are sweet wrappers and empty chocolate boxes and, a remnant of the early evening, a couple of empty bottles of Coca-Cola that Lily had smuggled in her trunk when she went to her Mum's for Christmas. Now the girls are passing round a bottle of Ogden's Finest that's wrapped with a Butterbeer label, courtesy of Peter, and Judy speaks just as Mary's about to take a swig making her splutter the Firewhiskey everywhere.
"Who would I -" Lily curls forward in laughter, slapping Judy's arm.
"Jude!" Anna cackles, "you can't say that!"
"Can and did," comes the reply. "Spill, Evans."
"No!" giggles Lily. "I've got my boyfriend. You lot share who you fancy!"
And with an er, Mary reminds the group that I've got Reg!
"Come on, Bobby, who would you be -"
"I am not dignifying that with an answer," laughs Roberta, blushing a deep red and putting her hand out for the bottle.
"Spoil sport," teases Anna, poking her tongue out at the blonde girl.
Roberta pushes her away and turns the attention back to Lily. "Come on, Head Girl. Judy's right. Spill."
Lily swallows a gulp of Firewhiskey. "Alright. Who d'you reckon?"
"Bertram!"
"Johnny!"
"Which one? Johnny Herdman or Johnny Sopa?"
"Sopa," as if it's obvious, "his arms are much nicer."
"Amos!"
"Diggory?" splutters Mary. She clutches Lily's arm, gasping for breath. "Amos Diggory!"
"Can you imagine?" she giggles, holding her stomach. "Amos?"
"He wasn't that bad," says Anna fairly.
"Yeah, only 'cause you snogged him back in fifth year!"
"He was the worst Prefect, you have no idea. A blustering idiot, I won't lie to you."
"Nah, I reckon you two would've looked good together, Lil," Mary teases, and she and Lily begin to giggle again.
"Well, he had nice eyes," says Anna, "and hair."
Roberta nudges her with a grin. "He was quite attractive, actually."
"That's generous," Lily says, and breaks into peals of laughter again. "I'm sorry. He was perfectly nice, but rather boring. And self-important."
"Who's this?" a new voice chimes. "Not me, I hope."
Remus grins at the group and sits down next to Anna who glances at Judy with a badly hidden smile. Peter swipes back his bottle of Ogden's and takes a gulp before lying down.
"Amos Diggory, Remus, d'you remember him?"
"Worst Prefect ever," he confirms, and someone places their hands over Lily's eyes.
"Not me, I hope," says James, and slings an arm around his girlfriend when she kisses him.
"Already tried that one, Prongs," calls Remus with a grin, and hands Sirius the bottle before the long-haired boy sits down with his arm around Roberta.
"Alright, Bobby?" he says, and when she tells him what they're discussing he barks a laugh. "Prongs, mate, it looks like you've got competition!"
(James just gives him the finger and wraps his arms around Lily again.)