A/N: See last chapter :P

The corridor was quiet. I looked round at the Marauders, who were all staring at me in astonishment. Then James laughed and said, "Nice one. Um… thanks."

I smiled sheepishly. "No problem."

Two hours later, I found myself back in the Common Room, talking with Emmeline and Alice, recounting the tale of what had happened. The Marauders were over in the far corner, regaling a somewhat exaggerated version of the same tale to a crowd of fervent admirers. I suspected, however, that had I not assured Professor McGonagall that the Slytherins had attacked us and that we had acted in self-defence, the five of us would currently be performing various menial tasks for Argus Filch. Whilst I felt slightly guilty about lying to McGonagall, it wasn't stretching the truth that much; and besides, it had been very unfair for them to chase after Remus and Peter when it was ten on two.

After I finished my story, Emmeline and Alice looked mightily impressed. But then Emmeline smiled mischievously.

"Alice," she said, turning to her friend, "I think I might cry."

I looked at her, puzzled, and then at Alice; who said, barely containing her giggles, "I know! She broke a rule… on purpose!"

"Oh, shut up," I said, but smiled.

They both hugged me and said in unison, "We're so proud of you!" I laughed, and they released me.

"So, you hexed Snape?" said Alice. "You've finally seen the light, then?"

I took a moment before replying, "Yes. He's chosen his path, and I refuse to have anything to do with anyone who's aspiring to become involved with You-Know-Who."

It was true. I could finally say that Severus no longer meant anything to me. I had still cared a little about him even after he had called me Mudblood at the end of last year, but having actually seen him today fighting with people whom the whole school knew were budding Death Eaters, and having heard the contempt with which he spat out the word, "them," in reference to my friends, I had lost all warmth and respect I had for him.

It took me a while to realise that I now counted all four Marauders as friends. I had always had respect for Remus, of course, due to his intelligence and kind nature; and we had become close friends in fifth year, when we were both appointed Prefects. We got to know each other very well, and by the end of the year he had confided in me the secret of his 'furry little problem.' James and Sirius, on the other hand, I had disliked from when we first met on the Hogwarts Express, as they teased and bullied my then best friend. However, the changes I had observed in James over the last weeks had also extended, in part, to Sirius.

He too was no longer as arrogant or unkind, and also was more attentive to his schoolwork, with the result that I realised just how gifted the two of them were as wizards. Just last week they had engaged me in a debate about Switching Spells in the Common Room one evening, and the conversation continued for at least an hour after I would have usually gone to bed. I had never had anything particularly against Peter personally, except that he was a part of the arrogant James Potter's gang, but now that the rest of them were my friends—or at least, not enemies—by extension, that meant that Peter was too.

"Lily, are you still with us?" asked Emmeline.

"Hmm? Yes, of course," I said, startled out of my reverie, and we continued our conversation.

Later that afternoon, I went to the library to return a book I had borrowed earlier in the term, and found Remus there, just about to leave. He smiled at me as I entered and waited for me to hand my book in, and we walked back to the Common Room.

"Well," he said, "at least there are no Slytherins chasing after us this time."

I laughed and said, "True, although I have to admit… earlier was rather fun, wasn't it?" causing his mouth to twitch in amusement.

"Lily Evans, enjoying fights in the school corridors…" he teased. "Whatever would McGonagall say?"

"It's your fault, you know!" I quipped back. "You and the others have been a bad influence on me."

"True, but as bad as we've been for you, you've certainly improved James a bit. To tell you the truth, even I found him extremely arrogant at times, but he accepted me for who I am, rather than what I am. But it's been much nicer, since… you know."

I did not say anything. It was true, but we had not talked about the incident in Potions or Remus' discussion with James since it had happened. Remus seemed to notice my discomfort.

"I'm sorry," he said hurriedly. "I shouldn't have mentioned it."

"No, it's okay," I reassured him. "It's just that… a part of me still thinks this is just for show. You know, that this isn't the real him."

"Understandable," admitted Remus, "but I genuinely think he realised what a prat he was."

"If that is the case, then you, my friend, are a miracle worker," I joked.

We walked on in silence for a minute or two before Remus asked, "Lily, what do you think of James right now, the way he's being at the moment? Honestly?"

I considered before replying, "I… discounting all previous experience and pretending as if I'd only just met him today… I really like him, actually. He's much funnier now that he's become less arrogant and mean; and he's kind and intelligent and… why, what are you implying?" I suddenly asked shrewdly, for I had just caught out of the corner of my eye a suspiciously triumphant grin on Remus' face.

"Oh, nothing," he said airily, but I did not for one second believe him. I knew exactly what he had been implying.

"I do not fancy him," I stated bluntly. "I still have too many reasons to hate him. I've just put those aside for the time being. It's like you said; I'm giving him a chance, that's all." There was a finality in my voice that ensured Remus would not pursue the subject any further.