As the new year begins the teachers impress the seriousness of the end of year examinations. Already the stress and work is piling on the students. The four find themselves not having any fun at all. No one feeling the strain more than James, Head boy and Quidditch Captain. The rekindling tentative friendship between James and Lily continues but James finds their friendship awkward. James finds it awkward because every minute he spends with her breaks down the shield he has tried to put around his heart.

It won't be long before he'll do something stupid, like asking for a date. When the first Hogsmeade trip for the year happens, the same day for the Samhain feast James convinces the four to go, to have good quality time with each other. The main reason though is to have an excuse to not ask Lily out for a date.

"So James what's going on with you and Lily?" asks Sirius, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

James groans annoyed, "Nothing, alright. Look please don't bring it up."

Pete slaps his forehead, "You're still not over her are you?"

"I am ... but not. I don't know, she's making me confused, when I was teaching her to transform all that time ago it was nice. Now it's ... I can't be friends with Lily anymore."

Before anyone can stop it from happening James receives a very loud and hard smack across the face, "YOU horrible toerag!" shrieks Lily.

"Lil, wait!"

Before Lily can escape James gets up and grabs her shoulders and turns her.

"Lils, I can't be friends with you, not when all I want to do is hold you close, kiss you. I can't just be friends with you if I ..."

James is stopped mid sentence when Lily leans in and crushes their lips together. James is shocked but quickly responses to the kiss in kind.

"wwwwwhhhhoooo! Go James," yells Sirius.

Ramona smirks and mutters 'finally' under her breath. Peter groans in disgust and stuffs his face with chocolate.

With James and Lily's public kiss, the rumours spread. This is a piece of juicy gossip considering their history.

The five walk into the hall for the feast only to be ambushed by housemates to find out if the rumours are true, smiles and congratulations are given when the Gryffindors find out it's true. The news spreads, friend telling friend. Eventually the news reaches Severus. When the news reaches Severus he looks to the Gryffindor table for confirmation. His blood starts to boil when he sees James kissing Lily's forehead with an annoyingly smug smirk. Severus wants to rant and rave and bang his head repeatedly on the table.

A confrontation at the Gryffindor table isn't something Severus wants so he waits for when the feast has ended.

"Lily."

The five freeze and turn in the direction of Severus. Lily almost sneers in disgust but controls herself.

"Yes."

Severus shifts uncomfortably, "Can we speak in private?"

"No, anything you have to say can be said here."

Severus nods and discreetly puts a privacy spell with only them inside the protection. What Severus doesn't realise is that particular spell doesn't work on dark creatures.

"Lily, how could you go with him. What is it with you Gryffindor girls. Why do you have a thing for horrible boys."

Lily sneers in anger, "LIKE you're THE BETTER choice. How dare you. Don't you forget you, you dare. You call ... " Lily now stamps her foot in anger. "I LOST any respect for you as a friend when you called me a MUDBLOOD. YOU don't get to dictate my life."

In Lily's anger she didn't pick up 'Gryffindor girls' comment but Ramona knows he is insulting her as well.

Hex him! Wish to but we can't give away we understood even though he placed a privacy spell.

Lily huffs and runs with James tailing behind her.

"Ramona I need a private word," asks Severus.

After grumbling annoyed both Peter and Sirius leave after Ramona insisting they will see her soon.

"I want to invoke a favour for the potion," states Severus.

Ramona's eyes narrow. Severus passes a piece of parchment with names on them.

"Memorised the names?"

After Ramona nods to Severus's question Severus burns the paper.

"Give them hell for me," whispers Severus.

The list consists of seven Slytherins ... including one Severus Snape.

Moony runs through the forest happy to be with all her friends again. Sniffing the air again to confirm.

Emerald, mate of Prongs.