"Lily, would you mind not drooling over James for one minute and listen to me?"
Lily woke from her reverie, switching her gaze to Marlene who was waving a spoonful of porridge around as if she were ready to club someone over the head with it.
"I was not drooling," Lily cried indignantly. "It's just hard to ignore someone who parades his ego around all self-righteously like he does." She frowned and shoved a piece of toast into her mouth chewing it with fervor.
"Riiight," Marlene snorted, shaking her head a little. "Anyway, what I was saying is, what should I do?"
"Merlin, Lils, haven't you heard me for the past five minutes?"
Lily shrugged. "I wasn't really paying attention." A pale scarlet overtook the skin beneath her freckles.
"Because you were admiring Potter's gorgeous bod."
Marlene leaned in close. "You kind of were, though."
Lily rolled her eyes. "Think what you want to think, but talk about Potter like that again any time soon and you'll be having another appearance of this before Charms," she warned her, waving her remaining piece of toast in Marlene's face.
"For Godric's sake, Marlene, I do not find James remotely attractive!" she yelled frustratedly, earning a few surprised glances from onlookers and a skeptical, and somewhat devious, look from Marlene.
Lily shuffled in her seat and kept her eyes from wandering over the odd stares she was getting from the rest of the Gryffindor table.
With her face flushed a brilliant rouge, Lily's eyes flitted around, trying to avoid unwarranted attention. "What were you talking about?"
"Quidditch? You expect me to give you advice on Quidditch?" Lily's eyebrow raised and her nose wrinkled a little.
"Well, it wasn't exactly about Quidditch, more like, what I should do after Quidditch. I mean, Black invited me to check out the changing rooms with him alone again, and I-"
"You can't be serious?" Lily interjected, her eyes narrowing.
"No, he is," Marlene snorted, tearing a piece of toast with her teeth. "In all seriousness though, what's the harm?"
"What's the harm?" she asked, scoffing. "What's the harm?"
"Okay Merlin, forget I asked. I don't know why you even bother toying with him when you know you're going to give in anyway. But if egotistical, cocky gits are your type then go for it."
"Talking about me again, Evans?"
Lily whirled around in her seat, her head cocked to the side and her brow raised.
"Not this time, Potter. I was talking about your counterpart," she replied dryly, gesturing with her head to Sirius.
"Oi, Evans, I thought we were friends," exclaimed Sirius, feigning disappointment as he took a seat next to Marlene, shooting her a wink.
Lily merely shook her head irritably.
"On that note, I think it's time for Charms," she announced, bringing herself to her feet as she picked up her books.
"Great, I'll walk you," James grinned, snatching her books from her grasp.
She cocked her eyebrow. "Fantastic," Lily drawled sardonically.