Up in the Gryffindor common room, the fireplace lends some light to the common room. The fireplace mantle is adorned with the portrait of a roaring lion. Some of the Gryffindors sit in squashy, cozy stuffed armchairs while the 5th years and 7th years mostly occupy the worktables. A golden chandelier hangs overhead casting a warm light overhead. The tower's red curtains are pulled open to let in the remaining daylight before sunset.
A few of the worktables are occupied by various school years. Lily sits at a smaller work table with her two friends. Over the course of the year, Mary MacDonald had become less shy. Her dark brown hair no longer obscures her face and is even neatly back with a ribbon.
Willa Sands on the other hand is as confident as always although at the moment she is not. Willa sighs in exasperation as her curly chestnut hair moves as if in frustration. "Why do we have to study again?" Willa grumbled rather disgruntled.
"Because exams are coming up," Lily patiently replied.
A second later Mary chimed in, "And if you don't want to get embarrassed by staying back another year, you best get studying."
Willa narrows her eyes at Mary and says, "I think I liked you more when you were less outspoken, Mary."
Mary beams with pride puffing out her chest. "Thank you, I've been practicing with Tiffany and Silvia."
"Right," Willa earnestly grinned. "No wonder, you've grown a thick skin." Mary wrinkles her nose at Willa and impishly sticks out her pink tongue at her. Willa snorts and lays her head to rest on her cappuccino-colored arm. However, her brief rest is all too soon interrupted as Pettigrew rushes over to James, Sirius, and Lupin, who is sitting a few tables away studying. No doubt having been convinced into doing so by Lupin.
"You're not going to believe this!" Pettigrew breathlessly said.
Maybe bored or tired from studying more than a few Gryffindors stopped what they were doing and perked up to listen. Gryffindors are a nosey bunch.
"Anything is better than this," Sirius mutinously grumbled.
Lupin merely stares at Sirius down his nose as James pleadingly says, "C'mon Lupin, a rest surely can do us good," until Remus rolled his eyes in exasperation.
Turning to Pettigrew, James confidently grins. "Go on, Pettigrew, what is so interesting?"
"Avery and Rosier were beaten up!" Pettigrew exclaimed.
"What by who?" Sirius asked wide-eyed as more than one Gryffindor listened in rapt attention.
"Apparently, they got into a big fight with Severus, Terry, and Rowan. No one was too badly hurt but they've all been sentenced to a week's worth of detentions," Pettigrew quickly explained.
"But we were supposed to have a duel tonight?" James muttered in disappointment. himself.
Looking up at Pettigrew, James curiously asks, "And what was the reason?"
Pettigrew opens his mouth to speak loudly, before glancing around and spotting Lily. Turning red in embarrassment, Pettigrew in a much lower voice replies, "The same reason, you almost did."
The sound of a chair scraping is heard as Lily rises to her feet. "Is it true?" She loudly asked with genuine worry.
All the Gryffindors stare at Pettigrew, who dumbly nods his head. "Everyone is talking about it, how five Slytherin 1st years got into a big row over a Gryffindor muggle-born witch."
Lily whirls away as Willa's head jolts up. "Wait, where where are you going, Lily?!"
"To see if Terry, Severus, and Rowan are fine," Lily shouted back. "And to give Rosier and Avery a piece of my mind."
"Huh, looks like not all the Slytherins, this year are a bad batch," mused a dark-skinned 7th-year, Kingsley Shacklebolt with already a shaved head. His earnings glistened cheekily in the firelight.
"Yes, it does seem as more than a few houses friendships have been forged," mused a 6th-year girl with thick dark hair, Marlene Stein as she watched four troublesome boys run after Lily.
"Well, that's not always necessarily a bad thing," Kingsley muttered. "After all, once we leave Hogwarts, it doesn't matter what house we are from as long as we can get the job done."
"True," Marlene agreed, before ducking her head back down to work.
Down in the infirmary, Lily is the first to arrive as she breathlessly asks, "Madam Pomfrey, I'm looking for the Princes and Greenwood!"
Madam Pomfrey glances up at the time and says, "Visiting hours will soon be over, please make sure to leave promptly on time."
"Yes, Madam Pomfrey," Lily gasped as she rushed over in the direction Madam Pomfrey was pointing to. But not long after, another gaggle of out-of-breath students arrive and speak rather incoherently in unison.
With a sigh, Madam Pomfrey says, "Princes and Greenwood?" They all breathlessly nod their heads as she points them in the right direction as they rush away.
"No running!" Madam Pomfrey called out, hiding a pleased expression at seeing such devoted friends.
By the time, Lily pulls the curtains, she sees the still bruised figures of Severus and Terry on the linen beds with Rowan reading a book and chewing on a sweet, and Alchemy happily curled up on a pillow napping. "Lily?!" Severus exclaimed with joy.
A bit peeved, Lily says, "Severus Prince and Terry Greenwood, I don't need any boys defending my honor!"
Severus and Terry wilt as Terry cryptically mutters under his breath, "I noticed you didn't mention Rowan."
Taking a breath, Lily tiredly sighs, "And thank you, but please don't make me worry again."
Severus sagely nods his head in promise as Terry shrugs, "Can't make any promises."
Despite Lily's glare Terry loftily looks away and says, "A man's got to do, what a man's got to do."
"Really, you certainly didn't complain when I saved you?" Rowan drily explained earning her a harsh glare from Terry as Severus is unable to hide a loud snicker.
Lily turns to eye Rowan. "Are you unhurt, Rowan?"
"I have more than ample experience to avoid being hurt in a one-on-one fighting instance," Rowan causally replied as she turned to the next page of the book. Who knew that a biography about living with hags would be so interesting?
Before Lily has a chance to speak, a torrent of visitors rushes in. "Are you guys alright?" They all exclaimed.
Snapping her book shut, Rowan says, "Well, it certainly looks like neither of the needs my company, I'll see you, both on the morrow."
Placing the book, back onto the counter, Rowan moves to walk past them as Pettigrew exclaims, "Why aren't you hurt?"
"I'm so sorry to disappoint you, Pettigrew," Rowan flatly said as she brushed past them.
"I'll be right back," Lily hurried after Rowan.
Sirius eyes the fading figure of Rowan and pensively says, "For merlin's sake, how does she always seem to come out unscathed?"
"Luck?" Lupin muttered.
"It's cuz, she's pure evil," Pettigrew grumbled under his breath.
"I think it's more like she's rather talented and clever," James honestly remarked.
Turning to stare at the bruised face of Severus, Sirius leers, "Heh, looks like you were beaten in good, Sev."
"But you should have seen the other guy," Severus sneered back.
The six boys all shared a grin as James says, "Well, I guess that saves me the trouble of dueling, Avery."
"A miracle, I'm sure," Lupin drily muttered under his breath.
The four boys take a seat as James inquisitively asks, "I'll admit it, I'm curious how in Merlin's name was Rowan even involved?"
Terry and Severus exchange glances as Terry winces before answering, "All I'm going to say is that you never want to get her mad…..."
"We already knew that," muttered Pettigrew under his breath.
"And that she has a very, vicious streak," Terry winced again before whispering in a hushed voice. "Without any hesitation, she crushed Rosier's family jewels."
All six boys wince as Sirius pointedly mutters, "Memo to self."
"More like Pettigrew is the one that should be worrying," James teasingly said causing Pettigrew to pale.
"Merlin, I don't hate her that much!" Pettigrew protested.
"Mm, so you say," Lupin sagely arched his brow. "You know there is a thin line between love and hate?"
"Oh, you like Rowan, Pettigrew?" Sirius cackled an evil grin as a cold icy aura sprouted around Severus while James seemed a bit startled by that fact and frankly, he wasn't the only one.
"She's not my type! I like them cute!" Pettigrew protested.
"Oh, are you implying my sister is not cute?" Severus coldly asked.
"She's plenty attractive I'm sure, I just don't date tall girls!"
"Are you saying that my sister isn't attractive merely because she's tall?"
"No, that's not what I'm saying!"
"Then just what are you trying to say, Pettigrew?"
"I think I need to go to the bathroom," Pettigrew hastily excused himself and fled.
"Stop teasing the poor guy," Sirius chortled.
"I notice you didn't come to his aid," Severus loftily retorted.
"No can do," Sirius ruefully shrugged. "There's protecting a friend and there's getting between someone's sister."
"Wise words," Terry knowingly chimed as Severus a bit cheerfully leaned back into his pillows. Lupin and James shrug at the comment as they were only sole children, what did they know?
The conversation quickly turns away as the Marauders ask for details as Terry embellishes the story with sound effects. In fact, this continued until Madam Pomfrey in a loud voice told them that visiting hours were over. Severus was slightly disappointed that Lily didn't return, but still, it had been nice to bask in glory and attention for a while. And though it was shared with Terry, it still had been rather nice.