The four girls huddled around a table in the library that day after their classes, trying to do as much work as they could before another day of tiresome lessons could bend them down.

"Ugh, I can't do this!" Marlene whined, throwing her quill angrily on the table before her, causing Madam Pince to send her a nasty look. "Some people are just not meant to study! And in this case, I'm some people."

     "Well, if you tried to study more instead of sleeping so much—"

      "—Don't you dare get in the middle of my relationship with my nap times, young lady!" Marlene broke Lily off, pointing a warning finger at her. "I think I might even marry it some day."

     "Weren't you married to fries already?" Lily grinned.

     "Hey, this is my life; I shall be married to more things than one if I see it fit," said Marlene stubbornly, but when her eyes fell on her Potions' book again, she groaned. "I'm gonna get a Poor in my O.W.Ls, aren't I?"

      "Oh, chill out woman!" Jenna shook her head. "You won't get a P. Trust me."

      "Really?" Marlene raised her head up at her hopefully. "You think so?"

      "Of course," Jenna shrugged but then smirked, saying, "Maybe a good old Troll."

      "That's even worse!" Marlene cried out, banging her head on the table where her book laid. "Ugh! This is a disaster! My life is over!"

      "Oh, quit being such a drama queen!" Jenna shook her head playfully, but when caught Lily giving her a look, she rolled her eyes and said to Marlene, "I know a story that can make you feel better."

     "What story?" Marlene mumbled, her forehead still resting on her book.

     "Once upon a time, there was a girl who one day suddenly decided not to give a damn," said Jenna. "And then she lived happily ever after. The end."

     Marlene's head shop at that, staring at Jenna blankly. "That was the worst story I've ever heard."

     "The point is," said Lily, holding back the urge to kick Jenna, "one day you'll come to the realization that these studies never really mattered. Yes, they are essential for getting a job after graduation, but not worth to get frustrated over. There are more important things in life."

     "Like what?"

     "Like friendship," said Lily softly, casting a knowing smile at Jenna.

      "Who are you and what have you done with the real Lily Evans?" said Marlene, her eyes widened. "Since when do you think that there's anything more important than studying?"

     "Since Christmas," Lily shrugged.

     "Jenna!" Marlene turned on her sharply. "What did you slip in Lily's drink over the holidays!?"

     They all chuckled and Jenna was just about to respond, but someone beat her into it as he cleared his throat behind them, causing the girls to look up.

     "Hello," said Frank Longbottom, smiling goofily around the table, but then fixing his eyes upon Alice. "Ready to go?"

"Sure," Alice nodded with a smile, starting to pack up her stuff.

But Jenna stopped her by saying, "Woah, woah, woah. Not so fast! Where do you think you're taking her?" she raised a suspicious brow at Frank.

"Er — just for a walk," he answered uneasily.

"Ha! Very convincing — ouch!" Jenna groaned as Lily kicked her feet under the table and then turned to Alice and Frank with a smile, saying,

"Have fun, you guys," said Lily kindly and Alice and Frank waved them goodbye, starting to walk away.

"Oi, Longbottom!" Jenna called out, making them turn around again. And so she narrowed her eyes at him, saying darkly, "I'll be keeping an eye you."

"Er — right. Thanks?" Frank pursed his lips together as Alice blushed heavily, and so the two left the library.

"Hmph!" Jenna folded her arms. "I'll be having a talk with him later. Taking our baby away from us like that..."

"Can we please get to our Quidditch practice now!?" Marlene whined, looking desperately at Jenna. "I'll literally die if I sit here for five more minutes!"

"That's not how you use the word literally... but you're right. Let's get out of here, or I'll die too," said Jenna with a grin, packing her stuff along with Marlene. "Bye, Lil."

"Take care," Lily waved, going back to writing her essay as the two girls left.

***

That day, they had to start the Quidditch practice without James and Sirius, who were still at detention.

     But forty minutes later, they walked through the pitch with their broomsticks, already changed into their Quidditch robes.

     "Hurry up, you trolls!" Jenna yelled up at them as she was in the air, watching them mount their brooms and shooting up.

     "Come here, Black," she said as they made it up to the rest of the team's height. "I was just talking about a new move that I had read for beaters that I want you to learn. It's called Bludger Backbeat—"

     "Thanks, but I don't need you to teach me new positions, Kitten. I know them all," said Sirius with a wink, receiving a deadly glare from Jenna.

     But she wasn't the only one, as James glared at the back of his head, flying forward and punching his arm.

     Jenna shook her head with a sigh, shouting, "Let's get back to practicing, everyone!"

     After an hour and a half, the Gryffindor team flew down, tired and frozen in the chilling weather. Marlene was the first one to leave, running towards the locker room to get warm.

     "Hey, James!" Jenna called out after her brother, who was also walking away with his hands in his pocket.

     "Yeah?" he turned around, asking.

     "I left my wand in the locker room. Will you give me a hand with this?" she said, gesturing at the large wooden crate which contained the balls.

     "Sure — oh, wait. What was that? I think someone's calling me." James suddenly turned around, looking at the far distance, where nobody else was. He then waved at an imaginary person, shouting, "I'm coming!" And with that, he left the pitch.

     Jenna shook her head, going to close the crate, only to see that the golden Snitch was missing again.

     Knowing that James had sneaked it again, she huffed loudly, "Ugh! That son of a—!"

     "—Language!"

     Turning around, she saw Sirius walking towards her, grinning as he held his broom in his hand.

     She readied herself for him to say another witty comment, but instead he said softly, "Here, let me help you with that."

     And so, he took one side of the crate and Jenna took the other handle in silence, and they walked away.

     "So..." Sirius started, but didn't continue the rest of his sentence.

     "So what?" said Jenna blankly.

     "Nothing..." he muttered, thinking hard as what to say to lead the conversation towards where he wanted.

     After a short pause, he suddenly said, "Shoot! I forgot to tell Gwen I'd be late!"

     Jenna said nothing.

     "You know... Gwenog Jones. We were supposed to meet up."

     "Oh, I know," said Jenna flatly, staring ahead.

     "You're not mad?"

     "No," Jenna shrugged, even though she was doing everything in her power to prevent her hair from turning red.

Sirius greeted his teeth together at that simple word, holding back the urge to curse under his breath.

"Just don't bring any of your dates to our Quidditch practices," she went on, but then forced a grin. "We need to win the cup this year. So... just try and behave, will you?"

     "Oh, you don't have to worry, Kitten," said Sirius with a grin. "I'll be a good boy."