Friday, the third week into the year. First thing in the morning, we had Herbology with Professor Longbottom - to me, 'Uncle' Neville. The class was with Hufflepuff, so Mason walked to class with Autumn and I. Charlie was there too, but he wasn't much of a morning person, so he didn't join in the conversation. (Truth be told, I was not a morning person either, but being with my friends usually put me in a good mood). We were discussing the DADA assignment due later that day - a short essay which Autumn had neglected to write.

"I really don't want a bad grade so early in the year," she sighed, "but I haven't any idea what more to write about."

"What did you say your topic was?" I asked, although she'd already told me twice.

"Red Caps," Autumn said, making a face. "I chose it because there's a lot of them around at home, but I realized I don't know a thing about them, beyond what they look like. And now Professor Howell is going to think I'm entirely pathetic."

"You? Pathetic? That's old news," Charlie said, earning himself a jab in the ribs.

"We could meet in the library at lunch, if you need some help finishing it up," Mason offered. "I mean, not like cheating, but just suggestions. You know."

"Oh, really?" Autumn looked surprised, and beamed as he nodded. "That's awfully nice of you. You're a lifesaver."

"Gosh, Mason," I groaned, "if I'd known you were offering help, I wouldn't have stayed up into the wee hours of the morning writing it on my own."

"Oh, don't whine," my friend laughed. "It's Autumn's turn to take advantage of my genius; you know I saved your butt on that Charms project the other day."

I stuck out my tongue at the dark-haired boy. "I could've done it quite decently; I just didn't have time, what with Astronomy and all."

"Excuses, excuses," Mason chuckled, shaking his head as we neared the greenhouses.

Nobody else was in the greenhouse when the four of us slipped inside, except our professor. Uncle Neville was kneeling on the dirt-strewn floor (probably ruining the knees of his trousers), apparently cutting leaves off of a tall plant I didn't recognize. He glanced up as we came in, and waved us over. "Well, if it isn't my favourite first years! Not that I have favourites, of course," he said with a wink. "Come over here; I'm harvesting some Alihotsy. Could one of you fetch a jar from the corner? I seem to have misplaced the one I thought I'd picked up."

"Certainly," Mason said, hopping to the task. He was back in a moment with the jar, handing it to the professor. "Alihotsy..." he said, seeming to reflect, "that's for... laughing potions?"

"Very good," said Uncle Neville, smiling at Mason. "These, since the tree they've come from is very young, are somewhat less potent and therefore not as risky to place in the hands of inexperienced students like yourselves. Slughorn doesn't want any students laughing so hard they sprain something... which has happened, you know."

"I don't know if I believe that's possible," Autumn said.

"Oh, Miss Stevenson... You have much to learn about Hogwarts," said the professor, with a laugh. "At this school... pretty much anything is possible."

"Anything?" I said skeptically. "Even magic has its limits."

Uncle Neville looked at me, eyebrows raised. "Come on, Lily, your dad died and came back to life right over there-" he motioned towards the Forbidden Forest. "If that can happen, then yes, I'd say there are very few things beyond the realm of possibility."

I couldn't exactly argue that point, and some other students had begun to arrive, so I just rolled my eyes and laughed. "Alright, Professor Longbottom," I said, in a slightly teasing voice - it was still weird to call him Professor. "I'm going to claim a good plant before they're all taken. Are you coming, Autumn?"

"Sure."

The Herbology assignment of the day was going to involve creating something interesting and original from whatever plant you claimed. It was a bit of a competition, with house points and some other reward for the winners. I looked at Mason and Charlie. "I hope you two are ready to be utterly and fantastically defeated."

Mason scoffed. "You're on, Potter. Don't worry... I promise to lend you my handkerchief when you're crying after my glorious victory."

"Don't be a smart arse," I said, sticking my tongue out at him.

"Language," Mason said automatically.

I glanced at Autumn in exasperation, then back at the dark haired boy, fighting a smile. "Please tell me that was a Captain America reference and not a legitimate response to my use of a mild swear word."

"Merlin, stop judging me! People who swear aren't intelligent enough to think of a better..." Mason trailed off as we all stared at him disbelievingly, then he laughed. "Oh, come on, I was only kidding."

"Yes, haha, very funny," I said, voice laced with sarcasm. "You know, you're just proving my point that you're a smart arse."

"You always say that when you know I'm right," he shot back, smirking. "Which I am, in this case. Prepare to be demolished, Lily."

Some time later, Ravenclaw house was fifty points closer to the house cup and Autumn and I were walking away from our victory with a large box of chocolate cauldrons. Mason and Charlie trailed behind us, clearly dejected. I decided to be nice and not gloat... although, I must admit I was sorely tempted.

---

"So, do you want to grab some food and head to the library?" Autumn asked us as we neared the Great Hall. We had just finished up with flying lessons, and it was lunchtime.

"Do you think we're allowed to eat in there?" asked Charlie, who was always the skeptic.

"Well, sure," I said. "I mean, have you seen the seventh years who hide behind the back shelves? They're eating something alright."

All three of my companions turned to stare at me. After a moment, Mason said, "I worry about you sometimes, Lily."

I rolled my eyes. "Merlin's beard, it was just a joke. You don't need to be weird about it... Anyways, I don't see why we shouldn't be allowed to eat there. If we make a mess or something, cleaning it up is easy with our wands."

"True. However..." Mason narrowed his eyes at Autumn. "I don't know if I'm very keen on helping you with that essay, in light of recent events."

"Oh, bother," I sighed. "Don't go and be a sore loser; you're leaving me to write it then."

"Even better!" my friend exclaimed, laughing at the dismayed expression on my face. Then he shook his head. "Merlin's Beard, it was just a joke," he said in mockery of my earlier words, his voice an octave too high, his dark eyes sparkling with amusement.

I rolled my eyes. "I do not sound like that."

Mason winked. "Sure you don't."

Pursing my lips, I turned to Autumn. "I don't think we ought to share any of our winnings with him," I said in a perfectly audible whisper, motioning to the box of chocolate cauldrons in her arms. "He's being a bit rude."

Autumn laughed, looped her arm through mine, and began dragging me towards the entrance to the Great Hall. "Come on, slowpokes!" she called back to the boys, who were a ways behind us now. They groaned and sped up.

After grabbing enough food to constitute a proper meal, the four of us proceeded to the library, where we found a table to sit at and Autumn pulled out her parchment. "Alright, somebody tell me something interesting to write about Red Caps."

"Um... they have red caps?" I offered.

My friend facepalmed. "Gee, thanks so much, Lily, I never would've guessed such a thing on my own." She looked at Mason, clearly desperate. "You see what I have to deal with, here?"

"Get used to it, Stevenson," Mason laughed. "I've known her for quite a while, and she's never been exactly what you'd call helpful."

"Hey!" I smacked him on the arm. "That wasn't nice."

"Because you're always so nice to me," Mason scoffed.

"Shut up," I said. "Look, will you be nice if we share the cauldrons?"

"Yes!" said Charlie immediately, already reaching for the box.

"No promises," Mason said with a smirk. "Sometimes the urge to mess with you is just too strong to resist, Potter. But you'll share anyways, won't you?"

Shooting him a half-serious glare, I grudgingly handed over the box of sweets. I simply couldn't say no to that boy.