Phoenix Song

The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was an attractive young witch by the name of Lorelei Arden. Sirius had taken to winking at her in the middle of class. She had given him detention twice already, but at the same time, seemed rather flattered when he did it. Thanks to their O.W.L. results, Sirius and James were both taking Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology, and Care of Magical Creatures. Remus was taking the same classes with the addition of Advanced Arithmancy. Peter had failed his Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L., despite an obvious question about recognizing werewolves, but he was enrolled in the rest of Sirius and James' classes. James was happy to see that Lily was in all of his classes except Care of Magical Creatures, which she had never taken anyway.

The gossip that dominated the 6^th years those first few weeks was Dorcas Meadowes and Cade Bradley's inability to keep their hands off of each other. It was especially noticeable in Defense Against the Dark Arts where Sirius and James sat directly behind the love birds. Sirius' new favorite pastimes were making dirty jokes during class and, of course, reenacting their goings-on for Dorcas in the common room every chance he got with James egging him on. She seemed rather nonplussed, and simply reminded him of that time she had caught him with Veronica Smethley in the Astronomy Tower.

"Really Sirius," she had sighed on her way up to the girls' dormitory one night in mid-September. "I would have thought that you could have thought of somewhere more original."

According to Remus, the two always had a very public, very passionate songfest right before entering the Arithmancy classroom.

Their latest Defense Against the Dark Arts class was especially dull. Professor Arden was lecturing about how to avoid a Binding Curse. A few students, including Lily and Remus, were taking notes, but most of the 23 students were passing notes, staring out the window, or simply zoning out. Near the back of the classroom, Dorcas had slipped her hand under the waistband of Cade's pants and was obviously tickling him. He smirked suggestively and wrapped his own hidden arm around her slim waist. Sirius poked him with his quill. Cade jumped a little and turned his head to look back at Sirius' grin.

"Tisk, tisk." He shook his head. "Hands to yourselves, kiddies."

Dorcas turned her head as well. She wore an unaffected expression. "Why don't you pay attention to the lesson?" she asked calmly.

"I am completely unable to learn anything when you two are fornicating right in front of me," Sirius said in mock indignation.

Dorcas smiled a little. "We are hardly fornicating. Besides, why should you care if we were?" Then with a rather wicked smile, she raised her eyebrows. "Jealous?" she asked and turned quickly back around. Cade followed suit and soon her hand was back in his robes.

Sirius stared at Dorcas for a second, pushing a piece of dark hair out of his eyes. He pulled a scrap of parchment from his bag and scribbled a note on it. He passed it to James and waited for a response. He didn't get one. Confused, he glanced at his best friend. He was staring at the front of the room. Sirius rolled his eyes, and followed James' line of sight, expecting to see the back of a very red head. Instead, to his surprise, he saw a pale, skinny boy with long greasy black hair and a rather large hooked nose. Immediately, he nudged James.

"Why are you staring at Snivellus, mate?" Sirius asked, on the verge of laughter.

"He's been ogling Evans since class started," James said with a twinge of anger to his voice. "Look."

Sure enough, Snape's beady black eyes were fixed on the back of Lily Evans' head three seats in front of him

"It looks like Snivellus likes muggle-borns a whole lot more than he pretends too," Sirius said.

James was glaring at Snape. "Does he really think she'd ever consider dating him? I mean, can you imagine how often she'd have to shower?"

"Relax mate." Sirius patted James' shoulder and chuckled. "Evans is not going anywhere near Snivellus."

"Are you sure?" He furrowed his brow slightly as he tried to get a better look at the direction of Lily's glance.

"Positive, mate."

Remus had agreed with Sirius, but promised to watch Snape and Lily in

Arithmancy. It would be easy since there were only eleven 6th years in the class. He and Lily had already formed a bond as the two Gryffindors in Advanced Arithmancy who weren't snogging Cade Bradley. Remus and Lily had gotten to know each other fairly well as Gryffindor prefects 5th year, and their continued duties had brought them closer since the term had begun.

"Miss Meadowes," Professor Vector called loudly one late September day as the 6th years were working on their latest number charts.

Dorcas looked up immediately. "Yes Professor."

"I would appreciate it if you would remove your hand from Mr. Bradley's leg," she snapped.

"Of course Professor." Dorcas placed her hand on the desk in front of her.

"Please remain after class, Miss Meadowes," she sighed. "You too, Mr. Bradley."

Lily sniggered and glanced at Remus. "Those two are disgusting." She smirked.

"Yeah." He laughed.

"It's about the only thing that I agree with James Potter about."

Remus raised his eyebrows in interest and Lily groaned.

"Don't you dare tell him I said that," she whispered harshly. "I'd never get rid of him."

"He's not that bad, Lily." Remus shrugged, laughing quietly. "Arrogant, yes, but he's really a good guy."

"If you say that I agree with him, Remus..."

"I won't." He put his hands up in surrender; careful to keep the gesture small so Professor Vector wouldn't see him. "But you should know that he is determined to get you to go out with him, and in the 5 years I've known James Potter, he's always gotten what he's wanted."

"Well," Lily said quickly. "Maybe it's time he learned about disappointment."

"Snape's staring at you again," Remus changed the subject.

Lily's face contorted into disgust. "I don't know why," she scoffed. "He's the only person I'm less likely to date than James Potter."

Remus smiled.

"But don't tell him that either," she said quickly to get the smirk off of the dark eyed boy's face. She suddenly laughed. "How do I know you won't go spill everything I say back to Potter?"

"I won't," he said, chuckling. "I promise."

"You're not like the two of them," she mused. "Are you?"

"You mean Sirius and James?" he asked.

She nodded silently.

"I guess not." He shrugged. "They've always been the important ones, the popular ones. Sirius has his girls, James has got Quidditch, and they've both got loads of brains. I guess they know it and, I mean, can you blame them for the way they act? I've always had to work a little harder, gotten a little less praise. It's not like I begrudge them what they've gotten. They've both been amazing mates to me and they are, despite their toerag-ish behavior, really stand-up blokes. But, yeah, we're different."

"I think you're a really stand-up bloke Remus Lupin." She smiled sweetly at him.

He shrugged sheepishly and went back to his number chart.

October 2nd was the first attack of the school year. Polly McCarthey, a 6th year Hufflepuff, lost her older brother and sister-in-law. She left Hogwarts immediately with her mother and father for the funeral.

"Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall called in the middle of Transfiguration in the middle of October. "Can you tell me the correct incantation to turn this pocket watch into an apple?"

"Pommeurati," he responded without losing a beat.

"That is correct Mr. Potter," she conceded. "But could you please stop staring at the back of Miss Evans' head while I continue this lesson."

"But the back of Miss Evans' head is so beautiful, Professor McGonagall," James said cockily. "It is the most beautiful back of a head I've ever seen."

"Be as that may, Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall said, peering over her glasses. "If you continue to stare at it, you will be given detention."

"Alright Professor." He faked a sniffle. "I will tear my eyes from the glory of Miss Evans' head."

Lily turned and glared at James. He winked at her, mouthing the words: "go out with me." She stuck her chin in the air, her eyes narrowing in scorn, and turned her head. McGonagall rolled her eyes and continued with the lesson: making food out of household objects.

Next to James, Sirius wore his typical expression of haughty boredom. His eyes scanned the room. Lily sat in the middle of the front row, directly in front of McGonagall. On her right side was Gwendolyn Abercrombie in all her lithe, blonde glory. Sirius had experienced that glory last February in the stacks. He smiled at the memory and continued surveying the room. Adelbert Harper and William Seymour, two Ravenclaws, were furiously taking notes near the window. Behind them sat Remus and Peter. Remus was mildly engaged in the class, taking the occasional note while scratching at a scab on the side of his face. Next to Peter was Julia Connors, the blue-eyed Ravenclaw that Sirius had finally conquered in May. He winked at her. She smiled at him. Cade Bradley, who was sitting next to Julia, whispered something in her ear and she laughed silently. McGonagall had only stood three classes of Dorcas and Cade's constant petting before forcing them to switch seats.

Dorcas was sitting in the front of the room, right between Lily and Snape. She had handled the humiliation with as much blasé attitude as could be expected from Dorcas Meadowes, but Sirius had noticed her tall frame shrink a little in the desk chair when Snape had scowled at her. He had also caught her glancing back at Cade rather often during class. Once, Sirius had caught her eye as she was staring nervously at him. Sirius had smirked at her. Her expression had been a strange mixture of shame and anger. They had held eye contact for a few seconds before she had whipped her head back around.

Sirius watched her for a few seconds, to see if she would turn to look at Cade. When she didn't, he noticed that she was watching Snape, who was staring past her at Lily. Sirius nudged James.

"He's staring at her again," he whispered.

James' lip curled in disgust. "I know," he spat. "That greasy git has no right to be within twenty feet of her, let alone stare at her and imagine her naked."

"But that's what you're doing." Sirius raised his eyebrows in a wicked smile.

"I am not Snivellus." James was staring at Lily again. "I can imagine Evans however I want, he can't."

"Potter," McGonagall's voice rang. "Detention."

The next morning Lily Evans scoured The Daily Prophet as she stuck a forkful of kippers into her mouth - her eyes flicking back and forth furiously. It was now her daily ritual to search for the latest attack and any news on You-Know-Who's whereabouts at the breakfast table.

"Put down the paper Lily." Annabelle rolled her eyes as she put her tea cup back on the table. "You'll find out about them all eventually anyway. Wouldn't you like to have a pleasant, non-death filled morning for once?"

"Honestly," Gwen piped in, reaching across the table to push the paper down and reveal Lily's engaged face. "Can't we just be 16 for once?"

"But this is important," Lily said, her expression changing.

"I know," Annabelle said, spinning her tea cup back and forth with her thumb and forefinger. "But we'll find out anyway. Probably even before anything's printed in here. The attack on Iris Graham's family wasn't covered until a week after she left, remember?"

Lily contemplated Annabelle's evidence, and finally folded up her paper, sticking it inside her black bag. "Fine," she said, taking a swig of orange juice. "What did you want to talk about?"

Gwen smirked and looked at Annabelle.

"You and a certain male person." Gwendolyn smiled conspiratorially.

Lily's face reddened. "I have told you two countless times, I will not go out with James Potter. I don't care if he's Quidditch captain or if every other girl in this school wants to shag him. He is a great arrogant bully with fewer good qualities than an acromantula; at least they have eight eyes."

Annabelle chuckled slightly and shook her head. "We weren't talking about James, though you seem awfully eager to shoot down any rumor about the two of you." She and Gwendolyn exchanged loaded glances and giggled.

"Well then." Lily gathered herself. "Who are you talking about?"

"Remus Lupin," Gwen said.

"Remus?" Lily was visibly surprised.

"Yeah." Annabelle nodded, an interested grin pulling at the side of her mouth. "Apparently the two of you are awfully cuddly in Arithmancy."

Lily laughed. "Who told you that?"

"Dorcas." Gwen shrugged.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Dorcas Meadowes is a bloody fabulous multi-tasker. Able to service Cade Bradley, spy on her fellow classmates, and complete Arithmancy number charts all at the same time. She should get some sort of award."

Annabelle and Gwen looked at each other again. This infuriated Lily.

"I hate it when you two do that. What is it?"

"Dorcas and Cade broke up," Gwen said delicately. "We thought you knew."

"When did that happen?"

"Tuesday," Annabelle said, taking a sip of her tea.

"How did I not notice that?" She shrugged. "I had Arithmancy with them yesterday."

"Too busy talking to Remus, I'd wager," Gwen suggested, a rather obnoxious smile on her face.

"Remus and I are just friends," Lily said, pushing her food around with her fork. "Besides, nothing could ever happen as long as he is friends with Potter."

"But you admit that you're cozy in Arithmancy?" Annabelle asked, a look of interest dominating her light green eyes.

"Hardly cozy," Lily scoffed, looking up. "Friendly, yes. As in friends who talk."

"We won't tell James." Gwen winked at Lily.

"Oh shut up Gwendolyn Abercrombie." Lily threw a piece of kipper at the blonde girl.

"Have you heard about why Cade and Dorcas broke up?" Annabelle whispered, leaning closer to the table. Then looking around, she added. "He cheated on her with Julia Connors."

"Really?" Gwen put a hand to her mouth and her huge blue eyes grew even bigger.

"Can you imagine how she reacted?" Annabelle smiled nervously.

"Knowing Dorcas Meadowes, she didn't," said Gwendolyn. "She probably looked at him and said, 'Okay, well I guess we're breaking up then,' and then shook his hand with that stupid smile on her face."

Annabelle laughed loudly.

Lily glanced down the table to where Dorcas was sitting by herself. She was pushing her eggs around her plate and occasionally taking a small bite or two. She wore an unreadable expression.

"That's probably why he cheated on her," Gwen sniggered. "He wanted to know if he was doing it right."

Annabelle and Gwen laughed.

"Let's change the subject girls," Lily said. "Just because Dorcas likes to remain mysterious doesn't make talking about her all that interesting."

Annabelle and Gwendolyn shrugged and went on to talk about the hottest professional Quidditch players. Lily looked back down the table at Dorcas for a moment and swore she saw the girl wipe something from her eye.