"...and did you see her face?" laughed James, pouring himself a glass of pumpkin juice at lunch. "She didn't know what to say!"
Remus sat down next to us. "What'd you do this time?" He said playfully. "Ask McGonagall out on a date or something?"
James laughed even harder. "No, I asked Trelawney!"
I grinned and flicked my hair out of my eyes, surveying the Great Hall. A boy with greasy black hair and a hooked nose stumbled his way down the aisle.
"Hey, Snivellus!" I called, standing up, and Snape flushed with anger.
"When was the last time you washed your face, Snivellus?" laughed James scornfully, standing up and pretending to examine Snape's pallid face.
"I don't know, James, looks like a good couple years to me since ol' Sniv's seen water," I sneer.
Snape looked livid and opened his mouth furiously to retort when Lily appeared at his shoulder.
"Would you arrogant toerags leave him alone for a second? Today's his birthday, you know." Lily snapped.
"Ooh, Sirius, look, it's Snivelly's birthday," James snorted condescendingly. "Hey, and I've got the perfect present for you, too! It's called---," --James leaned in with the air of revealing something important----"it's called shampoo."
I burst out laughing and Lily, furious, grabbed Snape's arm and marched away. "That total git Potter," she fumed.
"Evans, I never said anything to you!" James called, but she turned the corner and disappeared. By now it was common knowledge that James fancied Lily. I shook my head and flicked my hair out of my eyes again. Poor James. Lily loathed him.
"C'mon, Remus," James muttered, resentfully, but Remus stayed in his seat.
"Oy, Lupin, he said c'mon," I repeated, and Remus finally stood up, looking upset.
"Why do you guys have to bully that Snape wherever he goes?" Remus asked.
James looked indignant. "Remus, he----," he started, but was cut off by a sharp tug on his shoulder. Snape stood holding the strap of James's bag, his face curled into an ugly sneer.
"You won't face me unless you're three to one, huh, James?" Snape spat. "You really need to learn to mind your own business."
He yanked and snapped the strap of James's satchel. The bag flew over the banister of the high staircase and hurtled toward the Great Hall when----
"Accio!"
The bag stopped in midair and zoomed back upwards into the arms of a short, plump, blond boy holding his wand up. I recognized him as one of the boys in our dormitory.
Snape, looking sour, eyed the prefect coming down the hall and trudged away. James walked over and collected his bag from the boy.
"Thanks, mate," James said, swinging his bag over his shoulder. "What's your name?"
"Me?" The boy squeaked, looking shocked and pleased at being addressed. "I-I'm P-Peter Pettigrew."
"Hurry up, James, or we'll be late to class," I call, and Remus and I start walking toward the Charms corridor but James lags behind, talking to Pettigrew.
"Why does James like him so much?" muttered Remus. "He's been sleeping in our dormitory for the last two years but James never talked to him until now."
"I don't know, he seems a bit like a dud to me," I whispered. "I guess if James likes him, he might be okay."
