Lily retrieved a bobble from her book bag, using it to tie back her long red hair into a messy bun on the top of her head. She stretched her arms over her head and cracked her knuckles before returning to the homework spread across the table before her. Madame Pince glared at her from across the library and Lily sent her a small smile, willing herself not to crack the knuckles of her other hand. It was a bad habit she'd picked up from hanging around boys for too long. They seemed to think it was impressive; Lily found it relaxing.
She had to stop herself from squealing as two hands grabbed her around the middle. She whipped around to find James smirking at her before rounding the table and nosily dropping his book bag over her work.
"Finally decided to show up?" she whispered, purposely pushing the bag off the table as he took a seat opposite.
"Hey, I have to practice if I want to make the team," he argued.
"You don't need practice," she muttered, as though it annoyed her to admit the fact. "You fly like a pro and you know it. You and Sirius just want to show off for the girls."
He smiled. "Maybe."
"Yeah, yeah. Well anyway, you owe me big time; I did your Transfiguration essay. Sirius can do his own, my hand is cramped."
He frowned, taking the parchment she held out to him. "I thought you were hanging out with Emmeline and Dorcas today?"
"Yeah, this morning. I've been sat here forever waiting for you."
He chuckled, reaching down into his bag and retracing a roll of parchment of similar size. "Practice was this morning too," he said, handing her the scroll. "I've been in the common room doing your essay."
They laughed together at their stupidity until Madam Pince cleared her throat loudly, glaring at them from across the library.
"Come on," James whispered, still smiling. "Let's go." He helped her gather up her books and grabbed Lily's bag for her as they hurried out into the corridor.
"Thanks," she said, extending her hand to take it.
"I can carry it," he said casually, shrugging it further up his shoulder.
"Why?"
"Why not?"
"Okay," she shrugged. He had been doing things like that a lot lately – helping her out in little ways for no reason at all. Not that he wasn't a helpful person before, but Lily didn't understand the extra effort he seemed to be putting in lately – she didn't need help – but he gave it to her anyway, unnecessarily. "So what do you want to do?" she asked as they began toward the Tower. "Chess? I reckon I'm good enough to beat you now."
He laughed. "Big words, Evans. You want to bet on that?"
"Homework for a week," she said, extending her hand.
"You're on," he nodded, giving her hand a firm shake. "I hope you learn some good exercises for those hand cramps – you're going to need them."
She pulled a face and they laughed again, rounding another corner and up another flight of stairs. She felt him watching her and turned to him expectantly. "What?"
He shook his head. "Nothing."
"Hey Potter!"
They turned to see an older boy in Quidditch robes hurrying toward them. He looked out of breath like he had been running after them the whole way.
"Potter," he panted. "Good news, Baxter wants you at practice tomorrow – Simmons knackered his leg - you're going to play as Chaser for the next match."
