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own on the grass between the beech and the bushes and watch the foursome under the tree。 The sunlight was dazzling on the smooth surface of the lake； on the bank of which the group of laughing girls who had just left the Great Hall were sitting； with their shoes and socks off； cooling their feet in the water。
Lupin had pulled out a book and was reading。 Sirius stared around at the students milling over the grass； looking rather haughty and bored； but very handsomely so。 James was still playing with the Snitch； letting it zoom further and further away； almost escaping but always grabbed at the last second。 Wormtail was watching him with his mouth open。 Every time James made a particularly difficult catch； Wormtail gasped and applauded。 After five minutes of this； Harry wondered why James didn't tell Wormtail to get a grip on himself； but James seemed to be enjoying the attention。 Harry noticed that his father had a habit of rumpling up his hair as though to keep it from getting too tidy； and he also kept looking over at the girls by the water's edge。
Put that away； will you；' said Sirius finally； as James made a fine catch and Wormtail let out a cheer； 'before Wormtail wets himself with excitement。'
Wormtail turned slightly pink； but James grinned。
'If it bothers you；' he said； stuffing the Snitch back in his pocket。 Harry had the distinct impression that Sirius was the only one for whom James would have stopped showing off。
'I'm bored；' said Sirius。 'Wish it was full moon。'
'You might；' said Lupin darkly from behind his book。 'We've still got Transfiguration； if you're bored you could test me。 Here：〃 and he held out his book。
But Sirius snorted。 'I don't need to look at that rubbish； I know it all。'
This'll liven you up； Padfoot；' said James quietly。 'Look who it is：'
Sirius's head turned。 He became very still； like a dog that has scented a rabbit。
'Excellent；' he said softly。 'Snivellus。'
Harry turned to see what Sirius was looking at。
Snape was on his feet again； and was stowing the OWL paper in his bag。 As he left the shadows of the bushes and set off across the grass； Sirius and James stood up。
Lupin and Wormtail remained sitting： Lupin was still staring down at his book； though his eyes were not moving and a faint frown line had appeared between his eyebrows； Wormtail was looking from Sirius and James to Snape with a look of avid anticipation on his face。
'All right； Snivellus？' said James loudly。
Snape reacted so fast it was as though he had been expecting an attack： dropping his bag； he plunged his hand inside his robes and his wand was halfway into the air when James shouted； 'Expelliarmus！'
Snape's wand flew twelve feet into the air and fell with a little thud in the grass behind him。 Sirius let out a bark of laughter。
'Impedimenta！' he said； pointing his wand at Snape； who was knocked off his feet halfway through a dive towards his own fallen wand。
Students all around had turned to watch。 Some of them had got to their feet and were edging nearer。 Some looked apprehensive； others entertained。
Snape lay panting on the ground。 James and Sirius advanced on him； wands raised； James glancing over his shoulder at the girls at the water's edge as he went。 Wormtail was on his feet now； watching hungrily； edging around Lupin to get a clearer view。
'How'd the exam go； Snivelly？' said James。
'I was watching him； his nose was touching the parchment；' said Sirius viciously。 There'll be great grease marks all over it； they won't be able to read a word。'
Several people watching laughed； Snape was clearly unpopular。 Wormtail sniggered shrilly。 Snape was trying to get up； but the jinx was still operating on him； he was struggling； as though bound by invisible ropes。
'You … wait；' he panted； staring up at James with an expression of purest loathing； 'you … wait！'
'Wait for what？' said Sirius coolly。 'What're you going to do； Snivelly； wipe your nose on us？'
Snape let out a stream of mixed swear words and hexes； but with his wand ten feet away nothing happened。
'Wash out your mouth；' said James coldly。 'Scourgify！'
Pink soap bubbles streamed from Snape's mouth at once； the froth was covering his lips； making him gag； choking him …
'Leave him ALONE！'
James and Sirius looked round。 James's free hand immediately jumped to his hair。
It was one of the girls from the lake edge。 She had thick； dark red hair that fell to her shoulders； and startlingly green almond…shaped eyes … Harry's eyes。
Harry's mother。
'All right； Evans？' said James； and the tone of his voice was suddenly pleasant； deeper； more mature。
'Leave him alone；' Lily repeated。 She was looking at James with every sign of great dislike。 'What's he done to you？'
'Well；' said James； appearing to deliberate the point； 'it's more the fact that he exists； if you know what I mean：'
Many of the surrounding students laughed； Sirius and Wormtail included； but Lupin； still apparently intent on his book； didn't； and nor did Lily。
'You think you're funny；' she said coldly。 'But you're just an arrogant； bullying toerag； Potter。 Leave him alone。'
'I will if you go out with me； Evans；' said James quickly。 'Go on： go out with me and I'll never lay a wand on old Snivelly again。'
Behind him； the Impediment Jinx was wearing off。 Snape was beginning to inch towards his fallen wand； spitting out soapsuds as he crawled。
'I wouldn't go out with you if it was a choice between you and the giant squid；' said Lily。
'Bad luck； Prongs；' said Sirius briskly； and turned back to Snape。 'OI！'
But too late； Snape had directed his wand straight at James； there was a flash of light and a gash appeared on the side of James's face； spattering his robes with blood。 James whirled about： a second flash of light later； Snape was hanging upside…down in the air； his robes falling over his head to reveal skinny； pallid legs and a pair of greying underpants。
Many people in the small crowd cheered； Sirius； James and Wormtail roared with laughter。
Lily； whose furious expression had twitched for an instant as though she was going to smile； said； 'Let him down！'
'Certainly；' said James and he jerked his wand upwards； Snape fell into a crumpled heap on the ground。 Disentangling himself from his robes he got quickly to his feet； wand up； but Sirius said； 'Petrificus Totalus！' and Snape keeled over again； rigid as a board。
'LEAVE HIM ALONE！' Lily shouted。 She had her own wand out now。 James and Sirius eyed it warily。
'Ah； Evans； don't make me hex you；' said James earnestly。
Take the curse off him； then！'
James sighed deeply； then turned to Snape and muttered the counter…curse。
There you go；' he said； as Snape struggled to his feet。 'You're lucky Evans was here； Snivellus …'
'I don't need help from filthy little Mudbloods like her！'
Lily blinked。
'Fine；' she said coolly。 'I won't bother in future。 And I'd wash your pants if I were you； Snivellus。'
'Apologise to Evans！' James roared at Snape； his wand pointed threateningly a