Both Marlene and Sirius spent a large amount of time avoiding revision. That was until the very end of the Easter holidays, when they were shocked to discover there were only six weeks until their exams.

Reluctantly, the two began doing revision, and as the exams drew closer, more and more of the fifth years grew stressed, and in some cases, hysterical. Lessons were devoted to revision, and timetables were distributed.

"You know," mused Sirius, staring at the timetable that McGonagall had given him, "I think exams are a ploy to drive us all crazy."

"I think you're right," Marlene folded up her own timetable and shoved it into her bag so that she didn't have to look at it, "I'm thinking that I might just wing it with most of them."

"I agree," Sirius grinned.

********

"If you weren't hanging out with that boy, then you would have done enough revision to be confident with your knowlage," Lily scolded Marlene who was riffling through her Charms notes, mere minutes before they were to enter their very first exam.

"Not helpful Lily!" Marlene murmured as she tried to hastily memorise the definition of a disillusionment charm.

"I don't think-" Lily began, but then the doors to the Great Hall opened and the fifth years were ushered in to sit their exam.

********

"I think I actually just did alright in that one," mused Marlene as she hurried to catch up with Lily after their Defence Against the Dark Arts OWL.

"Well, mine went horribly," said Lily. Marlene said nothing, Lily had been critical of every single one of their exams, despite the fact that she had probably received Os in every subject. They joined a group of Gryffindor girls who Lily was friends with and sat down beside the lake, watching some of the girls happily tickle the giant squid.

Marlene stared off towards the beach tree, where Sirius sat with the others, as Lily went through their exam paper and described how incredibly wrong she had gone with every single question.

"Give it a break Lil," said Marlene, who did not want to analyse the entire contents of the exam, "uh oh." She spotted James and Sirius getting to their feet and making their way towards Snape.

Lily looked around, just in time to see James jinx Snape. She jumped to her feet and hurried off in the direction of the small crowd that had gathered to watch.

"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Lily yelled when she was within earshot.

James immediately ruffled up his hair, which made Marlene and Sirius exchange a smirking look. They had joked many times about James's hopeless crush on Lily.

"All right, Evans?" James asked, a cocky grin on his face.

"Leave him alone!" Lily repeated, "what's he ever done to you?"

Marlene could think of several things that Snape had done to deserve this treatment, but she held her tong. She didn't like being on the other end of Lily's shouting.

James appeared to deliberate the subject, "well, it's more the fact that he exists you see..."

At this many of the gathered crowd laughed, and Marlene struggled to hold in a snort.

"You think you're funny," said Lily coldly, "but you're just an arrogant, bullying toerag. Potter. Leave him alone!"

"I will if you go out with me, Evans," said James. "Go on... go out with me and I'll never lay a want on old Snivelly again."

Marlene snorted again, causing many people to snicker. "You've got some nerve there James."

"I wouldn't go on a date with you if it was a choice between you and the giant squid," Lily ignored Marlene's comment and continued to glare at James.

"Bad luck Prongs," said Sirius, he turned back to Snape, who had grabbed his dropped wand. There was a bang and a gash appeared on James's face. Blood spattered down his robes. A second flash of light later, Snape was hanging upside-down in the air, his robes fell over his head showing skinny legs and a pair of greying underpants.

"Let him down!" Yelled Lily, over roars of laughter from the crowd.

"Certainly!" James jerked his wand and Snape crumpled in a heap on the floor. Snape scrambled to his feet and drew his wand on James again.

"Petrificus Totalus!" Sirius roared, Snape topple over, rigid as a board.

"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Yelled Lily, even louder than before.

"Lily, he's not worth it!" Marlene said, "just leave it!"

"Ah, Evans, don't make me hex you!" James complained.

"Take the curse off him then!"

James turned and reluctantly muttered the counter curse. "There you go," he growled, "you're lucky that Evans was here Snivellus-"

"I don't need help from a filthy little Mudblood like her," Snape spat.

Lily blinked, seeming completely stunned by what he had said, "fine. I won't bother in the future. And I'd wash your pants if I were you, Snivellous."

"Apologise to Evans!" James pointed his wand threateningly at Snape.

"I don't want you to make him apologise!" Lily shouted, "you're as bad as he is!"

"What?" Yelped James, "I'd never call you a- a you know what!"

"Messing up your hair because you think it looks cool to look like you've just got off your broomstick, showing off with that stupid snitch. Walking down corridors hexing anyone who annoys you just because you can- I'm surprised your broomstick can get off the ground sign that fat head on it. You make me sick!"

Lily whirled around and hurried off. Marlene exchanged a look with Sirius before hurrying after Lily.