December 31, 1975
In an empty corridor, LILY, REMUS, and SIRIUS are walking leisurely on their way to the Great Hall.
LILY: Think they'll serve anything good today?
SIRIUS: The house elves never disappoint.
REMUS: They certainly don't when you steal from them during our parties.
SIRIUS: Borrow, my good Remus.
The three laugh together, their sounds echoing throughout the hallway.
LILY: I always love the Castle when it's empty like this. It's so peaceful.
REMUS: I know. I hate it when the corridors get awfully crowded.
SIRIUS: Makes me want to just use a major Impediment Jinx and clear everyone out myself.
As they round a corner, they see SEVERUS walking down a stairwell towards the Slytherin common room carrying a large trunk.
SIRIUS: Watch it, Snivellus!
LILY: Sirius, knock it off-
SEVERUS spots them and frowns.
SEVERUS: What do you want, Black? Besides a brain, that is?
SIRIUS: Didn't think we'd be seeing your ugly face around here for a few more days.
SEVERUS: Early arrival from home. That is, the home that I'm welcomed at and didn't have to run away from.
SIRIUS: Mind yourself, Snape.
SEVERUS: (smirking) Why don't you make me, Black?
LILY: That's enough, you two-
SIRIUS: Maybe I will!
SEVERUS: Go ahead and try. Because I, unlike you, am a Prefect, and can certainly get you into a load of trouble if I want-
REMUS: Hate to break it to you, Snape, but we're Prefects, too. So unless you want points docked from Slytherin before term even starts, you better just walk away.
LILY: (mumbling) Come on, let's just go downstairs.
LILY and REMUS drag SIRIUS down the stairs, while LILY offers SEVERUS a pitiful look as she leaves.
REMUS: You don't have to start rubbish with him all the time, Sirius.
SIRIUS: Slimy little git.
LILY: Remus is right, Sirius. Just stay away from each other.
SIRIUS: Come on. You know he runs around with my cousins half the time.
LILY: Regardless. The last thing we need is trouble with the teachers-
SIRIUS: Yeah, yeah.
The three arrive at the Great Hall, and take their usual seats at the Gryffindor table where MARLENE, MARY, JAMES, and PETER are already seated.
MARLENE: Everything okay?
SIRIUS: We met Snivellus on the way here. Just a bit tense.
MARLENE: You didn't get in a duel with him, did you?
SIRIUS: No, the Prefects stopped me.
JAMES: (smiling) Good job, Remus. (He and REMUS high-five over the table).
MARLENE: Well, as long as we don't have negative points before term starts, we should be okay.
JAMES: No promises.
LILY: (smiling) Oh, shut up, Potter-
The friends laugh once more as their plates begin to fill with food.