Lily was right there when it all happened -- and she was present for the very detailed recap in Professor Sprout's office -- and she still can't quite actually believe it. It was like something out of a farce.

One moment, Syreeta Burtt had been sitting in the library, alone at a table, doing what looked like Divination homework.

And the next, there had been mistletoe floating above her head.

And then Alonzo Greene had come over and pointed out the mistletoe and tried to kiss her.

Alonzo was apparently unaware that Syreeta had agreed to go out with Malcolm Haley just that morning.

And, of course, Malcolm had come into the library just as Alonzo made his move.

When all the shouting and spellcasting was done, Lily had found herself walking three redfaced Hufflepuff Fourth Years, one in tears and two with mistletoe stuck up their noses, down to Professor Sprout's office.

She'll have to thank Professor Sprout later, for letting her leave once the story was told, instead of making her wait around through all the apologies and detentions and un-mistletoe-ing of nostrils.

Lily makes her way back down the corridor past empty classrooms and toward Gryffindor Tower.

She's done, she thinks, with the library for today.