The tall, red-headed figure of Lily Evans could be seen standing by the window of the Gryffindor Common Room, watching buckets upon buckets of rain pour down outside. She wondered vaguely if the upcoming quidditch match would be canceled, and heaved a heavy sigh. She was dreading her next class, Herbology, for that would require walking, or running, through the mess to the greenhouses. Realizing she would be late if she didn't soon take her leave, she opened the portrait hole and began descending the stairs at a snails pace. Lily, of course, was pondering, a euphemism for daydreaming. She was thinking about everything at once, yet nothing in particular. Such was her intent on pondering, she didn't remember to jump the trick step at the bottom of the staircase.

          Before she knew what was happening, the green-eyed girl was jerked out of Lily-La-La-land and back to reality, shin-deep in rotting wood, cursing quite colorfully.

          "Well, well, well…" came the chuckling voice of a sixteen year old boy. "Seems like you're in a bit of a predicament."

          "Yes, it would seem that way…" She smiled at James Potter, her long time friend of six years, while continuing her battle with the step. The step, of course, won.

          "You don't get stuck here often… It's usually Peter." James noticed, in an offhand sort of way. His robes were soaking wet, and his messy hair was plastered to his forehead. Lily didn't have to ask how he'd gotten this way, for it was obvious he'd been out in the rain.

          "Not usually…" She laughed, "I wasn't paying attention."

          "Ah, Miss Evans, daydreaming again?" he smirked, "What shall we do about this mess?"

          "Uh… You're going to be a sweetheart and pull me out?" Lily replied hopefully, pushing her crimson locks out of her eyes.

          "Yes, of course." James took both of her hands and pulled. "Wow… you're stuck!"

          "Well, thank you, Captain Obvious!" Lily replied, covering her giggles, "If I wasn't stuck, I wouldn't need your help, you stupid prat!"

          "Prat? That hurts Lil. It really does." He shook his head, also laughing, and, coming from behind, wrapped his arms around her waist. "On three. Ready?" he paused, and Lily nodded, "One… Two… Three!" He yanked Lily upwards and out of the step, before losing his balance. The two of them went hurtling down another flight steps, landing at the bottom in a pile.

          "oomph…We're going to be so late to Herbology…" James mumbled. Or, it just sounded like a mumble, for Lily had landed on top of him.

          "Not if we just ditch…" Lily stood.

          James surveyed his friend. In all the six years he'd known her, she'd never suggested that they 'ditch' class. She was too perfect.

          "Sounds good to me…"

          The two of them tromped back upstairs, careful not to get stuck in any trick steps on the way to the common room.