Marlene glanced up as she heard James's familiar voice ring out behind her. "There you are, you wanker!" she called out, grinning, and stood to meet him. "You're quite slow, you know. How rude to keep a lady waiting!" She kept her tone light, playful.
"How've you been, then? I haven't seen you much lately." Marlene thought about what Lily had said last night, about how they had snogged and now she didn't know if she should chance being his girlfriend. "How's, you know, Head Boy things?"
It had taken several days for Marlene to stop laughing when she had found out that James, of all people, had been appointed Head Boy. She had never imagined a least likely candidate--at least, until she started thinking about it. He was Quidditch Captain, so he had the leadership skills. He was good at commanding authority, except with his own mates. And he had excellent grades without even trying. Head Boy material, indeed.