Mary's mysterious summer experiences give her newfound status among the girls, while Ferox returns from Romania looking sun-weathered. The marauders become obsessed with their "snogging competition," leaving Remus feeling excluded from their romantic pursuits. War tensions escalate at Hogwarts with Slytherins becoming more isolated and aggressive. Remus receives a note from Effie Scunthorpe asking him to tell Sirius she thinks he's gorgeous, highlighting how everyone around him is caught up in romantic drama.