That's right guys I'm back after my long three or so years of nothing. Reading back on my previous uncompleted Lily and James fanfic I've realised that I no longer enjoy that story and I don't know how to finish it so I've started another Lily and James story, however they'll be sharing the story with another couple, I'm sure you'll all be able to pick up who it will be soon, but I don't want to reveal too much. Anyway while I have some spare time on my hands here is what I've written so far and hopefully there will be more to come soon.
SpringBabe.
"Lily" Brooke hissed softly not wanting to upset Lily any more than she already was.
The had finished their last OWL a few hours ago, it was the event that occurred about 15 minutes after their DADA OWL that had caused Lily to rush up to the Gryffindor tower straight to the privacy of the 5th year girls dorm.
It was weird whispering to the curtains Lily had pulled shut around her four poster bed, although Brooke knew the other girl was behind them it would have been better if she could talk directly to Lily instead of through a scarlet curtain.
As much as Brooke wanted to go back to the Ravenclaw common room and join the celebrations with the other fifth years, much to the annoyance of the 7th years who still had most of their NEWT exams to do over the next week and a half she knew that Lily needed her. The Ravenclaw parties were a hit or miss anyway, and after pretending to be friends with Marina and Samara for five minutes in order to look like she was enjoying the party Brooke decided to leave and see if her Gryffindor friend would like some company.
Lily and Brooke might have been from different houses, but they had managed to stay friends ever since they were paired up in charms in their first year. They may have been from different houses, but the fact that Brooke didn't get along with her roommates helped solidify their friendship and Brooke preferred to hang out with Lily's roommates over her own. No one battered an eyelid anymore when they found Brooke in the Gryffindor common room, she was there that often, even the Fat Lady let her on her own as long as she gave the right password. Although this could have been due to the fact that Brooke's cousin Mary was a 6th year Gryffindor prefect and was respected by all Gryffindor's.
They also had nothing in common appearance wise. Lily had long red hair, with the occasional blonde streak from when she got her hair dyed in the Christmas holidays, bright emerald green eyes that sparkled when she laughed or smiled. Lily was also reasonably small for her age but she had one of the bodies that all the boys desired and all the girls wanted. Brooke on the other hand was of average height, as tanned as people get when they are of British origin and had shoulder length caramel-blonde hair. She had blue eyes that naturally shimmered, which most people told her was her best feature. While Brooke applied very little make-up as she preferred the natural look Lily wore heavy eye make-up, which only made her green eyes stand out more and caked on the blush in order to make up for her pale complexion. Although while Lily applied her make-up more heavily then Brooke she did not look like a cake face like Marina.
They didn't have much in common interests wise either. Brooke was a sports fan, both muggle and magic, playing or spectating she was there. Lily however enjoyed reading and preferred to be indoors instead rather than outside freezing while watching either a soccer match with her father or a quidditch game with the rest of the school. Lily would only go to Gryffindor quidditch games anyway just to support her house.
They did have one thing in common, a male best friend who they knew from before starting Hogwarts. For Brooke that best friend came in the form of Peter Pettigrew and for Lily, Severus Snape was her best friend, however it seemed that Lily and Severus' friendship had ended this very day, which was the main reason while Brooke had come to comfort Lily.
While their friendship may have been rocky for a while, Lily remained hopeful that Severus would always be her friend, after all he was the one who introduced her to the magical world, he was her best friend for years until he began to distance himself and started to hang around some of the nastier Slytherin's. Even when Severus was sorted into Slytherin and Lily into Gryffindor they still remained best friends and bonded even more on their mutual hate of James Potter.
Brooke and Peter knew each other before they came to Hogwarts. They were next door neighbours who lived in a muggle town, so neither told the other that they were a witch or wizard. Then Brooke's parents got a divorce and Brooke moved in with her dad and his new girlfriend in the heart of the city among the bustle and hustle of busy everyday Londoners. It was a shock for both Brooke and Peter when they bumped into each other on the Hogwarts express. Since Brooke instantly had Peter as her friend they spent the time from Kings Cross Station to Hogsmeade Station catching up with each other, she never really took the time on that first train ride to get to know any other first years.
For the first few years Brooke, was Lily's last minute friend and was closer friends with the other Gryffindor girls, as Lily would always spend her free time either studying with Severus or just spending time with him and while Brooke didn't like Snape much she respected their friendship enough to leave them alone when they were together. It wasn't until 3rd year that Severus started to distance himself from Lily due to his housemate's reactions of their friendship that Lily decided to study with Brooke and they began to hang out more. By 4th year Lily began to stop trying to rearrange all her time in order to spend time with Severus and started to view Brooke as her best friend. It was through Brooke that she began to form strong friendships with the other Gryffindor girls in her year.
"Lily can you please open the curtains I just want to make sure you're okay." Brooke said her voice full of sympathy.
Brooke was just about to give up and join the Gryffindor party which was much louder and more exciting than the Ravenclaw party thanks to the Marauders when Mary burst into the room.
"Hi, Brooke is Lily here, it's just that Snape still hasn't left Gryffindor Tower and is threatening to sleep out the front of the Fat Lady if Lily doesn't talk to him." Mary explained.
"Yeah she is, but I don't think she wants to see anyone especially him." Brooke added quietly so only Mary could hear.
Lily pulled the curtains back and stuck her mascara stained face out. "I don't care, I'm not seeing him."
"Lily you're the only one who can send him away. I don't care if you don't accept his apology but please just get him to leave. Half of Gryffindor wants to hex the greasy haired git. SO PLEASE get him to leave. He's threatening to sleep outside the common room until you see him." Mary practically begged.
"No." Lily replied stubbornly.
Brooke shook her head slightly. She hated Snape for what he did to her. It probably hurt Lily more than they thought but if she wanted to end things this was the time. "Lily you have to. I like Snape as much as the Marauders do but I think Mary's right you need to see him before the Gryffindor's hex his sorry behind back to where he came from."
"He deserves to be hexed. He doesn't deserve for me to stop that." Lily muttered bitterly.
"Lily." Brooke said soothingly. "Just go out and tell him it's over."
"Look you don't get it; you're not a muggle born. I act like the word doesn't affect me because it's just a word and it's only Slytherin's and other pureblood fanatics saying it but when it comes from the mouth of your best friend and the person who introduced you to this world it hurts." Lily admitted wiping away one lone tear that had started to fall. The last tear she was going to cry for him.
She wasn't going to cry for him anymore. She wasn't going to give him that satisfaction. She was done.
"Lily you're the strongest girl I know. You can do this. All you have to do is walk down to the common room with your head held high. You're still going to act like the word doesn't affect you and you're going to see Snape and tell him whatever you want. You can leave at the end of this year and use the summer holidays to forget about it if you have to." Mary advised.
"Alright I'll do it." Lily said finally agreeing to Brooke and Mary.
"That's my girl." Mary smiled.
Brooke and Mary waited in the dorm while Lily got herself organised although it didn't take long. All she did was remove her makeup and washed away the mascara stained tear marks.
"We'll walk you down if you want, that way you can make your way through the carnage easier." Brooke offered as Lily walked out the dorm flanked by both Brooke and Mary.
Surprisingly they were able to quickly make their way through the party occurring without anyone stopping them.
"Do you think she'll be okay?" Brooke as Mary as the portrait closed behind Lily, leaving them in the common room in order to offer Lily and Snape some privacy.
"She'll be fine. She can handle herself in any situation." Mary answered wandering to the table of food a few feet away from the entryway.
10 minutes later Lily's shouts could be heard even over the loud music playing, stopping the party for a few seconds. The 5th year Gryffindor girls turned to sound of the noise with concern for their friend, and James Potter looked ready to jump into action and defend the red head even though she would have turned her anger onto him. Mary thankfully had the decency to charm the entrance to the common room so no sound from outside could be heard and the party goers quickly turned back to what they were doing.
Five minutes later Lily returned, "I can't wait for the summer holidays."
"So are you and Snape still friends or…" Brooke trailed of not sure if it was ok to ask.
"No it's over. I told him that friends don't insult each other and for him to say it means he had to have been thinking it so I want nothing to do with him." Lily replied.
"Are you going to be ok, Lil or do you want me to stay a bit longer?" Mary asked, not sure if the redhead needed to vent.
"I'll be fine Mary, thanks for being supportive." Lily replied, ready to make her way through the crowd and up to her dormitory. Brooke followed her ready to block the girl from anyone trying to talk to her, for their protection mainly because the redhead would explode if anyone provoked her in anyway before she made it up to her dormitory.
"Do you want me to leave you alone as well?" Brooke asked uncertain when Lily flopped face first onto her bed burying her face into her pillow.
"No, you can stay if you want. I don't really want to be all alone. Besides I doubt you want to go and hang out with Samara and Marina." Lily replied sitting up to face Brooke.
Lily looked conflicted for a moment, like she was trying to work out whether to say what she was thinking or not, "you know what, give me a few minutes for me to calm down and freshen up then we can go join the other girls at the party. A distraction might be exactly what I need as long as you keep Potter away from me.
Brooke seemed slightly unsure if this was the right thing to do, but instead decided that she want to enjoy a party and just smiled at the redhead. "Deal."
Ok so this was just a bit of a summary of what had happened to lead up to the next year. Basically this is what I believe is the triggering moment that changed James and Lily's relationship even if we all know that there is a lot of time to go before they get together, Lily's opinion isn't going to change overnight. Plus Brooke is a crucial character in this story and I wanted to show how she fits in.
SpringBabe.