"Lily," Alice said. Lily was just finishing up packing the last of her things. She had left it to the last minute, as she always did.

"Go ahead down to dinner with the others, I'll be down just as soon as I finish!" she called out from beneath her bed, attempting to gather the books that had been collecting themselves there over the year.

"Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something. I've wanted to for awhile, but things have been so busy with exams." Lily came out from under her bed, and seeing the serious look on Alice's face, she got up and sat down with her.

"What is it?" Lily asked when they were situated.

"Why do you not like James?" she asked. Lily blinked.

"Well that was much more straight forward than I expected," Lily said, but seeing that Alice was unwavering, she sighed.

"It's not that I can't see his good qualities, it's just that those good qualities don't stand for much when I see all of his bad ones as well. Does that answer your question?"

"I suppose. I just wonder sometimes, if you see his side of it," Alice said cautiously.

"What do you mean?" Lily asked.

"Well he likes you obviously, and every time you turn him down, it really hurts him. He's never himself for a few days afterward. For as much as you don't like him, he is serious about you, and I just wonder if you know that. Ever since you started dating Gideon, he hasn't really been… the same," Alice said tentatively.

"Potter and his friends got into an argument a month ago – everyone knows that," said Lily reasonably.

"I know, but I think…" Alice looked away.

"What?" Lily prodded.

"I think that it had something to do with you," Alice said quickly. There was a moment of silence.

"Don't be ridiculous," Lily scoffed.

"I'm serious Lily." She gave Alice an incredulous look. "Listen, Frank told me something. He said he heard the boys yelling that night. Somehow Serveus Snape was involved. I guess they were pulling some kind of prank on him, to cheer James up because he was so down about you and Gideon, only James didn't know about it, and when they told him, he…"

"He what?" Lily asked, as though almost afraid of the answer.

"He got upset. He said that it had gone too far. He and Sirius said some really mean things to each other, and then Sirius said James was starting to sound like you. James said that he thought maybe you had been right. Sirius brushed it off, saying that it was only because you were dating Gideon that James was talking like that, but James protested. James said that they weren't any better than the Slytherins. Sirius got really furious at that, but Frank didn't hear any more because they finally put a silencing charm on the room."

There was a long silence before Lily spoke. "Why are you telling me this?" she asked.

Alice took a minute in answering. "I just want to know why you don't like him. I respect James because at the very least, he's always been honest about his feelings for you, but I can never really tell your feelings about him."

Lily sighed. "For Potter, everything comes easy — money, talent, friends, grades, a good family, a great future. He's attractive, he's brilliant, and he's passionate, but he doesn't have any integrity. He doesn't place any value in the things he does have.

I look at him and I see all the things that I strive for; and then I see him acting like he did something to deserve it, like it was so easy to do, so passé. It makes me feel like it isn't worth the effort I put into it when I know it is, like I'm somehow stupid or pitiable because it's so easy and I still have to work so hard for it.

Generally, I could handle all of that. I'm sure that he was raised to act like he does, and he's not imperious all of the time. I don't think he's consciously aware of how arrogant he sounds when he opens his mouth, but the thing about Potter that I can't forgive is that he has all this potential to do and be whatever he wants, and what does he do with it? Stupid party tricks and bullying Slytherins just because he can. He cheapens and disrespects everything I try so hard to achieve."

"Oh Lily," Alice said. "Have you ever told him that?"

"I can just imagine how great of a conversation that would be," she said sarcastically. Before Alice could figure out what to say, Lily sighed and stood. "It's alright Alice, really. Let's head down to the feast. I'm starving, and I can finish packing later tonight."

And because Lily had already left, Alice sighed and followed.

"There you are," Marlene said as the two walked over. "I though you'd never finish!"

"I still haven't," Lily said wryly. She smiled as Marlene muttered about too many books. "No such thing," she replied, filling her plate. Alice spotted Frank a little further down the table and went to sit with him.

Sirius and Peter were sitting at the table a few seats down as well, and Lily watched as Remus and James walked into the hall. Ever since their argument last month, tensions between the four had caused the strange split that had everyone –even the teachers—speculating about. The lack of pranks and general mayhem had made the end of the year seem uneventful, and other students, who were not otherwise predisposed to causing chaos, had taken to disrupting class just to break the awkwardness.

James and Remus sat down across from Sirius and Peter, but it was obvious that things were still awkward between them. Lily, because she had been thinking about what Alice had said, glanced over at James. The four mostly just sat there eating and didn't really talk.

Marlene and Dorcus had gotten into another one of their spats about Quidditch so she did not feel ashamed or worried about the fact she was staring. What startled her was when James glanced in her direction, almost as though out of habit, looked away, and then did a double take. He looked at her surprised, and strangely enough, she did not blush at being caught or look away.

She was thinking about what Alice had said –about James saying he thought maybe she was right. After a moment, he smiled at her. It wasn't his normal cocky grin, but a soft upturn of the corner of his lips. "Hi," he mouthed. She suddenly wanted to talk to him, to ask him about that night.

"What's with the staring contest?" a voice behind her said as she felt two arms slide over her shoulders. If the voice and embrace had not tipped her off as to whom it was, the look on James's face did. "You two aren't having another row, are you?"

"We don't have rows," she said, turning to look at Gideon.

"Right Lily. Who do you think you're fooling? Your fights are legendary, even outside of your own house," he said teasingly. She was not amused.

"We don't fight," Lily said sternly, but simply. "We argue."

"I don't see the difference," he said.

She was suddenly reminded of that day when James had told her Gideon wasn't good for her because he didn't make her angry, but nobody made her angry the way James did. She didn't know how to explain it. Most things only made her frustrated. Few things actually made her angry, and James was just one of them.

They were stubborn when they fought, each just as passionately sure their opinion was right, though it was never malicious. They took it seriously, but James liked her and she didn't really hate him, as some believed, so when they fought, he was honest and brilliant, and in that way it almost made it fun. It was a game, in a strange sense; one with vague rules and boundaries, but one that made sparks nonetheless.

She sighed. "Never mind," she said, because she always did when the subject was James and because she never knew how to classify that awkward feeling she always had in her stomach, that only ever seemed to go away when they argued and he made her angry.

Gideon dropped the subject and changed the topic to what her summer plans were. It was strange, she thought. Gideon was her boyfriend and yet the idea of not seeing him over holidays did not bother her. She thought it was suppose to, if the actions of other couples had been any indication, but they had not made plans to write, much less see one another, and he had seemed fine with this too, for which she was grateful. The idea of introducing him to her family –and that they might like him— seemed almost paralyzing, though she could not think of why. She glanced over at James, but the four had left, as had Dorcus and Marlene. Most everyone had.

"Lily, this is really hard for me to say, so I want to say it and then leave so you have time to think it over, and we can talk tomorrow on the train, alright?" Gideon asked. She nodded.

He took a deep breath. "I really like you Lily. I love spending time with you and I don't ever feel like I have to work at our relationship. I feel like I can be myself when I'm with you, like we're really good friends who are also going steady. I just want to be sure you're happy, that this is what you want. I don't want you to be with me because it's easy, I want you to be with me because this is really what you want."

He stood up then and walked away, leaving a very stunned Lily in his wake.

The train ride had felt much shorter than it normally did, Lily thought. She had barely been able to sleep after talking with Gideon last night, completely unsure as to what her response should be, but knowing she should have one.

"It'll be all right, Lily, don't look so sad," Marlene said. Dorcus leaned over to embrace her in a one-armed hug, her head resting one Lily's shoulder.

Lily smiled. "I'm going to miss you both," she said. "And Alice."

Dorcus giggled. "I miss Alice already."

Marlene snorted. "Bet Frank doesn't."

They all laughed, knowing the couple was off snogging somewhere. "Come on," Lily said seriously. "Frank's not going to be there next year. That has to be really hard on both of them. They're used to seeing each other every day, and now they'll only get to see each other on Hogsmeade weekends."

"That's true," Dorcus said. "It will be so strange next year without Frank around."

"If by 'around' you mean showing up for five seconds to steal Alice away to go snog," Marlene said, biting back a smile.

"At least they don't try to make excuses for it anymore. Remember when they first started going out? They spent more time 'studying in the library' than the library is actually open," Lily said.

"It's just that Frank's a bad liar and Alice's face would always turn beet red!" Dorcus said. The girls giggled.

"Talking about us, are you?" Alice said, and the three girls looked up to see the couple standing in the door.

"And how!" Marlene said, giggling at being caught.

"Affectionately reminiscing only," Lily said. Frank shook his head and Alice smiled.

"Probably deserved it," Frank said. "Oh, by the way Lily, I think Gideon was looking for you."

"Oh, she said, her earlier worries and anxieties slipping back into her mind. "Thanks."

Just then, several large objects flew by the compartment door.

"Was that…?" Frank said.

"Slytherins in pink tutus?" Lily asked.

Everyone looked at each other, as though confirming what they saw.

"Sirius Black!" a loud voice boomed, and laughter was heard throughout the train as they pulled into the station. They all stood and began to file out.

"Lily!" Gideon said, and she turned to him, still smiling at the joke, though he seemed to read something else by it, because he did not ask her what she had thought about last night or anything like it.

"Can I kiss you?" he asked, and she was surprised, but suddenly thought that it would be a good test, to see if this was really what she wanted. She had kissed him several times before on the cheek in the past, but this, she thought, would be a definitive answer that could put in order all of the uncertain feelings she had.

"Yes," she said, and he smiled, leaned in, and kissed her. She closed her eyes, because he had, and waited a few seconds before he pulled away. It was nice, she supposed, but he smiled, smiled in a way that seemed to say he had felt something she hadn't.

She realized that suddenly and clearly that she would have to break up with him and was amazed at how relieved she felt, but he had just kissed her upon her consent and she rather thought it would be tactless just then. So she smiled back and they said goodbye, and she went off to say a final farewell to her friends, before finding her parents and going home.

AN: Everyone who reviews gets a cookie!

Jellyman- I agree that James is probably more arrogant about his skills than his background, but the point Gideon was trying to make is that James is a good catch, and Lily is tired of hearing about it. I do think that James's background helps to shape how he acts, if only by giving him confidence in who he is. Lily also, over the course of the story, will get to know James better, and realize that she may (does) have misconceptions about what he's really like. I hope this chapter helps to clear up some of that, though it may take a few more chapters. Also, the first chapter occurs after Snape's Worst Memory, but before the event with James saving Snape's life. I think that that period is crucial in altering James, and so use that as a starting point. Thanks for the compliments! I really appreciate it!

Fallen Flower- This is the end of sixth year. Sorry that wasn't clear and thanks for your review!

Amandinka- I think the book form is always better too, but I think the third movie has been the best so far!

Cherry Chalk- eek! And thanks.

Lady Riddle- Thanks! And I'll be sure to look into your J/L fic. I've been keeping up with your "Wish Upon a Star" (generally I'm horrible about reviewing—sorry!), and it's really intriguing so far!

Katherine, StormAngel13, Aimz, wats up? – Thank you so much for your reviews! I read each one a couple times and I want you to know how much I appreciate it! Hope you like this chapter too!