A/N: Welcome back to another fun filled chapter. This one isn't so depressing, i hope. This is set roughly the first weekend of October, so we've jumped another two weeks onwards from the last chapter. I hope you enjoy our first official trip outside of Hogwarts!

I want to thank funnyster16, loveya0909 and sannique for commenting recently. I really appreciate all the reviews. Love ya. Follow. Fav. Share. Review. x

PS. I've just got new job so chapters might be a little bit longer to write and post. Sorry babes

PPSS. I'm changing the Quidditch matches around so that the Gryffindor Slytherin game isn't the first one of the year because there is too much stuff happening for Mr and Mrs Black, and Potter, to show up before Christmas. So It's going to be 1) Hufflepuff, 2) Slytherin and 3) Ravenclaw.

PPPSSS. There is a scene that I do not own, I just liked it and have used it from a tumblr post I saw. I think the poster was jilyfied so thank you for coming up with such a great little arc. I'm just gonna tweet it to be nastier

Disclaimer: J K Rowling is Gideon Graves and we are the other six evil exes.

Chapter 7 - 'Who can even guess how much a real friend is worth?' - Paul Williams

(Phora)

"Evans, come on." Marlene shouted from the bottom of the stairs. Everyone was ready to go to Hogsmeade, and was waiting 'patiently' in the common room, but Lily was still floundering in her room, for some reason.

The redhead popped her head over the bannister and yelled back down. "I can't find my scarf."

"For Merlin sake, it's the hottest day of the year, you don't need a scarf."

"It's tradition."

McKinnon sighed and walked over to where the rest of the group were sitting to tell them why there was a delay.

"Did you tell her about the weather?" Emmeline enquired.

"No, Vance." Marlene said, sarcastically, and pointed to the window at the clear, cloudless sky and the overly bright sun. "I thought it would be obvious that it's gonna be bloody warm today."

James exhaled and slumped into his chair, as the two girls continued to snipe at each other. Lily hadn't been the same for the past two weeks. Everyone had noticed the dark circles under her eyes and her change in personality. She was no longer the levelheaded, vivacious Head Girl that everyone knew. She still told James off but he could tell she was the shadow of the person she used to be and it was killing him inside to see her become something she isn't.

Sirius gave Potter a look and whispered, as quietly as Black could. "Don't you have a scarf."

Prongs smiled and, quickly, raced to his room. He knew exactly where his scarf was and had it in hand for Evans, at her door, within two minutes.

"What's this?" Lily asked as she opened her door and looked worryingly at the red and gold scarf.

"It's mine. Take it." James smiled and held it out towards her. She continued to look at it, perplexed, so he wrapped it around her neck for her, in a way that covered all of her face.

"Urgh, it smells like you." She mumbled through the wool as she tried to detangle herself. Once she had the scarf off, she fashioned it back around her neck in a more stylish manner. Lily looked up at him, with a slight blush on her cheeks. "Thank you, James."

"Are you ready now?"

"I've just got to do something and I'll be down in a sec."

James nodded and waited for Lily to turn her back before he moved from the girls stairway without causing the stairs to turn into a slide. It was still a secret he was going to keep to himself. As he entered the common room he told the gang that Lily was nearly ready and that he'd meet everyone at the Entrance Hall.

"Entrance Hall?" Mary asked. "Aren't you gonna wait for us? Aren't you gonna wait for Lily?"

"I've got to meet someone. I don't want her to think I'm being rude."

"Her?"

"It's ungentlemanly to let a girl wait."

"Mate, I think they want to know who the girl is." Sirius muttered as he walked over to his friend. Before James could clarify who he'd invited, Black continued to talk. "As Prongs makes an excellent point, I, also, have to leave. Sophia will be waiting."

The two best friends exited the Gryffindor Tower to a very empty stairway. The only sounds made were of the paintings, ghosts, and the occasional footstep of a poor first and second year, who aren't able to leave the castle yet.

"I assume you're not dating anyone because you would have told me." Black said as they waited for the staircase to move. "So who's the lucky girl?"

"Miraphora."

"Why?"

"Because she doesn't have any friends."

"So this is a pity date?"

"This isn't a date."

"Does she know it isn't a date?"

"Yes!" James exclaimed. "We are just friends. When you and Lily spend time together, does that count as a date?"

"Only in my heart."

"Be serious, Padfoot."

Sirius smiled, reassuringly. "I only see Lily as a best friend. Our relationship is purely platonic."

"I know, I know. I'm not saying it isn't. But its the same with me and Miraphora, and every other girl at this school."

"Other than our lovely Miss Evans." Black muttered, mockingly.

"Has Lily talked to you recently?"

Black shook his head, knowing what Potter meant. "I don't think she's spoke to Remus about it, either. Does she know that we know she tried to run away?"

"Maybe. I do tell you guys most things."

"Most things? It better be bloody everything, Potter." Sirius laughed and gave a cheeky wink. "Does Mina really have no friends?"

"She has a few. Did you know about her before I was partnered with her?"

"Of course. She was the one that believe the fortune telling fish worked and only attended Transfiguration lessons to transform herself into a duck, or was it a ferret?" Sirius shrugged his shoulders as if it didn't matter. "Who cares? If the girl is cool, and from what you've told me she is, thats all that matters. I'll invite her to my birthday party, if you want."

"I was gonna do it anyway."

"You can take her to the Slughorn party as your plus one, too."

"I'm never invited to those even though my grades are good and I'm famous." James said, egotistically. "We have are own christmas party to plan and attend."

"You're Head Boy, Prongs, you have no choice but to go. Remus always goes and Sophia's part of the club so I'm going. Poor Peter will be the only one left not attended."

"Hopefully, I'd go with Lily."

Sirius wasn't listened and continued his train of thought. "We'd have to get Peter in somehow but then who'd host the 'Anti-Slug Club' party? I thought we'd have one last go at it but maybe we need to pass it on to someone else. Hey, do you remember when the Prewett twins passed it to us? Good times."

As the two best friends reached the Entrance Hall it was quiet and empty, except for three girls. Sophia had invited a friend along, fellow seventh year Ravenclaw Alana McLarid, and they both stood the furthest away from Mina as possible. James went over to Miraphora, whose hair colour had changed to a vivd orange colour, and greeted her in a friendly manner, along with introducing her to Black.

While shaking Sirius hand, Mina uttered. "Has anyone read your aura before?"

"Er, no." Sirius replied, a little unnerved, and let go of her hand. "Is it a good one?"

"Merlin, no. It says you're too mischievous and have a tendency to be a git."

James laughed. "She's got you figured out, Padfoot."

"Does it say how dashingly charming I am?" Sirius asked. "Or that I've got nice eyes?"

"I don't need to read your aura to know that." Mina replied as her two different coloured eyes, blue and hazelly gold, gazed into his stormy grey ones.

"A little flirty, are we?" Black hummed, nodding his head in approval. "You're alright, Phora."

"It's Miraphora."

"I'm giving you a nickname, Phora."

"Oh, I've never had one of those before."

"If you're a friend of mine, you have to have a nickname. How else will I remember you?"

Miraphora looked at Black puzzled. James snickered, "That's the git part."

"I see." She laughed. "You're a strange one, Sirius Black. Shouldn't we go to your girlfriend? I don't think she's happy."

Sirius opened his mouth, dumbstruck, as Mina walked over to Sophia, who was looking very confused at the Hufflepuff. "Did she just call me strange?"

Potter snickered some more and slapped his friend on the back. "I think you need to go to Dippet before Mina reads her palms and tells her she could do so much better than you."

(On the way to Hogsmeade)

"What the fuck is McLaird doing here?" Mary grumbled as she walked next to her three Gryffindor girl friends. They were at the back of the pack and were watching the three figures in front of them - Alana, James and Miraphora. "And someone needs to tell her her hair looks awful. What colour even is that…Swamp colour?"

"She's friends with Dippet." Lily replied, unsure of what Mary was trying to imply.

"Evans," Marlene began, already irritated. "Everyone is friends with Sophia bloody Dippet. McLaird's only here because she's got a massive crush on Potter."

"I heard she'd made a voodoo doll of him from his hair." MacDonald laughed.

"Who tells you these things?" Emmeline asked.

"Chambers is always talking about how love stricken Alana is our Divination lessons."

"Urgh, Lucinda's such a bitch." Marlene complained.

"You're just bitter because she's your ex."

"No, she genuinely is a bitch. Why else did me and her get along?"

Mary couldn't argue that. "Aren't you gonna do something, Lily?"

"Why? What am I going to do? James looks too busy listening to Miraphora to even know McLaird is there." Lily smiled, a little, as she observed the three ahead. Potter and Mina were in a deep, but laughable, conversation and McLaird was trying her best to get his attention by laughing along, touching his arm and 'accidentally' falling into him. The creature inside Evans didn't like that but it was reassured when James just brushed her off, as politely as he could, to turn back and continue his chat with the Hufflepuff.

"James?!" MacDonald squealed. "Since when has he been James to you?"

"I've called him that before, Mary."

The blonde's screech became only audible to dogs after that. "I knew it! I told these two and they didn't believe me. Have you been secretly together for the past two weeks? I told them you wouldn't make people run around the castle for no reason."

"It was the find a hiding space, you idiot." McKinnon interrupted.

"You, and everyone else in Gryffindor, believe that bullshit?! Please. James and Lily wanted to be alone that night so they made it up. They were left on their own in the common room and then they are the last two to come back. It's so obvious. Oh Merlin, you've got to tell us everything!"

Lily hadn't told the girls what had happened a fortnight ago. She felt too ashamed of herself for not telling them how she felt and for not saying goodbye. Voldemort hadn't claimed to have taken any muggle, or muggleborn, life and her parents were replying to her letters quicker than what they were, so everything seemed to be fine. Even Mary was talking to her, again. But there was still a niggling itch in the back of her brain constantly telling her her parents weren't safe: it was keeping her up at night.

"Nothing happened, Mary."

"Would James agree with you?"

"You know he wouldn't."

"What happened then?"

"We searched the castle like everyone else."

"Why were your eyes red then?" Emmeline piped up.

Lily glared at the brunette. "I don't know what your talking about."

"You can't keep hiding things from us, Evans. Your getting as bad as Marlene."

"There's nothing wrong with that." McKinnon nodded at the redhead, for she understood a secret had to be kept. "Lily will tell us, if she wants to, when she wants to. If something had happened between her and Potter, it would not be a secret because he'd have screamed it from the Astronomy Tower."

Lily felt relieved for Marlene in that moment because the other two believed her and dropped the subject. Evans didn't pay attention to the rest of what the Gryffindor girls were talking about next for she was looking at Miraphora, who had stopped at the side of the hedgerow.

The redhead stopped next to the Hufflepuff to see if she was alright.

"I'm good." She smiled, but continued to look into the foliage. "Do you see them?"

Lily joined Miraphora and observed the leaves. She didn't see anything but dense green. "Erm, what am I meant to be looking for?"

"There." Mina whispered, pointing to a twig. "It's a Bowtruckle. I've named him Keith."

Once she was told it was a Bowtruckle, Lily could tell it was one. She'd never seen one before because she hadn't taken Care of Magical Creatures for her O.W.L.S but she knew of them from reading a book she'd borrowed from Lupin. The little tree creature smiled and waved at the two humans. "He's kinda cute."

"He was the one I looked after for my O.W.L. grade. I check up on him, when I can."

"That's, er, nice of you."

"I'd like to think if it was in reverse, he'd look after me." Miraphora said before gasping, suddenly, which made Lily jump. "Have you found a Niffler in the castle?"

"No but James said you was looking for one a fortnight ago."

"I took one from Professor Kettleburn, without permission, and I've, kinda, lost it."

Lily laughed. "If anyone can find something stolen it's Sirius, or Peter. I'd ask him for help."

"He's weird. He called me Phora earlier."

"It suits you."

Mina smiled. "Thank you Lily. Do you think we should go join up with the rest? My tea leaves this morning told me not to be left alone with one person for too long."

"Sure. We should go really slow so we can make James sweat it out."

"Sweat it out?"

"Yeah. "Sweat it out with worry.'" Lily explained as they walked away from Keith, and his hedge, towards the Hogsmeade high street, at a slow pace. "He'd be anxious that I'd be corrupting you against him."

"Wouldn't it be because you might leave again?"

Lily whispered, angrily. "How do you know that?"

"Potter told me. He didn't want to but his aura was all wrong." The sixth year Hufflepuff answered honestly. "I'm sorry about your parents, Lily. I worry about mine as well. There's a news broadcast, late at night, on the WWN that talks about muggle related incidents that have happened or not happened. It's a good place to check for up-to-date news — I can't remember the frequency number."

"You're a muggleborn witch?" She asked as she worked pieces out in her brain and remembered to check to wireless later that evening.

"No. I don't know what I am. My father is a muggleborn wizard and my mom's a half-blood — Is a quarter-blood a thing? — My dad works in a Ministry department that was attacked by You-Know-Who on the first week of September, if you remember, and I don't know what He'd do to my mother for being a blood traitor."

Evans muttered. "I didn't realise."

"It's alright. If everyone told everyone how their effected by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, we'd all be too busy feeling sorry for everyone and we'd not focus on what needs to be done to make sure the future don't have to go through what we have."

"Are you going for Head Girl next year? Because that's the type of spirit people need."

Phora laughed, an ugly snort laugh. "I don't think I'm popular enough for that."

"A friend of James' automatically makes you popular."

"I don't want to be though. It's quite fun being different."

"You must be getting us guys confused with the Cressida Flemings, and maybe Dippets, of the world who handpick their friends. James' group, my group, we are all different and no one judges us for that."

"That's not what Abbot says."

"Yeah, well, Patricia is jealous because Potter didn't want to go out with her in fifth year."

"Really?" Mina giggled, quietly, as they walked onto the high street. It was incredibly hectic with all the students running in and out of shops. Lily could just make out the group: they were all waiting outside Honeydukes and were waving at them hurry up. James looked the most relieved to see them.

Lily shrugged. As the two got closer to Honeydukes, Lily asked the Hufflepuff a question. "Do you want to come to Sirius' birthday party this year? It's on Halloween."

"Hey," James said, clearly hearing the conversation. "I was meant to ask Phora to the party."

Miraphora smiled. "Sure."

"Can I come?" Alana asked James, hopefully, and stepped towards him.

"Sure, if you want to." He replied, impassive, as he placed an arm over Mina's shoulder and pushed her into Honeydukes. Quietly, he muttered into her ear but looked at Evans. "I'm buying you whatever you want in this shop because I owe you one."

(Eight Butterbear, please)

Miraphora didn't want anything from Honeydukes. James paid for McLaird's Sugared Butterfly Wings instead, which riled up the monster inside Lily. She knew it was jealousy, she'd felt that emotion before, but she couldn't figure out why she was envious? It was common knowledge by everyone that Alana had a huge crush on Potter and Lily had seen her 'flirt' with him before, but this time something was different. Something she didn't want to explore and comprehend.

"You don't have to buy me anything, Potter." Mina said after Potter had pestered her a million times what she wanted. They'd also been to the Post Office, Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop and Zonko's. "Why don't you go in a shop you want to go in?"

"I'll do that later."

"Come on, we've got all the time in the world to do things later. Where do you want to go?"

Everyone was taken aback by the younger girl's authoritative manner. It was very out of character but James didn't seem that bit surprised. He pouted, a very Sirius pout, and muttered, "Spintwitches but most of the girls won't want to go in."

"I need to go in." Alana smiled, excitingly. She was the chaser for the Ravenclaw team. "I've got to get some broom polish."

The little green monster inside Lily hated this. It made her walk over the shop to everyones surprise. They questioned her and in return, she replied in an overly flirty manner, as she opened the shop door. "What? I've never been inside a Quidditch shop before, maybe it will be fun."

Lily didn't wait to see their expressions because, by the time she realised what she'd said, there was no taking it back and she felt embarrassed.

Spintwitches was like many shops in Hogsmeade: it was small, compact and filled from floor to ceiling with products of all kinds. Broom handles stuck out of the walls, snitches buzzed around like hummingbirds and various team merchandise brightened the walls with their different colours. She headed in that direction as the rest of the group made their way into the store.

"Nice one, Love." Sirius whispered, with a slight laugh in his voice, as he stood next to Lily, while she admired the banner of the Falmouth Falcons.

"I don't know what your talking about." She lied and turned to look at him.

"Okay, okay, we'll play the innocence card. Nothing happened. But who's gonna tell Prongs that?" Black smirked and pointed to James. Lily looked to see him with a massive smile on his face. "I don't think he's that happy to see Servicing Kits."

Evans punched him in the arm. "Shut your face, Black."

"Hey, I'm just stating a fact. You're wearing his scarf, he knows you like Quidditch —"

"I don't like this stupid broom sport."

"Mooney and Wormtail told us you like it, Love. You can't deny it. We know."

Lily sighed. "Do you sods share everything?"

"Pretty much."

"I'm not telling you anything then if you're just gonna blab it to Potter." She muttered, angrily, as she walked away from the annoyingly smiley Black. Lily wanted to dodge James but there wasn't enough room. All she could do was smile, politely, as she walked passed him, and thats what she did, but he caught her arm before she could get to the exit.

"I want to thank you for talking to Miraphora earlier." He said, as she stopped and stood next to him. "She likes you."

"I like her too. She's cool."

"She told me that you know, that she knows, what happened two weeks back."

"Don't worry about it. She explained that your aura told her." Lily giggled and then looked both ways to make sure the Hufflepuff wasn't near. "Do you think she can actually see auras?"

James shrugged. "She seems to get it right every time she mentions them, so I guess so."

"Has she read your palms or done Xylomancy on you?"

"No." He laughed. "Do you like your first Quidditch shop experience?"

"I've snagged my hair on a broomstick and it smells too much like polish." She complained, teasingly. "So its not too bad. What did you want to buy from here?"

"These." James said as he held out the gloves. Lily knew that many players just wore the armoured Quidditch gloves but these were to be worn, underneath the protective gear, to get extra grip on the ball. These, however, were the beautifulest pair of leather gloves she'd ever seen. They were incredibly smooth and were a brilliant scarlet red. "They're made of Chinese Fireball hide."

"Dragon?"

Potter nodded.

"Wow. How much are they?"

"A little bit too much."

Lily gasped, mockingly. "Is James Potter worried about money? I thought you were ridiculously rich."

"I don't really need them." He shrugged, again, and placed the gloves back on the shelf. "Come on, lets go get a butterbeer."

"What about McLaird? Shouldn't we wait for her?" She said, holding back a laugh.

"I think she wondered off when I made it clear I'm not interested. Sophia went with her."

"And how did you do that?"

James tapped his nose. "Secrets."

"What about—"

"Evans, look around, it's not that big of a shop. Everyone's already waiting for us outside."

Lily smiled and nodded. She felt James', tentative, hand on her shoulder as they walked through the cramped, claustrophobic shop and out onto Hogsmeade's main street. The monster inside seemed to like it to Lily's disgust.

"Evans, get your fucking bird off of me!" Marlene screamed, uncharacteristically of her. Inch, the beautiful snowy owl, stood proudly on McKinnon's shoulder. Mary, Sirius and Peter were crying with hysterics while Remus and Emmeline tried to help Marlene calm down. "It's digging it's bloody claws in!"

"Inch." The redhead said as she tried not to laugh. The owl listened, outstretched its wings and gracefully flew over to Lily's arm. It held a letter in its beak which Lily received after she gave the owl a fuss under his chin. Once Inch was satisfied, he flew back off into the sun, towards the Owlery, to leave Lily bewildered by the letter in her hands.

"You alright?" Lupin asked as he, and Sirius, walked over to her after noticing her expression.

"It's from my sister." Evans replied, still confused to her see her sisters perfect calligrapher handwriting. She shook her head and put the envelope in her bag. "I'll read it later."

"What if its important?"

Lily brushed it off and walked over to Marlene to make sure she was alright. "That bloody bird is worse than you, Evans." The blonde growled through painful breathes.

"Let me have a look."

"No. You and that killing machine can stay the hell away from me."

"Quit your whining, McKinnon, and sit down." Lily said, forcefully, and pushed the other girl onto the bench behind her. Lily saw where Inch's talons had marked Marlene's shoulder, it wasn't pretty, but Lily knew she could fix it. She pulled out her wand and began to sing the Vulnera Sanentur incantation over the effected area. Lily didn't need to do it thrice as the wound wasn't severe. To finish it off, Lily whispered a cleaning spell, to get rid of some of the blood on her skin and clothes. "Tergeo. And your welcome."

"How do you know those spells, Lily?" Emmeline asked, in awe.

"You'd be surprised what you learn from just observing others." Lily smiled, she was pleased with herself. Every since she'd been visiting Remus in the hospital, Lily would always glance over and watch Madam Pomfrey so that she could perform those spells at some point in life, if needed.

Marlene was still glaring. "Your fucking owl needs a talking to."

"I've tried to but he won't listen."

"He must get it from his mother."

"Okay, okay, we get it, Marlene. Your pissed off. Let's go to the Three Broomsticks and get some butterbeers. I'm buying."

The Quidditch Beater nodded. "You owe me like ten."

"Agreed." Lily laughed as she outstretched her hand to help Marlene up from the bench.

They weren't far from the Three Broomsticks and by the time they got there, the pub was packed. Every student seemed to be inside getting something to eat and drink in the warm, cosy building. Lily made her way over to the bar, Remus followed, while the others tried to find a space big enough for everyone to sit.

When Lily reached the bar, she rested her arms over the top of the counter and waited patiently for Madam Rosmerta to take her order. Remus stood next to her and drummed his fingers on the wooden surface.

"How many butterbeers do you think?" Lily asked him.

Lupin looked over her head because he could see into the crowded room easier than she could. "They've sat next to Sophia, who's found Alana. And…there's Cressida and Harriet too. But they've all got drinks"

Internally, Lily groaned. "Is Kingsley there too?"

"No, he's sitting with Abasi." He replied. "Do you know why your sister has sent a letter to you?"

"I can't imagine it's going to be a pleasant read."

"Is that why you don't want to open it?"

Lily nodded. "I wanted today to be … nice and if I open that letter, the day might be ruined."

"You've got to open it today, Lily, because—"

"I know, I know. If I don't, it will be bothering me all night and I won't be sleeping at all." She sighed. "I've just got to mentally prepare myself."

Madam Rosmerta saw Lily and made her way towards her. The barmaid was older than Lily but she couldn't be any older than twenty-five. She had piercing green eyes and wavy hair that was messily pinned back with her wand. There was an air of confidence around Rosmerta that many men, namely Sirius, found enticing and he was a favourite of hers too. "What can I get ya?" She asked with a smile.

"Eight butterbeers, please."

"Whose the girl with Sirius?" Rosmerta said, trying to be casual but was clearly jealous.

"Sophia Dippet. A Ravenclaw."

"She seems a bit too vanilla for him." The barmaid sighed as she passed over the drinks.

"Thank you." Remus smiled, taking four butterbeers with him as he manuveered towards the booth the others had occupied.

Lily smiled, too, as she placed the money on the countertop and took the last four drinks. "You could just click your fingers, Merta, and Sirius would be over here in a heartbeat. 'Sophia who?'"

Rosmerta gave a cheeky wink before continuing to serve the other customers.

Evans made her way over to the booth, at the back and in the corner, with some struggle and delay. Professor Slughorn had collared her to ask about attending his Slug Club on Friday, Eustace Fawley tried to start a conversation and some third year ran into her. It was a miracle all the butterbeer had stayed in the pint glasses by the time she plonked them on the table.

"Cheers, Lily." Mary whispered as Evans sat down next to her. "Can you believe that McLaird is still here? I would have thought she got the message. And sodding Lucinda's here. All she's done is stare down Marlene since we've got here."

"I think Mar is holding her own pretty well." Lily said, nudging Mary to look at their friend who was glaring at the Ravenclaw across the table. "Lets hope they don't say anything."

But that was wishful thinking on Evans' part for McKinnon opened her mouth. "Nice to see you, Chambers. I thought you weren't coming back this year."

"Why?" replied Lucinda. Lily had never liked her. She had a very snobbish personality and always looked like she was eating something sour. She'd have been a perfect Slytherin. Chambers flicked her fake lavender blonde hair behind her shoulders and continued to speak. "I've got friends to see here."

"I don't see any. I thought all your friends were imaginary." The Gryffindor sniped back. Nobody on the table was talking, they were all too busy listening the tennis like match between the two exes. "Or are those just the different psychopathic voices in your head?"

"You've always been jealous of my Seer abilities."

"Mate, I've never been jealous of you in my life. There's nothing you have that I want. If you've got so many friends, go fuck off to them."

"I'd like to stay here and see you squirm."

"I'm not the one that ruined our relationship."

Lucinda rolled her eyes. "Are you still holding onto that grudge?"

"I tend to them like plants." Marlene hissed.

Chambers glared but didn't move out of principal of being there before McKinnon and they commenced their stare off once more. Everything could of gone back to how it was before but Fleming had to say something. "I heard you only dated Marlene to get the attention of Boot."

"That's the reason we broke up, Cress."

"What?!" Mary snapped. Lily was surprised and shocked that someone had used her best friend, Emmeline even put down her book. It was unclear on how the guys felt because all Lily could do was glare at Lucinda and hope that the spell she'd just mental cast didn't happen.

The atmosphere around the table became very icy towards Lucinda and she had no choice but to admit what she did. Well, that's what she should of done. Instead she got up and walked away in a huff.

"Oh my Merlin," Mary squalled as she reached across the table to give Marlene a hug. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"I thought it was just me and her that knew."

"Boot told me, but I made sure it stopped at me." Cressida said. "He can't remember that evening we spent together and I wish I could forget too. He wasn't very good."

"You obliviated him?"

"You might be surprised but I actually like you girls and I wouldn't want some ditsy fake blonde or shit bloke hurt you guys."

Marlene gave Cress a half smile and nodded which is technically a hug in McKinnon's world.

"Those are two of my friends you're talking about." Alana stated.

"Urgh, fuck off McLaird." MacDonald growled. "No one wants you here."

Alana was taken aback by Mary's rudeness and proceeded to get out of the booth to follow after Lucinda.

"I'm really sorry Marlene but I've got to go." Sophia said as she took Marlene's hand in hers.

McKinnon nodded. "I understand, they are your friends."

Dippet squeezed her hand one last time before she followed the other two Ravenclaws. Nobody knew what to say to Marlene. Nobody had known why their relationship had ended nor did they know how McKinnon actually felt about the break up.

Lily was too far away from her friend to console her but, in her place, Sirius gave the blonde a side hug. "Thank Merlin they've left. I would have hexed them hideous blonde highlights out of her hair for you."

Evans looked at Lupin to see what he thought of this for she didn't want her friend to be hurt by this interaction. He shook his head to not interfere because Marlene was laughing and smiling, but Lily couldn't shift the need to protect her friend from Black.

Yet the more time spent at the Three Broomsticks, the more obvious it became that Sirius had a thing for Marlene too. He had his arm draped along the back of the booth, behind her, and was still trying to make her laugh. It didn't matter if everyone else was talking over them because all that matter to them two was each other. Lily's protective streak eased at seeing this for she no longer believed he was dragging Marlene along.

"See?" Remus whispered, having noticed what Lily must of.

"His Amortentia didn't work so he can't be in love with her. I know you said that he has feelings for her but does he know he does?"

"I don't know. You and him are similar."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means you two are both clueless."

"Do you think I'll ever work it out?"

Remus smiled. "Lily, all you've got to do is wake up and you'll see everything clearly."

(Bonfire Heart)

"What's up with wanting a scarf, Evans?" James asked as he lolloped beside her, on their way back to the castle, after she walked passed him and Mina checking in on Keith the Bowtruckle. The group stayed at the Three Broomsticks for the remainder of the day. Mary had calmed herself down from cursing all Ravenclaws, Miraphora had read everyone's palms and Cressida had gained herself new recognition from the rest of the Gryffindor students by the time they all left together.

Lily had found herself lagging behind the rest of the group because she couldn't shake off what Remus had said to her. Yes it had been poetic, and she loved that, but it was incredibly vague and unhelpful. If everybody know's who this God damn guy is then th— Maybe it's not a guy, she thought as her pace began to get slower and slower. I've never assumed it wouldn't be a guy but maybe that's why I can't figure it out, because the person I'm in love with is a girl! Hmm.

"Earth to Lily." He laughed, which woke her out of her daydream. "What are you thinking about so hard?"

"Everything and nothing. Are you not gonna wait for Mina?"

"She said you had Wrackspurt's floating into your ears—"

"Wrackspurt's?"

"I don't know either." James snickered with a shrug. "Maybe it's something they learn in Care of Magical Creatures at N.E.W.T level. I'll ask Wormtail about it."

"I think I would have felt something go into my ears."

"Phora said they only go into ears if the person is unfocused. So, what's up with wanting a scarf, Evans?"

Lily she looked down and fumbled with the fringing of the scarf. "It's tradition."

"Tradition?"

"Ever since the first Hogsmeade trip, I've always worn my Gryffindor scarf."

"Doesn't yours have loads of holes in?"

"Hey, just because something is worn out doesn't mean you should throw it away. I know it's basically one yarn of wool but it's…memories." Evans sighed and laughed a little. "You must think I'm going mad?"

"I knew you were crazy the first time I meet you, Evans." He smirked. "And besides, there is nothing wrong with being nostalgic."

"Really?"

James nodded. "Yeah. I've got things I've kept hold of because they mean something to me. There's an old shoe in the bottom of my chest that Sirius chewed on the first time he turned into a dog; at home, all my old broomsticks are hanging on my bedroom wall. The scarf you have on is my lucky scarf."

She knew he was the overly superstitious type when it came to Quidditch. On the morning of a match he had to wake up on five past the hour, he had to make sure his toast was cut perfectly in half and, before walking onto the pitch, he'd turn twice on the spot. Lily, on the other hand, didn't know that his scarf, the one that he had given to her, was a lucky scarf. "Here," she said as she proceeded to unwrap it from her neck. "Take it back."

"No, no, keep it. If you wear it, it will bring me even more luck."

"No, no, take it. I'm not very good at keeping things in tact and I don't want to ruin something precious to you. I'm not very lucky, James."

He laughed, "It's a scarf, Lily. I can buy another one."

"But it's not just a scarf. If this is lucky to you, then it should stay that way." Evans smiled and handed him the scarf neatly folded as they stopped halfway along the bridge, that connected the grounds to the courtyard.

"I'm only taking it back on one condition."

"Uh huh, what's that?"

"You have to wear it when we have a Quidditch match.

"Urgh, you're so lame, Potter." She laughed but nodded. "If we lose against Hufflepuff, I told you so."

"We've never lost against Hufflepuff."

"There's always a first."

James smirked and rubbed the back of his neck, awkwardly, a clear indication that he was going to change the topic. "Is there anything else that you want to do this year because it's tradition?"

"Erm," she began as she walked onwards, as the creaky old bridge didn't make her feel safe when standing still. James followed in tow soon after. "Sirius' Birthday and Slughorn's Christmas parties are always tradition. There's Bonfire Night but we've never done it before—"

"Isn't that the Muggle festival where you put a person on a bonfire and watch fireworks?"

"It's not a real person, Potter. It's made of old cloths and straw, like a scarecrow." Lily pointed out to his smirky expression. "I know you wizards and witches don't celebrate it like us muggles so I've never brought it up, but before I came to Hogwarts, me and my family would always have a bonfire."

"I'm sure we can arrange that. It sounds like fun."

"It's on a night of a full moon so it doesn't matter."

"Does it have to be on a specific day?"

"Of course it has to be on a specific day, James, it's a part of muggle history. There's a poem about it."

"There's a poem about lighting a person on fire?"

She laughed. "Let's agree that the magical world and the muggle world have the some batshit crazy rituals. But like I said it doesn't matter. Remus is more important than some silly muggle bonfire."

"It's not to you though, is it?" James said. "We can have this Bonfire Night on a different day and then it will be our tradition."

"You can't just make something up—-"

"Of course you can, Evans. How else is anything created?"

Lily smiled, nodded and turned to walk in a different direction than towards the Great Hall for dinner. "I look forward to it."

"Where are you going?" He asked, worryingly.

"Don't panic, Potter. I've got a letter to read." She replied and patted her bag where the letter was. He knew where Lily was going and she had no doubt that he wanted to go with her to make sure she'd be okay, but her tone of voice made it clear that she wanted to read it on her own. Alone. "Check your map, if you don't trust me."

"I trust you."

"Good." Lily smiled.

"You've got all evening to read that letter so why not wait until after eating?"

"But what if it's bad news?"

James understood. "Lily, if there was any type of news regarding you parents, Dumbledore or McGonagall would inform you about it first. They'd know if something was wrong quicker than your sister would."

"Petunia has never written to me before, thats all." She replied, gloomily.

"You don't want to leave all the treacle tart to me, do you?"

Lily laughed and proceeded to walk into the Great Hall. "If you keep eating all the pudding, Potter, we will lose our Quidditch matches and that has nothing to do with luck."

Their friends weren't too far away from the entrance, and they were all in good spirits, however when the two latecomers showed up they all paused and watched the two of them carefully. Mary did more than the rest of them. "Where have you been?" She asked with raised eyebrows and a tone of mockery, as the Head Boy and Girl sat opposite each other.

"I've been walking." Lily replied, honestly and vaguely for she knew Mary was trying to read into why they were late together. Mary reached over to Lily, for she was sitting next to James on the opposite side of the table, and pulled out a chunk of Lily's auburn, wavy hair. "What the fuck was that for, MacDonald?"

"Lily Evans doesn't normally walk into the Great Hall all smiley and laughy with James fucking Potter."

"How's pulling out my hair got to do with anything?"

"You could be McLaird and used Lily's hair in a polyjuice potion."

Lily was baffled. "Ask me a question only I'd know then if you're so concerned that I'm Alana. For Merlin's sake, Mary, look behind you. She's on her table eating dinner with all her girl friends and Sirius."

Mary began to chunter, under her breath, about how Ravenclaws thought they were all high and mighty.

"Does anybody else want to check that I'm me before I eat something?" Lily addressed the rest of the group in an irate manner. No one replied. "Good. Hey, McKinnon, pass the mash."

(You are cordially uninvited…)

Sirius wasn't in the best mood after Hogsmede. Sophia had collared him outside the Great Hall to have dinner with her and her friends. Normally Sirius wouldn't mind, for he had eaten with the Ravenclaw seventh years before, but after the news about why Marlene and Lucinda broke up, he couldn't shift his disinterest in them all, including his girlfriend.

He wasn't even paying attention to what they were saying, his bangers and mash seemed to be more entertaining, but his ears pricked up when he heard them utter a name. "Since when has Evans been all lovey dovey with Potter?"

Black looked up immediately. He saw them walk into the Hall and he couldn't help smiling to himself at how Lily was looking. Not that he stared at her too hard, or was being to think of her any other way but a sister, but he had never seen her look at Potter like that before. It might only have been subtle, but even from across the Hall, he, and the Ravenclaw girls, could all tell something was unfolding.

"And that is why I've been telling you to get over Potter, Alana." Lucinda yawned.

"But—"

"There's no buts, sweetheart. Find another man. Inglebee's free now he dumped that little Gryffindor gobshite."

Sirius glared at Chambers. "I think you'll find Mary dumped him, aka the worst Quidditch player ever, and Mary is not a gobshite."

Lucinda pulled a face and the other girls giggled as if they all understood an inside joke. He tried not to look at Sophia but out the corner of his eye, he could see her trying to hold back a laugh. His insides squirmed at what Dippet was thinking but he held his tongue for he knew an argument would break out because, if Sirius Black was anything, he was loyal to his friends.

The rest of the time at dinner dragged on repulsively. The Ravenclaw girls went into harsh hushed whispers, while his Gryffindor friends could be heard having a whale of a time. Lily and James' laughter was strongest of all. Sirius felt an ache of longing when their jovial voices continued to echo through the room and, especially, when they all left to go back to the Common Room, without him.

"It's been lovely to chat to you ladies," Sirius said graciously but with a keen eagerness to leave as he rose from his seat. He looked at Sophia and winked. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"No, stay." Dippet cooed. "Let's go to the Library."

"But it's a Saturday evening?"

It wasn't his fault that he fell asleep in the Library. Nothing exciting happened. Two-face Chambers and Celeste Ackerley commenced with their Astronomy homework in quiet murmurs, and the rest of the girls, including Sophia, just read their books quietly with joyous expressions on their face. At one point Sirius had even considered walking over to Madam Pince to ask how her day had been than sit in the suffocating silence.

"Sirius." He heard Sophia laugh and then felt her shake his shoulders. "Wake up."

"I'm awake, Soph, I've just had my eyes closed." Black replied, still with his eyes closed. "What's the time?"

"Just gone eleven."

He opened his eyes with a curious expression. "Then how are we still in the Library when curfew is ten? Did Madam Pince die or something?"

"No. She lets me stay in for an extra hour sometimes."

"Why?"

"I help put books back." Sophia shrugged as if it was nothing. She quickly smiled and her blue eyes twinkled with mischief. "Is the Library too boring for Sirius Black?"

"Well, when your beautiful girlfriend says 'lets go to the library', on a Saturday, a guy doesn't think the girls' friends will be tagging along and he definitely doesn't think studying will be going on."

"Then what would we b—" Sophia began before realising what he meant. Her cheeks reddened with the thought. "Sirius Black." She gasped as she played the innocence card, but he could tell in the way she had positioned herself that she quite liked the idea. "A library isn't used for … rendezvous!"

"You'd be surprised."

"That doesn't mean you should fall asleep."

Black shrugged.

"You don't see me falling asleep, or be in a mood, when I'm with your friends."

"My friends don't bitch about your friends." Sirius argued, quickly. A sharp hiss was heard from Madam Pince's direction.

"Please. Mary hadn't been nice to Alana all day and don't pretend you all weren't bitching about Lucinda when she left the table."

"Of course we were! She used Marlene to get into Boots pants."

"That—"

"No, you can't try to justify what Chambers has done!" Black snapped. Madam Pince's gainly figure loomed around a bookcase and pointed her bony figure at them to get out the door. He wanted to tell the librarian to 'fuck off' but he did not want to get a detention; so instead he did as he was told and stormed out of the room. Once Dippet was also outside, he continued his conversation, but in a quieter tone. "Merlin sake, Soph, I thought Marlene was your friend."

"She is my friend but—"

"No, if she's your friend then you should realise that your other friend pulled the shittest move ever."

"Why are you even bringing this up?"

"Because your friends are ridiculous! Your friends are people users."

"My friends are people users?! Sirius, you hang around with MacDonald and Flemming."

"I don't hang with Cressida, she just kinda appears and clings on. And Mary has never lied about who she is to get a guy." He said, adamantly. "Did you know what Lucinda was doing?"

Sophia didn't take that very well for she was fuming when she spoke. "Are you trying to suggest that I'm one aswell?"

"Did I say that?!"

"No." She sighed. "And no, I did not know Lucy was using Marlene."

"Did McLaird know? Pennyfield or Ackerley?

"I don't know! Merlin, why are you grilling me about this? I had nothing to do with it."

"I'm just checking."

"Do you not trust me?"

"Of course I trust you."

"You're testing me then? You want to know if I'm like Chambers?"

Black replied, saracastically. "You've figured it out, Soph. I think you're exactly like Lucinda and I was worried I was dating a pyschopath. Well done."

She glared at him. "Not funny, Sirius."

He reached for her hand and held it softly in his. "I know you aren't like Chambers and I'd never say you are because you are the nicest, sweetest, most beautiful person I've ever met."

"You can't just say sweet nothings for me to forget this argument."

"I'm not just saying—"

"Bullshit, Black. I've heard what you say to make girls forgive you. Do you say it to girls you date or to any girl?" Sophia asked. He knew where this was going. All his past relationships had always come back to this topic. "Do you tell Lily Evans this?"

"So this is what it all boils down to? I thought you said—"

"I know what I said, Sirius. Honestly, I thought I'd be fine with it but I'm not. We've been together a month and you spend more time with her than with me."

Black sighed and rubbed his eyes out of frustration. "How? I don't spend my evenings with her."

"What do you know about me?"

"What?!"

"If we've been spending all our evenings together you should know things about me."

"Hold up, this is like me asking you if you know me or your bloody brother better. There is no competition here."

"Because Lily would win."

"Fuck sake, Soph, I know more about Harriet Green than I do you because I've been her Housemate for the last seven years. Anyone in Gryffindor I'm gonna know better than you but that doesn't mean I don't know anything about you, or that I want to stop getting to know you."

"But Lily—-"

"I can't be having this conversation." He snapped as he walked away from her.

"Why?"

Sirius didn't do anything. He just kept walking straight. He could not be having the same argument again and again about Lily with a girlfriend. It riled him up inside with so much rage that he wanted to hit something or scream. Every relationship he'd had had sunk because the girl always had a problem with him being friends with Lily. Black had thought differently about Sophia after she said she wanted the two girls to become friends but he should have known it was too good to be true.

It was midnight by the time he got back to the Fat Lady, who sleepily allowed him back into the common room. There was a faint, metal whispering, from the radio, came from within the circular room. It sounded like a names being called in and eery, unhopeful tone. Tentatively, he edged forward to see Lily Evans sitting on the coffee table, staring into the fire. In her hands she held two pieces of paper which were being splattered by her tears.

"Evans," Sirius said, quietly and worryingly. "Are you alright?"

She didn't speak. Instead she shuffled over to the edge of the table and placed the two pieces of paper onto the table next to her.

Black sat down next to her and noticed that the first letter was an invitation to a wedding of V. Dursely and P. Evans. The next one, and he assumed this was the one making her upset, was short and read:

Freak,

Mom has forced me to invite you, after you complained to her saying you weren't invited. Did you not think that maybe I didn't want you to come? I am very happy, and so is Vernon, and he still wants to marry me even after learning about you. If you really want to do something for me, don't turn up. I don't want you to ruin this day with your freak abilities. Make up some stuff about that freak school of years, saying how you can't come.

Petunia

He sat there, in silence, shocked by what he'd just read. Sirius knew that Lily and her sister didn't get along but he had no idea that it was because she was a witch. "Lily, I—"

"It's alright, you don't have to say anything." She interrupted and turned to face him with a smile. She was no longer crying but her eyes were still red and a few tears were still gliding down her face, and neck. "I've already sent my reply back."

"Saying?"

Evans sighed. "Saying that I'm not going. That school won't allow me to come home out of school term."

"You could crash the wedding." Sirius smiled, making her laugh. "You know the date and the venue."

"I couldn't."

"Why not?"

"Because…because I still love my sister." Lily cried. Her lips wavered as she tried to hold back the tears but there was too many of them. Instinctively, Sirius moved towards her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, to bring her in closer to him. Lily's arms went around his torso as her sobs began to calm. "She's my family and if me being at her wedding will be too much, then I will stay away. That will be my wedding gift to her."

"It shouldn't be like that though."

"It's something you have to do when you love someone, even if they don't love you back. You have to do what's necessary to them." She sniffed and proceeded to detangle herself from him. Lily reached over to collect the pieces of paper, stared at them for one last time and threw them into the fire.

The two of them sat in silence. The radio's low hum was inaudible as the crackling of the flame engulfing the two letters. Sirius was unsure on what to say, for he had never comforted Lily before. Actually, he'd never comforted anyone before. As his mind began to realise things, he said them as they came into thought.

"Lily Evans, you are the strongest person I know." He muttered as he took her hand.

"I'm just like everyone else, Sirius."

"That's not true. You're not conceited." Black said, reassuringly. "You have been facing shit for your blood at school and for your magic at home, yet you don't show anybody how much it hurts you. You care about others over yourself, Evans, and that is something not everyone can say they have. I'm always here for you to talk about shitty families."

Lily smiled, shyly. "I'd like that."

"I know you said your sister is family, but you can make your own. Just because you are blood related to someone doesn't make them family."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm a Black. I should be a Slytherin, I should be proud of my pureblood heritage, I should be anti-muggleborns, I should be everything I'm not. But having the Black name does not mean they are my family or that I love them. My family are the Potter's, James… you… Do you see what I mean?"

She nodded. "We don't really talk about our families."

"I know, it's 'cause its all doom and gloom stuff."

"Maybe we should talk about them more."

"Maybe some other time." Sirius sighed. He rubbed his hand, the one not holding Lily's, through his hair and kept it rested on the back of his head, and on his knee, while he looked at her, instead of at the fire.

"Why? We're talking about them now."

"It's been a rough evening, I don't want to talk about it."

"I'm sorry if I've upset you." Lily whispered.

Black smiled. "It's not you, Evans. Sophia and I had an argument."

"Is everything alright?"

He shook his head. "I think it's over."

"For fuck sake, Black. What did you do this time?"

"Hey," Sirius laughed. "Why is it my fault?"

"Well, from what people say, there is nothing wrong with Sophia bloody Dippet." She sighed and then muttered to herself. "Merlin, I can't be dealing with all these new girls you keep dating."

"I don't want to stop dating Sophia."

"Then why is it over?" Lily said, quizzically.

Sirius exhaled. "Because she's jealous of our friendship."

Lily let go of his hand. "But she said—"

"Yeah, I know. Tonight, she said she's not okay with it and that I know you more than I do her."

"But we've been Housemates for seven years."

"I know!" He yelled, out of frustration.

"So you don't want to break up with her?"

"No."

"Then, maybe, we need to stop doing whatever we are doing."

Black stood up, annoyed. "Are you fucking serious?"

"If you want this to work, Sirius, then yes. Every girl you've been with has had a problem with our friendship, and if this is the girl you want to work things out with, then we've got to stop…this."

"I can't just—"

"Yes, you can." Lily said and stood up next to him. "We are still friends and I still feel the same about you. Nothing there will ever change. We just have to not be seen together or you have to talk to me like you do with Vance, and I will talk to you like I do with Peter."

"I don't think I can do that."

"I'm deciding for you. The choice has been made and it's Sophia."

"I haven't decided that, Evans, you have."

"What do you suggest then?"

Black thought about it. Lily was right. He had made the choice of wanting to work things out with Sophia so he had to change his relationship with Evans, for him and Dippet to work. But it felt wrong. Lily was his family. "Argh, I hate this." He muttered. "The only solution is if we pretend to have fallen out but, once we are in the Common Room, then we can be normal with each other."

"Doesn't that sound worse? Like you're cheating on her with me."

"There is no good solution, Lily."

Evans hesitated then nodded. "We'll work it out. Our friendship has managed to last this long so I'm sure we'll manage. So, what shall we fall out about?"