DISCLAIMER: THE MOST AMAZING BOOKS IN THE WORLD, A.K.A. HARRY POTTER BELONG TO THE FABULOUS, GENIUS J.K. ROWLING AND SHE DESERVES ALL THE CREDIT FOR THE PLOT, CHARACTERS, ETC OF THE EPIC TALE OF HARRY POTTER. I'M JUST A FAN WITH TOO MUCH SPARE TIME ON HER HANDS.

Note: Alrighty, then. So, the story is coming to a climax. It may not seem like it, but you'll see. This chapter is probably the most out-of-sinc with the books, but I had an idea, and I took it.

The month of November passed quickly. Towards, December, the teachers started adding to the workload more and more. Lily's friends started joining her in the library, even Eleanor. Except for certain times when Eleanor disappeared. From the way Mary acted at those times, it had something to do with her mysterious boyfriend. Lily and Sofia kept a close eye on her, Sofia suspiciously, though Lily was secretly relieved that she was seeing Potter so much. She hoped their relationship was a long-lasting one, if not a signal that Potter was well over her.

As December started, Eleanor's disappearances became more and more frequent. Lily rarely saw her, except for in class. Somehow, Potter was never late for their meetings. Lily worried about her friend. Sure, dating Potter was repulsive enough, but seeing him constantly while trying to hide it from your friends who already knew was just plain idiotic. Lily was just about ready to spill the beans on herself and Sofia, but Sofia disagreed.

"Why should we? She'd feel really stupid."

"Eleanor? Feel stupid? No way. She's unstoppable. Besides, she doesn't like beating around the bush. I'm sure she'd rather it was all out in the open."

"But you heard her talking to Mary. It's more than her just going out with Potter."

"The is Eleanor we're talking about, right Sof? She just said that to get Mary to back off."

"Just because Eleanor's tough doesn't mean she doesn't have feelings." Sofia looked mildly hurt on her best friend's behalf.

"I didn't say that. I'm just saying; this is getting awkward."

"Are you jealous?"

"What?"

"Would you rather Potter went out with you?"

"If I did, I would've had the chance to for years!"

"If you say so." Sofia backed down, holding up her hands.

There was a moment of awkward silence, but Sofia wasn't to be put down. She jumped up and said, "It's snowing!"

It was.

"Let's go play in it!"

"No. I have work to do. Defense Against the Dark Arts is next, and I want to make sure I'm ready for that test."

Sofia groaned, rolled her eyes, and left Lily to her studies.

"N.E.W.T.s are this fall. As such, you must prepare yourselves. That said, I want two feet of parchment from each of you on elemental transfiguration. You may go.", Professor McGonagall dismissed them.

There was a great shuffling as the class gathered their things and headed out the door. Lily walked quickly to get to the library. She had a free period now, and intended to use it wisely. She studied for hours, attended an un-remarkable Herbology class. Lupin had been sick all day, so she had been able to get a jumpstart on him in this idiotic competition she was having with him in her head.

On her way to the Great Hall for Dinner, Lily took a detour to avoid Peeves, who was causing a roadblock of First years. She passed by an empty classroom, and was nearly hit in the face by the door opening. Potter emerged, leading Eleanor by the hand. Looking around and spotting Lily, Eleanor dropped Potter's hand and stood, staring at her.

"What are you doing here?" Eleanor demanded, finally.

"Peeves was throwing dung bombs at some first years on the great staircase. I passed the Bloody Baron earlier. He'll sort it out. In the mean time, I'm taking that back stair at the end of this corridor."

"Aren't Head Girls supposed to sort that kind of thing out?" Eleanor hissed.

"Aren't Head Boys supposed to NOT be hiding in an empty classroom snogging their girlfriends?" Lily shot back.

Potter stared at her, but Eleanor was not done.

"It's none of your business who James snoggs! Or where or when, for that matter!"

"I never said it was! You're the ones who walked right out of a classroom when anyone could have been in the hallway!"

"No one would have been if you'd have been dealing with Peeves!"

"I told you, the Bloody Baron was on his way!"

Potter had said nothing during this whole conversation. Now, he cleared his throat, still staring at the two of us standing there, nose to nose. He said,

"Well, I'd better be off. I'll see you at Dinner, Eleanor." With that, he walked off.

What a strange bloke, Potter.

I turned to Eleanor to tell her so, but she was still glaring at me. She usually reserved that look for Sirius Black and teachers who assigned too much homework. I had thought we were friends, but this glare told me otherwise. Her dark eyes were boring into my skull. What scared me most was why she was so mad. I didn't know why, but something didn't make sense. Why wouldn't she tell me that she was dating Potter?

"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked.

"Because…" Eleanor's tirade trailed off. She didn't have anything to say to that.

"Does this have anything to do with you and Black?" I ventured on a whim.

"What about him?" Eleanor pretended to be confused.

"Don't give me that bollux. You're dating your ex's best friend and you didn't tell your best friend. Something's off."

"No! Nothing's off!"

"I know you better than that, Eleanor. Come on. Why shouldn't I know!"

"'Cause it's my business, that's why!" Eleanor was angry again.

"Well, after all this, I think I have a right to know!"

"Well, you thought wrong then, didn't you?"

"Never mind. Go ahead! Run around snogging Potter to get back at Black! I don't care!"

Eleanor's face drained of all color.

"How did you know?" she wondered aloud.

"Know what?"

"That I'm trying to get revenge on Black?"

"You are?"

"You just said…"

"I did?"

"Yeah. You did."

"Just now?"

"Yeah."

"Huh?"

"Really. How did you know?"

"I didn't."

We stood there, confused. Then, I stepped towards her and held out my arms. She accepted the hug graciously, and we walked downstairs together.

"So, how's the revenge working?" I asked as we reached the back stairs.

"Not well. It seems that Black was the one who suggested that Potter take me out."

"Were you planning on making Black jealous?" I asked, incredulously.

Black had gone out with so many people, that he wouldn't care by now.

"To be honest, I didn't really have a plan. I just went with my gut."

"Does Potter know?"

"I don't think so."

We walked the rest of the way in a comfortable silence.