Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling and do not own any of her work. For some reason, this chapter was unusually stubborn. But I hope you enjoy it, please read and review!

Sirius' words echoed in her head.

Sawyer… he's taking her to Hogsmede.

Lily stood there, shock rooting her to the spot. She didn't realise she was acting strangely until Mary prodded her gently. "Are you alright?" the blonde queried, raising an impeccably plucked eyebrow.

"Yeah," said Lily dazedly. Why was this news affecting her so strangely? It was true that Sawyer, the leggy brunette that they shared a dormitory with, was every boy's dream, but she couldn't imagine what James saw in her. He'd never struck her as the shallow type. Abruptly, however, she remembered James' mildly pathetic reaction to Regina's vapid flirting. Perhaps Sawyer was his type. But why did this bother her? Lily felt confused.

"Guess I was wrong," continued Mary conversationally, steering Lily towards the Gryffindor table and narrowly avoiding a still-prancing Sirius.

"About what?" asked Lily, without really caring.

"James' feelings for you," came the prompt reply. "I was so sure he still fancied you, but clearly he's got a thing for Sawyer, now," Mary grinned, "I suppose you're feeling pretty relieved, right?"

"Relieved?" Lily tried to organise her blindsided thoughts.

"Yeah, this means he'll finally stop asking you out." Suddenly, something clicked. Lily realised she was feeling – bizarrely – hurt by James' rejection of her, thrown by the sudden change. The small suspicion she had briefly considered was, thankfully, squashed.

Relief, warm, solid relief, flooded through her.

It wasn't that she had feelings for him, she rationalised. No, it was simply her usual fear of rejection rearing its ugly head. This was all her sister's fault, Lily thought bitterly. Petunia's refusal to accept Lily as she was had destroyed Lily's confidence and she had, ever since, suffered the anxiety that other people she cared about would do the same. This was just one more example.

In fact, given recent events, it was no wonder Lily wanted to cling to normality. Even if it did include being the object of James Potter's affections. She wasn't jealous, Lily assured herself, she just feared change and rejection.

Resolutely ignoring the little voice that suggested this wasn't the entire truth; Lily threw herself into conversation with renewed gusto, even giggling at the continued chaos at the Slytherin end of the hall. By the time breakfast had finished, she was quite amused at the ridiculous worries she had entertained. Of course she didn't fancy James Potter.

Walking into the Entrance Hall sometime later, having left Mary eating breakfast and still laughing merrily, she looked around. As befitting a Hogsmede weekend, there were the predictable clusters of students jabbering excitedly, checking their watches as they waited for friends. Lily and Mary hadn't felt in the mood for Hogsmede, sorely feeling Marlene's absence, and had decided to have a relaxed day in front of the roaring fire. The prospect of David's funeral, scheduled for the next day, had also dampened their enthusiasm for the bustling little village. Laughter fading, Lily headed for the stairs, David's face fresh in her thoughts.

Before she had reached the first step, however, she felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Severus.

"Can I have a word," he asked, bobbing his pumpkin-shaped head nervously. Was there any Slytherin the Marauders didn't jinx, Lily wondered, suddenly angry again.

"No," she said coolly, although her heart was breaking inside. He appeared so vulnerable standing there, friendless and alone. But it had to be this way. The boy she had cried for was gone, and in his place stood a prejudiced stranger.

"Please, Lily," he said, desperation clear in his voice.

"I'm sorry Severus," she replied, before turning on her heel. A flash of light streaked past her shoulder and she looked around, shocked. Severus had his wand out and she thought, for one awful moment, that it was he who had tried to curse her. She was almost relieved when she realised it was Mulciber.

"No filthy mudblood walks away from us," he crowed, wrapping a comradely arm around Severus' bony shoulders. "Go on, Snape, show her who's really in charge." His voice took on a dangerous edge, "or are you too weak to try?" Severus appeared torn, dark eyes flickering from Lily to Mulciber.

"I- " he began. Whatever he was going to say, however, Lily never found out. A streak of purple light hit him square in the chest, causing his arms and legs to flail erratically. It was an odd sight, the pumpkin-headed teenager dancing in the Entrance Hall, and in any other situation Lily would have been tempted to laugh. Ignoring Mulciber, who was already edging away, she strode towards the culprit.

"What," she hissed, "do you think you're doing?" James stared at her, one arm wrapped around Sawyer in a gross parody of Mulciber's earlier action.

"What do I think I'm… I'm stopping that git from cursing you!" he exclaimed, anger clear in his tone.

"Well, I don't need your help!" Lily shouted back, aware she was overreacting but feeling incensed by the laidback pose James had struck, his relaxed arm cradling Sawyer's waist. "You've already transfigured him this morning, wasn't that enough?" She gestured furiously at Snape's head. In her anger, she conveniently forgot her promise to accept his pranks, conveniently forgot that she had – five minutes ago – been roaring with laughter at his latest trick. Some of the students glanced round curiously at them and Peeves, floating overhead, began to take bets on whether Lily would kill James.

"Why," asked James, now equally furious, "is it always my fault? Whenever precious Snivellus does anything to hurt you, I get the blame!"

"Maybe," snarled Lily, red hair flying, "it's because it is your fault!"

"How?" roared James. People were staring now, transfixed by the spectacle of their Head Boy and Head Girl screaming at each other. "You're not even speaking to him, now! And even that," his voice faltered slightly, "was somehow my fault. He calls you mudblood and I'm the one you got angry at!" He looked, for a moment, hurt. Lily felt a flicker of guilt but promptly ignored it, waving her wand threateningly in his face. James blinked. With a final snarl she strode away, hitting Severus with the counter curse as she went.

Storming off, Lily headed for one of the quieter corridors. As she reached a suitably private niche, she slid down the wall, hiding in the shadow of a particularly hulking suit of armour. Well, she had wanted normality, and there was nothing more normal than a Potter-Evans row. She had thought they were becoming friends, moving beyond their bickering. Her mind was still spinning, anger at James' words flaring in her stomach at regular intervals. She couldn't believe him! How, in the name of Merlin, had he expected her to accept his treatment of Severus? She sat there, fuming.

However, the little voice, the same little voice that had questioned her earlier actions, began to gnaw on her conscience. She knew she had overreacted at first, but that didn't mean she had been wrong, did it? Lily thought of his hurt expression and the flames in her stomach began to cool.

"Lily?" Hearing her name, she looked up, half expecting James' head to be peering round the corner. He'd always had an uncanny ability to find her – especially when she didn't want to be found. To her surprise, however, it wasn't James. "How are you?" asked Matthew Stork, soulful eyes seeking Lily's blazing, emerald ones.

"I'm alright," she lied, smiling weakly at him.

"I saw what happened," he continued, "that James Potter can be a bit of an idiot, huh?" Lily stiffened. Her first instinct had been to defend James, but Matthew was right. He was an idiot.

But so was she.

Lily contented herself with a curt nod, unwilling to betray the internal battle she was fighting. "I take it that there was… there was nothing going on between you two?" This question was enough to jerk Lily out of her silence.

"No!" she exclaimed, feeling slightly shocked. Matthew looked relieved.

"Sorry, I had to check," he mumbled, "but there were rumours, you know?" Lily nodded again, mentally listing the curses she would inflict on anyone she heard spreading rumours about herself and James. Including Mary. "I'm glad," he said warmly, "you deserve better." At this, Lily perked up a bit, although her conscience was pushing her to find James and apologise. Matthew Stork, the Matthew Stork, thought she could do better. Her smile brightened.

"Thank you," she said, feeling more cheerful and studiously ignoring her guilt. Matthew really was utterly charming. And attractive. In fact, the way Lily's thoughts were headed, it was probably a good thing that Hazel – the boy banishing owl – wasn't there.

"It was nothing," said Matthew modestly. He leant closer. "I was wondering," he breathed, lips barely an inch from Lily's ear, "would you like to go to Hogsmede with me?"