Gabby still hadn't spoken to me almost three weeks later, "Just give her some more time! She'll come around but she needs time to get over it. She thinks you've been sneaking around with Remus and we all know she's been practically in love with him since first year!" Susie kept trying to tell me that it would all be okay and we would be back to normal again in no time at all, that I just had to be patient with Gabby. But she started saying that to me after a day of Gabby's silence and by the time we got to almost three weeks it was starting to get a little old.

Things seemed to be getting worse with James as well, although he still had yet to speak to me since the night of the Hufflepuff match he was sending a much higher number of glares and dirty looks my way. When I mentioned that to Susie she laughed and told me I was just being paranoid and that James was just glaring at me his usual amount.

Dorcas had been listening in to our conversation and when Susie went to get something from the dorm she scooted into the now empty seat next to mine, "You're right about James you know, I don't know what happened between the two of you but it seems like it's gotten worse." our talk of James had drawn Lily into the conversation as well, it seemed that she had also noticed this change and wanted to know the reason behind it almost as much as I did and we weren't disappointed, "Well I overheard Pettigrew and Sirius talking about it and Sirius told Pettigrew that James had told him the reason in confidence and peter couldn't repeat it to anyone, obviously they didn't notice me." Lily rolled her eyes, not only at the fact that Black would openly discuss James' secrets in the common room, but at Dorcas' shameless show-boating.

"Get on with it Dorcas. Just tell us what's going on with him and why he's suddenly glaring at her more than he was before."

"Well it's really quite obvious when you think about it." It was my turn to roll my eyes at that,

"Thing generally are rather clear in hindsight, once it's already been spelt out to you." Dorcas glared at me for the interruption, and for the snarky comment, but it didn't deter her from telling her story. She did love being the one with all the answers and she wasn't about to lose the opportunity to tell a story.. Or share a piece of gossip.

"Anyway. Sirius said that James is mad because he feels like you're trying to take all his friends away from him." My mouth dropped open, as if I didn't have any control over it,

"And what about that is obvious?"

"Well first you're suddenly friends with Lily and he thinks that because you two fell out that you're poisoning her against him; makes sense that he would think that. And now you're sneaking around with Remus and he thinks that you're probably telling Remus things about him to turn Remus against him and make Remus like you more, which, again makes sense because since you two came in that one time Remus has been more distant with the boys and he's spending more time away from them.. Presumably with you since everyone's noticed that you two are away from your friends at similar times." I couldn't believe all of this, James knew me, how could he think that I would even consider trying to turn his friends against him? Just because we had a fight doesn't mean I suddenly want him to be alone and friendless, in fact I wanted the opposite of that, especially where Lily was concerned.

"That's completely ridiculous! Does he really think that his friends are so disloyal that they would abandon him because Riley said some stuff? I cannot believe him!" I was grateful and slightly surprised that Lily would defend me like that but I did wish that she could have used different wording because to Peter, who walked past just as she said that, it would have sounded like I had said things to her and Remus and there was no doubt in my mind that he would go and report back to Black, who would then tell James that his suspicions about me were true.

I didn't bother to go and explain to Peter, it wouldn't make a difference to what would be reported back. The bigger problem I was facing at that moment was that Lily had reverted back to hating James rather than giving him a chance like she had been for the last few weeks. They were actually starting to become friends, I hadn't really had to do much, just leave her alone when the only other person around was James but other than that they had pretty much done it all themselves.

It made me strangely proud of James, that he was being himself enough for her to see how amazing he was, rather than what a prat he could be when he was trying to impress her. But now because of this revelation all that progress he'd made had been lost.

I noticed James coming across the common room towards us, glaring at me again, so I made my excuses to lily and went to sit by the window at the other side of the common room. "Hey Lily." James took my seat next to Lily but the girl turned to him with a scowl fixed on her face,

"Get lost Potter." James' face fell; I couldn't bear it, why did Dorcas have to start that conversation with me when Lily was in earshot? If she hadn't been Lily would be blissfully unaware of what James thought of me and it all would have been fine, they would be happily chatting away right now. Instead of that James was looking hurt and confused and Lily was starting to shout at him. "How can you think that about Riley? What has she ever done to you? She's only ever been your friend and now you think she's turning everyone against you? Well I can tell you one thing, she didn't even need to turn me against you, you've bloody well done that yourself you arrogant prat!"

"But Lil-"

"No Potter, I'm not going to sit here and listen to your excuses. She was one of your best friends. Grow up and forgive her already! I don't care what she did to you; it wouldn't have been on purpose! As far as I'm concerned it was probably your fault anyway." James' eyes snapped up to where I was sitting and I wasn't quick enough to look away, yeah that definitely didn't look good, he must have thought I was watching to see how well my plan was working.. If only he knew what my plan was he would see that it wasn't working at all!

Lily stood from the table, leaving James sitting there still staring at me with narrowed eyes, now convinced beyond all doubt that I was to blame for Lily's sudden change of heart and for Remus' absence from their group meetings to discuss pranks, girls, and plans to get girls.

I decided not to wait around after that and followed Lily up the stairs to the dorm, Gabby and Susie were sitting on Gabby's bed talking but as soon as we came in they stopped. This had been happening a lot over the past week, I wasn't sure if it was because Susie was inclined to believe Gabby over me or if it was just because they were genuinely discussing something they didn't want anyone to know about.

I didn't hang around in there either, tears started to gather in my eyes again so I moved over to the bathroom so that they wouldn't see them. I had decided to make an effort to control my emotions a bit better but it was hard, I felt unwanted wherever I was; in the common room, in the dorm, on the quidditch pitch. I also felt like the only friend I had these days was Lily; a surprising turn of events when I thought back to the beginning of the year.

I opened the window to let the cool air into the room and turned on the shower, I couldn't stand it when the bathroom got all steamed up from the shower. After I'd given it enough time to warm up I stepped into the shower and let my tears start to fall, I was getting so sick of the amount of crying I'd done already that year and it wasn't even Christmas yet. It was starting to look like it was going to be a long year. When I was done in the shower I went back into the dorm, I'd been in the bathroom for a while, just wasting time until I thought the other girls would be in bed.

The next morning the dormitory was empty by the time I woke up, I'd laid awake for hours the night before, going over different ideas about how to get Lily to fall for James again, and how to make Gabby forgive me without telling her what Remus told me, I didn't really get anywhere though and eventually fell into a light sleep.

I was surprised to find the common room brimming with people; it looked like the whole house was in there, it was a Hogsmeade weekend and well after the time we were allowed to leave the grounds. When I came down the stairs Susie practically ran over to greet me, she had the biggest smile on her face.. it was actually slightly unnerving to see her that happy to see me; even though there hadn't really been a problem between the two of us. "Come see what Gabby did!" she started dragging me over to the notice board where there was a sheet of parchment I hadn't noticed before stuck to it with a list of names on it,

"What am I looking at Suze? You're gonna need to help me out a bit here." Susie just grinned some more and beckoned Gabby over to us, she gave me a small, shy smile and turned to the rest of the house, who were all starting to look like they wanted her to get on with whatever she was doing,

"We all know that Riley was unceremoniously kicked off the Quidditch team for absolutely no reason apart from out captain being a complete arse.. You have also all heard that I started a petition to get her back onto the team, something that used to happen in the old days; I read about it in the library, it's a legitimate practice and is binding. I went to professor Dumbledore about it and he told me that if I could get 150 signatures Riley would be put back on the team in her old spot. Well almost the whole house signed my petition so Riley Hunt, you are officially back on the team in your old chaser spot!" my jaw literally dropped to the floor, I couldn't believe that she'd done this for me, she wasn't speaking to me! The rest of the house started cheering, apparently happy that I was back on the team and clearly thinking along the same lines as Gabby; with me back we might actually win against Ravenclaw in the New Year.

I made a strange noise between a squeak and a scream and ran at her, engulfing her in a hug. "I'm really sorry Riley, I should have believed you when you said that you were just talking, I know you would never do something like that to anyone, let alone one of your best friends, and I'm sorry that it took me so long to realise it."

"That's fine! I'm sorry I couldn't tell you what he told me, but he made me promise and it would ruin one of his friendships if I told you and I couldn't do that to him." Gabby nodded like she completely understood what I was saying,

"I would have started talking to you again so much sooner but I was trying to get people to sign this thing and it was taking longer than I expected and I was so excited about getting you back on the team I was sure I would tell you if I spoke to you and I wanted it to be a surprise one Dumbledore had allowed it."

"Gabby, breathe. I love that you did this for me; it completely makes up for you not speaking to me! I can't believe you did this! You actually willingly spent time in the library for me!"

"I know and you-" whatever she was going to say was interrupted by the arrival of James and Sirius,

"Oi Hunt, I just had a very interesting meeting with Professor Dumbledore.. Seems you're back on the team." I nodded with my eyes narrowed; this wasn't the reaction I was expecting from him, Sirius pitched in with his thoughts,

"You'd better be careful out there Hunt, don't want to get hit by any badly hit bludgers.. I'm just saying, it happens."

"I'm assuming that since you've gone to all this effort to get around my decision as captain that you're actually going to turn up for practise on time from now on, and not turn up halfway through with crap excuses about why you're late. I expect you to be playing at 110%, a hell of a lot better than you were before your break from the game. Oh and you'll need to catch up on all the new plays, we've been doing strategy work in your absence and you need to be up to scratch if you're going to take over as chaser." I nodded,

"Don't worry James; I'll be there on time and better than ever. You know, I think this break from Quidditch was just what I needed to get me back to my best." James glared at me and I suddenly wasn't too sure why I said that, saying things like that wasn't going to help get him to forgive me, if anything it would make him more angry at me. But now wasn't the time to be thinking about that; I had my two best friends back and I was on the quidditch team again! This was going to be a better day and I was going to try my hardest not to think about James and just enjoy the day instead.

"So can we go now? You've made your announcement, we cheered, and everyone's thrilled to have Hunt back on the team. But it is a Hogsmeade weekend and we're missing it." Gabby turned to the boy and looked surprised to see the rest of the house still standing waiting to be allowed to leave,

"What did she do to them to make them stay? They clearly don't want to be here..." Susie just shook her head,

"I asked her that before you came down but she just told me that I didn't want to know, and we have both learnt that when she says that it's generally true." I shuddered at the memory and nodded my agreement while Gabby dismissed the Gryffindors.

We followed the rest of the house down to the gates and past Filch to be signed out of the castle for the day, "Bleedin' kids, makin' me wait around for 'em to get outta bed. Standin' in the cold all mornin' if they 'ad their way." Gabby grinned as we heard Filch's grumbling,

"Added bonus of getting you back on the team; pissing Filch off!"

After that we had an amazing time in Hogsmeade, it'd been a while since I'd been; I missed the last visit because I didn't have anyone to go with when Gabby wasn't speaking to me and was hogging Susie. But this time was different, we went to Honeydukes and stocked up for the next few weeks, then to various other little shops and finally to the Three Broomsticks for warm butterbeer; Filch had been right.. it was a chilly day.

As we climbed in through the portrait hole Remus was just waiting to come out, "Oh Riley, I was just about to come looking for you, I found a book in Hogsmeade and wanted to ask you about a couple things." I looked at my friends and turned back to Remus,

"We were thinking of having a girly night in the dorm, but tomorrow?" Remus smiled and nodded,

"That's fine, it isn't anything important, I was just curious about a couple things.. I'll see you girls tomorrow. Have a nice night." I grinned at him and ran up the stairs to the dorm with the girls, we'd stocked up on enough sweets and enough gossip had built in the weeks we hadn't been speaking to last us through the night, and probably longer.

(AN: Hey guys, I'm SO sorry for the delay with this update. I knew what I wanted to happen and what I needed to set up for the next chapter but it was difficult to actually write something I was happy with.. This isn't the best thing I've ever written but it'll have to do because I'm sick of not uploading it. So to any of you who have actually stuck with it and are still reading I thank you and hope you enjoy this chapter.. Hopefully it won't be such a long wait for the next one *fingers and toes crossed*

Hollie x )