AN: Thank you for the reviews. You have no idea how happy those make me! And especially thank you to ClashOfTheElements for your lovely comment. Also, I'm sorry that this chapter is short and slightly sad. Anyways, there are (I think) only a few more chapters left in the story!

Chapter Ten

Some time towards the end of the month, Frank Longbottom, who had a guidance counselor as a mother, decided that James was depressed.

It was a rainy, gloomy Saturday afternoon when the subject came up. James was sitting in an armchair by the window, supposedly working on a Transfiguration essay. In reality, he was wondering if Lily Evans was ever going to speak to him again. Ever since the party, she had been treating him like he was wearing the Invisibility Cloak- all the time.

Frank dropped into the chair next to him. "James, my dear child," he said, in a half-kidding, half-serious voice. "You're moping. You need to go back to enjoying life."

"Yeah," said Sirius, who was lying on the floor, playing Exploding Snap with Peter. "You never do anything anymore, mate."

"I thought I was making progress," said James, referring to Lily. "And now it seems like she hates me more than ever."

"It's not you, mate," said Frank. "Alice says she's barely talking to anybody, and she's hardly eating."

"Why is she not eating?" asked James, concerned.

Frank shrugged. "Mary and Alice are getting really worried about her. And we are getting really worried about you. Why don't we do something fun? We could have a party."

"No parties," said James quickly.

"Okay, fine," said Frank. "How about that cave exploration thingy Flitwick's having?"

"Caves?" said James.

"Yeah, the ones down by the lake."

James, Sirius, and Peter exchanged a quick glance. They had already thoroughly explored those caves many times during the full moon. Still, maybe he should get out of the common room a bit more.

"Fine," he said.

"Great," said Frank. "Let's go."

The moment they arrived at the caves, Frank swore.

"What?" said James.

"I was hoping she wouldn't be here," said Frank, jerking his head at Lily, who was standing at the edge of the group of students, looking slightly lonely.

James could not help but stare a little. Lily looked even paler than usual. The golden freckles on her nose seemed to have vanished. Worse, there were pale purple shadows under her eyes, and she looked horribly thin.

James did not enjoy the cave exploration very much. Everything was damp and moldy, and he could not keep his eyes off of Lily. She looked so alone. He wanted to give her a hug, to help her, but he knew she would never let him.