Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter; it's universe or anyone of its beings or wonderfulness. I simply play with the characters J. K. Rowling so generously made for us to love. She is awesome, and if I ever get 1% as awesome as she is, I would be pleased.

I do, however, own the first verse of the prophecy…

Chapter 9: An Unusual Pair

When the time for peace is closing in,

The lioness will see the sin.

The Bumblebee will watch her grow,

But when it's time she will know.

Her eyes seeking the mentor,

She who has always has been her protector.

Lily was the bright one. Alice knew that she would become Head Girl since the day that she met her. Lily was intelligent in a way that was neither street smart, nor book smart. Her knowledge of the muggle world was of course great, but her knowledge of the wizarding world was nearly as great. By second year, Alice was convinced that Lily knew more of her family that she did herself. Alice never envied her, she looked up to her, yes. However, I she never wanted to be in her shoes, se never thought herself less because of Lily. Lily might be the bright one, but she was the kind one, and she would rather be kind than intelligent any day of the year.

Mary was the girly girl. She would spend hours and hours talking gossip and the likes. Alice usually did her best to listen, and pay attention, but it was, perhaps, easier said than done. Mary had curly blond hair, and the most baby blue eyes ever seen, and she was always looking at boys, her whole being aching after a boyfriend. Or at least it did, until fifth year. After the attack she changed, she was more scared, more vulnerable. Everyone stayed by her side, of course, but despite Alice's best efforts, she found herself thinking that if anything, she wouldn't end up like her. She wouldn't be vulnerable. That she promised herself. That would never happen.

Alice looked over at Marlene's bed. It was empty. Again. They were growing used to it, not that her instincts didn't try to get her to stop her. Marlene slept around, a lot. She had had more boyfriends, if you can call them that, than the entire seventh year population. Alice had been worried for her for a while. A while later Lily sat down next to her. She sensed it more that she saw it. The bed was suddenly lower, and she could smell Lily's rosy perfume.

"It'll be over soon, Alice. She's just testing boundaries." Lily whispered, her voice firm, but also warm. Alice nodded. She was just worried that she would do something stupid, like get herself pregnant before school was over. If it happened to anyone, it would be Marlene, Alice thought, and than she blamed herself. She shouldn't think so poorly of her friends. That wasn't a kind thing to do, she thought. Alice valued kindness over every other value. Even loyalty.

"She's a big girl, she can take care of herself." Lily stated, but Alice found herself wondering if she, perhaps, was wrong. She had heard Marlene crying at night, when she finally made it back to their room. She never said anything, because after all, she should have been sleeping herself, and it would all just go over by itself. Everything would just go over by itself. Or at least, that's what she convinced herself of.

She spent the rest of the night watching Marlene's bed out of a tear in her own bed curtains, just to make sure that she actually got home. That she was safe. She did it every night, and she would continue to do it until the day Marlene no longer left.

The next morning found Lily siting in the Great Hall before the sun had had its chance of rising. She too was worried for Marlene's health, but at the moment, another thing was more important in her mind. Looking over at the Slytherin table, she could see her old best friend, and surprisingly, Hermione too. They seemed to be engrossed in a conversation, and Lily found herself to be bewildered. The sight had shocked her, yes. However, it had also stirred something deep in her chest. It was a feeling that she never thought she would feel towards Severus, ever again. She was jealous, that he could sit together with Hermione, talking while the rest of his house watched, while he couldn't even look at her anymore, and she knew that it was partially her fault for not excepting his apology, but it wasn't only her fault either.

She was also a bit annoyed at Hermione. She knew what he had said to her, but she still talked to him. It had infuriated Lily in the beginning, but at the moment she was just watching the two of them, talking politely to each other. She would have liked to know what they were talking about, and moreover, why Hermione was sitting with him at the Slytherin table. Busy with her own thoughts, she didn't notice Remus sitting down next to her. He to seemed to notice the unusual pair sitting at the Slytherin table.

"You ok, Lils?" he questioned, watching her out of the side of his eyes. She nodded slightly, before sighing. His hand grabbed hers, worried for his friend. Taking a sip from her cup, she turned slightly towards him. Their eyes locked, trying to read each other.

"Christmas is coming," she commented, her eyes looking around the festive Great Hall, it was only a couple of days until the Yule holidays would start, and the whole student population, including the Head Girl, was pleased with that fact. Remus nodded, filling his plate with food at the same time. He to was looking at the decorations, and at the students that were starting to fill up the hall. The table was filled with ginger breads, and other delicious cakes. He could also feel that the moon was getting closer and closer, and was sad that James, Peter and Sirius wouldn't get to be with him when he transformed. Therefore, trying to avert his mind, he struck up a longer conversation with Lily. She was watching Hermione and Snape again, and Remus could understand why.

"They are working together with a potion Slughorn has made them work on, it's some sort of extra credit task. They're probably just discussing who's going to take care of it during the holidays. I'm hoping Hermione get's him to do the work," Remus muttered, as Lily found herself staring at the pair once again. He was trying to make her feel better. Her eyes were fixed on the two of them. They were just talking, but still, Lily found herself wishing that she had been pureblood so that she and Severus wouldn't have argued. However, the she reminded herself that her blood wouldn't have changed anything, because she would still dislike his views.

"Probably," she said, before looking down at her plate again. The silence that filled the room between the two of them wasn't there for long, because before she even managed to drink up her juice, Sirius had pressed himself down between her and Remus, completely ignoring the waste space that was around them. Hadn't Lily known him as well as she did, she surely would have looked at him like he was crazy, but as it was, her only reaction was rolling her eyes.

"Good morning Sirius. You're up early," Remus exclaimed, watching his friend closely. Something was up. He looked around after James, and when he didn't see him, he knew that something was happening. Lily was of the same opinion. Her eyes were searching the room for anything unusual. They landed on Hermione and Severus once again. Something was going on, and she was going to figure out what it was. She got that look on her face, and it made Remus hold his breath for a moment.

Finishing her food, Lily hurried out of the Great Hall, dragging Alice with her. Sirius and Remus eyes followed them as they left, wondering what Lily planned to do. Hopefully it wasn't anything that included finding James anytime soon. That was what Remus was praying for, anyway. Sirius was just hoping that he would be there when she did.

As Alice found herself being dragged through the corridors of Hogwarts, she found herself wondering what it was Lily actually wanted. She didn't want to be friends with Snape, yet, she didn't want anyone else to be so either. She had no interest in dating James Potter, however, she wanted to know where he was and what he was doing, always. She wanted people to speak honestly with her and be open, but she didn't actually listen if she didn't have a strong opinion herself. Alice had always thought Lily to be a dilemma.

Their journey had taken them past the library, around the owlery, twice, and now down to the Quiddich pitch, again. The cold December air was making the two of them shiver, and Alice wanted to yell at herself for forgetting her sweater in the common room. She was sure that their little run around the cold school would make the two of them sick for Christmas, and she didn't want that. She didn't want that at all. You see, Alice loved Christmas. Mostly because it was the only time of the year she saw her father. He was a dragon trainer in Australia, and because of that she rarely saw him in the summer, it was after all than that the dragons birthed their children. Alice shook her head, trying to get back in focus.

"Where are we going, Lily? We have class soon," Alice voiced, however, not with much excitement nor worry, she was just tired, and wanted to go back inside to the warm Great Hall. Lily looked around them when she stopped walking, her eyes searching for anybody that might overhear them. She found none.

"Something is off, and I intend to find out why." Lily stated, her voice low, still worried that someone would jump out of a cupboard somewhere, which Alice found idiotic, as they were outside. Alice just shook her head, wondering how this was going to turn out. The snow had started to fall around them, and Alice found herself, again, overly happy that Christmas was coming. She wasn't particularly fond of the drama that seemed to surround her friends. She found herself missing Frank too, who currently spent his time in auror training. She was glad Christmas was coming.

When she finally, half an hour later convinced Lily that they should go to Potions, as it was due to start in five minutes, they both saw something that neither of them expected. On their way out of a dark classroom, a few metres in front of the two of them, were was James who had linked his arm with a beautiful witch that walked beside him. Alice saw Lily's reaction at once when she realised who the witch was. It was Hermione, and Lily was jealous. Oh dear, Alice thought. This was the second time Alice had noticed Lily's jealousy in a day, all directed towards Hermione. It was than that Alice realised the truth. Lily was, perhaps a complex person, but she did want to be friends with Severus. She did find James interesting, even if she wasn't aware of it herself yet, and she did want people to speak, however, only if she could do something about it. That was the key to Lily's being.

Oh dear, Alice thought again.

Oh dear.

A/N:

I have made an Advent calendar, which is very normal in Norway, by the way. I will be posting teasers ++ (you may also get more chapters before the holidays!) on my Tumblr blog everyday until Christmas Eve. So check it out.

(you'll find a link at my profile)

And that was the end of chapter 9.

Reviews are always appreciated.

Thank you to my wonderful Beta, MissesE!

Sincerely,

CapabilisMaiden