Lily couldn't understand why, after liking Blade for so long, she wasn't overly happy to be with him. As much as she tried to progress with Blade on an intimate level, each futile attempt at taking their relationship to the next level, left Lily more confused and looking for ways to escape. She missed Molly, who seemed to be drifting away from her as the end of fourth year approached. Lily wondered if it was the guilt that Lily and Blade had excluded her somewhat as the opted to spend their free time alone, or if there was more to it.

She watched as Molly and the new girl, Katie grew closer, with a pang of regret. Everyone in fourth year, had worked out that Katie was more interested in girls than boys, and Molly's rejection of any attention from the boys was feeding the Hogwarts rumour mill, sparking questions concerning which way Molly was swinging.

Lily wondered herself, what was going on with Molly, especially after seeing her and Katie together in the Gryffindor Common room. Molly was laying on a loveseat, resting her head on Katie's lap, while Katie stroked her silky red hair. They both looked content, sitting together by the fire, and while other students shot passing remarks at the two, Lily merely shrugged her shoulders and headed for the dorm, to bed.

Later, Molly had crawled into the bed, beside Lily's bed. She'd sighed as she lay beneath the covers. Still awake in her own bed, with a million questions running through her mind, Lily spoke to her old friend.

"Molly, Do you like Katie?" she asked her friend.

"Sure, she's a good friend." It was clear Molly didn't know what Lily was trying to ask. So she tried to clarify for her friend.

"It's just that the others have been talking about you two, saying you like each other like Blade and I feel about each other." Lily explained.

Molly turned to face Lily. Molly was glad it was too dark for Lily to see her blush. "Um, I never really thought of that." Molly thought for a minute, mentally reliving the moments she and Katie had spent together. She liked the way she felt around Katie, comfortable with herself, but there was still the void she felt when she thought about the times she spent with Lily, though she would never tell Lily that.

Eager to change the subject she asked, "So how are you and Blade going?"

"Okay, I guess." Lily responded, surprising Molly, who thought they looked so solid.

"Don't you like him anymore?" Molly asked.

"It's not that. He's an amazing guy and there's so much I never knew about him. He's really smart and funny, but most of all really wise for someone our age." Lily rambled, but Molly could tell, Lily was leaving something out.

"But?" Molly asked.

"Well, I don't know." Lily said. "I love him, well I think I love him and I'll always care for him, but –." Lily didn't know how to word what she was feeling, because she didn't know what what it was she was feeling. "I feel like there's something missing."

Molly was shocked. She could hear Lily begin to sob and before she could stop herself, she rose from her bed and climbed in beside her friend to comfort her.

"Lil, I'm sorry I haven't been there for you. I always thought you and Blade preferred to be alone, together." Molly whispered, taking her friend's hand in hers. Lily liked the way it felt and realized how she missed her friend.

"I always thought you were mad at me," Lily sobbed. "And then Katie came along and I thought I had been replaced."

"No one could ever replace you, Lil." Molly squeezed her hand and then realized she might have said too much. "You're my best friend."

Before she could stop herself, Molly wiped away the tears that shimmered in the moonlight. Her thumb on Lily's face felt magical as it glided across her cheek, brushing an ebony curl away from her eye. Swept up in the beautiful feelings that filled her body, Lily found herself shifting closer to molly so that their faces were inches apart.

Lily wrapped her arm around Molly's waist as their lips met. As Lily traced the contour of Molly's body, she felt her friend's fingers lightly touching her skin as they traveled down to the satin material covering her breasts. It felt different to the way she felt when Blade had touched her there, the sensations somewhat stronger, her desire was reaching new heights, unlike anything she felt for Blade. Lily reached under her friend's robe, sending Molly the signal that it was okay to do the same.

Under the blanket, they explored each other's flesh. Usually she flinched when Blade tried to touch her most intimate parts and would push his hand away, but with Molly it somehow felt right.

"I want to be with you, Lil," Molly sighed. "Let me be with you."

Lily nodded. She wanted nothing more, than to be close with her friend. Soon they fell asleep together, and didn't wake until morning. They stared into each others eyes as the sun rose. It was Sunday and Lliy remember that she and Blade had made plans to go into Hogsmeade. A wave of guilt washed over her. What would she tell Bade? She didn't want to break his heart, but lying to him seemed like a worse option.

"Your dad and I have seen first hand, the pain that secrets can cause…" was what her mother had written all those years before. Was history repeating? That Lily wasn't sure of, but she wished there was a way around hurting Blade with the truth. If only there was a spell, which could make Blade fall out of love with her, but the rational side she had inherited from her mother pushed the idea away, knowing that was not the answer.

Lily hadn't realized that the connection between herself and Molly was strong enough that Molly knew what was going through her mind. "It's okay Lil," Molly whispered. "Take all the time you need, to figure things out. I'll wait."

"I know what I want, Molly." Lily said. "I want to be with you. It feels right to me. It's Blade I'm worried about."

"I know." Molly kissed her friend lightly on the lips before rising out of the bed to dress. Seconds later, Katie burst in and flopped onto Molly's bed.

"What are we doing, today?" she asked Molly.

Molly shrugged. "I don't know. I really should study." The end of year exams were a week away, and Molly knew it was a perfect excuse to avoid Katie, knowing the extent of Katie's interest in her. She knew she needed to distance herself, for it was Lily she wanted to be with, not Katie.

"Okay." Katie thought for a moment. She didn't budge from her position on the bed. "I guess I should study, too. Hey we can go to the library together." Lily pitied her poor friend, who she knew wanted to keep away from Katie awhile.

"What I mean, Katie," Molly said, choosing her words carefully, "Is I need to be alone, you know, to concentrate."

Looking, and probably feeling, dejected, Katie rose to her feet. "Okay, that's probably a good idea," she said and left the room.

"You should tell her the truth, soon, too," Lily suggested. Molly nodded.

That day, when she met with Blade, Lily knew she had to tell him sooner rather than later. He greeted her with a kiss, which made her stomach churn with disgust. Lily pushed the feelings away. He took her hand and she held it limply as they walked into town.

"Are you okay?" Blade asked, his eyes scanning over her blank expression.

She nodded, vaguely. "I'm fine," she lied.

They found a booth at the Three Broomsticks and settled in. A young squib arrived to take their order and Blade paid for two butterbeers. When she went away to retrieve them, Blade took Lily's hand in his. "My Dad owled me back this morning with some good news."

"Really?" Lily asked. "What about?"

"He said it's okay if you stay with us for a week."

"Oh." Lily's heart sank. She knew it all had to stop. She needed to tell him the truth. "Blade, I need to tell you something."