Okay so I was talking about this chapter with my sister. Because I was having serious Writer's block, so this is the beginning of a rather funny part. Or I hope it will be funny. ENJOY!

CHAPTER 11: Return

Lily returned a week later from her father's funeral. She had tried several times to write to Ivy, Jamie, Mary or James. But she could never form the words or she'd get interrupted by her mother, who was still at home with Petunia crying, or by Petunia herself, or by Vernon.

But Lily was happy when she arrived back at Hogwarts by Floo powder, the same way she had left. Dumbledore welcomed her then told her that everyone was at dinner. With that Lily walked down the empty corridor to the Great Hall.

"LILY!" Jamie shrieked running at her and hugging her only seconds after entering the doors.

"Where have you been? What's going on? Are you and James a thing now? Why haven't you written to us?" She asked in one breath after pulling back to look at Lily.

"Hi Jamie." Lily laughed. She hadn't laughed all week.

"Are you going to answer any of my questions?" Jamie demanded.

"I'll explain later."

"It's been a week! You can't just fall off the face of the earth then say 'I'll explain later'!"

"I promise. Here get the others and I'll explain in the common room." Lily suggested. She'd been hoping for a little bit more time at school before she'd have to tell her friends. But that didn't seem likely.

"Fine." Jamie agreed angrily. She went back to Ivy and Mary. There was a lot of pointing and excited moving. Ivy and Mary moved quickly to Lily once they saw her standing down the row.

"Your back!" Ivy exclaimed.

"Yeah," Lily said wrapping her arms around her. Once Ivy and Lily hugged then Mary took her turn.

"Welcome back." Mary said calmer than the other two.

"Thanks. It's good to be back."

"So where have you been?" Jamie asked.

"Come on." Lily said leading the way up to the common room. It was mostly empty when they got there except for a few fifth years who were studying for their OWLs.

"Are you going to tell us or not?" Jamie demanded impatient as ever.

"Yes. I'm going to tell you." Lily said. "So that letter my mom sent informed me that my dad had had a heart attack."

"Are you serious?" Ivy asked.

"Is he okay?" Mary asked.

"Yeah I'm serious. So I was pretty much a wreck when I went to the bathroom." Lily paused not sure how to tell her about James and his 'rescue'.

"So what happened that night?" Ivy asked.

"Yeah you never came back." Mary added.

"Well see, James found me."

"Potter?" Jamie asked. "Potter found you?"

"Yeah. He had seen me run out and,"

"Don't tell us you were with him all night." Jamie cut in. Lily bit her lip cringing. "No!"

"You didn't!" Ivy said.

"Where did you guys go?" Mary asked.

"No! It wasn't like that; I just didn't want to come back to the dorm so he took me to this hidden room or something. I can't remember what he called it, but we each slept on our own couch and he was really there for me you know?" Lily knew that she was on lying to her friends about the couch thing. But just when they heard his name they freaked out. She couldn't tell them how vulnerable she'd been while he was around.

In fact the only thing that kept Lily functioning at all while she was at her house back in the muggle world was the memories of him, his promises and that room. The Room of Requirements. She could even remember the little black sketch of a golden snitch tattooed on his arm. And the map.

"But why wouldn't you come to us? I mean you hate James." Ivy said. Lily didn't answer.

"You do hate Potter don't you?" Jamie asked. Lily just looked at Mary for some back up. After all it was clear Mary was also crushing on a Marauder.

"Um, guys, maybe she doesn't." Mary said watching Lily.

"You don't like him like him right?" Jamie asked as if this was vital.

"I might." Lily admitted.

"Tell me you're joking. Please. You've got to be joking!" Jamie begged.

"Come on Jamie, calm down." Ivy said.

"But-But-It's POTTER!" she screamed causing the fifth years to jump and stare. "Want a piece of me?" she threatened to them. They looked quickly to their books.

"Deep breathes Jamie." Ivy said patting her arm.

"I think it's cute that you like James." Mary said.

"Cute! Cute!" Jamie cut in. "It's James Potter! The arrogant, useless, stupid, Toerag!"

"Let's go to bed Jamie." Ivy said leading her toward the doors.

"Potter." Jamie muttered as if it had made her weak. "She likes."

"I know honey. Come on." Ivy said guiding her up the steps. Once the door closed Lily sat down on the couch.

"Do you know why she hates James so much?" Lily asked Mary.

"Her family used to live near his family. He used to tease her all the time." Mary explained taking the seat beside her. Although Mary was quiet she always knew everything about everyone. All you had to do was ask her.

"Really?"

"Yes. Originally her mother even hoped they'd end up married some day. But obviously that's never going to happen. Especially after he pushed her into the lake."

"The lake here?"

"No. The one that was near their houses. They were only five but he had called her a spoiled brat, took her teddy bear and pushed her into the lake. She's hated him ever since."

"But he's changed. He's not five anymore." Lily defended. It was pretty ridiculous that Jamie was still holding the grudge at all actually.

"No. He's not. But that's all Jamie sees. A young bully who stole from her and hurt her."

"That's silly."

"Yes it is. But you hated and judged him too. Now look, you've gotten to know him just a little bit and already you like him." Mary said in her soft voice.

"So did your dad die?" Mary asked.

"What?"

"I heard that people don't always die when they have heart attacks."

"Oh. Yeah he died the next day. The day I left."

"You had to go to his funeral." Mary guessed. Lily nodded her head. "And you had to deal with you sister." Again Lily nodded. "Well at least you're back at school. It must be a vast improvement." Lily smiled slightly nodding again.

"Believe me, it is." Lily said. "But what did I miss here?"

"James and Sirius got into a fight." Mary said.

"But they never fight." Lily disagreed. "What did they fight about?"

"Snape."

"What?"

"Sirius wanted to pick on him. Just like old times, but James wouldn't let him. James actually tackled Sirius so he wouldn't hurt him." Lily smiled knowing that James wouldn't let harm come to Snape because she had once stood up for him and didn't allow him to pick on her friend. But they weren't friends anymore.

"I think he did it for you too." Mary said.

"James is a good guy." Lily said. Mary nodded.

"He is I suppose. Although word has is, that to make it up to Sirius, James gave him dog toys and toilet papered the Muggle Studies classroom."

"It wouldn't surprise me."

"It didn't surprise anyone really. But Filch couldn't prove it was them so James got off with it." Lily had a feeling that he used the map of his to insure he didn't get caught. "I have an essay to finish, it'll probably take me all night. So I'll just see you in the morning Lily." Mary said heading off to the library.

"Okay." Lily agreed

Please Review. The funny part I promised is kinda a funny situation, so keep that in mind.