Disclaimer: Obviously, I do not own Harry Potter or any of the places or characters created by JkRowling

Note: Sorry for the delay. Once again, please review.

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"And this, is my girlfriend Lynn," announced James Potter.

The other three Marauders froze on the spot, confused. Sirius looked over at his best friend and the girl standing beside him. It was a girl named Lynne, whom he had dated in his fourth year. She hadn't been a nice girl back that, quite the opposite really, but surprisingly she had come back a changed person this year. Somehow, Sirius didn't feel too good about that.

Was it just him who found this announcement weird? He looked over at Peter, who was nodding pathetically at James, as if to tell people that James and him were friends. Like they didn't know, thought Sirius. Then he looked over at Remus, who seemed equally surprised as himself. But Remus' wasn't looking at James, rather, he was looking towards the back of the room.

His curiosity stirring, Sirius followed his friend's gaze. At first, he saw nothing unusual about the scene and he let his eyes linger on the dark haired girl looking at him with sad eyes. He promised himself never to cause her pain because he didn't think he could handle being the cause of those startlingly perturbing eyes. Then she glanced over to the red haired girl beside her, pointing Lily out to Sirius. He was dumbfounded at the sight his eyes met.

She was staring at the couple in the centre of the crowd with a look of pure anguish. Her devil coloured hair seemed duller than ever before, her usually happy eyes were anything but. Sirius may put himself up to be a fool but he definitely wasn't. He was sure Remus knew something about it too, seeing the look on his friend's face.

Certainly, Sirius never hated Lily, but he didn't like how she wouldn't go out with his lovesick friend. Or, his previously lovesick friend. My lovesick friend that could never get over this girl, Sirius decided, something's up. Either way, she was still a good person and he didn't like seeing her hurt like this.

"Sirius!" yelled James, who was linked to his new girlfriend.

"Yeah?" he replied, walking towards the two.

"This is Lynne, Remus and Peter have already met her and went up."

They had left already? He quickly averted his gaze to the back of the room. As he had suspected, the three friends had left.

"Right, nice to meet you Lynne," he said sarcastically with a wink. Sure she was his best friend's girl but that didn't mean he would have to be nice.

She seemed uncomfortably Sirius noticed. "Nice to meet you too."

"James, can I talk to you for a bit?" Sirius didn't understand what was happening.

"Go ahead."

"Alone," he said, looking pointedly at Lynne.

"Right okay, you boys talk. I've got to go anyways," she announced, giving a quick kiss to James in the process. "I'll see you later James. And you too Sirius."

Once she was gone, Sirius pulled James up into his dorm. "What's going on?"

James knew this was going to happen, and he had prepared himself for it too. "Get Moony and Wormtail in the room too, I don't want to have to go through this three times."

While Sirius ran off to find the other two, James thought to himself. What am I really doing? He didn't know but he just knew this would be his last try. Plus, it made him feel better.

He continued when they were all together. "I like Lynne guys and I hope you'll be nice to her."

"But that's not why you're dating her," Remus correctly pointed out.

"No, it's only the partial reason. I haven't forgotten our bet boys, and I don't plan to lose."

The answer popped into Sirius' mind. "You're going to make Lily jealous!"

"That's genius," remarked Peter.

"That's mean," stated Remus. It would really hurt her and James was oblivious to it all.

"She's mean," scoffed James thinking about the scene with Lily buried face in his friend's shoulder..

"I think it might work," commented Sirius, "She seemed really sad that when you announced Lynne was your girlfriend just now." He wasn't sure if he should say it, but he couldn't quite hold it in.

"She's probably just outraged that I could have a girlfriend. She seriously thinks it's all about her."

"No it was definitely sa –" but Sirius stopped talking seeing the glare on Remus' face.

Thank god James let it go. "Whatever. I have to go back to the Head's dorm or Miss Priss will go and give me a detention."

"Right, bye Prongs," they all said.

As James walked back to his room, he wondered if Lily really was sad because of him. He didn't think it would impact her much, but then again he couldn't be too sure anymore. For the past two weeks he had barely seen her, which was applaudable since they lived together. Yesterday, when she had touched him, he nearly lost all his resolve to ignore her. Now his wall was rebuilt and stronger than ever.

He slipped into the common room and found it empty. Lily was back though, since he could hear little noises from her room. They sounded staggeringly similar to sobs but he resolved that he was probably hearing things. He walked to his room.

Lily heard the door slam shut from across the other side of the room. James was back. She quickly choked down her sobs and buried her face into the pillows, allowing the soft music from her stereo wash over her.

She knew she had no right to be sad. She had no claim over him, not anymore. When he liked her, she'd been a fool and now it had turned around to get her. Had it hurt like this two years ago? It had been so long she couldn't remember exactly. She should have known. Damn Potter for making me like him, cursed Lily bitterly. At least there was Hogsmeade next weekend to look forward to.

She needed to talk to Remus, she suddenly realized.

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The week flew by without cause and the day of the Hogsmeade trip soon came. There was nothing unusual about it, unless you counted his best friend kissing in every hall at every possible moment. And the fact that his eyes couldn't seem to part with the dark haired girl with violet eyes.

He seemed to notice more about her now. For example, he noticed that she always put her hair in a loose bun, and looked great with it too. Her voice was soft and caressing, and her eyes were playful and teasing. He loved it when she smiled, because it was full of love and the smile lit her eyes up more. But when they looked a grayish tint, and he could live a hundred lives without seeing those eyes, they conveyed pure angst and sadness and that tore through him worse than a thousand knives. Thankfully, he rarely saw that with this girl.

"Sirius!" There it was, that enchanting voice.

He whirled around to face Beth, smiling the smile that made her melt, although he didn't know it. "Pleasure to see you milady."

She exultantly mocked a curtsy and fluttered her dark long eyelashes. "My prince." Inwardly, she dreamed he really was her prince.

He offered his arm to her and she took it gracefully, all the while laughing merrily. Following behind were Lily and Jodie. James had gone ahead with Lynne, much to Lily's disappointment but she hid it well. Remus was unfortunately sick, Sirius had said, and Peter was staying with him.

Instead, she put all her mind into the two in front of her. Beth must be floating on air right now, she thought amusedly. She shared that thought with Jodie, who agreed heartily.

Finally, after the long trek, they arrived in front of the Three Broomsticks. They entered and quickly claimed the last free table.

"School's been going by really fast," commented Beth, starting up the conversation. Lily barely participated, choosing to concentrate on her Butterbeer instead. She didn't hear the conversation go from school to girls to school to the outside, and finally on James Potter.

"Lils?" nudged Jodie.

"Right what? Sorry I wasn't listening," Lily apologized, not seeing the worried glances of her two best friends.

"We were just talking about James and Lynne over there," Sirius said, pointing to the couple sitting in a dark corner of the pub. Sirius regarded Lily's reaction. He noticed her shocked look, her terrified glance and her stuttered response. This was definitely not the Lily he knew. It seemed like James was right.

He looked over at the two as well. It definitely didn't seem like James was acting noted Sirius.

"I think I'm going to catch some fresh air," mumbled Lily, bringing Sirius' attention back to her.

He was about to follow her when Jodie stood and told him she'd go and he could stay with Beth. There was no arguing with that logic. And so, he spent the rest of the day with Beth, laughing and chatting until the evening sun danced on the horizon.

Lily felt like she was suffocating the moment she saw James and Lynne, laughing and snuggling with each other. It disgusted her. She was afraid if she didn't leave that room, she would go up to them and tell them to get a room.

Suddenly, an arm looped though her own, and she smiled. "I'm fine Jo."

Jodie's smile disappeared, and she said seriously, "Are you sure?"

"Lily Evans doesn't lose her heart," pointed out Lily. Suddenly, she felt like running, running away from this horrible nightmare where she liked James Potter and he didn't like her.

"I'm here for you Lils," comforted Jodie.

Seeing as there was no way to convince her friend she truly was fine, she conceded. "Thanks."

"No problem, now lets go shopping." Lily had to laugh at that.

"Alright, Madame Randella's here we come!" shouted Lily, pumping her fists in the air.

About an hour later, Lily and Jodie came out of the clothing shop with a bag each. After a bit of walking, Lily realized that Jodie was no longer by her side. Frantically, she looked back, and found Jodie talking to one of the Hufflepuff seventh year boys.

Lily sighed. That was Jodie for you.

She signaled thumbs up to Jodie, and continued walking. She decided to let Jodie have her fun, and besides, the fake cheeriness was slowly fizzing away.

She wondered what to do now. Beth and Sirius were together and she wasn't about to ruin that. Jodie was with her new acquaintance. Alice was with Frank. Everywhere she looked, people were together, happy and loving.

Lily was getting sick of it all and so she did what she longed to do. She shrank her package and tucked it in her pocket and took off. Sprinting to nowhere in particular, just away.