Chapter 11

hey mrs. potter don't cry
hey mrs. potter i know why
hey mrs. potter won't you talk to me?
…
hey mrs. potter don't turn
hey mrs. potter i burn for you
hey mrs. potter won't you talk to me?
…
hey mrs. potter i won't touch
hey mrs. potter it's not much
hey mrs. potter won't you talk to me? (x3)

Mrs Potters Lullaby - Counting Crows

Anna sat there with her mouth ajar. "SHIT!" she whispered.

Alice and Elle, who had been dancing to nothing stopped and turned to her. "What?" asked Alice.

"I'M LATE!" Anna yelled to them, her eyes wide.

The others looked at each other, before Elle spoke. "YOU'RE PREGNANT?"

"No! OLIVER!" she said, gesturing something with her hands.

"What? Oliver's pregnant?" asked Alice.

"No. Well, maybe… but that's not important! I have tutoring!" she said, shocked.

"No you don't!" Elle said, rolling her eyes. She left the clearing in-between beds back to Anna's and downed another shot.

"I'm LATE!" Anna yelled, ignoring her friends. She staggered off her bed, and stumbled straight into a face plant. Groaning she picked herself up and left the room, the others not noticing.

Lily looked up at the sound of the slamming door. "Where's Anna?" she mumbled. "More importantly; where the H am I?" she added, blinking as her eyes ran across the light.

"H.M.I.? What does that stand for?" asked Alice interestedly.

"Alice you dolt! Shhh do you hear that?" asked Elle.

All three remaining girls went silent. "I hear nothing," whispered Lily.

"EXACTLY!" whispered Elle. "It's quiet."

"It's to quiet," added Alice.

"People are sleeping," reasoned Lily.

"Well. Let's go wake the boys up!" replied Alice brightly.

"You coming Lils?" asked Elle, tying up her shoe.

"No," she said, pulling the last half of the second bottle towards her.

Anna stumbled through the halls, walking in the complete opposite direction of the astronomy tower. More than once she actually came across a flight of stairs, heading down, instead of up.

She followed nine flights of stairs, all heading down. In the end she found herself in the dark halls of the dungeon. "Whoah," she whispered. "This is NOT the Astronaut towel!" She shook her head and laughed. She went to smack herself in the head but missed by a few inches, flying her hand out to the side. She giggled loudly before about-facing and climbing the stairs.

Two dark figures shot smirking glances to each other, before following the drunk up the stairs.

Elle and Alice lurched up the staircase that led to the boy's dormitories, leaning against each other to support themselves. They giggled uncontrollably whenever one of them tripped. As they reached the first landing, they stopped outside of the first years' dormitories. Alice pressed a finger to her lips, trying to muffle a giggle, signaling for Elle to do the same. Alice then held up three fingers – she lowered one with a look towards Elle, before lowering another. With the last one down, they burst through the door. Not leaving any time, they ran into the centre of the room, screaming wildly and jumping about as the five small boys that occupied the room jumped out of their beds, terrified. Mass yelling was heard emanating from the room, as both Elle and Alice were screaming for the fun of it, while the boys were giving out horrified shrieks of fear and surprise.

Before the boys could gather their wits, the two intoxicated girls fled the room, speeding as fast as their tipsy feet would carry them up the next set of stairs.

When they reached the rooms of the second years, they telepathically decided to take a different approach – Elle carefully opened the door, and they slipped silently into the room. They stealthily approached one of the beds, struggling to suppress their laughter. Alice moved around to the opposite side of the sleeping boy, and the two girls leaned in, mere inches away from their fair-haired victim. The two shared a look, before Alice tilted her face towards the boy's ear …

"Moo," she whispered, her face deadly calm. Elle had to duck down beside the bed as a fit of laughter attacked her, but she quickly recovered, popping back up. "Moo!" Alice repeated, slightly louder. Elle caught on, and joined the fun.

"MOO!"

The boy's eyes snapped open, and he bolted upright into a sitting position, succeeding in cracking both of the girl's heads with his own. They both fell on either side of his bed, all three of them letting out a howl of pain, awakening the rest of his dorm mates.

"Jake … you okay?" one of them muttered sleepily. He pulled back his curtains, and saw two figures run cackling out of the room, clutching their foreheads.

"Elle! Who's next?" Alice asked as they dragged themselves up the stairs.

"First years … Second years … umm … fourth years?" Elle responded, trying to reason with herself. "Wait … THIRD!"

They finally found the door, and barged in. The boys had already been awakened from the screams and shouting from below, and stared incredulously at the strange girls. Elle and Alice were slightly put off by this, and fell into a mass heap of limbs in the middle of the floor. Laughter omitted from them for several minutes, before they picked themselves up and ran into the bathroom, thinking it was the exit. At seeing the porcelain sinks, they whirled around and flew back into the dormitory – but not before Elle got the chance to flush every single toilet at least twice. They dashed back onto the stairs, leaving a stunned silence behind them.

Lily's eyes snapped open as the empty bottle in her hand slipped from her grasp and clattered to the floor with a thud. She'd been drifting off on her bed, dreaming of a white Christmas, before she'd been interrupted.

"How rude!" she muttered, sluggishly pulling herself up into a standing position, hanging onto the curtains and using them to support her weight. Grabbing her bottle she made her way to the door before opening it and sliding outside. She needed someone to be with her, she hated being drunk alone.

Down in the common room, James was drawn back to reality as the source of his thoughts came stumbling into view. Literally. Lily seemed to be tripping over her own two feet as she made her way towards the main fireplace, which happened to be in his direction as he lay on the couches in front of it. Lily clearly had not seen him, as she hit her knee off one of the tables and swinging one of her hands onto the cushions. It was there that he saw an unmistakable object, clutched in her right hand as if it were the key to life.

She half-heartedly withdrew her empty bottle of Fire Whiskey, before letting go of it completely. The empty glass echoed with a hollow thud as it his the rug that lay beneath her. James bit his lip as he watched her stagger towards the couch, and promptly fall on top of him. Her eyes finally rested on him before a simple, "oh shit," passed by her lips.

"Drunk?" he asked innocently.

"Very," she replied, shrugging against his lap.

"How many bottles?" he asked, pulling her upright.

"Many." Lily began to count on her fingers. "Three," she finally admitted.

"Explains why I saw three lunatic girls milling about."

"They had one bottle," she said, leaning her head back into the cushions. "I had two. By myself."

"This should be interesting," James mused, sitting back and looking over the girl.

"FOURTHS!" slurred Alice, approaching the next door. They both took a deep, calm breath before casually turning the doorknob, and walking nonchalantly into the room. The fourth years apparently slept like logs – long and deep. Elle split left, Alice hung a right, and they leaped valiantly onto the sleeping figures' beds, imitating a rooster's crow, as they jumped from bed to bed. The beds formed a semicircle around the dorm, so as each jumped, they drew closer to each other, until finally they leaped into each other's arms; clothes-lining each other as they tumbled to the ground. The boys looked at the crumpled giggling heap, before breaking into laughter and applause. Elle and Alice pulled each other up, bowing to their audience as they backed out of the room.

"Thank you gents, we'll be here all … er ... year!" Elle announced.

"And the year after that!" Alice added, closing the door behind them.

Taking two steps at a time, they reached the fifth years' dorm, before stopping outside the door. They gave each other a slight nod, before banging their palms against the wood, and barging in.

"Housekeeping!" they trilled in unison, "Would you like me to fluff your pillow?"

The fifth years were awake instantly, grinning like it was Christmas morning at the two sixth year females.

"I will, come on over here!" said one with a wink, patting an empty space beside him on his bed. Elle grinned and started to move forward, but Alice pulled her back. Not knowing her own strength, Alice pulled Elle into herself, sending them both to the ground, not for the first time that night. Three boys jumped up to their sides, helping them up, still smirking intently. Alice took one look at their expectant faces, and began screaming wildly. At the sound of her friend's screams, Elle joined in, effectively waking up the entire house once again, and causing the boys to jump away.

"NOW!" Elle shouted, grabbing Alice by the hand and dragging her out of the room.

"Long time, no see Weston," grinned Albert, heading her off.

"BERTY!" she yelled back, grinning at the name. She cracked up hard, holding her sides from laughing so much.

"Shut your mouth, you dirty Muggle-lover," he hissed at her.

"I'm not dirty!" she protested. "I had a shower this morning!"

Snape and Albert gave each other disbelieving looks. "You insolent little fool," Snape smirked.

"Oh man. Just go away you two. Damn, where's James and Sirius when I need them?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Snape asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Oh don't be a twat, Sevvy. We all know they always kick your ass."

"You little brat!" Albert snapped advancing on her. "There not here to protect you now, are they."

"Ah, shit," Anna said, realizing how alone she was for the first time.

Albert and Snape advanced on her menacingly. "Come on Snivellous, Berty, be reasonable!"

That was all they needed to physically strike Anna. Albert's hand collided with a resounding smack against her face. Snape stepped up and shoved her forcefully against the wall, her head bouncing off the stones.

Albert punched her in the gut, causing her to loudly yelp in pain. Snape punched her face one last time, sending the other side of it scraping along the wall, leaving a bloody trail behind. Anna gasped violently in pain, tears clouding her vision.

"What the HELL is going on here?" came a voice down the hall. Anna couldn't turn to see the owner as she slunk to the ground in agony. She heard footsteps scampering away as a voice was left with her. "This isn't over, Weston!"

Her rescuer wasn't able to approach in time to stop the two fleeing boys. Instead the man dropped to his knees, and began to rub her back. "Ann," the figure whispered. "Anna. Look at me please," he begged. Anna did as asked and turned to look straight into the blue-green eyes of non other than Darcy Oliver.

They bounded up the next set of stairs, coming to the sixth years' dorm. Elle stopped short before they were about to enter. "Alice … I've BEEN here before!" she said blinking rapidly, "I think … I think we KNOW these people!" Alice, who wasn't listening, began to hum loudly and off key.

"You know what my favorite song is?" she quipped, humming louder still.

"That one?"

"Yeah! But do you know how it goes?"

Elle thought for a moment before she shrugged. "Nope."

"Oh. Well I do!" Alice grinned, breaking into song as she threw her arms into the air and danced around wildly, coming dangerously close to the stairs. "Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy warty Hogwarts! Er … something, something Hogwarts!" Elle's eyes lit up.

"I know it!" she screeched, jumping up and down before singing along. The two of them caused enough noise outside the closed door, drawing the boys' attention. Elle and Alice were doing a rather mad rendition of the polka when Sirius opened the door, leaning against the frame, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Evening ladies. Nice night for a dance?" he asked playfully. Alice and Elle looked at him and shrieked, before pushing him back inside.

"Not yet Remus!" Elle screamed in his bewildered face, before slamming the door shut. Sirius turned his shocked expression to a gaping Remus, who was shaking his head. Sirius backed away slowly, not chancing the girls' drunken behavior.

"What …the … fu-"

A boom cut off the rest of his sentence, as the girls barreled through the door, almost creating a hole in the wall where the doorknob hit. Elle had her arm slung around Alice's shoulders as they began to sing uncontrollably. "HOGWARTS, HOGWARTS, WOGGY HORTY HOGWARTS!" they slurred out of tune, rocking back and forth as they danced into the room. Sirius, Peter, and Remus exchanged knowing glances.

"Get them," Sirius nodded, as Remus got off his bed and advanced on the singing duet. The pair immediately caught wind of the plan, and once again began screaming, running insanely around the room, bouncing off of beds and trunks as they scrambled to avoid the boys.

"ABORT!" Alice yelled to Elle, who was being cornered by Peter and Sirius. Elle dodged left, then right, diving between the pair, flying past them and skidding across the floor. She lay helplessly on her stomach, and extended her arm longingly towards the door, before grunting and dropping her head to the ground. Alice squeaked, unsure of where to go without her partner in crime. Elle flailed her arm, in a gesture towards the exit, signaling for Alice to continue without her. Alice gave her a brief nod, before ducking under Remus' outstretched arm and disappearing out the door.

Lily looked over at the black-haired boy shooting her worried glances and rolled her eyes in disdain. She didn't need his pity. She had enough self-pity to go around, and then-some. Lily shifted uneasily under his gaze, making herself crawl up onto one side of the couch, as far away from him as possible. She knew it was stupid, her actions were just trying to prolong the inevitable. That pathetic question everyone asked in times like this. She waited in silence not wanting to meet his gaze, instead she stared into the fire grate, an inpatient feeling tugging at her.

"Lils," James said finally, moving a bit closer. "Are you okay?" There it was. That damn question she knew would haunt her for the next week. Lily, as drunk as she was, couldn't bite back her retort.

"Well, I just caught my boyfriend cheating on me, I blew up on my best friend, and I was proven horribly wrong. All in one night." Lily said through clenched teeth. Anger was the way to go, not sadness. She needed anger. "So in answer to your question, James. I'm just peachy-keen." Something told her that calling him Potter at this time was not appropriate. No matter how upset, or angry she was, the full effect wasn't about him. Well, granted she felt some of the blame rested on his shoulders, but for the moment, he was only trying to help.

"I'm really sorry, Lily," he said earnestly.

"Sorry for what?" she asked him. "Sorry for asking if I'm okay? Or sorry that you were able to ruin my life in one night?" She was harsh, and she knew it. But there were dark things she wanted off her chest. Things she would never say or accuse when sober. If drinking was supposed to help her feel free, then damnit she would feel that way.

"Lily, you can't just accuse me of that. I did nothing but show you the truth!" he said quietly, a hint of desperation and pleading in his voice. Under normal circumstances no one would hear such tones out of James Potter, but then again, Lily had always been a special case to him.

"I can to!" she defended. So many thought whirled around inside her head she forgot what she was saying. "I- I don't know anymore. I'm so confused."

"Confused about what?" he asked her gently.

"Why would he cheat on me?" she whispered, her eyes beginning to shine with unshed tears. Lily took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. In no way would she become one of those drunks. She wouldn't wander around, blubbering like an idiot. If she wanted to be an idiotic drunk, she be out with the girls, who she had heard screaming from somewhere in the vicinity. Not wandering around, making a fool of herself by crying like a mess.

"He's a wanker, Lils. Anyone who would ever think of giving up something great with the one-and-only Lily Evans, would be the biggest fool I could ever meet." James moved closer towards her on the couch as he spoke. Maybe it was the shots talking, but at the moment his company, and closeness for that matter, were far from unwelcome. As James delicately slid his arms around her shoulders, Lily was happy not to be alone.

Lily moved closer into the warmth James' body was giving off. James smiled at this and took his free hand in hers. "I'm here for you Lily. I'm sure if your friends were sober enough, they would be too. But right now, I'm here to listen to you."

"Why did you have to tell me?" Lily asked sadly.

"He was only hurting you, I couldn't stand by and watch it happen. You had to know the truth," James reasoned.

Lily let out a mournful sigh. "Did you ever stop to consider that I was happy believing the lie?"

James looked down at their interlaced fingers. Of course he had. That fact made him feel torn apart whenever John and his Lily were near each other. She was so happy, yet it was only her being manipulated. "I'm not sorry I showed you what I did Lily. I can't apologize for something that I know will be for the better."

"You're right," Lily admitted, as she dug her face deeper into his side. "You were always right."

Alice climbed the last flight of stairs downheartedly, saddened by the loss of Elle. She crept timidly towards the last door of the night, knocking meekly on the wood and opening it a crack before anyone answered. Her eyes scanned the black room, not feeling as bold as she was earlier. "Hello?" she whispered loudly into the darkness. She heard the sound of movement, before a groggy voice answered her.

"Alice?"

A smile broke across her face as she crept into the darkness towards the voice. "Frank?" she whispered again, bumping into bedposts and tripping over randomly strewn items as she made her way across the room. Her knees collided with the edge of a bed, and she fell forward onto it. "Frank!" she said relieved, groping for his face with her hands. Finding it, she dropped a kiss on what her fingers dictated was Frank's cheek – but the yelp of surprise from the sleeping figure said otherwise. "Not Frank?" Alice said, confused.

"Alice, over here!" the real Frank repeated, and she felt him beside her, taking her gently by the elbow and leading her away.

"Oops, sorry!" She giggled to the boy that she'd accidentally kissed, wiping his cheek with her hand in apology.

Alice leaned into Frank as he guided her across the dark room, tripping over her own feet, barely able to stand up. Frank chuckled slightly as he scooped her up in his arms, and crossed the floor towards his bed. He placed her gently on to his bed, and went to go to the other side, before her arms pulled him down on top of her. She giggled insanely, as he rolled off of her and to the side.

"Your drunk, aren't you?" he whispered to her.

"Not at all!" Alice defended, slapping him on the arm.

"Alice. You drank so much, I could practically get drunk off your breath."

"Okay, so maybe I had a few shots…."

Frank chuckled and wrapped his arms around Alice as she snuggled into him, taking in his warmth. Together they fell into a peaceful sleep, grinning like the lovebirds they were.

"Oli?" Anna asked hesitantly. He broke their eye contact to look around her face. He took her chin in his hands and turned her face from side to side. She felt a glimpse of more pain as his thumb grazed her bloody lip. She saw the look of horror on his face as he examined her scraped up side of her face. His eyes finally returned to hers, "Who were those two?" he asked her quietly.

"Dun worry," she slurred. "It's fine."

"No it's not Ann. I heard what they said! Come on, let's get you cleaned up." That said Darcy pulled her to her feet, wrapping his arm around her waist. She staggered from the alcohol still, as they walked down the corridor.

"Sorry I'm late!" she said sadly.

"Late for what?" he asked her.

"The astronaut towel," she replied, leaning in to him.

"The what?"

"Tu-tor-ing," she said slowly, as if he was the one being stupid.

"Anna. We had tutoring last night, we don't have it right now."

"Yes we do!" she said, trying to convince him.

"Alright," he replied hesitantly. "Here, come in and wash up."

"Wait. Woah. Where are we?" she asked, looking around.

"My living quarters," he replied. The walked through the door and Anna had immediately got the impression they had walked into a one-bedroom flat. There was a kitchen, as well as tables and a living room. Two separate doors gave the impression of adjoined rooms. Oliver led her to the couch, and sat her down. "Just sit here for a bit. I'll be right back."

Oliver retreated to the bathroom, fetching a damp cloth. He walked back out to see Anna sprawled out on his couch, her face down in the pillow.

"Aye ant breeeathhhe," she moaned into the pillow.

"What?" he asked her, kneeling at her side.

She lifted her head an inch off the pillow and repeated, "I can't breathe."

"Oh, kay," he replied, glancing her over.

She turned to him, shock appearing on her bruised face. "OLIVER! YOU'RE HERE TOO?" she asked him.

"Anna," he asked, standing up and walking to one of the chairs. She jumped up and walked around the room. She came to the second door and pushed it open. "What's in here?" she called, walking into the room.

The candles sprung to life as she started jumping on his bed. She lost her balance, falling into his pillows. He appeared in the doorway and cocked an eyebrow at the fallen Anna, who rolled off the bed and out of sight, onto the other side. "Shit. You okay?"

A leg flared into vision, signaling she was fine. After the leg dropped to the floor with a bang, realization dawned on Darcy. "Your drunk, aren't you?"

"Pffftt. NO!" she said. She waited a few moments before adding, "yes." Oliver rolled his eyes and sat on the bed as Anna crawled back up with him. She crawled up to his side, placing her head on his arm, which curled around her waist instinctively. He placed the damp cloth against her skin, wiping the blood away, until only the faint cuts remained.

James sat a bit stunned for the moment. Lily had finally admitted he had been right, but instead of feeling the utter joy he had anticipated, he felt deeply upset as he felt her shoulders begin to shake. He pulled Lily tighter towards him, trying to comfort her. "Don't cry, Lils!" This only made her sob harder into him.

"You were right!" came her muffled words. "You were right. Elle was right. The whole sodding world was right, but I wouldn't listen!"

"You just…" James struggled to find something to tell her that wouldn't cause more tears. In all honesty he had no clue why she wouldn't even listen to her best friend. "You had faith in your relationship. Your just a good person Lily, he just took advantage of you for it."

"I'm a bloody idiot, is what I am," Lily replied, wiping away her tears. She sighed against him, pondering all the injustices of her life. Everyone should be against her, but they weren't! Her friends should have deserted her long ago, but they hadn't, and she winded up dragging them on the rollercoaster that was her life.

"You're not an idiot Lily. You're the prefect and top of our year. You smart and witty and charming, and you don't even realize how perfect you are. Now, you're friends on the other hand."

"What about my friends?" asked Lily, going off her topic.

"They're not exactly… sane. Especially when they're drunk," he said, making a goofy face to try and make her laugh.

His efforts were rewarded when she burst out into a laughter, coming through her tears. "They can be when they want to," Lily defended.

"And how often do they want to?" he grinned again.

Lily thought for a moment before braking out into laughter. James smiled at the laughing red head he held gently in his arms. "See, Lils."

"See what?" asked Lily, her mind not registering.

"Life goes on, and you will be happy without Messer in your life. Your friends are always there to cheer you up. Apparently, whether they're trying to or not."

Lily thought for a moment, before smiling and snuggling in closer to him. She rested her head in the hollow of his neck as they sat there, truly enjoying one and others company.

Anna and Oliver stayed cuddled up together on the bed a while longer, before Anna spoke.

"Darcy?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you pregnant?"

"Er. Only as much as you are."

She raised her head higher, her forehead pressed against his neck. "Darcy?"

"What?" he asked again.

"Why do guy's cheat?" she mumbled into him.

"Why? What's happened to you?" he asked anxiously, looking down at her.

"Hmm, nothing. It was John."

"John?" Darcy asked. "Who's John?"

"Lily's boyfriend. He was doing something with that girl. You know?"

"What did he do?" he asked her.

"He... you know. That thing people do? With- like, you know?" she said, gesturing towards her mouth with her hands. Anna let out a groan of frustration, leaning up toward Darcy. "This!" With that she cupped his head and pulled him in against her lips. Anna's toes curled beneath her, and Darcy threw caution to the wind as he kissed her back.

Anna pulled away again as Oliver's hands reached his mid-back. "That's what it's called! Kissing!" She giggled once more, before pulling him back to her lips.

After a few minutes, he pulled her fully on top of him before rolling their bodies over, placing him on top of her. She pulled his head in closer to him, one arm slung around his neck, drawing him closer as the other brushed the skin under his shirt near his trouser line. His fingers drew circles along the skin on her waist.

He pulled his lips back, sucking on her bottom lip, as she moaned into his mouth. She giggled and pulled away as she hiccupped, before breaking up into peels of laugher. Darcy looked down at her, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He ran a finger along her jaw line, before pressing his lips back against hers, as she giggled into his mouth. Her hands ran up his body, taking the loose fabric with it. They broke their kissing for a second as she pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it across the room.

Anna ran her hands along his abs, before she began to tug at the waistband of his trousers, curling her fingers inside them, tickling the skin underneath them. Darcy suddenly stopped and pulled away from her, putting inches between them as he put his weight on his fully extended arms, on either side of her head. "Anna stop it," he whispered. "We can't do this!"

"Who's gunna know Oliver?" she whispered back, grinning. She tugged at his pants, pulling his body back down on her. She pressed her lips back up against him, and he couldn't help but kiss her back. After a few seconds, Oliver was left pulling away once again.

"Anna, we can't! I want to… but we can't!" he whispered back down to her. "Someone will eventually find out." With that said, he rolled off of her, and onto his back beside her. They lay beside each other, as he ran his fingers delicately through her hair.

Anna giggled slightly, before curling in towards his body once more. She began to kiss the base of his shoulder delicately, sucking gently on his bare skin. Darcy kept telling himself to make her stop, but he never seemed to get around to it. All that came out of his mouth was a moan of pleasure, which only encouraged Anna further. She began to kiss along his neck, working her way upwards.

She kissed the corner of his lips deliberately, leaving him the urge to feel the full blast of the kiss. She grinned as she looked down at him, a mischievous look in her eye. "Just five more minutes, please?" she begged him, pouting her lip. His only response was to let out the breath he had been holding in, before reaching up and tugging on the pouted out lip gently with his own. She grinned at him once more, against his lip. She pulled away from his lips and returned to sucking on his neck.

Darcy let out another strangled moan, that he failed in stifling. Finally he grabbed her around the waist and gently pushed her off of himself, onto the bed beside. "No, Anna," he whispered.

"Darcy," she said back, running her hands through his hair. He pulled away from her and sat hunched on the edge of the bed, with his head in his hands. Anna admired his back, before sitting up behind him, and ran a finger down his spine slowly. "What's wrong Darcy?" she asked.

"Anna, you wouldn't be doing this if you weren't drunk."

"I'd never have the chance," she pointed out to him, kissing his shoulder lightly.

Darcy shrugged her off and stood up, leaving her alone on his bed. She lay back onto his bed, wrapping the blankets around herself. Oliver pulled his shirt back on, glancing at the covered Anna. "Come on, get up. I'm walking you back to your dorm."

"But I want to stay here. With you," she replied, her hair fanned out across his pillow.

"No Ann, get up." He pulled her from the bed, but as her feet hit the floor she jerked her arm away.

"Fine. I'll go by myself. Bye Oliver," she replied coldly. She walked away from him, and out the door. Darcy rushed out after her and grabbed her arm to pull her back.

"No. I'm going with you. There's no way in hell I'm letting you go alone," he replied, his face dangerously close to hers.

"I can take care of myself, thanks," she replied harshly. Rejection didn't suit well for her. She walked ahead of him, before he ran to catch up with her.

Elle staggered slightly on the spot before leaning back into Sirius' arms. "Woah there," he said as she leaned her head into his chest. He put his hands on her waist in hopes of steadying her.

"Urrggghhh?" Elle moaned into him. Remus got up off his own bed and came towards the pair as Peter snickered from his own bed.

"What are you doing to the poor girl, Padfoot?" Peter grinned. Remus rolled his eyes as he got close to the pair.

"Here, give her to me. I'll take care of her," he said to Sirius, who had to wrap his full arm around Elle as she began to stop using her feet, leaning on him for support.

"Naw, I've got her," said Sirius, pulling Elle up a little.

Remus gave him an anxious glance between Sirius and Elle. "Be careful with her! Look, are you sure you can do this?"

"Stop worrying about her so much, Moony. I've got her and I wont let anything happen to her."

Elle groaned again and wrapped her arms around Sirius, letting the rest of the weight on her feet fall onto him. Remus reached forward instinctively as she slid down from Sirius, but Sirius readjusted Elle by pulling her back up, leaving Remus standing there awkwardly with his hands out towards the pair.

Sirius chuckled at Elle, who began singing something only he could hear, being so close to her. Remus gave them a hesitant laugh before retreating back onto his bed. He pulled out one of the books on map-making and pretended to read when he really just watched his two best friends out of the corner of his eye. He was worried about Elle, and as much of a good guy Sirius was, he was better for taking care of Elle, himself.

He watched her lean up and whisper something in Sirius' ear. "Fine," he mumbled back to her. Slowly he helped her shuffle towards the bathroom door. Together they went in and Sirius close and silence proofed the door, knowing the others wouldn't want to hear this.

He directed Elle over to the loo, and helped her get into a kneeling position. He held back her hair as she placed her arms on top of the seat and rested her forehead on her arms. He knew she was right about needing this as a few seconds later the contents of her stomach came up and out into the loo. She sat there for a while, tossing her dinner along with the alcohol the girls had previously consumed.

Remus looked up from his book at the sound of the bathroom door opening with a bang a little while later. The harsh impact the handle made against the wall caused both Peter and him to look at the lone figure of Sirius, standing with his hands out and a disgusted and angry look on his face. Sirius was breathing heavily, trying not to say anything. Remus took the time to finally notice the source of his mates reaction.

A slimy, chunky green film was sprayed across his shirt, and parts of it on his arm. Remus tried hard to stifle his laughter, knowing it would only worsen the situation.

"Maybe you really should take care of her," Sirius growled out slowly. Remus bit his lip to stop from smiling, as her nodded his head and left his bed. As he passed by Sirius, he heard the faint sound of chanting under his breath. "I will not kill Elle," he breathed. "I will not kill Elle," he repeated. His eyes landed on one of the hanging mirrors across from him, and his breathing increased sharply. "I'm going to KILL Elle!" he roared, but before he could return to the drunken girl, Remus slammed the door blocking his path. Remus leaned heavily against the door, letting out his laughter.

He stayed against the door, laughing uncontrollably at the boy currently trying to take his anger out on the hunk of wood separating them, until the fait sound of a new wave of tossing reached his ears. He sighed, walking over to his friend who was still seated crouched over the toilet, and giving him no notice. As she pulled away, she caught sight of the new comer and pointed lazily at the toilet. "I dun feel ok," she slurred.

"Yeah, I can tell." He crouched down beside her and shook his head. "What I don't get is why you continuously over-drink. You're always throwing up after you drink, you know that."

"I dunt do that!" she defended, lazily shifting her head. "That time, with the thingy we won. The party you boyses had, didn't toss then didn't I?"

"Yes you did! Granted, it was all over the Slytherin banner on the Quidditch pitch, and everyone loved you for it, but you still threw up!"

Elle opened her mouth to respond but after a few seconds of it hanging ajar, she began to cough. She groaned and leaned back over the toilet and threw up once more. Remus sighed and leaned beside her, resting his hand on her back. After a few more heaves she stopped and looked back up at him, a sad look on her face. "I don't feel good," she murmured, her eyes falling to half-open.

"Why did you guys get smashed?" asked Remus.

"Found boy, Lily person thing," Elle replied incoherently. She blinked rapidly, before shaking her head. "Lily saw guy with whore."

"Lily caught John cheating?" asked Remus, grinning.

"Nooooooo!" Elle replied, rolling her eyes. "Not me, Lily!"

"That's what I said. Lily saw him!"

"No, Lily saw him!" she replied slowly, as if he were the idiot.

"That's- Look, I'm not going to fight about this anymore," he replied, looking at Elle.

"My throat hurts. I need-" but Elle never finished her sentence, as she clapped a hand over her mouth, coughing into it. Remus heard an odd squishy sound before Elle started to choke. She pulled her hand away only to leave spit dangling from her lips, but traveling with her bile-filled hand. She swatted the spit away, taking deep breaths. Remus crab walked a little ways away, grabbing a towel. He returned to her, carefully taking the hand she threw up in. He wrapped the towel around it, and pressed hard, before moving it in rapid motion cleaning her hand.

She rocked side to side slightly, before Remus pulled the towel away. Trying not to look at the disgusting substance in the towel, he folded it so a fresh side was available. He wiped her face, as she closed her eyes, and leaned against him. Satisfied she was clean, he leaned her against the wall, as she steadily got limper. He then used the towel to clean up the messes she made every time she seemed to had missed the bowl.

He, himself, felt a little queasy as he looked into the bowl before turning away and flushing the toilet. He looked back at Elle, who was leaning her head against the wall, breathing steadily.

"She asleep?" came a voice from the door. Remus turned to see a shirtless, clean, Sirius in the doorway.

"Yeah," he replied, looking back at Elle. "I don't know what to do with her."

"Do you think she might throw up again?" Sirius asked, walking further into the room.

"Yeah. She might," Remus replied.

"So, why not leave her here?" Sirius asked, motioning to the bathroom floor.

"She'd kill us in the morning," Remus replied, raising an eyebrow.

"Worry about that tomorrow. If she sleeps here now, she can throw up into the bowl, or if she misses its on an easy to clean floor. Plus, we can check up on her later if we wake up, unlike if she were to sleep in the common room, or her own dorm."

Remus bit his lip before agreeing with Sirius. He gently moved Elle from the sitting position she was in, so she lay on the floor. He rolled her on her side putting her arm in front of her.

"What's that for?" Sirius asked.

"Well, some people throw up in their sleep, I don't want her to die," Remus said with a shrug. He ruffled Elle's hair before getting back to his feet. He and Sirius left the room, shutting off the lights and leaving Elle asleep on their loo's floor.

Anna and Oliver walked in silence, Anna fuming over the recent turn of events. As they reached the common room she said the password to the Fat Lady who gave her an odd look. "Night," she muttered, without turning to look at him.

"Anna-" he whispered, taking hold of her arm. He let his hand fall to hers, holding it delicately.

The anger seemed to wash out of Anna at the look in Darcy's eyes. She knew that this was more than just a rejection. Darcy really did want this as much as she did, but he was the one who had to think about the consequences. She sighed and came close to him, "I know, Darcy. We can figure something out," with that said she reached up and kissed him intensely. She had the urge to pull him into the common room and onto the couch, to continue what they had before. Instead, she pulled away from him, as much as it crushed her to.

"Night, Darcy," she whispered against his lips.

"Night Anna," he replied sadly. She disappeared into the common room and crept up to her room, unnoticed. As Oliver went to sleep that night, he found himself tossing and turning. The smell of Anna filled his pillow, leaving him wanting her now, more than ever. He placed his hands on his forehead as he stared at the ceiling, wondering how he got into this beautiful disaster.

Anna had appeared into the common room, shooting the cuddling pair a closed-off expression before retreating up the staircase without a word. Lily bit her lip, knowing she should go to her friend, but after a few more moments in James' arms, that idea, much like many other ideas and feelings she once had that night, had vanished into air.

A while later, Lily began to close her eyes, resting them on James' toned chest. As time wore on, James had to assume it was nearing an hour such as two, he regretfully woke Lily.

"Time to go to bed," he whispered, shaking her gently.

Lily's eyelids began to flicker before he was once more looking into the pair of emerald eyes he had fallen for. Lily looked back at James, an unfamiliar look in those said eyes. "Thank you, James," she said earnestly. "And I'm sorry for everything."

"You don't have to be sorry, Lils. You were just being the red headed woman I've always cared about," he replied, shooting her his best grin possible.

Lily leaned up and pressed her lips against James' cheek gently. She didn't care about past feeling, all the mattered was that he was caring for her when no one else would. She pulled back off his cheek, but lingered her lips next to his face. He turned his face to hers, and she brushed a lock of his hair away from his head. She leaned in closer, until their lips were only inches apart. James ran his thumb along her jaw line. Their lips brushed gently, but as she went to move in to a proper kiss he pulled away, holding her shoulders. His mouth was incredibly dry, as he rested his forehead against hers.

"James," she said, running a hand through his suddenly irresistible hair. "What's wrong? I thought you'd want to kiss me."

"I want to kiss you more than anything, Lils. But when I kiss you, I want you to remember it, and I want you to be sober. I don't want to just have a snog session with you Lils. I want so much more, and until then, I'm not about to take advantage of you."

James swallowed deeply, before doing the hardest thing he would ever do. He pulled his face away from the one girl he only ever wanted, and he did it willingly.

Lily looked at James deeply for a moment, as her arms wound around one of the couch cushions. Still staring at him, she tilted her head to the side. "They're right, you know?"

"What?" asked James. Lily discarded the pillow and dropped a kiss on James' forehead, before standing up and heading upstairs, only stumbling slightly. When she reached the staircase she looked behind her, only to meet James' hazel eyes staring back at her. She smiled once at him.

"I don't really know you like I thought I did. Night James."

AN: New Chapter, yay! Urg, it's 2 am, so I'll make it brief. MANY appologies about the two-week delay. We wrote 9/10th of the chapter the night we posted the last chapter. Then, our lives got in the way, plus all we had left to write were the James and Lily scenes, and niether of usknew exactly how to write it with enough fluff to satisfy.The rest of the chapter hasbeen picked at for the last two weeks, and we decided enough is enough and its time to post. So here we are, four hours after starting the Lily and James scenes, a billion glasses of pepsi (on my part) and thousands of edits and cuts later, we have the next chapter.

Reviewers: amrawo,BendYourArmsToLookLikeWingsJK, death during lifeSpiderGirl05, Jewels,Sophie, WE LOVE YOU GUYS! Thank you all sooo verry much for reviewing! Pllleasse Review some more!

Ohhh, and youthought they were going to kiss, didn't you? Evil snicker nope! Not today! (Not for a while) Isn't James a sweetheart?

In reply to Jewels; Elle is pronouced like the letter L, or as Elle Woods (Legally Blonde) Sometimes, as you may catch, her friends also call her Ellie, as in Elle-ee like you said.

In reply to JK: "Lily needs to get her own punches in at some point:D" in many cut scenes she did. MANY of them all ending in tons of blood and gore, and ultimatly we decided to have her be the bigger person and walk away, but James still got to brake Messers nose.

Ohh, Chapter title was a phrase I became obbsessed with after writing. Beautiful Disaster.

Night all! Till next chapter... How bad are the hangovers? Will Elle be okay waking up on a bathroom floor? WHAT is going on between Anna and Oliver? What will Lily remember? How does Alice react to waking up in Franks bed? Tune in next time to find the answers!