"Maybe we'll turn it all around
'Cause it's not too late
It's never too late"
-Never Too Late by Three Days Grace
I always loved Christmas.
Throughout my entire life it was the holiday I always looked most forward to. I was never quite sure why, maybe it was all the lights… Or perhaps the beautiful snowflakes falling from the sky. The hot chocolate and cuddling with my parents by the fire was always nice too.
Fortunately Christmas was coming and I'd be able to experience all of those things.
"Lily, Amos and I are going to Hogsmeade in an hour. Do you want to come," Marlene asked me. I noticed over the course of hanging out with her that she was a nasty person.
Marlene got pleasure out of watching other people squirm. I recognized the way she conducted herself when planning something. Whatever she had ready at Hogsmeade was big.
I saw Sirius eyeing Marlene warily with a somewhat glare. Sophie was looking at me pleadingly as if to say 'Please don't go!'
I didn't want to listen.
When we got to Hogsmeade I was overcome with excitement. The scene of holiday joy was just too much. The second we walked in the village I felt it and wanted to be a part of it.
When we got to the Three Broomsticks Marlene immediately left to get us drinks.
"Why do you hang out with her," Amos asked me.
"Why do you date her," I countered leaning against the back of the booth with my arms crossed.
"I ask you first," Amos replied childishly.
I rolled my eyes and answered. "She's the only one that really talks to me anymore. Well my old friends still do talk to me but I feel like they don't forgive me".
"Oh, you know she doesn't like you much, right? She just likes watching in in misery," Amos said bluntly.
"Of course I know, but it's better to wallow with people around rather than by yourself," I replied, wincing.
Amos merely nodded and turned his attention away from me. I pouted, I was sick of people trying to warn me about things I already knew. If I want to be friends with someone, then Merlin I'll be friends with them!
"Here you go Lily," Marlene said sweetly, handing me a cup of orange liquid. It looked likely slightly discolored orange juice.
I knew I shouldn't have drank it, but I was so blindingly angry I knew no consequences.
The liquid was fire down my throat. It burnt my stomach and stayed in there like lava. Firewhiskey, she gave me firewhiskey.
It was an addicting drink. After each sip I craved it more and more. I had six glasses. Tears were pouring down my face. It was so hot!
I soon became dizzy. Everything was blurry until I saw a familiar face. James was here.
The tears started falling faster and harder, at the time I thought it was still the firewhiskey, but now I know better.
"I'm getting more," I cried to Marlene and Amos. Without waiting for their reply I got up and left for the counter.
I threw a few sickles on the counter. "One firewhiskey please!"
"Are ya' sure missy? You look like yer ready to pass out," the bartender replied.
"No I'm fine," I lied convincingly.
He nodded and slid me a glass. I hated the bar area. It seemed too far away from the nice restaurant portion.
"Lily," I heard a worried voice ask me. I looked over and saw a wide eyed Sophie staring at me in disbelief.
"'Ello Sophie! How've you been," I said hiccupping between words. Despite my cheerfulness the tears were pouring like waterfalls.
"Is that firewhiskey," she asked incredulously. She stared at my drink with a wrinkled nose.
"Sure is," I replied nonchalantly.
She groaned and grabbed my arm, pulling me over to her table. My eyes widened like Sophie's previously were. I tried to pull away from her.
"Marlene and Amos will get mad," I argued, "They might worry over where I am!"
Sophie turned around and looked me in the eyes. "Marlene hates you!"
"I know," I whispered, "But she's all I have".
Sophie brought me in a hug while I sobbed. "No, you have Alice, you have Mary, and you have me. You have all of us".
"But you guys weren't talking to me, you all hated me," I exclaimed between sobs.
"We never hated you, we were only disappointed. I don't care if you hugged Remus- I hug him all the time! You never apologized to James. You never reached out to control this, you should've said sorry," Sophie explained.
I nodded my head knowing I had my best friend back. The walk to James, Mary, Sirius, Remus, and Peter seemed more bearable.
"Lily," Mary exclaimed, running up to me. I looked at Mary, Sophie, and everyone else and couldn't take the staring. I took a sip of firewhiskey.
"Stop it Lily! It's not good for you," Mary argued, attempting to take my drink away. I wasn't having it!
"Don't touch it," I shrieked, pulling my hand and glass away.
I heard a chair move and feet shuffling. A hand was placed over mine and I looked up to see the most gorgeous brown eyes.
"Lily, give me the drink," James spoke softly. I looked around and observed the area. Remus looked ready to get up; he was rocking in his chair. Peter's eyes were wide and Sirius had a hand holding Sophie's arm, preventing her from coming over. Mary was watching quietly.
"What if I say no," I whispered, glaring at James.
"Then I'll have to take it by force," James replied simply. I knew he was serious.
I eyed my drink and then looked back at him. Quickly I stomped his foot with my own and when he let go of my hand I drank the rest of my firewhiskey.
Firewhiskey is truly an amazing drink. It can make you change moods in an instant.
Tears from my drink and sadness began down my face. I was sniffling and started crying hysterically.
James looked at me with concern. "Lily, don't cry!"
I launched myself into his arms, sniffling in his chest. I didn't want to let go, I clung on to him as if my life depended on it. He held me gently as his robes remained tear-stained.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you," I cried.
"Shhh, Lily it's ok. I know you didn't mean to. I understand," James said soothingly.
"But I never said sorry! I should've done something, I'm such a bad person," I said.
"Lily you're far from the worst person. You're the most beautiful, smart, funny girl I know. In fact you're almost perfect," James joked.
"I love you for it," he whispered in my ear. My body tingled when he told me.
"Lily what are you doing," a voice shrieked. I looked behind me. Marlene.
She grabbed my wrist protectively and pulled my away from James.
"Don't you dare hurt her again," Marlene said venomously. I was in shock; I thought Marlene hated me…
Sirius lost his grip on Sophie. "Yeah, but did he make her drunk?"
"She was finally loosening up! I did her a favor, more than you ever did. I stayed with her during all of this while you abandoned her," Marlene hissed.
I wriggled out of Marlene's grip and stood by Sophie, knowing it was the right thing to do. "She's my friend, you're my friend Marlene. I don't want any fighting."
"Fine," Marlene said, her foul mood apparent. She stalked away.
"Why am I a bad person," I said to no one, my eyes filling up with tears again.
James held me from behind. His arms wrapped around my waist and he rested his chin on my shoulder.
"I already told you Lily-kins, you're not a bad person," James whispered.
"But I hurt you, I hurt Marlene, I hurt everyone," I argued, the tears finally stopping.
"But we all forgive you," James replied. I stopped, not wanting to continue the conversation.
So he led me back to the table where I didn't speak much. At the time I was drunk, slightly bipolar, and tired. All I wanted to do was sleep.
So I did, in his arms.
IT'S DONE! This chapter is extra long and it took me forever to write! This is four and a quarter pages, compare that to my usual three! I really like this one, as I usually do with long ones. I was so happy to get them back together and write about Lily being drunk. I get a kick out of it. I was questioning how Marlene would seem like a Gryffindor with an attitude like that, so I had to make her somewhat nice in this chapter.
Sorry about the chapter delay. I went to a haunted house with my friends yesterday and we didn't get back until eleven-ish and I was exhausted.
Nothing much to say except you're all really going to like the next chapter, trust me.