Lily

Lily smiled as she walked through the grounds during the weekend. It was warm and sunny and it was certainly not a day that should be spent indoors. She looked behind her and saw Alice running towards her...her robes flowing.

" There you are ...I've been looking for you for ages."

" Me? Why what's wrong Alice?"

" Nothing is wrong Lily... It's just Fredrick was wondering where you had gone to. You just took of this morning and left him by himself."

" Oh I'm sorry Alice. I woke up early and I couldn't resist going out into the grounds. It was so lovely. I hope Fredrick understood that."

" Dont worry. I told him. It's common practice for you to disappear like this this during the weekends. I just said you like the solitude in the morning."

" Thanks. Look lets go down by the lake."

Lily walked down with Alice and sat down just by the rock , when suddenly they heard laughing and talking.

" Oh James...dont be so naughty."

Lily craned her neck and stared in shock. A pretty girl was sitting beside James and clearly enjoying herself. James looked pleased too.

" Thats Oriane Tonks " said Alice with a clearly annoyed look on her face. She conciders herself to be the prettiest girl in the school I've heard. Wonder what James is doing associating himself with a thing like her?"

" Probably nothing I suspect " said Lily with a hint of bitterness is her voice. " I suspect maybe he's trying to look cool as usual."

" So Jamsie " teased Oriane. " Are you taking me to this ball or what?"

" Of course " said James. " Thats why I asked you isn't it?"

Lily muttered and turned away.

" She's not that pretty."

" I dont know Lily. I dont like her... but she has all the charactistics of a good looking girl. She's Blacks Cousin you know and sister to that lovely girl...you know her Nymphadora Tonks?"

" I do...she's a sweet thing..."

" Well from what I've heard...Oriane has a reputation for obsessing about her beauty and connections with other high profile people. Her Father's a muggle you know and her family have been wiped out of the Black Tapestry. But Oriane has been since trying to worm her way back into it... by sidling up to Sirius Blacks Mother...the crazed pure blood one."

" I see so she is ashamed of her Mothers betrayal to the Black Family?"

" So it seems."

" Tell me again James."

" You are very pretty Oriane " said James wearily.

Lily grimaced. " Well they are perfect for each other then " she muttered.

" Lily dont be so cruel...I would worry about James being stuck with a witch like her...Oriane is a nasty piece of work and I suspect she will drop James soon enough when she tires of him."

James lazily kissed Oriane on the cheek but when he caught Lily's wandering eyes...he hugged her and pinched her cheek affectionaly. Lily muttered and stood up.

" Alice I've had enough of this fresh air. Lets go back inside."

Fredrick met her suddenly as she turned and Lily caught hold of him and kissed him hard as he took her hand. Then turning and smiling at James shocked face she sauntered off and left the grounds.