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"Angela... could you please, er, keep this between us? I'm Head Boy now, and I'm really trying not to muck it up. I know it's not fair to ask you something like this-"

Angela cut across him, "Oh shove it, Potter. Please, you've lost your edge. You're turning into a puddle of lovesick puppy goop and it's just too sickening. Don't worry - Lily won't find out." She gathered her wand, pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, and turned toward the door of the mysterious room. "Anyway, it wasn't anything new or special, last night," she threw him a smirk, and pushed open the door.

"Not special?" James muttered to himself, suddenly distracted from the more pressing issue of his imbecilic nature. Girls always loved him in bed. She hadn't thought it was anything special? Was he losing his touch? He shook his head, and waited a full minute before pushing through the door. As soon as it opened he realized he was on the seventh floor, as he found himself facing the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy attempting to teach trolls to dance ballet. Immediately, his brow furrowed, and he spun around - the door had disappeared behind him.

"What the...?"

Disclaimer:

For the week after the Hallowe'en Ball, Lily and James had taken twenty steps back in their relationship. Their friendship had taken an awkward downward turn and was spiraling further by the time they finally had their next meeting with the prefects. The two had hardly spoken to one another and Lily would promptly flee the premises if James appeared to be approaching her. She knew it was her fault, really, despite what she tried to tell herself. Why hadn't she said something? Anything! Why didn't she tell him how she really felt? How did she really feel, anyway? Shaking her head as though the act could physically jostle the irksome thoughts from her mind, Lily let her head rest on her arms as she waited out the prefect meeting, only speaking when it was unavoidable. She felt ridiculous, acting so odd just because of one awkward moment. She knew she was acting like a child, but somehow just couldn't stop herself. Why couldn't she just pretend it had never happened and carry on with her life?

She knew the reason, really, in her heart. However, it was one of those things that was easier to avoid - just like it had been surprisingly easy to avoid James all week - waking up ludicrously early in order to keep from seeing him in the Heads' Dorms, and turning in equally early at night. To some, it seemed ridiculous (Mary, for example, was absolutely addle pated by her behaviour and criticised her friend consistently in the hopes of bringing her into a sane mental capacity once more.) For Lily, though, this made perfect sense. At least, it was the most sensible option she had access to at the moment. To her, it was so difficult to act like it hadn't been a big deal, because she actually had come to like James, as a friend - and maybe even more, but she couldn't understand it. She didn't like the idea of not being able to organise her emotions into neat little sections. With James, it was all over the place. Besides, hadn't he said that he didn't even fancy her anymore? Why the change of heart? Or had he been lying? Maybe he was lying this time, and really didn't like her still. But weren't they friends now?

Lily sighed heavily, and several prefects turned to her.

"Do you not like that idea? I suppose we could reorganise the premise ..." It was a Ravenclaw girl, Emmaline Vance.

"The what?" Lily snapped back to reality, but realised quickly that she didn't care what they were talking about, she wasn't in the mood. This was horrible! Usually these meetings were a highlight of her week, but this time that was certainly not the case. "Oh, nevermind, no - I think that it's fine how it is," she recovered, hoping that they wouldn't prolong the meeting

"Oh. Oh, okay then. Good." The girl eyed her, suspicious, but continued on once again without much hesitation.

Before long, the prefects were trickling out of the meeting, all whispering about their Head Girl's odd behaviour. But Lily didn't mind; she hardly noticed at all. Indeed, she believed that she was the last one in the room, and put her head down in her arms. She wanted to cry, or scream, or something similarly pathetic. What was happening to her? She didn't welcome any of these emotions coursing through her. Still, she couldn't even cry - there were so many thoughts and feelings within her that she wondered if this was the real reason why people spontaneously combusted. That was when she heard something shift from behind her. She jumped in the alarmed way that one tends to do when they believe they are alone, but are mistaken.

A look of complete mortification passed over her face as she realised just who was still in the room with her. She tried to say something, but her voice hardly came out. She cleared her throat, and tried again.

"Why are you still here?" She was very impressed by how composed her voice sounded. Her face, surely, her eyes, had to betray her true feelings. But her voice - it sounded perfect, strong.

James looked down at his hands, and spoke slowly, as though she were a doe about to run away at any sudden movement.

"I wanted to talk to you," he said carefully. "Please," he added.

Lily wanted to stand up and storm out of the room. She wanted to scream at him. She wanted to tell him that he ruined everything.

No she didn't. But again - it was easier to tell herself that. She knew none of this was his fault.

"Talk away," She said, still speaking evenly. She folded her arms on the table and waited for him to speak.

"I'm - sorry. I'm really sorry. I don't know why I did that - I didn't mean to - to... I dunno. I didn't mean it, and I really don't want to ruin our friendship. Can't we just ... pretend that never happened? I mean, why haven't you even spoken a word to me?" It was as though a dam had broken, and the words kept flowing without thoughts attached to them - he was just saying everything that passed through his mind. Lily pursed her lips, ready to tell him everything she had been going over in her mind. Sometimes, though, she felt as though someone had drugged her with Veritaserum. It was as though she was incapable of lying to those who she was afraid to hurt.

"I don't know. I just don't know. I was ... embarrassed." She turned away from him and acted as though she was worried that her robes were caught in the chair. Really, she just couldn't stand the look he was giving her. He was already hurt.

"Embarrassed?" He managed, clearly confused, it was easy to tell even without looking at him. "Why?"

"I dunno, James. It just ... didn't feel right. It was so sudden." Lily stood up from her chair, and tugged at her skirt to straighten it.

"How do you feel about me?" James questioned, wanting to touch her arm, to bring her gaze back up to him - but he didn't. She would probably run off if he stepped even a centimetre closer to her.

Lily didn't look up from her skirt; she was now examining its every crease. "You're really a nice guy - I'm sorry it took me a while to realize," She said evasively.

"Nice enough to go back and be friends?" James prayed too much of his hopefulness didn't shine through his vocal tone, and was careful to keep his voice calm and even. He didn't dare mention what he'd done with Angela after Lily's rejection that night, too afraid that she would explode at him with renewed fury. He was relieved, however, that it seemed Angela had indeed kept her word about being quiet, somehow.

"Sure," Lily looked up at him, finally, feeling that perhaps she should pull herself together and be mature. To have a truce is the responsible thing to do, anyway. Besides, she had never really been angry at him.

James couldn't hold back his lop-sided grin, and his hazel eyes were shining happily. "I suppose it would be completely inappropriate to hug you, right?"

Lily snorted and closed the space between them, wrapping her arms around him in a friendly hug. James closed his eyes, reveling in the smell of Lily's hair for a moment, then letting go before the hug lingered on too much. Perhaps there's a positive side to the whole Angela issue... Now I can pine over Lily without my enthusiasm being stunted by sexual frustration. He hated himself for how much truth rang through that thought.

-:-

"It was about time," Mary muttered, walking next to Lily in the courtyard. It was a beautiful day and the smell of fresh air and green grass permeated the air in the way that usually followed a fall shower.

Lily pursed her lips, but forced herself not to say the first thing to pop into her mind. Mary is right!

"How immature was I being?" She finally managed, her voice squeaking a bit in her unease. She knew the answer even before her honest friend opened her mouth.

"Very. I wanted to beat you over the head with my broomstick, actually." She grinned goofily. "Besides, how old are you, Lils. You act like you've never kissed a boy before." She rolled her eyes, knowing that this wasn't the case at all. Lily was far from being someone who hopped from boyfriend to boyfriend, but she had certainly been in a relationship in the past. Still, this had been different.

"It's not the same, though, it's James. James Potter. Remember what I used to think of him? Not that I do anymore, but ugh, I'm not interested in him like that, and I don't want it to ruin our friendship." She looked down at her feet for a moment, and Mary let out a little shriek. Lily jumped, looking up wildly.

"Lily!" Mary had stopped walking and was staring openly at her new friend as though looking with new eyes. "You fancy James Potter?" She said the last part quietly enough so that nearby younger years wouldn't hear. Lily was a little lost for words as she ran over her previous sentence in her mind. When had she mentioned fancying James Potter?

"I never said that! And Shhhhhhh!" She snapped, glancing around as though she were being stalked.

Mary's knowing grin spread across her face. "You didn't have to. First, you do that look. THEN, you deny it vehemently. And shush me. Three reasons why you fancy James Potter."

"What 'look' - " she began, before sighing hopelessly. Arguing with Mary on a point that she was sure she was correct on, was like attempting to take down the Berlin Wall using exclusively bananas and plastic sporks. It just was useless.

"I - don't know what I think." Lily admitted, knowing she was about to get a full-on shrink session with Mary for the next hour.

OKAY, so I was going to continue on with this, but I realised that not much is going to happen that's really entertaining or plot-helpful, and it may take me a few days because fun work stuff, so I'm going to give you a lame-o short filler chapter (sorry!) And here it is, as the finale of my update flurry.

Good news: next chapter is some actual excitement ish. Also, I know I mostly ignored the Angela thing but trust me... James will probably reap the consequences of his actions, in one way or another, whether it be sooner or later...

Thank you so much for the reviews. You guys rock my proverbial socks off!

p.s. I know there are some of you lurking who are following the story! Please send some review love this way - it only takes a moment, and I'll love you forever!