Chapter Twenty-One

Confrontations & Resolutions

James hadn't seen Lily since the previous day, they ran into each other on the way down to Hogsmeade that Saturday.

"Hey, Evans," James said quickening his pace to catch up with her.

"Hello, Potter." She said, she seemed to be in a pretty good mood.

"I wanted to apologise." He said. Lily shook her head,

"Don't bother, you don't need to, it wasn't your fault." Lily said in one of the first civilised conversations they had had in the four years that they had known each other.

"I just wanted for you to know that I really, really did like her, she could be a little bit clingy and a take things for granted but she was always very nice to me and I think she really liked me. I think she just thought because of the amount that Sirius teased me about you that there was something there, but it's fine because I know that there isn't and I didn't want for you to think I thought there was." He rambled, Lily nodded.

"I know."

"I just wouldn't want for anybody to think that I would use anyone to make you jealous. I want you to know that I don't like the way she was with some of my friends but the reason we broke up is because I don't like her in the same way anymore, in fact I don't really even like her."

"I didn't, I never particularly liked her but I'm sure she liked you, she just didn't like me." Lily said, "I can deal, I mean not everyone that I meet in life is going to like me, I just happened to find an example earlier than I thought I would." She said smiling weekly.

James smiled, "So we're good."

"Of course, well as good as it gets with you and me." Lily said, a joking tone playing in her voice. "I'm going to try and talk to Catrin and I can't promise it'll end well but I would hate for her to think that I liked you," she realised what she had said and added, "No offence of course."

James just laughed and sped up to meet Sirius and Remus.

Lily felt pretty good considering the previous day and she decided that getting her talk with Catrin over fairly quickly would make the day better.

She spied Catrin and her friends outside Madam Puddifoot's Teashop. She walked there, her strides getting shorter as she approached the group and there eyes travelled over her.

"Hey, Catrin, can I talk to you please?"

Catrin glared, "Why?"

"Just, please?" Lily repeated.

Catrin walked over to her and they walked a few metres away from the group of prying eyes and ready ears. "What?" She asked.

"I don't want an apology." Lily said, "But I do want you to know that I don't like Potter and I never have and I don't know why you think that but I want you to know, I really would have liked to have been friends, now, I know we can't but I don't want to be enemies."

Catrin looked guilty, "I am sorry for how I acted but I did like him a lot and I know that you don't like him and he says he doesn't like you, but he does Lily. I agree we can never be friends, but I'm afraid the situation brought out the worst in me." This was far more than Lily had been expecting from Catrin.

They parted on good terms; as good as they could possibly have ended anyway.

"Hey, Lil," Melody said as she sat down beside Lily at her table in the Three Broomsticks.

"Hi Melody," Lily said, "Do you want to wait with me for Mary and Maggie."

"Sure, I am a wonderful person, they shall love me." She said cockily, folding her arms and leaning back.

"But of course, after all they have very good taste in friends as it is." Lily said grinning. All was right with the world, she didn't have any enemies. Potter wasn't completely horrid. Remus was comfortable with her knowing his secret, Sirius was…well, less than serious and Peter was just Peter, quiet and slightly creepy. The only duck not quite getting into line was Severus. He'd barely made any contact with her since the previous year. She missed him but she couldn't discuss it with any of her friends because they didn't understand why she even liked him anymore, having never seen any other side to them than his persona around the aspiring death eaters.

Maggie and Mary appeared, Maggie had a "I'm still gorgeous even if I am windswept" look going while Mary had an "I'm sweet and innocent, look how cute I am with rosy cheeks even though I don't think I'm pretty" look.

They both looked very different; both seemed to be very amused as they sat down, completely missing Melody who sat beside Mary.

"Oh!" Mary exclaimed, "Hello." She smiled at Melody.

"Hey, I'm Melody." She said.

Lily nodded, "We met while I was in the infirmary."

Maggie nodded, "Cool, I'm Maggie and that's Mary. We are tremendously good friends so you're lucky that you happened upon us."

Melody smiled, "Lily was just telling me so."

Maggie grinned, "Good."

Mary smiled, "Do you guys want me to get us some butter beers?"

Maggie nodded, "They're on me." She passed Mary a handful of galleons.

Mary smiled and went up.

Melody grinned, "She's sweet."

"That she is." Maggie agreed.

Melody chatted easily with them. They were quite similar in sense of humour. The afternoon passed quickly and the four girls walked back to the castle together through the snowy village.