Chapter 26

A/N: This chapter isn't as exam related as planned. Let's call it the calm before the storm or in other words exams.

Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognise.

Enjoy :)

Dad and I were driving into London with a destination of Kings Cross Station. For the past hour, we'd been discussing school and had now reached the topic of James Potter. I'd just described the argument Potter and I had had in the Library about cleaning a few months prior.

'Lils, I don't think you need to be so hard on the bloke. You can't blame him for some of the things he says. I'll admit some of the stuff this bloke comes out with are way below the belt but you've got to remember: he's rich. And rich people like him grow up not lifting a single bleeding finger. I'll bet he's never had to do a single thing in his life but that's cause he doesn't need to. People like him can't function without servants.' Dad said evenly.

'Yeah, I guess.' I replied.

'Take your mum's brother George, for example. I've met up him a few times since Christmas and he's a decent bloke but blooming heck can he not function without a load of servants. You know, posh ones like him even need help getting dressed!'

'True. But I don't think Potter's quite that bad.'

'We're from a different kind of people, you and me. Tough is what we are and soft is what they are.' Dad chuckled to himself and I smiled slightly, glad that he'd said what he said. Perhaps I needed a different outlook on Potter. Perhaps he wasn't too bad. We were just from different backgrounds and therefore had different views of the world. 'So, you hate this Potter then? I mean, you've only ever complained about him.'

'No. I don't hate him. He's just very different from me and values different things. He loves unexpected things, breaking rules and adventure and I love plans, rules and staying in my comfort zone. It makes it hard to be friends when you're complete opposites.'

'I remember you used to love adventure. You and Sev would go and sneak around town and explore the gardens of the big houses.' Dad said reminiscently.

'Yeah. I remember once we snuck into one of the houses and almost got locked in.' I said, smiling sadly. Dad laughed.

'I forgot about that! You're mum and Eileen gave you a right telling off. I'm pretty sure I almost pissed myself laughing when you told me how you escaped.'

'Something along the lines of "I released their pet python and the housekeeper fainted." I haven't done anything like that since.'

'What happened to you, Lils? You're my daughter and yet I'm still shocked at how different you are from that little kid who ran around picking flowers in the gardens of the big houses.'

'I grew up, dad. That night mum collapsed for the first time and I was pretty sure she wouldn't have if she hadn't used her energy shouting at me.' I admitted. Dad turned to face me with an expression of deepest guilt.

'You mean, you've blamed yourself for your mum's illness this whole time. Why didn't you say so?'

'I accept blame so there's no need to put it on someone else.' Dad opened his mouth to speak as he pulled up in front of the station but I got out of the car before he could say anything. He stepped out of the other side and the two of us brought my things to a trolley. I dumped my things in it and hugged my dad goodbye. 'Bye!' I called after him as he made his way back to the car. Once at the car, he turned and waved. I returned the gesture before heading towards the entrance of platform 9 and 3/4.

Half-heartedly, I entered the platform and dragged my things onto the train. I began to move up the train to find an empty compartment which I found surprisingly easily. Upon finding one, I headed inside and stowed my things in the luggage rack minus my school bag which I began searching in for a mascara. I found it at of the bottom of my bag and quickly put some on before replacing it and pulling out my beloved copy of Pride and Prejudice. The train sputtered into action as I began to read.

ELIZABETH, AS THEY DROVE ALONG, watched for the first appearance of Pemberley Woods with some perturbation; and when at length they turned in at the lodge, her spirits were in a high flutter.

The park was very large, and contained great variety of ground. They entered it in one of its lowest points, and drove for some time through a beautiful wood, stretching over a wide extent.

Elizabeth's mind was too full for conversation, but she saw and admired every remarkable spot and point of view. They gradually ascended for half a mile, and then found themselves at the top of a considerable eminence, where the wood ceased, and the eye was instantly caught by Pemberley House, situated on the opposite side of a valley, into which the road, with some abruptness, wound. It was a large, handsome, stone building, standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of high woody hills; and in front, a stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater, but without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither formal, nor falsely adorned. Elizabeth was delighted. She had never seen a place for which nature had done more, or where natural beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste. They were all of them warm in their admiration; and at that moment she felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something!

They descended the hill, crossed the bridge, and drove to the door; and, while examining the nearer aspect of the house, all her apprehensions of meeting its owner returned. She dreaded lest the chambermaid had been mistaken. On applying to see the place, they were admitted into the hall; and Elizabeth, as they waited for the housekeeper, had leisure to wonder at her being where she was.

The train rattled along the tracks. At present, we were travelling through a forest. The gnarled oak trees told me we were still in England. I sat alone in my compartment with only Pride and Prejudice and my revision for company. In all honesty, I didn't really mind and in an attempt to stay alone for the whole journey I had pulled the blind down over the compartment door. Hopefully, people would take it as a sign not to disturb me. The blinds were fairly successful until about an hour before we were due to reach Hogsmeade when the door slid open. I looked up from my revision to see Potter beaming at me.

'Evans! I've found you at last.' He exclaimed and entered the compartment with an over exaggerated stride dragging his trunk behind him. The corners of my mouth twitched slightly. He shut the door behind him and plonked himself on the seat opposite me.

'Hello.' I answered. I tried to keep in mind what my dad had said.

'I have just been speaking with the delightful Tom Clarke.' He began.

'Have you?' I asked with mock interest.

'And he told me that the two of you were in a little rough patch.' Potter's smile seemed to widen slightly.

'How nice.' I said in a bored voice returning to my revision.

'You don't seem very interested. I mean, Clarke is your boyfriend and everything.'

'Yes, Potter.' I said tersely. 'And don't you think I would've already known I was in a rough patch with my boyfriend? You're talking as though this should be news to me.'

'I suppose.' He muttered looking slightly put out. 'So how was your Easter?'

'Not bad.' I answered quickly as my heart rate began to speed up. Potter looked at me strangely but didn't say anything. 'Yours?'

'Alright. I mean, the first week I was at school but the second week I went with my parents to our holiday house in West Germany. Padfoot's mother wouldn't let him come and Mooney and Wormtail did revision all holiday. I was alone for the whole of that week.'

'Poor you.' I said with very little sympathy in my voice. He stayed in his 'holiday house', did he? Oh, boo hoo. His life was just so terrible. My Dad and I could save for years and never be able to afford go on holiday let alone buy a holiday house. It wasn't that Potter had a holiday house that annoyed me but that he wasn't grateful for it. He didn't see how lucky he was. Wow, I was just completely and utterly listening to what dad had said.

'Yeah, it was pretty bad. I don't speak German so I couldn't even do anything without my mother. She can speak German. Father and I don't have the ability.'

'Mmm.'

'So, what did you do?'

'Not much.' Potter rolled his eyes at my lack of detail so I continued. 'Helped around the house, revision, went to my neighbour's party, went shopping with the Girls and that was about it.'

'Wow. Even your holidays are boring.'

'Thanks.'

'You should leave your house more. Seriously. Go on holiday somewhere or something.'

'I do leave my house!' I said indignantly with a smile playing about my lips.

'Really?'

'Yes, really. I go to the shops for stuff.' The two of us started laughing. Yes, I was laughing with Potter.

I glanced out of the window just as the outskirts of Hogsmeade came into view. The houses with wilder gardens soon passed and the train pulled into the station. Potter and I both stood up and picked up our things. We headed out of the compartment and stepped off the train onto the platform.

The first day back after the Easter Holidays arrived and I found myself waiting outside my transfiguration classroom with Mary, Marlene and Alice. The rest of our class milled around us as all of us waited for the appearance of Professor McGonagall.

'Why can't I get over him?' Alice moaned. 'It's been almost 6 months, half a year, and I'm still like a teenage girl in every book ever.'

'Babes, you are a teenage girl.' Mary pointed out.

'I thought dating Warren would help but I still feel like shit.' She grumbled.

'It'll take time.' Marlene said and Mary instantly looked at her suspiciously. Admittedly, Marlene talking like that was almost unheard of. Mary opened her mouth but I stepped on her foot and gave her a 'later' expression. Oh, the joy of school robes. They were perfect for undetected acts of violence. Alice noticed nothing as she was watching Frank mournfully.

'On the topic of the male species, how's things with you, Marls?' Mary asked with a wicked grin playing about her lips. I smiled at my shoes as Marlene tensed up.

'I-I don't know what you mean.' She answered, trying and failing to seem innocent.

'Sooo, if I said a certain Kieran McKinnon was dating Harriet Ross in our year, you wouldn't be the slightest bit bothered?' Mary asked slyly.

'No.' Marlene said shortly with the expression of one who had just swallowed a lemon. She was met by Mary and Alice's raised eyebrows as I picked at the hole in my robes. 'Fine. A bit pissed but that's it.'

'Okay.' Mary said still smiling. 'You know, I heard that he and Harriet were found in a broom cupboard together just before the holidays and Harriet was only in-'

'Why don't we go in and sit down?' I cut across loudly because Marlene looked as though she was about to rip Mary's head off and the fact that I had been the one to discover them on my Prefect rounds with Remus. I was mentally scarred from that round. The others all agreed and we headed to our normal seats. Well, Mary and I swapped because Marlene refused to sit next to Mary. When Professor McGonagall's lesson began, Marlene sat in stony silence and glowered at all her stationery as though it had all done her great personal wrong. Professor McGonagall lectured us as I listened intently. In the corner of my eye I could see Marlene ripping apart her quill.

The bell sounded just outside our classroom to signal the end of our double period and the start of break. There was a great scrambling for thing as the scrapping of chairs. Marlene stormed out of the classroom and I gently pushed Mary forward nodding after Marlene.

'Apologise.' I muttered and Mary groaned but followed after the recently departed Marlene nevertheless. Alice mumbled something about meeting Warren and hurried off. I supposed I'd better talk to Tom and find out if he'd stopped being stupid but as I entered the courtyard a hand grabbed my arm and pulled me back. Surprised, I turned around and faced Ben. 'Ben!' I said. 'Hi.'

'Can we talk?' he asked and I nodded. Ben led me to a secluded part of the courtyard. 'It's about the other thing I wanted to ask if you knew.'

'Okaay?' I looked at him expectantly.

'Does Marlene like Kieran?' he asked and his eyes watched my face closely. I studied him for a moment.

'Why do you want to know?'

'I'll tell you once you answer my question.'

'Yes…she does. Why?'

'Well, Kieran's dating Harriet Ross.'

'Yeeees. I was aware of the fact.' Fucking broom cupboards. Why couldn't people stick to their dormitories?

'She's an absolute bitch and he can't see it. I thought he liked Marlene but now he's head over heels for Ross.'

'And why did you want to know if Marlene likes him?'

'I want to try split them up.' I narrowed my eyes at Ben. That was a pretty horrible thing to do. 'Look. He's driving me up the wall the amount he goes on about her and after all his hero-worshipping she's an absolute slut. I reckon she'll cheat on him and I'd rather their relationship ended on his terms. Then when they do split up, he'll find out Marlene likes him and cheer up.'

'I'm not sure that'll work.' I said slowly.

'It'll be fine.' He dismissed with a wave of his hand.

'Well, just make sure you don't hurt anyone. I'll see you around, I suppose.' I said and excused myself. Wondering where I should go, I decided I would indeed try making amends with Tom as I had originally planned. It seemed like the right thing to do.

I spotted Tom sitting in an alcove with George and George's girlfriend. As per usual when George's girlfriend was present he looked slightly abandoned. Slowly, I wandered over. I knew it was pointless to let our argument go on much longer but I was still slightly apprehensive in approaching him. What if we argued again and caused a scene?

He noticed me and his face split into a cautious smile. I returned the smile and indicated my head toward the grounds. Tom understood my meaning and got up following me into the grounds. We stood in silence for a moment and simply looked over the view in front of us.

'Lily?' Tom said uncertainly and I turned to face him and realised he'd been watching me. 'I'm sorry for being a git.'

'That's okay. I'm sorry for the stuff I said too.'

'No. It's not okay. I was a jealous prick and you were right. I've been really possessive lately.' I wasn't sure how to react do I just hugged him. Tom put his arms around me and I looked up at him.

'I forgive you.' I said smiling. The two of us remained like that until the bell rang and we had to head off to class. I went off to Care of Magical Creatures and spotted Mary and Marlene already there. The two seemed to have made up and were chatting.

'You know Sam Davis is back with Bertha Jorkins.' Mary was saying.

'Oh no.' I said dryly as I joined the conversation. Marlene smirked and Mary rolled her eyes.

'Didn't see that coming. I mean, they've got nothing in common.' Marlene said.

'Definitely the sex.' Mary answered straight away. 'There's no other explanation.'

'I agree.'

'I mean, she wasn't going to find someone else who'd let her take notes at the same time.'

Marlene and Mary snickered as I groaned.

'Do you two have nothing better to do than gossip about people's sex lives?' I asked in disgruntled tones.

'Nope!' they chorused.

'Davis isn't bad either. I should know.' Marlene continued.

'Yeah, you lost your virginity with him, didn't you?' Mary asked thoughtfully and Marlene nodded. 'Talking of losing your virginity, did you hear Freya McMillan lost hers with Michael Boot?'

'No, Mary.' I said dully.

'Lily, you really need to listen out more. She's been going on about it since breakfast.' Mary nagged.

'Sorry.' I muttered just as Professor Kettleburn arrived. As we split off into our usual pairs for sketching creatures I realised that Alice wasn't there. This was odd because she loved Care of Magical Creatures and had never missed a class. I looked around but saw no sign of her. Interesting...

Classes ended and the students of Hogwarts headed to the Great Hall in hope of filling their stomachs with the delicious food cooked by the House Elves. Mary and Marlene walked ahead in a very unconcerned manner, cackling about something or other, whilst I hung back trying to find Alice. She hadn't shown up to any of our other classes of the day and I was starting to worry. Thinking she might be in the dormitory I headed there and slowly opened the door. My guess had been correct for Alice lay on her bed with her back to me. Carefully, I closed the door behind me and walked around Alice's bed to face her. I sat down on the floor in front of her and looked at the tearstained face that was opposite me.

'He cheated on me.' Alice whispered as a fresh set of tears rolled down her cheeks. I tucked her hair behind her ear in a motherly fashion.

'Oh, Alice.' I said sadly.

'I-I-I thought he liked me b-b-but he said that I w-was just a bit of…fun.' Alice spat the last word before starting to sob.

'But the not sleeping with anyone since September? The Potter Disease thing? What was that?' I asked confused as left my spot on the floor and sat down next to Alice.

'H-h-he's slept with loads of girls since September but in s-secret s-s-s-so he can g-get with a new set of girls. The quiet ones w-who don't go for players.' Alice sniffled.

'That is disgusting.' I said with my voice full of contempt. She continued to weep next to me and I whispered words of comfort to her. I thought then that telling her that Frank liked her might not be a bad idea so while Alice cried quietly into her pillow I told her the events of the Masked Ball and the aftermath of it from Frank's perspective. When I'd finished my re-telling, I turned my head to see Alice sitting up staring at me.

'Really?' she asked with a little happiness returning to her voice. 'You mean it?'

'Yes. He still likes you.' Alice hugged me with a small smile on her tear streaked face. 'Don't worry about McClaggen. He's just an idiot so don't dwell on him.'

'Men are so weird.' Alice said with a slight chuckle.

'What strange creatures' men are. What do they want from us?' I quoted Sense and Sensibility with a grin on my face. Alice didn't get the reference. I knew Alice would get over McClaggen quickly as her feelings for him had been extremely uncertain to say the least. She still hurt from him cheating on her but the knowledge that Frank Longbottom still fancied her was enough fuel to recover swiftly.

Thanks for reading!

I felt so uninspired this chapter that I'm just glad I produced something. Next chapter will probably mention exams but not History of Magic yet because the Incident isn't quite set up to happen yet.

Please Review :)