WC: 2,089

A/N: So... I'm back! We'll see if I update on Monday or not. I'm going to try to write more tomorrow. I'm at a nice actiony part, so it's easier to write. I'm not sure if I should change the rating from T to M for this chapter, since James has a sex scene (YEA YOU HEARD THAT RIGHT JAMES HAS A SEX SCENE and no it's not with Lena. Sorry to burst those bubbles). I tried really hard not to get really graphic, but I was also trying to carry over the tone of the scene, since it's sorta important, so let me know if you think I should change the rating or if I managed to keep it semi-decent. I mean, there was no graphic description of the actual act, per se, there were just, you know, doing it. While talking. Other than that, this chapter was pretty much angst central. I'm going to try and not make this fic super angsty though. Leet me know how I'm doing!

Owl time!

Thank you Slytherin Tiger for the follow and favorite!

Thank you gory pancake for following!

Cat: Leo isn't TOO bad. He sorta redeems himself a bit in this one. He's still pond scum though. And yea, James and Lena... Ah, Jena. Becoming my next-gen OTP really fast. But they've got a bit to go. I mean, Lena's getting out of a big relationship and James is finally starting to realize he loves her... give them some time. But I promise you, there will be lots of scenes with tension between them. Thanks for reviewing!

thatperfectsomeone: LOL go ahead. Actually... that would be fun to have Leo get beaten up. Maybe at some point, karma might be a bit of a bitch. :D thanks for reviewing!

Jane: Chapter 35: Yay! Catch up time! I gave you plenty of time to catch up before I updated, didn't I... :D I could never kill Harry. That's like... a sin or something. You just can't kill Harry Potter. He needs to be at all his kids weddings and give Lily away to someone (whoever that may be hmmm...) and he needs to see Ginny grow old and still think she's beautiful and they need to die together in each other's arms peacefully in their sleep when they're well into their hundreds. (hopeless romantic over here). The elves will have awesome stuff coming. Just not in this chapter. Since I had big release of info last chapter, I'm not doing to much skipping of time right now. I might skip a week for the next one, but there will be a definite slow down in pace over the next chapters. I've got lots to cover!

Chapter 36: Yea I would've felt really bad about that cliffhanger. As it was, I didn't feel too bad. You guys are SOOOO lucky I had to update sooner rather than later, otherwise you would've been hanging for about two weeks. I think y'all would've hunted me down and dragged me back home to my computer and chained me to it until I finished writing.

Chapter 37: Yep, I made you wait on this one! :D NO GUILT. And HMMM I WONDER WHO WOULD BE AWESOME AT COMFORTING HER! Read on to find out. Oh, and I LOVED YOUR WILD AND CRAZY THEORY, BUT I WON'T SAY IF YOU'RE RIGHT OR WRONG. I won't even mention the mom either. Not that you've met her, anyway. BUT YOUR THEORY WAS SO FREAKING HILARIOUS I LOVED IT. Any other theories you have, totally let me know.

Well, that's it for reviews! Thanks a bunch guys! Oh, as this came up last week, if y'all have any theories you wanna share with me, feel free to either PM me or leave it in a review. I enjoy them. They're pretty entertaining, whether they're spot on or dead wrong.

Enjoy the new chappie!

Leo Zabini stomped down the stairs towards the dungeons ten seconds before Silena Ashington burst from the Room to follow.

"Leo! Wait!"

He whirled around. "I've heard enough, Silena. I don't need to hear anymore."

"You've heard enough? This isn't about you, Leo. I told you because I thought I could trust you, and this is how you repay that? By dumping me? You're the disgusting one."

He glanced down, not able to meet the eyes that had filled with tears. "I can't do it, Lena. Not when I know what you are. I... my entire life, I've grown up in a pureblood family. And maybe they're trying to be more accepting of Muggleborns and half-bloods, but we aren't perfect. Do you know what my father would say if he found out you weren't even fully human? If I continued to date you? I'm sorry, Lena, but I can't do it."

She regarded him coldly, standing four steps above him and glaring down. "So, what would your father say if he did know? No one knows about me, Leo. And if they do... it could hurt you as well."

He sighed. "You want me to promise not to tell? Fine. I won't tell. But it's going to come out sooner or later. And when it does, I'm going to have to tell my father. All right?"

She stood silently, the tension building. "Swear you won't tell. Swear on the thing that means the most to you."

He looked her right in the eye. "I swear on my honor as a Slytherin that I won't tell your secret, Silena Ashington."

She nodded once, her features softening. "I... I'm sorry that it couldn't work out, Leo. I wish things could be different." She stepped towards him slowly, and he walked up the remaining steps until they stood at eye level.

"I'm sorry, too, Lena. I really am," he whispered, hugging her. Finally, he pulled away and stepped back as she turned away and headed up the steps towards Gryffindor Tower.

"Hey, Lena!"

"Yea?"

"There was a reason I was always so jealous of James. You mean a lot to him. And he means a lot to you."

She paused. "What do you mean by that?"

"You'll figure it out. Everyone can see it but you. So just... keep an open mind, ok?"

She nodded, then turned away and didn't look back.

"Hey, Lils, is Brownie back yet?" James swung into the seat in front of where his sister was scratching some words down on parchment, her potions textbook open on the table before her.

"Hm?" she asked, gazing up at him distractedly.

"Lena? You're best friend? Is she back yet?"

"Oh. No, she isn't. What time is it? It's starting to get late."

"Yea, that's why I was asking. She's been out for far too long. It's almost eleven!"

Lily chuckled. "They're probably shagging in some broom cupboard, James," she said slyly, grinning up at the horrified look that appeared on her face.

"I did not need that mental image, Lils. The day I have to think of the little Brownie shagging in a broom cupboard-"

"Fizzing Whizbee!" a voice cried from the portrait hole. Everyone who was left in the common room turned in shock towards the door.

"Dear, I won't let you in until you tell me what's wrong!" They could hear the Fat Lady getting angry at whoever was outside the door.

"Just let me in, dammit! Fizzing Whizbee!"

James hurried towards the portrait hole and pushed it open, catching the Lady by surprise and opening it before she managed to lock him in. She huffed and tried to close, but the girl managed to slip inside before she could, barreling straight into James.

"You were right, James. Of course you were right!" Lena cried, clinging to his neck and crying into his shoulder. James stood in shock before tentatively bringing his arms around her.

"Uh... I'm sorry? What was I right about, Brownie?" He pushed her back a bit so he could look at her closely, taking in the mussed clothing, tousled hair and the tears. His eyes narrowed. "If he tried to take advantage of you, I'll hex him from here to Durmstrang," he growled.

She chuckled weakly at that. "No, he didn't try to take advantage of me. I...I told him, and... and he d-dumped me!" She broke down into a fresh wave of tears.

"Oh, Lena..." Unbeknownst to either of them, Lily had come around the other side of their friend and was listening to the story. She hugged her friend from behind, surrounding her as she cried. "James, can we move her somewhere more private?"

Her brother nodded. "Yea, Brownie, follow me," he said, grabbing her hand and guiding her towards the boys dormitories. "Let's get you calmed down, alright? Then you can tell us what happened."

They got her settled on James' bed, a Potter on either side.

"Now, Lena," Lily asked as the girl in question started to hiccup, "What happened with Leo?"

Lena took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "I told him what happened today. And he broke up with me over it."

"What happened today? Something happened today? Why do all the good things happen when I don't go with you?"

"I... well, I'm not sure if it's good or not. I, uh, I don't know how to say it. James, could you tell her?"

"Lena's half-faey."

"WHAT?!" Lily shrieked, and Lena chuckled a bit.

"Way to break it gently to her, James."

"When did you find this out?!"

"Today. I sorta ran into a few elves-"

"Quite literally, actually. She ran directly into their feet. I thought they were going to curse her," James cut in.

"Shush! The faey came looking for me. They want me to start training with the clan. I'm going to spend the weekdays doing my schoolwork for Hogwarts, and on the weekends, the Captain of their guard thingie is going to train me how to fight. I guess. There were a lot of faey words thrown in there that I didn't quite understand."

"Really? The one day I leave you alone, and you go and get into this?" Lily huffed. "And how come you told Leo before me? Oh, and how did James know?!"

"I figured it out, stupid. A couple weeks ago! Apparently Al figured it out in his third year, but Dad made him swear not to tell. He only admitted to it when I finally confronted him last week."

Lily slumped back on the bed. "My best friend is an elf."

"Not a full elf. Only half," Lena added hurriedly.

"So... why did you tell Leo first? Sisters before misters, I thought!"

"I saw him first. 'Sides, you didn't tell me about Caleb!" Lily blushed red and glanced guiltily at her brother.

"Caleb? As in Caleb Thomas? My Chaser Caleb Thomas?" His sister nodded.

"So I'm assuming I was right in that you went and gave your family the slip for some bloke?"

"I didn't give you the slip, all of you were busy! Lena was supposed to go with Leo and you were supposed to go with Caroline! But then she broke up with you and he got detention!"

"Caroline broke up with you?" Lena looked at James curiously.

"Yea, we weren't that great together..." he said awkwardly, remembering the real reason she'd broken up with him.

"James, where are you tonight?" she'd asked as he'd sat staring at the Slytherin table. Lena was sitting over there tonight, laughing and smiling with Leo. They held hands and fed each other little bits of pie. It was disgustingly adorable.

"Huh? Sorry, I was just thinking."

"Oh? Well, maybe you need a distraction, then..." she said, smirking slightly.

James grinned, trying to look sincere and failing miserably. "Usual time and place?"

She'd seen right through his fake smile, but she still met him in the seventh floor broom cupboard later that night. They met up there on all the nights Albus was patrolling. He knew to leave them alone.

She'd seemed angrier that night as she pushed against him, kissing him harder than usual. Their clothes seemed to come off faster, too. And then, halfway through, she'd done it.

"You're thinking of her, aren't you?" she had panted, her nails digging into his skin.

He'd only grunted and bent down to kiss her again, but she pushed his mouth away.

"Do you see her when you fuck me?"

At that he'd stopped moving, half in shock and half in guilt, and she had flipped him over so she was straddling him. "You fancy her, don't you, James? I can tell. Blimey, James, everyone can."

"Are you... are you breaking up with me? While boffing me at the same time? That must be some sort of record, even for you, Caroline," he'd joked weakly.

She sighed. "I haven't broken up with you yet. I'll wait for you to finish first."

He groaned and pushed her off him. "I think you pretty much ruined the mood, Caroline."

"Well? Do you fancy her?"

"I don't know who you're talking about."

"Of course you do, James. I'm taking about your friend. The blonde girl. Lina? Lena? you call her Brownie."

He was silent.

"I thought as much. It's why I'm doing this. I can't compete with the girl who can attract you without even trying. You love her. Consider this me removing myself from the competition."

He'd been silent, taking in what had just happened. Caroline was right; unbidden and guiltily, the thoughts of being with Lena in the way he was with Caroline had crossed his mind, if only for a brief moment. But it was more than that, too, it was how he always payed attention to her, always knew where she was and who she was with, and always worried when she wasn't in his sight. Or when the person she gazed at wasn't him.

"Fuck. I do famcy her, don't I? I'm sorry. Caroline. I didn't know," he whispered, finally.

"It's fine. I'm ending it now, before I grow too attached. Just, promise me something. Fight for her, alright? I don't care that she's dating that Slytherin boy. He's not going to last, because she loves you, even though she doesn't know it. He knows it, too. He may be a Snake, but he isn't stupid."

James nodded. "I...I can promise that. I think. Gryffindor courage, right?"

She smiled.

"So... is this it?"

"I guess so."

"Wish you'd told me that was the breakup shag there. I would've payed more attention."

Caroline grinned. "That wasn't the breakup shag," she smirked, straddling him slowly again and rocking back and forth. "This is."

"James."

"Huh?" Lily was staring at him shrewdly, and Lena looked confused.

"I know your break up with Caroline probably wasn't awesome, but she was just a shag to you. Pay attention, please!"

"Right. We were talking about Caleb. So he finally asked you out, huh?"

"Wait, you knew?"

"Of course I knew! You think I haven't seen the doe-eyed looks the two of you have been giving each other? I've been waiting for ages for this day to come!"

Lily looked startled, and she glanced at Lena, who was trying not to laugh.

"Oh, um, well, glad you approve?"

James grinned. "I approved a couple weeks ago. When he asked me if he was allowed to 'court you'."

"Wait what?"

Lena couldn't keep it in any longer. She laughed out loud, falling back on the bed and gasping for breath. Soon James was laughing, too, and Lily looked on in shock as the laughter continued.

"It's not funny!"

"So... did you enjoy being 'courted'?" James asked, guffawing. Lena broke into new peals of laughter, and finally, what seemed like hours later (though was really only a few minutes) Lily joined in, and the three of them laughed away all their troubles and their sorrows.

No elves today! Just lots and lots of angst. See you soon!

~DFTBA,

Melody