Hi again :3 I'm so bored. I don't know what to do with this story till I hit the next section I want to write... I may have a time skip after a few chapters.

Disclaimer: Don't own.

Chapter 37

I don't know what to do with my life anymore.

I tilt my chin back and stretch my legs, yawning. I glance at my clock. Three o' clock. I remove myself silently from my bed, which is the closest to the window. Pulling off my nightdress which conceals a turquoise T-Shirt and denim shorts since it's summer, I pull on a long jacket-coat sort of thing which Rosalie had given me once upon a time for my birthday or something. It's some kind of soft, stretchy black material hemmed with square turquoise stones. Anyway, I slip on a pair of thin purple socks and of dull green and black converse.

I glance around and step softly. Scarlet stretches, but I shush her, and her intelligent little mind translates my meaning. She casts me a suspicious glance but obediently curls back up in her basket, and blinks close her beautiful eyes.

I am careful not wake Rosalie, whose bed lies opposite mine, and I am careful not to wake Colette, whose bed is next to mi- no. Colette is not there. It hits me again, but I brush it off. What's past, is past, and I can no longer cry over something I cannot change.

I bite my lip and hurry towards the door quietly. Like the stupid clumsy idiot I am, I trip over Alice's – who sleeps near the door – trunk, making a racket as I bang my shin and fall to the ground, a hiss escaping me, and a pile of books that was next to the trunk to fall, creating a thunderous noise that I'm sure could wake the entire castle. Amazingly, however, no one stirs.

Then from downstairs in the Gryffindor Common Room, I hear a shuffling. I glance around, but everyone is in bed. Who could it be? Alarmed, I glance at the door. It couldn't be a rat, it's too loud. Maybe it is someone's pet cat? No one here has a cat. Maybe it is one of the boys? I would have thought it was James, making his way to the location of our rendezvous by the Black Lake, but he said not to come down before three, because he was preparing something. And it is five past three, so I don't think it can really be him.

I grab my wand which is sticking in the back-pocket of my shorts. It is probably just one of the boys, but just as a precaution, I hold my wand tightly in my hand and quickly but quietly, hoping I wouldn't fall or make a noise, ran down the stairs, closing the door softly behind me.

Once in the Common Room, I glance around. No one. It's dark, so I murmur, "Lumos." A soft white light strengthens on the tip of my wand, and I feel movement behind me. Turning swiftly, I am met with darkness. "Lumos Maxima," I urge my wand, the light growing, and yet I am met with nothing. I feel as though eyes are watching me darkly, dangerous, so I jerk my wand a little, allowing the ball of light to drift off and illuminate my path, leaving my wand free to cast any defensive spell I may need. I swoop around armchairs, crawl past shelves. Nothing. I glance at my watch. Half past three. I decide to just leave. James said be there at around quarter past three. I just leave the Common Room and run down. Prefect rounds ended long ago, so no one will probably be around.

I'm halfway down the stairs when I realize that I had forgotten to tidy Alice's books because I had heard the strange noise in the Common Room. I glance at my watch. If I run, I'll probably manage to clear it up and be down by the lake by three thirty-five.

I rush up the stairs and run up to the Portrait. "Um, uh, Terrapin," I say, and the Fat Lady opens the Poitrait. Glancing at the expression on her face, she appears to want to say something but decides against it. I brush it off. Probably just her deciding not to tell me off for coming out of the dorm. Hey, I could use the Fat Lady as a way to find out if students creep out of bed at night. Don't look at me like that, I'm a Prefect. A great hypocrite of a Prefect, that is.

I zip up to the girl's dorm and reach out for the books. Moonlight streaming in from the window helps my decision in deciding that my wand wasn't needed. I quickly grab the books, and stack them neatly together.

Whipping around to run for the door in order not to be late, I am met with dark eyes, and the eyes consume me, the darkness enveloping me.

…

James' POV:

I fidget nervously. Three ten. Casting one last glance at my work, I scamper up the tallest willow tree, the same tree Lily always loved to sit under while she talks with her friends.

I had chosen this tree not only because Lily had used to sit at the base of it, but also because of the broad branches and heavy shelter it provided. It minimizes the amount of Charming I have to perform. Picking the perfect nook, I had broadened the branch, creating a huge, wide, thick bough, magically carved into a smooth seat with a low back, two feet wide. The trunk and branches were magically carved with leaping figures of tulips and poppies, birds and squirrels, butterflies and dragonflies. An off-white, fluffy quilt shrouds the branch-seat, embroidered with cream-coloured reeds. Lit candles grow from nicks in the branches like mushrooms, and soft, blue-rimmed white lights hover around softly. I have magically thickened the willow leaves to form a veil, hiding the secret place I have created for us. I have charmed the willow tree to grow roses of pale-pink, wine-red and sulphur-yellow.

Scattered around the base of the tree I have sprinkled pure snow-white rose petals. Up the trunk are steps that lead upwards so Lily can climb easily. I know she won't wear a heavy puffy skirt like the preppy Pureblood girls I used to be forced to date, or a tight tiny skirt like the sluts I was also forced to date.

The party which we held in celebration of the triumphant Quidditch match lasted till about one, so I needed a couple of hours for all the Charming and getting ready, so I told Lily to come at about quarter past three. I wonder if about four hours are enough for us together.

Back up on the tree, I perch on a wide branch above the seat, by a small dent in the trunk, hidden by a curtain of moss. Inside I have kept a long-stalked dark red rose, a couple of bottles of drink, a few cans of her favourite Muggle drink – coke, was it? – ice cream – it's a comfort food, she's kind of stressed – and two long spoons and glasses. Lily taught me how to make a 'Coke-Float'. I'm supposed to pour some Coke into a glass then scoop some ice cream into it. The Coke sort of scared me at first – don't tell – because it just fizzed up and I thought it was going to explode. Don't laugh. Either way, I asked help from the House-Elves in the kitchen, and they were only too pleased to help me carry back the towering glass. It must be about two feet tall, filled to the brim and layered with foamy vanilla ice-cream. It has a weird little red umbrella, and sterilized red hibiscuses. Tropical Muggles have such funny taste.

Besides this, I also have a small woven basket filled with multi-coloured petals. I will Charm them to fall onto Lily when she climbs up. I cross my legs and neaten my pale-blue shirt and jeans. Glancing at my watch, it says quarter past three. So I wait.

The minute hand hits 30. And I am still waiting.

That's strange. She is usually never late. Never mind. Maybe there is some kind of trouble.

The minutes hand hits 60. It is four o' clock.

Maybe her watch broke or something. She'd never leave me hanging like this.

The minute hand hits 30 again.

Maybe she accidentally fell asleep. But I'm sure Scarlet will wake her. She's a smart kitty.

The hand hits 60 a second time.

I don't know how much longer I can wait this out.

I wonder what's wrong.