"So what's this I hear about you fancying James?"
It's evening, now. I'm sitting in the Gryffindor dorm room (I've decided I'm never returning back to the Heads tower, ever). Marlene and Alice have just returned from their tanning day, both of them burnt to crisps.
"Are you kidding me?" I exclaim. "Does she have everyone at Hogwarts on a mailing list? Is she publishing a newspaper about me?"
"Who?" Alice asks blankly.
I sigh very dramatically. "Dorcas Meadowes. She's insane. And she's severely mistaken. I do not fancy James Potter."
Marlene does an annoying "hmm" at this, and I whip my head towards her.
"What?" I ask sharply.
She smiles a bit. "Nothing. It's just… well, it makes complete sense."
Um?
What?
"Please explain how me fancying James Potter makes complete sense," I demand.
Marlene shrugs. "You two hang out around each other all the time, now. You live together."
I cannot believe my ears.
"We hang out around each other because we are Head partners, Marlene. Which is the same reason we live together, in case you were wondering. Are you listening to this?" I ask Alice. "Tell Marlene that she's delusional."
Alice sighs. "I wish I could, Lil. But I've seen the way you smile when he talks to you," she says, wiggling her eyebrows. "It's so obvious."
I swear, I am going to push them both into the Great Lake.
"I don't fancy James Potter," I hiss. "It's not my fault that he has a naturally charming personality. It's not my fault that he acts like an idiot when he's drunk. It's not my fault that he kissed me. None of it is my fault."
But Marlene and Alice are no longer smiling. Actually, their jaws have both dropped open.
That's when I realize what I've just said.
Oh, God.
"He what?" Alice exclaims. "He did what, Lily?"
"Oh Merlin," Marlene says, shock written all over her voice. "I was just joking about you liking James, but now…"
"It's no wonder you've gotten so friendly with him!" Alice shrieks. "You've been snogging! Every night, I bet!"
Every night?
"No, no, no, NO!" I scream. Marlene and Alice finally shut up. "It was only once. Last night. And he was drunk. Like, completely wasted. You saw him, remember?" I'm grasping at straws, now. "And he doesn't even remember that it happened, so it doesn't even matter. And for the record-" I stand up for dramatic effect. "I did not kiss him back."
Now, Alice just looks disappointed. "Well, that's just a shame. Now you'll never get the full experience of James Potter's spectacular snoggery skills."
I need new friends.
"You two are forbidden to tell anyone what I've just told you," I demand. "No one. Not James, not Sirius, and especially not Dorcas Meadowes. No one can know."
Alice and Marlene must sense the seriousness in my voice, because, miraculously, they nod.
"Fine, Lily," Marlene says.
"We won't tell," Alice adds.
"Good," I answer, breathing a sigh of relief. "I'm sleeping here tonight, by the way. I never want to look at James Potter's face again."
Two chapters today because these were both pitifully short. I must say I'm going to use the phrase "snoggery skills" in everyday life now.