Chapter 19

(A/N) Did you miss me? A lot of you guys are confused… This is not a good thing. Glad you all pointed that out, though. Okay, one of you was confused about the "four sickles with the arguments thing". See, they're doing a project for prefects, coming up with a business and running it the muggle way. They chose psychiatry. And now, students come to them, and they try and solve their problems, for four sickles. They always disagree with each other, and always end up fighting, forgetting about their "customer", who ends up thinking that it was an act.

Disclaimer: You know the drill.

*~*~*~*~*

"Think about it, Lily," Bella said, lying on the grass beside Lily. "We've but two more months of school left."

Lily shot up. "What day do we get out?"

"June fifth."

"What day is it?"

"April sixth."

Lily groaned. Then, she plopped down on the grass, seeing James. "Potter, what are you doing?"

"I'm looking for Peter. He uh… got upset about… stuff… and he… uh…" James glanced at Bella.

"I can go, if you want me to," she offered. "Leave you two lovebirds alone."

Both Lily and James jumped. "Hey! Bella, you know how I feel about Potter. Please, stay. You were saying, Potter?"

"Peter. He, uh… and then, he kind of ran off, so now we're looking for him."

Lily nodded. "Right."

"Eeeeeeeeeeek! Mouse! Mouse! Mouse! Get it! Get it!" Bella shrieked.

"Where?" James asked sharply.

"It's up my shirt! Up my shirt! Ack! It's nibbling! Get it off! Get it off!"

James grinned and grabbed it as it came out. "You are sick," he told the rat, holding it by the tail.

Lily laughed. "Probably figured he'd take advantage of a girl's open shirt. It's not like he could do it any other time."

The rat seemed to grin and shrug.

Bella stared at the two. "And you say you have nothing in common," she said, shaking her head. "Try insanity."

*~*~*~*~*

"You lying, stupid, ugly, cheating, bragging, arrogant, idiot!" Lily said, storming into the Common room.

"Gee, Evans, I love you too," James said sarcastically.

"You deserve to be boiled in frog spawn!"

Evelyn stood up. "Lily, you did that in third year. And ended up with detention for the entire year. Aren't you being a bit childish?"

"Potter, what did you do with my Transfiguration essay?"

James shrugged. "Ask Sirius. I gave it to him to copy."

Lily glared at him. The couch he had been sitting on flipped over.

"How'd you do that?"

"I'm surprised that you're surprised," she retorted.

"Oh, right, mood swings. Sirius warned me," James nodded.

Lily glared at him, and the couch flipped over again.

*~*~*~*~*

An owl came for Lily the next morning.

"What's that say?" Evelyn asked.

Lily shrugged.

"I have a more effective way of getting the four-one-one," James said, grabbing the envelope.

"Hey!" Lily jumped up, but as James was slightly taller than her, it was rather hopeless.

"Let's see…"

Lily grabbed for the envelope. "Just curious," James said, sitting back down.

"Whatever. Dear Miss Lily Evans, blah, blah, blah, We regret to inform you, blah, blah, blah, Lord Voldemort-"

Lily broke off. "Take it, Potter. Satisfy your curiosity," she said, throwing the paper at him and stalking off.

"What's it say?" Evelyn asked.

James glanced at it. "Dear Miss Lily Evans," he stopped.

"Well?"

"They used her full name. Can't be good news."

"Just go on."

James looked at the paper again. "We regret to inform you-"

"Well?"

"They regret. I told you it's bad news."

"Go on!" Evelyn said.

"Blah, blah, blah… oh."

"Well?"

"Well, it goes on from there," James said, folding up the paper and walked after Lily.

*~*~*~*~*

"Evans?"

Lily's laughed seem to be mixed with a sob. "Don't have the decency to use a girl's first name when her parents are dead?"

James shrugged. "You'd probably hurt me if I did."

"Possibly," Lily replied.

"I somehow think this is more than me calling you by last name."

"You are entitled to think whatever you want."

"Thank you. So am I right?"

"Yeah. Petunia hates me," Lily answered.

"Petunia?"

"Sister," Lily muttered.

"Your mother's got a thing for flowers, hasn't she?" James joked. Seeing the look she had, he instantly corrected himself. "Oh, sorry. That was pretty insensitive, wasn't it?"

"No, I guess it's fine. Just remind me to kill you when I'm in a better mood," Lily said.

"Okay. Friday good for you?"

"I had hoped to be hiding the evidence by then," Lily smiled slightly.

"Uh, Wednesday?"

"Hmm… No, I'll be researching hexes and preparing."

"Thursday, then?"

"Perfect."

James took a seat across from her. "But really, are you okay?"

"Fine."

"An awkward silence. The most definite thing I've ever wanted around my worst enemy," James nodded.

Lily laughed again. "What's your point, Potter?"

"Break the awkward silence," James said bluntly.

"Potter?"

"What?"

"Why'd you come after me?"

"Um…"

Lily shrugged and picked up a book. "You don't have to answer."

"You love to do that, don't you?"

"Do what?"

"You just like having the last word."

Lily shrugged. "Maybe."

"Evans?"

"What?"

"It's okay to cry, you know."

Lily picked up the book again. "I know. But I don't have any need to."

*~*~*~*~*

"They're talking… civilly," Sirius said.

"It's scary," Peter noted.

"It's sweet," Evelyn sighed.

"It's romantic," Bella said.

"They're talking civilly. How is that romantic?" Sirius asked.

"Well, she's smiling."

"He's laughing."

"I'll never understand women," Sirius muttered.

*~*~*~*~*

"Lily, are you okay?"

"Lily, I'm sorry."

"Lily, I feel so sorry for you."

"Lily, how are you?"

"Lily, how's your family?"

" Lily, can I borrow your Charms essay?"

Aside from the last remark made by Sirius, they all just made her feel worse.

*~*~*~*~*

"Lily, we are so sorry for you," a pair of gossipy Gryffindor girls said.

"Are you here for psychiatric help?" Lily asked irritably.

"Well- no," they admitted.

"Could've fooled me," Lily muttered.

"We just wanted to extend sympathies-"

"Go. Leave. Adios. So long. Fare well. Goodbye."

James turned to her as they left. "Regular Socrates, aren't you?"

"I'm not in a giving mood, actually," Lily said, pulling out a chessboard.

"Really? It doesn't show."

"Hmm. Check."

"Check."

"Check and mate," Lily said, resetting the board.

"I do believe I'm actually getting use to muggle chess," James said.

"We can move onto checkers, then."

"What?"

"They can call it draughts, too. Check."

"Check."

"It's much easier than chess, of course."

James frowned. "Are we talking about checkers?"

"Of course. Why?"

"You seem distracted."

"Why would you say that?"

"I just won," James said.

*~*~*~*~*

"Fine, I'll talk," Lily sighed. "But only because you're probably the only one who'll listen."

James nodded. "Go on."

"Petunia hates me."

"Why?"

"Why do you think?"

"Oh. Right. Check."

"For the last bloody time, it's 'king me', not 'check'! We are playing checkers."

"Sorry. Go on."

"Never mind."

"You're in a bright and cheery mood."

"Would you rather I go into a deep depression where I fling myself off the Astronomy Tower?"

"No, I'd miss making you mad."

"Angry. The word's angry," Lily corrected.

"You're very grammar oriented, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am. Checkers isn't your game, Potter. Stick with chess."

*~*~*~*~*

James walked into the prefect's bathroom, thinking he heard someone crying.

"Uh, who's there?"

Lily appeared from the bath. "Oh, it's you."

The pool-sized bath was covered with bubbles, but he couldn't help being uneasy.

"You, uh, are wearing something down there, aren't you?"

Lily rolled her eyes. "No, I'm letting you stay in here while I have nothing on."

"Really?"

"Pervert." She got out of the bath, wearing a black two piece with a skirt wrap, dripping with water.

"I'm done here, you can have it."

"Uh, thanks," James mumbled.

"Potter?"

"Wha-?"

"Stop staring at me," she said, wrapping a towel around herself.

"Oh, sorry."

"I do believe you're blushing, Mr. Potter," Lily said, smiling lightly.

"Wha-? Oh, sorry. Were you- crying earlier?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but yes, I was," she said, stiffening. "Stop staring."

"Oh, sorry."

Lily charmed her hair dry. "Don't, it's just- just- Why am I even having this conversation with you?" Lily asked. "Good evening, Mr. Potter."

*~*~*~*~*

"Bet she looked HOT!" Sirius grinned, as James described his encounter."

"She did- wait, that wasn't- I mean, I don't-"

"Oooooh! Prongsie has a little crush, eh? How sweet."

"I do not."

"Sure."

"Leave him alone, Sirius," Remus ordered.

"But Remus!" he whined. "It's great fun!"

"Stop… Even if it is true," Remus said.

*~*~*~*~*

A/N: I just found out something about Sibyl! Sibyls were the oracles of the Greeks and Romans. Maybe that had something to do with Professor Trelawney.

To Come: Trance, and, um, the climax of my story. Only two or three chapters to go!