You're More Than a Friend

Chapter 7 –Deadly Nightshade Kills…No, really.

Lily and James avoided each other after that. James was tired and snappy, and Lily was no longer bright and cheerful. Three days after the big row, Lily got a letter that upset her immensely.

Dear Miss Evans,

We regret to inform you of the untimely passing of your mother and father, Bianca and Roderic Evans. They died at the hands of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. We give you our deepest condolences, and hope that this incident has not too deeply affected you. Owls have been sent to you head of house, and headmaster. They shall inform the teachers.

With much regret,

LSS

Lazalon Sydney Samps –Ministry Of Magic –Interaction With Muggle Deaths Department.

She showed the letter to both Molly and Lauren. Molly looked at her in concern,

"Oh honey, I'm so sorry." She said, patting Lily's arm, before going back to her conversation with her boyfriend, Arthur Weasley. Lily wasn't hurt by Molly's attitude, she knew they'd have a big cry later, but that she had to get on with her life too. Lauren had bitten her lip, then given Lily a big hug, before turning back to Remus and talking with him about the unforgivable curses. Lily quietly got up, and walked out of the Great Hall. It wasn't until she got outside that she realised Malfoy and Co. had followed her.

"Well, well, well, Evans without her bodyguards, how interesting." Malfoy drawled.

"Go away Malfoy." Lily replied, without looking up from her book bag.

"Easy girl, I'm not here to insult you." He said.

"What do you want, then?" She asked, finally looking up.

"I want you to go to the ball with me." He said, looking her up and down in away that made her feel unclean, and in need of a shower.

"No thanks," As if ! "I'm going with Sirius." Thank God! "Go with Narcissa Murl, you know, that blond in your year. I hear she's got the biggest crush on you." Malfoy shrugged

"Your loss, my gain." He said, giving her one more look over. She resisted the urge to shudder with disgust. He walked off, sniggering with his friends.

Lily watched him go, feeling the urge to burst into tears become almost overpowering. She moved blindly down the corridor, and opened a random door. She ran in, closing the door behind her. She looked around.

The classroom was obviously unused. The chairs and desks were all piled up near the blackboard. There was a huge window seat in a corner, which was odd, as there was no window there. She could hear voices coming closer, and panicked. She couldn't let anyone know she was crying in here. She moved over to the window seat, with a vague idea of hiding under the seat, but as soon as she touched it, the room whirled, and she had to sit down quickly.

The Marauders were all in there now, and she started to apologise, and walk out, when Pettigrew shut the door.

"Anyone outside?" James asked, looking around. Peter shook his head,

"Nope, we're safe."

"Good, there's no-one in here either. The Map says that Lily's next door."

"Good, I wouldn't want that sneaky bitch listening." Peter said spitefully.

"Hey," James began, then stopped.

"You leave Lily alone, Peter." Remus said.

"Yeah, she's not sneaky, or a bitch." Sirius agreed.

"Whatever."

"Shut up, you three." James said lazily. "We aren't here to discuss Lily's potential sneakiness or bitchiness. We're here to talk about visiting Hogsmeade." Remus nodded,

"I think Saturday night would be good. Because the night after, we'll be busy."

"Yeah, and I really need to go to Zonkos. And I've a craving for butterbeer." Sirius added. James tapped the map with his wand, and muttered,

"Mischief managed. Ok then," He said, turning to the others. "On Saturday the Marauders are going to Hogsmeade."

"Uh, James," Peter began tremulously.

"Yeah Wormtail?" James asked.

"How do you get the Map to work again?" James sighed; he must have gone over this a thousand times.

"If I had a galleon for every time you've said that…" He relented. "Tap it with your wand and say, 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.' Honestly, you helped write the map. But never mind that now, let's get to Potions."

They all left the room.

Lily looked at her watch. "Oh f***" She breathed, and ran off to Potions too.

The next day Lily was waiting for Lauren by the one-eyed witch. She was reading, ~( AN: No surprise there)~ when she heard laughter coming from inside the statue. She looked up.

James froze when he saw who was standing outside the one-eyed witch.

"Shit." He whispered, and joined his friends, who were all standing there, watching her. James wondered if she was going to show her almighty authority as a prefect, and take points off them. She stared at him for a moment, her eyes dark and a strange expression on her face. Then, she closed her book, and walked away.

"Quick!" Remus hissed. James snapped out of his daze, and hurriedly checked the Map. The only person Lily met was Lauren, and they both headed towards the Library.

Lily finished her homework quickly, her mind on what had happened earlier. He didn't even say Hello. She thought. He just stared at me until I left. A tear ran down her face, and plopped onto her Arithmancy essay. She watched as the scarlet ink smeared. Another tear fell, then another, and another. Soon she was just staring at her ruined essay, crying for her mother and father, for herself, and for anyone in general that might be upset.

"Aw, wook, it's iddle baby Evans. Whatsa matter Evans, mummy forget that you wanted choccy milk, not plain?" Malfoy sneered.

"She can't." Lily whispered.

"Sorry, didn't hear you, Evans. What'd you say?" Malfoy asked, smirking. Snape and Zabini sniggered.

"I said, 'She can't'. She's dead!" Lily yelled, and ran out of the Library, leaving the three shocked Slytherins behind.

~AN: Poor Lily, I told you things were going to get worse. This is only the first half of chapter 7, But I thought I'd halve it, because it's so long. Please r/r.