AN: Gosh, I'm addicted to writing this story. I'm neglecting my other ones, but its okay. I like this one. I don't have a beta reader, so if you see any mistakes just let me know in a review. (Thanks to Sea S for letting me know about McGonagol. I didn't think it looked right anyway.) thanks for reading! Oh thanks in advance for reviewing too. ;)

Disclaimer: See prev. chapters



Innocent Deception Chapter 5

Bella rushed into Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. All who sat inside looked up, she gave a quick smile to an old lady, who turned towards a friend and said, "Look at these young witches. So angry!" She sighed sadly. "Poor dears."

Bella spotted Lily looking at her with amusement from the back.

"In a hurry, Bells?" Lily asked, her green eyes sparkling with merriment.

Bella cracked a grin and paused to catch her breath. "Well I wanted to tell you about this idea I had."

Lily looked at her suspiciously. "What kind of idea?"

"So come on, Lillers! We need to go shopping! This year has to be outrageous."

"That's your idea?" Lily snorted. "You're so smart, Bells."

Bella grabbed Lily's arm and pulled her out of the shop. "Now I was thinking, since no one has seen us in ages, we could always tell them we got our belly buttons pierced. Or if you're up to it, we could do that. Tattoos are great too. So which is it?"

The old lady twittered again. "Smelly buttons? Do they get those pierced now a days?"

Her friend nodded knowingly. "Of course. They pierce hoses as well. You best watch out for these young people, Mabel. They'll try to abduct you."

Mabel looked around nervously. "You never know, do you?"



*********~~~~~~~~~********~~~~~~~~~**********~~~~~~~~~~~~*********

"OH MY GOD BELLA. I can't believe I'm doing this. I hate needles! BLOODY HELL!" Lily whimpered as the piercer/tattoo artist cleaned her stomach with a cotton ball.

Bella sat up from the chair across from her. "It'll be fun. We should get matching tattoos!"

Lily shook her head. "No Bella. A hole in my body is enough."

Bella smiled. Sure it was.

****~~~~********~~~~~~~~~~~~***********~~~~~~~~~~~~********~~~~****

Half an hour later, Lily and Bella walked out of the tattoo parlor. Lily had a bright smile on her face. Bella looked like she might be sick. She had one hand on her stomach and the other on her hip.

"That was so much fun!" Lily gushed. "I want another tattoo! How about one on our shoulders?"

Bella shook her head. The matching little butterfly tattoos on their hips had hurt like bloody hell. And she had a hole straight through her fucking stomach. Lily Evans, the girl who was terrified of needles, wanted another one? What had happened to the world?

"Ok Bella, now we can go shopping, right?"

Bella sighed and hobbled after her friend. Well, atleast her mind was off of James.

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In Madame Malkins, as they were purchasing their robes, the door opened and a laughing crew of people came in. Kirsten Myers, self-appointed Hogwarts Barbie, complete with obviously fake blond hair, watery blue eyes, and way too much make up. She glanced over at them. She sent them a scalding glare. "What are you two social misfits doing here? Shouldn't you be out reading or something?"

Lily rolled her eyes and Bella snorted. Kirsten had thought she was so smart, she used to talk about how she was going to be Head Girl. She hadn't really minded Lily until they were made prefects and she wasn't. She had always hated Bella, and personally Lily thought it was because she was jealous. Bella had the look Kirsten had tried to achieve.

"That's great there, genius. I'd love to stay and chat, but you ask way too many rhetorical questions." Lily replied. Kirsten thought she was so great, Lily thought furiously, this year I will show her that I am not the Lily Evans she knew before.

Bella snickered. "Actually Kirsten, shouldn't you be out dying your hair blond again? I really think your roots are showing."

Kirsten gaped at them. The silent girls of Ravenclaw were sticking up for themselves. A person behind her chuckled. She whirled and glared at them. "Whatever, you little-"

Lily smiled sweetly at her. "Goodness, it's getting late. See you soon, right Kirsten?"

Kirsten watched them walk off with fury in her pale blue eyes. They would pay. She thought with rage. They will pay for it all.

*******~~~~~~~~~*************************~~~~~~~~*******

Lily and Bella packed up their final belongings in the room they were sharing at the Leaky Cauldron.

"School." Lily said smiling, "I've missed it!"

"Kirsten." Bella said in the same voice. "Oh, how I've missed her!"

"James." Lily said in the same tone again. "Oh, how am I to explain."

Bella sighed. "Lily, you have to tell him. You can't avoid him forever. He said he would love you anyway, didn't he? Trust him."

Lily looked across the room at the fire. "I know I should. I-I'm scared. Scared of losing him."

Bella's heart went out to her. She then said in a stage whisper, "The truth will set you free."

I'll tell him. Lily resolved. I'll tell him next weekend in Hogsmeade.



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Lily and Bella shoved their trunks onto Platform 9 and ¾. Lily was catching her breath. "I still hate doing that!" She made a face as they lugged their carts onto the train.

"Head compartments." She muttered over and over as she neared the back of the train, Bella following behind her.

"Here we go!" She said grinning and opened the very last door. She gasped at the leather couches, beautiful chairs and mahogany coffee table.

Bella raised her eyebrows appreciatively. "Very nice. I'm impressed with our schools treatment of their best students."

Someone popped up behind them, "Nice isn't it?" a masculine voice said.

Lily turned around quickly. "Oh! Amos! You scared me."

"Sorry." He said smiling at his long time crush. Merlin, she was beautiful. She had confidence now too. He could tell by the way she carried herself. She was perfect. With all the time they would be spending together, this was their year, he had decided before he left.

***

After they were settled, Lily turned to look at him. Amos Diggory was a Ravenclaw and had always been sweet to her. He had been the one who had stood up for her against Kirsten, and probably the only reason she had a semi-popular place in her school's society.

She smiled at him. "So Amos, Head Boy and Quidditch captain! Very impressive!"

The only person I would want to impress if you, Lily dear. He replied only in his head though. He smiled at her, meeting her eyes. "Thank you, Lily. I think we'll be a very successful team, don't you?"

She grinned at him. "We always have been, Amos. Why would now be any different?"

He began to answer, but was cut off by a knock on the door. "Checking compartments." A masculine voice said harshly. "Oh shit!" Lily gasped and dove behind the couch. Amos looked at her curiously. Lily Evans, angel of his dreams, was cursing?

"Come in." Bella said with all the calmness she could muster. Muldungus Fletcher appeared at the door. He smiled at them. "Still alright if I sit in here with you, Amos?"

Amos nodded at his best friend. Lily poked her head out from behind the couch. "Fletcher?" She asked cautiously, calling him by his preferred name.

"Lillers?" He asked, a smile playing upon his face. "What, pray tell, are you doing behind a couch?"

Lily smiled at him. Fletcher had been one of her best friends for years. They could talk about anything. "Long story." She said laughing.

He shrugged. "Alright. You'll have to explain sometime." Amos nodded.

She shrugged and climbed back onto the couch. "So, Bella, should we tell them about how much fun we had yesterday?" She said with an impish grin.

Bella grinned diabolically back. "Of course, Lily dear."

Lily nodded innocently. "Well, you see, Bella and I went to get our belly buttons pierced."

Bella nodded. "Yes." She frowned slightly. "But it didn't turn out right at all."

Fletcher was staring at them with shock, Amos had a look on his face that plainly said that he thought they were kidding.

Lily stifled a giggle. "No. Not right at all. When we walked out, not only did we have our belly buttons pierced we had matching tattoos as well!"

Fletcher gaped at her. Amos laughed. What a darling, he thought to himself. "Sure you did."

Lily and Bella grinned and pulled the bottom of their shirts up so he could see. Their belly button rings were there and the tip of a bandage showed under the waistband of their jeans.

Amos paled visibly. "Lily, you are terrified of needles!"

"Whoa. What happened to you two during the summer?" Fletcher smiled at Lily and Lily smiled back. He was so sweet! Gosh she had missed them. Another knock on the door, brought her away from her thoughts.

"Yes?" She called out immediately.

"Compartment check!" A distressingly familiar voice called from the other side of the door.

Lily gasped and shared a look with Bella. Once again she dove behind the couch.

~*~*~*~*~

James frowned as he opened the door. Was that Lily's voice? His mental self rolled his eyes. Next thing you know he would be running down the street after a short woman with red hair.

He glanced down at his list. "Uh, hi." He said brusquely. "I am Professor Potter. I'll be taking over Transfiguration. Amos Diggory?"

Amos nodded. "Present."

James nodded. "Good. You will need to report to Professor Dumbledore before the Feast begins." He glanced back down at his list. "Patience Evans?"

Fletcher absentmindedly began, "Oh, she's-"

Bella interrupted him. "She's in the ladies room, sir. I don't believe she is feeling very well."

He nodded. Was that the girl who had been with Lily at the beginning of the summer? James shook his head. He was imagining things. "Alright. Let her know she must see Professor Dumbledore."

He turned and walked out of the room.

Approximately a minute later, Bella said, "Lily, its safe. He's gone."

Lily poked her head out again and climbed back onto the couch once more.

"Lily, why are you afraid of him?" Amos began, his eyes dark with anger. "If did a single thing to hurt you, I swear-"

Lily cut him off. "No. I'm not afraid of him."

Fletcher glanced at her. "Go ahead and explain Lily. I think I should probably hear this too."

Taking a deep sigh, Lily began.

As she finished, Amos was glowering with rage. James Potter had played with her heart. Obviously she didn't know him. Obviously he had tricked her. Obviously, he must pay.

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AN: I think I will stop there. I think that's about enough for now. Thanks to all of the reviewers! I'll put a thank you post up soon. Sorry to stop so soon, I think its getting a little long though. Thanks again!