A/N - Sorry you guys I've been back for a little over a week but I started school the day after I got back and my teachers are REALLY heavy on the homework already. So between field hockey, art lessons, horseback riding, tennis lessons, piano, homework, and unpacking I just haven't had time to type this up. I serious had something entirely different in mind when I wrote this but it came out the way it did, the plot twist surprised me A LOT! I hadn't planned on that at all, but if it's any excuse, I wrote this on my lone vigil when I was all alone in a tent overnight in the rocky mountains. ENJOY!
Cassiopieia - Annabelle switched to Ravenclaw.
At first I was afraid
I was petrified
Kept thinkin' I could never live without you by my side;
But then I spent so many nights
Thinkin' how you did me wrong
And I grew strong
And I learned how to get along
And so you're back from outer space
I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face
I should have changed that stupid lock
I should have made you leave your key
If I'd've known for just one second you'd be back to bother me
Go on now, go
Walk out the door
Just turn around now
'Cause you're not welcome anymore
Weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye
Did you think I crumble
Did you think I'd lay down and die?
Oh no, not I, I will survive
Oh as long as I know how to love I know I'll stay alive;
I've got all my life to live,
I've got all my love to give and I'll survive,
I will survive, hey hey.
It took all the strength I had not to fall apart
Kept trying' hard to mend the pieces of my broken heart,
And I spent oh so many nights
Just feeling sorry for myself. I used to cry
But now I hold my head up high
And you see me somebody new
I'm not that chained up little person still in love with you,
And so you felt like droppin' in
And just expect me to be free,
Now I'm savin' all my lovin' for someone who's lovin' me
Go on now, go
Walk out the door
Just turn around now
'Cause you're not welcome anymore
Weren't you the one who tried to break me with goodbye
Did you think I crumble
Did you think I'd lay down and die?
Oh no, not I, I will survive
Oh as long as I know how to love I know I'll stay alive;
I've got all my life to live,
I've got all my love to give and I'll survive,
I will survive, oh
Go on now, go
Walk out the door
Just turn around now
'Cause you're not welcome anymore
Weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye
Did you think I crumble
Did you think I'd lay down and die?
Oh no, not I, I will survive
Oh as long as I know how to love I know I'll stay alive
I've got all my life to live,
I've got all my love to give and I'll survive,
I will survive, I will survive.
I will survive - Gloria Gayner
Next Time
I lie awake and die
I try but can't deny
That I can make it without her
I can't forget the day, I let her slip away
And I'm still dreamin about her
Can a heart forgive
Cuz I just can't live without her
The next time you see my girl
Won't you say that I, I will die, I would die to hold her
The next time you see my girl
Won't you tell her I love her
The next time you see my girl
Maybe the next time, mm hmm
I walk the streets at night
See lovers passerby
And it's all a reminder
Of what it used to be
When she was here with me
I only wish I could find her
Did she disappear
Cuz I'm waiting right here for her
I close my eyes
I see her face and I realize
Right in front of me, I had it all but I set her free
So next time you see my girl
Oh, won't you tell her that I'm sorry
And tell her that I love her
Next time - BBMAK
"She what?" James howled in despair. Remus and Sirius exchanged alarmed glances; this was not going as they planned.
"Er… she's going on a date with Gilderoy Lockhart?" Peter repeated nervously from the corner. James screamed even louder in frustration.
Sirius glared harshly at Peter. "But… James," he tried to reason while never taking his eyes off Peter.
"Aww… James, come now, you're not being fair. You've gone on several dates since…well… you know…Valentines Day." Remus said as soothingly as possible. James just nodded listlessly.
"I know," he sighed.
"Well, and now it Lily's turn." said Sirius, adopting Remus' soothing way of speaking.
James glared at him. "I know." He said sullenly, looking very much like a child who was just denied a cookie right before dinner.
"Well then what's the problem?" Sirius asked, not really expecting answer as he was just trying to end the conversation. After a brief silence he brushed his hands together. "Well, now, that's that." He said brusquely and started to do his charms homework. Just as he had reached the second question he was stopped by another outburst.
"but why LOCKHART of all people?" James cried suddenly, looking extremely put out by the idea that Lily was going to have dinner with someone else.
"Well he's handsome." Peter pointed out.
"Yeah and he's supposed to be fairly rich too." Sirius said thoughtfully. "I know, he told me so… several times." He and Remus both burst into laughter at the remembrance of Gilderoy lecturing them on his numerous merits, all of which placed him as much better then both Sirius and Remus at…well…everything, according to Lockhart.
James glared at his friends. "Gee, guys, you sure know how to help a guy when he's down."
"Your sarcasm is noted but not appreciated James!" Sirius called over his shoulder.
James rolled his eyes.
*****
Roslyn eyed her friend worriedly. "Are you sure you can do this?" she handed her the lip gloss.
Lily turned to smile at her new friend. "No." She said lightly and turned back to the mirror. "but I have to try." She carefully applied the lip gloss.
Roslyn sighed loudly and shook her head. "Lily, I don't get you! When most girls get their hearts broken, they aren't usually dying to jump right back into the dating scene." She handed her the eye shadow.
Lily's face lost its usual light and happy look, that had taken residence recently, and turned to Roslyn. "Neither was I, until he asked Lessie out." She shot a dark look in the dorm's general direction where Lessie was doing her homework. "Until then I was perfectly happy just to flirt. He brought this upon himself. Besides, it's not like I'm jumping back in, Roslyn, it has been a couple of months. " She continued to gaze in Lessie's direction for a moment more, and then her face turned happy as quickly as it had turned serious.
"Are you sure you can handle this?" Roslyn asked again as she started to arrange Lily's red-gold hair.
She stared at Lily's reflection, her eyes were filled with determination and her mouth was set in a grim line. "Of course." Lily said confidently, more to herself than Roslyn. Roslyn shrugged finally in defeat. Lily had won this one.
"But Lily, I have just have on question." Roslyn said barely able to contain her grin.
"Hmm?"
"Why Lockhart?" Roslyn asked giggling like mad. Lily couldn't help joining her.
*****
Lily played boredly with her mug as Gilderoy versed her in his numerous accomplishments. "Oh really?" Lily asked when he had finally paused for breath. Lily raised her brow in a would-be interested look. "I had no idea you were so talented Gilderoy." Her voice reeked of sarcasm but her date barely noticed.
Gilderoy grinned in self-appreciation and plunged on. "Well actually, very few people really know how fortunate they are to know me. For instance…" Lily had stopped listening at this point and let her green eyes wander freely around the Three Broomsticks. They rested first on Sirius, whom she realized had been watching her. He winked roguishly at her and she looked quickly away as she caught sight of James carrying butterbeer to the table next to Sirius and his date, Katie Graham. Next she caught sight of Roslyn, who, surprisingly enough, was sitting with Remus. She blinked unbelievingly at her friend as though willing the hallucination to end. Roslyn was laughing, presumably at something funny Remus had said. Lily sighed inwardly as she realized that everyone except her was having a good time. Tiredly she turned back to her date, and with much annoyance, but not much surprise, she realized that he was STILL talking nonstop.
"Uh Gilderoy." she interrupted.
He stared at her blankly for a moment before his brain processed that someone other than him had spoken. "Yes," He said smiling brilliantly.
Lily had to grip the table to stop herself from either gagging or bursting out in laughter. She smiled hesitantly back. "Er…" She searched around her for an excuse to leave the table, even for only a few moments. She found it sitting directly in front of her. "I'm going to go get my butterbeer refilled."
She started to get up when he shoved his own mug at her. "Oh great, then you can get mine too." It wasn't a question. Lily took the mug and couldn't help wondering who she loathed more at that second, James or Gilderoy. When she had reached the bar area she fished out the necessary money and placed them on the counter while Madame Rosmerta refilled their drinks. She turned about lazily and came faced to face with none other than Severus Snape who was even more disgusting at the close proximity of 6 inches.
"Hello Evans." He oozed with both charm and grease as he sidled even closer. Lily opened her mouth to tell him to get lost when she caught sight of a familiar four-eyed Quidditch star coming toward them. Her expression immediately changed.
"Hello Severus." She said easily. "Did you have a nice weekend?"
Snape looked slightly taken aback by this sudden change in character. His eyes narrowed in suspicion until they were very small slits in his overly large head. "What are you up to Evans?" he half growled.
Lily ignored the hostility in his voice and pretended that he was merely asking her what she had been doing lately. "Oh nothing much. I have several committee meetings lately, what with the end of year festivities coming up and I mean to get a head start on exams as soon I have some spare time. " She smiled cheerfully at him and turned to pay Madame Rosmerta. James was now standing directly behind them waiting his turn in line. "Well I'd better be going, I guess I'll see you around then." She waved warmly at Snape and headed back to her table. The torture had had to endure had been repaid in full when she had seen the look of complete horror on James' face.
Snape's POV
He watched Lily walk away and allowed himself a small smile of satisfaction that only grew when he saw Potter. He now knew the perfect way to get Potter back for all the tricks that had been played on him. Besides, not only would it hurt James, it would destroy Sirius too. He grinned triumphantly at Potter as he strode away. Oh yes, after all, everyone knew that James was still head-over for the girl. Snape could think of nothing better than going out with Lily Evans, especially if it meant hurting Potter in process. Besides, Evans was pretty, smart, popular, and usually very nice. Pity she was a muggle born.
*****
"Are you sure you saw correctly?" Sirius asked, his brows furrowed in disbelief.
"Oh I saw correctly alright, and heard for that matter. She was flirting like crazy with SNAPE." James wrinkled his nose in disgust.
Sirius shook his head, unable to think his cousin capable of such an awful thing. "No, man, not Lily, she HATES Snape! You know that. You must have heard wrong."
"Yeah well a lot have things have changed lately." James said, unable to keep the bitterness from his voice.
"Whoa, whoa, WHOA! Wait a second, didn't you dump her?" Remus asked.
James nodded reluctantly.
"Well you certainly seem like you're regretting it now." Remus said, unable to keep the confusion out of his voice. "Or is that only cause you don't want her but you don't want anyone else to want her either."
James remained silent.
"I think you need to figure out what you want before you start condemning everyone else's actions." Remus said seriously.
Sirius held a quill to his mouth as a makeshift microphone. "Thank you Remus for that wonderful lecture and now tonight's feature, how to stop acting like a child when you're actually fourteen. Our guest, James Potter, Who's acting like a spoiled three-year old. James, "He turned to James. "Tell us, when did you start this childish behavior. Did you have a bad child hood?"
James knocked the microphone away. "Shut up, Sirius."
Remus laughed at his friend. "Sirius, I can't believe you actually picked all that up from one visit to the electronics store with Lily."
Sirius shrugged in a would-be humble way. "What can I say? It's a gift." He picked the quill up again. "And tomorrows feature, folks, is Tide or Cheer, do they both work equally or is one in fact better?" He raised his eyebrows dramatically. James rolled his eyes and threw a pillow at his friend.
*****
"So," Roslyn giggled as she settled herself on Lily's bed.
Lily looked up from her Arithmancy homework. "So…?" Lily repeated, her voice absent of Roslyn's current enthusiasm.
"So what happened on your date? I want details, girl!" Roslyn drew a pillow to her chest and hugged it excitedly.
Lily smiled. "It was fine, considering who I was with." She gave a hollow sort of laugh. Lily opened her mouth to tell her about her plan with Snape when she remembered Roslyn's own dinner plans. "Speaking of dinner plans, what did you do Roslyn?" Lily asked casually, enev though she was quite aware of what Roslyn did all afternoon.
Roslyn's expression changed slightly. ''Um…well… you know, the usual." She became increasingly interested with the tassels of her pillow.
Lily raised her eyebrows in amusement. "Oh, I see, so you go out with Remus often, then?" She asked nonchalantly.
Roslyn looked up quickly in surprise and blanched visbly. "What?" her voice cracked.
"Well you said the usual, and since you were with Remus tonight, I can only guess that that means that you usually go out with him." Lily could no longer contain her grin and both her mouth and her eyes smiled outright at the look on Roslyn's face.
Roslyn bit her lip and looked at Lily carefully. "Are you mad?" she whispered, in a voice very unlike her usual one.
Lily burst out laughing. "Why would I be mad?"
Roslyn's face was a mixture of relief and embarrassment. "I dunno, I figured since Remus was a good friend of James it would upset you."
Lily shook her head, laughing. "I have nothing against Remus, Peter, or Sirius for that matter. Although I'm not sure it would be a good idea to go out with Sirius." She leaned closer and began to whisper conspiratorially. "Don't tell him I told you this, but my cousin has a very bad reputation with the lady's."
Roslyn giggled. "Yeah, I'll go with that."
*****
"In a matter of weeks, you'll be taking exams. I know some of you intend to wait until the last minute," Professor McGonagall shot a glance at Sirius in the back corner. "But I recommend that you start to study now. You have your notes, I believe." Several students nodded their heads. "Okay then, you're excused."
The students filed quickly out of the classroom and on to lunch. "Wonder what we're having today." Lily said quietly as she took her seat in between Roslyn and Roslyn's first year brother, Tommy.
"Looks like sandwiches." Said Roslyn, wrinkling her nose in disgust.
"Ugh I hate roast beef." Said Lily as she quickly handed the plate on to Tommy.
"So what do you like?" asked a new voice from behind.
Lily looked over her shoulder and her eyes nearly popped out their sockets at the speaker. "Oh, uh, hi Severus. How are you?" She smiled at him and turned fully to talk to him.
Across the table James nudged Sirius. "See." He whispered urgently. Sirius looked up and began to choke on his sandwich.
Remus dropped his fork with a clang. "I don't believe it." He stared at Lily, shocked.
Even Roslyn watched in complete and utter horror, which only increased as Lily agreed to go to the last Quidditch match with him. "But James is playing for the cup that game." Roslyn whispered after Snape had left.
Lily gave a small, satisfied smile. "I know." she said calmly and sipped her water.
