~*~ Peppermint And The After Dinner Mints ~*~

~When I was a little girl

~I often dreamed of happy endings

~When everything would turn out perfect

~All the conflicts resolved

~But in reality, for me

~Everytime I reach for the solution

~Another problem comes along

~I dreamt of that prince

~With his shining gold crown

~And a kingdom that belonged to him

~Sweep away my problems

~And we'd gallop into the sunset

~Escaping into the sky

~And the horse, it was white

~A flowing mane and tail

~Slender legs with diamond hooves

~That never grew tired

~But in reality, for me

~Everytime I reach for the solution

~Another problem comes along

A week after Joey had left and I was at Bella's. In the end I had relented to her constant nagging me to come over. It was funny, really. The emptiness that I had begun to feel had only settled in when Joey had moved to New York, yet I rarely spent time with her anyway. But the most obvious solution would be to find someone to fill the emptiness, yet I had found myself declining all invitations from my friends. Something about Joey's departure had definitely messed up my head.

Bella was about as horse crazy as Joey had once been. She was fortunate enough to even have six horses of her own. Or her family's, anyway. And of course, the first thing Bella wanted to do was go riding. So I agreed; I had been riding with Joey in the past and had enjoyed it a lot.

So there I was, standing, yet again, outside a stall having a staring competition with a horse. Peppermint wasn't overly large; just a few hands bigger than a full-grown pony. He was a soft dapple grey with a nice white mane. Oh yes, he was handsome. But if I had been blind I would have mistaken him for a donkey. Stubborn as a mule. This had happened several times before - it seemed there was just something about me that told horses I was just asking for them to disobey me.

My first difficulty was just getting near the thing. It's surprising how easily horses can avoid you, even in a rather boxed-in stall. When I finally did get the saddle over him, Peppermint decided that it would be amusing to puff out his stomach while I fastened the girth, making it loose. In the end I gave up.

'You win,' I told the horse, jumping up to look over the wall of the stall. 'Belle? Your horse isn't being very co-operative!'

Bella appeared in a few seconds, her pockets bulging.

'What's in your pockets?' I asked curiously.

'The answer to your problems,' she grinned. 'Peppermint demands a treat before he'll behave.' She reached into her pockets and produced a handful of after-dinner mints. I laughed.

'Peppermint is a peppermint eater, is he?'

'Of course! Where else would he get his name?' Bella laughed. 'Here, you give him the rest of these and I'll saddle him up.'

Ten minutes later and we were out in the field. Bella was riding a palomino named Mountain, which I was glad she was riding and not me. Mountain was an extremely high-spirited voice very much like her owner that seemed to be as mischievous as a... as a... I don't know. As mischievous as a Sirius? Sounds like a valid figure of speech to me.

Peppermint, on the other hand, was being rather well behaved after his little treat, for which I was thankful.

'Have you cantered before?' Bella asked me, eyes gleaming from under the black curls escaping over her face from under her helmet.

'Mm...' I said warily, not at all liking the look she was getting.

'Wanna race?'

Well, it couldn't hurt, could it?

'Alright then,' I said, shifting in the saddle and pressing my feet tighter into the stirrups, adjusting to the change in Peppermint's rhythm as he made a smooth transition between gaits. Bella urged Mountain on, and he took the invitation eagerly. Narrowing my eyes playfully, I encouraged Peppermint, who didn't need to be asked twice. He didn't seem to like being behind his friend, and immediately appeared to realise the competition.

I rocked with him as he bounded up, neck craned forward elegantly. Soon enough Bella and I were side by side. I turned to grin at Bella, and she grinned back. When I turned back to face forward however, my eyes opened wide. Peppermint and I were approaching a long, fallen long. And it was too late to steer clear of it.

'Bella...' I said anxiously. Within seconds the fallen tree was directly in front of us. Grimacing, I squeezed Peppermint's sides with my knees, and he automatically leapt smoothly over. I breathed a sigh of relief. Lucky for me Peppermint seemed to be an experienced jumper. I barely would have noticed the jump if my eyes had been closed - the transition from air back to the ground had been so slick. Bella laughed.

'Relax, Lily. Peppermint'll take care of you,' she called, steering Mountain to the left to sidestep a large branch. You could tell by taking one look at her up in the saddle that she belonged there. I would even go as far to say that she was born on the back of a horse, her and that animal were so at one with each other, almost like they could read one another's thoughts.

Bella leaned back in the saddle, pulling lightly on the reins and slowing Mountain to a slower pace, eventually dropping into a trot. I did the same with Peppermint.

'You win,' I breathed, wiping the sweat from my brow, and shielding my face from the summer sun.

'Nah, Mountain wins,' she corrected, patting her horse on the back. I observed her scratching him lovingly behind the ears and smiled. Obviously feeling excluded, Peppermint bobbed his head and snorted. I laughed and scratched him behind the ears.

'Yeah, you were great, too.' He bobbed his head a second time, as if in agreement, and Bella and I laughed.

'Come on, we better go cool these guys down,' she said, dismounting and taking Mountain's reins. I halted Peppermint and slid out of my saddle as well, as Bella and I began the walk back up to the stables.

* * *

'Lily, bella! How did you enjoy your ride?' Mrs Figg asked kindly when we arrived back inside the house for drinks. She had been waiting with lemonade.

'Great, thank you,' I said, still slightly breathless. The Italian was all getting a little confusing, considering Mrs Figg had a habit of adding 'bella', which meant 'beautiful', after my name. I wondered whether this meaning had anything to do with Bella's name.

When we were all seated at the table with drinks and biscuits in front of us, Mrs Figg launched into a merry discussion about Hogwarts.

'So how are you liking Hogwarts, Lily bella?'

'It's excellent. But the year's passed so quick!'

'Yes, it has, hasn't it? And Bella tells me your flying instructor is Italian!' she said.

'Yeah, it's lucky, actually. Without Bella I wouldn't have the faintest idea what she's saying, half the time,' I said in all truth. 'She's been teaching me, though.'

Mrs Figg smiled encouragingly at Bella and she beamed.

'So, Lily, tell me. Is this Sirius Bella has been telling me about as nice as he's been described, or has she conveniently left out a few details?' she asked, looking at her daughter. Bella rolled her eyes.

'Sirius and James I perfectly nice,' I said. 'And Remus, too. They're all really nice, and I'm not just saying that because of Bella.'

We continued to discuss school for a little longer until we'd finished our tea and conversation had petered out.

'Mama, Lily and I are going up stairs, OK?'

'That's fine, girls, just fine,' Mrs Figg smiled, standing and clearing the table. Bella led me upstairs.

In comparison to all my friends's houses, mine was really starting to seem quite insignificant. Next to the Potter's mansion and Bella's old, Victorian house it seemed minuscule, but even compared to Joey's it was rather small. Not that it bothered me much - me, my mum and Petunia had all the room we needed in our house, and it was the only place I'd ever known. I wouldn't have dreamed of living anywhere else.

Bella's room was only slightly larger than mine, Her bed was a four poster like the ones at Hogwarts, and was covered in a beautiful lavender coloured cashmere blanket. At the head of it was a pile of ten or so cushions in various shades of purple. Even if I hadn't have already been told by Bella, I would have been able to see, just from that bed, that Bella's favourite colour was purple.

'Gods, your room is the coolest,' I told Bella for the millionth time. Once upon a time I would have chosen Joey's, but she had gotten rid of all her lights and glowy thingys soon after I had left for Hogwarts, leaving her room quite boring compared to how it had once been.

'You think?' Bella asked, standing back to have a look around for herself. 'I'm starting to get a little bored with all the purple. I know it's my favourite colour, but do you think I've over done it?'

'Up to you,' I shrugged. 'But I it's great.'

Bella's room was rather reminiscent of Joey's in more ways than one. Apart form all the lovely drapes and many dream catchers and whatnot hanging from the ceiling, there were also about half a dozen horse pictures covering the walls. But, again, Joey had removed all traces of horses from her room, too. I was beginning to wonder whether her heart had been entirely in her changes, or if it was more a case of what was 'cool'.

That night, Bella and I stayed up long after Mrs Figg had shooed us away from the telly and upstairs to bed. 'Truth or dare?' Bella grinned, flopping down on her bed to face my make- shift one on the floor. I grinned back.

'Truth.'

'Do you have a crush on James?'

By now I had become accustomed to the fact that I was destined to be asked this everytime I opted for 'truth' in this game. It was guaranteed to be the first question I was asked, every single time. And everytime, they got the same answer.

'Nope,' I said, shaking my head and laughing. 'Friends only.'

Bella's eyes narrowed.

'I'll get you one day, Lily.'

'If you say so. Truth or dare?'

'Dare,' she answered automatically, leaning closer as if in anticipation. I should have known that she would pick dare - she always did - but yet again, I was left with a complete blank of a mind, empty of all ideas.

'Um,' I said, straining for something creative but challenging at the same time. My eyes landed on Bella's phone.

If there was one thing that Bella had that I was jealous of, it was a phone in her room. Besides the fact that she had more privacy, the phone in itself was pretty cool. It was some weird warped purple shape, and fitted in well with the rest of her room.

'I dare you to ring Sirius...'

'And?' Bella asked, already reaching for the phone.

'And pretend to be... Jessica.'

'Mornington?'

'Yeah,' I grinned, satisfied that I had found a achievable and amusing challenge.

'How does she talk? Isn't it something like... Oh hi, Siri! You do know who it is, don't you? No? But Siri, it's Jessica!'

I giggled.

'Perfect!'

'Right,' Bella said, taking a deep breath before picking up and dialing. Someone picked up, and she laughed. 'Hi, I was wondering if I could speak to Sirius?'

There was a short pause, and then, 'Thanks.'

Bella looked at me, covered up the mouthpiece and giggled. Sirius had obviously picked up, because she turned serious and uncovered the phone. 'Hey, Siri! How are you? What do you mean, who is this? Sirius, you silly billy - it's Jessica!' I snorted, but clapped a hand over my mouth at the look Bella shot me.

'You know, Jessica Mornington? James's friend.'

I had to laugh at that. And I could just imagine the look that would be on Sirius's face when he heard it.

'How did I get this number? Oh, but James gave it to me! Yuh-huh. No, but it's... but... why? Can't you do that later? Oh, OK then Siri. I'll talk to you later, then. See you!'

Bella hung up the phone and immediately cracked up.

'He couldn't hang up quick enough! Said he had to go out... at nine-thirty at night, I'm sure!'

I laughed and shook my head.

'But Jessica, you're so popular! Why would anyone not want to talk to you?' I asked with mock surprise.

'I know! Usually they're just lining up to speak to me!' Bella exclaimed in the same, exaggerated manner.

Once we had calmed down a little, Bella looked up at me, still breathing hard.

'Truth or dare?'

'Dare,' I said, deciding to try something different. Bella nodded.

'I know this isn't original, but I dare you to do what I just did, but you have to do it to James.'

'OK,' I said, reaching for the phone. It rang a few times before someone picked up.

'Hello?'

It was Hilary.

'Hey, Hils.'

'Lily! What are you doing calling so late?' she asked curiously.

'Actually, I rang to speak to James. Can you get him? But don't tell him it's me, OK? It's a dare.'

'Oh... OK then,' Hilary said, laughing. 'Have fun. I'll go grab him.'

'Ta,' I said, tapping my feet while I waited for James to pick up.

'Hello?' came his voice. I gave Bella the thumbs up sign.

'Hey, James,' I said in what I thought was the same ditzy tone Jessica used.

'Er, hello?' he offered again.

'Don't you know who it is?' I asked, forcing a giggle. Bella was burying her head in her pillow trying not to laugh.

'Um, no. Not really,' James admitted.

'It's Jessica!' I exclaimed, biting my tongue to keep myself from laughing.

'Oh. Hi!' he said, not too enthusiastically. 'Isn't it a little, er, late, to be calling?'

'But Jamsie, it's only nine thirty!' I giggled. That was it, Bella and I couldn't contain ourselves any longer. I lost it, and Bella soon followed.

'Er, Lily?' James asked, obviously recognising my voice.

'Yeah,' I laughed, wiping tears from my eyes.

'Are you OK?' he asked doubtfully.

'Yeah, I'm fine, James. Just ignore all that - it was a dare.'

'I figured. You at Bella's?'

'Mm-hmm,' I said, twisting the phone cord around my finger absent mindedly.

'And when are you coming here to visit me?' he pouted jokingly.

'Why would I want to visit you?' I teased. 'I come to see your sister, not you.'

'You'll make me cry,' he laughed.

'Aww, poor Jamsie,' I cooed.

Just then, Bella nudged me.

'Listen, James - I gotta go, OK?'

'Alright. Have fun, and don't do anything I wouldn't do,' he joked.

'I won't,' I laughed. 'Say goodbye to Hilary for me.'

'Will do. Bye. Love you,' he said teasingly.

'Aww, love you too,' I grinned back, and hung up the phone. When I did, Bella was smirking at me with raised eyebrows.

'Lily loves James. Lily loves James. Lily loves -'

'In your dreams, Bella Black,' I sighed, flopping back on the bed.

Yet again, it took Bella awhile process what I had called her.

'It's Figg!' she exclaimed. I shook my head and laughed. We sat in a peaceful silence for a few moments. It was interrupted when an owl landed on the window sil. Bella got up and opened the window and the black bird flew in and landed on the floor, transforming into a snow leopard when it did so.

'Firregaze,' I groaned. He wouldn't leave me alone! I'd tried to leave him home when I'd come to Bella's, but he'd slipped into my luggage as a lizard. Then I'd convinced him to stay outside, but he had to come up and find me again. Why he had attached himself to me I did not know, and although it was rather flattering, it was also a nuisance at times.

'I don't know what you're moaning about,' Bella said, scratching him behind the ears. 'He's gorgeous. Hey, speaking of gorgeous, you haven't replied to Gray yet, have you?'

'No,' I said. In all truth, I had been avoiding thinking about it.

'Are you going to say yes?'

'Probably,' I said shrugging.

'Dare you to,' Bella grinned, and I rolled my eyes.

'Fine. I've got nothing to lose, really.'

Bella crossed the room to her desk and threw me a piece of parchment and a muggle pen. I praised it, rather sick of the quills used at Hogwarts. I sat there for a minute, sucking the end of the pen in thought before writing a one-word reply.

Yes.

~*~*~*~*AUTHORS NOTE*~*~*~*~

Man I am really peeved now coz I just read Order of the Phoenix and it practically contradicts everything I have modeled these characters as, which means I am feeling very wrong in writing this story. I will however continue it, although I am now very put-out. Hmmp! So leave me alone if it takes me awhile to get over the fact that I think the way that, a - JK Rowling has modeled the characters, and b, made Ron a... I won't say for all those that haven't read the book. But let me express my opinion that it is in fact extremely rude and GAY. GAY GAY GAY GAY GAY GAY GAY GAY GAY! And rude (the 'and rude' is from my best friend) oh yeah, and did I mention it's GAY! It's a great and suspenseful book and all, but as I must have expressed a thousand times by now, the whole situation with James and Ron and practically everyone is extremely GAY!!!!! And how dare she... how dare she... do what she did with Sirius!!! :'( Now I have that out of my system, I will try to continue my story the way it was originally intended without getting agro and abandoning it. I will try to shape the characters a little more closely to how they are portrayed in the book, I will however express that James is not going to be... well how he is in the book and Snape is not going to be how he is either.

I was going to post for you all today (Saturday, I have just finished reading OotP - shame, leaves me with nothing to read) but now I've finished the book I'm extremely peeved. Secondly, I had two reviews for the last chapter. TWO!!! And that really encourages me to write, not. *glares* So EXCUSE ME if the chapter is stupid, but I'm not in a very good mood. How dare JK kill... *********** the person that she killed! *breaks down and cries*

If I don't get at least seven reviews for this chapter, I am not going to continue this story. It may seem harsh, but the book totally contradicts my characters and it's making it difficult to write. SO if you really want me to continue, you have some convincing to do.

Right. Review. It *might* lighten my mood. Might.

SezZie

PS - on a lighter note: Amelia Bedelia, I am so SORRY! I saw that you had updated just after I'd published that chapter and it's note, and I felt so bad! It was a great chapter, can't wait for some L/J action! (I'll review, if I remember. I'm not that happy at the moment). And thank YOU for reviewing my last chapter.

And thanks to LadySiri, too. You and Amelia Bedelia were the only two that reviewed. :(