A/N: Well, I graduated, and then I had to go to college, and in the excitement of everything completely forgot I even owned a fan fiction account, even less that I had a story pending. Life sucks, I know. I was thinking of deleting my word files and found this part written, and decided to upload it. I'll see if I continue it, not really sure though. I kind of lost the thread somewhere along the road and don't know where to go from here. Any ideas?

Just so you're warned, this isn't a very interesting chapter. More like a filler. I don't know.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of this. Don't sue.

I seem to like the word don't, don't I? ;)

WHIPPED CREAM

CHAPTER SIX

This is the way things are, and this is the way they shall be

Potions class was not her forte, and in the unusual mixture of heat and chilliness the dungeons seemed to produce during the month of October, Lily found she could not concentrate properly during class. It was a class normally shared with the Slytherins, but this year it was different and they were paired with the Hufflepuffs. Needless to say, though the lesson was peaceful, it was sometimes bordering of dull from the lack of action, and insults and tension.

The Potions Master droned on and on, explaining everything about the potion they were going to be making the next lesson, and he didn't seem to notice no one was really paying attention.

Samantha tapped Lily with the end of her quill, and passed her a piece of parchment. On it was a small picture of the people in the class, all huddled together watching the professor being boiled in a cauldron while he talked not really noticing.

Lily shook her head and crumpled the paper. She didn't want to be found out with it, and she had the misfortune of being very clumsy. Detention was not something she had on her mind for tonight. It was not something she liked going to and was lucky of being able to count the amount of times she's served detention with the fingers of one hand.

Once the class was over they headed towards the lake, it was the last class of the afternoon classes, and dinner wasn't to be ready till a few more hours.

"We haven't even been here a month, and I want to get out of this place." Sam said while plopping ungracefully near the edge of the lake. "I can't wait until seventh year is over and done with."

Lily rolled her eyes and sat down next to her. "I don't know. I don't think I want to graduate. What with the war they think is coming and everything?" She paused and looked at the lake then continued. "Sometimes I think it would've been better –and easier- if I was just a muggle."

Sam threw a rock that was nearby towards Lily's general direction, intending on hitting the other girl but with the misfortune of not having very admirable aim- and looked at her in disbelief.

"You? A muggle? I know you were raised as one, but really, Evans, that's like saying you'd like to be a dog. Not that I'm insulting muggles." She said quickly after Lily frowned at her. "It's just that magic is a gift, you shouldn't want to throw it away."

"Not really throw it away. I just don't want to deal with this war."

Sam sighed and thought for a moment before speaking. "Muggles have wars too, Lily."

"I know but I don't have to take serious part in them. Most of those wars are so far away…"

"But they're fighting for what they believe in. That's what matters."

Lily looked sideways at her and grimaced.

"I'm not sure what I believe in."

Samantha didn't know what to say to that and remained silent.

The patter of footsteps behind her alerted her that she was not alone in the hallway.

"Lily." She heard from behind. She stopped and turned around and saw whom it was before that person reached her.

"Lily." She gasped stopping in front of the redhead. "There's an impromptu prefects meeting. Dumbledore's petition thing."

Lily's eyes widened but she followed the black haired Hufflepuff towards the prefects meeting room. 

Everyone was in the room when they arrived and the meeting began the moment they sat down. It seemed that there were several student leeks noticed by the residents of Hogsmeade during days when they were not supposed to, and since the threat was big on the outside the school staff was worried about their safety. Some had suggested stopping the visits, but others declined that suggestion, in the end it was left up to the students to decide what the right course of action would be.

It was a very efficient technique, since students would want to make everything better for them, but since the teachers had placed such importance on their opinion they felt guilty and ended up coming up with proper solutions. Sometimes even stricter than what the teachers had in mind in the first place.

"I think that the students leaving to Hogsmeade should have an age restriction." Said a Ravenclaw sixth year prefect.

A few nodded but the one next to him shook his head in disagreement. "No, that's not good at all. There are some people in the same year with different ages and then if they don't have enough age… it's not fair. They have the same knowledge."

There were a few murmured agreements, and then Potter said his opinion. "Let's just restrict those fourth year and below from going to Hogsmeade. They don't have enough knowledge to properly defend themselves if the bad guys decide to appear."

Lily thought about that, and shook her head. "But fourth years have enough knowledge. They're supposed to know enough to ask for proper help. And not all fifth years are capable of handling that as well. In fact some seventh years can't do it. So then why not restrict everyone?" she took a deep breath and said, "I think third year up should be allowed."

The Hufflepuff girl who had gone to look for her nodded and put in, "Maybe get their parents permission."

"Or guardians." Terry from Ravenclaw said.

"Or guardians." Anna – the Hufflepuff – agreed.

"Okay." Kristen, the Head Girl, said after they had decided. "We'll take this up to Dumbledore and see what the staff thinks. Meeting tomorrow at five. Please be punctual. Dismissed."

Lily stood up and started leaving the room with the rest of the students. This year was so different from the ones before. Now she was aware of many more things, and she was not sure she liked knowing them. She wasn't sure she was ready to grow up yet. She didn't want to make any mistakes. Those thoughts, though she felt they were true, left her feeling she wasn't worthy of being called a Gryffindor.

"I still think that is a stupid thing to do." Samantha said loudly after Lily had explained everything that had happened during the next day's prefect meetings. The professors had agreed with what the prefects had come up with, and Dumbledore was especially proud of the way they had handled everything.

Lily was about to explain her point, when Samantha's brother –a third year- beat her to it.

"No, Sam. I think she's right. I know it's horrible I can't go to Hogsmeade if mum doesn't allow me to, but at least I know it will be for my own safety. She knows what we know, and as much as I like going to Zonko's, I don't think I'd enjoy it much if I'm suddenly abducted or killed."

Sam only swapped him in the head and shooed him away. She muttered something about her goody-two-shoes brother always being so perfect, but you could tell she agreed somewhat with him.

"But I like to go on dates. Now I'll have to ask my mother for permission to go on dates."

"It doesn't work like that." Lily said rolling her eyes. "You ask permission once and that's it."

"Oh." She voiced. "Oh well, that's a relief. I'd hate it if I had to owl mother every time I wanted to go out with Charles."

They remained silent for a while, until Sam turned to look at Lily oddly.

"Oh my god, Lily. I've only just realized." She shrieked.

Lily turned to her, frightened that whatever she was going to say was something bad, and said, "What?"

"I don't think you've ever dated!"

It was at that moment Lily decided that her heart really didn't need to pump in order for her to survive. Really, it could stop; she had no problem with that. In fact, she could feel it not pumping at the moment. It wasn't a big deal.

"W-What?" she managed to get out not understanding at first, then rolled her eyes. "So?"

"You have to date, really that will not do. How could I not have noticed until now? Lily!" she said hitting her rather roughly in the arm. "How?"

"Er… I don't know?" she said confused, rubbing her arm and taking it as far away from Sam as possible should she feel like hitting her again. "I've never really wanted to…"

"Well, then we'll have to get you someone." Samantha said, determined look on her face. "You have to be attracted to some one, we just have to see how to make you date that someone. Let's see Lily, who do you think is cute enough to date?"

Lily blinked and looked around, her eyes stopping momentarily on every guy's face. When at last she returned her gaze towards Sam's eager eyes, she shrugged. She really didn't find anyone attractive at the moment. She just never wanted to date, focusing on her studies and friends more than anything, finding a boyfriend never seemed like something too important. Was there something wrong with that?

"We'll just have to find someone who clicks. Let's see I think Jim from Hufflepuff, or no… maybe Eric, that Ravenclaw…"

But Lily was not listening. She really didn't feel like dating or being set up, but she didn't want to disappoint her friend who had become happier than she'd seen her at the prospect of looking up someone for her. Maybe it wouldn't be that bad. Then again, she thought looking at Sam's devilish face, something Sam loved doing so much couldn't be very recommendable for someone as shy as she.

Note: I see there's a distinctive lack of other characters in this chapter, but… It's more a filler chapter than anything anyway. I'm changing most of the direction of the story if I continue. Now, should I continue? Any ideas? Thanks. ;)