Ivy took a seat at the corner of the pub and watched the crowd sway from side to side. Most of the students were gathered here for lunch, each of them forcing their way to the front. She hiccupped softly as she set down her drink was she overreacting? No, the thought of him doing such a thing was revolting. He had always been so kind before, but times change, and so do people.

At the corner of her eye, she caught someone looking over. It was the same guy that had been watching her earlier. He was handsome, in a rough grungy sort of way. Those piercing eyes were somewhat captivating. Ivy turned her eyes slowly to him but he did not look away.

"Excuse me, are you going to pay or just sit there." A coarse voice said from above. Ivy moved her green eyes to the wizard beside her and sighed. Slender hands reached into her robes looking for the drawstring bag. Where had she put it? An impatient cough left the heavily mustached lips as the thick hand reached out. Ivy groaned silently, remembering she had left her money next to her bed.

"I…" She began but was quickly cut off.

"I got it." The boy that had been staring at her now stood before her.

Ivy glared at him but made no attempt of refusal. The coarse waiter walked off and in his place, Ivy was now facing the boy waiting for a thank you. "Did you want something?" She snapped, not feeling in the mood.

He raised a slight eyebrow and turned to walk away. Ivy was uncertain why she wanted to call him back but the urge to do so was burning. "Wait."

Sirius wheeled around and looked once more upon the blond beauty. The pair of soft green eyes focused upon him and the stoic expression too, softened.

"You can sit, if you'd like." Ivy muttered.

The invitation was a reluctant one, but Sirius took it nonetheless. He took the chair, not the one beside her but straight across from the sharp gaze.

"I suppose I owe you for that."

"Don't mention it."

"I already did." Ivy said softly but swallowed her cynicism for she felt a strange need to please him. "Bad day?" said Ivy, as she noticed his depressed countenance.

"You could say that, and you?" Sirius replied, noticing her slightly red eyes from crying.

            "Quite horrible." She sighed with an emerging smile. Sirius nodded comfortingly. Ivy felt a surge of warmness rush to her gut; she has never felt this way before. She was even blushing, a little…

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            Severus gazed out the window, he had spent an hour just looking everywhere for Ivy but had been unsuccessful. He leaned his head against the glass and groaned in frustration. He had just been with a wonderful girl and now… what happened?

            "Women…" sighed the familiar dreadful voice behind him.

            "What do you want now?" Severus rolled his eyes as Lucius took a seat next to him.

            "To talk… where's Ivy?"

            "Like you don't know." Severus raised an eyebrow.

            "Should I?" Lucius said casually.

            "No… I guess not. I don't understand what happened…"

            "Tell me about it."

            "She thinks I put something in her drink," Severus offered, "But why would she think that? She's known me since we were kids, I wouldn't do that."

            "Women tend to misjudge."

            "Honestly."

            "Why don't you go talk to her about it… I bet she'll understand."

            "I think it best to leave her alone for a while. Plus, I can't find her."

            Lucius stared at him for a while before speaking up again, this time more confidently than before. "I think I might have an idea."

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            "… and so not only did I make enough money for my troubles, by the time they realized that the potion didn't really work, I was in France."  Ivy laughed softly. The sides of her cheeks were a soft pink as she had forgotten about everything that had happened before.

            "I should have known… everyone running around slipping potions in each other's drinks when it was all just…"

            "Juice with some flavoring and that crap that makes you slightly constipated." Ivy finished for him. They both laughed before turning back to the food,

            "Do you miss having a family?" Sirius said softly, turning the subject to something slightly more serious.

            "Rarely. I never did have much of a family to begin with." Ivy replied, "Sometimes, I do wish that I had some place to go… but this is all right for now." Pain suddenly surged through her as she felt close to tears. School was never home to her, but it was all she had now. And since she had just lost a close friend…

            "What's wrong?" Sirius said softly, seeing the sad look that suddenly reached her beautiful face.

            "Nothing… nothing at all… and you, how have you been these years?"

            "My family hasn't exactly been heaven either." Sirius sighed, hoping to comfort her.

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            Lily Evans decided that she would walk alone for a little while. A world of nothing but boys and clothes was not only tedious and annoying but also a bit degrading for her standards. The breeze was nice was oddly nice. Now, what on earth to do about the James Potter boy. He seemed to be popping up all over the place. He was cute, no doubt, but what did that account for anyway?

            Then again…

            "Lily…"

            "What is it with you!" She snapped, seeing the familiar face she was just thinking about, "Why are you always around!"

            "Um… you dropped your bag… I thought you might want it." James's voice was rather stunned.

            "Oh… right… thank you."

            An expression of smug satisfaction crossed his face as he handed the bag over, "As long as we're here… want to go grab a drink?"

            "First of all… no, Second of all, what do you mean we're here? We're no where near the restaurants."

            "Who said anything about restaurants?" James stared at her before pulling two bottles out and handing one to her.

            "Did you plan this or something?" She said, half bewildered, half amused.

            "More or less." James replied.

            "Did you steal my purse?"

            "That, I did not do." James raised an eyebrow before popping the cork off his drink.

            "You are unbelievable."

            "Indeed."

            Lily stared for a moment and sighed. She had to admit… it was amusing.

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            "I don't believe it…" Severus muttered as he watched Ivy walk out hand in hand with Sirius. She looked so happy for once, her green eyes glinting with joy. So there it was…