Disclaimer: Hehehe...if I were J.K. Rowling, I would be writing book five right now....

A/N: Sorry for the wait! I know, it's been forever! But I can explain; I was in Arizona for a month, and then school started, and wow, did that keep me busy. Today is the first day that I've actually had time to sit down at the computer and type out new chapters for my stories. Thanks for being patient and I'll update again ASAP! Oh, and my reviewers- can't thank you enough!

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Chapter 8- Confusion

       Lily held her mother's letter tightly with both hands, as if, by strangling it, she would be strangling her mother. No, she didn't hate her mother...but she sure wasn't fond of her just then. She stared at the words until they became a blur to her emerald eyes; swirls of ink. Of course, the silent tears that fell down her cheeks were probably the cause of the blur.

       Mary stumbled out of the bathroom, drying her dark hair with a towel. She spotted Lily in her depressed state, and pulled her into a comforting hug.

       "Oh, Lils...I'm so sorry. It will all work out for the best, I promise you. I won't let you marry Patrick...I just won't." this, though inadvertently, caused the red-head only to sob harder, burying her face into Mary's shoulder.

       "Th-there's nothing l-left to d-do." she sobbed, tears cascading down her cheeks. Straightening and pulling away from her concerned friend, she scrubbed at her cheeks and eyes with one hand, rubbing away the tears. Taking a deep breath, she continued, "But we promised not to complain...I-I'm sorry..."

       "Don't be sorry." Mary sat down on the bed next to Lily and took her hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "You have every right to feel terrible. Though I wish you wouldn't. I promise you, we'll find a way to get you out of it...you simply can't marry him." she smiled and decided that the best thing to do would be to change the subject. "You want to hear some good news?"

       "Sure."

"I asked Daniel out-"

       "And?"

"And he said yes. We're an official couple. We talked awhile and, oh Lily, he's so sweet."

       Lily smiled, congratulating her friend and attempting to wipe away the redness around her eyes. "Can I meet him sometime?"

       "Of course. What? Did you think I would refuse?" she grabbed Lily's hand and pulled her up off the bed. "Let's go now."

       Before Lily could answer, Mary pulled her out the door, down the hall, and out of the Gryffindor tower. "Where are we going?" she breathed as soon as she could.

       "Well, Daniel told me that he'd be out near the lake with his friends today. He said I could join them, but I thought that might be a little weird. But if you're there..."

       In a couple minutes, they were squinting against the bright sunlight and making their way towards a group of boys gathered a few feet away from the lake.

       Lily had seen Daniel around the school, but barely recognized him when he turned to smile at Mary. His hair was a sort of organized-messy, a light-brown color. He had a nice smile, Lily had to admit that. Only then, after Mary waved and smiled, did he look over at Lily with his azure eyes. Daniel smiled again, and she extended her hand.

       "I'm Lily Evans."

His wink said, 'I know'. "Daniel Hopkins." he had a firm grip and didn't seem to have any trouble looking people in the eye.

       Lily looked up and scanned his friends. They were all decent-looking, in her opinion. But none of them topped James. She smiled inwardly.

       Daniel was still looking at Lily. "You're Head Girl, right?"

"Yes."

       "With James Potter?"

A smile and a nod.

       Daniel's face held no expression. "We have a match against Gryffindor in a week. You should tell him my team will be coming back quite a bit better than last year. He might want to get them ready." he grinned.

       "I'll do that. But I assure you, he'll just make a face and shrug it off."

"He's making a mistake then."

       "He won't think so." she smiled. "And just to let you know, I'll be rooting for Gryffindor." she looked at Mary, implying the unspoken question.

       "I'm undecided." the raven-haired girl looked between Lily and Daniel, deciding that they would get along, and smiled warmly. "Daniel, you wanna walk around the lake with me? Talk about what we were earlier?"

       He grinned. "Sure. I'll tell my friends." He did just that, walked over to the group of boys who had formed a little circle a few feet off. Lily turned towards her friend.

       "I'll be leaving then."

Mary jumped in hurriedly. "Oh- but you don't have to."

       "I should find James anyway." she smiled and turned away.

"Bye Lily! Nice to meet you!" she heard Daniel yell after her, and waved a hand behind her in response.

       "What was it that I wanted to ask James?" she inquired of herself. But she couldn't remember.

       She trampled through the halls, not aware of much around her. She had a picture of the letter in her mind, and unsettling thoughts were driving her mad. She had to find James. Maybe then she would forget about this. No. She couldn't tell him about it. He couldn't know. Not yet, if ever.

       She stopped, the sound of familiar voices reaching her ears.

"But Prongs- why this one?"

       A laugh. "Why do you think?"

"Money, isn't it? Just like the others?"

      "Of course. But those never lasted. This one is far richer, and we actually get along."

       "So you're using her?"

"Well I thought it was for something more. But you know me. It's gone now."

       "I know you're upset." Sirius' voice again. "But James, you can't give up what you still have just because of what you've lost." A pause. James must have given a silent answer. "Grow up, Prongs. Everyone has problems. Don't cause yourself and others more by using a girl for her money."

       Lily went cold inside. What now? Was it not enough to have everything else to worry about? This was worse. Much worse, in her eyes. She turned and fled down the hall, tears forming in her eyes.

       She only vaguely heard Sirius' voice behind her. He must have left the room just after her.

       "Lily! Wait a sec! I want to talk to you!"

She ignored him, continued to run. But he had stuck up for her, had he not? She should wait. See what he had to say. She stopped, and turned around slowly. Sirius skidded to a stop in front of her, panting.

       "So you heard that, did you?"

She nodded, a tear falling down her cheek.

       He sighed. "Well I'm glad you did." Lily looked up at him in confusion, probing him to explain. To do something. "James has a lot on his mind. I don't know what's wrong with him. He's never been this mixed up before. Never acted this thoughtless." he was pleading now. "Please. Give him some time. To sort it all out."

       She stared at him, her lips dry and pursed; green eyes panicky and wet with tears. Give him a chance? What chance did she have to give?

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A/N: Mwhaha. I had a little of that planned out…but it turned out rather different than I expected. Must be the fact that I'm sick and half mad at the moment. Lol. If that was hard to follow, I'm sorry. It's hard for me to follow my mind sometimes ;). So, any comments? (besides that it was too short....I'm sorry about that too. No time, no time at all)