Author's Notes: (warning-Long A/N ahead…LoL)Hello once again! Aww, first I have to say thank you sooo much for reading! Reading the reviews made me all tingly inside! So I'll let the cat out of the bad now and admit that writing is something I've always…enjoyed doing but never thought I was worthy of readers, as I did miserable in all English and writing classes. LoL. So of all the things I've written, few people have actually read much, and this *points to fic* means a lot. You all rock my boat around the world twice. =)
Liz: Thank you, you doll. Yes, I have finally posted…LoL. Beats doing my homework…
Manal: LoL, you goose. Yes…for someone who spends their life on the HP boards is it all that surprising that I would have my own? LoL.
Nikki: Thank you!
Kaitlyn: Ah, my peaches, thank you. I'm glad that you enjoy it. Make sure you keep reading my a/n. ;)
Lydia: Thanks hon! Yes, it is sad, but what is a happy moment without sad ones to make the happy ones stand out? (trying to be optimistic here…LoL)
Cindy: Hee, you make me feel so happy. *blushes* Thank you so very much. I hope that I can succeed in making you feel all tingly inside for the rest of the story. =) And you put me in your fave's list. Awww!
Evy: You fruit! Aw, I love you! It means millions that you like this! LoL, ah yes…Sevy…he's yours hon, but…*wink* let's just see what happens with him…
Arielle: Eeee! Extra cookies and hugs to you!! You put me on your favorites list!! That just made me so extra giddy and happy! Thank you so very, very much!
Citnamor Sselepoh: Aw! Thank you so much for reading!
Those readers who have Not reviewed: Yeah, I know who you a few of you are! Thank you for reading anyways! ;)
So I guess I'm accomplishing one goal—writing something that's somewhat original. I'm glad you like the idea of the back and forth. I thought it might make it more dramatic, and we all know how I love my drama. LoL. With it focused on James and Lily it makes it difficult to be original, so of course I'm bound to have clichés…=)
On to the next chapter. I hope you enjoy!
Chapter Three Fall 1976 -September-
The glorious Great Hall was as mouth dropping as it always was on the day back at school. The endless sky, the house colors, the immense amount of delicious food; the wonders of Hogwarts started here.
To the Professors' disbelief all remained calm during the sorting ceremony; not even one Marauder piped up with the usual comical remark. Head Master Dumbledore was able to make his annual welcome back speech, with only a smirk coming from the four, and lead the students and faculty to eating.
"So where'd you go after Italy, Lily?" Greta Catchlove asked as the girls devoured their meals and caught up on summers.
Lily beamed with excitement, thinking of her laid back summer, "We went to Spain for a week next-"
"You were in Italy this summer Lily?" James interrupted her.
"I don't believe I was talking to you Potter, but yes," Lily rolled her eyes, annoyed with him already.
The rest of the Marauders, plowing through their own meals, all glanced at James and then to Lily.
"When were you in Italy, Lils? Where you near…" Remus started to ask her.
"Oh, yeah," Lily looked as if she suddenly remembered something. "We arrived just after this major explosion happened at some Muggle plant or something. It was this huge affair; they're all worried about after-effects and such…"
Lily kept on rambling, talking of her vacation while her pure-blood friends all sat with disbelief that she hadn't heard any of the news.
"Lils, that wasn't just an 'explosion' like the Muggles reported it as," Audrey Jackson told her best friend. "It was an attack…"
"An attack in which Remus lost his uncle in," Peter snapped.
The other three Marauders looked at Peter in surprise; he wasn't one to normally have outburst such as that. Let alone ones containing information about others. It wasn't as if Lily was just ignoring the situation, it sounded as if she just hadn't known.
Like most were supposed to.
Lily just sat there, stunned at what she had just learned. She slowly put her fork down and looked towards Remus with sorrow-filled eyes.
Remus shrugged, "It's alright, Lily. You had no idea. It was meant to be kept under the table, the truth of the explosion, that is. I wasn't that close to my uncle anyways. It's James that's suffered the most recently."
Sirius threw down his fork with a huff, making all the sixth years look at him.
"Well, look, so most of us had hard summers," he started, gruffly. "But we're back at school where things are great. Must we discuss all the sad things or can we just get on with life as it's supposed to be?"
James nodded towards his best friend, "I'm not hungry anymore."
Sirius stood, "Me neither. See you back in the Common room."
The two left their barely touched food, something rather uncommon, on the table and strutted their way out of the Great Hall.
"I-I had no idea," Lily said softly, not to anyone particular.
"It's okay, hon. I'm sure it's difficult to lead two lives at one time," Pandora Mair smirked at Lily as she stood and followed the two boys.
The rest of the sixth year Gryffindors sat speechless, not knowing what to say.
"Well…I have to say that it's pretty great that our first day back is a Friday," Isadora Lear broke the silence. "I mean, we get the whole weekend before classes start."
"What did she mean by that?" Lily, staring at her food, broke out.
"That we don't have classes on Saturdays or Sundays, Lils," Calista Danes tried to joke.
Lily's emerald eyes burned as she looked up to her friends, "No, the comment about living two lives. What was that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, Lily, just let it go. You know how Pandora is," Audrey reassured her friend. "Dora just thinks that she's so perfect and it bothers her that James likes you and not her."
Lily looked back to her dinner again and then suddenly tossed her napkin onto the plate. As she rose from her seat she looked at Remus.
"Remus, I'm truly sorry about your loss. I had no idea."
Remus just glazed his eyes across her face and nodded.
"I-I have to go," Lily stuttered and stormed away from the table.
Kinglsey Shacklebolt raised his goblet in the air, "To another exciting year at Hogwarts, my friends. Let the fun begin with no time wasted."
* * * * * * * *
Later that night after most Gryffindors had retreated to their respective dorm rooms, the sixth year girls sat up talking. Having spent the last five years together, side by side, the six girls had become rather close; even through all their character differences.
"Did you see the color of Kineta Crumbly's hair?" Isadora giggled.
"Ugh, I mean, what was she thinking?" Pandora laughed. "The girl does not look good with orange hair."
"Maybe it was an accident. Isn't her brother, Ronald, a potions freak?" Greta asked, as the girls munched on the candy they had left over from the train ride.
Lily nodded, "Yeah! Ronald Crumbly! He graduated last year, but I remember him. Wasn't he in Ravenclaw though?"
"It's so odd when siblings are sorted into different houses," Calista mentioned.
Audrey nodded in agreement, "Doesn't Sirius have a brother in a different house?"
"Regulus," Pandora nodded in an all-knowing fashion. "He's in Slytherin as is the rest of his family."
The girls all nodded in unison as Isadora kept the conversation rolling, "That's right. His cousin is Bellatrix."
Audrey rolled over onto her back with a huff, "I can't stand her! She's so…erg, I don't know. In fact, I just don't like Slytherins in general."
A few of the girls laughed and Lily threw a chocolate frog at Audrey, "Who does, you goose?"
"You," Pandora challenged Lily.
Lily looked at her blankly, "Look, Dora, just because I stand up for people doesn't mean that I agree with everything they stand for."
Pandora glanced at Calista with a smirk and then smiled at Lily, "Funny how you knew exactly what I meant. How is Snivellus these days?"
There were chuckles around the room but Lily sighed and rolled her eyes towards Audrey, "I don't know Dora, why don't you go ask him? You seem to enjoy being a puppet of the Marauder's anyway, I'm sure that they'd love for you to help them get their year of pranking in full swing."
"Puppet of the Marauders?" Pandora looked at her offended.
"Oh, get off it, Pandora, tell me which one of the Marauders have you not snogged in the past five years?" Audrey chuckled.
Pandora, with a glare that could have killed, stood from the floor, "Thank you very much but I do NOT go around just snogging anything I see. And as for being a 'puppet' as you so put it, Brainiac, I'm simply friends with them. Something you have not given them a chance to be."
Pandora stormed out of the dorm with Calista following closely behind her. The other four girls all just looked at one another.
"Brainiac?" Lily asked; forehead scrunched.
Greta was the first to break out in laughter, "Since when is it wrong to have a brain and use it?"
Audrey stood up, stuck her hips out and flipped her long blond hair. In a higher pitched voice than normal, she spoke with her nose literally sticking up towards the ceiling, "My name's Pandora and I am the best at everything. I could have been a Slytherin for my cunning ways, and I could have been a Ravenclaw because I'm smart and witty and stuck up, or I could have been in Hufflepuff because I'm loyal to my pure blood ancestry, but alas, the hat put me in Gryffindor, simply because I have courage."
Isadora was laughing the hardest out of the four, "Courage to show her face in public."
Lily sighed, "You guys, we're being mean."
"As if she wasn't mean to you Lils," Audrey sat back on the floor.
"But at least she's mean to my face where I can stand up to her. We're making fun of her behind her back."
Greta looked at the three, "Want me to go find her and tell her everything we just said? That make you feel better, Lils."
Lily rolled her eyes as she shook her head. Her friends were still laughing, bringing Calista into the gossip now. Calista, and her perfectly kempt, dark-blond hair and blue eyes. She was beautiful and seemed to use it to her advantage. It was no wonder why Calista and Pandora were best friends. What was curious was how they ended up in Gryffindor.
"Lily…earth to Lily," Audrey was waving a parchment in front of her.
"What? Sorry, I was daydreaming," Lily snapped back.
"Come on, it's your turn," Greta was lying on her stomach, propped up by her elbows with a parchment and quill in front of her. "Cutest guys in Seventh year."
Lily laughed, "Okay. I think that…Dedalus Diggle and the twins are pretty good looking."
"Oo, the twins," Isadora sighed. "Fabian and Gideon are smashing!"
The girls laughed as Greta continued, "Okay, anyone else?"
"Gaspard Shingleton is pretty cute," Audrey mentioned.
"The Ravenclaw who always has his head in a book?" Isadora snickered.
"What?" Audrey hit her with a pillow.
"You know, Rodolphus is kind of cute too, even for a Slytherin," Greta mentioned.
Audrey laughed, "Okay, so we've moved onto sixth years."
"Remus," Isadora smiled. "He's so perfectly handsome and genuinely sweet. How he ever got mixed up with those other three, I just don't know."
Greta smiled, "Ah, the other three. Well, needless to say that James and Sirius are undeniably good looking."
It was Audrey's turn to fall into a dreamy state, "Sirius is breathtakingly hot."
"See, I've always fancied James' unkempt style," Greta giggled.
"Ug, are we really having this conversation?" Lily pretended to gag.
"Lils, please, admit it, they're cute. I mean, geeze, even Peter's cute in that little pudgy kind of way…" Audrey giggled with the other two.
"No, see Peter's too…unsure of himself or something. You can tell by the way that he carries himself," Greta explained. "While James and Sirius have confidence-"
"Too much, if you ask me," Lily interrupted.
"What exactly did James ever do to you that makes you hate him so much?" Isadora asked Lily. "One would almost think that you'd rather spend your time with someone truly evil rather than him."
"And who is truly evil Izzy?" Greta asked her best friend, holding back the giggles.
"Severus Snape, that Igor fellow, Walden Macnair, Evan Rosier, that Travers fellow, Bellatrix, Filch, Dora…should I continue?" Isadora laughed.
"What is wrong with half of those people?" Lily looked at them.
"Well, what's wrong with James?" Greta answered with her own question.
Lily grunted, "What's wrong with him? He's a zealous, conceited prat who thinks that he's everything to the world and more. He waltzes around the grounds as if they were laid before him. He's inconsiderate, lacking manners, has no respect for others or their belongings, and can be plain out right mean. And the people you listed?"
"They're pure evil Lily! They aspire only by imagining themselves on top after bringing someone down. Hard work means nothing to them if it requires them to sweat a little bit. They think they own the world and that everyone should bow before them. If you aren't a pure blood then your dirt. They're prejudice pigs who are unappreciative and sore losers," Greta explained.
"Lovely Slytherin traits," Audrey added.
"And I hardly think that Pandora or Filch fit in that explanation," Lily argued. "Dora is simply a lost soul taking out her aggression on us, those who are closest to her. As for Filch, he's just a bitter man with no magical power. And really, like Aud just said you gave me Slytherin traits, do you even know any of those people? I can assure you that not all of those people are that bad."
Isadora sighed, "Why Lily? Because you and Snape seem to get partnered up all the time you think you know him? Has he ever thanked you for getting James to leave him alone? No, I think he continues to call you a Mudblood and tell you to stop sticking up for him."
"Yeah, and can you say that you even know James?" Greta asked. "Maybe James has his reason for acting the way he does. Doesn't everybody?"
"You know Lils, for being the overly nice person that you are, you can be rather stuck up yourself," Isadora said with an annoyed voice.
The four girls all stopped talking as silence over took the dorm. Lily and Audrey were the best of friends and had been since the moment they stepped on the train together their first year. Isadora and Greta already had known each other and were good friends when they all arrived at Hogwarts. But the four of them had always been rather close and good friends; hardly ever disagreeing or bickering; whilst Pandora and Calista were the outcasts of the Sixth year Gryffindors.
The silence was foreboding. Greta and Audrey only glanced back and forth between the two staring at each other.
"Since when did you become such a genius on other people, Izzy?" Lily looked at her. "I have my reasons for not liking Potter."
"You're reasons are shallow and have no basis for ruling him out as even a friend, let alone giving him the chance to date," Isadora snapped back.
"Date him? Are you mad? He's a prankster without a care for other people's feelings! Do you think I honestly take his asking me out to heart? I'd be a fool to do so!"
"You're a fool for not giving him a chance. But you'd sure give Snape a chance wouldn't you? I think you have your priorities all wrong."
Lily gasped, shocked at what her so-called friend was saying to her. She stood and stared down at Isadora.
"I really don't understand why this is such a big deal, nor do I understand why it's any one's business, but I do assure you that I am done with this conversation!"
"Why, because you can't handle being wrong or put into your place, Lily?" Isadora stood as well, blocking Lily's path to the door. "You parade around here as if you're the only one that has it hard. Well, you aren't Lily Evans! First, you aren't the only muggle-born here! Not to mention those who are half-bloods. They have it hard too, Lily! There are people here with half families! There are people here who live through real trauma when they aren't at Hogwarts! What about James? He lost half his freaking family this summer to the Dark Lord! Sirius was disowned! Remus lost members of his family! So did countless others in our school. Lily!
And do you think you're the only one that cares about your grades? We all struggle! We all want to do well! It's just that the rest of us learn to deal with it, to let go from time to time and have fun. It's the only way to survive!"
Lily, doing her best to hold back the tears, glowered at Isadora, "Are you trying to say that I'm heartless? That I don't care about others? Who helped you through your family trauma in fourth year? Who stayed up with you all night last year when Stebbins broke up with you? Who's the one that puts her homework off to the side to help everyone?"
"Yeah, you help us Lily," Isadora wasn't backing down. "You help us because we're all forced to be friends. We sleep in the same dorm so you wouldn't want us to dislike you."
Lily's eyes widened and bulged, "You think I'm only friends with you because I have to be?"
"Isn't that why your friends with Pandora? And even Calista?"
"You are heartless and demeaning! That fact that you would utter any of this to me and think that I wouldn't be hurt or that it would be a simple fight burns me more than the fight itself! You obviously have not come to know me in five years if you think any of this is true!"
"Than prove me wrong Lily," Isadora said, quieter.
Lily just glared at Isadora and walked out of the dorm room.
* * * * * * *
"Merlin, first night back and I'm bored already," Sirius yawned, moving his pawn in his game of Wizard's Chess against Peter.
"But your beating me," Peter mused.
"I always do," Sirius stretched his long arms and folded them behind his head.
The two boys heard a door slam from upstairs on the girls' side. Sirius chuckled, not looking behind him to see who it was this time.
"Girls," he laughed. "Preach about peace but can't even get along them selves."
Peter nodded towards the couches near the dying fire. Sirius followed his gaze to see a very angered Lily plopping herself down in an armchair, glaring at the fireplace.
Sirius raised an eyebrow and smiled at Peter, "I think I'm feeling a bit hungry. What do you say we sneak down to the kitchens, Wormtail?"
"But Sirius," Peter hissed. "This could get interesting. I don't think she's realized"-
"Shh, my boy," Sirius hushed Peter. "Someday I'm going to teach you the art of keeping your mouth shut."
"I can keep a secret," Peter argued as the two snuck towards the Portrait hole.
"Not if yours or anyone else's life depended on it," Sirius chuckled. "You tell me everything."
"If it's important I won't tell," Peter smiled.
"If your going to the kitchens, bring me back something, please," the two suddenly heard Lily say as they opened the Portrait door.
They both froze, assuming that Lily's usual ranting and raving at their sneaking around would follow. It had to be a trick.
Sirius looked towards the fire and saw Lily just fiddling with her hands.
"Uh, yeah, sure Lily," Sirius said and pushed Peter into the hall.
His voice startled Lily. She wasn't aware of anyone else in the Common room aside from the chess players.
"Ah, my friends are good enough when you want something," James teased.
"James…I, uh, I didn't realize that you were there," Lily looked nervous as James sat up on the couch.
He shrugged, "Nothing new."
Lily opened her mouth to reply, but shut it when she realized almost all her comments to James Potter were rude.
"Isn't it a little too quiet for you four to be back at Hogwarts?" She opted for small talk instead.
James removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes as he stretched. He replaced the black-rimmed spectacles and shrugged, "First night back, we thought we'd throw everyone off with a little peace."
Lily chuckled, "I'm sure breakfast will be amusing then. Where's Remus?"
"Consoling an upset Pandora and Calista," James looked at Lily with curiosity.
Lily only nodded, not offering more information.
"Why are you down here alone?" He asked, prodding.
Lily put her head back against the chair, pulled her legs up under her, and crossed her arms, "I needed some fresh air."
James nodded, taking her body language as a sign that she didn't want to talk about it. He slouched back and summoned a small stool to put his feet on. Even in the growing dark, Lily looked freshly amazing to him.
Her red hair cascading around her shoulders, her lean form curled into a protective ball while her glimmering eyes stared into the smolding fire.
He could tell by her facial expression that her eyes weren't really glimmering at the moment; but the small light gave them that effect anyhow. And that was good enough for James.
Lily, conscious of James watching her, continued to stare at the fire. The flames barely leapt anymore, but it still gave out a bit of warmth in the cool night air.
It would figure that after such an argument she'd get stuck sitting in the Common room with James. Alone. With neither planning on budging from their spots.
They were both waiting for the same people to come back.
"I never really knew you four were such good friends with Pandora. She doesn't seem like Remus' type," Lily said, trying to break the stare from James.
His eyes danced with laughter; an amused sort.
"Pandora and Calista hang out with us often," James told Lily. "They always have. It's not like you or Audrey give them much time."
Lily looked at James, "You know nothing of how or why or what-"
James openly chuckled, interrupting her, "Calm down, Lily. Geeze, you're easily offended."
There was another moment of silence that passed between them again.
Lily broke it first, "I didn't mean to offend you at dinner. I'm sorry if I did."
James looked almost shocked, but Lily never turned her head away from the fire again. Lily Evans was apologizing to James Potter?
"It's alright, you didn't offend me. You didn't know anything," he told her quietly.
"Then why'd you leave in such a huff?"
"Because Sirius was upset and wanted to. It's no big deal Lily. Sirius has long forgotten about it as well."
"How long does it take to get food from the kitchens?" Lily asked James.
James laughed, "With Sirius and Peter being the two that are getting it, forever."
Lily cracked a small smile, "How do the four of you get away with everything? Never worrying about consequences…"
James shrugged, happy that he and Lily were having such a civil conversation. It had to be the first one in all their years at Hogwarts.
"You think I'm going to share our secrets that easily?"
Lily laughed, "No, but I thought I'd ask anyways."
"So are you going to yell at me for something?"
"Why would I yell at you?" Lily asked.
James laughed back, "Because we've already had at least five minutes of conversation and you haven't yet."
Lily was ready to reply when the Portrait door opened and Remus, Pandora and Calista strode him. All three of them raised their eyebrows at the scene in front of the fire place.
"Moony old pal, perfect timing. Unless they were caught, Padfoot and Wormtail should be back any moment with a snack for us," James announced to his friend.
"Delightful," Remus replied, sitting in an arm chair on the other side of the fire. He just looked between Lily and James.
Pandora rolled her eyes and scoffed a not-so-sweet smile to Lily as she and Catalina plopped down next to James on the couch. Pandora sighed and laid her head on James' shoulder.
James chuckled, "Now how can I ask Evans out if you're laying on me, Mair?"
Pandora grinned, "As if she'd say yes anyway, Potter."
"I think I might have had a chance," James winked.
Even Remus couldn't hold in his chuckle, "Lily, what are you doing up so late?"
"I, well," Lily cleared her throat. "I was hungry."
Calista laughed, "Miss Perfect is awaiting food from Sirius and Peter?"
"Prefect Cal, not perfect," Pandora corrected.
Just then, the Portrait door swung open and Peter fell through the opening as Sirius jumped over him.
The five sitting by the fire could just hear the Fat Lady mumbling words best not heard by the younger children as she closed.
"Prongs, Moony, we really need to work on that map idea," Sirius sighed, as he shook his head and wiping the hair out of his eyes. He sat in the middle of the floor and began to hand out the food.
Peter sat in another arm chair and began snacking on his own treats, "We really do."
"Map?" Pandora asked, eye full ablaze with curiosity.
"Yes, Dora, a map to your heart," Sirius covered his own screw up gentlemanly-like. "A map so that I might not get lost in those golden eyes of yours."
Pandora rolled her eyes, "Yeah, right, Black."
Sirius looked offended, "It's true! You dare think I joke of such a thing?"
"We should head to bed soon so that we get up for breakfast on time," Peter mumbled through his chewing.
"Always thinking about food, even while eating," Remus laughed.
James shook his head, "No he's right. We can't be late."
"Oh, I can't wait to see what the four of you have planned for breakfast," Calista laughed.
Sirius beamed, "Well, shucks lil darling, I hope we make your pretty lil face glow with happiness."
Lily suddenly felt out of place, sitting there in the dimly lit room with people she had known for years but wasn't close to. She felt as though she were invading some personal space, although no one had yet to kick her out of the circle.
As the seven munched on their late night snack, jokes and stories rounded the room; leaving six to be laughing and a seventh smiling with amusement.
"Prongs! Let's go and get that telescope!" Sirius suddenly sat straight up, as the others were still laughing about the story.
James smiled, "You want to?"
"Yeah, go and get it," Pandora laughed.
"You'd have to bring it here, there's too many of us to go up to the astronomy tower," Remus nodded.
As they discussed their evening of mischief, a tired Lily rose from her chair and started to head to the stairs.
"Hey Evans, you sit with us and eat our food, but we don't even get a good night?" James yelled to her.
Lily turned and smiled at the group, "I'm sorry, I just didn't want to interrupt you fun. Night. And thank you for the snack."
Lily made her way up the stairs and to the dorm room, not bothering to overhear what was said about her after she left. It had never been her style to be sneaky.
"That was strange," Calista raised her brows to Pandora.
"Yeah, she never once yelled at us," Sirius agreed.
Remus looked at James, "And was it me or where the two of you having a normal, civilized conversation when we walked in?"
James nodded his head, "She must be under a charm or something."
Pandora laughed, "Wouldn't that be funny? If Greta had charmed her with a nice spell or something?"
The group laughed as Sirius begged James to sneak off with him for the telescope. James agreed, but his mind was racing, wondering why Lily Evans had taken the time to sit with him and his friends.
Author's Note continued:
I also thought I'd let you all in on some little facts. If I put as much effort as I am into this story into my original works or, psh, school, I'd get somewhere. LoL. But I'm having much fun trying to be clever in names, facts and events. It's one reason that I adore JKR so much. So here's some interesting info:
The story's name, Bitter Sweet Love was inspired by one of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite fan fictions, Kaitlyn's Twisted.
And I have to give some love to Kaitlyn, Cindy, Meha and Liz all for inspiring me to write this and post it. I probably wouldn't have if they hadn't pushed me to.
And Liz—for putting up with my constant chatter as I do write this and helping me to do so.
I'm trying to stay as true to canon as possible (up to OotP of course) with dates and people that would possibly be around. Of course JKR hasn't cleared a lot up yet or given us much detail on some, so I've taken it upon myself to fill in the blanks so it works with me. And for my creativity:
The explosion in Italy really did occur on July 10th, 1976. It occurred at a chemical plant in Seveso, Italy about 20 km north of Milan.
Canopus-Sirius's owl: Canopus is the second brightest star seen from earth other than the sun (second after Sirius)
Pandora Mair: Pandora is Greek for talented; having everything. Mair is Welsh for bitter.
Audrey: it's English meaning noble strength (stay tuned for that to come into play)
Isadora: it's Greek for 'gift of the moon' *winks*
Calista: it's Greek for beautiful
And the rest of the character's are real JKR characters (of which I do not own-Damn it. LoL)
Till next time, hugs and cookies!