A/N: Despite my desperate attempts, I could not make the chapters long! This time, I am going to make it REALLY long (Hopefully)

Chapter Four

Lily Walked into her dorm looking tense. "What's wrong, Lil? You look like snape asked you to marry him or something." Tereesa asked.

Lily shook her head, "Worse. James asked me out," Tereesa rolled her eyes, but Lily continued,

"And I didn't reject him."

Lily plopped on her bed thinking hard.

"So, you said yes?" Clare asked hopefully.

Lily glared at her, "No, I said I'd think about it." Lily said slowly and stared at the ceiling.

"Besides, it isn't exactly a date, just a day with the Marauders at Hogsmeade." Tereesa looked like Lily was celebrating a second Christmas without her.

"Wish I could go to Hogsmeade..." Tereesa muttered and sat down on her bed.

"Oh, he invited you two, too. You guys can go without me." Lily said as she picked up her book and started reading.

"C'mon, Lily! It will be fun! You don't have anything to do tomorrow, and if you don't come, you'll de of boredom here withut us!"

Lily knew Clare was right, but she just chose to inore her. "What Clare was trying to say," Tereesa said in a loud voice, "Is get off your lazy ass and come with us to Hogsmeade."

Lily laughed but continued reading.

Tereesa had enough.

She picked up her pillow and thrust it at Lily.

"Oof! Tereesa!"

Lily glared at her friend.

"Look Lily, I don't care what you have to say about it, but you're coming to Hogsmeade with us whether you like it or not."

James and Sirius walked up the stairs to the boys dormatories together. When they entered, Remus looked up from his books.

"Hey guys, who won?"

"Lily beat us six times in a row."

"That's pathetic. I thought you were good at everything, Padfoot. Looks like Lily proved me wrong."

"Shut up."

"What's wrong with Prongs, anyway. He hasn't been talking."

"He just asked Lily out, and now he's praying she'll say yes."

"I did NOT ask her out, I just asked if she wanted to hang out with us."

"You prat, has she ever wanted to hang out with us?"

"Well, recently, she has! Anyway, Padfoot, what do you suppose."

"It's like Moony said."

"And that means..."

"Not a chance. Sorry, Prongs." Sirius said, looking at James sympathetically.



"Wake up, Lil." Tereesa said, shaking Lily.

Clare was standing by the door, waiting to leave."

"Hurry up and get dressed so we can leave. We don't want to be late." Lily opened her eyes and saw Tereesa's chocolaty brown one's staring back at her.

"I don' wanna." Lily moaned.

Tereesa opened Lily's trunk and pulled out come clothes.

"Put this on and don't complain." Tereesa said in a bossy tone.

"Alright, one minute, Professor McGonagall." Lily said and swung her legs over the side of her bed.

Tereesa looked at the closed curtains and grinned evilly.

"Don't even think about it." Lily said, watching Tereesa walk over to the window.

Tereesa grabbed each side of the curtains like she was about to pull them open.

"Three...two..." Tereesa counted and Lily snatched her things and dove into the bathroom before the bright light shone into the room from the window.

Lily came out of the bathroom five minutes later fully clothed and her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail. She blinked as the light hit her eyes.

"It burns!" She said and shaded her eyes with her hand.

"Alright," Tereesa said and glanced at her watch, "It's nearly time to leave for Hogsmeade."

"I already told you, I'm not going!" Lily said stubbornly.

"And I already told you, you're coming whether you like it or not. Clare, a little help here."

Clare and Tereesa picked Lily up and got her through the door despite her efforts to break free.

They said her down and looked around the common room for the Marauders.

"Look!" Clare said and whispered and pointed to the portrait hole where the Marauders were heading.

Tereesa wasn't about to let them leave.

"Not leaving without us, I hope."

"Not leaving without us, I hope." A girl said.

James stopped in his tracks and hoped against hope that it was Lily who said it.

He turned around and the saw the person he was most eager to see.

The only problem was, she didn't seem so eager to see him.

Sirius's expression brightened.

"We didn't think you'd show up." Sirius said, while watching the three girls descend the steps.

They walked up to the Marauders, but Lily had her arms folded and her expression was deadly.

"Of course we would! Why wouldn't we?" Sirius glanced at Lily, "No reason..." Sirius said and beckoned them to the portrait hole.

"May I escort you?" James said in an attempt to lighten the mood.

Lily just glared at him with her arms still crossed.

"Or not..." James said and followed Sirius.

Tereesa stayed back with Lily.

"C'mon Lily, brighten up. You are going to ruin everyone's day if you keep being so sour. They already think we're coming. Imagine how disappointed James will be if you stay behind." Lily's expression softened.

"Alright, let's catch up before Clare realizes we aren't following them and has a heart-attack." Lily said and started running to catch up.

"That's my girl!" Tereesa said and sprinted past her.

"Where were you guys?" Clare asked when they caught up with her.

"We turned the wrong corner. No big deal." Lily said and smiled.

She was a great actress, which meant lieing to her freinds was a daily activity.

Clare eyed them suspiciously. "If you say so..." Clare said.

Lily and Tereesa exchanged relieved glances.

Sooner then she expected, Lily and the others reached Hogsmeade.

"Why don't we all go to Honeydukes?" James asked when he spotted the store.

"Then afterwords, we can go to the new clothing shop that just opened recently." Tereesa said and pointed across the street to a little shop.

The Marauders made faces.

"I never said you had to come!" Tereesa said, staring at the Marauders.

"I'm not really in the mood for shopping, either." Lily said and Tereesa raised her eyebrows.

"What?" Lily asked defensivly.

"Nothing, nothing..." Tereesa said.

She knew Lily loved shopping.

Lily wasn't the girly type that painted her nails and read fashion magazines. She mainly went shopping because she loved surprising people with little gifts. She didn't usually shop for herself.

"Well, why don't Tereesa and I go to the new store, and the rest of you can go to Honeydukes? We can meet over at that table over there." Clare said and pointed to a picnic table outside a little coffee shop down the street.

"Sounds good." Sirius said and shrugged.

The Marauders went inside Honeydukes.

"Lily, are you sure you don't want to come then go with your mortal enemies?" Clare said and grinned. 'Not anymore.' She thought to herself.

Lily rolled her eyes and fllowed the Marauders.

Lily's eyes widened when she saw Sirius was loading his pockets with sweets. "Sirius! How on earth are you going to afford that?" Lily scolded and walked up to where Sirius was standing.

He looked at Lily and then at his pockets.

"Good point." He said and emtied half of the treats into an empty basket.

Lily rolled her eyes again and looked at the various sweets sitting on the shelfs.

She had never been to Honeydukes before.

She was particularly interested in the fizzing-whizzbees.

"Haven't you been here before?" Lily jumped at the voice behind her.

She turned around and faced James.

"No, actually, I haven't." James looked slightly surprised. "You have to try the levitating-lollies." James said, grinning.

"Oouh! Those sound interesting..." She said and looked around for the shelf they were on.

She was just about to tell James that she thought they ran out of them, but when she turned around she saw James pointing to the shelf above her head.

"Oh, great." She said sarcastically and tried reaching up to where the lollipops were stashed.

She was just about to try to jump up and steal grab one on her way down when she was interrupted.

"Need some help?" James asked, and without wating for and answer, he put his hands on her waist and hoisted her up.

Lily was taken aback and looked down at James.

"Could you please hurry? You're not exactly light..." James asked.

"Oh, sorry!" Lily said and stopped gazing into his hazel eyes.

She fumbled around the shelf and finally got hold of a few brilliant-yellow lollipops.

He lowered her gently onto the ground. "Thanks," she muttered and blushed.

Lily and the Marauders left Honeydukes with Sirius and James argueing.

"You couldn't even pick Lily up for more then five seconds! You are a weakling, and don't try denying it, Prongs,"

'Apparantly, Siris saw James pick me up...' Lily thought.

"Your knees were buckling under the weight of a feather." Sirius went on.

"Lily does NOT weigh a feather!" James said, "Besides, you've never picked her up, you wouldn't know."

"True. Lily, come over here." Sirius called over to Lily.

"No way, Sirius, I am not going to let you pick me up." Lily said and noticed Sirius was walking towards her.

"Sirius, get away from me. Sirius!" Sirius broke into a run and Lily shrieked and ran away. She even stopped to hide behind James.

Lily was too fast for him, so Remus grabbed Lily's arm and kept a firm grip and Sirius strided over.

"Remus! How dare you! Let go of me, he's going to pick me up! You know, Sirius, I really am not that light. I'm as heavy as a boulder!" Lily was struggling to get free, but Sirius scooped her up in his arms, with one arm supporting her les and his neck with her arms clasped around it.

"Sirius, put me down right now! You think this is funny? Well, when I et down there I am going to pummel you to the pulp- STOP LAUGHING!"

James and Remus were clutching their stomachs from laughter and Sirius nearly dropped Lily.

"If you're going to carry me, at least be careful!" Lily cried and tightened her grip around Sirius' neck.

"Ouch! Ok, Lily, you're strangling me!" Sirius said and gently lowered her to the ground.

"Like I said," Sirius said, massaging the back of his neck, "light as a feather."

Remus snorted.



Lily walked to the picnic tables with James walking next to her. Normally, Lily would have hexed James for coming within ten feet of her, but today was an exeption.

She saw in the corner of her eyes that James was watching her. She turned her head and he gave her a small smile, which she returned.

'I feel so mixed up! Why aren't I slapping James for smiling at me? Why am I letting him walk next to me? But more importantly, why did I start hexing him and being mad at him in the first place? He seems so...innocent, I don't know why I even hated him these past five years...Ah, wait a minute. Now I remember.' Lily's expression darkened, though James didn't notice.

'I remember how ever since first year, he humiliated people just because the way they looked, or what house they were in. He would play tormenting pranks on innocent people and he was...amused! And I just thouht that he was the innocent one! I can't believe I forgot! I remember what he did to Clare. Why am I still next to him?'

Lily hurried to the picnic table in front of the Marauders to avoid conversation.

'He is so cruel. I will never fall for James, and I'll make sure of that!'

Lily reached the table where Tereesa and Clare sat waiting for her.

She left the Marauders way behind her.

"Why were you walking so fast? You were practically running!" Tereesa said. Lily didn't answer.

"Is there...something you want to talk about?" Clare asked hastily.

"Oh, no. I was just thinking of the past." Lily said in a falsly sweet voice.

"About James?" Clare asked carefully, preparing for the worst.

"No, not about Potter!" Lily spat.

Tereesa and Clare were baffled.

Lily was usually outgoing and cheerful. Only one thing could turn Lily into ice; Torment.

Lily loathed anyone who hurt innocent people; physically or mentally. Tereesa read Lily's mind.

"Look, Lily. People change! He seems so much more mature then he was two years ago! Just give him a chance!" Tereesa pleaded.

"He doesn't deserve a chance. I'm going back to school." Lily said in a dangerously quiet voice.

She brushed past Sirius who had just reached the table.

"Where's she running off to?" Sirius asked Tereesa, wearing a confused expression on his face.

"We...er...had a great time with you guys. Thanks a lot!" Clare said nervously, glancing at her watch.

"Oh, would you look at the time? I really should be going. Oh how time flies when you're having fun!" Clare laughed nervously before turning around and running after Lily.

"You guys haven't even spent time with us! Only Lily has!" Sirius said with a pleading look at Tereesa.

"I'm really sorry, but this is really important. Bye, I'm sorry we couldn't grace you with our presence any longer..." Tereesa gave a weak smile and hurried off after Clare.

James looked at Sirius, who shrugged.

"Let's just hope it isn't anything serious." James looked at the ground.

He couldn't help but feel that it had to do with him.

"Lily, will you wait for me?" Clare asked, breathing heavily as she ran after Lily to the Hogwarts castle.

Lily reached the Hogwarts grounds and collapsed under a tree, weeping. Clare ran up to Lily and kneeled down to Lily's height.

She hugged Lily and quietly whispered comforting things to Lily like "You can tell me anything, I will always be here for you." or "Please stop crying, your smile is what makes the world go 'round!".

Finally, Lily's sobs died down. By now, Tereesa was part of the big hug. Lily released Clare and looked at her.

"I thought he was nice, but then I remembered how much his looks can be d-decieving.

Don't you remember all he's d-done?" Lily asked, whiping away her tears. Tereesa stood up.

"What I'm about to say is harsh. I think you are overreacting. He changed over the years, Lily! I think he changed so much, it's overwhelming you and now you're scared. You want to believe you two are not meant to be together, when you really are!"

Lily looked at Tereesa and burst into tears.

"You know it's true." Tereesa said softly while patting Lily's back gently.

'Go easy on her." Clare hissed at Tereesa.

"No, sh-she's right." Lily said and sniffed.

Clare looked tacken aback. "Does...does that mean you like James?" Clare asked cautiously.

"I d-don't know. Everything is so confusing! One day I hate him and the next I start liking him!" Lily said, sniffing again.

"Let's go back to our dorm before people see you crying. You don't want them to be getting ideas, do you?" Lily smiled weakly and wiped her eyes.

"Thank you, guys, I really appreciate it." Lily said softly while her two best friends lead her into the castle.

"All I have to say is give James a chance. Oh, and one other thing. I don't think I have ever seen you cry before." Tereesa said thoughtfully.

Lily punched Tereesa in the arm playfully.

"And hopefully the last. I don't like people seeing me all puffy and red-eyed." Clare laughed softly and linked her arm with Lily's.

"You guys can be so unpredictable." Clare said and they all chuckled quietly.

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A/N w00t! I got my first review (Thanks, angul gurl) hurray! Hopefully you liked this chapter. I tried to make it believable. -sigh- anyways, please reveiw! It's ok to critisize, but please don't be too harsh.