Chapter 17 "Underneath it all" by marauderyears

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything related to it, J.K Rowling does.

Note: I have "South Side" by Moby and Gwen Stefani stuck in my head. I guess that explains the title. Anyways, back to the story at hand.

Lily POV

"What's up with you, you're acting strange?" Thanks Frankie. Thanks a lot. Way to boost my already low self esteem.

I glared at him and he turned defensive. "Don't get mad at me. I'm just trying to help. I'm your friend, remember? What's up with you and Lena? I was going to ask Lena but I couldn't find her."

"She's probably off snogging Potter somewhere." I answered, nonchalantly.

Frankie's eyes widened considerably. "Oh wow. I didn't know...Since when?"

"For about a week now."

"Oh that's not long at all."

I shrugged. "For Potter it's quite an accomplishment."

"Oh so it's Potter again. I thought you two were hitting it off."

"As friends, yeah. We still are...kind of. But I haven't seen him since...a couple of days ago." Since the 'Kitchen Incident' to be precise, and yes, I did name it. I think he's been avoiding me. Or maybe I've subconsciously been avoiding him. Or both.

Frankie nodded, and changed the subject. "I hate the way the teachers are piling the homework on us now that the End-of-Year exams are getting close. I mean, I am capable of studying without assigned homework."

I nodded. "Yeah but they think the homework helps, when in reality it prevents us from really studying."

"Have you started that essay on the 'semi-friendly' Giant, Hilbert?"

Normally I'd reprimand him for not doing it earlier, but I think I've been too distracted to care. I handed him the essay as he grinned.

The bell rang, signaling the end of class. Ancient Runes next for me. Luckily, Lena's not in my class. She has to Muggle Studies with Potter. At least I have Frankie in my class.

I gather up my bag and look up to ask Frankie what our homework was only to find him gone. Why didn't he wait for me that little... Oh well.

I get to the fork in the corridor and was about to turn to the right when I remembered the shortcut. I took the left fork.

"I see your taking my shortcut." I inwardly rolled my eyes at the voice, but just turned around and gave him a small smile and continued on my way.

"Lily, wait up. I wanted to talk to you."

I slowed my pace down a little. "Okay. What do you want to talk about?" He gave me a weird look.

"I don't have a particular topic in mind, I just wanted to talk...with you."

"Oh." There was an awkward silence for a minute, but James broke it.

"I think you should apologize to Lena." Talk about random.

"Look...you don't know anything about our fight, so I don't think that you should be the one to tell me-"

"I know. It's my fault and I feel horrible."

I faltered in my footsteps and turned to look at him.

"I feel really guilty that I broke you and Lena's friendship. I know your worried for her well-being and don't completely trust me."

Oh. That. At least he doesn't know that I'm a little jealous. Like Remus and Sirius do. I guess they haven't told him yet. Thank Merlin for that.

I just nodded, numbly. He continued.

"So, I just think you should apologize to her. I really don't want to break you two up. It's my fault, and you can trust me. I wouldn't hurt Lena. Or you. I promise." The bell rang. I dazedly waved to him and entered my classroom.

James POV

You're probably wondering why I haven't broken up with Lena. It's been a week now. Well, I haven't had the guts to break it off with her. Every time I see her, she's so happy, happier than I've ever seen her. She sees me and her eyes brighten up. I wish when Lily sees me that her eyes would brighten like that. Lily's eyes are beautiful. I only hope that she finds someone who makes her eyes brighten.

But I've decided that I need to break up with her before she likes me anymore. I think that it's better if I break up sooner rather than later. Hopefully it's less heartache for her. If Lily could only hear my thoughts, she might say I've grown up a little. And all for her, too.

So tonight, I'm going to break up with her. For Lily. Even though Lily doesn't love me like I love her, I don't want to string Lena along like this. It isn't right. I've already told Lena to meet me in the Common Room tonight. As a matter of fact I'm on my way there right now.

Just as I expected, Lena was sitting in the Common Room. Luckily she's the only one in here. I walked up to Lena prepared to finish things off when I faltered. Her eyes were red and tears were streaming down her face. I felt my resolve weaken.

"Lena, what's wrong?" She looked up at me, and hastily wiped away some tears from her face. She just handed me a black letter. I felt a dread rise in my throat and I paled as I read the letter:

Lena Tenyck,

It is our misfortune to inform you of the tragic death of your father, Kenneth Tenyck at the age of 53 years. Unfortunately your father and another Muggle were in the wrong place at the wrong time when a drunken Muggle attempted to rob a store. Our thoughts are with you as we grieve for you.

With Much Sorrow,

Ferguson Pimpernel,

Minister of Magic

I didn't know what to say. What is there to say? So I hugged Lena in what I hoped to be a comforting way. I don't feel any real affection with her, so I can't really tell. Lena sobbed in my shoulder for awhile until she fell asleep in my lap. I heard a small noise and looked up to see Lily coming down the dormitory staircase. She saw us both, blushed, and turned around to head back upstairs, but I called her back.

She stared at me for a second and than noticed Lena with her tear streaked face. She rushed over to her and looked up at me, with anger in her eyes.

"What did you do to her?!"

I frowned at her and was about to reply but decided I didn't want to start another row. I handed Lily the letter. Her already pale complexion paled more. Lily hugged the sleeping Lena, and I left them down there together. I felt horrible for Lena's loss and didn't want to make her feel even more grief-stricken, so I'll have to break up with her after she recovers. Of course, she'll never fully recover. No one who loses a loved one ever does.

Lily's POV

Laying in bed, I realize two things. One: James is right. I should apologize to Lena. Two: Lena isn't here.

I can kill two Hippogriffs with one stone if I can find Lena, so I head down to the Common Room and see Lena with her head in James' lap. The armchair is blocking a little bit, so I can't really see. I flush hoping she's not doing what I think their doing. I turn around, hoping not to be noticed but James calls me over, sounding distressed. Okay, I guess not.

I walk over and see Lena crying. Oh Merlin! What did he do to her! When I ask him it, (rather threateningly) he hands me a letter. Oh non poor Lena. No one deserves that.

After James leaves, she wakes up. I smile softly down at her.

"Lena I'm sorry."

"Yeah me too." She sniffed. "I can't believe what rotten luck I have."

"Well I'm sorry for that too, but I meant about us having the row. I'm really sorry. I just got...I don't know."

"Your not just saying that because you feel sorry for me, are you?"

I shake my head. "I was going to apologize no matter what." Lena smiled at me through her red eyes.

"Well, I should have told you about me liking James. I'm sorry too. I was just surprised when he said yes to me, I mean of all people-"

"Wait. You asked him out?" I felt my heart rise a little.

"Well yes. I don't think he would've asked me by himself. He didn't even know who I was before that." Lena sat up, rubbing her temples as she closed her eyes.

"But Lily, I really like him. And he likes me. He is so sweet and fun. The best boyfriend I've ever had. I know we've only been going out for a week, but I think I might be falling for him..." She blushed a little.

Lena asked James out? All this time I thought it was the other way around... Well, he still said yes to her, so what does it matter? I felt my heart drop again.