AN: Sorry I took so long to update…I had gone off fanfiction for a while…but I'm back! Thank you for all your delightful reviews, it really makes all the hard effort worthwhile.

TOO LATE OR NOT

"What did you do that for?" James growled. He quickly brushed away Rachel's hand. A sudden tension built up between them. His mind was still in shock- the events a minute ago seemed surreal- a dream- it couldn't be true!

"I- I couldn't help myself- I can't stop thinking about you, James." Rachel drew a deep breath, wringing her hands nervously.

"Rachel, this is no time for jokes. I thought you'd know better than that." James gave her a look of disgust before turning off.

Rachel stood frozen, her heart shattering to a million pieces. Had this been such a good idea after all? She managed to break off Lily and James, but at the same time destroyed the friendship between James and herself.

She stared at the empty wall in front of her. The look that he gave her, it haunted her because she saw anger in his eyes…and was it disappointment?

Lily ran off blindly, hardly believing the scene that displayed before her eyes. I don't want to think about it, what does it concern me? She desperately tried to comfort herself.

But the tears were already welled up in her eyes. When she couldn't hold back anymore, she buried her face in her hands and cried her heart out. I've been betrayed- by my boyfriend and best friend. I hate them- I hate them! But deep in her heart, she knew she didn't.

I need some fresh air; I need to be left alone for a while. She headed outside the castle towards the lake. She sat down by it and stared into the calm and peaceful night- only to break into tears again.

A handkerchief waved in front of her. Without hesitation, Lily accepted it and mumbled thanks. A split second later, she swirled around to find herself face to face with the last person she wanted to see- James potter.

"Lily- I can explain, it wasn't what it looked like-"

"I have perfectly good eyes, thank you very much. Just go away." She replied coldly, tossing away the handkerchief aside.

"Please- give me a chance. It wasn't my fault-

"GO AWAY, POTTER- or…or I'll jump." She pointed to the lake threateningly.

"Okay, okay…I'll see you in the morning." James made a retreating step.

Lily relaxed. Unaware how close she was to the lake's edge, she suddenly slipped on a rock and tumbled into the water.

"LILY!" James heard the splash and came running back. To his dread, there was no reply. Merlin, what if she can't swim?. What if she drowns?

Without thinking, he dived into the freezing water. He wasn't the world's best swimmer, but he had no idea how deep the lake was. There in the distance he saw a figure, it was Lily.

He swam over quickly, slung her on his back and kicked up as powerfully as he could. A minute later, he sat up panting for breath as he laid down the unconscious Lily beside him. Both of them were dripping wet from top to toe.

"Lily, hello? Wake up! WAKE UP!" James gently (or not!) shook her shoulders.

To his relief, she stirred and began to cough instead. She snapped her eyes open and felt a faint of nausea.

"James- cough- don't you- cough- dare touch- cough- me." She tried to sit up without any help.

"Don't speak. The large amount of water you swallowed weren't exactly clean." James warned. "I'll take you to the Hospital Wing."

"No- cough- I'll go there myself."

"This is no time to bear personal grudges. I'm only trying to help you."

"I'd rather die than receive help from you. I'll- I'll" Lily chattered her teeth. The wind blowing made her skin sting with ice.

James took out his wand. Thankfully, it wasn't damaged.

"Calidus" He muttered, and the two became dry instantly. (Latin for warm, don't know about dry.) He then muttered 'Lumos' and set a light on the end of his wand.

"There, that should do the trick."

Lily made no reply and trudged on angrily. Angry at the fact that she made a fool out of herself and had to be rescued by Potter.

"I'm not a weak little girl." She exploded, kicking a dead branch as she did so.

"I didn't say you were." James replied, flabbergasted.

"So leave me alone."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"Because I care about you." So simple, so straightforward, yet so true…

Lily was taken aback but hastily covered it with a sardonic laugh. "You do that"

"I will." James spoke and the two relapsed into stillness.

"Goodnight, Lily." James whispered, as they walked into their separate dormitories.

Thanks to you, I won't….Lily wanted to retort back but decided that silence is the best torment for James Potter.

Rachel made her way to the Hall uncertainly, looking from left to right. How could Rachel Spencer, a popular 7th grade girl like her, have nowhere to sit?

Sure there was her Hufflepuff gang, who are basically a group of unintelligent hussies. Or maybe the couple of girls from Ravenclaw, but even they seemed like an unwelcoming bunch. Of course, she could always join her friends…

The ones that supported her through thick and thin. The ones that she could spill secrets with ease and laugh over silly gossip. The ones that encouraged her to live to the fullest. To strive for your dream. The ones that always forgave her in the end….

Will Lily forgive her this time? What about Melinda and Tamari?

Guess you don't know til you try.

"Lily?" she asked in a sweet and innocent voice.

Lily merely glanced at her and continued to play with her fork. Not that she felt like eating anyway. Life sucked too much at the moment…

"How could you do this to Lily?!" Melinda turned around, looking dangerously livid. "Some friend you are!"

Rachel ignored the latter's comment and looked at Tamari pleadingly. Please, not you too…

"Rachel…Lily…can't we just work this out peacefully?" Tamari spoke quietly, but with authority. "I thought the four of us were inseparable. I don't want one misunderstanding to cause our friendship to fall apart. I've heard Lily's story, and yet to hear Rachel's. I'll do my best to be fair, but it's kind of hard right now when I don't even know the situation clearly. Please, Lily, Melinda, let's just give her a chance for explanation. I know I won't rest until this is worked out."

"Fine, you win…"Melinda complied, throwing her hands up in defeat. Tamari had a knack for convincing people to be virtuous and merciful to each other.

"Lily?" Rachel implored.

"Whatever, I don't care." She replied non-chalantly. It was the truth; she didn't care about it anymore. Her mind has been past that- it felt unusually empty. She wasn't angry anymore, just hollow inside.

"Good, since all of us agree…let's meet in the classroom next to Professor Binns, you know the unused one." Tamari smiled forcefully. "We'll have privacy in there. 5 o'clock?""

The three murmured consent. It was settled. 5 o'clock in a classroom will determine Rachel's fate.

"Marmalade." Sirius grunted.

James passed the marmalade absent-mindedly and made repetitive fits in frustration.

"You're not the only one you know." Sirius said wisely.

"What?" James looked confused.

"Melinda's been ignoring me this morning." Sirius made a face. "Seems to think it was my fault you two are…well, broken up." He scraped the marmalade on carelessly, watching to see his friend's reaction.

"Sorry." It was all James could bring himself to say.

"What about you, Remus? I think you are the luckiest out of us right now. Hey, are you okay, mate? Looking peaky and it's not even…nearly time yet." Sirius asked thoughtfully.

"You're wrong about that. I'm not lucky at all." Remus replied with a dry smile. He proceeded to tell his fellow Marauders about how Tamari found out his identity as a werewolf.

"Has Lily- the other girls- found out?" James frowned in concern.

"Not yet." Remus muttered. "However, it's only a matter of time…"

Sirius gave a low whistle. "You sly thing, you didn't tell about this until now. What are you planning to do?"

"Nothing." Remus said flatly.

"Nothing?!" Sirius exploded, "What, you're just going to admit defeat and give up on the girl you love?"

"I have no choice." Remus answered in a soft voice.

"Sirius is right. We can fight fate while we still have the chance. I'm not going to give up on Lily- and you are not going to give up on Tamari. "James stood up suddenly, his fist pounding on the table. "C'mon, Remus, she has feelings for you. I've seen the way you two are around each other, and I've seen the number of times you backed out of a relationship. So you are going to get your girl and I'm going to get mine!"

Well, at least James Potter had determination…

There done! Not a very long chapter, I know…but it'll do for the time being, right? Puppy eyes Please leave me with a review because it makes me feel so loved and comforted.

By the way this story is nearly finished!