A/N: I have a slight case of writers block but I've prewritten chapter nine as well. In reply to a few of my faithful reviewers, the reason this is so fast and brisk will become clearer within the next few chapters. Lily herself will explain it. Any other suggestions, fire away!

Also, I reread the story the other day and there are a heap of mistakes. So... I'm sorry...

Something changed, after that argument between Potter and I. It wasn't long after that that school ended and we were sent home for the summer holidays. For the final week or so, Potter never spoke a word to me. The first day after the confrontation, he walked past me and I almost yelled out 'what, no begging me to go out with you?' It just seemed... weird. He looked at me strangely, or, more to the point, not at all. If I looked at him and caught him looking at me, he'd avert his eyes, as if hoping not to begin a conversation between us. As if I'd want to speak with him.

My parents picked me up from Kings Cross and, after hugs all around from my friends, I trooped off with Mum and Dad, ready and willing to go home. I'd missed them so much. Glancing over my shoulder as I went, I saw the Marauders tumble through the barrier, laughing at some joke Black had just muttered. My eyes caught Potter's and, to my amazement, he blinked and looked away, the colour rising in his cheeks.

'What the he..?'

'Lily, come on!'

My Dad grinned over at me, waving and grinning like a Cheshire Cat. I ran to him and almost threw myself into his arms. He laughed and picked me up.

'Hey, kiddo! How are you?'

'Brilliant!' I trailed off into yabbering madly about my last few days, since I sent my last owl home. Niamh, now a fully grown cat, padded along beside me, her head raised, watching me with eyes that said 'ok, what happened to the quiet, shy girl under who's arm I was carried in the very place, five years ago?' If I had glanced behind me, I would have seen Black pretending to slap Potter, trying to catch his attention as his dark brown eyes remained locked on my father and I, talking and laughing animatedly.

Petunia greeted me with a sniff when I walked in the front door. I had learned, over the past few years, that it was wise not to try to regain her friendship. She had changed for the worst and I had lost my sister. I just had to grin and bear it. So I did. I managed to endure the snide comments, the harsh looks and the snubs. Although, of course, sometimes I just had to bite back. Sam had taught me that.

'When do you go back to that freaky school of yours?' Petunia muttered at the dinner table one night, while my parents were talking quietly in the kitchen.

'September the first, as you well know.'

'I make a point of keeping my nose out of that sort of business.'

'That's good, because it's buried in everyone else's, it needs a rest every now and then.'

It hit me, just then, how much my sister looked like a horse. I'm sorry, but it wasn't too appealing, that long nose, bony face, tall and skinny... I just concentrated on my food as she threw down her knife and fork and marched out of the kitchen. I couldn't help it, I indulged myself and grinned.

I still can't decide whether I was looking forward to going back to school or not. It was a lot of mixed emotions on the first of September, when I rocked up at Kings Cross with Niamh, my trunk and my badge... did I mention I became prefect in fifth year? Well, I did. I copped a bit from Sam, until I threatened her with detention.

'You wouldn't.'

'Watch me.'

'She would,' Aoife interrupted with a grin.

I said my goodbyes to my parents, kissed them both goodbye and hopped on the train, waving out of the window. It was the last time I saw them, an arm around each other, waving goodbye to me as the train chugged lethargically along the track. But that comes later.

I headed for the prefect compartment first, running into Sam, Aoife and Hannah on the way. We'd kept in close contact during the holidays, especially Sammy and I, with whom I'd relayed all my encounters with my sister. She sympathized and suggested hexes and curses to make my holidays more relaxing, but I wasn't too interested in breaking the law. It just wasn't my thing.

Slipping into the compartment, I sent small smiles at a few people I knew and was surprised when Remus Lupin patted the seat beside him. I blinked but sat, smiling at him.

'How were your holidays?'

'Good,' he said, with a small sigh. 'My parents and I went to France and I stayed at Pr- James' place for a week.'

I had noticed he looked a lot browner than usual. It was the Remus trademark, pale and weak-looking. 'How was yours?'

I had no wish to tell someone so close to Potter and Black of my troubles, just in case they inadvertently found out and told just about everyone. So I shrugged and said; 'Same old. Family things... I mean, I don't have any grandparents and both my parents are only children...' I trailed off and blushed. What was I doing, I was supposed to be watching what I was saying! Remus seemed to catch on.

'Don't worry,' he assured me with a grin. 'I won't tell James or Sirius about anything you say. Besides, they've grown up a bit over the holidays. They're still pranksters and like a good joke, but they aren't so harmful about it.'

I said nothing, just raised my eyebrows. Besides, the Head Boy, Harvey Ursper, stood and started on his speech.

'What do you think, Lily?' Remus asked me, as we slipped out of the compartment together. 'A ball, this year? Might be fun... oh no...' He blanched and looked across at me. 'Who am I going to ask?'

I laughed. Remus, worried about a date? The boy was bonkers, I could list off at least seven girls off the top of my head who'd jump at the chance to go with him. But I didn't say this, it wasn't what he needed to hear. I just patted his arm and said reassuringly, 'I doubt you'll have much trouble, Remus.'

He smiled, reassured. 'I'd better go, the others will want to have their say about me being prefect again, so I might as well get it over with.' Then, with a grin and a wave, he slipped away.