After the dance, James would constantly be seen with Lily and Remus. They would almost always be discussing how to get Sirius to tell Lily that he liked her. The mornings, though, remained Lily and Remus's time alone to talk. Sometimes James would wake up early and join them, but that rarely ever happened. It was a quiet morning close to Thanksgiving and Lily's head was on Remus's knee, as usual, with Remus stroking her hair. Lily was enjoying the quiet, but Remus's head was still spinning with what James had said on the night of the dance. 'You and Lily started this. Ever think Sirius and I weren't the only ones it was meant for?' was what he had said. But Lily and he hadn't started it. Lily had. "Lily, I need to ask you something."

Lily looked up with concern in her eyes. "What is it, Remus?"

"Are you trying to teach me a lesson as well as James and Sirius?"

Lily looked taken back. "What!"

"Are you trying to teach me a lesson as well as James and Sirius?"

Lily got to her feet and started backing away. Her face was filled with horror. "I don't know who told you that, but what would I be trying to teach you?"

"Then why did you choose me to be your fake boyfriend?"

"Remus, I've already explained it to you. I chose you because you were honest with me and told me what you thought of me. You didn't hide anything from me nor did I from you." Lily's eyes were glistening with unshed tears as she bumped into the wall of the tower. "What did I do or say to deserve these accusations?" she asked in a whisper before the silent tears slid from her eyes and down her cheeks.

Remus felt awful. 'Why did I just do that?' he asked himself. "Lily, I'm sorry. It's just that, well, after the Halloween dance last month, James said something that got me thinking."

"Really. What did he say that could make you think so hard?"

"He asked if I ever thought he and Sirius were the only ones mine and your little game were meant for. But it wasn't yours and my game. It was yours."

"You agreed to do this with me. You could have said that you didn't want to do it, but you didn't! It was your choice to help me! I didn't make you!" Lily ran out of the Common Room.

James can down to see Lily run out the door. "What happened with you two?"

Remus looked at James with a worriedly. "You know how last month you asked me what if there was a lesson for me as well as you and Sirius with this little game?"

James knew what had happened. "Yeah."

"Well, I asked Lily about it."

James sighed and shook his head. "You bloody idiot! I said that to make you angry you fool, and suspicious."

"I should have known. I should have trusted her!"

"Do you know where she might have gone?"

"No!"

James went to the door and left. "Was it you that made her leave in such a huff?" the Fat Lady asked him.

"No. It was someone else," James called back to her as he ran down the hall. He had no idea where to start looking. The only place he could think of was maybe down to Hagrid's or near the lake.

Upon reaching Hagrid's, James started banging on the door. "Hagrid! Hagrid, are you there?"

Hagrid opened the door and looked down at James. "What's all the noise 'bout, James?'

"Hagrid, Remus said something real stupid to Lily and it's my fault that he said it. Have you seen her yet this morning?"

"Sorry, James. Can' say I have. Hope she's okay," Hagrid said with a worried tone in his voice. "What did Remus say to her to make 'er so upset?"

"Well, Lily was trying to teach Sirius and me a lesson, and Remus was helping her. Then I got it into his head that maybe Lily was trying to teach him a lesson as well."

"Not to smart, James. As I said, haven't seen 'er. Try down by the lake. That's where I always see 'er."

"Thanks Hagrid!" James was gone before Hagrid could reply.

James ran down to the lake. As he walked around the edge, he saw one of the squid's tentacles above water. James quickened his pace, but tried to be as quiet as he could. He was just about to give up hope of finding Lily near the lake when he heard a tremendous sob. James continued to listen and followed the sobbing. They led behind a tree where he found Lily sobbing. He quietly knelt down beside her and said quietly, "Lily?"

Lily must have jumped three feet in the air. She looked around and upon seeing James, started hitting him saying, "Don't you ever do that again, ya hear!"

James started laughing and managed to say, "Okay, okay! I won't do that ever again!" Lily stopped hitting him. "Are you okay, Lily?"

"What do you think! Would I be out here crying if I was okay?"

James gathered Lily into a hug and said, "No, you wouldn't. I'm sorry I made Remus even think you were trying to teach him a lesson as well as Sirius and me. I didn't think it would bother him this much."

"Why did you say it, James? Why did you tell him I was trying to teach him something as well?"

James looked into Lily's eyes and said, "I didn't mean to. He was just going on how you had kissed him on the cheek once when I said I was happy I got to kiss you on the cheek. I guess I couldn't stand the way he made it sound as if he were superior because of it. If it makes you feel better, when Remus said that Sirius got real jealous."

Lily giggled. "I guess I can forgive you and Remus. After all, with this game, it's hard to know who's supposed to learn something and who's not."

"That's a good girl. Now, shall we go back to the castle for breakfast?"

James and Lily stood up. "Yes, I believe we shall. I'm starved." Lily hugged James and said, "Thank you."

James looked at her. "For what?"

"For being such a good friend to Remus and me." Lily then kissed him on the cheek and said, "There! Now Remus has nothing to brag about," and headed for the castle doors. James ran to catch up to her.

When they reached the Great Hall, Lily went directly to Remus and apologized. Remus also apologized for not trusting her. Everything was back to normal. Lily and Remus kept trying to get Sirius to admit he liked Lily all through breakfast. Even James helped.

They had Potions first lesson of the day. Lily was still avoiding Professor Cauldro's eyes. She also had a feeling Professor Cauldro knew she was avoiding her eyes. After their lesson, she was proven right.

"Miss Evans," Professor Cauldro called. "May I have a word with you please?"

Lily looked at Rini and said, "Tell McGonnagal I'll be late, Okay?" Rini nodded and Lily walked up to Professor Cauldro's desk.

"Lily, it may be my imagination, but I feel as if you have been avoiding eye contact with me since the first day of classes. Why is that?"

Lily looked at her feet and said, "I'm afraid you're not imagining it, Professor. The reason why is that on the first day, when you asked me to read the board, I was able to see your eyes better then I should have. I could see the icy blue of them so clearly that it…" Lily trailed off. She looked into her professor's eyes. She was once again frightened by the icy blue of them and looked away quickly.

"That it what, Lily?"

"It frightened me," Lily said quietly.

Professor Cauldro looked a bit surprised. "People tell me my eyes surprise them, but I've never been told they frighten someone before."

"You aren't mad at me, are you Professor?"

"Why, no, Lily. I'm a bit shocked is all. I just can't—"

Professor Sprout interrupted them. "Synthia I—" Professor Sprout then noticed Lily. "Oh! I didn't mean to intrude, but we need that potion now, Synthia."

Professor Cauldro nodded and said, "Right. I'll see you later, Miss Evans." Lily walked out of the room and headed towards Transfiguration.

When she entered the room, Lily was immediately asked, "Miss Evans, I have been told Professor Cauldro held you back for a word. Is this true?"

Lily nodded and said, "Yes, Professor McGonnagal." Then she took her seat.