The sunlight moved across her face, awakening her from her sleep. She stretched and yawned and realized she had fallen asleep in the common room. The room was empty considering it was later in the morning but then of course it was Halloween and everyone would be out enjoying themselves. The dance would be that night, and she still had to tell Kaitlin she wouldn't be going with her anymore. I'm not going with Kaitlin for Kaitlin. She sighed. It wasn't Kaitlin's fault, she didn't know about any of this, and yet it was because of her. And why would Snape do this? What is he gaining? Lily shivered in disgust. "Scum sucking pigs," she heard the words her father spoke so often play in her head. She smiled at the thought of her family. But who had planned the entire thing? Lily's eyes widened, she couldn't believe she hadn't realized it before. She quickly ran up the stairs to the dormitory and got dress, and soon she fled from Gryfindor Tower.

She hadn't gotten far before Amanda found her. "Hi Lily!"

Lily rolled her eyes, "Hi."

"Excited for the dance?"

"Yeah," she lied, "To bad you're not going."

"Yeah."

"I need to go find," Lily scanned the area not sure of who she need to find, "Kaitlin. Have you seen her?"

"Nope."

"Bummer." Lily didn't lose anytime to continue on her way.

"Sorry," she heard Amanda call to her as she reached the enormous doors of the castle.

The first step out side of the castle was overwhelmed with the smell of damp earth. After quickly climbing down the steps, Lily's feet sank into the mud. She searched the coast of the lake for her friends, and sure enough, there they were, in the usual spot. Lily ran over quickly. "Hey, you guys!"

None of them really responded absorbed by there own conversations. Lily shrugged it off, and sat beside Brook. "Lily, where have you been? I couldn't find you all morning."

"I was sleeping."

Brook's face was filled with confusion, "But you weren't in the dormitory."

"I was asleep on one of the chairs in the common room, I'm surprised you didn't see me, probably a pretty funny sight."

"I see."

There was a moment of silence. Lily's eyes fell to the sunflower that lay beside Brooke. "Where'd you get that?" she asked.

She looked around secretively. "Shall we walk?"

Lily smiled and nodded.

They began to wonder slowly around the school. Lily didn't ask again until they had gone a bit away from their friends. "Who's it from?"

"Seth."

"How sweet," Lily said only to add "Sorry" after seeing Brooke's face turn a shade of red.

"It is sweet, but I don't like him like that."

"Yeah, but it was sweet. What did the card say?"

"I don't know yet, he wrote it in Latin," she paused, "You want to come with me to find out?"

"Sure."

Lily didn't realize it but they had already been heading the direction of Professor McGonagall's classroom. "I'm sure we can look it up in McGonagall's room."

"Wouldn't it be funny if Seth was hiding in there, he wasn't down by the lake."

"That would be anything but funny, Lily." She shook her head; "It would be uncomfortable and embarrassing."

Lily smiled at Brooke's last words as they entered the room. Lily held back her laughter because sure enough there was Seth. "Hi," he said.

Brooke looked down in embarrassment. She held up the flower. "I just came to find out what it said."

Lily stood behind Brooke as the two talked, trying to keep quiet. "Well, why don't I just tell you."

"That would be very helpful." Lily said from behind.

"It say's 'a flower for beautiful Brooke who is loved,'" he told her.

"Thank you." she said silently as her eyes found the floor once more.

She turned and Lily followed her out. Once they had started down the hall Brooke finally broke the silence. "That was so sweet."

"It was very sweet."

"But I don't like him." Brooke wined.

"I know."

"What should I do?" She asked, "I don't want to avoid him."

"I wish I had gotten a flower!"

Brooke rolled her eyes. They made their way back out of the castle. "Oh! I forgot!" Lily exclaimed. "I need to find Kaitlin, lets do that before heading back."

Brooke had jumped at Lily excitement. "Ok," she laughed.

By the time Lily and Brooke found Kaitlin the noon sun beat down upon the castle. A warm breeze blew through the autumn leaves, or at least the ones that still held on to the empty trees' branches. "Hey babe!" Kaitlin hugged Lily, "What's wrong?"

"I just thought I'd let you know I can't go with you to the dance."

There was a moment of silence and then a smile spread across Kaitlin's face, "Who is it!?"

Lily laughed at Kaitlin's excitement. "Well," she paused at her own confusion of the matter. "Snape."

Kaitlin burst into laughter, "No really, who?"

"Why do people laugh at me when I'm serious."

Kaitlin's smile dropped from amusement to concern. "Oh."

Brooke stood silently behind the two, in complete shock. Finally she broke the uncomfortable silence. "Lily, why don't we continue our walk?"

"Ok. Bye Kaitlin."

"Bye-bye hun," she whispered as she leaned in to hug Lily.