Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns everything.

Chapter 2 here we come! Enjoy!

Chapter 2

Scalding Hot Porridge and Yelling

"Lily, want some more toast?" Lily quickly swallowed the gulp of scalding hot porridge she had just taken. A little too quickly, for her throat throbbed and her eyes began to water. "Lily, are you okay?" Lily nodded, mortified that James Potter, her (or up until two weeks ago) archenemy, should see her with her hands clutching her throat and her eyes watering.

Recovering, Lily spoke, "I'm fine."

"So…toast?" James asked, his eyebrows raised in an amused expression.

"No thanks. I think I'm pretty much good with this...," she coughed and cleared her sore throat, "…porridge." James laughed good-naturedly and turned back to his own breakfast.

James turned to Sirius, his mouth poised with a comment, but Sirius was already engaged in conversation with his (amazingly) girlfriend of two weeks, Kathy. A little embarrassed to be seen by Lily Evans with his mouth hanging open to talk to a friend that wasn't listening, James looked over to Remus. "Looks like our Padfoot is besotted, mate," Remus shrugged.

"For two whole weeks!" piped in Peter, as surprised as anyone.

"I hadn't realized that Sirius Black had the ability to have a relationship for more time than it took to have a good shag," Lily said.

"What's that supposed to mean?" James turned on her, his eyes alight with indignation.

Lily bristled, "It means that Sirius Black has a long-standing reputation."

"What are you saying?" James snapped back.

"Is that all that can come out of your mouth? Questions? Maybe if you listened to someone other than yourself for once you would catch my drift!"

"Why is this about me all of a sudden? If you didn't judge people like you were at a dog show then people might like you more! Sirius is a perfect gentleman…."

"Ha! That's a joke!" Lily scoffed.

"…and if he's good enough for your best friend than he should be good enough for you. You know, that's the problem with you, Lily Evans, you don't let people in far enough to get your trust! You think everyone will hurt you and you don't give them a chance to change your mind!" Lily stared openmouthed as James hauled his bag over his shoulder and stormed out of the hall.

By now, nearly everyone in the Great Hall was staring Lily's way, including Sirius and Kath. Sirius was looking rather shocked, but Kath, whom Lily turned to for support, was glaring at her. "Wow," muttered Remus, "You two fight like an old married couple."

"It's not like it hasn't happened before," snarled Lily.

"Yeah, like last week. That one was a scorcher," grumbled Peter quietly.

Lily rolled her eyes and turned, only to find her best friend's face inches from her own. "Come with me," Kath snapped, but in a low undertone, showing Lily just how angry she was. Next moment, Kath had Lily painfully by the wrist and was dragging her bodily from the hall.

o.o

"Wow," said Peter as the two girls rushed from the table.

"What was that all about?" Sirius asked, eyes wide with shock.

"It started out about you then it turned on James, then it turned on Lily, then James stormed out of the hall, then Kath turned on Lily, then Kath stormed out of the hall with Lily in tow," recited Peter.

"Yep, that pretty much sums it up," nodded Remus.

"Uh huh…," said Sirius slowly. "Well, I better go see where Jamesie has gotten to."

"Yep," said Peter.

o.o

Kathy and Lily turned down a corridor and into the first unlocked, empty classroom before Kath let go of her friend's arm.

"Ouch…," groaned Lily, massaging her painfully red wrist.

"God, Lily, I just can't believe you," Kath paced the classroom, talking to the walls.

"God, Kath, I just can't believe him!"

"You're so full of yourself, Lils!"

"He's so full of himself!"

"Why did you have to yell at him?"

"Why did he…wait! What?" squealed Lily, turning toward her friend.

"I said, why did you have to yell at him? Why are you always so argumentative?"

"What, are you saying I should just sit there at let him yell at me? He's the one who started it!"

"God, Lily, you sound like such a child!"

"What? He really did start it!"

"I seriously doubt that, Lils," Kath said, shaking her head.

"No…he did start it! He said…." Lily trailed off, realizing what she had said about Sirius.

"Exactly, Lily. Look, whenever you guys argue it puts me in a bad situation! I have to defend you in front of Sirius and Sirius has to defend James and it's just…it's just…bad! How are Sirius and I supposed to get along when our two best friends just…can't!"

"Why don't you just get out of the bad situation then?"

"What are you saying, Lily?" said Kath slowly.

"I'm saying I don't think this Sirius thing is the best idea."

"Lily…," Kath said softly, but her voice was edged, "You told me you were okay with it."

"I know I did, but he has a reputation and he's going to break your heart!" Lily screeched.

Everything was silent for a moment. Lily stared at the ground and tried not to meet Kathy's hard, hurt stare. Finally Kath spoke.

"Well, Lily, if you feel that way then maybe…." Lily's stomach lurched. Was Kath going to break up their friendship over a guy? Sirius Black, at that?

"Don't say it, Kath…," she mumbled.

"…then maybe Sirius and I should break up."

"Wait…," Lily trailed off as she processed these words. Looking over at Kathy, Lily could see the tears beginning to well up in her best friend's eyes. Hard as Lily found it to believe, she realized that Kathy was really in love. "No, Kath, don't…," she managed to say, moving over to hold her friend. "Don't break up with him. I'll work it out with James, I really will. I promise."

o.o

Sirius found James in the Gryffindor Common Room, tossing his nicked snitch into the air like he hadn't just been arguing with the girl of his dreams. Sirius took a deep breath and walked over, plopping himself down nonchalantly on the armchair opposite James. "Hey, mate."

"Hey," James replied, without the slightest hint that anything was wrong. Sirius sighed and rolled his eyes. James was always like this. He kept his feelings locked up and threw away the key. But for the slightly downward tilt of his eyebrows Sirius wouldn't have known that his friend was really upset.

"That Lily Evans…," Sirius began, not quite knowing how to bring up the subject. He pressed on, "…she sure can yell," he finished lamely.

"I'll say," muttered James, his face darkening a little.

"I'm sure she'll warm up to you, mate," Sirius said sagely.

"Hmm…," sighed James, pocketing the snitch.

"Well, it's Hogsmeade this weekend," grinned Sirius brightly.

"Brilliant," smiled James, his grin only a little dimmer than usual.

"I think…," began Sirius, but James interrupted him.

"I just don't understand her," he said, staring at the wall, a frustrated expression on his face.

"Who does?" muttered Sirius, but James was still speaking.

"I mean, one moment she's happy and joking and we're on perfect terms, and the next, she's yelling at me. What's she playing at?"
"Take it from one who knows, mate," nodded Sirius. "The female mind is a very complicated and unpredictable thing. I'm sure I don't know, but I'd say she's unsure of her own feelings."

"How can you be unsure of your own feelings," asked James mockingly, "She either likes me or she doesn't like me, simple as that."

"Now that, my friend, is what I can't help you with. Unfortunately you picked the one girl that doesn't fall head over heels for you." James shook his head and sighed, then turned to his friend brightly.

"Have we checked our Zonko's stocks yet? This weekend will be our only chance to replenish our supplies before Christmas."

"Except on the full moon," grinned Sirius.

"I mean replenish our supplies legally."

"Right, mate."

o.o

Sorry this chapter is a short one, I'm saving the Hogsmeade trip for the next chapter (which will hopefully be longer). Please, please, please review! Reviews rock! Hope you enjoyed this chappy, the next one should be along in a jiffy.