(A/N) Man, everybody! I'm really sorry it's taken me so long to update! I feel absolutely awful! Thanks so much for the reviews though!

Chaosblazen: Are you telling me that I spelled Erik's name two different ways, or are you just stating that you didn't know it could be spelled like that? You are confusing me greatly!

princessdza: No, I didn't get Raoul from The Phantom of the Opera. It's a great movie though!Iactually firstsaw the name in one of my favorite series,TheSong of the Lioness quartet, and I've been dying to use it ever since. I just love that name!

baka-basher: Thank you for that interesting bit of entertainment. Now if I were you Syd, I would stay away from this Devin character. He kinda creeps me out. But then again, I could say the same thing to him about you!

rockergurl13: Actually, I think you're in for a longer wait than that!

hyperspaz77: Uou finally made an account! (does happy dance) And I absolutely love your screen name!

Chapter Nine – A Breakdown

"You live you learn; you love you learn
you cry you learn; you lose you learn
you bleed you learn; you scream you learn."

Alanis Morissette – You Learn

After Julie said goodbye to Rick, she figured she should look for Alli and Lily. Alas, that was the opposite of what she felt like doing. So, she listened to her tired mind and decided to head back to school. They'd probably left Hogsmeade for the Gryffindor common room a long time ago. She did kind of feel guilty about leaving Lily to deal with Alli in the mood she had been in, but she supposed it couldn't be helped. Nothing too bad could have happened, could it?

When she got back to the dormitory she shared with the four other girls, she was surprised to find it completely empty. Neither Becca, nor Alice, nor her two best friends were anywhere in sight. This being the case, Julie decided to do the only thing worth doing at the moment; grab a chocolate bar, sit down in her favorite chair, and think.

After they'd kissed, she had awkwardly pointed out that they should be heading back, seeing as the sun was beginning to set. Rick had told her that sometime he would bring her back there to watch a sunset. It all seemed very romantic to Julie. When she thought about it, she'd never really had someone like that. Alli was the one who was likely to date any guy who asked her, unless he had a particularly bad reputation. Lily was the one who considered boys to be off her priority list till after Hogwarts. In her opinion, she was the odd one out.

Julie finally came to the conclusion that Rick was a really sweet guy. He'd paid for the chocolate; he'd taken her to one of the most beautiful valley's she'd ever seen. He had basically treated her like a princess. He had acted a little different around his friends, but everyone was like that. Most people didn't act the same around everyone. She was simply reading too much into the matter.

Julie decided that right now it would be really nice to see her sister. Annabelle, or Belle, as she liked to be called, was Julie's younger sister and only sibling. Julie had been hoping that Belle would get sorted into Gryffindor when she first came to Hogwarts, but she ended up in Ravenclaw. It was kinda depressing for a while, because Julie was so used to being the older sister. It took a nice long chat with Lily and Alli for her to realize that her little sis had her own life now. All that aside, she still sometimes wanted to simply follow Belle around for a few days, just to see how she was doing.

Belle was meant for Ravenclaw though. People always told Julie that she was very intelligent, but Julie personally though that Belle was smarter than she was. Belle was one of those people who just had that logical air about her. Whenever Julie felt like falling apart, she'd go see either Lily or Belle. Sure, Belle had had her share of bad times, and that was when Julie really got into the big sister act. But usually Belle seemed more stable than her older sister.

Julie was seriously contemplating trying to get into the Ravenclaw common room, just to say hi to her sister, when she was interrupted by someone entering the room. Julie jumped up, hoping to see Lily or Alli to ask how Alli's plan had worked, but instead found Alice.

"Already at the chocolate, I see?' Alice said, laughing as she set down her Honeydukes bag. Julie simply nodded. "Bad time or something? Becca said you had a date with some Ravenclaw boy."

"Yeah," Julie said. "It wasn't bad though. I'm just feeling slightly overwhelmed is all."

"Slightly overwhelmed?" Alice asked. "Wanna talk?"

"Well, I went out with Rick, and I had a good time, it's just, I don't know. Maybe it's just because I'm new to this whole relationship thing. I'm just feeling kinda stressed out."

"What about?"

"I don't know. Lots of stuff, I guess." Julie took a deep breath before continuing. "I had my first kiss today." Alice raised her eyebrows. "And I'm probably worrying for no reason; it's just that I'm not sure what to do about it. I'm afraid maybe he's expecting me to be something I'm not." It felt good to simply say what was on your mind, Julie thought.

"And all this after a first date?" Alice asked, actually sounding a little amused.

Julie blushed. "I knew I was overreacting. I guess I don't really know what I feel. I've only went on a few dates before this, and none of them involved being kissed. Those were basically me and my friends sitting with my date and his friends. Nothing big. And I never went on a second date with any of them, and I've already agreed to go out with Rick again. I'm just nervous."

Alice looked at Julie for a minute, before replying, "I guess I see where you're coming from. You wanna know why I'm nervous?"

"Why?" Julie asked.

"I went on a date with Frank Longbottom today."

Julie jumped. "You didn't say anything about a date."

"I know," said Alice. "I was nervous too. See, I think I really like Frank. I've liked him for a long time, and I wasn't expecting him to ask me out. I had a really good time with him, and I'm going out with him again next weekend. I was so nervous though, and I still am. I'm afraid that this isn't going to last. I mean, if you think about it, how likely is it that a relationship will keep going? Most times they just fall apart. People fight, ignore each other, leave. Remember when Becca's parents split last summer?"

"Of course I do," Julie agreed. "Becca said it was really nasty. Lily and I were talking to her about it, and she told us that they would argue all the time, curse at each other, sometimes even leave for days at a time, without telling her where they were going to be. I have to say, it really makes me appreciate my parents."

Alice nodded in understanding, then continued with her explanation. "I know I'm probably being unreasonable, but that's something I've always been afraid of. I don't like fighting, or arguing. It's just one of those pet peeves, you know? I was at Becca's once, and her parents got into this fight. I don't think they remembered I was there, 'cause they started swearing at each other, and then Becca's mom threw something at her dad and stormed out. She never showed up, for the rest of the time I was there.

"I guess I'm afraid of getting into a fight like that with someone I love. Sometimes I feel like I'm being overly nice, but I can't help it. I just don't want to fight with anyone."

"You don't seem unreasonable to me, Alice." Julie told her. "You're more reasonable than I am. And that calls for some special chocolate." She pulled out her bar of dark chocolate with vanilla swirls, broke off a piece, and handed it to Alice, who laughed.

"You know what?" She asked, taking a bite.

"What?" Julie asked, breaking off a piece for herself.

"I feel like a wimp for talking like that, but it really helps you feel better."

"Well put!" Julie said, clapping her hands in approval. "More chocolate?"

"Yes please!" Alice said happily.

XXXXXX

James was irritated. He was happy that Lily chose to walk back with him and his friends, but Alli and Sirius were getting on his nerves. They still hadn't talked to each other! After James had talked to Sirius, they had gone back inside for a minute, but then Sirius just got up and left for the castle. James had been hoping their talk would convince his best friend to go talk to Alli, but apparently it wasn't good enough. Then Alli and Raoul left, and then Lily decided that they should go back too, seeing as the entertainment was gone.

Alli and Sirius would be good for each other, James though. They both have that rebellious, charismatic, and just plain weird attitude. It's perfect. The only problem is that they seem afraid to admit that they like each other, or to do anything about it. Well, I guess I can see why. I mean, if it doesn't work out with them, our whole friendship could be tossed in the trash bin. They'd never treat each other the same way. Shit, maybe this is a bad idea. Well, no, I guess our friendship is already screwed up by this whole "make the other person jealous" thing. So what's the harm in any more entertainment?

XXXXXX

"Man, I wonder where Alli and Lily are!" Julie stated, hoping sincerely that they hadn't gotten into a fight or something. Her best friends didn't fight very often, but when they did it was big.

"Yeah, I wonder when they're gonna get back," agreed Alice. At that very moment, the objects of their wondering chose to walk through the door. Both had their arms crossed over their chests, and their faces turned purposely away from each other.

"Isn't this swell?" Julie mumbled, and got up. "Hey guys, how was Hogsmeade?"

"It was great," Alli said, moving over towards her bed. "Perfect."

"Absolutely perfect," Lily said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Especially when somebody left me alone at the Three Broomsticks with Potter."

"Oh really?" Alli asked. "I got the impression, just by looking over there, that you were enjoying yourself. And anyhow, when did Lupin and Pettigrew become James? And wasn't that Rosie I saw with you?"

"That's not the point!" Lily cried venomously. "The point is that you left me alone, just so you could go on with your 'make Black jealous' ploy!"

"I already explained it to you," said Alli. "What I needed to do and why. Why can't you get it?"

"Why?" Lily exploded. Julie and Alice shuddered, knowing that Alli had unleashed that redhead temper. "Why? Because you only saw your own selfish reasons! Yes, Sirius asked out some blonde bimbo. You just figured out that you care for him. He doesn't even know that you've got these feelings! Had he known, maybe he would have asked you instead of Carlton. But you decided that rather than wait for him to break up by next week, like he always does, you would try to make him 'jealous' by letting him see you with another guy!"

Alice and Julie looked awed as Lily took a few deep breaths to calm herself. Alli stared at her friend, jaw dropped, looking almost near tears. Finally she spoke. "You're right. You're right ok?" She dropped down on the bed, and put her head in her hands. "I'm so stupid! I just was angry that he asked out that airhead, and I wanted him to ask me out instead, so I figured that if I could make him jealous by going with Raoul, he would dump her and ask me instead. This had got to be the stupidest thing I've ever done! I liked being with Raoul, but the whole time I just wanted to be over there with Sirius and James, and Remus. It was like I didn't know what to do anymore, so I just continued on with my plan. I don't even know why I did it, because, well, think about it logically. Sirius is a total player. Even if he did go out with me, he'd never stay with me. I kept trying to tell myself that, but in the end I was just too jealous of Carlton to care. I'm just so messed up right now, and what the hell am I gonna do about it?"

Julie moved over to the bed and wrapped her arm around her friend as Alli put her head on Julie's shoulder and cried. It was very awkward to see Alli cry, Julie thought. Alli was usually the strong one, the one telling her friends it was ok. I bet I'd be crying if I was in her situation, Julie thought. She's known Sirius for more than half of her life, and she suddenly likes him and she doesn't know what to do about it. Everyone makes mistakes, I guess. But I really wish this wasn't happening. Alli doesn't deserve this. And poor Alice just told me she hates fighting, and then this happens.

Alice looked like she didn't know what was happening. She was still sitting on the couch, her eyes wide. Lily looked the same way. She hadn't been expecting Alli to come out and tell them her reasoning like that. She was still kind of mad at her best friend, but she was now starting to feel sort of guilty. She hadn't really thought about why Alli was doing what she was doing, she just thought Alli was being selfish.

After a few minutes, Alice finally got up, walked over to her Honeydukes bag, pulled out a bar of raspberry flavored chocolate, broke of a piece, and handed it to Alli. Alli looked up and started laughing.

"Chocolate?" She gasped in between laughter. "I'm sobbing and you give me chocolate?"

"Uh, sorry, if you don't want it now, I'll put it away and give it to you later. I just thought it would help," Alice cried, looking confused.

Alli shook her head. "I love you Alice," she said, hugging the surprised girl and taking the chocolate with a grin.

"Hey, Al?" Lily asked, looking sheepish. "Look, I'm sorry. I guess I freaked out a little. Do you forgive me?"

"Course I do!" Alli cried. "I'm the one who was being a bitch about it. Friends again?"

"Yes please," said Lily. "I want some of that chocolate!"

"Which reminds me," exclaimed Julie, jumping up. "Rick and I got you white chocolate at Honeydukes!"

"Oh yeah, I completely forgot! How was Rick?' Alli asked, and Julie launched into an explanation of her day, in full detail.

XXXXXX

Alli and Lily are so strange, James thought as he looked for the latter. She was supposed to patrol with him tonight. It was Monday, their first official night of patrolling as Heads. They weren't talking to each other Saturday night, and then Sunday at Breakfast they're already friends again. The last time they got in a fight, they didn't talk for probably a week straight! What happened to make them solve it?

Well, it's not like I'm complaining. I'd rather have them be friends then hate each other. I just wish that Lily would have talked to Alli, and told her about Sirius liking her too. Maybe she did, but Alli's too scared to talk to him. I guess I can just ask Lily during patrolling. Wait, I have a whole hour to spend alone with Lily. Cool!

James found Lily sitting in the common room with her friends and his. They were only up at 11pm because McGonagall had assigned a big paper due Tuesday, and because of the eventful weekend they'd all forgotten to do it. Julie and Remus were sitting together at a table, working quietly; Sirius was complaining loudly about the homework that he conveniently was avoiding doing; Alli was sitting with Lily, who appeared to be explaining something to her.

"Hey, Lil," said James, making Lily jump. "We have to patrol tonight."

"Oh crap, I forgot about that too!" Lily cried, leaping up. "Marshall, I charge you with explaining this theory to Alli in my absence."

"Yes Ma'am!" Julie said sharply, saluting Lily.

"Come on Potter," Lily said, leading the way out the door. James said goodbye to Sirius Remus, and followed.

"They're not gonna come back alive," Sirius said pointedly.

"Definitely not," said Alli. "I'm not even going to bother waiting up for them. They won't come back here; they'll go straight to the hospital wing. Goodnight everyone."

Sirius watched her walk up the stairs, then said "I'm going up to bed too."

"But what about the homework you haven't done yet?" Julie asked.

"I'll do it upstairs," Sirius told her, getting up and walking upstairs.

"Thanks for saying goodnight!" Remus yelled after him sarcastically, but he just shut the door.

"You want to stay up and wait for them, then?" Julie asked Remus, noticing that they were the only ones in the common room.

"Why not," said Remus. "I still need to finish this paper anyway. For some reason, it's confusing me."

"What is?"

"The whole concept."

"Should I explain it to you?"

"Sure."

XXXXXX

Silence is awkward, Lily thought as she walked next to James down a first floor hallway. It's been almost half an hour, and all we've said to each other is confirmations of where to go, or what to do. But what can I say?

"What happened with you and Alli?"

Lily nearly tripped at the sudden sound of James' voice. "What do you mean?"

"Well," said James. "You kinda hated each other at Hogsmeade, and then Sunday morning you were best friends again. What happened?"

"It's not any of your business," Lily said. "But to be honest, I'm not really sure. We got back at the same time, and then I blew up at her, and then she had this mini breakdown. It was weird. And then all of a sudden, it was fine. Just like that. I'm not even sure how it happened. I was yelling at her and the next thing I knew, I was apologizing and she was saying it was fine, 'cause she was the one being a bitch anyway."

Lily looked over at James, who was watching her with interest. "That's gotta be the most you've ever told me."

She blushed. "I can't believe I just went off on a tangent like that."

"I guess everybody does that sometimes," James told her practically. "So, did you tell Alli about Sirius?"

"No," said Lily, blushing for a second time.

"Why not?" James asked. "They'd be perfect together, if we could just get them to see it."

"What happened to the 'Sirius doesn't need any help from me' attitude?" Lily asked, trying to distract him. The real reason she hadn't told Alli was that she was being overprotective. She didn't want Alli to go out with Sirius. He'd never been with a girl for more than 2 weeks. Maybe Lily was being stupid, but she didn't want her best friend to get hurt.

"I didn't say help him, necessarily." James said. "If we help her, then they can get together without me ever talking to Sirius."

"I suppose," Lily said, biding her time.

"Then again, maybe we should just see if they can get together themselves," James said, more to himself than to Lily. Lily sighed in relief, and they continued walking.

XXXXXX

"Hey, maybe we'll be lucky this year."

"What?" Julie asked.

"I said maybe we'll be lucky. Maybe Lily will give James a chance this year." Remus told her, putting his quill down, having finally finished the paper.

"That'd be nice," agreed Julie. "I'm not sure how much of her Potter-ranting I can take."

"You know what I think?"

"What?"

"I think if Lily could stop being so stubborn and give him a chance, they would make a good couple."

"That's exactly what me and Alli have been saying!" Julie cried. "But don't let Lily hear you talking like that. It was really funny when Alli mentioned it once. Lily did this charm that tied her to the ceiling, and she didn't let her down till everyone came up for bed."

Remus began to laugh. "I wish I could have seen that."

"It was great," Julie nodded. "Just not for Alli." With Lily's temper, she can come up with some pretty good punishments if you make her angry."

"Like what?"

"Oh, all kinds of stuff!"

Remus looked at the clock. "Go ahead; we have time."

And so Julie began the story of Lily's temper.

(A/N) This is my longest chapter yet!I feel very proud of myself! I appologize for any spelling or grammar errors. I'm too tored to check for them right now.

I have one request. If you must review with a complaint, please explain why. Fpr example, if you say that there's something wrong with my characters or plot, explain why. Otherwise, you're just telling me something that'll hurt my feelings. If you explain yourself, I can use your help to improve not only the next chapters, but my writing skills. It's also one of my pet peeves, when people don't explain why they think something wasn't right. So help me out folks, and make sure I know your opinion!

Review away!