Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related works belong to J.K Rowling. Maybe you've heard of her?

Chapter 11, Love is a Funny Thing

Weeks passed. Nothing in particular happened, really—there was way too much homework, and everybody (especially Lily) was going nutty studying. Well, perhaps not in the case of James Potter. It annoyed Lily to no end (and everybody else, for that matter) that while he played chess, planned pranks, and basically did everything but study—he still would come through with top marks.

There had been a very subtle—but hardly noticeable, really— shift of feelings between Lily and James. Instead of being awkwardly polite towards one another, they were entering the stage of true friendship. They never felt uncomfortable or stiff around one another. They could talk to each other around—well, practically everything.

Michelle and Sirius had finally announced their relationship to the general public (a few days after Lily and James had caught them snogging at the Ball), and could be seen snogging in empty classrooms and walking around the hallways hand-in-hand, quite reminiscent of lovesick puppies.

On one normal, utterly ordinary night, Lily was sitting on a couch with Hazel, discussing their kissing booth plans. They'd stalled talking about it, but now it seemed much closer and they really had to plan. It seemed that James and Sirius were discussing precisely the same thing, because both were on their famed "watercouch", whispering conspiringly. Sometimes James caught Lily's eye and they simultaneously grinned.

"Lily?" Hazel called, waving a hand in front of Lily's face.

"Yeah?" Lily responded, caught daydreaming.

"Are you listening to me?" Hazel asked, for Lily indeed was not quite "there" yet.

"Yeah." Lily replied.

"Well, can you pay any attention?"

"Yeah."Lily said again, still not paying full attention to Hazel.

"You're totally listening to me?

"Yeah." Lily said once again.

"You know you've been staring at James for the past half hour while I basically talk to myself about the kissing both plans?

"Yeh—I mean, I haven't been staring!" Lily caught herself just in the nick of time.

Hazel just nodded in an annoyingly smug way and looked over at Lily, who seemed quite flustered.

"I wasn't really staring…was I?" asked Lily earnestly in a whispery tone.

"You were," exclaimed Hazel joyfully, "and smiling at each other every two seconds, practically, what's more."

"Was not!" Lily insisted, although she knew that Hazel's claims were undoubtedly the truth.

"Mmm-hmmm." Hazel insisted in a very knowing fashion. The smirk didn't fall off her face; it stayed firmly in place, on the contrary.

"It's just because we're FRIENDS!" she exclaimed. Oh. Perhaps she had said that last bit too loud. People were beginning to stare. Didn't they have any other life, really?

"Erm…okay. Back to business?" Hazel asked, looking around at the goggly-eyed, openly staring Gryffindors. Some quickly averted their eyes.

"So, what's our price scale going to be like? Hazel asked.

"Sorry….what did you say there?" Lily looked like she had been shaken out of a dream.

Lily had been staring at James and smiling at him. Again. Honestly, Hazel'd almost liked it better when Lily had hated James with a passion. No, scratch that. It was all for the better now…besides, Hazel had a very sneaky inclination that Lily and James were becoming a touch more than friends, although Lily probably wouldn't admit it for approximately a few more decades or so.

"Nothing. Just nothing." Hazel murmured quietly, staring at her lap while she saw Lily staring at James and him staring back at her—true love staring her in the face.

Lily hummed happily to herself, walking solitarily along a deserted hallway. She had prefect patrol duty, and she was looking for James. It was rather boring patrolling the empty corridors alone, and she and James had so much fun together—he was becoming almost like Amanda or Michelle or Hazel to her, really. Except his physique appealed much more to her than her three friends'. Not that she LIKED him, or anything similarly ridiculous. It was just that he had a particularly well-defined and muscled body (from all that Quidditch, Lily suspected) and was, well, not exactly lacking in the looks department, either.

Suddenly Lily stopped in her tracks. She heard some faint voices coming—coming from the Transfiguration classroom? She knew she was supposed to report anybody out of their common rooms, but she couldn't help herself. She stopped and slowly crept to the door, ears alert.

"I've liked— (mumble mumbe) you-" the voice became ever more quiet at this point "—for so long…and…I just have to do this—"

The person who had spoken seemed to be crying. Lily knit her eyebrows together in concern. She felt like it wasn't right, somehow, to intrude upon this kind of private scene.

She heard some "shhh, it's okays" and other various comforting words coming from a male voice. The first voice seemed to be female—higher pitched.

"Maybe it's—something—else." The male voice said, although it was nearly impossible to hear. She'd missed a lot of words and couldn't grasp more than a couple words out of a much longer sentence.

"But I—I think—that I—I love—" the first voice broke into a sobbing fit again. The male voice consoled her again.

Lily's overwhelming curiosity mounted. Was it a couple? If so, which one? It was so difficult to hear from the voices—they were faint and difficult to hear at all. She could only pick up a few words. She really knew it was a horrible thing to eavesdrop, but she couldn't help herself.

For inside the darkened Transfiguration classroom were two very familiar figures. A well-known, tear-stained face with lovely, finely crafted features. Hugging passionately—who?

Hazel and James were in standing in the corner of the dark Transfiguration classroom, passionately embracing. Hazel's head was buried in James's shoulder, and he seemed not to mind at all. She was pressed up against him and-did they even notice Lily?

She stared at them openly with her mouth hanging open for a moment, and then fled as quickly as she could. Invisible wings attached themselves to her shoulders, and she ran as fast as she could. She faintly heard people running after her, and a "Lily! Wait!" cried from an all-too-familiar black haired, hazel-eyed boy.

But she couldn't answer him. She had nothing to say, because all that was coming out, thick and fast, were tears. They were streaming down her pretty face and clouding her vision. Somehow, it really didn't matter to her that she was racing like lightning down an empty corridor that she was supposed to be patrolling, crying as if there was no tomorrow.

And the worst thing, Lily thought fleetingly, as she ran as fast as she could and tears made their salty tracks down her face—she understood why she was crying. She understood, finally—and it was too late.

James was in breakfast, unusually quiet and without much of an appetite. This was very much a first for James—he ate breakfast (and every meal, as a matter of fact) wholeheartedly.

Not this one, though, James thought, pushing his scrambled eggs aimlessly around his plate with a fork. They looked rather unappetizing this particular morning.

He was pretty sure as to what was making his appetite and his mood suffer so much.

A certain red-headed beauty with grass-green eyes.

But he was pretty sure that the red-haired beauty was not too pleased with him.

He knew he had to talk with her and explain things. It had been just a misunderstanding…

(flashback)

James had been sitting in the common room in a far corner, playing a quiet game of chess with Peter. He'd seen a tall, pretty figure standing near him—he recognized her as a quiet girl named Hazel—he mainly knew her as being one of Lily's friends.

"James…erm.. can I have a word with you, please?" she asked quite uncomfortably.

James looked rather surprised, as he'd never exchanged more than the occasional polite conversation with the girl. She was fairly nice from what he could tell, but what could she want from him? She led him out of the common room and out of the portrait hole.

They walked a bit out to the corridors until Hazel spotted an empty Transfiguration class, the door a crack open.

"Come on." Hazel said, beckoning him into the darkened, empty classroom. James looked at her, bewildered. What was this all about?

"Why not in the corridor?" James asked, clearly confused.

"Patrol duty." James winced, realized that he, himself should have been patrolling. He obligingly followed Hazel into the classroom, still openly bemused.

"So…um, what is it that you wanted to talk with me about? James asked. He and Hazel stood near the corner, lest a prefect should catch them talking in secrecy.

Hazel sighed. "Okay, first do you promise you won't tell anybody? I'm serious. If you won't promise, I won't talk to you about…it." She said.

"Maurauder's honor." James said solemnly. Hazel looked at him a little oddly.

"Never mind that, I promise I won't tell." James said quickly.

"Okay. Well…I….wanted to talk to you specifically because…okay. I…I like Remus. You're his close friend, obviously."

James nodded.

"So…me and Remus have been getting closer, I guess. The other night we were in the common room, talking, really late. And then we were going to—" (Hazel seemed to be a little bit embarrassed about this, she blushed and stuttered a little) "kiss—I mean, he really wanted to, I could tell, and I did also—but then he—backed off and jumped away…he said he couldn't…you know, have a relationship with me. I think it's because the werewolf…issue, but he wouldn't even consider a relationship…he said it was too dangerous …" She trailed off quietly, a quaver having crept into her voice.

James inwardly groaned. This was going to be very complicated.

"I mean—I've liked him even though I know about it—and I don't know what you can do; you're his friend—but I've just liked him for so long and I—just have to do this, to do all I can to tell him it's okay….that I don't care about him being a werewolf…" There was a very definite tremor in her voice now. She looked on the verge of tears, and promptly began to burst into sobs.

James awkwardly pulled her into a hug, and surprisingly she clung to him. Well, she was probably in a state of emotional trauma, James reasoned. He wasn't very good with crying girls, but managed a few "It's okays" and other comforting words.

"Maybe he thinks—you think that you would be afraid of him or something else." James tried reassuring her. Merlin, how had he gotten himself into this?

"But I-I-think that I-love him." Hazel admitted, still crying into James's robes.

Just then, Lily walked in. His heart ached for her. She looked so stunned—he wanted to reach out and comfort her, to explain—but she was gone, invisible the next second. He tried running after her and calling out, but to no avail.

He was left with a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach—a feeling that wouldn't be taken away easily. He would have to—(gulp) talk to her.

(end flashback)

Lily woke up lazily, feeling the first finger of sunshine stretched across their room, illuminating it brightly. She was just about to spring out of bed and go to breakfast with her friends…when she remembered.

It all came back to her at once, as she was dazedly rubbing her eyes. Patrolling the hallways—James and Hazel in an Empty Transfiguration classroom, together, hugging feverishly—me running away and sobbing like a three-year-old who's scraped their knee…Lily winced. She didn't particularly want to get up and have to face Hazel and James.

The emotions of last night kept coming back to her, all jumbled and confused. She wondered idly why she was so upset. It just bothered her that two of her very best friends—and now, she realized (weather she wanted to admit it or not) someone who she liked a little more than friends—were harboring a secret relationship without telling her.

Apparently they'd all gone to breakfast without her, since she'd gotten up so late. It was all for the better, really. She didn't have to face Hazel for a while, then.

She crossed the room to the huge window that was directly next to Michelle's bed. Light was streaming out of it, and she had a nice view of the grounds. It was January, and slowly fading into February. The frosty spikes of grass were beginning to melt, she could tell. Spring came early here—she liked it that way.

Lily sighed and wondered about the kissing booth. Because now she knew it was true—did she want to kiss anyone but him?

"Lily." A voice was saying. Amanda's voice. Lily pretended not to notice it.

"Li-leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee? I know you're awake, no point in hiding it really." Amanda said.

Lily groggily opened her eyes. Amanda had a knack for waiting out Lily's lies.

"What?" Lily replied, annoyed. She must have dozed off in her dormitory, but what did it matter? It was Sunday—it wasn't like she could miss any classes.

"It's the booth meetings—for the Hogwarts celebratory festival of fame- in ten minutes! Go! You and Hazel need to be there, in the Great Hall!" Amanda said.

Lily sprang up and started dressing. How could she have forgotten? Thanking Amanda for waking her up, she hurriedly rushed out of the common room, and began walking quickly towards the great hall. She would have to be in the same (shudder) room as Hazel and James, weather she liked it or not. Would they be kissing or holding hands? Lily didn't really want to entertain the possibility.

She rushed into the room. The meeting looked to be starting just then. It was mandatory to sit with their partners for the booths. Lily sat, stony faced and impassive, next to Hazel. Hazel looked as if she wanted to tell Lily something but couldn't. The meeting had started, anyway.

"Ah, hello everybody!" Professor Dumbledore began cheerfully. The students returned the greeting, in various stages of sleepiness.

"Well, as we all know, we are here to discuss the rather exciting prospect of Hogwart's celebratory festival of fame! Booths will be a key part of the festival. You may keep one-quarter of the booth's proceeds, although I am afraid that the rest will go to benefiting Hogwarts!"

Several students groaned at this statement.

Dumbledore discussed some more boring, usual rules for the next fifteen minutes. James kept trying to catch Lily's eye, but Lily didn't let him.

"So, would you all please rise and sign your names, and booth ideas on that sheet? Dumbledore finished. Everybody rose up to the sheet of parchment which had a quill attached.

Lily and Hazel marked theirs, "kissing booth", right under James's and Sirius's.

Hazel looked awfully uncomfortable. Lily didn't mind. She wasn't about to make it much easier for her.

"Lily—can I talk to you?" Hazel questioned quietly. Really, what kind of choice did Lily have? She followed Hazel to an empty hallway. Lily noted, kind of ironically, that was the corridor where she'd—caught—Hazel and James last night. She didn't like this corridor one bit, not at all.

"It—I—well…" Hazel began, obviously unsure about where to start.

Lily stood there.

"Lily, I…it wasn't—well, it wasn't what you thought it was!" Hazel said rather defensively.

"Hazel. I see you in a dark Transfiguration classroom, passionately hugging the boy that you know I-like. And you've kept some sort of relationship in the dark—he has, as well, and I'm upset at him too. But if you're going to explain, do it now, because I don't want to beat around the bush. I need to finish a potions essay." Lily said quietly, staring at her lap. Lily was always more upset when she talked quietly—worse than when she shouted, in fact. Hazel inwardly winced.

Hazel was thinking about where to start. "You know—Remus's secret?" she asked lamely. Okay, that was stupid. How could either one of them forget it?

It didn't need a nod of assent. Lily would never forget the look in Remus's eye when he was transforming.

"I—well, the other night we were in the common room and we were talking. And then we were going to kiss…and I knew he wanted to, so did I. But then he leapt away and started saying a relationship was dangerous for us both and we couldn't…have one." Hazel's face crumpled slightly. Lily felt badly for her friend.

"I asked James to come with me and to talk to him…to see if he could, I don't know, talk some sense into Remus. I got a little upset and I started crying and he just tried make me feel better by hugging me. That's all. That's it. You know I wouldn't lie to you." Hazel finished, looking at Lily for some sort of reaction.

Lily just nodded.

"But you know what?" Hazel asked, a small smile on her face.

"What?" Lily asked.

"He hugged me because he had to…and he hugs you whenever he has the chance to…and I know because I've seen it thousands of times."

In a completely clichéd, friendship-y moment, Lily promptly burst into tears and pulled Hazel into a tight hug, which she returned.

"So we're friends?" Hazel asked.

"Yuh-huh." Lily replied into Hazel's shoulder.

They both started promptly crying—weather it was from the emotion of the moment, or from laughing so much—neither knew. It felt nice, so reassuring, to have a friend back again.

"Girls…" Sirius said to James while walking past Hazel and Lily, who were still crying-laughing, "who will ever understand them?"

A/N: I can't decide if I liked this chapter or not. Ah, well. I'm unbelievably tired, but so glad it's (finally) the weekend! Thank G-d for that. Anyway, I haven't much to say, really, but as you can see, the booths are slowly but surely being reintroduced into the story. When do you want the booths to take place? I was thinking February/March/Aprilish…but I'm not sure. Okay, well, if you have ANYTHING at all to say to me…review please! Any comments, suggestions, criticisms…whatever, just review! (and my famous imaginary cupcakes…chocolate or vanilla frosting with sprinkles!)

Besides, I update MUCH quicker when there's a lot of reviews. So if you want a chapter any time in the future…yeah, you'll have to review!

Alright, thanks so much to my lovely reviewers…

SweetSouthernGal (glad there were no noticeable mistakes this time! Hopefully it goes for all chapters onwards!), DobbyGrl, beyonce-85, veiled dreamer (Yeah, I can't wait to get up to the kissing booth chapter…it'll be so much fun to write!), Ashley, Legit ( I don't know when the kissing booths will be…you can make a suggestion if you want! In terms of chapters, like…oh I don't know, 2-5? In terms of months, in the story wise…I'm thinking February/March/April…what do you think?) Laylana-Fairyweather (Yes, the characters tend to act a bit stupid sometimes…well, they're "young and blind to love", haha, I feel so old saying that!), lilypad007 (in 2-5 chapters the kissing booths will actually occur, or well, that's the plan!), and vix.

Long reviews are especially appreciated… (grins)