Chapter Ten

Mattie, Sam, Remus and Sirius lay down beside the lake. Mattie and Remus were holding hands, their fingers intertwined. "Lily's birthday's in a week," Sam commented as she picked at the grass and threading her hands through it.

"Yeah, I know," Mattie said tiredly. "We've got so much to do and I don't even know what to do for her birthday."

"We can surprise her," Remus suggested, leaning his head on her shoulder. "Poor girl's been through so much and I bet she needs a break from the James tutoring sessions and her own studies."

"That's brilliant, Remus!" Sirius stood up. "We can plan a party for her! Everyone in Gryffindor loves her anyway! We can have butterbeer from the kitchens and food and party stuff!"

"Aw, like a little child going to his friend's birthday party," Sam mocked, lying on her stomach. Sirius stuck his tongue out at her. "But the butterbeer part sounds good. We can just plan it in the common room."

"Yeah, but how can we keep Lily out to set everything up?"

"There's always… James." Mattie grinned impishly. "Perfect."

Lily tiredly rested her head on her Transfiguration book. "I hate this, I don't understand anything," she complained. James closed his Charms book.

"Shut up, you didn't read half a book just for tomorrow. I swear, if I screw this up, Mum will turn me into dragon hide," he muttered. Lily laughed and flipped to the next page of her book.

"Well, if you actually remember what you learn, you wouldn't have to study."

"But then I wouldn't be here with you, which is a horrible thing," James said with a grin, making Lily blush slightly. "Y'know Lily… I really like you."

"Uh, yeah, we're friends," Lily said in confusion, flipping the page of her book. James put his hand on hers and shyly smiled.

"No, I mean I really like you as more than that." He blushed. Lily looked up and met his hazel eyes. "I sorta… have a crush on you."

Lily blushed slightly and her heart started pounding madly in her chest. "Um… Wow," she said softly. "Well, erm… I… I don't know what to say."

"I can't believe I just said that," James murmured under his breath, making Lily grin slightly. "You must think I'm an idiot now."

"Nope, how can you be an idiot if you're brave enough to say what you feel?" Lily explained. "But James, you better not be playing me. I don't want to make a mistake of that."

"I promise I won't play you ever," James said. Lily smiled and kissed his cheek gently. It left a tingling feeling on his cheek. "Okay, what does that mean?"

"I think you know."

Sam walked down the halls to the kitchens, her head hurting. "Damn it," she muttered under her breath.

"What are you doing out of bed, Livingston?" she heard a voice sneer. She turned around and saw Severus Snape glaring at her.

"What do you want?" Sam spat. "I don't want to talk to you ever, especially when you bother me during the family reunions."

"Do they know you're sick?" Severus asked, raising his eyebrows. Sam went white. "You're gonna have to tell them about your stupid Muggle disease."

"Go to hell." Sam turned around and walked to the portrait.

"And do they know you're gonna be a Death Eater?" Severus questioned, approaching Sam. She turned around and glared at him.

"I'd rather die than become a Death Eater. I don't care if the Dark Lord kills me," Sam said, sounding very mocking as she said Dark Lord.

"Lucius won't be pleased with you."

"I don't give a damn." Sam opened the door to the kitchens. "Look, Severus, I don't want to be what you guys want. It's bad enough I'm sick. And please, don't tell anyone about it."

She entered the kitchens, a new burden placed upon her shoulders. And she didn't notice that Remus was on his way there and he had heard the whole thing.

Remus sat down in the common room, his face pale. "So Sam's sick," he muttered softly. Mattie sat beside him in confusion. "Hey Matt."

"Hey…" Mattie smiled. "Why do you look so pale?"

"Oh, uh, it's nothing." Remus glanced down. Mattie searched in his eyes in bewilderment. "Mattie… There's… something wrong with Sam."

"Uh, no…" Mattie raised her eyebrows. "If there was, I would know about it. Well, Lily and I would know."

"I guess…" Remus stared into the fire. "Did you know Sam and Snape are related?"

"No. Are they?" Mattie asked. Remus shrugged and kept silent. Sam is such a mystery now…

Adam walked to the kitchens hungrily. "I'm so hungry," he said as he opened the portrait. He saw Sam eating a sandwich. "Hey Sam."

"Hey." Sam pushed her plate away. "Damn it, there's something wrong with me."

"What?" Adam sat across her and the house elves gave him a plate of food. He bit into his sandwich. "Physically there's nothing wrong with you. Seriously. But… I dunno. What's up?"

Sam tucked strands of her hair behind her ear. "I… I can't say."

"Whatever, Sam." Adam leaned closer. "Come on, you can tell me. We're friends, remember?"

"Yeah," Sam said softly.

"Come on, it won't hurt," Adam said, grinning at her. Sam didn't say anything for awhile until she finally looked up and said,

"I have leukemia."

James sighed happily, flopping on the bed. "I'm so happy," he said blissfully. Sirius looked up from the book he was reading.

"Uh, why?"

"Well, Lily likes me!" James grinned. "I like her loads too…"

"Good on ya, mate." Sirius went back to his book.

"What's up with you?"

"I just… I dunno." Sirius sighed. "I think I'm falling for Sam…"

"Well, go for it."

"I don't wanna break her heart."

"Then don't."

This chapter sucked. Thanks to waterfaerie15, Flame of Desire, IamSiriusgrl, KawaiiMegami86, MysticMadness, Inu-kanna, Harryroxmysox and Steelo!