Sirius Black was slowly going insane. You can't ask her out! He thought. She's your best mate's love's friend! Wait…did that even make sense? Oh well. Prongs'll hate it! He thought frantically. SO WHAT IF HE HATES IT! He countered. Like I care what Prongs thinks…I won't need him if I have her…her beautiful hair…those eyes…that scent of cherry blossoms that seems to radiate from her very soul…He inhaled, as if trying to relive that scent. Quickly, he snapped back out of his trance. NO! YOU MUSN'T GO OUT WITH HER, SIRIUS! AND THAT'S FINAL! Friends are first, right? Sirius' eyes suddenly lit up. What if I ask Prong's permission first?

YOU DON'T NEED HIS PERMISSION! He thought exasperatedly. You're SIRIUS BLACK! No one tells you what to do!

Sirius nodded his head. Right. RIGHT! YEAH! But still…what if she says no? She's friends with Prongs, and everyone loves Prongs…

SHE LOVES YOU, SIRIUS! GO FOR IT!

What if Prongs beats me up?

Tell on him.

YOU'RE BLOODY MAD! I can't tell on Prongs! That's just so…snitch-like!

I suppose you're right, he thought to himself as he nodded his head in agreement to something James was saying, not taking in a word of it. But still! GO FOR IT! Prongs loves Evans anyway, so you don't have to worry about that.

HE'S MY BEST MATE!

So?

So. SO? HE'S MY BEST MATE! YOU HAVE GONE BLOODY MAD!

Do you do everything Prongs tells you to do?

Of course I don't! Sirius said indignantly to himself, giving James a grunt, symbolizing he had heard him (even though he really hadn't).

Sure. Right. You keep telling yourself that, Sirius, man.

WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING? Sirius thought. I've gone insane! I'm ARGUING WITH MYSELF!

You started it.

DID NOT!

Did too.

DID NOT DID NOT DID NOT!

Did too.

SHUT UP! He thought furiously to his more…insane self.

Fine. But go for it, mate. Just do it.

Sirius was highly concerned that he had just called himself "mate." Suddenly, he looked up to see James snapping his fingers in front of his face.

"Padfoot? PADFOOT! Where are you, man?" said James, his eyes full of concern.

"What – where – who? Oh. Yeah. Yeah, I'm here. Sorry. Go on," replied Sirius distractedly.

James glanced at him suspiciously. "Er…ok. Well, anyway, I've got that detention tonight for beating the crap out of Gates. But, you know, to me, it's definitely worth it. Ah…good times," James grinned. Suddenly, his grin turned into a deep frown, his eyebrows furrowed. "But…now Evans loathes me again…so it was kind of like a 'pick and choose' kind of thing…I guess I picked the wrong thing. I still dunno what to do about Gates. SIX DAYS, PADFOOT, SIX DAYS! Damn. If I have to follow them into that room in my invisibility cloak, I will. I won't allow Lily to go through this. That low, cowardly PRAT! No one deserves to be used like that!"

Sirius smiled wryly. "I know, mate. But there's nothing we can do! Evans will just have to do what she thinks is right. Don't worry. There is no doubt in my mind that she'll make the right decision. And plus, no one has a chance if they're up against one of her hexes," he grinned, recalling when she had turned him into a chicken in their third year.

James sighed. "I just wished there was something I could do."

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James Potter frantically scrubbed the floor of the Potion's classroom, thinking about what he could do about Andrew. He would never admit it to Sirius, but he was actually getting sort of…guilty about what he had done to Andrew. No doubt, he definitely deserves it, he thought. But it was really rather harsh…not to mention Evans hates me again. He suddenly grinned to himself. Although it was rather fun. And he definitely needed a reality check. I suppose I should apologize – even if I do think he's an unworthy ass.

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"Andrew? Andrew, honey! I'm going to go now, it's really rather late! I shouldn't have sneaked down in the first place! It's past curfew. I'll come back tomorrow, sweetheart." Lily bent down to quickly peck Andrew on the cheek. He was still in the hospital wing, after what had happened with James. Lily quietly stood up, and stealthily made her way to the doors. Suddenly, she heard footsteps coming. She cursed and ran across the room, hiding out in Madame Pomfrey's vacant office. She listened as the footsteps got closer, then suddenly stopped. She turned her head so she could hear what the person was saying.

"Erm…Gates? Er…well. Hi. Uh, well…I guess I just came here to say that I'm…well…I'm-" the person suddenly coughed, trying to gain more time. "I'm…sorry," the person admitted painstakingly. Lily gasped. She knew that voice. It was –

"Potter. You didn't have to come here. I don't want your apology. Just go away," Andrew said in a harsh tone that completely surprised Lily.

"Er, right," said James awkwardly. "I don't want to be here, either, you know. I just thought that you really deserved an apology. I'm genuinely sorry for what I did to you – even if you did deserve it," James said through gritted teeth.

"Get out of here, Potter. Just leave me alone, alright?" Andrew spat. Lily was again astonished at Andrew's behaviour. Well, I suppose it is justified. After what Potter did to him, she thought reasonably, not wanting to admit that Andrew was acting horrible to James.

"I going, alright? I just wanted to apologize. Even if you are a cowardly, rotten, thick piece of scum." And with that, James walked away, and out of the hospital wing, scowling with frustration. Lily waited a few minutes more before heading back to the common room herself, making sure Andrew was fast asleep.

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Dear Journal,

Wow. Potter apologized to Andrew today. In the hospital wing. He didn't know I was there – neither did Andrew. What is strange is that Potter was being civilized, and Andrew wasn't. Andrew was being downright cruel! What has gotten into him lately?

No word from my parents. I am not too worried, though. I've just heard from them, and they seemed fine, and quite safe.

Lily.