Chapter 4: Change

The next morning Lily woke up feeling a little better. She saw that her four roommates were still asleep. She went into the bathroom, took a shower and brushed her teeth and hair. By the time she returned to the room Carine and Kerri were up. Lily wished them a good morning. They were on their way to breakfast and Lily declined their offer saying she wasn't quite hungry yet. She really just wanted a little bit more time to herself. She curled up in her bed again and pulled out her book, curious to see what would happen.

A little while later Penny woke up and seeing that Lily was awake walked over to her bed.

"Lily, I want to talk to you," she said seriously.

"Okay, what's up?"

"I'm just worried about you, you've seemed kind of down lately and you keep randomly disappearing when we're all hanging out. It's just not like you."

"Yeah, I guess I've been a bit bummed, but it's nothing serious. Just the usual back to school stuff, you know? And I don't know, I'm not back into my social groove. I spent practically the whole summer at home with only my family. I don't have too many friends left at home, Petunia managed to turn them all against me."

"Okay, and you're sure that's it?" Penny asked.

"Um, yeah, don't worry about me," Lily said. "But hey, why don't we head on down to breakfast so we don't wake up Ally."

"Yeah, good idea." Penny quickly dressed and the girls headed towards the Great Hall.

"So, anything new in the boy department?" Lily inquired. "Make any more plans with Josh to 'study'?"

"No," Penny chuckled. "Actually, I really don't have any interest in him I've decided."

"Really? That's not like you. Well what about either of the new Quidditch players? They both seemed pretty cute."

"Lily, they're 2nd years!" Penny said. "Do you seriously think I would stoop that low?"

"Yeah, you're right, sorry."

"But, seriously I'm going back to my original plan, Lil, I think I might want something real," Penny said.

"Oh, and any prospective boys?"

"Okay, well actually yes. Well, maybe. You know, after you left last night James and I really got to bond and it was nice. I guess I realized that I do like him, remember how I said that before?"

"Yeah, I remember," Lily said, trying not to let her sadness show.

"But first I must know, do you like him at all? I know we kind of said that you were gonna try and get with him."

"Come on Penny," Lily tried to sound amused by the idea, "I never seriously thought anything would happen between me and James. And besides, it's pretty obvious that he's into you."

"I'm not so sure about that, but we'll see," Penny smiled. "So you're totally sure you don't like him because you did kind of seem interested before."

"No, you can definitely have him," Lily reassured her friend. They reached the Great Hall and sat down next to Kerri and Carine.

"So, what do you guys have planned for the weekend?" Carine asked.

"No idea," Penny said. "Surprisingly James isn't making us practice until next week so I have until Monday off."

"Great!" Carine said. "Would you be up for a trip to Hogsmeade? I bet we can get the guys to go with us."

"I don't know," Lily said. "I have a ton of work to do this weekend."

"Lil, seriously, we all have work, you're coming with us," Penny said. "That sounds like a great idea Carine. Are any of the boys up yet?"

"Yeah, they were actually down here before us," Kerri commented. "They were eating with those Ravenclaw girls."

"Oh, you mean Janie and her friends?" Penny said, clearly jealous.

"Yeah," Carine said.

"Did you see where they went?" Penny asked jumping up from her chair.

"What are you gonna do, track them down?" Lily said. "Sit down and finish your breakfast, I'm sure we'll see them in the Common Room before the trip."

Once the girls had finished their breakfasts they all walked back to the Common Room together. They found James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter sitting in a corner whispering about something.

"I wonder what they're up to," Penny said approaching them. "What'cha doin?" she asked when she reached them.

"Oh, nothing," James grinned mysteriously.

"Suuure," Penny said. "Well, any interest in escorting us lovely ladies to Hogsmeade this afternoon?"

"Well, Prongs agreed for us all that we would go with some Ravenclaw girls, but it would be much more bearable if you guys came with us too," Sirius said.

"Oh, well we don't want to intrude if you're going with some people already," Carine said.

"No, no it's fine," James said. "We'll all go together."

"Hey there everyone is!" Allyson called as she walked over. "I was hoping you'd wait for me. So are you ready for breakfast? I'm starving."

"Oh, oops," Penny said. "We already ate."

"What! Thanks for waiting for me!"

"Penny's logic was that we better get out of the room so we don't wake you up," Lily said innocently.

"Hey, don't blame it on me," Penny said.

"Okay, I don't care whose idea it was, you all ditched me," Allyson said sadly.

"I'll go with you," Sirius said. "I'm actually still kind of hungry. We went really early so my stomach wasn't quite awake yet."

"Alright, thanks Sirius!" Allyson said and the two of them took off for the Great Hall.

"Aww, that was sweet of him," Carine said. "How long do you think before they get together?"

"You think they will?" Lily asked.

"I certainly hope so," James commented. "From what I can tell he really likes her."

"Yeah and she seems pretty into him," Penny responded. Lily noticed she gave James a suggestive smirk while she said that.

"I have to go to the bathroom, I'll be right back," Lily said and walked away from everyone. She couldn't bear the sight of Penny and James flirting again. She went immediately to her bed and lay down. She let out a huge sigh and then heard the door open. She flinched, assuming that it would be Penny bugging her about leaving everyone again. She was happy when she heard Kerri's voice instead.

"Hey Lil, wanna talk?" she asked sounding concerned.

"What's there to talk about? Penny and James are right behind Allyson and Sirius in the Couples-To-Be Club."

"I wouldn't go that far, but what happened? I thought you talked to Penny and she said she wasn't interested in him anymore."

"Well, turns out she changed her mind again. Now she wants a real relationship and she wants it with James. I have a feeling she's gonna get exactly that."

"Okay and I'm guessing you didn't inform her of how you felt about James?"

"Of course I didn't," Lily said. "The last thing I want is a bunch of useless girl drama over him. I know she would win anyway. And I know that James likes her so I can't just say 'please don't go after him, he's mine'. That's not fair to her or to James."

"So what do you plan on doing now?" Kerri asked. "Just sit back and watch them flirt shamelessly with one another before one of them actually confronts the fact that they like each other?"

"Sounds about right," Lily muttered.

"Well I have a better idea. Don't tell either of them how you feel about James, but continue with your plan to be nice to him. Show him that you like him, or at least that you can be a good friend. And as far as Penny goes, she never knows what she wants. I'm guessing this desire for 'something real' will only last so long."

"But I don't want to just sit around while she breaks his heart. She cheated on the only guy she was actually officially together with. I wish James knew what he was getting himself into."

"Hey, don't jump to any conclusions. They're not even together yet and give her some credit, she's trying to change."

"Alright, I know. I get bitter when I'm jealous."

"Well, we should probably get downstairs; I think we're leaving for Hogsmeade soon."

"Why do I have a feeling this will not be such an enjoyable trip?" Lily sighed.

"Hmm I don't know, is it the ex girlfriend or the prospective girlfriend that will most bother you?" Kerri joked.

"Ahh, why am I going again?" Lily groaned as they headed down to the Common Room.

A/N: Hey, sorry it took a while to get this chapter up. Let me know what you think of it!