Lily walked away swiftly, exiting the passage and taking the quickest route up to Gryffindor tower, where she found Chloe seated on a couch. She sank down next to her and put her head in her hands, groaning.
"What is it?" Chloe asked stiffly, but Lily didn't notice her distant tone.
"I'm not sure," Lily muttered, sitting up and leaning her head back against the couch. She closed her eyes and re-played what had just happened, shivers running down her back as she remembered the feeling of James' arms around her. "Oh blast it, this is insane!"
Chloe raised an eyebrow, looking curious. "Why? What happened on the way from the Library to here that changed your mind so dramatically?"
Lily stared at her for a moment before memory rushed back. "Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry, Chlo! I didn't mean to say what I said. I lost my head."
"Okay, okay, apology accepted." There was still no sincerity in Chloe's voice. "Now what happened?"
Lily made a choking noise, swallowing hard. "You're not going to believe this."
"Why do I get the feeling you're drawing this out on purpose?" Chloe grinned.
"I'm not, I swear." Lily looked her best friend in the eye before dropping her gaze and lowering her head to her hand again. Her hair fell over her face as she let out another sigh before muttering thickly, "I… hate… James… Potter."
Before Chole could respond, the portrait hole opened, and in came James. He scanned the common room, and his eyes found Lily's. He held her gaze for a moment, his expression unreadable, before looking away and walking up the stairs to his dormitory. Chloe noticed that her friend's face had turned an interesting shade of pink, one that clashed violently with her hair. "Right. Sure, Lily," she laughed. Then she stood up, clapping Lily on the shoulder. "I'm going to bed, Lil," she said curtly. "Goodnight."
Lily watched her friend retreat with the sinking feeling that she was, in no way, forgiven. She sighed deeply, lying down and stretching out on the couch before closing her eyes. Her thoughts whirled uncontrollably in her mind, and a few tears leaked out of the corners of her eyes. What was it about being a teenager that sent her emotions up and down like a roller coaster? She turned onto her side, curling up and staring into the fire, thinking everything over, until she involuntarily drifted off to sleep.