Author's Note: I'm SO sorry it took me so long to update! My laptop fried (literally! It heated up so bad that it ruined some of the internal stuff!) and it took a while 'till I was able to get all my files to a different computer. But here it is: chapter 7! Lotta dialogue in this one, but it's fun dialogue! Yay!

As always, many thanks to the wonderful reviewers! sets out a plate of cookies Help yourself:)

Chapter 7: Confession Time

"Um… tell me again what happened?" Riley Johnson looked incredulously at Lily, who was suffering from the worst caffeine crash of her life on the common room couch.

"Well…." Lily's hands shook, nearly spilling the glass of water she was holding. She glared at them as if they would stop on their own accord. "Never again!" She growled. "Should never have listened to J… to Potter… drank seven cups of coffee. Mad about Chloe, didn't sleep much… sleep deprived…."

"Lily!" Riley threw a pillow at her. "Okay, deep breath. Drink that water… there ya go. Now, start form the beginning."

"Okay." Lily set down the empty glass and took an deep, calming breath. "You know how we're having that Halloween Party?"

"Yes?"

"Well, you see, it was my idea…." She trailed off, waiting for a disdainful reaction. However, unlike Chloe, Riley just grinned.

"That explains the suddenly silent furniture and the absence of confetti."

"So you don't think it's an awful idea?"

"Well… yes… but 95 of the student body likes it, and it's improving everyone's spirits, so why should I be mad about it?"

Lily made a little sound of relief and let her shoulders sag. She was expecting Riley to take Chloe's side on this. Then again, she should have remembered Riley usually created her own side for most things, and never took sides in an argument. She was very like Remus in that way, actually.

"So I take it Chloe thought it was an awful idea."

"Yeah. She kinda flipped when she found out it was me who came up with it. And, being the redhead that I am, I flipped out right back. I… said some things that I shouldn't have. I told her that she was too biased, and that she should start looking beyond her… circumstances… at what might be good for other people."

"Oh."

"Yeah…."

"Mhmh."

"You know how frustrated I get sometimes – she won't give herself any credit. It's like she's afraid to have fun or indulge herself, for fear that it might come back to – hurt her. And I can't get her to loosen up. You know, I've done so much for her!"

"And without you, who knows what might happen to her every vacation. I know. But you can't make this about yourself – it's not how Chlo's mind works. We both know this."

"And it's happened before."

"And all we can do is show her that she IS cared for, and it's okay to let herself go sometimes without paying for it."

"Because fun shouldn't have a price." A well known male voice finished their recitation."

"Remus! Where've you been?"

"Talking to one upset Miss Patterson."

"I…" Lily began.

"…yes, I know. You lost your head, and you apologized. She's more upset about what you said to her. She's now determined to prove to you that she can have fun."

"Oh geez. I'd better go talk to her." Lily stood up. "I assume she's in the library?"

"Yes. I left her with…" his eyes widened, and then he laughed. "I left her with Sirius."

"Oh god." She left quickly to save Chloe – or save Sirius, maybe? – from a terrible fate.

That left Riley and Remus sitting across from an empty couch and four empty glasses.

"Sometimes I hate being neutral," Riley sighed.

"Hey, it worked for the Swiss in the Grindelwald War."

"Remus…"

"What?"

"You actually pay attention in History of Magic?"

"Um…." The boy reddened a bit and vanished Lily's abandoned water glasses to distract Riley. This conversation wasn't going where he planned. Thankfully, Riley didn't pursue the matter.

"So… I was wondering," he said after an awkward pause.

"Hm?"

"I have this little question?"

"A little question, huh? And what might this little question be?"

Remus stood and put a hand on his heart dramatically. "Would the honorable Miss Johnson like to accompany me to the Halloween party?"