Sirius grudgingly accepted the fact that yes, there was going to be a ball and it didn't matter how many times he hexed the tables in Transfiguration to tap dance, it was still going to be him moving his legs instead on the night. At least, that's what McGonagall forced him to accept. He returned from detention last on a Wednesday night, slightly disgruntled. He would have been more so if I hadn't been pulling faces at him for half the time in the pair of mirrors we had.

'Bloody teachers.' He threw his books on the sofa beside me as I twirled my wand between my fingers. I nodded, not listening. I had enough to think about. Quidditch was on Saturday. We were playing Slytherin and they had some vicious beaters so I knew I was in for it. Ok, maybe I had induced the anger slightly, but I still assert that Snape looks a fair bit better with Elephant ears.

We'd had a practice earlier that evening and we'd come out of it… well, miserable. I had called after the others that they were looking really good, really shaping up. Then, when they'd gone, I'd beat my head against the change room wall several times.

Did I mention I was Quidditch captain? Oh. Well, I am.

I know I haven't writing about Quidditch all that much but, like I said at the beginning of all this, it was mostly about Evans. Hell. I just read over the first few pages and I guess I've changed a fair bit, since I started recording all of this. I maintain that it's Evans' fault. Let's just blame her for everything, shall we?

Anyway, Sirius was sulking about writing lines for four hours and Evans herself skulked downstairs. I blinked. It was midnight and she was coming downstairs, dressed?

'Where you going?' Sirius barked, clearly as shocked as I was. Lily jumped and stared at us. She stayed where she was, as if her feet were frozen to the floor, her eyes locked on us. On me. Sirius gave a snort of disgust. 'Not worth it, it's late. Night, James.'

He stalked past Lily, purposefully knocking her sideways as he did before disappearing up the stairs. Lily turned slightly away from me, rubbing her arm. I sighed.

'Come here.'
'I don't have to do anything you say.' The voice was husky, miserable.

'No, but you should do it anyway. I won't ask again.'

Apparently, I had a very commanding voice and it seemed to appear then because she jumped guiltily and hurried over. She stood in front of me, head down. Submissive. The old, fifth year me laughed at the irony of it.

'You didn't do it. Did you?'

Her head snapped up and she stared at me in complete shock. I had nothing to go by, just this strange notion in my head.

'You don't have any proof.'

Now it was my turn to be shocked. She was denying she was innocent. I bit my lip.

'Did you do it?'

Silence.

'Lily. Did you do it?'

'If I said I did, would you believe me?'

'No.'

'Why?'

'I don't know!' I jumped to my feet, flinging my hands in the air in frustration. She took a step back and my heart gave a heavy thump as she flinched and raised her hands, looking like she thought I was about to hit her. 'I just don't know! It doesn't make any sense, everyone says your guilty but you're not like that! You're better than that!'

Lily looked away, hands twisting together, body shaking.

'Where are you going?'

She didn't answer. I grabbed her shoulders and shook her. 'Where are you going!'

'The Owlery!'

'Why!'

'To send a letter, James!' She whipped it out of her pocket and waved it in front of my nose. I snatched for it but somehow she was too fast and she jammed it back deep into her pocket as my hands clamped back onto her shoulders. 'Let me go!'

I tightened my hands on her shoulders and shook my head. 'Who to?'

'It doesn't matter,' she whispered.

'Who to, Lily!'

'Rack off!' She lifted her hands and ripped herself out of my grip. 'Get lost! Just stay away from me, ok? Stay the hell away!'

'Tell me.'

'No.'

I whipped out my wand. 'Don't make me use this.'

'My parents are dead, James!'

I froze, wand tip still an inch from her chest. Her hair was tangled, eyes wild. With a half scream of outrage and confusion, she ran a wild hand through her hair. 'My parents are dead and my sister has been given the house. I have nowhere to go, I would have asked Susan or Bianca but Bianca is going to France in the summer and Susan… well, we're not friends anymore and you…'

She broke off and sobbed, raising two tear filled eyes to me. 'James, just… leave me alone!'