A/N: To all my Fans.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
Dedication: To Josh… for making me want to cry, laugh and punch him in the face all at one time. Oh, and for those of you who said that was really out of character for David-my cousin had that happen to her. Ok, so that was based off a real life situation, so I was just replaying it, so yes, people can actually act like that.
At the end of the weekend, I was kind of glad that my Hogwarts friends left. I hardly talked to Tess, and the whole thing with David put me in a pretty bad mood. The only person that I wished would stay was Kelsey. The rest of them I couldn't care less, even the ones I did like.
"I'll see you in February." I said tearfully, and I hugged Kelsey good-bye. She smiled to, and then she turned around to get going. I watched her walk out of the castle; I couldn't help feel an amazing wave of homesickness wash over me. I loved it here, but I couldn't help miss Hogwarts and everything about it.
I trudged back up to my dorm. I didn't want to talk to anyone. I was in such a bad mood about the whole break-up that I wanted nothing to do with no one. I trudged up to my bed and laid in it.
I laid there for a while, until I heard people coming up the stairs. When I heard them, I quickly rolled off my bed and under it. I didn't feel like talking yet.
"She is all depressed. Can you believe the way her boyfriend yelled at her?" I heard Claire say.
"I know. Poor Lily. Did you hear Chris talk about what he was going to do if that David kid bothered her again?" I heard someone else say, and I guessed it was Ella. I listened closer.
"Ya, why does he like Lily so much anyways? Oh, here is my quill. Lets go." Claire said, and I heard the door slam.
So Chris did like me an awful lot… I thought he only liked me as a little crush. I rolled out from under my bed. Getting up, I looked down and saw a piece of paper. I picked it up. I looked at it for a second, and all of a sudden a flashback came: A piece of paper falling under my bed, and me not picking it up because I was so excited about the clue to the task.
I bent down and picked it up. I unfolded it carefully, scared of what might be in it. It was a letter. With a jolt I realized that it was from Tess.
Dear Lily, I miss you so much. I am so depressed without my best friend here to comfort me. My parents no longer wish for me to continue my magical education, so they gave me the option to either stop or I cant live there anymore. I chose to stay at Hogwarts, so I no longer have a home. I am so depressed. You are the only one I am going to tell because you are the only one who I know can help. Please Lily, try and do something so I can be happy again. Always, Tess.
"Wow." I thought. Tess's parents were always a little nervous of magic, but not allowing her to go to school? That was something.
I got up slowly. I felt kind of weird. I was all upset because I had broken up with my boyfriend and he called me some names because he was so mad. Tess had a much bigger problem: she needed somewhere to live. I felt so bad. I picked up a quill, and I wrote Tess a letter back saying I just found the note, and as many words of comfort as I could. Now I needed an owl.
I left my room and went down to the common room. Most of the people in Trellena were there. I gave them a small smile, and I continued on my way. Chris jumped up to walk with me.
"Where are you headed?" Chris asked softly, and I shrugged at him. I wasn't in the mood to have someone to talk to. I needed to think about what I was going to do about Tess.
"Owlery." I said, not looking at him. In a way, he was a reminder of what had happened with David, and I did not need reminding of that now. I kept walking, but soon I realized I forgot the way. I had only sent a few letters, and I couldn't remember which way to go. I looked helplessly at Chris.
"This way." He said, and he pointed down the hallway opposite what I was going to choose. I hurried down it, hoping that Chris would not follow me. Of course, no such luck. He hurried after me.
"Lily! Slow down!" He said as I sped up even more. I didn't slow down, but he caught up with me.
"Lily, what's the matter? Why are you walking so fast? Did I do something and you don't want to walk with me?" Chris sounded so sincere, so worried that something was really wrong, that I found myself spilling the whole thing about Tess to him.
"Wow… That's… interesting. And you think you can help?" Chris asked. I shrugged. "More like I hope I can help…" I said sadly.
"Listen Lily, stop beating yourself up. It isn't your fault. I know you think it's your fault this happened to Tess, but really, Lily, It isn't." Chris said softly.
I looked at him and shook my head. "I have to get to the Owlery…" I said, and I started walking again. Chris didn't turn around, he kept up with me. Soon, I was at the Owlery. I sent of my letter, and still Chris waited for me.
"Why are you waiting for me? I mean, not that I don't want you to, but why are you waiting? You don't have to…" I asked him, curious.
"Because I think you need someone to wait for you right now." He said simply, and I sighed.
"Okay…" I said softly, and we made our way back.
When we got back, I quickly went up to my dorm. When I got up there, the box that had the clue in it started vibrating. Alarmed, I approached it cautiously. I opened it, and a piece of paper flew out. I grabbed it, and I checked what it said. Next task: February 26, 2:00 PM
Time went by fairly quickly. Tess wouldn't write back, but I kept writing her over and over again, and she still wouldn't right back. My moods improved slowly, and by the time of the last day of term, I was in a very good mood.
"Claire, Lily, please stay after." My transfiguration teacher said at the end of our last class on the last day of term. Clair and I glanced at each other and shrugged as the rest of the class shuffled out.
"Okay, as I assume both of you know, we will be hosting a Yule ball. Fourth years and up will be coming, if they wish, from the other schools. You two will be required to get a dance partner, for the champions open the ball with a dance." She told us.
I glanced at my hand. I knew we needed a partner, but I hadn't gotten one yet. Claire did, however.
I nodded at the teacher. She gave as a few other things we needed to know, and then we hurried out.
"You have a date Lily?" Claire asked me, and I shook my head.
"Oh, you should totally go with Chris then, since he doesn't have a date either."
"Really? He doesn't? What about that girl he was talking to earlier? I heard her ask him." I said. That was why I didn't have someone to go with, because I thought that Chris was taken.
"He turned her down. He is hoping that you will ask him. Come on Lily, he already thinks that you aren't going to ask him, that you don't like him. Why do you think that he is so sad lately- Lily, where are you going?" Claire called to me retreating back.
"To find Chris!" I called back.
I hurried down the hallway, looking for him everywhere. I was afraid that I had waited to long, and either he wasn't going or he found someone else to go with. I looked in the library, the Owlery, the dining hall. Then I remember him saying something to Claire's date about going up to the dorms.
I almost sprinted up there. I couldn't believe that I had waited this long to ask him. I burst through the door of the common room, and looked wildly around for him. I spotted him, and he was talking to another girl. My heart dropped she playfully punched him on the shoulder. I figured she had asked him first and I wasn't going to embarrass myself. I trudged away, feeling defeat. Then I heard a shout behind me.
"Oy! Lily! Come here. There is someone I want you to meet." Chris called to me.
I turned around and slowly walked over there, knowing that he was going to introduce me to the person he was going to the ball with.
"Lily, this is my little sister Jessica. She is in fifth year." Chris said, and I laughed.
"What's so funny about that?" Chris asked, and I just shook my head. I couldn't believe that I hadn't realized it before. Once I got close to them, they looked so much alike that they could be twins, even though Chris was a year older.
"Chris, I have something I need to ask you… In private." I said, and Chris got up and followed me to a corner of the room.
"What's up?" He said, looking slightly puzzled.
"Chris…" I began, taking a deep breath. I had no idea this was going to be this hard.
"Chrisdoyouwanttogototheballwithme?" I asked in a rush.
"What?" Chris said, looking even more confused
"Do you want to… to go to the ball with me?" I asked, slower and understandable this time.
Chris relaxed and smiled, which sent shivers up my spine.
"Sure, of course I'll go with you. Christmas night, right?" Chris said, and I nodded. I was just relieved that I had said it and he had said yes, not just laughed in my face.
Since the next day was Christmas Eve, we had a day in Batille, the local wizard village. It was quite fun. I went with Sirius and Ella, who had become a couple, Claire and her date, Ryan, and Chris. Chris was basically my date, but I didn't really want to hole hands or anything, as the other two couples did. I was perfectly content with just walking next to each other.
I got the last of my Christmas shopping done. I got presents for my family, since I already had presents for my friends. I got my mom's baby a little sleeper and some cute little clothes. I was so happy that my mom was having a girl. Plus, my mom had told me that I would have the privilege of naming her, but Molly had to agree. Either way, it was awesome.
As we walked around, we ended up splitting up a bit. Well, more like Chris and I split from them. They went into this little coffee shop, which was basically for couples, and Chris and me went to The Two Cauldrons, a popular pub.
"Listen Lily, I have something to ask you now. Would you like to be my girlfriend?" Chris asked, sounding excited, nervous, hopeful and scared all at the same time.
I didn't answer right away, so Chris started to apologize, saying he was sorry and if I didn't want to be that's ok and stuff like that.
Finally, I looked at him. "Chris, its not that… Just before we even can think about getting together, you need to know about my past…" I said softly, and sadly.
A/N: Finally, a chapter! Sorry it took so long, but here it is. The next chapter will probably be up in maybe two weeks, give or take a little... Please review, and please tell me good names because I kind of forgot all the old ones. Thanks!
