Chapter Seven: The Seventh Note

They were heading downstairs when Lily told them about the trip to Hogsmeade on Valentine's Day.

"That's great!" Hailey exclaimed. "It's going to be my first time to go to Hogsmeade with Taylor as my boyfriend! I'm so excited!"

"So Jen, are you going?" Katie asked.

"If someone asks, why not?"

"That would leave Lily dateless!" Hailey said.

"Not unless Mr. Mysterious asks her out…" Jen pointed out.

"Which I highly doubt…" Lily said. "We're not even certain if he really is serious."

"We've been there…" Hailey, Jen and Katie said together. "It's pointless to argue about that again." Jen added.

"No really guys… Seriously… What gives you the idea that this guy is not playing around?"

Hailey rolled her eyes at Lily, entertaining the thought of hitting her friend on the head to knock some sense into her. "We just know it and you should too."

"So stop thinking about it and just enjoy the day!" Katie added. "What's the first class anyway?"

"Charms…" Lily answered subconsciously.

"Let's get going then…"

They were heading their way to their classroom when they heard Derek calling after them. When they stopped, they saw him carrying another tulip in his hand. And again, he recited his line. "Hello again, Ms. Lily, but a young man wanted me to give this to you. He said he hopes you'll like it—and the other flowers to come."

Receiving the tulip from the boy, Lily questioned him immediately before he got the chance to get away.

"To whom are these tulips from, Derek? Please tell me…" Lily pleaded.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Lily, but I can't."

"But why?" Lily asked, saddened.

"Because if I will, I wouldn't be able to gain my prize." He simply stated.

"What prize?"

"Well, he promised me a box of chocolate frogs after giving his message to you. I will soon be receiving the second one later."

"What do you mean?" Hailey asked.

"He gives me a box before I send it and gives me another after sending it."

"What if I give you two boxes of those chocolates so you can tell me who he is."

"He's too witty for you Ms. Evans." Derek laughed.

"What? Why?"

"Because," Derek started, still laughing. "He also promised me to double whatever offer you present to me for me to reveal his identity to any of you."

"I'll triple it."

"Sorry, but he will double your triple."

"What can I do so you will tell me?" She asked desperately.

Derek took a deep breath before saying, "Ms. Lily, just give him the chance to tell you himself. He's been through a lot for me to blow this for him. The least I could do is to comply with his simple requests. What I can only give you is an assurance that you will find out who he is. Soon."

Feeling defeated, Lily hesitantly replied, "All right."

Lily looked at the Seventh note in her hands as she listened to the hurrying footsteps of Derek as he went the separate direction.

"What does it say?" Katie asked.

"Read it together with the rest, Lils." Hailey suggested.

Lily handed Hailey her things as she withdrew the other notes from her pocket. She read it altogether.

The distance between us was quite far, but the figure of you and him holding hands was a clear sight. (1)

From where I was standing, both of you were having a good time… (2)
Holding hands…

Walking with comfortable silence…
Knowing nothing about a man hurting—watching with tears drowning his eyes. (3)

His longing for someone…
His love—he knows he could never have. (4)

And then, what seemed like a dream, the reality of you and him was no longer—it was finally over. (5)

Destiny may have brought you two together, but it was also fate that broke you two apart from each other. (6)

There was no longer you and him…My heart ached for your pain—and although I was hurting for you, my heart could not deny the joy of knowing you're no longer with him. (7)

"He's good…" Jen said. "He should be smart to be able to compose these notes."

"It actually sounds nice." Katie noted. "And according to Derek, we will soon find out who he is."

"Are you excited Lils?" Jen asked.

"I don't know." Was Lily's answer. "Do you think he's actually decent?"

"What do you mean?"

"I actually don't know what I meant by that." Lily laughed. "I guess I just don't know what—or rather who to expect."

"Who do you expect, then?" Hailey asked, as the four of them starting to head their way to their class. "Do you have anyone in mind now?"

"Well, of course I have some things to consider."

"Like what?" Jen asked.

"Well, I'd love it if he's in our house and a person I haven't dated yet. And well, I do hope he's good looking—but it's ok if he's not. I mean, as long as he's not, well, you know what I mean." Lily laughed.

"Any other considerations, as you put it?" Jen teased.

"Well, I guess him being smart is out of the question. He's clearly it! And romantic? Definitely!"

"And how about popularity?" Hailey asked. "Will it bother you if his identity will only be known to you when he uncovers himself?"

"Ammm… I don't think he's it." Lily said.

"How'd you know that?" The three questioned.

"Dunno… I just do."

"What if he's Diggory?" Jen asked. "What would you do?"

"Nope! Done dating him.. He's ok but we're just not, well, you know how it works. He's too boring for my liking."

"Geoff Carter?" Hailey asked.

"Won't even consider it." Was Lily's definite answer.

"Matthew Johnson?"

"Amm.. He's absolutely good looking, but he's not into commitment, so no…"

"Sirius Black?" Hailey asked. In reply, Lily shook her head wildly.

Pretending to give it a little thought, Jen asked quietly, with a voice suggesting something. "How about James?"

"James Potter?" Lily asked.

"Yeah…" Katie said, catching Jen's drift. "We can consider him. He did like you, and we don't know if he really stopped. So there… How about James?"

"And besides," Hailey added, "he's gorgeous, smart, a Gryffindor and is our very own Head boy."

"Just imagine this," Katie added, making funny gestures with her hands. "Head boy and head girl romance. Isn't that romantic?"

Lily just laughed at her friends, but was secretly thinking about it.

"You wouldn't get away with this, Lils…" Jen said. "Don't just laugh it off. We want some answers and we want it now!"

"Ok… Ok…" Lily said as they neared their classroom. As she looked inside, she saw the Marauders and her eyes immediately settled on James. Eyeing him carefully, she finally concluded that she won't mind one bit if he's her guy. She glanced at her waiting friends and smirked at them. "I guess I wouldn't mind…" She said and hurriedly went to her chair, eager to get away from the questions she was sure her friends were dying to ask her.