Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. My friend doesn't own Harry Potter. You don't own Harry Potter. Unless you're J. K. Rowling. OMG! J. K. Rowling is reading my story! OMG! runs around room until collapses on floor Yeah. I didn't think so.

Chappie 8

Waiting for Dreams

Lily couldn't believe what she had just heard. She sat back down at the table. By this time she was aware that the whole school had been listening to their conversation. He couldn't be serious, could he? Maybe this was just one of his pranks that got out of hand. Yeah, that was it. Deep down she knew she was wrong, but she wasn't going to admit it.

Lily was in what seemed like a trance for the rest of the night. No matter how hard Maggie, Shay or Hari tried to engage her in some sort of conversation, the best they could get out of her was an "uh huh."

Before they entered the common room, Maggie pulled her aside. "I just wanted to say that I think James is a complete and total ass." She looked Lily in the eye. "Don't you agree?"

Lily felt tears well up in her eyes. She wasn't going to cry over him, she just wasn't. She hung her head before answering, "Uh huh."

"And I know you fell awful right now," Maggie continued, "but Lisa is our dorm-mate and I know that the only thing that could make her even more happy right now is to see you walk into the dorm in tears. Honestly, I don't even see how she got into Gryffindor. She should have been in Slytherin, with all the other rats and earwigs."

Lily smiled. "Okay." She sniffed and they walked into the common room.

Maggie sent Lily up the stairs, to the dorm, before Lisa got there and stepped over to talk with Shay and Hari.

They exchanged worried looks. "Is she going to be okay?" Hari asked.

"I don't know," Maggie replied. "You should have seen them yesterday. He was so different."

"Different how?" Shay inquired.

"Well, for one thing, he wasn't an idiot like he was tonight. Truly, guys, I've never seen him like that. He was such a different person around her. It was like, popularity didn't matter anymore. James was himself."

"Weird," Hari commented.

"Yeah," Maggie said, and she told them the story of Lily and James.

"Wow."

"I know, Shay. I couldn't believe it at first either," Maggie explained.

"That's so sweet," Shay crooned.

"Yeah, and the best part is, she still has the locket and-"

The portrait hole opened. Lisa and her retinue of younger Gryffindors flowed in.

"I think it's about time we weren't here anymore," Maggie whispered to Shay and Hari. They agreed and left for bed.

Maggie and Shay trudged up the dormitory stair; worried about what they might find. Shay slowly opened the door expecting to hear sobbing, or something. She heard nothing, so they walked into the room. All was quiet. Lily bed hangings were closed.

"Should I see if she's in there?" Maggie asked.

Shay nodded.

Maggie tip-toed over to the bed and parted the curtains, there Lily slept peacefully, a smile on her lips.

Maggie shrugged her shoulders. "She seems fine." They went to bed, exhausted.

The next day was one of the worst Lily had ever experienced. The rain continued throughout the whole day, and got continuously worse. Lily tried her hardest to avoid James all day, but it's was kind of hard when she have every single class with him. Lily was pretty sure she would have loved her first day of classes had not Lisa been sending her icy stares throughout all of her classes. By the end of her last class, Charms, Lily had had enough. When James stayed behind to finish copying the notes from the board, Lily did too.

Hari cast her a worried look as he passed her on his way out, but she waved it off. "I'll be fine," she told him. "See you at dinner." She waited for James to look up.

James finished the notes and turned to leave only to see Lily sitting serenely in her desk. His face fell. He didn't need this right now. He didn't want to deal with this.

"James," Lily spat.

"Lily?" James didn't know where this was going. He decided to find out as they went.

Lily stood up and approached James. "So. Do you want to explain?"

"Explain what?" James asked, starting to get defensive.

"Hmm, I don't know. How about how I can't see you or talk to you or even be near you without your precious little girlfriend looking like she's about to kill me?" she questioned, her voice rising.

"I don't have any idea what you're talking about," James stated.

"Don't give me that crap, James. You know perfectly well what I'm talking about. Listen, it's just you and me here. No one else is around. Just tell me the truth. Tell me the truth, James," Lily implored.

James looked away. He looked at the ground and the ceiling, anywhere but at her. What he was about to do would kill him, but, in his mind, he had to do it. "I, I don't love you, Lily. I never did."

"What?" The hurt and disbelief was evident in her voice.

James looked up. He stepped toward her. He regretted what he had said now. "Lily, I don't-" He reached out and held her hand.

Lily threw off his hand. "Don't touch me!" she spat. She backed away. "I-" Her voice caught. She couldn't cry. Not in front of him. She turned to go.

"Lily, wait!" James called desperately after her.

She spun around. "No, James. I'm not going to wait anymore. I've waited too long for dreams that are never going to come true." An escaped tear rolled down her cheek. "You say you don't love me, that's fine, you're entitled to that, but let me say one thing. I loved you, and, like a fool, I thought you loved me too." She walked out of the room and slammed the door; as soon as she hit the hallway, the tears fell.

James sat heavily in one of the desks. "But, Lily, I do love you," he said to the empty room.

"Where is she?" Maggie asked Hari. "I thought you said she was coming to dinner."

"That's what she told me," he answered.

"I can't take it anymore," Maggie told them. "I'm going to go find her. Come on Shay. Hari you go up to the common room and wait for her there."

"Okay," they agreed.

Hari had been sitting in the common room for hours. By now, everyone had gone to bed. It was just him and the crackling fire. Periodically, Shay and Maggie would come bursting in; asking if he had seen Lily. Saying no, they would sketch out a quick battle plan of where to search next, dry off a little, and headed out again. With each meeting, they became more and more worried. Where was she?

The portrait hole opened; expecting it to be Maggie and Shay, Hari didn't look up and said, "I still haven't seen her. Why don't you check-" He looked up. "Lily." He rushed over to her. She was sopping. "Are you okay?" he asked.

She shook her head. "No." Her bottom lip quivered, and she burst into tears for the second time that night.

He put his arms around her. "It'll be okay, Lily." She was shivering. "Lily, come sit by the fire." He guided her to the sofa and put an afghan around her. When he sat down, she cuddled up next to him. He wanted to know what had happened after Charms, but he didn't press her. She would tell him if she wanted to.

Eventually she said through her sobs, "He told me he didn't love me. I could have handled it any other time, but after my parents-" she paused. She hadn't told anyone about this. She had to tell someone sometime. "But after my parents di- died." She started crying again.

"Oh, Lily." He hugged her closer to him. "Forget about James. Is this what your parent would have wanted, though? I know you're feeling lost, but dry your tears away." He wiped her tears from her cheeks and pointed to the windows, where the storm still raged. "See the trees? They bend and sway. Can you hear them say 'we feel it, too'? We feel it, too, Lily Evans, you're not alone. If no one else, I'm here for you. Tomorrow springs before you, Lily. You have to live it to the fullest for those who can't." He looked down at Lily; she was asleep. He smiled and closed his eyes.

Awhile later, Shay and Maggie walked into the common room.

"Hey, Hari, we didn't-" Maggie started to say before Shay cut her off.

She pointed to the sleeping forms on the couch. "Should we wake him?"

"Oh. Nah, let them sleep. They look exhausted. Just like I feel. Let's go to bed," Maggie answered. She started for the stairs, but turned to Shay when she realized she wasn't following her. "Come on."

"'Kay. I thought I saw something up on the boy's staircase. Meh. Probably the light." She followed Maggie.

They went to bed.

A grey dawn spread over the grounds of Hogwarts, and as the bleak rays touched Gryffindor Tower's windows, Lily awoke. Hari stirred and woke, too. Lily sat up, as Hari stared at her. She blushed.

"Thanks. You know, for being there last night," she said bashfully.

Hari sat up. "It's no problem." His emerald eyes flashed concern. "Are you okay?"

Her eyes hardened. "I'm not going to cry anymore; I'm done with being sad. It's time to get even." She gave him a mischievous grin, and her eyes gleamed with the promise of wicked fun. "What do you think?"

"What do I think?" he asked. She nodded. He smiled. "I think it's time for breakfast!"

WooHoo! Done! Thanks to all of you who reviewed!

Harry-an-ginny: Yeah. It was mean, but it had to be done.

Miriacle Girls: Not exactly love/hate. You'll find out more next chapter.

futurePOTUS: Yes, James is evil. Thanks for reviewing.

Following Padfoot's Pawprints: I'm mean because that's my job. Good luck on Saturday!

Bumi: I agree; James is a stupid ass.

AlannaDragon(anon.): Have fun reading Eldest and tell me how it goes! Yeah, I know! They totally ruined the third Harry Potter Book in the movie! It made me so mad!

WhiteTiger1992: Glad you liked it!

Alaskan Chick: Yeah, I even wanted to punch him when I wrote it. And I WROTE it!

Dwntwndanbrwn: Yep. Thanks!

Backstagebabe: Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you liked it!

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