"So, Lils, you and Matt?"
"What about us?" Lily feigned ignorance.
"Well, what's going on?"
"Nothing," Lily shrugged. Remus had been too distant to her lately for her to want to tell him anything just yet.
"Lily, please? I just wanna know what's going on. After all, we're best mates, and –"
"Are we though?"
"Sorry?" Remus looked genuinely puzzled.
"Well, it's not like you've been too bothered about me lately, is it? You've been spending more time with someone who hates my guts than with me. You weren't there when I really needed you. How am I supposed to feel about you when you just left me to cry?"
"Lily, I wasn't just leaving you, I –"
"I don't really care, Remus. I've had enough of people at the moment. Why are you here, anyway? Come to hear me cry?"
"Lily, the reason I've been spending more time with James than you is –"
"I don't care, Remus!"
"I know you like him, Lily! I've –"
"I do not!"
"Lily, I'm not fucking blind! You like him and you're bloody miserable because he's doing fuck all about it. I've been trying to get him to do something – I know he likes you, Lily, and so does the rest of the bloody world. Would you rather I'd just left it and you two had ended up loners forever?"
"Remus, I'm –" Lily's voice was softer, and she was biting her lip.
"Save it, Lily. Everyone's sick of your stupid mood swings. Just don't give up on James. You two are perfect for each other, however much Sirius tried to persuade him you're not worth it. All James sees is you going after some guy who's gonna use you like a piece of meat and dump you like a slut."
"Remus –"
"Whatever, Lily. I just hope that sinks into your bloody stupid skull. I'll leave you to pimp-boy, shall I?"
"Remus, don't –" But Remus was already walking away and, as lily gazed at his back, he didn't turn around.
"Lily?"
Lily spun around. "Oh, hey again. Van Spyk done with you?"
"Yeah. Wanna take a walk?"
"Sure." Lily decided, for better or for worse, to forget about Remus, forget about James, and just have fun. As they walked, they talked, and eventually came to the spot at the edge of the forest where she and James had been when they had decided to follow Petra. Lily sighed sadly.
"What's up, Lil?"
"Oh, nothing of consequence."
"Yes it is. You admitted earlier that there was something wrong."
"True."
"Well then."
"Argh, alright." And, as they set off walking again, Lily told Matt all about James and what had happened. She carefully edited the story, however, to make it sound like James didn't mean anything to her any more. After all, it wasn't as if anything would ever happen between them, and Matt was a chance too cute to miss. When she had finished, Matt spoke again.
"Sounds like you're well rid of him, to be honest." Lily frowned, so Matt went on. "Obviously I don't know him as well as you do, but from what you've told me and from what other people say about him, it sounds like he's not worth your time."
"You're probably right," Lily sighed.
x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x
"Hey Lily," a voice said as Lily made her was up to Gryffindor Tower.
"Oh, hi Remus." He had come along the corridor leading from the library. "Homework?"
"Yeah. Peter's still struggling with Transfiguration, so James and I were helping him out before McGonagall's Grand Crackdown."
Lily smiled. "Where's James?"
"Still there," Remus grinned. "I just couldn't take it any more though."
"Fair enough. Look, Remus – about earlier…"
"Enough said, Lils. Let's just leave it, eh? No worries."
"Thanks, Remus," she smiled.
"No probs. So, been walking with Matt all this time?"
"Yeah."
"Fun?"
"I guess."
"Why only 'I guess'?"
"Well, he wanted me to tell him what was up, so I had to tell him all about James and everything. He already knew about Sirius, of course, so…" she trailed off, looking at Remus. "What?"
Remus smiled evilly. "All about James? According to you, there isn't anything between you two to get bothered about…"
"Don't try that one on my, Remus Lupin." Lily narrowed her eyes. "I was just upset about the argument we had, nothing else."
"Yeah, sure."
Lily sighed. "Why won't you believe me?"
"Because it's damn obvious, Lily. Please, just talk to me about him. It's not like I'm telling you to confess that you're madly in love with him and want his babies."
"Yeah, but still – Hey! I'm not madly in love with James, and I don't want his babies."
"Well that's besides the point. You like him, don't you?"
Lily grimaced. "Yes, but –"
"Aha! I knew it!"
"Yes, you've been saying that for the past I don't know how long, but –"
"Haha, you confessed!"
"Oh, come on, it's not that big a deal! And anyway –"
"It is! I cracked Lily Evans! That doesn't happen every day."
"Shut up, Remus."
"No. Haha! You like James, you like Potter, hahahaha…"
"Remus."
"Yes?" Remus halted briefly to look sideways at Lily.
"SHUT UP!"
Remus burst out laughing, and Lily glared at him. He didn't stop, however, and pretty soon Lily felt a tug at the corners of her own mouth. Within seconds, she was giggling madly along with him, and the two of them ended up propped up against the stone wall. Just then, Peeves zoomed along the corridor towards them from the direction they had come. Lily tried her best to sober up, not wanting the poltergeist to get them while they were down, but failed miserably.
"Ooh, in the mood for one of Peevsie's little jokes, are we?"
Remus tried to control his laughter. "Erm, no, Peeves, we were just…" But Peeves had pulled from behind his back a cluster of small brightly coloured objects.
Not wanting to stay and find out what they were, the two of them took off along the corridor. Lily heard something hit the ground behind her and looked back to see a puddle of bright green liquid which smelled like –
"Paint bombs!" Lily yelled, and she and Remus sped up, trying their hardest to outrun the speedy poltergeist.
"Kapow!" they heard Peeves yell as more paint bombs collided with the walls, splattering Lily and Remus with flecks of different coloured paint.
They ran all the way to Gryffindor tower, not knowing whether they had lost Peeves, but hearing the echoes of squelching pockets of paint nevertheless. Lily collapsed against the wall where the Fat Lady sat in her frame, looking alarmed.
"Whatever has happened to you two?" she asked.
"We were…" Remus panted.
"Running away from Peeves," Lily finished, sliding to the floor in exhaustion.
The Fat Lady tutted. "That insufferable poltergeist will get what is coming to him one say, you mark my words."
Lily grinned. "Remus, turn around." Remus did so, and she burst out laughing.
"What?"
"You look like a packet of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans!" she laughed.
"Bet you do too," Remus said as the Fat Lady joined in Lily's amusement. "Get up."
Lily heaved herself to her feet and turned around, sighing reluctantly.
Remus snorted. "Yup, Bertie Bott's it is." Lily turned back around and, as they looked at each other, both burst out laughing again. They only stopped when James and Peter approached up the corridor, looking completely perplexed.
"What's so funny?" asked Peter.
"You look like you've all gone mad," James added.
"Private joke," said the Fat Lady sniffily. "Password?"
"Bubotuber pus," James said, and the portrait swung open. The four of them clambered through, Lily and Remus still chortling behind the other two, who looked completely nonplussed.
When they got inside, Lily immediately noticed Chrissy sitting by the window, looking harassed.
"What's up, Chris?" Lily asked, walking over to her. Remus followed.
"Oh, I'm just tired," Christina smiled. "And I want to slaughter Van Spyk."
"You're not the only one," Lily grimaced.
"This homework sucks. Why are we supposed to be writing about the way the Dark Arts affect relationships?"
"We are?" Lily asked, puzzled.
"Well, we can all see that Lily always pays full attention in Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons," Remus grinned.
"Shut up, Remus." Lily turned to Chrissy. "When did she say that?"
"Last lesson. How pointless, though – you'd think she was trying to give us relationship counselling or something."
Lily snorted. "From her? Lesson one: how to be a first-class bitch…"
Remus and Chrissy chuckled, and Remus said, "What's she done to piss you off, Lily? I'm sure she's not that bad."
"Oh come on, Remus. She's set us pointless yet difficult homework – I think Lily has the right to be annoyed."
Lily was grateful, although homework wasn't exactly the reason she was annoyed with Petra. "Yeah."
"Ugh. Anyway, what have you two been up to?" Chrissy asked, piling up her books and parchment and stuffing them into her bag as she spoke.
"Not much really," Lily said. She would talk to Chrissy about her walk with Matt later. "How about you?"
"Trying to do this homework," Christina sighed.
"And failing?" asked Remus, looking amused.
"Of course."
Lily grinned. "Is it ever any different?" and before Chrissy had a chance to berate her, she spoke again. "Guys, I need your help."
"We've known that for years," Chrissy said, and stuck her tongue out at a disgruntled Lily. Remus mimed licking his finger and marking a line on an invisible tally chart.
"Touchė!"
"Well, what's this specific problem then?" Remus asked.
"Three guesses. I doubt you'll need more than one…"
The other two looked at each other, grinned, looked back at Lily and said, simultaneously, "James?"
Lily sighed. "It really is that obvious, isn't it?"
I feel very guilty about not updating over the holidays. I had this written before Christmas and I was planning a bumper chapter. However,I didn't write another word until yesterday because I felt damn awful. So here it is, and I hope you're not too mad at me. I've managed to reply to reviews at least, but who doesn't wanna thank you lovely people for an ego-boost? This chapter is really just a filler, asI planned some action later but, as you can see, it just didn't happen. I'm sorry.
A belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Becca xxx