Marlene sunk further into the tub water, her chin just above the surface. It was quiet in the bathroom, tucked in the back of the cottage. She didn't have to experience the tension that seemed ever present when Lily and James were in the same room.

Two days they'd been in Bamburgh and Marlene was already regretting the trip. She'd imagined a fun getaway, hanging out with all of her friends. Instead, she had James and Lily avoiding each other like the plague.

Marlene needed to do some serious convincing to get Lily on the trip. She'd wanted her there so bad partly because she was keen to spend some quality time with her best friend but also because she knew that Lily would make an excellent buffer between her and Sirius. If she hadn't come along Marlene knew for a fact shagging Black would be inevitable and, in a four-room cottage, the chances of getting caught were too high for comfort. When Lily had been apprehensive Marlene had promised things with James wouldn't be weird, and yet…

"Mar?" Came a timid voice from the door, a soft knock following. There went Marlene's alone time.

"Come in!"

Lily stepped into the bathroom sheepishly, hands tucked behind her back.

"Sorry…"

"What's up?"

"I just…I wanted to apologize, I feel like maybe it wasn't a good idea to intrude on your trip with James…"

"Aw, Lil—"

"Maybe I should go? Leave you guys to yourselves for the next two days?"

"Absolutely not."

Marlene suspected the awkwardness between the two stemmed from their argument a few weeks prior. James had said it was all water under the bridge but Marlene sensed he'd been struggling a little more than expected to live by his words.

"Come on, he just needs a little time to warm up and then everything will be back to normal." Though, now that she thought it about, it had never been normal for the four of them to hang out together. "How about we go explore the village today? It's really beautiful."

"Yes! Yes, that sounds amazing."

"Give me thirty?"

"How about fifteen?" Lily countered.

"That's cruel."

"Just love to keep you on your toes."

It was thirty minute before Marlene was dressed and ready but that was to be expected at this point in friendship. Lily was already mapping out a route, all the points around the village she was keen to explore. Marlene used the distraction to find the boys and do her best to get them out.

Their room had two twin beds, Sirius lying on one, flipping through a Quidditch magazine too quickly to absorb anything, James on the other, a familiar toy in his hands.

"I haven't seen you do that in forever." James caught the snitch in his hand the second he noticed her, shoving it in his drawer. Marlene couldn't remember the last time she'd caught James playing with that thing.

"Old habits die hard I guess."

"Lily and I were going to do a bit of exploring, care to join?"

"I've already seen the village a hundred times," James shrugged, "nothing new to see." Now he was just choosing to be difficult. Sirius, who had been listening the whole time, tossed his magazine aside and hopped off the bed.

"Sounds fun," he said, speaking for the two of them. "Let's go Prongs. I've never seen the sites."

"There are no sites," James grumbled uncooperatively. "If you want to go feel free, I'd rather stay behind." James turned away from them, rummaging about in his trunk. Marlene knew he was just pretending so that they would leave him alone.

"James." Marlene was so tired of all the weird energy. She hated when James pouted like a petulant child whenever he didn't get his way. "Please don't make me yell."

"What—"

"Come on! You're ruining this trip for everyone with that attitude."

"There's no attitude!"

"I don't mean to stab you in the back here mate but, there's an attitude," Sirius interjected.

"You're trying to prove a point to Lily."

"I'm not trying to prove anything." Marlene could see James was getting angry, the colour rising in his face. "I'm just giving her the space she clearly wants."

"Don't bullshit," Marlene warned him, "not with me." She was the only one James let talk to him like that. She stared him down with her hands on her hips not interested in any more excuse.

"I'm just…trying my best, okay?"

"Okay," Marlene nodded, "so then, let's stop excluding ourselves and enjoy a day out with the group." James still didn't look very enthusiastic but he moved off the bed at least.

"I'm not promising I'll stay."

"I can live with that," Marlene shrugged.

Marlene pretended not to listen as Sirius teased James for being a wet blanket and led the way back into the sitting room where Lily waited, no clue what was about to be sprung on her.

"Mar? What do you think we start with Bamburgh Castle, it seems the coolest?" Lily was staring at the travel guide, not paying attention to the extra two bodies entering the room.

"Mind if two people join us?"

Marlene had never seen Lily more shocked than when she saw James Potter standing there, choosing to hang out with her. Marlene couldn't quite understand why things between them were so fractured. It wasn't as though arguing was new to them but this time felt different.

"It's fine if you'd rather we didn't come," James was ruffling the back of his hair. Marlene was tempted to swat his hand away.

"Of course I want you to come!" Lily said, a little too enthusiastically. There was a short pause, in which everyone stared at their feet and Sirius and Marlene pretended to pay attention to anything but the elephant in the room.

"Okay," James finally said to the room, "let's go."

X

Bamburgh Castle was gorgeous. Marlene had only been to it once as a kid when her father had gone through his "muggle relics" phase. Now though, she had much more appreciation for the property. Truthfully, it was hard to be truly "wowed" by castles when you lived in one. Although Marlene knew she could never say that out loud without sounding like a complete wanker.

"I feel like I'd make a good noble lady," Marlene announced, as they made their turn of the castle's master bedroom.

"Oh yeah?" Lily scoffed. "Why's that?"

"Um, I would kill to throw parties all day and have other people clean up after me."

"Careful McKinnon, you're starting to sound like my mother," Sirius sniped.

"Not to mention you would absolutely hate that," James reminded her, arm draping over Marlene's shoulders as they exited the room. "You would die of boredom." She knew he was right, she so hated when James was right about anything.

"Let's go to the great hall next!" Lily insisted. "I want to compare it to the one at Hogwarts." She and Sirius were leading the way, James and Marlene trailing behind. At least they'd swapped partners this time. Marlene was watching as Sirius tucked a strand of his hair - which seemed to never stop growing - behind his ear, smirking at something Lily had said. He was licking his lips; Christ Marlene was beginning to regret creating a "no-fly zone" for the weekend…

"What's that look about?" James had been watching her the entire time. Marlene only realized it when she turned back to face him.

"Nothing," she lied, "just…thinking."

"Guys! It's here…" The doors to the great hall - labelled the "king's hall" on the plaque near the entrance - were slightly ajar, probably to prevent visitors from entering. The four of them ignored the barrier, stepping through into the empty room.

"Looks like it's set up for an event," Marlene observed as they made their way down the aisle of red velvet chairs. At the end of the hall was an altar of sorts, a few red stairs leading up to a gorgeous stone archway, a fireplace behind it.

"A wedding probably," James interjected, looking up at the vaulted ceiling.

"Can you imagine getting married here?" Lily was in awe, doing circles of the room, admiring the stain glass windows and old portraits on the walls. "It'd be almost as good as getting married in the great hall at Hogwarts." Marlene, who had her back to the group as she admired the large stone fireplace, couldn't help but smirk. Was it not James who had always told her as kids he would find a way to wed in the great hall whether Dumbledore approved or not?

"Well," Marlene said, turning back around to face the group, "maybe you'll get married here one day Lil." Lily was a few paces ahead of Marlene and grinned at the suggestion.

"Wouldn't that be nice…"


Alice woke up the same way she had every day since her mother had disappeared; groggy, confused, and then, like a giant wave crashing over her, overcome with grief. She sat up, reaching for the glass of water beside her bed, only pausing when she heard the muffled voices carrying from downstairs. Only one of them was familiar, sticking out as her father's, but the other sounded out of place in her house.

She tiptoed across her carpeted floor and cracked the door open so that she could hear, the pit in her stomach growing.

"I'm sorry Charles." She knew immediately it was Alastor Moody speaking. "Her body was found just outside of London."

"How do you…" her father's voice was weak. "How do you know? How can you know it's really her?"

"She was identified by a co-worker. I was one of the first people to arrive on the scene Charles, I knew Debra well enough myself. It was her." Alice listened as her father began to sob. He sounded like a small child, begging and praying for her mother to return. Alice knew it was no use. Moody had confirmed it, she was gone.

Alice didn't know whether the news was a relief or not. For days she'd prayed that her mother was not in any pain, that she wasn't alone and afraid being held prisoner somewhere. At least now she knew, for good, what had befallen her. Alice clutched her hand against her stomach as it turned. She'd been naive enough to hold onto that small glimmer of hope that perhaps, her mother could be okay.

"I can bring you to see her," Moody announced, clearing his throat. "It won't be pretty but… it's up to you Charles." Her father could do nothing but sob in response, no words coming out of his mouth. He wouldn't have the strength, he hadn't had the strength to do much of anything these days, but Alice knew she could, she had to. She couldn't let a pack of Death Eaters be the last to see her mother, the last to touch her.

Still, in her pyjamas, her hair not washed, and her eyes swollen from all the tears she'd shed in the past few days, Alice emerged from her bedroom and bolted down the stairs.

"I'd like to see her," she announced, arriving at the bottom of the stairs. Her father had his head in his hands, unresponsive, but Moody heard her loud and clear.

"Griffith…" he began hesitantly.

"I can do it," Alice assured him although she wasn't quite sure herself. "I have to say goodbye." Her father looked up, his eyes gone red.

"Alice," he began hoarsely, "it isn't a good idea—"

"I get to say goodbye to my mother," she told them, "they don't get to take that away from me."

"Okay," Moody agreed, "I'll bring you to her."

Alice changed into something a little more appropriate and accompanied Moody to St. Mungo's. They apparated there, Alice struggling to stay strong as they made their way through the hospital waiting room, neither saying a word. They were met by a nurse who seemed to know who Moody was without any introduction and led them straight to the basement and through a series of confusing and brightly lit hallways. The nurse entered the room first, where the dead were kept, to prepare her mother's body for Alice to view.

"You can see her now," she announced after a few minutes, the door swinging shut behind her.

"We'll give you your space," Moody promised. It was the warmest Alice had ever heard his voice. She paused before pushing the door open, well aware that after this everything would change. The room was large, chilly, and filled with walls of metal drawers in which Alice assumed the bodies were preserved. In the middle of the room, on top of a floating metal table, was her mother.

Her mother's body was stiff, her skin a ghastly shade of grey. Alice stepped forward, her breath catching in her throat as she caught sight of the cuts and bruises that covered her body from head to shoulders, the rest covered by a thin sheet. Her eyes welled with tears as she reached the edge of the table, hands shaking.

This was the woman who had held her hands as Alice took her first steps; she would stroke her hair after Alice woke up from a terrible nightmare, written her with advice when she had finally worked up the courage to tell her mother about Frank. Now she was dead. Alice's lips trembled as she felt her mother's cold hand, not an ounce of her usual warmth left to be offered. She was gone. She would never see Alice graduate, never watch her become the Auror she'd always dreamt she'd be, she wouldn't meet her first grandchild or watch Alice walk down the aisle…

"Oh momma," Alice burst out, tears rolled down her cheeks as she erupted into a fit of sobs. What had they done to her; her beautiful, kind, well-intentioned mother? What had those monsters put her through in her final hours? Alice wanted to kill the lot of them as she held her mother's hand to her trembling lips and laid a final kiss upon it.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry for everything mummy." Alice wanted to take it back, every stupid fight, every time she'd screamed 'I hate you!' at her mother as a child. Those moments were all she could see now and all she could feel was grief. She hadn't even said I love you the last time she'd seen her, she'd barely opened her eyes to say goodbye…

"I love you," Alice said, knowing her mother might never hear those final words. "I will always love you, Mummy, I swear it. I will never forget you. Never." Alice wouldn't let herself. She would never let herself forget the warm and gracious woman who had raised her, the one who had always taught her to put good into the world.

Her whole body was shaking as she leaned down and planted one last kiss on her mother's stiff brow, stumbling her way back out of the room. It was the last time she'd ever see her, the last time she'd ever feel her…Alice felt sick. She swung open the door, expecting to see the nurse and Moody waiting outside but it was someone quite different.

Frank had been sitting in one of the chairs in the hall, his feet tapping anxiously against the floor. He leapt up when he saw Alice, rushing forward to gather her in his arms. She cried so hard she thought her heart would burst.

"She's dead," Alice, sobbed into his chest, "she's dead Frank."

"I know." He ran his hand along her back. "It's going to be okay Al," he promised her. "I'm going to make sure you're okay."


Mary took a deep breath before knocking on the front door of her mother's house. It was Bobby who answered, staring Mary down like a bug he wanted to squash.

"What're you doing here?" God, she hated him.

"I'm collecting my things. Don't worry I'll be out of your way soon enough." Mary had a few choice words for Bobby that she refrained from using. They could always be part of her exit speech.

She was only inside the house for a few seconds when she heard her name being called from the living room and her five-year-old sister, Teagan, came running out. Her siblings, the three of them, were the only thing Mary struggled to say goodbye to. She wasn't an idiot, she knew her step-dad would do his best to erase her memory from the brains of his children, and spoil it whenever he could.

"Hello love." Mary scooped her sister into her arms, kissing her forehead. "How're you?"

"Mummy bought me a new Barbie!" Teagan exclaimed. "She's got a whole wardrobe and everything! Wanna see her?"

"Mary's got to get going sweetheart," Bobby spoke up before Mary could get out a word. "Don't you?" fucking bastard…

"You'll just have to show me another day," Mary told Teagan, reaching out to adjust the hairband in her sister's hair. She hated making promises she knew she'd never keep.

Mary didn't have much to pack up. Her trunk from Hogwarts and perhaps a few mementoes she had scattered around the house. Her cot was still on the ground beside Patrick's bed. She knew he'd left it there, just in case she came back. She hated to disappoint Patrick, him most of all. He was the only real family Mary had in the world.

She was tossing her clothes into her trunk, not bothering to fold them. Being back in the house, hearing Bobby's deep voice from downstairs, made her skin crawl.

"You came back." Mary jumped, looking over her shoulder to find Patrick standing in the doorway, a football tucked under his arm. Mary didn't bother responding. She leapt to her feet and wrapped her arms tight around her baby brother. Patrick might've been thirteen but he would always be a baby to Mary.

He was sweaty from playing football outside with his friends but Mary ignored it. She was just happy to have him, safe in her arms. It could be the last time they were together like this for a while…

"You're okay?"

"I'm fine," Patrick assured her. "Are you…" he looked towards her half-packed trunk, "leaving?"

"You know I can't stay Pat…" Christ, she hated disappointing him. "even if mum gave in, Bobby would never allow it." She turned back to her packing, siting on the floor.

"Why'd you do it?" Patrick asked from behind her. Mary froze. She was afraid he would be upset, hurt maybe, by the scene she'd caused at dinner.

"I guess I wasn't really thinking." Mary didn't dare turn around, too afraid of the disappointment in Patrick's eyes. "I just couldn't take it anymore."

"Mum and Bobby?"

"The way they look at me." It made Mary's stomach turn even talking about it. "Like I'm…wrong." She was almost finished packing. If she could get out of the house before she shed a tear then everything would be okay…

"I don't see you like that," Patrick said, breaking her heart. "I love you—"

"Pat…" She turned around, eyes already glossy. Damn it. "You know this has nothing to do with you."

"How am I supposed to stay here without you?"

"I'm barely here most of the time!"

"But still!" His eyes fell. "It'll be like…like you're gone." Packing be damned. Mary rose from the floor and took Patrick's hands in her own, giving them a good squeeze.

"You know that's not true." Patrick was still looking down. "I am never leaving you, got it? You're stuck with me forever. One day you'll be complaining about not being able to get away from me." That got a slight smile out of him. "Hey, come here." She pulled him closer, hugging him tight again. "Remember what we used to say?"

"It's us against the world." It had been forever since they'd said it. Somehow it'd just become a given, for Mary at least.

"Always." She kissed his cheek. "Hey, you can always write me and visit, anytime. Maybe I can even bring you to a few parties."

"Really?" That perked him up.

"I said maybe." Mary leaned down once more, clicking her trunk shut now that it was filled with all of her things, shoved together messily. Patrick helped her get the trunk down the stairs, Mary wished she could've just used magic as it would've been much less strain on her arms. Downstairs her mother emerged from the living room, arms crossed, lips pursed as usual.

"That's everything?"

"Yup." Mary pulled her shoes back on, struggling to keep herself together. The look of dread on Patrick's face made it nearly impossible. "Where are the girls?"

"Bobby took them to the park." There went Mary's chance to give her step-dad one last piece of her mind.

"Well, I guess this is goodbye," she said, in her flattest tone. "Patrick, I'll call you okay? We can grab lunch—"

"Mary," her mother interrupted, "you don't have to go—"

"I do."

"I'll speak to Bobby – we can figure something out perhaps—"

"Now? You want to figure something out now?" She was unbelievable. After all of the things she'd said at dinner…

"Where are you even staying?"

"What do you care?" Mary might've appreciated the concern five years ago but It was too late now after everything was said and done.

"I just want to make sure you're being safe—"

"Yeah, well, maybe you should think about that the next time you kick your seventeen-year-old daughter out." Mary turned her back on her mother, smiling once more at her brother, "Bye Pat."

"Don't be a stranger," he smirked, waving her off. She didn't bother with a final glance at her mother, who didn't deserve anything from Mary at this point.

She dragged her trunk out the door and around the block into the vacant alleyway. From there she apparated, landing in a similar, more grimy, alley in London's west end. At the corner of the street was a fifteen-story apartment building in which she'd been staying for the weekend.

With Lily away at Marlene's cottage it felt weird staying in her house, especially when her sister so obviously despised anyone with magic (Mary was used to it) so Marlene had got her in touch with Emmeline. Despite living in the same dorm room for the past six years, Mary had never been very close with Emmeline. They'd run in similar circles while never forming a friendship of their own. Despite that, she'd been kind enough to offer Mary a place to stay. She'd even offered to let her spend the summer.

The apartment was just two bedrooms, a master and spare. Mary was fairly certain the master had been used less than ten times considering the state of it. Emmeline's room, on the other hand, was very lived in, clothes scattered, posters plastered on the walls.

"Mary?" Emmeline beckoned as Mary dropped her keys in the bowl at the front door. There was a short corridor one had to step through before turning into the open concept living room, dining room, and kitchen.

"Hiya," Mary replied, struggling to drag her trunk into the room.

"I have some exciting news!" Emmeline was sitting on the couch, holding a magazine she tossed carelessly aside when Mary entered. Emmeline Vance was gorgeous; she had the build of a model, and Mary had no doubt she could make it as one if she tried. She was the envy of every girl at Hogwarts.

"Remember how you said you wanted a job?"

"Yes," Mary nodded, dropping down onto the couch.

"Well, it just so happens I have some connections with Tom at The Leaky Cauldron—"

"What kind of connections?" Mary teased her.

"Connections that allow me to know you can get a job working behind the bar three times a week."

"Liar!"

"Seriously!" Emmeline insisted. Honestly, Mary had always considered Emmeline somewhat of a self-absorbed airhead. She'd never seen her do much more than gossip in the corner of the common room and go on dates with boys. Yet, two days Mary had been staying with her and Emmeline had already done more than her fair share to help Mary out.

"Also," Emmeline stretched her long, tan legs out across the coffee table, "what're your thoughts on pizza?"

"Love it."

"With extra cheese?"

"Even better." Emmeline was on the phone in the corner before Mary could say another word.


It had been Marlene and Sirius who insisted they all go down to the beach for a bonfire. It wasn't that Lily was apposed to the idea of some fun, but things had been weird between her and James all weekend and she didn't much fancy the idea of more time alone. She'd much prefer a quiet evening tucked away in bed with a cup of tea and some light reading. Christ, she sounded like a grandma.

James was manning the fire, making sure the flame stayed ablaze with enough kindling and fire wood. Lily hadn't realized James was such a seasoned camper, honestly, she'd imagined it one of the many things his privileged ass had never done but he'd surprised her once again.

"Here," Sirius shoved a bottle of Firewhiskey into Lily's hands, "it'll keep you warm." She hadn't realized until then that she was shivering. The alcohol might help alleviate some of the tension in the air…Lily gulped deeply, wincing at the burning feeling as it poured down her throat.

"You know what I think?" Sirius said, leaning back into the sand by Marlene. "We should go skinny dipping."

"It's freezing, you idiot." James knocked down the plan immediately.

"Chicken." James just rolled his eyes. Sirius proceeded to stand up and begin doing circles around James as he pretended to be a chicken just to piss him off.

"If you want to do it so bad why don't you go!" James chuckled, shoving his friend away.

"I can't go alone."

"I'll go with you, you big baby." Marlene got to her feet, wiping sand from her jeans. "You sure you don't want to join?" She looked towards Lily hopefully.

"I'm with James," Lily assured her, "I don't much feel like hypothermia tonight."

"Suit yourselves." Sirius was already running towards the water, Marlene chasing after him. Lily could just barely make them out in the dark, their figures outlined as they splashed towards the waves.

"They're insane," Lily, said, her back to James.

"They've always been like that." She turned around now to face him, his face glowing in the flames, "bloody idiots." He still wouldn't look her in the eyes. Lily wondered how many times he'd been in her position, desperately trying to catch her attention.

"James—"

"It's fine Lily, water under the bridge, right?"

"No," she couldn't let it go, not this time. "I owe you an apology." He didn't say anything, poking his stick around in the fire for a minute.

"Why'd you get so angry anyway?" He finally asked. Lily was hoping he wouldn't ask that. When he did finally look up, she was stunted with shock. How did she begin to explain her feelings for him in that moment? They barely made sense to her. Feelings of resentment had transformed into…affection? No, no, that was insane! She was going completely and utterly insane, that was it.

"I don't know," Lily confessed. "I guess I just…I keep expecting you to do something to prove me wrong."

"Prove you wrong?"

"For trusting you."

His eyebrows rose. "Trusting me? I'm not sure whether to be insulted or flattered—"

"I don't mean it rudely I just…look, I used to think you were the epitome of everything I hated about a person and then..." she could hardly continue with that smug look on his face, "well, you proved me wrong andI'd like to think we've become friends…" Lily was thankful for the poor lighting; it made it difficult for James to see how red she was becoming.

"I'd like to think we're friends as well," James told her, lightening her worries. "You're not bad company Evans."

Lily laughed. "Yeah, well, you're not too bad yourself."

X

Marlene had fallen asleep an hour ago but Lily couldn't settle. She tossed and turned, tried counting sheep in her head like her dad had taught her, but nothing worked. Eventually, she gave up, throwing a robe on over her nighty.

She went to the kitchen, book in hand, to make a cup of tea. Some herbal, maybe mint, that would help make her sleepy. Just as she switched on the kettle, Lily heard the floor boards creak and looked over to find Mrs Potter entering the room, a guilty smile across her face.

"I've been caught!"

"What is it you've snuck out of bed to do?" Lily quite enjoyed James' mum. This trip was the first time they'd had any real interaction and she'd been nothing short of lovely.

"I've snuck out of bed for a piece of that pie you four brought home for dinner."

"I won't tell anyone," Lily promised. She used magic to speed up the kettle and poured boiling water into her mug.

"Do you want a piece?" Something about it, sneaking out at midnight for a snack, reminded Lily so much of her father. They'd got up to so much trouble together…

"Sure."

They sat quietly at the kitchen table, munching on pecan pie. Lily had heard so much about Caroline Potter she felt as though she already knew her. Marlene had nothing but praise for her and her success as an Auror, along with her husband, was well known in the Wizarding world. It was difficult not to be a little star-struck in her presence.

"So, you must be the Lily I've heard so much about." Lily's stomach clenched.

"I hope only good things…" What had Caroline heard of her? Had James mentioned his hopeless crush to his mother before? Was she aware of Lily's countless, sometimes harsh, rejections?

"I've never heard my son take about anyone as highly as you." Lily hoped the surprise didn't show on her face. Truthfully, she'd never imagined James did much but talk about himself. She'd always figured he went home to parents who showered him with love and boosted his ego whenever he needed it. It was hard to imagine Caroline Potter doing that though.

"You probably shouldn't tell him I said that," Caroline smiled, taking another bite of pie.

"My lips are sealed." Lily didn't know what to say. She had a sudden urge to tell Caroline everything, to admit to her conflicted feelings for James and the tenderness she'd grown for him. Perhaps she'd understand, seeing as he was her son and all. "James he…" Lily began uncertainly, "he's a good guy."

"Sure," Caroline couldn't stop grinning, "but he's a real piece of work most of the time isn't he?" There was a short silence before Lily snorted with laughter.

"Most of the time is an understatement." At least Caroline had a good sense of humour about it, "but he's changed a lot, especially in this past year."

"He's growing up," Caroline agreed, "whether I like it or not." Lily wondered what James was like, alone with his parents, whether the "cool boy" façade came down. Lily didn't know why she cared so much, why she felt so desperate to get to know the person he was beneath it all. Couldn't she just be happy with being friends?

"I hear you've had a hand in smartening him up?"

"Me?" Lily practically choked on her pie. "No, I…I wouldn't say that—"

"Not a big bragger, you really are nothing like my son." Lily washed her food down with tea; desperate for anything that would keep her mouth full and stop her from talking too much. She was terrified of saying the wrong thing, terrified of not leaving a good impression with James' mother, although she couldn't be quite sure why it mattered so much to her.

"It makes sense," Caroline said, nodding to herself.

"What does?"

"Why my son is so crazy about you." Lily's stomach sank.

"I don't…" Lily was blushing and struggling to string together a coherent sentence, "I don't think that's true anymore." Sure, James had been a lovesick schoolboy when they were fifteen but now? Things had changed. They'd both grown up. Lily's allure had most definitely worn off.

"Are you sure about that?" Suddenly Lily was thinking about James, sleeping just down the hall, his glasses on the table beside him. She imagined waking him up, finding his mouth in the dark, feeling his hands on her body…STOP! Bloody hell, what was she doing? What on earth was she doing?

"Yes," Lily lied, clearing her throat. "Completely sure." James was over her and she, she was in a very, very healthy relationship. She didn't need to wonder what would happen if James were to ever confess to having feelings for her again, it was never going to happen. Not in a million years.

"Marlene mentioned you have a boyfriend?" Caroline asked, expertly changing the subject.

"Fabian," Lily nodded, pushing her thoughts of James, far, far, back in her mind. "We've been together six months now."

"That's wonderful." Caroline pushed her plate away, only crumbs left on it now. "Are you happy?"

"Very."

"And in love?" She didn't waste any time, did she?

"Yes," Lily smiled, "we are very much in love."

"Isn't it fun?" Caroline was grinning again. "I can still remember how exciting it was the first time. I was just a few years older than you, met a bloke at work who swept me right off my feet." Lily was a sucker for a good love story.

"Was it your husband?"

"Alec? No, no he came later." She smiled nostalgically, "not much later, of course, I worked with him at the time but…it took a while before I understood the difference."

"The difference?"

"Between loving someone and being in love. Alec was always there, always stable. It took a while before I realized that there was a reason we kept coming back to one another. You'll feel that one day too, that force, pulling you towards someone, and you'll probably try to fight it. It was the most powerful thing I had ever felt in my entire life and it scared the shit out of me."

"What was it like?" Lily asked, leaning forward. "When you realized you loved him?"

"It was like coming home. He became my family, and I his, and nothing after that was ever the same. It was so much better." Lily wanted to hear more, God; she wanted a whole book detailing the romance of Caroline and Alec Potter. She talked about him with a sparkle in her eye that reminded Lily so much of her mother whenever she spoke about her father.

"I should probably get to bed," Caroline announced, rising from her chair. She pulled her wand out to clear up the dishes. Before she left she turned to smile at Lily, "when you meet that person you'll know. You'll get that same feeling I did and you'll remember me telling you this one day, just as I remembered being told so many times, and it'll all make sense."

Lily couldn't help but shake the feeling it already did.