Authors Note:

Okay so I've been trying to get these first few chapters out as quickly as I can and I hope you guys are enjoying them (Reviews :) Please). This chapter has a bit of language and is kind of a filler for the next few chapters to follow. Hopefully I'm not moving along too quickly for everyone and the story is still flowing well. Let me know if you have any suggestions, questions or comments in general.

By the way I'm so sorry I didn't recognize you better earlier but thanks to NANLIT and The DA is dressed to the nines for reviewing! I definately appreciate the feedback.

Well I guess here goes Chapter 4

HOGSMEADE AND HATERS

"Lily!" Dorcas called happily rushing into the common room and flopping down onto the couch next to her friend.

"Hey Dor, what's up?" She asked her attention on her transfiguration assignment.

"Well," Dorcas began tentatively, "You see I was talking to Remus a minute ago and well he sort of kind of asked what our group was planning for this Hogsmeade weekend and I told him we didn't have anything definite planned and he said that maybe our two groups should hang out and so I was thinking that, since you and James seem to be getting along quite splendidly these days, maybe you wouldn't mind spending a day in Hogsmeade with the Marauders?"

Lily looked at her friend in confusion wondering how on earth someone could talk so quickly and lengthy without taking a breath.

"So…what do you say?" Dorcas asked impatiently.

Lily smiled, it had been a few weeks since the weird incident where she dueled James and since then they had fallen in to their regular routine. She had initially spent more than a few waking hours dwelling over the significance of the whole thing but every time she had nearly gathered the courage to bring the matter up with James she lost her nerve. He had gone on and acted like the whole thing was nothing to be surprised about and if she was being honest with herself she didn't really want it to mean anything either. So she tucked it away and tried not to think about the idea of her and James having similar patronuses and went on with her life as usual.

"It's fine with me if we meet up with them and go together. As long as Marli and Alice are good with it I'd say it's a go."

"Oh please Lily, it's the Marauders for Godric's sake. Like Marli and Alice are gonna say no." Dorcas muttered jumping up and running off.

Lily shook her head at the madness of her friend and tried to focus on her homework. After a few moments she sighed in defeat her thoughts now thoroughly ensconced in the upcoming Hogsmeade trip.

She and James had been getting along great for the past couple of weeks, other than the awkward day after the dueling incident, and at the Halloween feast they had even sat next to one another trading stories and jokes and enjoying the atmosphere. Their library meetings had still been fairly regular and sometimes they would meet other places and just hang out for awhile, unless they had exams or homework that really needed doing. The week before they had even taken a walk out to the lake as James had suggested and Lily had enjoyed immensely.

She wondered what Saturday was going to be like spending her time with the four Marauders and her friends; it was likely to turn out rather interesting.

****

Remus entered the sixth year boys' dorm with a broad smile on his face.

"Well?" James questioned anxiously.

"Would I be smiling if they had said no?" Remus quipped coming over to where James was sitting on his bed and clapping his friend on the back.

James breathed a sigh of relief and smiled widely as he fell back onto his four poster.

Sirius chuckled at his besotted best friend.

"You know Prongs I really think you are making strides with Evans. She hasn't even given you a dirty look this year and we've still managed all sorts of mischief."

"That's because it's not really the mischief that makes her angry, it's the hurting people or embarrassing them that blows her stack." James replied.

"Well we've matured my friend." Sirius informed mock seriously. "We are no longer the misguided miscreants that inhabited our youth."

"Well I for one am glad we actually get to spend a little time with our fellow Gryffindors now." Remus added.

Sirius grinned at him cheekily and said, "That wouldn't have to do with a certain rambunctious petite brunette now would it Moony?"

He was rewarded by Remus' blush and James' chuckle, which of course prompted him to continue.

"Well you know Moony old pal I'm almost certain that Miss Meadows has been pining for you for quite awhile now." He teased.

"Who says I'm interested?" Remus feigned nonchalance.

"I do. Besides every bloke in school, minus Prongs here, would gladly give their left nut to be with Meadows, she's a babe. Great hair, great eyes, great legs. You get the picture."

"Maybe she's not my type." Remus supplied, his look turning mischievous. "I mean McKinnon is just as good-looking, she's dark and exotic, not to mention smart and sort of cutely shy and.."

"Don't go there Moony." Sirius snapped.

Remus sighed in defeat. He knew it wasn't right to push his friend but in all honesty Sirius had been secretly in love with Marlene McKinnnon almost as long as James had been in love with Lily. The difference being that where James was openly adoring and let his feelings be known, Sirius had never felt he was good enough for Marlene. Remus suspected that this was due to her family being one of the more outstanding ones within the wizarding world; her father was an auror along with James' and her mother worked in the ministry of magic for the Muggle Safety and Protection Division. Sirius never liked to talk about his family and about their affiliations with the wizard now calling himself Lord Voldemort, but it was a well known fact that the Black family was notorious for associating with Dark wizards and wanting to maintain Pureblood supremacy. And while they didn't yet openly declare themselves as being in support of the man now beginning to terrorize the wizarding world, they let it be known that they weren't necessarily against his radical ideas either.

James sat up and eyed his best friend in irritation.

"Padfoot, you know I think you should let her know that you like her. This is our sixth year for crying out loud, we only have two years of school left before the real world hits us. You are going to regret it if you don't."

Sirius shrugged and began to busy himself looking through the latest Quality Quidditch Supplies catalog.

"I'm serious Padfoot." James went on, as Remus moved off to his own four-poster knowing James could get through to Sirius better than he could. "You've had it in your head for so long that she is too good for you and that's just ridiculous. I think you are underestimating her and yourself. If you would just..."

"James," Sirius growled, using his best friends' actual name indicating his irritation. "We both know how that would go. Her family and mine are…well let's just say she wouldn't want to be bringing me to meet her parents any time in this life. Besides I have plenty of willing birds to fill my time. I don't need the seriousness of a relationship that would come with someone like Marlene. She's not the type to go for a bloke like me."

James sighed.

"I honestly wish you could see yourself the way your friends do and not how you think people see you." He said tiredly.

"Mate, we both know how the world views me. I'm a bad apple from a bad family and just because my loyalties lie along different lines doesn't mean my hearts' not just as black as the rest of my family."

"Yes it does. Besides those idiots you're calling family aren't your real family anyway. We are. Me and Moony and Wormtail. And you know my parents are crazy about you."

"Prongs mate, lets just drop it for now okay? Besides you should be completely psyched. Afterall, we get to spend a whole day in Hogsmeade with Lily Evans this Saturday." Sirius smirked.

James grinned in shy excitement, falling back onto his own four poster once again. He really was going to get to spend Saturday with the girl of his dreams.

****

"Seriously Lily, you aren't allowed to just wear anything. I mean come on." Alice protested grabbing the outfit of worn jeans and a gray turtleneck Lily had picked out off of her bed and throwing it into the laundry hamper.

"Alice! Those aren't dirty." Lily squawked as she reached to pull them back out before they vanished to the castle laundry room.

Meanwhile Alice was raiding her trunk and her dresser looking for the right outfit.

"She's right you know. You can't just wear anything." Marlene chimed as she walked out of the bathroom looking stunning in a red v-neck sweater and dark jeans.

"I don't see why not. It's not like it's a date or anything." Lily protested sitting on her bed and crossing her arms over her chest while Marlene began to help Alice dig through Lily's things.

"Oh please. As if you expect us to believe you don't want to look nice today." Alice scoffed and then yelled out triumphantly when she produced a black sweater and white coat and scarf that would off-set Lily's hair and then dark blue jeans to go with it.

"Nice." Marlene commented. "Then she can wear my black boots."

"Ugh." Lily groaned. "I still don't see how this isn't a casual outing. I mean why are we all getting dressed up?"

"Because we are spending the day with guys for once, that's why!" Alice said throwing the outfit at Lily and pointing to the bathroom for Lily to go change. "And leave your hair down."

Lily stuck her tongue out at her friend as she pranced by but she complied nonetheless.

Twenty minutes later the four friends made their way down to the Entrance Hall where James, Remus, Sirius and Peter were waiting for them along with two seventh year Gryffindors, Frank Longbottom and Gideon Prewett.

"Hey guys." Dorcas called out jovially as she led the way down the stairs.

"Hello ladies." Sirius replied in an appreciative voice. "You were all definitely worth the wait."

Remus snorted at his friends' cheesiness and fell into step next to Dorcas as she strolled by.

Alice ran up to her cousin Gideon and gave him a hug.

"Gideon, we really don't hang out enough you know."

"I know brat." He replied returning the hug. "You know my friend Frank right?"

Alice turned and smiled at the other tall seventh year Gryffindor.

"I believe we've me before."

Frank grinned and began walking with Alice and Gideon.

"We definitely have, I don't think we've ever had the pleasure of hanging out together though."

Lily watched them stroll off and then looked at Marlene pleadingly, hoping that her friend got the hint and didn't leave her and James alone. Unfortunately (or possibly purposefully) Marlene wasn't looking her way and she strolled up to Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew throwing her arms around their necks and tugging them toward the door.

"So Black where are we off to first?" She asked a little too enthusiastically as they walked away leaving Lily and James to stare at one another awkwardly for a moment.

Finally James cleared his throat and broke the silence.

"Ready to go Lily?" He asked with a smile.

Lily nodded and accepted his outstretched arm.

They walked down the hill together toward Hogsmeade talking occasionally about classes and school. Lily felt strangely awkward around James, as if she hadn't been spending the past few weeks in the library getting to know him or hanging out with him as a friend. The butterflies in her stomach refused to settle down and for the life of her she couldn't figure out why felt like she was on some sort of first date.

It didn't help either that every so often someone would spot them walking together arm in arm and would stop dead in their tracks as if they'd been petrified. Their actions only made Lily feel more self-concious about being with James.

"So what do you think of Longbottom and Prewett eh?" James asked pointing toward where Alice, Gideon and Frank were strolling along next to Sirius, Peter and Marlene.

"I think they are both nice guys. Frank has helped me out a couple of times with Defense Against the Dark Arts and Gideon has always been fun to hang out with." Lily supplied.

James chuckled.

"I meant Frank and Alice." He clarified.

"What do you mean?"

James raised his eyebrows at her suggestively.

"Really?" Lily exclaimed. "Do you think he likes her?"

"Oh please, don't tell me you haven't noticed it? He stares at her when he thinks no one is looking. He blushes when he does something clumsy around her, which tends to happen a lot. He looks all spiffy today and he hasn't dated anyone in over six months, and according to Padfoot at the end of last year Frank ran into Alice on the way to charms knocking her books all over the place and for the next week he sort of stared off into space."

"How on Earth would Sirius know that?" Lily laughed.

"Don't ask me where the bloke gets his information." James said looking at her happily. "He just knows these things."

"So you think there might be something there?" Lily questioned. "It would be great for Alice. She really hasn't dated anybody since she broke up with Tom Notlef the year before last."

"Who knows maybe they'll hit it off today."

Lily looked up at him curiously wondering at the meaning behind the tone of his words.

"So is this supposed to be a set-up of some kind?" She asked softly. "You know the sort where everyone pretends it's a group hang out sort of thing and then Bam! they all magically disappear and voila James and Lily are all alone together."

James flushed slightly but looked her straight in the eye.

"I didn't plan it that way Lily, honest I didn't. And if you want to we can hurry and catch up with the rest of them and I can force Padfoot to spend the day with us whether he wants to or not. I don't want you to feel trapped or something."

"I believe you. I don't think you planned this. But I don't think you are disappointed about how it's turning out either." She teased.

James' blush deepened.

"Well I can't say I'm sorry I'm here with you. And I can't say I'm sorry they left us to together. And I'll never say I'd rather share the time I get to spend with you with other people but I will say I'm not sorry at all to be here walking with you Lily Evans." He paused for a moment. "Are you disappointed that it's just you and me for now?"

"We'll see." She said mischievously. "I suppose it's going to depend."

"On what?" James asked.

"On whether or not I have a good time today." She replied with a wink.

"Well I guess I'll just have to see to it that you have an amazingly good time today."

"Yeah, I guess you will."

They smiled at each other, both enjoying themselves already.

***

The day seemed to fly by to Lily. James took her to all his favorite shops and even led her to a great bookstore that she hadn't known existed in Hogsmeade. She had spent so much time in there that she feared he would get bored, but lo and behold he was just as absorbed in looking through the titles as she was and in the end he purchased two more books than she did.

James shrank their purchases throughout the day and kept them in his pockets. He had a good time playing around with her in Zonko's and he went overboard buying her favorite candy in Honeydukes, explaining when she protested that he was really buying his own favorite candy and that if it just happened to end up going up to the wrong dormitory staircase at the end of the day he couldn't help that.

They were unaware of the spectacle they made when they finally stumbled into the Three Broomsticks to meet up with their friends for dinner. Lily was laughing loudly as James offered to help her remove her scarf and coat.

"You've got to be kidding me?" Lily chimed twirling about so he could unwind the scarf from her neck.

"Nope I swear. Couldn't believe it myself but well..my parents have always been a bit love-struck I suppose." He chuckled back, as he helped her to shrug out of her coat.

"That's too funny. The most I've ever seen my parents do is jump apart and blush when Pet and I accidentally interrupt their snogging. Then they try to pretend they were doing something normal like my Dad was getting something out of my mum's hair or my mum was fixing his tie or something else just as dreadfully unimaginative." Lily supplied watching him hang up her coat and scarf.

"Well I suppose if my parents were even remotely normal they would probably do the same." James answered taking her hand and steering her toward the table their friends were sharing.

"I bet they're wonderful." She stated as he allowed her to slide into the large booth first.

"I wouldn't go that far, but yeah they're pretty great."

He slid in next to her and put his arm on the cushioned wood above her shoulders.

"It must have been amazing growing up in the wizarding world." Lily said her eyes never leaving his as they scooted further into the booth. "I've talked about it with Marlene and Alice and Dorcas a little but it always reminds me just how different I am from my friends you know?"

"Yeah," James nodded. "I understand that better than you think. But as for growing up in the wizarding world well... it is pretty awesome. You get away with a lot more than you normally would, especially since your education is given to you by your parents until you get your Hogwarts letter but at the same time it isn't very fun to know that you could be doing magic to get your chores and what not done but you have to abide by the law and not conduct any underage magic. I mean not that I didn't sneak in a few spells here and there but at least you didn't have to deal with knowing you could do magic but not being allowed to for eleven years."

"But that's just it!" She exclaimed. "I would have loved to have known. It was so strange being little and not knowing why I could do things so out of the ordinary. I was convinced there was something wrong with me until Severus told me about magic and being a witch and even then it was hard to swallow something so extraordinary. I don't think I was able to truly believe it until I got my letter and was actually off to Hogwarts."

James eyes widened.

"Severus told you about magic? When you were both little?"

Lily smiled softly.

"Well yes. He lived near my neighborhood and we used to play together in this park that was near both our houses. We were great friends at least until… well that is to say, now I just hope he chooses the right path in life. I worry about him a lot."

James nodded seriously.

"I love that about you. You've never cared about the material things. If someone's your friend they matter to you, no matter what." James paused. "And I know it's probably a little too late for this but I'm sorry for the way I treated him all those years. Needless to say a big part of it was that I was jealous of how much time you spent with him and how close you guys were. "

"I know James. And really it's fine. Sev and I aren't anywhere near as close as we used to be and I can't say that he's the same person I used to know and defend."

Lily's thoughts turned to her former best friend for a moment. She had avoided mentioning or thinking about him overmuch for the past few months because a part of her still hurt when she thought of how things used to be between them. While his calling her a Mudblood had been the catalyst behind their rift she knew deep down that they had been drifting apart long before that. His path and hers were dividing more all the time and it was because of the different people they were becoming and the choices they were making along the way. She knew it was foolish but sometimes she wished she could still walk up to him and tell him about her day just as she had always done before.

"Can I ask you something?" James leaned in lowering his voice.

He was unaware, as was she, of the eight other Gryffindors leaning a bit closer to try and hear as well.

"Sure. Go ahead." She encouraged her voice just as quiet for some unknown reason.

"Would it be too personal of me to ask if you and he…what I mean to say is, was there something there? Or, I mean…did you and him…uh…"

"James." Lily broke in, her voice now only a whisper. "It's okay that you asked and to answer your question, Sev and I were…ow!"

Lily looked behind her to see that all eight of their friends were leaning in or over the table in order to hear their conversation and Dorcas, who was seated next to her had gotten shoved so close her elbow had dug into Lily's back.

"Way to go Dor!" Alice cried in exasperation.

"It wasn't my fault! Remus is practically my conjoined twin he's so close!"

"I'm only this close because Padfoot has taken it upon himself to rather geniusly try and hear through my other ear!" Remus protested.

"Hey it sometimes works!" Sirius protested. "And I don't think 'geniusly' is a real word."

"Oh right that's just what I need, grammatical help coming from someone who thinks that if he sticks his left hear onto my right one he can hear what I do on the other side!"

Lily burst out laughing uncontrollably, followed shortly by James.

"You see. I told you they liked each other. They share the same sense of humor." Sirius said loudly.

Remus and James groaned as Lily flushed scarlett as Alice called to the young twenty year old serving witch, named Rosmerta, to come over to their table.

She approached with a smile.

"What can I get you all?"

"Just another round of Butterbeers please. Now ten in all." Remus supplied.

"For my favorite Gryffindor boys. Anything." She winked and was about to walk away when she spotted James with his arm still resting on the booth above Lily's shoulders.

"Well now. Finally caught that red-head your always on about eh?" She asked playfully.

Now James flushed crimson.

"Well no you see…"

"Hi, I'm Lily." She broke in, cutting James off and extending her hand to the bar-maid.

"I know who ye are love. James here can't shut his gob about you. Seems to think your perfect this one does." Rosmerta chuckled, nodding her head at James and shaking Lily's hand.

"Does he now?" Lily smiled impishly as James turned a shade of red akin to that of her hair.

"I would say so. He hasn't stopped singing your praises since the day I met him. Pity that, he's a dashing young thing." The woman teased eyeing James appreciatively.

"Most dashing." Lily agreed her smile getting wider by the minute.

"You know Lily, if I were to find a lad who thought I was perfect and couldn't shut up about me even when I wasn't with him, and especially in front of his mates, I'd be mightily inclined to keep that bloke around for as long as possible." Rosmerta advised.

Lily nodded her smile now one of thought.

"I'll keep that in mind."

"You see that you do." Rosmerta grinned and with one last chuckle at James she took off to fill their order.

Once she was out of ear shot James buried his face in his hands and groaned.

"Is it over? Please tell me it's over?"

"Aww James, that wasn't so bad." Sirius commented. "I mean it's not like Lily didn't know you've had it bad for her for like forever. I mean come one mate you've never even sl…Ouch! Bloody hell Moony that was my stomach you just elbowed!"

"Was it really? My mistake, I was looking for your center of intelligence, and as it obviously isn't your brain I figured I would have to move a bit lower."

"Well your gonna have to move a bit lower than that if you want results Lupin." Marlene teased. "For it's likely in his trousers."

The whole group laughed and as Sirius and Remus began another round of verbal sparring Lily leaned over and whispered to James.

"Want to head back now?"

He nodded and they slipped out of the booth as silently as possible.

"That had to be a miracle." James said in shock. "I can't believe they didn't even notice us leaving."

"Either that or they were just pretending not to notice and will, likely, follow behind us at what they think is an inconspicuous distance hoping to catch us snogging or some such nonsense." Lily supplied following along next to James as they moved down the lane toward the castle.

"Nonsense huh? Maybe to you." James said softly.

Lily frowned.

"I didn't mean it like that."

"I know."

"Really James, I know that we haven't always been on the same page but after all the letters this summer and our spending time together each week. I really feel like maybe someday, not necessarily soon, but someday there might be a chance we could be truly close friends or… something more maybe. I don't know. Right now I still feel like I'm getting to know you. That's important."

James smiled as she finished her eyes still thoughtful.

"Alright Evans." He said putting his arm around her in a friendly manner. "Are we becoming friends then?"

Lily grinned.

"Don't get your hopes up Potter."

****

In the days following the Hogsmeade trip Lily and James could be seen quite often walking together between classes and sitting near each other at meals. It appeared to most that James Potter was making definite progress with the girl he had been after for what seemed like forever.

It was when they were walking to dinner one Wednesday after class that the first of the rumors reached Lily's ears. She was laughing at something Sirius had said to Dorcas when she bumped into a fifth year Ravenclaw girl.

"Oh I'm sorry." She apologized.

The girl glared at her fiercely and then muttered to her friend.

"I wonder if she's sleeping with all of them or just with Potter."

Lily frowned as the girl made to move off and grabbed her arm.

"Hey." She said firmly. "For your information I'm not sleeping with anyone."

The girl just shrugged out of Lily's hold and moved away.

"What was that all about?" Marlene asked having only caught the end of it.

"I have no idea."

When they reached the entrance hall Lily's mind was still on the scene in the hallway. She was so absorbed that she didn't see the large group of Slytherin girls coming her way until they were right next to her.

"Well if it's not the little mudblood slut. Tell us mudblood does he pay you for your efforts or do you just get off on meddling with your betters?"

Lily turned to face the girl who had spoken in her ear.

"Excuse me?" She replied.

"Come on Evans we're just trying to figure out your motive. Is it his money your after, or his status, or is it just his body that's been making you hang around him like a bitch in heat?"

"You know Bellatrix with a mouth like that it's a wonder even your own house mates will have you." She said softly and attempted to follow after her friends.

The Slytherin girls surrounded her slowly cutting off her route to her own table.

"You know there are plenty of rich half-bloods who I'm sure would be more than willing to have a go with you Evans. How about you quit trying to taint good pure wizarding blood with your filth and look into dating one of them."

Lily smiled.

"You know it's understandable that you're jealous. Didn't James turn you down last year more than once?"

Bellatrix's dark eyes narrowed.

"Like I would ever be jealous of a prudish bookworm mudblood like you," she screeched.

Lily sighed.

"First I'm a slut, now I'm a prude, make up your mind which is it Bellatrix?"

The Slytherin girl was just about to answer when a voice called out firmly.

"Is there a problem here?"

Lily looked up to see Professor Dumbledore headed their way. His blue eyes twinkling as always but very aware of the situation at hand.

"Miss Evans is everything alright?"

She shrugged and looked to Bellatrix.

"I think you should ask Black that question." She replied calmly.

Dumbledore turned his eyes onto the group of Slytherin girls who remained silent and refused to meet his eyes.

"I believe Miss Evans would like to be on her way. Her friends are waiting for her." He said finally. "I'm sure Miss Black that there won't be any such instances in the near future."

The Slytherins moved off without a word to sit at their own table and Lily, after bidding Dumbledore farewell, made her way quickly toward where her friends stood waiting at the Gryffindor table.

James was the first one to speak.

"What happened?" He asked steering her toward a seat at the Gryffindor table. "One second you were with all of us and the next we didn't know where you went."

Sirius sat across from Lily and growled out fiercely.

"What did my foul bitch of a cousin want?"

Lily sighed softly.

"Nothing pleasant that's for sure."

James opened his mouth to question her again when suddenly Lily was lifted back up out of her chair. She emitted a small squeak as she was dragged by her elbow toward the corner of the great hall.

She looked up to see Severus Snape towering over her.

"What do you want Sev?" She asked tiredly.

Snape leaned over her menacingly, causing Lily to think he was probably trying to impress his fellow Slytherins with his mean treatment of the muggleborn. In the later days of their friendship he had often been like that. Avoiding her or trying to look like he was irritated with her when other prominent Slytherins were about but acting as if things were perfectly normal when it was just the two of them together.

"Are you out of your mind Lily? Spending time with that toerag James Potter, what's gotten into you?" He hissed in irritation, his eyes glancing back at the Slytherin table cautiously.

Lily scowled.

"You know Sev, I've had just about enough of being bullied around today. What I do or don't do with James Potter is no ones business but mine! I can spend as much time as I bloody well want with the bloke and you and everybody else can go fly a kite! And for your information despite his treatment toward you, which is just so happens stemmed from jealousy, he is actually a more than decent individual, not that it's any of your business. You gave up any claim to being my friend when you chose being in with your fellow Slytherins over being a decent person." She fumed shoving him hard on his shoulder. "Now if you'll excuse me I would like to go eat my dinner in peace."

She stormed back to her seat at the Gryffindor table not once looking back at him and sat down in a huff. She reached for the mashed potatoes and began to angrily shovel them onto her plate thinking all the while how ridiculous people were but mostly trying to hide the fact that she was still hurt at Severus' treatment of her.

Somewhere around her tenth scoop of potatoes James gently took the bowl and ladle away and switched her plate for his own empty one. He added gravy to the top and began eating the huge mound of white silently.

Lily sighed and rubbed her watery eyes tiredly. She then proceeded to put a normal amount of other foods on the clean plate he had given her and began to eat just as silently as James. If any of their friends found their silence or the fact that James was gallantly working his way through a mountain of mashed potatoes out of the ordinary they didn't mention it and Lily was grateful for friends who knew when to pretend everything was fine.

*******